I was reincarnated as bait for the summoned hero
Just as we reached the center of the lake, I sensed something.
Kotesu, who had been dozing off with his paws tucked under him on my lap, suddenly woke up and let out a sharp, threatening cry.
The fur on his back stood on end, and his tail fluffed up.
There must be something… over there.
“Did I let my guard down just because we’re on the lake?”
“Well, it can’t be helped. I was also slow to notice.”
As I furrowed my brows, Rei chuckled.
He was leaning against a large cushion he had somehow pulled from his [Item Box], watching me with amusement.
A complete spectator’s stance.
I activated my [Presence Detection] skill.
I carefully probed the ominous presence, but it was difficult to pinpoint.
Was it an exceptionally cautious monster? Or just a timid one…?
(…Huh? The presence is moving?)
It was a faint presence—so faint it was almost just a hunch. I carefully tracked it so as not to lose it, and then I noticed movement.
It had been slowly writhing, but suddenly, it picked up speed and closed in rapidly.
“Below us…!”
I hurriedly gathered my magic power and, just before it could make contact, used water magic to move the rubber boat.
It was a close call.
A massive figure emerged from the lake surface right where our boat had been just moments ago.
Its enormous body was a grayish color with a faint bluish tint.
It swayed its long neck awkwardly as it glared at us.
“A plesiosaurus…?”
It closely resembled a type of aquatic dinosaur, a long-necked plesiosaur.
It was about five meters in length.
From a distance, it might have looked elegant, but seeing it up close, there was no time to admire it—only confusion.
“Its torso is broad and surprisingly flat. Its eyes are round and not cute at all. And that huge mouth filled with jagged teeth is unsettling.”
Japanese dinosaur encyclopedias often depicted plesiosaurs with graceful illustrations, but this magical beast looked more like a “fierce, carnivorous turtle without a shell” than a dragon.
In other words, not cute.
Rei chuckled, clearly entertained.
“Tohma , that is no dinosaur. It’s a failed dragon.”
“A failed dragon…?”
Would that make it a lesser dragon?
Despite attacking us, the creature did nothing after its failed first strike.
“…Wait, is it scared of you?”
Its relatively small eyes were locked onto Rei, who was lounging on the cushion.
Rei, the golden dragon, smiled knowingly, as if saying, “So, it figured it out?”
“You…”
“Not my fault. Normally, dungeon monsters don’t possess much will of their own. But this one, perhaps because it has lived far too long, seems to be developing a sense of self.”
“I see. Most adventurers wouldn’t take a shortcut across the lake like us. It’s probably lived peacefully in the lake’s depths ever since this dungeon was formed.”
That said, I couldn’t afford to sympathize.
It had every intention of attacking us.
Right now, it was frozen in fear of the dragon’s presence, but as a dungeon monster, its instincts would soon take over, and it would strike again.
I discreetly used [Appraisal] and found that this plesiosaurus-like creature was actually a magical beast called a “Lake Serpent.”
Just as Rei had said, it was a type of lesser dragon.
“It’s an aquatic creature, so it probably uses water magic. Stay alert.”
“Y-yeah!”
“Nya.”
Kotesu was the first to act.
He cast a spirit magic spell—plant magic—manipulating the lake’s swaying algae.
Without a sound, the algae crept toward the Lake Serpent and wrapped around its limbs, restraining it.
With the monster unable to move, Sheera and I struck it with wind magic.
We chose Wind Cutter.
By channeling plenty of magic power into the mid-tier spell, we enhanced it into a deadly wind blade.
The immobilized Lake Serpent was a perfect target.
As the razor-sharp wind magic cut through the air with a piercing sound, the beast had no means of escape and was quickly drenched in its own blood.
A particularly large Wind Cutter struck its long neck like a final blow, severing it completely.
The battle was over.
“Ugh… It reeks of blood…”
The lake was stained red.
The Lake Serpent’s massive body floated lifelessly on the surface.
I was used to seeing dead monsters, but I might have gone a bit overboard this time—the smell of blood was overwhelming.
As I grimaced, Rei reassured me, “It’ll disappear soon.”
I was genuinely grateful for the dungeon system at that moment.
Before long, the corpse and the blood vanished, leaving behind several drop items floating on the water.
“Hope they sell for a good price.”
Muttering something quite materialistic, I used water magic to pull the items closer.
“A water magic stone, a lump of meat… and is this a magic sword?”
“A robe, too. A beautiful shade of blue.”
The magic stone is quite large—about the size of a baseball. Water magic stones sell for a high price, so this one seems promising.
The sword that looks like a magical weapon is adorned with jewels. The sharpness seems good, but it’s too large for both Sheera and me.
Thanks to the benefits of leveling up, my strength has increased, so I have no trouble swinging it, but it seems impractical.
Just to be sure, I asked Sheera.
“Sheera, do you want to use this sword? It looks like it can unleash water slashes.”
“I don’t need it. My weapons are a bow and a short sword. Plus, it looks too bulky and hard to use.”
“Yeah, I thought so…”
Only Rei would be able to swing a greatsword like this with ease.
I glanced over at him, and he quickly refused.
“I’m not participating in combat. That sword is yours.”
“Got it. Then we’ll split it between us.”
“Um, I want this robe. I’ll leave the magic stone and the sword to Tohma -san and Kotesu, so please give me this!”
It was rare for Sheera to show such desire for something.
The light blue robe she held certainly seemed to suit her well.
It was a beautiful robe dyed the same color as her aquamarine-colored eyes. When I appraised it, I was surprised.
“A Cloak of Invisibility… It’s a magical item. Plus, it has the blessing of water magic, which makes it cool and refreshing even in summer. Nice, that one.”
“Invisibility…! I really want it…”
Moved by the way she hugged the robe tightly, I decided to give it to Sheera.
I already have my fully-protected outfit blessed by the creator god, Kesaran Pasaran, after all.
Sheera quickly put on the robe and smiled happily.
I stored the magic stone, the magic sword, and the large chunk of meat—too big to carry without spreading my arms—into the [Item Box].
I secretly appraised the Lake Serpent meat, and it turned out to be edible and very delicious.
This is promising.
(Since Rei doesn’t consider the lesser dragon to be the same species, it won’t be cannibalism…)
Since it’s a rare opportunity, I’m thinking of using it for tonight’s main dish. I’m already excited about how to cook this vibrant, red meat with some beautiful marbling.
The fact that it had survived for so long without being defeated makes me think it was the hidden boss of this field.
Anyway, after defeating such a troublesome enemy, the lake became quiet.
The three of us and Kotesu decided to enjoy a leisurely cruise across the lake to the other shore, where the entrance to the lower levels was located.
