Tale of the Red Dragon Without Dragon's Might-Chapter 25 - Hag

Most people wouldn't recognize Kobolds; only monsters might accept them.

Among the many monsters, only one kind is fond of the title "Auntie," and that's the Hag.

The Hag, a symbol of wickedness and cruelty.

They appear as emaciated old women, but in reality, they are malicious supernatural monsters with magical powers, capable of spell-like abilities. They are keen on changing their appearance, masquerading as kind and approachable elderly women to lure those ignorant of their true nature.

Hags are virtually immortal, their lifespan surpassing even that of Dragons and Elves. The less esteemed but still respected Hags are referred to as "Aunts," while the oldest, wisest, and most powerful Hags are called "Grandmothers" by other Hags. Some Grandmothers' powers may even be on par with certain Supreme Fairies.

"You're saying Auntie Peggy is a Hag, aren't you?" Leon asked, coming to this conclusion.

"Auntie Peggy doesn't like to be called a Hag..." The Kobold looked around nervously, as if afraid that a Hag might suddenly emerge from the shadows to strangle it with her long claws. However, after glancing at the Red Dragon standing before it, the Kobold regained some courage.

Considering that even the weak Kobolds recognized her, Leon dismissed the Kobold's warning about the Hag's strength with indifference: "What kind of Hag? Green Hag or Annis Hag?"

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There are many types of Hags. Night Hags mainly live in the Lower Plane, Sea Hags prefer to dwell in gloomy, filthy underwater dens, and Bheur Hags, as the name suggests, reside in cold lands... Eliminating those implausible ones, only two types remain.

"I don't know." The Kobold shook its head. "Hawks doesn't know."

Leon smiled, having anticipated this answer.

Hags can change their appearance and casually make their way to human towns as they please.

Importantly, against weaker opponents like children, or unguarded ones like sleeping individuals, Hags indeed resort to violence. But most of the time, they prefer trickery and bargaining to outright aggression.

Leon, gently swishing the tip of his tail, pondered for a moment and said, "Fine, lead me to her."

"I know, Auntie Peggy, show the way." A Kobold leaped up as if to pick a peach.

"Go to hell," Hawks thrust his spear forcefully at the Kobold's head, determined to claim all the credit in assisting the Red Dragon.

Leon paid no attention to the infighting among Kobolds and asked nonchalantly, "Is it far?"

"Far," Hawks said after beating the other Kobolds. "Auntie Peggy is at where we used to live... Humans, there were often humans there, beating us, so we moved here. No humans here, no one to beat us, no bears, and we have a master."

"No, I'm not your master; I never agreed to that." Leon did not want followers; he loathed troubles.

That's how bootlickers are; even knowing that the goddess only seeks them out when needed, they still feel elated. Hawks, as a Dragon-adoring Kobold, was naturally no different, eager to serve Leon. "When do we go look for Auntie Peggy?"

Leon looked up at the sky, where the moon had just risen, and said, "Wait for me to come find you."

Leon went back to gather his things, such as his sword. If it was too far away, summoning it wouldn't be easy... Yes, the sword felt somewhat small to use now, but it was still manageable. In close combat, it was no match for his sharp teeth and claws, but coupled with the Sword Control Technique, it made for an effective long-range attack.

Leon turned back to find the Kobold. He had thought about flying the Kobold straight to the destination, soaring across the sky, but in mid-air, the Kobold would lose its way, devoid of easily identifiable landmarks like small ditches, odd-shaped rocks, or dead trees, completely at a loss for finding the way back.

With no other choice, Leon could only follow the Kobold, going slowly, climbing up and down mountains, winding around on detours until they arrived at the edge of a mountain by midnight.

They progressed along the steep mountain path, small stone cairns visible everywhere. Kobolds were keen on picking up trash, rummaging through any cairn they encountered, but they found nothing except for strange bones.

Occasionally, sharp stones on the ground made the Kobold hop and jump while holding its feet. However, those stones that could cut into the Kobold's paw pads only felt slightly uncomfortable to Leon. The reason was simple: the hard scales and thick skin under his feet were tough enough that not even a knife could easily cut through.

"There it is, Auntie Peggy's cottage," the Kobold suddenly shouted.

Leon followed the direction the Kobold was pointing and saw a rather nicely decorated cottage with warm yellow light shining through its windows.

"Look, who's come?" A tall old woman asked with a deviously kind face, leaning on the door and calling out, "Is it a traveler who's lost their way?"

"What can old Peggy do for you?"

"No, it's me, Auntie Peggy," the Kobold said loudly, "Hawks."

"Oh, it's you, little rascal." Auntie Peggy's voice was filled with disdain, "How long has it been since you last visited your Auntie Peggy? Did you bring me... Dragon, look what you've brought me, you've brought along a dragon!"

The tall old lady suddenly transformed into a huge monster.

The monster had a withered face covered with a mess of broken hair, spotted purple skin riddled with scary black moles and growths, claws like rusty blades, and was adorned with bones, shredded flesh, and various filthy items. Even with its bent back and stooped posture, it stood nearly three meters tall, towering over Leon, who stood just under two meters.

It was an Annis Hag, the strongest and most robust among the Hags. Leon recognized her at a glance, and he demonstratively sat back on his haunches, using his hind legs and tail to stand up tall, lifting his neck and unfurling his wings as Red Dragons had the longest wings among the Colorful Dragons, which then appeared as big as a small house.

Leon was wary of the Annis Hag, and truthfully, the Annis Hag was more cautious of him. Nobody dared underestimate a Red Dragon, even if it was just a Young Dragon.

"Dragon, Red Dragon, what business do you have with Auntie Peggy?" The Annis Hag ignored the Kobold completely, her gaze fixed on Leon, her hand resting upon a waist belt hung with odd trinkets, "You little rascal, if you're thinking of robbing your Auntie Peggy... This old dog still has a few teeth left."

As soon as Auntie Peggy finished speaking, crows cawed twice and then collectively flew away with a whoosh, and out of the darkness, two three-meter-tall Ogres with giant clubs emerged.

"Let me introduce, these are my bodyguards and bouncers," the Annis Hag said with a flourish, "the dimwit Apu and the fool Fanke."

"Scared now?" the Annis Hag bellowed.

Leon spit out the sword he had been biting on.

"No, I'm not scared at all, but what I wanted to say is that I didn't come to rob you, Auntie Peggy," Leon spoke; naturally, he wouldn't be disrespectful and call her an Annis Hag since he was there to ask for a favor, "I came to make a deal with you."

"I do fancy a good deal," Auntie Peggy instantly swapped her face for a sycophantic one, "my dear."