The Genius Blacksmith's Game
Ancient Dragon. (3)
Why didn't I know that?
Those who realized that they would soon die.
Bahala thought that their wish would be something like this.
Become young again and eat whatever you want until you burst… … .
Or return to those days of youthful vigor to share love with someone else young… … .
It wasn't at all.
Everyone is bound to have people precious to them in their lives.
Yes, if I were to have a dying wish, it would be to meet Sophia one last time, even if just once.
That day.
It was okay to give up everything he had built up until now.
Even for just one day…
No, if Bahala could meet Sophia again for even just one hour, he felt he could leave this world with a genuine smile.
However… … .
It cannot be achieved.
That is the destiny of us all. It is a dream that no one can achieve.
The same goes for Gronit, an ancient dragon that has lived for thousands of years.
"The fact that he wants to see his wife again probably means she is already dead."
At Hyunsu's words, Gronit nodded with a bitter smile.
“Yes, my wife died a long time ago. She has returned to the embrace of nature.”
It seemed as though her appearance during her lifetime was still vivid in Gronit's eyes.
“Descendant of the Sword God, my friend. Will you read the story of me and her?”
Bahala and Hyunsu nodded.
[You can read Gronit's book about love.]
A very old book rose in front of the two people.
It is something I used, and it is also something my wife used.
Hyunsu and Bahala turned the first page.
This is nothing special.
Gronit's love narrative thus began with its first sentence.
I was told that I, having inherited the most noble blood among dragons, would become a Dragon Lord when I grew up.
Unlike the title of Dragon Lord, I was a wild and unruly dragon.
He caused trouble every day as if it were a daily routine and would often beat up other dragons.
-Some dragons were even scolded for not bringing delicious meat every day.
It seems the ancient dragon Gronit's past was like that of a scoundrel.
When the two of them glanced at Gronit, he only gave a bitter smile.
The Elder Council summoned me every day, and hating the stubborn dragons, I crossed the boundaries of the rules again that day, polymorphed into the form of a young man for amusement, and went to the Human Realm.
-Until now, I have played countless tricks in the Human Realm. I defeated a human destined to be a Sword Saint in front of everyone, and I enjoyed the game of trivially breaking the magic of a Great Mage.
However, the amusement of that day left the deepest impression on me. While walking down the street, I encountered a girl. She was a girl of a similar age to me, who looked like a young man.
The moment I saw her selling flowers, I ended up staring at her blankly.
The girl handed me a flower. It was a flower that smelled as good as she did. My heart was pounding so hard that I was startled.
It was from that day. I followed her around as she sold flowers.
One day, he said he would buy all the flowers and asked me to spend a day with him.
One day, he held out a flower and courted him, handing it over just like humans do.
On another day, after a long courtship, I was finally granted permission to meet.
-For the first time, I cursed being a dragon. Because I thought she would be disappointed when she found out my true identity…
The moment I revealed my identity, she was shocked and fainted. She placed her hand on my sullen cheek and soon smiled.
-Gronit. It's you that I like you, not because you're human or a dragon.
We loved each other. When the Dragon Elders found out the truth, they warned me. They said that if I attempted to hold a wedding ceremony, they would strip me of my path as a Dragon Elder. They warned that I would lose everything and never be able to return. I told them to do so. More than those positions, more than those positions, one person was more precious to me.
I created millions of flowers with magic. Guests—butterflies, bees, and dragonflies—filled the space amidst the colorful blossoms. They were the only guests. Yet, in that place, she was the most beautiful in her pure white bridal gown, and I was the most splendid human being in my black suit. And so, we were married.
It was an ordinary life with nothing special about it.
Every evening I ate the delicious meals she prepared, and having started working as a carpenter, I would rush to see her every time.
At the shabby cabin on the small hill, she always waited for me on my way home and waved goodbye on my way to work.
But as time went by… … .
She grew old.
Wrinkles increased, her body withered, and her hair turned white. With every passing season, she grew ill.
I offered to bring her everything in this world that does not age, but she refused.
And so, standing on the hill bathed in the sunset, I sat in the rocking chair we had shared for sixty years and watched the setting sun with her; leaning on my shoulder, she left my embrace. After that… I returned to the arms of the dragons. Why? I had become more mature in just a few decades. She had completely transformed my very existence.
After she left, I could never love again. She was my first love and my last.
“…….”
As Gronit said, it is an ordinary love story with nothing special about it.
There were no villains, and no danger. That is why it feels even more poignant.
Because everyone meets a love to spend their life with and then partes ways.
If there is something special about it, it is that Gronit had a truly pure love.
I mean a love where having her is enough, even if it means giving up everything you have.
It was the most beautiful love everyone wanted, and the saddest breakup everyone did not want.
Bahala and Hyunsu viewed Gronit differently.
Gronit, who was different from them because he was a supreme dragon, looks a little different.
Gronit gestured with his chin toward the book.
"ah……."
Gronit said that it was also written by his wife.
Bahala and Hyunsu, filled with bewilderment, turned the page again.
Charak-
I was born an orphan. I don't even know who my parents are.
The font has changed.
The story written by Gronit's wife, Margaret, was just beginning.
I had always made a living selling flowers since I was young. That day was no different. I went to the market to sell flowers. That is when I saw a boy. When I saw him, my heart started pounding like crazy.
Without even realizing it, I ended up giving flowers to someone for the first time in my life.
From that day on, he came to see me. The tall young man, exuding an aristocratic aura, seemed like someone of a different social standing from mine.
I rejected his courtship. Although I liked him very much, a noble and a commoner like me were not a good match. However, even as I rejected him, I desperately hoped that he would seek me out again.
Ah…! He didn’t give up on me. I was happy. But on my way back after rejecting him once again, I ended up running home, overjoyed that he had come to see me again. I hope he comes again tomorrow… I hope to see your face one more time!
Today, the next day, and even after several months passed, he came before me. He gifted me days more beautiful than the flowers I had given him.
In the end, I accepted his courtship. However, to my surprise, he was a dragon! I was so shocked I fell over, but it didn't matter. The fact remained that he was Gronit, the one I loved…
He proposed, and I accepted. And every day, I saw him off at the cabin when he left for work and greeted him when he returned.
My time and his began to flow differently.
I grew old, and he did not. Watching Gronit, who would be left all alone, I nagged him every day.
I taught him manners and etiquette, knowing that he would have to live alone in the future. I told him what to do and what not to do.
-Okay, I prepared.
I prepared for him to live alone again after I left. His former fiery temper gradually faded away. He grew wiser with each passing day. That is a relief. Gronit!
My life is coming to an end. But I was not afraid. I saw Gronit crying in a corner because of me, with only a few days left to live. I was worried about him.
I didn't have much strength left. I probably only have a few days left to live. If you happen to see this, Gronit, I want to tell you.
I fell in love the moment I first saw you, and I loved only you until the very end… So please, I hope you find happiness…
Hyunsu and Bahala were speechless.
For both Margaret and Gronit, they were each other's first love.
They fell in love at first sight the moment they saw each other.
Gronit abandoned the path of the Lord for her and guarded it for the rest of his life… … .
Margaret taught him how to live and made him wise, for the sake of him who would one day have to return.
The moment you close the book.
I hear a story about two people.
Margaret, I was so happy to meet you. Of all my thousands of years, the 60 years or so I spent with you are the most precious.
Gronit, I can't forget the moment I saw you at the market. That day felt like a miracle to me.
Margaret, I loved you so much. I don't think I'll ever meet anyone like you again. I will never love again.
Gronit. I love you so much. When I leave, I hope you meet someone new, forget me, and be happy. I really hope that happens.
Margaret, I was glad to meet you.
Gronit, you were so precious.
Margaret, every moment with you was a blessing.
Gronit, every moment of my life with you was beautiful.
Margaret, may you have been happy in my arms.
Gronit, I hope you continue to be happy.
Margaret, you are my first love.
Gronit, you are my last love.
We were each other's first love and our last love…
Thump-
The two of them wrote separately like that, and in the end, Hyunsu covered the combined version.
[You have seen the most unremarkable love.]
[However, it is the purest and noblest love that transcends race.]
[Gronit's wish is to meet her.]
Even a brief moment is fine. I just want to hug her tightly again, even if only once. I want to hug her with all my might, tighter than ever before.
The most supreme life form.
The one who was the Dragon Lord.
It was the wish of one who had now grown old and become an ancient dragon.
“If you grant that, I will give you the Dragon Blood, the Dragon Slayer Steel, and the Dragon Heart Core.”
[Gronit promises you a reward.]
Hyun-su nodded, and Gronit looked at Bahala and Hyun-su and spoke.
“And I am the one who was once the Dragon Lord. I will give you each one of your wishes.”
[Ancient Dragon's Rare is special.]
[There are 84 types classified as transcendent.]
[There are 342 types classified as Legends.]
Hyunsu was impressed by the list of rewards.
The Ancient Dragon's Lair. It might be a place where the greatest rewards in the world are hidden. I really want to clear it.
Is it because the reward is too great? That is partly true.
However, there was another reason why I really wanted to clear it.
I was determined to reunite Margaret and Gronit.
