Elizabeth, the First Witch.
The most noble lady in all the land gazed silently at the firmament.
“Eldest Sister, is something the matter?”
Seeing Elizabeth staring wordlessly at the heavens, several witches approached with flickering emotions. Some felt anxiety, some curiosity, and others deep concern.
“My sisters,” Elizabeth replied to their inquiries. “Our adorable youngest has completed her errand.”
The youngest.
The witches knew exactly who Elizabeth meant. It was Audrey, the darling who had most recently joined their ranks. Recalling Audrey—the girl who always helped her sisters with such innocent devotion—the witches let out collective gasps of surprise. If Audrey had succeeded in her errand, that meant…
“The Descendant of Steel has reclaimed a forgotten legend. The immortal cipher ‘Labyrinthos’ has been cracked, and the fog on the map is lifting. Along with the legends of the past, the treasure our sisters have sought for so long—the precious object our Husband personally bestowed upon us—will return.”
“Is that true?”
Elizabeth smiled faintly and nodded.
“It is returning. ‘Thunder’ is coming back.”
* * *
The young dragon, Aion, was speechless at the surreal sight before him.
Aion’s Breath was still unrefined. Inherently, a dragon’s Breath was the act of condensing the mystery and spirits held within the body and erupting them as a force of pure destruction. However, Aion neither knew how to handle spirits nor possessed the skill to manipulate mystery. His Breath was merely a vessel for raw ‘destructive power.’
Even so, Aion was a dragon. A dragon’s Breath, even from a young one, was still a Breath. A mere human should have been obliterated without a trace.
And yet.
My Breath… it vanished.
Aion’s Breath failed to crush the human. Not only did it fail to kill him, it didn’t even leave a scratch. How was this possible? The moment Aion’s Breath touched the flames rising from the human, it melted, dismantled, and disappeared. Even Aion could tell those flames were the problem; they were so intense they made his very scales feel brittle.
But still. How could such a power exist in this world?
I have to run.
He couldn’t win this fight.
The sword the human held possessed a power of the earth so potent it felt as if a Spirit King resided within it. It was hard enough to shatter even a dragon’s claws. Furthermore, the human’s flames were terrifying enough to threaten a dragon’s life, and it had been proven that even his Breath was useless.
He had to flee. If he could just escape, Aion would eventually win. Dragons lived for eternity, and they grew stronger the longer they lived. In fact, if he simply outlived the human, wouldn’t that be a victory? No matter how robust this human was, he would grow old and die in a century or so…
But there was a problem.
How do I escape?
His wings were broken. One of his legs had been severed. His stamina was depleted from overexerting himself to release his Breath. Was escape even possible in this state?
Recalling the earlier events, it was clear this human was intimately familiar with the geography of the Sky Mountain Range—unbelievably, even more so than Aion himself, who had lived here for over a hundred years.
Is he a former Ranger? No, I’ve never heard of Imperial Rangers handling a sword with such proficiency. At best, they’re just hunters satisfied with catching wild beasts with crossbows.
Who was he?
The more Aion looked, the less he understood the human before him. And the unknown always breeds fear. Now, the thick smell of iron wafting from the human no longer felt like an unpleasant stench; it felt like the killing intent radiating from an apex predator.
Thinking that way, the human’s appearance seemed to shift.
The figure that had been both an old adventurer and a young human wavered for a moment, appearing like an old man. He had a lion-like presence, a long beard, and piercing eyes. He looked like a certain elder, drenched in blood and as hard as steel.
“Ugh… ugh…”
The moment he saw the image of that old man, Aion felt an indescribable terror. It was a primal fear, incomparable to what he had felt just moments ago. He didn’t know the old man’s identity, yet the instinct carved into his blood was screaming. It was as if… he had met his natural enemy.
I have to go back. To the nest, to my comfortable nest.
Overwhelmed by inexpressible dread, Aion completely abandoned his pride. Drenched in mud, he scrambled to run. But escaping the human was impossible.
“Where do you think…”
With a swish , Aion’s front leg was severed.
“…you’re going?”
With a thud , Aion’s head hit the dirt. The moment he touched the ground, the earth writhed, pinning him down. It was as if the entire land was targeting him. It was impossible. All spirits loved dragons. Unless the Earth Spirit King herself had descended, this shouldn’t be happening…
“Trying to leave?”
With a shink , Aion’s broken wings were carved away. Amidst the horrific pain, he couldn’t even scream. A cold blade had already sliced through his scales and was aimed at his throat. If it pushed in even slightly, Aion’s head would roll on the ground.
No matter how great a dragon was, if its head was cut off, it died. With death looming, Aion felt extreme terror. To races that enjoyed eternal life, death was a horrifying prospect. Unlike other races that lived out a set lifespan, death was an utterly foreign concept to them. This was especially true for dragons.
“St-stop. Stop. Please.”
In the face of such terrifying fear, Aion finally shed pathetic tears. As tears streamed from his reptilian eyes, he even soiled himself. Aion couldn’t even breathe properly as he looked at the human radiating a terrifying aura and begged for his life. In the way of a dragon.
“Please, please, just don’t kill me. I’ll do anything. I’ll swear an oath on my Dragon Heart. An oath on a Dragon Heart persists even after death, in the spiritual world. So, please, ask anything of me. Please, please… I still want to live…”
It was a proposal that couldn’t be refused.
Though the current Aion was pathetic for a dragon, would the future Aion be the same? Dragons were a race that became powerful in exchange for time. Aion was begging for his life by appealing to his own value. Then, Aion added:
“I-if you kill me, human, it won’t be good for you either. The Dragon Hearts of blood-related dragons are all connected. I-if you kill me, my mother will come and burn you. She will kill not only you but everyone related to you by blood. In the way of a dragon…”
It wasn’t a bluff; it was the truth.
That was why no one killed dragons recklessly. Dragons were arrogant and treated the other six races like insects, but their affection for their own kind was incredibly strong. Their love for ‘family’ was arguably the strongest among all seven races. Aion appealed through his tears.
Soon, the human spoke.
“The ‘mom card’?”
He smiled thinly.
Looking at the human’s face, Aion thought:
“Then I’ll call my grandfather.”
This human…
He’s insane.
* * *
The young dragon who had suddenly collapsed the cloud bridge and threatened us was completely suppressed. The authority of Gaia contained within the sword was truly useful. Not only did it help me escape a crisis, but it also allowed me to bind my target. It felt as if I could do almost anything as long as it involved manipulating the ‘earth.’
「That was dangerous, young descendant,」 Liam spoke. 「Normally, one should avoid a dragon’s Breath, not face it head-on. Only a Swordmaster can stand directly against a Breath.」
“But didn’t I cut through it?”
「Did I not tell you? A young dragon is not a dragon, but a winged lizard.」
“…”
「This fellow is nothing more than a pathetic lizard who hasn’t mastered a single true weapon of a dragon. Young descendant, if you had met a true dragon, your life would have ended right there. And you would have come to my side only to be nagged at for dying while acting cocky.」
Coming to Liam’s side after dying while acting cocky and getting nagged. That was the worst possible ending.
“I guess I was lucky he was young.”
「Indeed.」
“I have a question.”
「What is it?」
“Cutting through the dragon’s Breath… or rather, erasing it… I’m not exactly sure how that happened myself. I just moved as my instincts led me.”
Instincts. That was the perfect expression.
The moment I saw the Breath, memories flooded back, and after absorbing them, I found myself already swinging the sword. However, the sword I swung did not contain the mystery of “Soaring.” This was because I hadn’t digested enough memories to use the true power of the Old Adventurer.
Hearing my words, Liam replied.
「The mystery you originally possessed has grown.」
“Grown?”
「In the process of digesting the legend, your soul has become firmer. A swordsman’s mystery grows along with the growth of their soul. Your Flame of Doubt has become powerful enough to instantly dismantle the Breath of a young dragon that is little more than a hatchling.」
The Flame of Doubt. So it was the result of my original power growing.
“Then in the future, as I devour more swords, will my own power rise along with gaining new ones?”
「Yes.」
“Isn’t that… almost like cheating?”
Liam snorted at my words. 「Just for this much?」
My growth showed no signs of stagnating. For a moment, I truly felt how great the blood flowing through my veins was. A bloodline of a family that had dominated an era. The descendants of Steel, who had turned the world into their enemy and whom the world feared. That was the Caravan.
My heart is swelling with pride.
As I nodded with a satisfied smile, the young dragon stared at me.
“Wh-why are you just talking to yourself without answering? Are you suffering from mania?”
His voice trembled. I gave him a short reply.
“Your tone.”
“What?”
“Watch your tone. Show some respect.”
* * *
The young dragon introduced himself as Aion. He first explained why he was staying at the base of the Sky Mountain Range, where those at the bottom of the food chain lingered, rather than at the summit, the domain of dragons.
“I-if I’m at the summit of the Sky Mountain Range, I’m nothing.”
“…?”
“The e-elders don’t let young dragons do anything. Th-they won’t even let us go into the mountains or fly in the sky. They say young dragons are pathetic and insignificant, so we might get bitten to death by the beasts of the range, or fall and die if we get swept away by the wind while flying…”
“…”
“The overprotection was too much, it was suffocating, so I left. N-near the base of the mountain, I can be a king. I can trample anyone and rule like a monarch. I-it’s an instinct all dragons have. To declare one’s own territory and rule as a sovereign…”
To summarize: He wanted to be the boss among the weaklings.
What kind of loser logic is this?
As I stared blankly at Aion, my Master spoke.
「It’s the nature of dragons. They are born sovereigns, so they are only satisfied when they are ruling over something. It’s not just because he’s young; all dragons are essentially idiots. The problem is that those idiots are the most powerful beings among all seven races.」
Based on the description, they were a truly terrible race.
Anyway, the conclusion was simple. A discouraged young dragon had come down to the base of the Sky Mountain Range, where only weaklings lived, to boost his self-esteem. While playing king here, he felt the presence of a Caravan and, to flaunt his power as a dragon, he smashed the cloud bridge and tried to kill us.
Hmm.
Thinking it over, he was someone who deserved to die.
“Please…”
Whether he read my thoughts or not, the young dragon Aion continued to beg for his life.
「Spare him,」 Liam said.
“What’s brought this on?”
「There is no benefit in killing him. A young dragon’s hide isn’t very valuable, and above all, the moment you kill a dragon that hasn’t fully grown… you will make too many enemies. The wrath of the High Elf you saw before? You would have to endure a wrath incomparable to that. The wrath of a dragon and the wrath of a fairy are simply not in the same league.」
A dragon’s wrath. Just hearing it made a chill run down my spine.
「Besides, isn’t there much to gain by letting him live?」
“Like what?”
「You get a dragon slave.」 Liam grinned. 「An oath sworn on a Dragon Heart is a covenant a dragon cannot break. It’s similar to selling one’s soul to a demon. You have gained a dragon slave. One who is young and easy to tame, and who has already been subjugated by force.」
“…”
「What? Does the word ‘slave’ make you hesitant?」
“No.”
Hesitant? Not a chance.
“It’s a total jackpot.”
I grinned and looked at Aion.
“Aion.”
“Y-yes?”
“Let’s swear an oath on your Dragon Heart.”
Aion was starting to look quite appealing.
“From today, we’re secret friends.”
Dragon. You’re mine!
* * *
Liam was right. In exchange for sparing the young dragon Aion, I gained quite a lot.
“From now on, my Dragon Heart is with the human Arhan Caravan. Should the life of the human Arhan Caravan end, Arhan Caravan may determine the fate of the Dragon Heart in his soul state. Dragon Aion will devote his loyalty to Arhan Caravan, the new master of his heart.”
First, I was given the power over Aion’s life and death. He couldn’t even attempt a surprise attack. According to the contract, I could decide whether he lived or died even after my own death. A covenant sworn on a Dragon Heart was indeed like selling one’s soul to a demon.
From now on, Aion would be loyal to me. Whether he liked it or not, he would have to hope for my safety. If I died, I might get annoyed and take him with me as a companion in death. I had gained a very good card.
“Since the human Arhan Caravan has become the master of the Dragon Heart, he will be able to use a portion of the Dragon Heart’s authority.”
“What does ‘a portion’ mean?”
“The mana you can handle will become more abundant, the mana accumulated in your body will become purer, and additionally, you will be able to create a dragon’s spiritual world and invite me whenever you wish. You will be able to ask me questions or seek my wisdom—the dragon’s wisdom that all creatures on the continent desire.”
“I don’t really want to invite you. Is there anything else?”
“…”
“Can’t I breathe fire, or fly impossibly fast like a dragon, or grow scales that deflect arrows? Nothing like that?”
“I-I cannot do that.”
“What about magic or spirits?”
“No.”
“Tsk, so I just get a bit healthier and get to talk to a moron lizard. That’s it.”
“…”
I grumbled, but I had gained a lot. For starters, the power flowing through my body had changed. Before, it was as if I had merely been granted the strength of a superhuman; now, it felt as if I possessed power that surpassed even that. Even without using “The Path,” I felt like a monster in my own right.
“I-I will grow quickly so that I can be of help.”
“How long does it take to grow up?”
“Th-three hundred years?”
“…”
Anyway, it was satisfactory enough. I wasn’t thrilled about sparing someone who had tried to kill me, but since I held his life in my hands, it didn’t matter. After the contract was finished, I gestured toward Aion, who was still trembling. It meant he should get lost for now, and I’d call him if I needed him later.
“Thank you!”
Aion immediately began to crawl up the mountain. It was pathetic and comical, but he was fast. The young dragon, having finished his game of playing king, went back home to find his mommy. Watching Aion’s receding back, I brushed the dust off my clothes.
“Hmm.”
There was still work to do.
Seol-yoon, Tom.
I had to find my precious neighbors.
Fortunately, that wasn’t a difficult task. I was no longer a country bumpkin from the edge of the Iron Kingdom; I was essentially a legendary adventurer with the layout of the Sky Mountain Range etched into my mind. I would track them down in no time…
I steeled my resolve. But as if to make that resolve unnecessary—
“Arhan!”
“Young Master!”
Before I could even start looking, Seol-yoon and Tom found me. How did they find me so quickly? The geography here should be unfamiliar to them. My question was soon answered.
“It has been a while, mysterious warrior with unyielding firmness.”
Behind Seol-yoon and Tom was a familiar face. The man with the holy torch.
“Your magnificent aura is as impressive as ever. I am glad to reunite with you here. I thought we might meet again in the Sky Mountain Range someday, but I didn’t expect it to be so soon.”
He smiled brightly and pressed his palms together in prayer. Then, he bowed his head and spoke.
“May the Eternal Day be with you.”
The greeting of those who served Rebrua, the Goddess of the Sun.
We meet again.
The ascetic of the Sky Mountain Range. The servant of the Sun Goddess Rebrua. A Monk. The fighter who had appeared as my opponent in the promotion match to earn the ‘Gold Medal’ required to challenge the Infinite Duel.
“Helen?”
Yes. That was the name.
“You remember me.”
