Reincarnated as the Strongest Dragon

Chapter 34: Practice And Pride

The next morning, I was jolted awake by Liz practically jumping on me.

“How long do you plan on sleeping?” she asked, as she ripped the covers off me.

She’ll probably regret that before the day is over.

“What’s the rush?” I yawned.

“I already had breakfast delivered. Let’s eat and get going.”

I sighed and got out of bed. After getting dressed, I sat down at the table. Liz joined me, and we began our breakfast. She promptly started eating, while I pondered how to bring up my suggestion.

“So, I've been thinking,” I began, breaking the silence. “Maybe we should take a break from training today?”

Liz looked at me with a shocked expression, forcing herself to swallow the food in her mouth before responding. “What?! Why?”

“I don’t know what happens if humans train this hard. You've pushed yourself to exhaustion every day.”

“I feel fine. I want to keep going.”

I squinted at her. “You aren’t just saying that because I mentioned new spells?”

“No, I'm not! I feel fine, I promise.”

Maybe she really is fine? My basis for human endurance is based on my old body, so it would make sense that it’s not the same here since everyone has mana in their bodies. 

“Alright then,” I sighed.

After a rushed breakfast, Liz practically dragged me out of the inn, eager to get going. We walked along the almost empty streets to our preferred alley and took off. Upon arriving at the training spot, I remade the five pillars and created two statues that looked like bullboars.

“Okay, that should do it,” I said as I turned to Liz, who was looking at me with stars in her eyes. “Just to check, how do you learn new spells?”

“Uhm, usually from spellbooks.”

“I see. And what is written in those spellbooks?”

“The magic circle and the description of the spell. The rest of the book is usually filled with different uses for the spell and whatever the author of the book decided to write. I haven’t really read past the useful parts.”

I almost expected the method to have changed into something stupid, phew.

“Good, then this might be easy,” I said and projected a magic circle in my left hand. “This is [Glacial Spike]. Can you learn it from the magic circle and a demonstration alone?”

Liz frowned. “You mean, just from seeing it in your hand?”

“Of course not,” I said, taking out a piece of paper from my [Inventory] and placing my hand on it, transferring the magic circle onto the paper. “It’s fine if the magic circle is on mana paper, right?”

“Uhm, what’s mana paper?”

“It’s paper you can channel mana into. Is that not how spellbooks are made nowadays?”

“I guess so? I just didn’t know it was a special type of paper.”

“I will show you how the spell works,” I said, giving her the paper and holding out my hand against the bullboar statue. I cast [Glacial Spike], and a sharp spike of ice thrust up from under the statue, shattering it.

Liz looked at the remains of the statue in amazement. “So cool…”

“As you can see, it’s effective for attacking less guarded parts of a monster. Many monsters don’t have strong defenses against attacks from below. Even dragons have weaker stomachs compared to the rest of their bodies.”

“Is that why your stomach is so sensitive?” Liz asked with a mischievous smirk.

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I laughed. “Who knows.”

I then demonstrated [Biting Cold] and gave her a magic circle. Afterward, I instructed her to cast both spells on the bullboars. I also told her to cast [Icicle] on the pillars, two at a time with one hand while she waited for the cooldown.

Liz’s excited face transformed into a frown by the last thing I said. “Didn’t I tell you that basically no one can dual-cast?”

“It’s hard to chant two things at the same time,” I said and pointed at her. “But you aren’t chanting anymore. Besides, yesterday you managed to cast one with each hand. Why would two with one hand be any different?”

Liz stood silent for a moment, trying to come up with an answer.

“It’s time to get rid of that mindset that you can’t do something because others can’t,” I said before pushing her to the spot in front of the pillars and statues. “Now get to work. You can use your staff and chant while you get used to the new spells.”

I watched her training for a while, offering some pointers from time to time. After the first training session, I felt confident enough to leave her alone, so I went back to crafting.

I spent the following two training sessions finishing up the gloves. The fingerless gloves were blue and white, adorned with a small blue gem on the back of the right glove and a small white gem on the left, both embedded in what looked like snowflakes. Extremely happy with the result, I returned to Liz.

“You already broke a bullboar?” I said, surprised.

“Yeah, I think the [Glacial Spike] I used three or so casts ago pierced the torso and shattered it.”

“That’s amazing,” I said while inspecting the shattered statue. “I didn’t expect you to make this much progress today.”

“It feels good when my teacher praises me,” Liz said with a satisfied expression.

Can’t say I hate being called teacher… at least not by Liz.

“Do you still use chants for the new spells?”

“Yes. I didn’t expect it to be so hard compared to [Icicle].”

I looked at her and raised an eyebrow. “I think it has finally happened.”

“What do you mean?” Liz asked, confused.

“You have been corrupted by me,” I grinned.

“Corrupted?”

“You complain that you haven’t mastered a high-tier spell in a few hours. Is that something you should do with your so-called ‘common sense’?”

Liz's eyes went wide when she realised. “You broke me.”

“I did no such thing,” I giggled. “Now, I think we will end it here for today.”

“Why? It’s only early afternoon.”

I squinted at her. “Are you saying you would be fine to continue?”

“Of course!” she replied.

That hurts more than I thought it would.

I sighed, my voice full of disappointment. “I didn’t think you would lie to me.”

“I’m not!”

I took out a mirror and held it up in front of her. “What do you see?”

Liz looked into the mirror and saw her pale reflection. She put a hand on her cheek, noticing the difference in skin tone between her face and her hand. Her eyes widened as she looked back at me, seeing my displeased expression.

“I wasn’t lying! I’m just a little tired. Please believe me.”

I looked at her with doubtful eyes before shaking my head. “Alright then. I suppose you know your body better than I do.”

“Thank you,” she said and kissed my cheek.

But it sure doesn’t look like everything is normal. Maybe I should have a look?

“Bear with me for a moment,” I said and used [Inspect].

*********************************************************************************************************
Name: Lizette
Gender: Female
Class: Cryo Mage
Status: [Owl’s Wisdom] [Mana Exhaustion]
*********************************************************************************************************

That is something I have never heard of before.

Liz looked surprised at the uncomfortable sensation. “What was that?”

“A spell called [Inspect]. It lets me see some information about you.”

“You can see my [Status]?” she blurted out, her eyes filled with curiosity.

“No. I can see your name, gender, class, and any buffs and debuffs you have on you. But you felt it when I used it, right? So it’s not like I can go around and look all I want.”

“Yeah, it felt uncomfortable, like a deep shiver. And it feels like it came from you,” she said and shuddered. “But you can even see buffs and debuffs? I can’t see that with [Status].”

“I might even be able to improve it if I can get my hands on a dungeon core.”

“Why do you want a dungeon core?”

“I asked at the guild, and the guildmaster said they used dungeon cores when making the device that makes guild cards. Since they can see some of your [Status] with that, I want one to see if it can help me improve the spell.”

“Let me guess, you want to go to a dungeon and take one for yourself?” she asked, squinting at me.

“Wow, that's a great idea, I should do that! Thanks, Liz,” I replied with a sly smile.

“Don’t make it sound like I’m the reason some dungeon is going to collapse soon,” she groaned.

“It feels like we got off track,” I said. “Do you know what [Mana Exhaustion] is?”

Liz pondered for a moment before replying. “I don’t think I have heard of it before.”

“Neither have I, but you have it. Therefore, no more training today.”

If only I could see more information about it. When did she even get it? She wasn’t pale yesterday. Maybe it got worse? Or was it the high-tier spells that did it?

“I understand,” she said in a dejected tone.

“Let’s go back to the capital and rest.”

Upon returning to the inn, I told Liz to go up to our room while I walked over to the reception to inquire about one of the services listed. The older man was occupied with a pudgy short man who appeared quite irritated, while the woman who had been scolded earlier was available.

I would have preferred it to be the other way around.

I walked up to the reception. “Hi, I wanted to inquire about one of the services you provide.”

“Welcome back, Lady Luna,” the woman greeted me with a smile. “Which service were you interested in?”

Before I could answer, the man next to me yelled. “This is an outrage. Do you know who I am?”

“My utmost apologies, Marquess Bluhelt,” the older man behind the counter said. “we can offer you another room if that would be acceptable?”

I hope the pay is good here considering they have to deal with nobles. Also, doesn't he own his own mansion?

While the man was fuming, I returned to my own business. “I was wondering if the spa treatment you offered was something you had to book in advance?”

“Yes, since the entire facility will be at your disposal. Would you like to book it?”

“Yes, please.”

The woman took out a book and flipped it open. “The next available time would be in three and a half hours. We also have several options for tomorrow.”

“Tonight would be perfect.”

“Certainly,” she replied and quickly wrote something down in the book.

“Could you send someone to fetch us when it’s time?” I asked. “Oh, could you also send up dinner for two now? Whatever the chefs recommend is fine.”

“Right away,” she said and waved at one of the men standing to the side. “Have dinner for two delivered to the Velvet Suite.”

“Thank you,” I said, and just as I was about to leave, I heard the annoying noble stop his arguing mid-sentence and turn to me. “You are the one staying in my favorite suite?”

I stopped and turned to him. “I might be?”

How would I know what his favorite suite is? He probably overheard the woman say Velvet Suite, so I can guess that’s his favorite. 

“I’m Marquess Bluhelt,” he introduced himself and looked at me curiously. “Who might you be?”

I cocked my head. “I’m Luna.”

Realising I introduced myself with neither title nor last name, the Marquess clicked his tongue and muttered. “A commoner.”

He promptly ignored me and turned back to the old man. “I don’t know what kind of charity you are running, but to tell me I can’t have my room because of this commoner is outrageous! I demand you throw her out and give me my room. Be sure to clean it thoroughly,” he looked back at me with disgust in his eyes.

Am I really going to murder a noble in less than two weeks after waking up? That would be some kind of record. I better not. The backlash might spill over onto Liz.

“Lady Luna is our esteemed guest. What you are asking for is simply not possible.”

“She is a commoner!” he yelled. 

“Lady Luna is a high-ranking adventurer.”

Just walk away.

“I will take my leave now. I wish you well, Marquess Blubber,” I said and started walking away.

Yeah, sure, let us just escalate the situation instead.

The woman and the older man behind the counter stared at me in horror upon hearing what I had said.

“The insolence! I could have you executed,” he yelled, his face red with anger.

Two armed guards, whom I assumed were the personal guards of the Marquess, stepped forward from where they had watched the exchange, both gripping the hilts of their swords.

I turned and looked at them with a sinister glare, filled with enough bloodlust to make both of them step back. “You are welcome to try,” I said, before turning back and directing the same glare at the Marquess. He almost stumbled backward from the intensity before I changed my expression to a gentle smile and left.

How was that any better than outright murdering him? The backlash might still spill over onto Liz. Why can’t I swallow my pride for just a moment? Don’t antagonize the nobles, Luna. Don’t insult the nobles, Luna. Don’t threaten the nobles, Luna. How hard is that? My plans to travel might have to be pushed ahead of schedule.

As I walked up the stairs, I silently apologised to the old man who had to deal with the mess I left behind.