The "reinforcements" that arrived... were junk. But it wasn't just trash. It was a massive collection of scrap, shaped like a serpent.

  〈RUMBLEEEE!!〉

  The mass of junk surged toward the Wood Dragon, undulating like a giant snake. It coiled around the beast's limbs in a crushing grip, bringing the Wood Dragon’s movements to a complete halt.

  "Looks like you're struggling there, Big Bro."

  The speaker was a wooden marionette, moving autonomously by some unseen mana. Behind it stood a line of mismatched, battered furniture—patched up with the earthen poultices I had made for Lurudona.

  "Who... exactly are you?"

  I gasped, struggling to catch my breath.

  "We’re the brothers who got a second chance at life from Sis Lurudona. Those parts you made for us are the best! With these, a Wood Dragon is nothing but kindling!"

  "Well, look at that. Not bad at all."

  Hildegardie finally hopped down from her stump, her eyes twinkling with genuine interest. "That 'junk' is carrying some serious debuff magic. It stripped the dragon's defensive layers in an instant. Pretty impressive for a shopkeeper's hobby."

  The furniture monsters swarmed the dragon. A chair grabbed an arm, a table pinned a leg, and a bed slammed onto the tail. The puppet covered the dragon’s eyes, causing its movements to stall awkwardly.

  "Now! Finish him, Big Bro!"

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  The dragon’s neck was exposed—the only spot where the defensive wards seemed thin.

  "You're joining me, Dragon! I'm making you mine!"

  Driven by the cat-like instincts coursing through my veins, I didn't reach for a weapon. I lunged, burying my teeth toward the softest part of the wooden throat.

  〈ZAP!〉

  A sharp discharge of magical energy struck my jaw. The same defensive ward from before was now grinding against my teeth. The shock sent a numbing pain through my skull.

  "Break, damn you...!" I growled. I ignored the metallic taste of blood and bit down with every ounce of strength. Finally, the ward let out a high-pitched scream and shattered.

  My teeth sank deep into the main magical core hidden beneath the bark.

  A brilliant green light erupted from the throat as the core shattered. The Wood Dragon gave one final, shuddering creak before its entire frame went limp, turning back into a simple pile of lifeless timber.

  The shock of the mana collapse sent me flying, spinning through the air in a single rotation.

  "Phew... I can't believe I just bit through a defensive spell."

  I spat out a splinter, my jaw aching. My outfit was a mess, and my cat ears twitched with exhaustion.

  "A masterpiece," Hildegardie cackled, walking over with a smirk. "Chewing through a dragon’s ward... you're much more of a beast than you look, Landlord."

  (More than half of this is because of your magic, though...)

  "Hmph. Not a bad finish."

  The tiny dragon grumbled, clapping in an awkward, unfamiliar manner. "Every living thing has a weak point at the throat. My Wood Dragon was no different."

  "Even though you reinforced it with magic..." I muttered.

  "That was 'Prioritized Weakness Reinforcement'! Even if you reinforce it, a weak point remains a weak point. Breaking through it is the key to victory—that ironclad rule applies everywhere!"

  The tiny dragon lectured, sounding like a first-year university student who had just learned a new theory.

  "Right, sure. Whatever you say," I replied half-heartedly, the witch's magic finally fading away.

  "Anyway, I shall be your ally for a while. My name is Serpentine Dracarn. Pleasure to meet you."

  I shook his hand and introduced Scolly and Igora. Everything seemed to be ending on a high note... or so I thought.

  The wooden puppet and the living furniture were not smiling. They remained in their battle stances, their mismatched eyes fixed on the tiny dragon with deep, dark suspicion.