Snow Witch'S Journey
Monster Hunting Competition pt.2

While adjusting the position of my compass that had pointed one way, I flew up my magic broom through the forest towards the direction that the compass pointed. The creature was now a little off the mark that I found in my unconscious place. The creature's legs left a trail on the snow, and its huge body tore down all the trees that blocked its path. Thanks to him, the streets were wide open for me.

In this part of the forest I've been through, the more footprints I've found. Footprints of humans, hunters who chase the creatures that are targeted in this competition. Apparently, those hunters were close enough from here.

“They are all too ambitious to quickly win this competition. They were instantly blind and thirsted for victory once promised a reward. In fact, they themselves say that the creature has been wandering and terrorizing this city long enough.” Aeron nags as if he is a neighbor who likes to comment on other house grass.

“If so, I won't blame them. You see, I also have the same ambition to win and get a prize,” I said, which makes Aeron just a small sigh.

“Stop looking after others, Niva. It won't make you better,” he said.

I don't have an answer for that. I decided to shut up and focus on the front.

There was a loud roar like a giant drum that shocked me. On top of the tree canopy, the tree branches shook. When the shaking on the ground began to feel, I knew that the creature was close to me.

Following that voice, I found the monster in front of me with a number of hunters surrounding it.

“Do not let the creature escape!”

“Quick, catch!”

The hunters pointed their guns at a large, cornered creature. While keeping a watchful distance, they swung their swords in the air randomly, regardless of hit or not, most importantly not giving the creature a chance to get close. The trees behind the creature have a large size and a close distance, so that a creature of that size will not be able to pass. One of the hunters threw a spear at the creature, but it immediately bounced as it hit a hard layer on the creature's back.

It was a giant reptile twice the size of an adult bison. Big and fat, that's how it looks. His scales were dominated by the brown color, but the most outstanding of them was the thick layer of armor on his back. A thick bone shield with a pointed shape protects his short body, from the tip of his nose to his tail. So hard and thick, the weapons of the hunters could not penetrate the shield; the spear would not be able to penetrate it and the arrows would just bounce. Due to its hard and sharp bone shield like a stone formation, people referred to the creature as the Stone Dragon.

The creature growled and showed a row of pointed teeth to the hunters who surrounded it. Although no one could hurt him, the creature seemed to be cornered by the sheer number of hunters.

Then, one of the hunters noticed me and looked over. He was shocked to see me until his eyes glared like they were looking at a ghost. “You? How are you still alive?”

“I saw you lying covered in blood. There's no way you're okay!”

One of the hunters turned around and said while frowning. “Ah, you're the newly arrived witch, yes. I don't know what magic trick you did until you weren't hurt at all, but I suggest you go back to town. That dragon is already ours!”

Even though his colleagues were busy facing the dragon, maybe this one hunter could even take care of me. He really did not know who the witch was in front of him.

“Enak just told me to leave. From the beginning, the creature was mine. I found it before you guys, you know!”

Enthralled by the spirit, I turned my wand and violently snapped its pointy lower end to the ground. I exclaimed, “Aeska!” Instantly, a bluish light appeared at the center of my hook-shaped stick head. Simultaneously, the ground trembled, then a wall of thick ice sheets grew high from the ground forming a circle separating the hunters with the dragon confined within.

After that, I lifted my staff up, and the hard and sturdy stick suddenly extended and wrapped around a tree branch like a rope. My wand pulled me up very quickly. I swung using the moment to spin upwards and landed on the branch. My wand shrank back to its original size.

“Hey, what are you doing!?” shouted one of the hunters who tried to catch me but failed.

The ice wall was exposed at the top so that it could be seen that the creature was confined within the ice wall. From up here, the top of his back that was lined with stone shields was all clearly visible, and it really looked like a taper rock formation and was quite dangerous if it slipped falling down to it. The creature's neck was short and covered in armor as well, so he could only look left and right, but could not look up to see me. Seeing no way out, the creature tried to hit and destroy the ice wall. Fortunately, I had already made the ice sheet as thick as possible so it would take a long time to destroy it.

“How now?” ask Aeron.

As soon as I answered Aeron's question, I jumped straight from the tree branch to the inside of the ice wall through its open roof. My robe instantly expanded which made me float down slowly in the air, then I landed like snow that fell to the ground gently. As soon as I turned around, the creature looked at me with its sharp yellow eyes, then growled. Now it was just me and the dragon that were locked inside the ice wall.

With all four of its short, fat legs, the creature ran towards me while lowering its head, showing off a hard, horn-like layer on its head. That thing tried to hit me like a bull. For some reason, he seemed so annoyed at me that he tried to run as fast as possible even though his huge body did not support him at all.

As he headed here, I immediately flicked my wand nimbly in the air. A purple-colored puff of smoke like crystal dust flickered in front of me. Then, when the creature was close enough, I whispered, “Sleep!” and blew the purple smoke into his face filled with anger. In a short time, the creature squeezed after hitting the smoke, instantly unconscious. I managed to catch her big head with both hands, but her still slumped body pushed me backwards until I was squeezed into the ice wall.

Finally, the creature was asleep quietly now. As if his burden was carried away in his beautiful dream, his head felt so light as I hugged and I lowered it slowly.