Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Giant Dragon's Traces (1)
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The next day.
Full-scale training, just like in the dwarf village, began.
The daily routine was the same.
Training with the skeletons through the old man, massages, Azure Heart Method, and honing various skills.
One cycle of training lasted about eight hours.
The village elves paid no attention to my eccentric behavior.
However.
"We've gathered the wool as you requested."
"This is silkworm cocoons. Just use that machine to extract the thread."
"Should we stack them here?"
"But please don't get the wrong idea... We're only doing this because the Queen commanded it."
"That's right. It's absolutely not because we like you or anything!"
In front of the makeshift machine.
They simply piled up materials for weaving and item crafting.
Watching them, I felt it.
'They're definitely pure.'
If the dwarves were passionate and bold, the elves were pure like a blank white sheet of paper.
While Dagunar harbored resentment toward the Chairman's decision.
The elves didn't question the Queen's decision even by a single letter.
They simply worshipped and followed her with all their hearts.
You could tell just from the words.
'Chairman' and 'Queen.'
'Chairman' still felt like a federation where regional or village council representatives gathered to exercise voting rights.
But 'Queen' was a concept from a monarchy that divided rulers and the ruled, wasn't it?
Anyway.
If all the elves were loyal to Serphin's orders, it made things easier for me.
I didn't have to worry about their favorability.
"Just stack them up here nice and neat."
I smiled and received the materials.
"You don't need to process them beforehand. It only works if I do it."
Of course. If they processed it, that would be a problem.
Boneflesh needed to level up 'Weaving' proficiency.
Boneflesh was diligently spinning thread and weaving fibers even now.
It had worked day and night, already on the verge of reaching Level 2.
[Using Skill: Intermediate Weaving (Lv. 2).]
[Extracting 'Intermediate Thread.']
[Extracting 'Intermediate Thread.']
[Creating 'Waste Pile.']
[Weaving 'Intermediate Cloth.']
[Proficiency increases by 1.]
"You..."
Dagunar watched the scene in fascination from the side.
"When exactly did you learn how to use all these machines?"
"Hmm, well? It's our race's unique technique, so it's a bit hard to explain..."
As I said before.
They didn't need to know how to use the machines anyway.
Boneflesh just needed to use 'Skills' nearby.
"Th-that reminds me! You! You smelted without any complicated process last time too, right? It's so strange. Are you perhaps a divine race or something?"
"Divine race? Does that exist?"
"No, of course not. I was just saying it out of curiosity."
Lame.
Whoosh!
I swung my sword.
Today was practice for the first skill the old man taught me: 'Slash.'
Following my own growing familiarity, I freely cut through the air.
"By the way, how's the investigation going?"
The investigation of the dragon's seal.
That was Dagunar's job.
Pinpointing the exact location here.
Predicting the direction of the seal.
No need to worry about suspicion.
It was just scouting from the high ground in the village.
If anyone asked, I could say I was gathering goat wool from the highlands.
"Oh right, look at me. I'll head out again soon. I checked the east yesterday, so south today."
"Oh, really? Good luck."
"Haha, good luck? Thanks to you, we might fulfill the destiny passed down from our ancestors! I have to work hard!"
Good.
That passionate look.
Dagunar could find his ancestors' ruins.
I could get clues for the quest.
Perfect mutual aid.
"Then I'll leave it to you."
* * *
"You! Huff, huff!"
Dagunar reappeared less than three hours later.
"You're back quick? The sun's still high."
I wiped the light sweat and spoke.
I'd been training.
Why did Dagunar look more exhausted?
"You're incredible...! Incredible...! Come here!"
Dagunar approached and whispered quietly.
His eyes clearly sparkled with excitement.
"Incredible?"
"It's closer than I thought! No, not just close."
"Hmm? Then what?"
I lowered the sword I was swinging.
"It's right here. Right here...!"
"Huh?"
"The place where we're standing is the dragon's seal from the ancient texts! Where the blue valleys form a triangle and the tree stump's growth rings face one direction!"
"..."
"Ha, unbelievable. Even a hero's relic buried here, and they leave it like this! Do the elves have no sense of duty as descendants to honor their ancestors?"
What?
It was here?
A slight chill crept up my spine.
[Ding!]
[Stage: Giant Dragon's Traces]
[Difficulty: Immeasurable]
[You have discovered a ruin containing the hidden history of two races.]
[It may hold the key to resolving the conflict.]
[Caution! Caution! Caution!]
[Be careful.]
[The remnants of the evil dragon, Giant Dragon Drugen, who dominates the minds of beings, lurk within.]
Silence fell for a moment.
"Crazy..."
I muttered unwittingly.
I tried to stay calm, but my heart kept pounding.
'I thought it would be easy.'
As expected, 'Immeasurable' difficulty.
Just like when I met Taeyang.
A truly insane difficulty no ranker had ever mentioned.
"You, what's wrong? Are you okay?"
"Hoo, yes, I'm fine."
My head throbbed.
Honestly, not at all, but I didn't tell Dagunar.
It wouldn't help.
"First."
"Yeah?"
"Let's wait until tomorrow."
Right now, more than Dagunar.
I needed the old man.
* * *
The next day.
"Hmm."
The old man let out a groan.
"Giant Dragon... Quite the grandiose name. So, you're going right away?"
"Don't we have to? Can't stay trapped in this dungeon forever."
"Indeed, my disciple. Your grit is top-notch."
"Don't tease. It's burdensome."
"Tsk tsk."
The old man smiled.
"I'm saying it because it's truly impressive. This place is more dangerous than you think."
"..."
"That Chairman guy we saw before?"
"Volcanus?"
"Yeah, him. Even he's near his prime compared to me in this world. How terrifying must this Giant Dragon be?"
"..."
On par with the old man?
No answer there.
In our world, rankers are the strongest.
But the old man toys with them with one finger.
"Kid."
"Yes, Elder."
"Don't worry too much. From what I've seen, this 'System' never gives impossible situations."
"Honestly, I have one worry."
"What is it?"
"The High Elf Queen's presence feels too contrived."
Something awkward.
Chilling.
"The forest race leader who brought you here?"
"Yes, she happened to be in front of me on the day she was chased by the Chairman. And she naturally led me here."
"..."
"After that, no mentions or restraints. As if she wanted me to find this place."
"Hmm, you think she's guiding you there."
"Yes."
Suspicious.
Not proof, but strong intuition.
Why let a foreigner like Dagunar into the forest zone?
'Even now, at this moment.'
Serphin didn't appear.
She might be watching from afar, like when I was making the hammer.
Unsettled.
Queasy.
"Disciple."
"Yes?"
"Don't overthink it. Isn't it a problem without an answer anyway?"
"Should I just barge in?"
"Yeah, and if you suspect that elf leader, test it."
"Test?"
"Yeah, go in boldly and noisily."
"Oh?"
I instantly understood the old man's words.
The quest had popped up anyway.
The answer was one.
Enter the Giant Dragon's traces.
But make noise like [I'm going in openly? Heading in?] to probe Serphin's intentions.
"Wait. But what if Serphin had no such intent? Won't it create unnecessary trouble? If a High Elf Queen covers it up, the quest itself could be blocked."
"Tsk tsk, no way."
The old man clicked his tongue and smiled with full confidence.
"From what you said, that elf leader is Chairman-level, right? Then she absolutely can't."
"..."
"She's probably hearing everything you're saying now. Haha, with my prime power, easier than lying down for rice cakes."
"..."
I nodded silently.
Hearing that made me not want to talk more.
Honestly.
My rambling now.
Was noisy enough.
Her not appearing.
Meant she allowed me to head to the ruins.
I made my decision.
"Dagunar."
"Y-yeah?"
The dwarf listening blankly widened his eyes.
I'd often muttered to myself.
He probably thought it was normal.
Just a mysterious race.
"That dragon ruin. Where is it? Let's go now."
"R-really? I thought we'd sneak in at night? What if we get caught!"
"No, we're going right now."
Better to take the first hit.
Immeasurable difficulty?
Thump, thump.
My heart raced faster.
Fear, anticipation, and a sensation awakening something dead inside me.
Behind, the old man smiled warmly.
"As expected, you're a warrior. Genius or not, you know how to fight the world. Tsk tsk, yes. That's why you're my disciple."
Thus, I walked.
Toward the high ground Dagunar guided me to.
"That's the hole on the high ground."
The old man stood beside me.
"This trial will be a great opportunity for you too. I'm not worried. You're heaven-blessed."
A hole about 5 meters wide appeared.
Dark and dim.
Below, corroded stairs descended.
That was the ruin's entrance.
"Why hesitate? You've decided, so go in. Disciple."
"Yes, I must."
I moved my feet.
* * *
Above the forest zone's sky.
A High Elf with snow-white skin quietly looked down.
High Elf Queen, Serphin.
Queen of the forest kin, worshipped by all elves for 500 years.
Below her.
Joo Dong-hoon and Dagunar bustled about.
"Being from beyond... Finally... you move."
Her facial muscles trembled.
An expression impossible to read her thoughts.
One thing clear.
No displeasure.
"..."
After a long silent gaze, her figure.
Shh!
Vanished like a mirage.