Chapter 330
Chapter 330
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 330
Chapter Title: Chapter 8-1. The Nation of the Dragonkin, Railisa.
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A few days of diligent walking passed.
In the distance, far off in the middle of the night, a bright light stretched out like the sun rising. The day had already darkened, and the distance was too great to make out the shapes of walls or towers, but the light was unmistakable.
That had to be the dragonkin kingdom, Railisa. A great power that had once dominated most of the Blazing Lands, seeking to claim a seat among the empire's pillars alongside Byron and Baekje, now reduced to huddling in this remote corner, forming a small kingdom.
And it was because of no one else but Yuda himself. He felt sorry, and it was regrettable, but who could have foreseen it happening this way?
He settled down with the group to rest and lit a fire. The brilliant light shining from afar only faded as the moon rose overhead, signaling the dead of night.
Lying in his sleeping bag and gazing up at the night sky, a beautiful cluster of stars sparkled right before his eyes like jewels scattered about.
Beside him, the campfire crackled as he chatted lightly with the group while stargazing, and drowsiness crept in without him having done much of anything.
Someone tapped his shoulder. Without thinking, he opened his eyes, and there was Iris, her figure flickering in the firelight.
She flashed a grin, confirmed he was awake, and sat back down by the fire. He must have slept deeply, as he felt remarkably refreshed.
Looking up at the sky, the multitude of stars had faded like a dream. He quietly packed up his sleeping bag, stretched lightly to shake off the sleep, and sat down next to Iris.
"Why not sleep a bit more?"
-I've slept plenty. I went to bed early too^^
Yuda let out a small chuckle at the emoticon smile drawn in the notepad. He had no intention of forcing her to sleep more if she didn't want to. He picked up a piece of firewood and tossed it in.
Crackle, pop—
The sound of it burning was incredibly peaceful. He had no idea what the Fragment Collectors were up to, but nothing special had happened on the way to Railisa.
No sign of that Black Mist phenomenon, no particular monsters or threats. Thanks to that, they had arrived here leisurely, like taking a stroll.
-But you know, will the dragonkin of Railisa welcome us?
Yuda started to reply verbally, but Iris reached out with her right hand, grabbed his left, and shoved the notepad and pen into it. She wanted a written response. With the rest of the group still asleep, Yuda happily took the pen. He twirled it between his fingers once before writing in the notepad.
-If Sellion explains well? Why, are you worried?
-Yes. Not me—the dragonkin.
?
What did she mean?
While he pondered briefly, she added an explanation below.
-If they insult or provoke us, I might not be able to hold back. I could end up slashing them with my scythe without thinking?
Yuda made a troubled expression.
-I won't tell you to hold back by force, but try to endure it once, no, twice at least.
If he showed them the difference in strength, they wouldn't dare dismiss them as mere humans. But it could put Sellion in a difficult position. In the game, after delivering Sellion's belongings, the dragonkin treated him as a grateful human, their attitudes softening.
Here, since he'd brought Sellion back alive, Yuda judged that the dragonkin wouldn't act as recklessly as Iris feared.
No point overthinking it in advance. Whatever happened, it could exceed imagination or turn out to be nothing at all.
And as for the dragonkin's attitude, he'd find out in a few hours once day broke.
-The notepad's almost full now.
Iris nodded.
-A few pages left, so it's fine for now. But don't write so cramped. Hard to read.
-If you put it that way... I'll write more spaciously.
Yuda enjoyed the honor of using the very last page as he wrote. He recalled buying it in the capital of the Byron Empire, but given her habit of writing in a palm-sized notepad only for urgent matters, it was wearing out fast.
'They must sell notepads or memo pads in Railisa too, right?'
He should gift her a box. They probably sold subspatial pouches too, so he could buy a variety and store them there. While thinking of buying pens along with the notepads, he watched Iris pull a new memo pad from her bag.
Dawn was long, if not as much as the night. He didn't particularly like the last watch since the night felt endlessly long, but with Iris staying up and keeping him company, it wasn't boring.
-How's traveling with us? Not too hard?
She'd said it was fine before. But he wanted to ask honestly. To keep her with him, he'd lied about being a prophet to pique her interest and raise her affinity, even going to the Iron Labyrinth in the Black Lands.
But unexpectedly meeting Organ and fleeing Byron Empire's attack, passing through the Blazing Lands, they ended up here.
Yuda had gained the Fragment and Sellion, but Iris had nothing to show for all her hardship. Same for Lime and Arhil. It hit him like a blow to the head with a blunt weapon.
'I've been a total exploitative boss, haven't I?'
He'd made them suffer without giving anything back. Lime was under contract, so he'd paid generously in gold, but for Iris and Arhil, he couldn't just call it a "precious experience" nicely packaged—it was outright grueling.
Levels? Stats?
Sure, they'd gone up, but that wasn't a tangible reward.
'Ah, damn. I've really been doing something awful all this time.'
Because they're companions, because they're bound to me, it's okay.
That's what he'd thought.
'I can't just buy her a notepad—I need to get her something proper.'
He resolved to definitely buy gifts for Arhil and Iris in Railisa! But he had no idea what to get. As he pondered gift ideas, something poked his cheek. It was a ballpoint pen. Iris held it in her hand, propping her chin with the other while smiling at him.
-What're you thinking so deeply about? I answered your question up there.
He took the notepad and read. It said it was tough but fun, like fulfilling a childhood dream, so she was happy. Yuda tore out the memo and put it in his <Bag>.
"!?"
She looked startled, eyes wide. It seemed like she was asking why he was keeping it.
-Good thing. I'll treasure this memo.
-No, why keep that? Don't treasure it—take it out right now. I didn't ask that question just to embarrass me!?
-^^.
Yuda just smiled. As they exchanged notes like that, the sun rose, and the group woke one by one. For breakfast, they skipped cooking and used leftovers stored in the <Bag> from previous days.
They set off again, and by late afternoon, Railisa came into view. Last night, he'd compared the night sky's stars to jewels, but jewels weren't just in the sky.
The walls he'd seen so far were simple. Big, tall, thick. Some had unique shapes dipping in U's or jutting out, but they only evoked impressions of sturdiness or grandeur. Of course, he'd glanced past plenty thinking they were nothing special, but excluding all that, the walls before him now were the most beautiful.
It was the first time he'd ever thought a wall was beautiful. And it wasn't just one—there were three layers. The outermost protected the city, the second was taller inside it, and deepest in, walls and a castle rose from a mountainside carved out.
The capital Aslan of [The Knight's Nation, Phloria] had a similar layout, but that felt overwhelmingly majestic, while this was beautiful.
Art.
The word popped into his head the moment he saw it. It wasn't just the color of the walls; they were engraved with intricate patterns, stunningly beautiful. From afar, the triple walls blended seamlessly with the designs.
'Dwarves made this?'
In this world, dwarves were artisans just like in any fantasy—famous swords they forged became legendary, jewelry national treasures, items too fine to use. If they built these walls, such beauty made sense.
"Ah...!"
The group gaped in admiration at the walls, but one wept. Turning to Esther Sellion, who sobbed quietly behind, Yuda pulled a handkerchief from his <Bag> and gave it to her. She wasn't bawling loudly like before. Comforting her, they headed toward the castle. As it drew nearer, Sellion trembled with tension, her steps slowing. Seeing her lag, Yuda grabbed her wrist, fearing she'd sit and refuse to go.
"What're you doing? Let's go."
"...Yes. We should."
He led her along as she answered reluctantly, dragging her feet toward the castle.
The land outside the walls seemed used as fields, with orcs working shirtless, sweating profusely. Nearby, an elf lounged about—supervising or guarding them, unclear.
The elf spotted Yuda's group while scanning around.
At first tilting his head as if seeing wrong, he soon realized they were humans except Sellion, recoiled in shock, then yelled at the orcs. Too far to hear, but the field orcs and elf bolted toward the castle without looking back.
Watching them flee at full speed, Sellion looked a bit shocked. They walked the dirt path between fields toward the castle.
Woooooooh!
A horn blared long and loud like a foghorn. The elf and orcs must have reported to the soldiers. The bridge over the moat lifted, the open gate slammed shut. Armed soldiers atop the walls nocked arrows.
Impressively quick response.
Whether due to the black mage or Black Mist, the soldiers moved with emergency speed, drawing a wry smile from Yuda.
But it was all pointless.
If they'd marched soldiers for war, maybe, but raising the bridge and closing the gate wouldn't keep him out. A light leap crossed the wide moat, he could smash the gate, or scale the walls and sweep them away if he wanted. But he hadn't come to fight dragonkin, so Yuda led the group forward slowly.
A commander-like figure appeared atop the walls, horns sprouting sideways like stabbing spikes—unlike Sellion's inward-curving ones.
'They still don't recognize Sellion?'
The elf overseeing the orc fields might not, as not all elves remembered her. But dragonkin should.
'A young dragonkin?'
If born after Railisa's fall, they wouldn't know Sellion beyond tales, so might not recognize her even now.
'Like in the game, have to show Sellion's necklace and earrings?'
As he thought that, reaching the moat—uncrossable normally with the bridge up—they did nothing. Arrow tips aimed at the group.
Then Yuda saw a dragonkin in the gate tower vanish from sight.
'Behind?'
He turned. Sellion and Iris sensed the spatial warp too, readying attacks. But Yuda stepped forward, telling them curtly.
"Step back."