Chapter 321
Chapter 321
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 321
Chapter Title: Crossing the Desert
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A mage's thirst for exploration and study—is it rooted in curiosity, or in the thrill of overcoming fear to uncover the unknown? Judah watched Lime grinning from ear to ear with an odd look, then turned his gaze to Celion.
"......"
Her expression was clearly one of disgust. But realizing Judah's eyes were on her, she quickly forced a smile.
To others, it might seem fake, but not to Judah. She wore the same expression around Lime, Iris, and Arhil.
'It's only natural she'd feel hostility.'
Arhil was at least somewhat softer, probably because she'd healed him, but she was curt with Iris and openly scowled at Lime. It wasn't strange. After all, she was the queen of the beastkin who had waged war against humans a century ago.
Yet Celion was trying to suppress that human hostility. Her unique aura and piercing gaze made it hard for the others—except Judah—to approach her, but whenever they did speak, she'd carefully manage her expression and respond kindly.
She slipped into informal speech naturally, but she never outright ignored Arhil or Iris.
As Judah stared, Celion tilted her head with a soft smile and crinkled eyes.
Judah smiled back the same way and suggested to the group that they rest more and set out in the evening.
Their destination was set: Leirysa. And in the Dragonhead Desert, they had the unparalleled mode of transport. Starting a bit late wouldn't be an issue.
They created artificial shade for rest, formed a round barrier to cool the interior like air conditioning, and spent the time eating, sleeping, drinking, and chatting. Evening arrived in no time. As the sun set, the group reluctantly got up, tidied up roughly.
"But where'd the Dragonhead run off to? It's not around."
It had been there last night before they drank and slept, but from dawn until now, no sign. Judah tilted his head, waited a bit longer, then summoned it with the Fragment's power.
Like a call taxi, it soon came racing from afar, kicking up dust. Celion shot to her feet at the sight and moved in front of Judah. Scales were emerging beneath her thin clothes.
"It's fine. Not an enemy."
"...Pardon? But that's a monster, isn't it?"
"Nah, we're riding it."
Celion looked baffled. Come to think of it, when Judah had saved her in the <Otherworld>, there'd been some monster and a giant golem with him. The Dragonhead stopped beside Judah, hissing triumphantly—it had gone hunting. The chair Iris had made on its head was gone, probably from going far. Celion couldn't fathom how they were supposed to ride it now.
She trusted Judah's word that they'd ride it, but...
'Sitting side by side on its head?'
Horses at least had saddles—this had nothing. As she eyed it skeptically, Arhil approached.
"Don't worry. It looks like this, but it's super fast! And comfy too."
"...This?"
"Yep!"
"Hmm..."
Celion's skeptical gaze didn't change. Lime, needing to climb up, dispelled the barrier. In under ten seconds, the cool air turned muggy and hot.
"Ugh!"
Arhil and Lime winced at the onslaught of heat. Everyone did. The sun was setting, but the sand, baked by daylight, hadn't cooled. Judah pulled a robe from <Bag> and draped it over Celion, who wore only a thin cotton dress.
"No proper clothes for your tail right now, so wear this at least."
Her tail extended long from above the hips—tops were fine, but pants would need holes or to drape over the rear. Celion thanked him for the robe. Then Iris hopped from behind onto the Dragonhead's snout. Landing lightly with a thud, she squinted at the pouring hot sunlight.
When they'd first entered the desert, sunlight exposure hadn't bothered her much, but after lounging in cool shade, stepping out felt unbearable. Pulling her hood low, she quickly conjured a chair atop the Dragonhead. Seeing Celion glued to Judah's side, she made three in the front row and two in the back, figuring no separate seat needed.
Lime, too lazy to climb, floated up with levitation magic. Judah scooped up Arhil, who landed with Celion, then kicked off the ground onto the Dragonhead.
Arhil thanked him, scurried to his usual spot behind Judah, and sat. Lime and Iris plopped down, leaning into the backrests.
"Come sit."
Judah beckoned the呆standing Celion. She still looked puzzled—really riding this? She sat reluctantly, and Judah buckled her in himself. He tapped the Dragonhead's horn with his foot, and it set off.
"Using a monster like this..."
Gliding smoothly through the sand, the Dragonhead was far faster than any horse. Horses couldn't even run properly in the desert and would collapse from heat soon enough. Nothing beat it for desert travel. But it was only possible because of Judah's Fragment.
Who'd think to tame such a ferocious, hideous beast? They'd be too busy worrying about their own necks at first sight.
But Celion's interest in the Dragonhead soon faded. She gazed at the desert—an endless sea of sand that looked like dead land to her eyes. A place no life could survive... yet life adapted to this harsh environment.
Most were monsters, horrifyingly, but there were needle-leafed plants, and in pooled water, rare green growths. Far off, heteromorphs like gnolls or kobolds roamed. But whenever they appeared, Judah had the Dragonhead veer away—no close encounters or chit-chat.
He hated hassle.
Even without orders, desert monsters never challenged the Dragonhead. Already strong among upper-mid tiers, it had been forced into the Otherworld by Judah, devoured mana-rich beastkin there—crunching hearts brimming with power, shattering scales. It held mana far beyond a typical mid-tier.
Still, hassle or not, when Judah spotted patrolling angels, he chased and killed without hesitation.
Lime and Arhil weren't thrilled about slaughtering angels like this, but the angels drew swords and charged on sight, no words exchanged—so they kept quiet.
Angels under Yophiel or Gabriel, Judah might've let slide, but Metatron's? Different story.
Their relationship with Metatron was beyond repair.
No reason to tiptoe in such enmity. Better to grate on Metatron's nerves, knowing heaven watched.
If Sian blocked Metatron's view somehow, he wouldn't see angels dying powerless—but learning many subordinates fell in the desert would provoke some reaction.
That sufficed.
Killing angels would ease things for desert heteromorphs too—they were just another monster threat. And after seven long days, Judah's group reached the desert's end.
"Ah!"
Late pre-dawn, sky lightening as the sun rose. The Dragonhead pressed on. Celion, the only one awake atop it, watching surroundings, gasped.
Beyond the desert boundary, a longed-for sight: vast grasslands. Unlike sand, ankle-high grass, towering trees skyward. Mountains, forests, flying birds.
The Blazing Heat Lands reclaiming its ancient face. Freed from the Fragment's loop, she'd escaped endless time; the Fragment had its master. In time, the desertized land would restore itself. Truly a matter of time.
The Dragonhead halted smoothly at the desert-grassland border. The group slept on; Celion just watched with open eyes. At dawn, they woke and dismounted. Lime rolled up sleeves, cooked breakfast: potato-and-meat stew. Watching the group blow on spoonfuls of hot stew, Judah said,
"We walk from here."
"Huh? What about that guy?"
Arhil asked, startled. Judah continued matter-of-factly.
"Gotta release it. Can't keep it forever."
Too huge to bring; feeding unsustainable, and loose, it might raid villages for cattle like cows or sheep. Especially post-Leirysa—devouring nearby heteromorphs would spell trouble. Having tasted beastkin and others in the Otherworld, who knew what it'd do.
Could command via subjugation, but binding its will would stress it terribly. No desire to torment it. Better free in this desert.
"Guess this is goodbye then. Quite the unique ride..."
Lime set down his spoon, wistful. Monster or not, it'd eased their desert traversal, affection inevitable.
Plus, sturdy shield against stray monsters—no midnight raids woke them. Angels aside.
After eating, before the grasslands, Judah commanded: no devouring heteromorphs unless starving and unprovoked. Then released subjugation.
Sensing freedom, the Dragonhead approached Judah, stared sharply long, then whirled toward the desert. It sped away, burrowed into sand, vanished.
========== Afterword ==========
1) Bye, Dragonhead.
2) Urgh... Don't toss coupons aiming for consecutive updates! They're nice, sure, but too many at once makes it hard to pass up. Strike while the iron's hot, they say, but I missed that during exams. Sigh.
Anyway, thanks to everyone who showered coupons non-stop.
And Wesper-nim, spotted your sponsorship coupons by chance and was shocked.
300 of them... Truly grateful, but no need to buy extra sponsorship beyond membership perks ㅠㅠ
Still, chicken ordered on the sly from parents—I'll write hard! Consecutive updates if possible.
Have a great day, all!
3) Saw comments begging for consecutive updates.
Did one yesterday... Does double not even count as consecutive? D:
4) Sometimes you'll spot special chars like &:# in text. Not Joara's bug—spellcheck sites mangled my angle brackets. I fix 'em before posting, but occasionally it doesn't stick. Comment if you see, and I'll patch ASAP.