Chapter 77
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Dragon's Time
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After Elaine awakened to the emotion of happiness, about five days had passed.
A span of time that felt long if considered long, and short if deemed short.
In that period, there had been truly numerous changes.
The first was that the massive rock embedded in the plain before the border had now taken root like a landmark right beside the Immigration Control Office.
"What in the world is that?"
"It wasn't here last time I came through."
"Alright, everyone! That's a remnant from the Great Cathedral fifteen years ago. It'll be on the exam, so remember it!"
This rock, bearing the historical significance of being a relic from the Great Cathedral, had become something of a tourist attraction, instantly drawing the eyes of incoming travelers.
'Of course, that also means our workload has increased accordingly.'
In other words, the once plain management office and border had gained a touch of distinctive character.
The second change was that the Border Guard's blunt and passive demeanor had completely reversed.
Urgent discussion required on Chief Central Officer Nathan Kell's future security policies.
On the day that rock was fully uprooted, the golems had also witnessed the power of Elaine's telekinesis.
'And they immediately recognized her true identity.'
The sight of every statue atop the walls kneeling toward her on one knee was as grand a spectacle as the sunset on the horizon.
Fortunately, they were a stoic and tight-lipped race, so there was no worry of the princess's presence leaking out.
However, it had created headaches in another sense.
VVVVVVVVIP escort personnel appointment demanded immediately. Also, clarification required regarding the lie forced five days ago.
Submit agreement for 24-hour guard system at Central Officer's residence. Signature required.
The issue was the Border Guard Captain's loyalty, which had become overwhelmingly burdensome in demanding safety measures for the princess.
Communication requests chimed dozens of times a day, leaving the crystal orb's light never dimming.
And the third change was...
"What do you mean, entry denied?!"
"...Pardon?"
The sudden shout from ahead halted my thoughts for a moment.
It was already late morning.
I slowly turned my gaze forward.
There stood an elderly man with a fishing rod slung over his shoulder.
And then my eyes caught the paper stamped boldly with [ENTRY DENIED].
My mind snapped back to the present.
"Ah, well... The pufferfish you've brought contains a lethal dose of poison, which could be misused."
There was one thing I had overlooked.
No matter how much changed, some things never did.
That was the work at the border, the screening procedures, and...
"Do you know how good this is for virility? Eat this, and you'll have triplets that very night! I went all the way to the southern coast to get it!"
...the troublesome entrants.
"...You cannot enter unless the poison is removed. Alternatively, please provide certification from a chef qualified in pufferfish cuisine."
"Urghhh...!"
The old man grimaced and bellowed at my firm refusal.
"How can an inspector from a nation be so rigid? Get the person in charge here! Who's the boss around here!?"
That would be me.
"If I can't feed this to my son and he doesn't give me grandkids, you're taking responsibility!"
Then if I dump this pufferfish poison in the well and kill everyone here, you'll take responsibility for that too?
I shook my head at the absurd protest and opened my mouth.
"As you have not cooperated with entry procedures, I must regrettably declare a two-day entry hold. Please return in three days."
People like this existed 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.
These days, it felt odd without them.
'It's scary how accustomed you get to something.'
As I thought that and signaled my attendant behind me,
- Whoosh.
the chair the old man sat on suddenly jolted.
"Whoa whoa whoa?!"
And with that, an invisible force shoved it steadily out of the management office.
"Hmph."
A snort came from behind me.
I slowly turned my head.
"...Elaine."
[It was dangerous.]
There stood the princess, her robe pulled low but posture proud, one hand extended.
Her sparkling green eyes peeked from beneath the hem.
No trace of fear remained in them.
I gave a wry smile and said,
"That gentleman wasn't threatening me; he was just protesting the entry procedures."
"...Eh?"
"Please bring him back. The process isn't finished yet."
She hurriedly waved her hand in flustered panic.
- Whoosh. Screeech.
The chair and old man returned exactly as before.
He looked around in shocked bewilderment.
"Wh-what just happened!?"
"The Immigration Control Office is currently running a courtesy campaign. In cases of verbal abuse or shouting at inspectors, you'll be automatically pushed back in line, just like that."
The lie slipped naturally from my lips.
The third change.
It was Elaine herself.
She no longer shrank back.
Since realizing she could wield her power with new emotions like sorrow and pain, Elaine had transformed.
A bit more courage, a bit more vitality, a bit more assertiveness.
Unlike her first day cowering in a corner of the office, she now subtly used telekinesis from behind me.
Look at that precision and delicacy—not a single scratch on the old man or chair.
Her abilities had leveled up alongside her personality.
"About that pufferfish... Do you still intend to bring it in?"
"Ah, no... forget it. I'll just toss it. Let my body through at least."
Invisible force proved useful in more ways than one.
But it had one fatal flaw.
- Slice!
"Ow."
Even the slightest paper cut,
"...Ugh!"
and those green eyes rolled back.
- Whoosh.
"Urk?!"
The princess lifted my body with telekinesis and dashed me straight to the recovery room.
"Ah, no, Elaine! It's just a graze. A graze! Not even bleeding!"
[I'll protect you! You, I'll keep safe!]
"I told you it's fine!"
No use talking.
Like reciting sutras to a cow's ear.
My desperate persuasion was cut off by her resolute mutterings.
- Creak!
The door flew open, and we entered the recovery room thick with golden holy energy.
"Eeeek!"
Erzena Selaph, who had been healing the Gustatory Officer's hand, looked up.
"Yes, where does it hur— Kyaa!"
And came the scream.
Our eyes met as I floated ridiculously in midair.
"...Greetings, Erzena."
"..."
An awkward silence.
"Hello, Central Officer!"
"Gustatory Officer. Good to see you."
Only the oblivious Gustatory Officer waved cheerfully in greeting.
I wanted to die of embarrassment.
Even if it looked this way, I was a high-ranking official of the nation.
Erzena barely composed herself and asked,
"Princess. What in the world is going on?"
No sooner had she spoken than Elaine waved her hand.
Word cards from the desk floated up, forming a sentence.
Central Officer. Injury. Treatment. Holy Power. Needed.
She no longer violently rejected holy power on sight.
Precisely, not Erzena's holy power.
The complete opposite of before, when a mere brush would trigger a fit.
She even visited the recovery room often, conversing via word cards.
Elaine pulled back her robe confidently and spoke.
"Euuuugh."
[I protected him because Nathan was in danger.]
Not in danger at all, and way too protected—but I kept that to myself.
Erzena stared at the princess in disbelief.
"You know this is the third time today, right?"
"Mm!"
New word cards assembled.
Safety. Priority. Central Officer. Promise.
Erzena read it and sighed deeply.
"Haaa... Come over here. And please, next time put Nathan down before entering."
That day, I had made one request of the princess.
—Please, for all the days we'll spend together ahead, protect me in turn.
Not one-sided reliance, but mutual support as friends.
Elaine had taken it far too literally.
Any hint of harm to my body or mind, and telekinetic iron fists rained down.
In various senses, the Immigration Control Office brimmed with newfound vitality unlike before.
And one more change...
"There, all done."
"Sorry for the interruption, Erzena. No need to trouble yourself."
"No, it's not that, but..."
- Squeeze.
She grasped my healed thumb, staring quietly for a long moment.
"..."
"Er-Erzena...?"
"It's nothing."
Erzena's gaze lingered on me a bit longer... somehow.
More than before.
That was when it happened.
"Central Officer."
My direct attendant entered the recovery room holding a crystal orb.
"Attendant. What is it?"
"Today is the Foreign Affairs Ministry's regular report day."
"Ah."
I'd forgotten.
Hadn't seen them in ages.
There was a time when the world still worshipped nature.
A time when active volcanoes spewing lava were said to be red dragons spreading their wings and roaring.
Earthquakes splitting the land were the underground demons yearning for light.
Tsunamis rose because the kraken in the sea depths demanded tribute.
All natural phenomena were interpreted as acts by beings mightier than humans.
We call that era the 'Age of Myths.'
And at the heart of those myths was always the dragon.
- Boom... Boom...
At the distant rumble of an erupting volcano once more, a dragon stirred deep in a mountain cave.
"Mmm..."
Mnatsil slowly opened eyes sealed for long ages.
Her slit, crimson pupils scanned the surroundings.
How long had she slept?
No idea.
Lately, sleep came more easily.
Turning her gaze outside the cave, she saw lava from the volcanic zone flowing along the mountains and hardened.
"Strange."
She sniffed.
The scent of a young eagle she'd once curiously sheltered inside was gone.
She surveyed the cave.
Piles of gold and jewels like mountains, fragments of countless beasts devoured.
And finally, in one corner, the bird's corpse atop the small nest she'd made for the eagle.
Mnatsil murmured softly at the sight.
"...It was just a chick before I slept."
But now, only the bleached bones of an adult eagle remained.
That alone told how much time had passed.
And that time had spared her no exception.
Scales that once gleamed, repelling light and magic, had dulled to a lackluster hue.
Claws and fangs that could rend steel had blunted into mere clubs.
- Whoosh, fwoooosh!
The breath that could incinerate skies now barely covered a small village.
Mnatsil smiled bitterly, resting her head on the rock again.
"My era is ending..."
No sadness.
Time was the sole foe of her kind.
Even with power for a thousand spells or toppling mountains, mortality and death came to all.
But no sorrow. No anger.
They had found a way to defy time.
Mnatsil carefully lifted her right wing.
- Flap.
A massive egg buried amid treasures emerged.
The sole way to overcome mortal fate.
To bear offspring, passing on knowledge, experience, and life.
The flesh might fall to time, but mind, soul, and race's will gained immortality.
"When you hatch, all the world's fires will rejoice..."
Mnatsil whispered, exhaling a small flame.
This egg, to be the last descendant of the red dragon, had to be protected at all costs.
That was when it happened.
- Fwoosh. Crackle, crackle.
Something burned below the cave.
[Lord of the Volcano! We have come to bless your offspring!]
[We have come! We have come!]
Orange fire spirits in the form of human women.
Beings who had journeyed far from the southern continent to celebrate a new red dragon's birth.
Mnatsil smiled and said,
"Ah, spirits of fire. You've arrived right on time."
Long ago, born alongside a volcanic eruption, the fire spirits were like old friends to her.
Composed of flame, destined to flicker out like fire.
She lifted her tail from midway up the mountain path.
A large hidden cave entrance revealed itself.
"Enter. Tell me slowly how the present age has unfolded."
Even if time was a dragon's only foe, it spanned over a millennium.
Boredom, loneliness, ennui—other names for dragons.
Thus, tales from world-wanderers were prime entertainment, filling the voids of slumber.
[In a human kingdom at the continent's center, we met a strange human. No mana, yet spoke Spirit Tongue fluently.]
[Surprising! Surprising!]
"Oh ho. Shall I hear the details?"
Amusing from the start.
Mnatsil smiled faintly, settling comfortably.
"Speak. I'll reward you plenty. Charcoal, perhaps?"
[Already ate plenty. That strange human gave charcoal for free.]
[Breakfast, lunch, dinner!]
"Oh ho... Quite the intriguing human. Continue."
Though her time dwindled, days with this egg remained ample.
At least until the hatchling emerged, enough to recognize its mother.
But she overlooked one thing.
The mighty power of a dragon from the Age of Myths birthed countless legends and tales.
And those craving that power inevitably appeared.
With no guarantee they would be benevolent.