Chapter 244
Chapter 244
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 244
Chapter Title: With the Dragon (1)
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They followed Alibrije for quite some time. Once again, he didn't tell them their exact destination.
Asel had fainted upon learning the identity of the long-haired man who'd stripped off his shirt: Orse. He'd woken up shortly after. Perhaps because the dragnet was spreading in earnest, they frequently ran into the Dragon King's minions.
"Die... kuhk!"
"They're here! Requesting backup... guk!"
It seemed they encountered them about once every thirty minutes. Ronan and Orse dispatched them the moment they crossed paths.
They usually sensed their presence before turning a corner and killed them the instant they rounded it. With every swing of spear or sword, severed body parts danced through the air.
Just in case any survived and called for reinforcements, they made sure to finish them off thoroughly. Once, some fairly strong half-dragon soldiers charged from behind.
"Hiyaaak! It's out!"
Asel, who was bringing up the rear, freaked out and swung his arm. Kwaaang! Hit by an invisible fist, the soldiers flew like cannonballs.
"Kuhk...!"
Kwajik! They slammed into the opposite wall over thirty paces away before finally stopping. The half-dragons' heads drooped.
No one got back up. Orse, confirming their deaths, muttered in disbelief.
"A fine killing machine, wouldn't you say? You should watch out too. She lures people in with that pretty face, then rips out their livers for fun."
"I-I've never done that!"
Ronan chuckled. Judging by the output, she'd recovered plenty of strength while asleep. Asel frantically waved his hands in denial, but Orse's reaction wasn't bad.
"...Huh?"
"Enough with the nonsense. Come on."
Alibrije, walking ahead, furrowed his brow. After about an hour, they finally reached their destination.
Like the place where they'd met Orse, it was an empty space—but incomparably vast. Kwaaa-! From a drain high on the wall, a murky waterfall poured down.
Ronan's eyes widened. Even without explanation, he could guess what this place was.
"This wouldn't be..."
"That's right. The basement of the Sky Tower."
Alibrije set down the basket of food. He explained that following the drains along the wall would lead to the first floor of the Sky Tower.
This was what it meant to set up shop right under the enemy's nose. Ronan said,
"I don't even know what to call this... uh, seriously, thank you."
"I did it because I wanted to. No need. And let me say this upfront: my involvement ends here."
"Pardon?"
Ronan raised an eyebrow at the sudden statement. Orse looked at him curiously too. Alibrije continued.
"I rescued and helped you out of curiosity more than goodwill. When you get old, you start wanting to do all sorts of things. This old man will bow out here."
Ronan's face hardened. The shift was too abrupt.
"If you don't stop the Dragon King's ritual, won't everyone be fu... er, in danger? Including you, old timer."
"Correct. Far from ordinary danger. Remember when I said this was my first and last vacation?"
Ronan raised an eyebrow. He realized this connected to their conversation before meeting Orse.
"I remember."
"Good. I didn't say it lightly. Lately, with disasters hitting churches simultaneously, I heard Abel's plans have changed."
"Changed...?"
This felt like bad news. Alibrije nodded.
"Yes. If my memory serves, Abel said he'd hasten the Descent of the Stars. From the looks of things, he's planning to launch the harbinger from here. Once the ritual ends, the first star will descend."
"Shit."
Ronan's eyes nearly bulged. The Descent of the Stars was the massive arrival of those baldies he'd witnessed right before dying.
And summoning the first star? What the hell was that? Alibrije said,
"He must've thought further delays risked complications. Regrettable."
"What the fu... anyway, what even are those giants?"
"I don't know either. Only the cult leader Abel knows the truth. The identity of those incomprehensible beings who lend us what we call power..."
Alibrije's face stiffened briefly. A horrific memory surfaced. He'd once seen Abel seemingly communing with the heavens above the heavens.
He didn't recall the exact date. Just that the sky was filled with stars.
Abel stood in the midst of a vast plain, arms outstretched to the night sky. Waves of the power the cult revered swirled with the wind, and chants like song poured endlessly from his mouth.
Before him, a winged giant's form flickered between faint and clear. It was a secret ritual, so no other followers were present except him.
Alibrije had been crushed by the overwhelming pressure from the giant's apparition, barely able to breathe. Clutching his throat and coughing, Abel had said to him,
- Isn't it magnificent?
Alibrije bit his lower lip. Centuries old, but still vivid. Around then, his hope that the monster would one day come to his senses had shattered. Finishing his reminiscence, he spoke.
"Anyway, that's all I can tell or help with. Our opinions align somewhat, so good luck."
"Damn, in a situation this serious, shouldn't we all pitch in? Come on..."
Snap! Ronan snapped his fingers, searching for a way to persuade Alibrije. Then he remembered something he hadn't told him yet.
"You gave me one, so I'll give you one. Cain's still alive. Can't say details, but Abel's blood might restore his health."
"Wha..."
Alibrije flinched. Ronan inwardly cheered at the shaken eyes. But Alibrije soon closed them.
"That's good news. But my mind's made up."
"You're serious?"
"Yes. Cain's survival is worth celebrating, but nothing changes. Even if he recovers, stopping Abel now is impossible."
Silence fell. Ronan's gaze met his. Alibrije's eyes were empty, like an abandoned garden—flowers and trees withered, only fallen leaves remaining.
"I'm tired. As I said, I don't want my first and last vacation interrupted. If they catch me openly defying the cult, it'll be twice as troublesome. Respect this as my way of facing the end."
Ronan twisted his lips silently. He could tell Alibrije's spirit was utterly broken. Some immense past shock.
'Damn it.'
No answer here. Even revealing Cain's survival got this reaction. No forcing or threatening would work. After much head-scratching, Ronan spoke.
"...If that's your call, nothing to do. Thanks up to here."
"It was fun. Achieve what you want."
Alibrije gave a wry smile. He shook Ronan's hand once, then left.
Ronan watched his back until it vanished around the corner. The fading footsteps sounded forlorn.
His mind was a mess. The intel that the Descent was accelerated was the most shocking in years. Like hearing his unmarried lover was pregnant.
'...Not the time to dwell.'
Collecting his thoughts, Ronan clenched his fist. Even if the Descent was sooner, he had tasks: destroy the Dragon King's magic circle, rescue presumed-captured Schlieffen.
"Hey..."
Turning, Ronan's face crumpled. Orse sat greedily before Alibrije's basket, gnawing a dried pork leg. He offered one to Asel.
"Eat. Killing machine."
"Uh, really, I'm fine. And my name's Asel..."
"Eat."
"Hiiik! Y-yes, sir. I'll eat...!"
Asel took it sniffling. Nearly as big as his head, hard to lift.
Orse resumed eating only after Asel bit into his. For some reason, they looked friendly. Staring blankly, Ronan spoke.
"...What are you two doing?"
Orse's voice was much softer. Tossing the bone aside, he spat,
"Blind? Can't see we're filling our bellies before the fight."
"...Yeah, looks like it."
Ronan chuckled involuntarily at the nonchalance. Unlike him, Orse seemed indifferent to Alibrije's departure. Dragon-like, perhaps.
"And I've thought it over. I'll accept your proposal."
"Proposal? You don't mean..."
"Yes. I'll tag along with you lot temporarily. Be honored."
Ronan's eyes widened. No idea what wind blew this. Orse continued.
"You and this mage both have your uses. Don't want to waste energy, so clear the path to the top."
"This guy's mouth... never mind. Good call."
Despite the rude tone, Ronan let it slide. Not time for bickering, and such words meant trust in him and Asel. Dragons didn't bluff.
"But if you drag me down, no mercy. I'll give you the most painful death. Know that."
"That's my line."
Ronan smirked. He sat and started on the remaining food.
Starved long, or from exertion, it tasted amazing. His heated head cooled gradually.
Right. Do what he could now.
"Hey, heard anything about Lady Naransonia? Like she's recovering or regained consciousness..."
"Dunno... She was cut deep. They're trying everything, but."
"That Steel Empress felled by a mere human... still can't believe it."
"She chewed us out just fine earlier. Bittersweet."
Emergency declared some time ago. The two guards, fresh from search duty, chatted in the Sky Tower's first-floor restroom. The ones scolded by Naransonia over the Dragon King's ritual.
Magical light illuminated human-style urinals. Quick break pretending to relieve themselves, but with Adren in chaos, even this was sweet.
"That madman caught? The one who stalled buying time for his comrades..."
"Yeah, barely. Lord Radavankaja, my master's handling interrogation."
"Lots died there too? Heard he's different from the one who beat Naransonia."
"Don't remind me. Still cleaning corpses. Sky Tower's pride in the dirt."
The scarred guard shook his head. Relieved not deployed there, goosebumps rose thinking of it.
The human youth who'd let comrades escape had cut down nearly triple digits before exhaustion let them subdue him. The bearded guard snorted.
"Hah, excuses. Bleeding over one human? I'd have snatched three necks at once."
"You, who cowered before Naransonia, talks big. That bravado'll cost you blood someday."
"Don't make me laugh. I won't lose to humans. Human, dragon Orse, whatever—bring it."
He chuckled, miming a spear swing. Scarred guard sighed. As they turned to return,
"...Hm?"
"What?"
Both heard clearly. A young man's voice from somewhere in the restroom. Bearded guard froze.
"Hey. You heard that too."
"Yeah. Where'd it come from?"
They scanned like meerkats. No repeat, but presence felt.
Chaeng. Metal clashed somewhere. Scarred guard's eyes went to the floor drain.
"Something down there...?"
He bent to peer in. Something there, but too dark.
Bearded guard about to scold—nothing there—when kwaaaang! Floor exploded, something burst up.
"Hu, huwaaak!!"
Instant. Bearded guard collapsed. Like a mini volcano. Rolling from impact, unfamiliar voice rang in his ear.
"Fuck, out the shitter? Gross."
"Hiiik! Y-you're really back here...!"
Regaining balance, guards looked up. Peering peer stuck torso-first in ceiling, wriggling. Three differently featured humans climbed from wrecked floor.
"Y-you...?!"
Guard's eyes widened. Matched descriptions: two intruders spying on Dragon King, polymorphed dragon Orse. Why here? Ronan's grumbling gaze hit him.
"Ah. You."
Definitely the voice talking Schlieffen. Srung! Ronan drew in a flash, blade to throat. Frozen guard gasped.
"S-spare me. Please...!"
Instinct screamed he couldn't win. Recent bravado scattered like dandelion in storm. Didn't even see the draw.
Orse and Asel watched silently behind. Ronan, nose nearly touching, spoke.
"That interrogation talk. Spill details."