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Chapter 57 I Slept with a Dragon!
"Alright, buddy, it's us." Seeing this, Tagan immediately slowed down and came to the groundbird's side, reaching out to comfort it and familiarly stroking the groundbird's feathered neck.
The groundbird gradually calmed down under his touch, but it still snorted from time to time, expressing its slight dissatisfaction with the unpleasant smell.
"That bird has a really good nose." Xia Lin found the ground bird's reaction amusing.
"Animals are naturally sensitive to the smell of blood," Tagan said as he and the others loaded the harvest onto the cargo baskets on the back of the groundbirds.
The heavy spear and rough bone staff were carefully secured, and the small leather pouch containing the kobold's scales and claws was tucked into a corner.
Ezio's oil paper packages containing the strange mushrooms were placed with extra care on a stable surface to prevent them from being crushed during the journey.
Xia Lin also placed the bag containing candles and heavy scales bearing the faith of the kobolds on it.
With the addition of their personal belongings, the baskets were crammed full.
The ground bird clearly felt the increase in weight. It adjusted its stance, let out a slightly labored low cry, but still managed to stand firmly.
Tagan untied the reins and gave them a gentle shake: "Let's go back to town."
The ground bird took its first steps and began to trot.
Xia Lin noticed that although the load had increased considerably, its speed was indeed slower than before, but its steps remained steady and powerful, traversing the rugged slopes and forest paths as if they were flat ground, demonstrating amazing endurance and adaptability.
"This ground bird is really something," Xia Lin couldn't help but exclaim, her mind already racing with calculations.
With its strong endurance, high load-bearing capacity, omnivorous diet, and strong adaptability to mountainous terrain, this is simply the mobile warehouse and mount that adventurers dream of!
"Captain, how much does this ground bird cost? Can an ordinary adventurer afford it?"
Tagan glanced back at him, his face displaying a complex expression that said, "I understand you, but don't even think about it."
"Don't you think this thing is more practical than a horse and more agile than a pack animal? You could get one and keep it to save energy on missions?" Targen asked.
Xia Lin nodded honestly.
"Sigh, some people on our team thought the same thing back then, and they went to inquire with great enthusiasm, but well..." Taggen sighed.
"First of all, a well-trained adult ground bird can cost as much as a good horse. Secondly, and most importantly, taking care of a ground bird is incredibly troublesome!"
"Yes! It's incredibly difficult to take care of," Ezio chimed in, launching into a tirade.
"This thing looks robust, but it has a delicate stomach and needs to be fed carefully. It needs to be a mixture of beans, grains, and specific grasses. If the proportions are not right, it will get diarrhea."
When they reach mating season, they become incredibly irritable, kicking and pecking, requiring a professional bird trainer to manage them or to help them breed.
Breeding is another big expense and a lot of work. You also have to regularly groom their feathers, prevent parasites, and trim their hooves and claws. Who has the time and patience for all that?
"We adventurers can barely take care of ourselves, how could we possibly serve such a tyrant?"
Tagan patted the groundbird's sturdy back: "So, renting is still more cost-effective. Rent one when you need it, and return it when you're done. It's hassle-free and saves you a lot of trouble."
Keep it yourself? Unless you're planning to retire and open a groundbird rental business, or you're rich enough to hire someone to take care of it.
Xia Lin was stunned, and the little flame in her heart was instantly extinguished.
Indeed, it's best to just admire this ground-walking bird mount from afar.
At this moment, Ezio leaned over, pointed to the large pile of dark red scales that Xia Lin had collected in the cargo basket, and then glanced at the scale-inlaid shield that had been seized from the Dragon Shield Guards. He asked curiously, "Xia Lin, you took this kobold quest mainly for these scales, right?"
"Yes," Xia Lin nodded.
"The dwarven blacksmith Sindar said my shield needs an upgrade. He suggested that I need some tough scales as auxiliary materials, and the scales of kobolds, which have some dragon blood, are perfect."
"Dragon bloodline?" Leah's pointed ears twitched, and a strange smile appeared on the elf's face. "That dwarf master probably didn't mention to you that it would be best to get some real dragon materials, right? Like, dragon scales or something?"
Xia Lin touched his nose somewhat awkwardly: "Ahem, he did mention it, it seems that real dragon scales can give shields a qualitative leap in quality."
However, he also knew that dragon scales were extremely rare and hard to come by.
Upon hearing this, even the composed Targon couldn't help but laugh, and Ezio burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! That old bastard Sinda still loves to joke around!" Targen shook his head.
"Real dragon scales? My dear Xia Lin, I'm not trying to discourage you, but for an average adventurer, even if they spend their entire life trying, they're lucky if they actually see a dragon flying across the sky."
There are indeed their shed scales in the dragon's nest, but they'd probably be burned to ashes by the dragon's breath or terrified by its might before they even got close.
Leah smiled and said, "Dragon nests may indeed have shed old scales, but I've never heard of anyone succeeding and coming back alive to brag. Captain, have you ever seen a dragon? A real dragon."
Targen's smile faded. He thought seriously for a moment, then shook his head: "In all my years as an adventurer, I've traveled to many places, but I've never seen a true dragon. I have seen some 'pseudo-dragons' that accompany certain high-ranking mages in the Upper City, though."
"A fake dragon?" Xia Lin asked curiously.
"Yes, it's a small dragon-like creature with high intelligence. It can communicate with people in a simple way. It looks like a miniature dragon and is often used as a magical pet or companion by mages."
In terms of bloodline, it's a 'miniature version' of a dragon; it doesn't have much fighting ability, but it's mainly intelligent and beautiful.
Targen explained, "There are also 'dragonhounds' created through mage experiments. They look like dogs, have some dragon scales on their bodies, can breathe small fireballs, are loyal, but are closer to magical creations and are not true dragonborn."
He paused, then continued, "Speaking of dangerous creatures, I've heard of 'two-legged wyverns' in some high-level mission rumors; they're distant relatives of dragons."
It is much smaller than a real dragon, has no forelimbs, has claws on its hind limbs, and has poisonous barbs on its tail. It is not very intelligent but is very fierce and is a very dangerous monster.
Most professionals would avoid them. It's said that only a very few powerful individuals can tame them and use them as mounts.
As for the most common creatures that can be linked to dragons by blood…” He pointed to the scales in the basket, “they’re probably the kobolds we just dealt with.”
Ezio, who had been listening intently, interjected, "I've also heard bards say that in some places there are dragonblood sorcerers, spellcasters who have awakened a trace of dragon power in their blood. Their spells are related to dragon breath and elemental manipulation, and the more powerful ones can even temporarily conjure dragon wings or scales!"
Leah rolled her eyes at him: "Nine out of ten of your bard friends are just drunken vagrants who start making up stories to scam money for drinks. You can't believe a word they say?"
"Hey, this time it's for real!"
Ezio retorted defiantly, then his eyes darted around, and he suddenly lowered his voice, a strange expression of smugness and mystery on his face, muttering in a volume only he and Xia Lin could hear:
"What's so special about dragons? I've even slept with one!"