Chapter 283: Traces
Chapter 283: Traces
I opened my eyes to find an endless stretch of rocky mountains greeting us.
We’d come to the right place.
“The Ancient Dragon Mountain Range… Master, is there really a lair here?”
“Yeah. This is the place.”
Carla looked skeptical. Honestly, that was the natural reaction for anyone living in this era.
The Ancient Dragon Mountain Range was shrouded in all sorts of dragon-related legends: that the mountains were shaped like a dragon, that dragons used to live there in the distant past, or that it was a place where dragons went to prepare for death when their time was up.
It was draped in every kind of draconic myth imaginable. Of course, most of it was baseless hearsay.
Still, it seemed some people believed the rumors.
Back when dragons were still thriving, the area was constantly bustling with those who worshipped them, those who dared to challenge them, or those who came to beg for their help.
After the Great War, when dragons effectively went extinct, the place was swarming with people hoping to strike it rich by raiding abandoned lairs…
But that was all ancient history now.
Living dragons no longer existed, and no new lairs had been discovered.
Three hundred years was more than enough time to extinguish the fervor of both devout worshippers and persistent fortune hunters.
For that reason, it was now the Ancient Dragon Mountain Range in name only—a place where no one truly believed dragons lived anymore.
Yet, Fafnir’s lair was right here.
“To be more precise, there’s a transfer gate leading to Fafnir’s lair.”
“…By transfer gate, do you mean a Teleport Gate?” Elisha asked.
“More accurately, it’s a magical tool that maintains a Teleport Gate indefinitely.”
“H-how is that even possible?!”
Elisha practically jumped in disbelief. Iris watched her disciple and let out a languid yawn.
“Huaaaaam… My disciple. If you’re a dragon, it’s possible.”
“I know that dragons naturally become Archmages as they age. But even for an Archmage, maintaining a Teleport Gate indefinitely? Not to mention, spatial magic wasn't even that advanced back then!”
“You’re right. But what if there wasn't just one Archmage?”
“…Eh?”
“An Archmage is a being that turns the impossible into the possible and weaves miracles with mortal hands, however limited they may be. If over a hundred such Archmages gathered and put their heads together… do you still think it would be impossible?”
“Ah.”
Elisha’s mouth fell open as she finally realized something.
In the meantime, Iris stretched her short limbs and continued.
“Indeed. Dragons are a race you cannot judge by our common sense. Elisha, surely you’ve heard of the Dragon Council?”
“The autonomous body that existed back when dragons were still active? That’s quite famous, so I know it well.”
In the game, it was a group mentioned in document items that fleshed out the lore of the Eurelia Continent’s past.
They were essentially a minimal management group formed by dragons, who were powerful but fiercely individualistic.
They would capture or kill any dragon that suddenly went off the rails and started a rampage.
They would tell young dragons to knock it off when they blocked important sea routes or mountain passes to extort tolls.
And they would issue stern warnings to human-fuckers in their prime who kept churning out Half-Dragons instead of their own kind.
Like most groups of long-lived species, they operated loosely except during emergencies… but they did exist for the greater good of their race.
In fact, the decision of whether or not to participate in the War of the Gods was made by this Dragon Council.
The Dragon Council itself was a verified historical institution that appeared in everything from children’s storybooks to history texts.
“Then do you also know how so many dragons gathered in one place?”
“Hmm… well? If each of them was at the level of an Archmage, wouldn't they just find their way there once a location was set?”
“If that were the case, it would be no different from a simple group appointment. Since it bore the name of a Council, it required authority… or so I heard.”
“You heard? From whom, Master?”
At Elisha’s question, Iris averted her gaze and mumbled.
“…I said.”
“Yes? I can’t hear you. Please speak a little louder.”
“Eek! I said I heard it directly from a dragon I became friends with during the War of the Gods!”
“What does that… When did dragons even go exti—Ack!”
Elisha, who had been shaking her head in disbelief, suddenly made a face as if she’d realized her mistake. Is this what they call a generation gap?
But it was too late. Iris’s cheeks were already puffed out like balloons.
“M-Master? It’s okay. Being a bit old isn't a bad thing, right?”
“…….”
“Look! Thanks to your years of experience, I learned something today. So please don’t be so discouraged.”
“……."
“Ah, um. You look the youngest out of all of us, so isn't that fine?”
“…Eek!”
As if she were truly angry this time, Iris started hopping around and stomping on Elisha’s feet.
“Ouch! That hurts, Master! I was wrong! I won’t talk about age anymore, so please stop…!”
Stomp, stomp, stomp.
Despite Elisha’s pleas, Iris’s retribution didn't stop.
It looked like it would never end, so I grabbed Iris by the waist and lifted her up.
“Master! Let me go! I must show Elisha the dignity of a master…!”
“You don’t have any dignity left to be damaged by something like this.”
“Y-you said it! There’s no way Master’s dignity would be damaged by something like this! I still respect you from the bottom of my heart, Master!”
I had meant to ask if she even had any dignity to begin with, but I guess that’s how they interpreted it.
Of course, I didn't say that out loud.
Instead, I slowly shook the growling Iris. Her body immediately went limp and she quieted down.
Elisha looked at her master with a very complicated expression… but I ignored her and continued.
“Let’s see. I explained that the Dragon Council was an authoritative body even among dragons, right? Then what’s the best way to display authority?”
“Usually, it would be impressive titles, a crown, a terrifying army, a magnificent castle, and vast wealth. But those are…”
“Yeah. Things a dragon could have just by wanting them. So, the Council chose something great—something that not even a god would dare to touch, let alone another dragon.”
“What on earth is it that you’re being so mysterious? Please tell us quickly, Brother.”
I thought Helena wasn't interested because she was being so quiet, but was she actually just listening intently?
Helena’s golden eyes sparkled as she urged me to continue.
“…Shouldn't Helena just hear it from Righteous Light?”
“Ah, well, the Lord is currently busy talking to the other gods about this recent attack.”
“…….”
No. She’s probably mostly bragging about me, with the warning about the danger being a mere footnote.
My tongue itched to say it, but there was no need to test Helena’s faith, so I got straight to the point.
“To put it simply, several Archmages worked in precise coordination to create a space that no one without the proper qualifications could enter.”
“…Is that really so impressive? It sounds like a type of locking magic or a barrier.”
“Yeah. Like I said, they ‘created’ a space. They didn't just place restrictions on an existing space; they created a space with its own unique laws.”
At those words, Helena’s face stiffened.
A feat bordering on creation itself. It was only natural to be shocked that such a thing was achieved through magic. However…
“Don’t get your hopes up too much. It’s a space that can only be maintained if a hundred Ancient-class dragons constantly consume a massive amount of mana in real-time.”
That was the catch. The dragons succeeded in creating the space but failed to maintain it.
Of course, this alone was comparable to the gods who built their own sanctuaries… but the problem was that three hundred years had passed since their extinction.
“The Dragon Council is closed. Unless a hundred Archmages gather and consume a hundred Ancient-class Dragon Hearts, it will never open again.”
“Um… Master? Then why did we come here if the Dragon Council is here? I don’t really see the point of a closed transfer gate.”
I handed the limp Iris over to Carla, who had tentatively raised her hand.
I chuckled as she flusteredly caught Iris and continued.
“It’s true that I said there’s a transfer gate here, and it’s true that I said there’s a path leading to the Dragon Council… but I never said I was going to the Dragon Council, did I?”
“Huh?”
Carla tilted her head as if I were talking nonsense—like a platypus eating grass.
Well… platypuses are carnivores, so they don’t eat grass.
“I told you that opening and maintaining the Dragon Council is difficult, right? That’s why all one hundred elders had to gather to open it. The problem is that, being a long-lived species, dragons have a bit of a screw loose when it comes to their sense of time.”
Even if you arrive first, you can’t open the Council anyway. You just have to wait a long time for the other dragons to arrive.
But while waiting like that, things come up and you might have to step out for a bit, or you might need to return to your true form to stretch your stiff body, or you might need some entertainment to relieve the boredom.
“Naturally, something like a plaza was formed, and to make coming and going easier, they installed transfer gates that led directly to each of their lairs.”
To put it simply, they didn't just build the National Assembly; they built the National Assembly Station.
By the way, the reason this place is called the Ancient Dragon Mountain Range is that before the transfer gates were made, dragons would occasionally fly all the way here.
People must have seen that and assumed many dragons lived in these mountains.
“From now on, we’re going to that plaza. From there, we’ll take the transfer gate to Fafnir’s lair.”
Of course, even if we arrive, there probably won’t be anything left.
Why on earth did the system call me here? I know it called me to give me something.
I’m not asking for much.
I’d be perfectly satisfied with just a modest set of dragon materials.
Oh, I’m serious.