The Dragon's Reluctant Cooperation
Upon hearing Sybel's words, the elves looked puzzled.
As if they had just recognized themselves.
In that moment, Aria knelt gracefully on one knee and bowed her head.
“High Elf Aria of the Blue Leaf Tribe greets the great being.”
It was the unique trait only High Elves possessed.
The Eyes of Truth, which allowed them to discern the true form of their opponent.
In her eyes, the true appearance of Sybel in his middle-aged human form from polymorph was perfectly visible.
That was also the reason she hadn't suspected him of being a dragon despite witnessing his immense power.
At Aria's words, all the elves hastily knelt and bowed their heads.
“We greet the great being.”
Even with the elves' cries, Sybel's expression remained unchanged.
He simply stared silently at Aria and the elves.
“What... is going on? Where is Arwen?”
“You seem close.”
“I asked how this happened.”
“Look behind you. You’ll understand right away.”
At Jin Chen's words, Sybel slowly turned around.
Only then did he see the fallen figures in black robes on the ground.
“Those guys?”
“Not entirely certain... but it doesn't seem to be just here.”
“What do you mean?”
“There were dwarves you brought recently?”
“No way!”
“Don't worry. Bbakbbaki, Geunyuk-i, and the kids went to handle them.”
In terms of this world's cultivation levels, Bbakbbaki and Geunyuk-i were Grand Masters.
Those capable of unleashing Aura Blades.
Not just them, but also at least Second Circle Grand Mages and above Sword Experts?
If they weren't dragons, there was no reason to worry.
“Uhm.”
Sybel nodded and looked back at the elves.
Then he asked again.
“What happened? Where is Arwen?”
The same question.
This time, Aria realized it was directed at them and bowed her head.
“Humans suddenly invaded... and took my father. We... we couldn't use any strength.”
“What do you mean you couldn't use strength? Even Arwen must have been Seventh Circle or higher.”
“I don't know. Mana wasn't moving. Hic.”
Sybel narrowed his brows at Aria's tearful reply.
Then he turned and headed toward the fallen black-robed figures.
He approached the one closest, a man with a severed leg, letting out a pained groan.
Sybel reached out.
Whoosh!
The man's body flew into Sybel's grasp.
Crunch.
Sybel gripped his neck and asked in a cold voice.
“What trick were you up to?”
“Kuuugh.”
When their eyes met, the man trembled in fear.
It was because of the overwhelming killing intent and the presence of a dragon that crushed his soul.
Sybel tightened his grip and tried to ask again,
“Kuaaaaah!”
A scream echoed across the elves' land.
“If you have something to answer, nod your head.”
The follow-up voice from Jin Chen was just as wild.
The black-robed figure was nodding like crazy.
When Jin Chen released the Bone-Fracturing Muscle-Displacing Art, the man shouted desperately.
“B-before we attacked here, we used a drug to disperse mana!”
“There is no such drug!”
Sybel shouted in a fierce voice.
“W-we didn't even imagine such a drug at first. Someone from headquarters said to use it after confirming it, so I used it with doubt... but it worked. All the elves' mana was unusable.”
“Despite hearing about my identity, you still lied? I'll make sure you can't live or die.”
“P-please believe me! Great being! This is the truth with not a single lie!”
“I'll watch until you can keep spouting such nonsense.”
When Sybel's eyes filled with killing intent, Jin Chen shook his head and said,
“Calm down. We have it in our world.”
“What?”
“There's a poison called Sandungdok that disperses internal energy. I don't know if it can disperse mana as well, but if it's you, making such a drug wouldn't be particularly hard.”
Jin Chen said vaguely while looking at Sybel.
“The guy who made the jiangshi is skilled with not just the human body but also poisons.”
“A drug that disperses mana after the jiangshi... What kind of world were you from...”
“Everyone's life is the same. Just ours is harder. At least in our world there are no monsters, no dragons, no demon kings. Only humans exist.”
“Uhm, do you know anything about the antidote?”
“Even if I do, would it help? It would be made from this world's materials?”
Sybel nodded slowly, then stared quietly at the elves and began chanting.
“Cure Poison!”
Whoosh!
Before Sybel's cry finished, a bright light enveloped the entire elves' land.
Flash!
Light disappeared, and Sybel, looking at the elves again, let out a groan.
“Even with detoxification magic, it didn't work.”
“Of course not. It's not poison.”
“You just said it was poison, right?”
“Sandungdok is a poison, but not poison. The only purpose is to disperse internal energy.”
“Then...”
Sybel seemed to understand something and shouted at the elves.
“Purification!”
Magic that purified water, air, and even potions and drinks unfolded.
Then a small gasp escaped from among the elves.
“T-the mana is back!”
“Great being! Thank you!”
At the elves' reaction, Jin Chen nodded.
“You found a way.”
“Fortunately.”
“Good. Since this solved it, I'll be going now.”
Jin Chen waved his hand and tried to take a step.
Sybel quickly grabbed him.
“Are you just going to leave like this?”
“I already did everything I needed to do.”
“Uhm, they aren't completely detoxified. Their vital energy is also much depleted.”
“Isn't it long enough?”
“Can't you stay here until they can stand on their own?”
“You being there is enough.”
“As you know, I have too many things to do. Finding the base of those jiangshi is already taking up all the time, and now this weird Sandungdok appeared.”
Sybel continued with a pitiful expression as best he could.
“So, could you help me with this?”
“The guy who was acting like he couldn't cry or shed tears suddenly has some business?”
“...The connection with Arwen is never short.”
“A thousand-year-old being suddenly complaining about a human who hasn't even lived a hundred years.”
Because it wasn't wrong, Sybel gave a bitter smile.
“I'm serious. When everyone left and I was alone, the only person who listened to my words was Arwen, drinking a cup of tea with me.”
“Stop the drama and clean up quickly.”
“That means...”
“Whether you live long or short, if the connection remains here, you must treat it with that much respect.”
When Jin Chen pointed to his chest, Sybel felt an emotion he had never felt before surge up.
“...Thank you.”
“Stop the useless talk and move quickly. I'll check if these guys have anything else to say.”
“Understood.”
“Ah! And when that's done, go check on the dwarves too. Make sure those guys and this one are the same kind.”
When Sybel nodded in answer, Jin Chen walked toward the black-robed figures with a dragging step.
“I was resting well in the cage, but suddenly what the hell is this suffering? It's all because of you!”
Creak!
“Who are you grumbling at! This brat climbed up here because I was being too gentle! Eh! Don't come down from my head?”
Squeak!
Samsaek-i and Jin Chen squabbling while Samsaek-i perched on Jin Chen's head.
Sybel, quietly watching the scene, let out a faint smile.
Those humans are incomprehensible, that's for sure.
Just then, Aria's voice came from behind.
“Great being, may I ask if that human is a good human?”
By nature, different species couldn't move in front of a dragon like a mouse in front of a cat.
But Aria was different.
She had been with Sybel and her father Arwen many times while drinking tea, so her fear was less than the other elves'.
Sybel, having watched the child for a long time, answered calmly.
“He might be the strongest human on the continent.”
“Eh? The continent's strongest is...”
Aria's expression froze in surprise.
Because she couldn't have imagined a human saying such a thing to the strongest life form on the ground, a dragon.
“It's understandable. But it's true. So, form a connection with that human somehow. He is someone you can trust more than any human, and someone who can protect you at any moment.”
“...So that's why.”
“What do you mean?”
“Mother seemed to be talking to that human.”
“He greeted the world tree after the dawn goddess.”
Sybel smiled faintly.
He no longer found it strange.
Sybel bowed slightly in front of the massive tree, the world tree.
An existence that had lived longer than a dragon.
It was courtesy toward the mother and god-like being to the elves.
In return for that courtesy, the world tree emitted a bright light.
As if saying it would take care of its children well.
“The one who should receive the thanks isn't me, but them. One of the nine mothers.”
The world tree wasn't just one.
It existed across the continent, connected to each other.
In those places, elves who were children of the world tree lived together.
The towering tree in front of them was the largest branch among the nine.
It was a being that even the gods couldn't casually approach.
That was why Sybel's words were understood immediately.
Whoosh!
The light pouring from the dense trees enveloped not just the elves but also Jin Chen and Samsaek-i.
Receiving the blessing of the world tree in addition to meeting the dawn goddess. Jin Chen really couldn't refuse to acknowledge it.
Just as Sybel thought that, another horrific scream echoed across the elves' land.
“From now on, ten. If there is anything you remember, nod your head. One, two, three, three and a half, three and a half and a half. Three and a half and a half.”
Jin Chen's voice, which felt as irritating as it was pitiful for the tortured man.