Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Mad Mage (2)
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“Only Tondra among humans is worth having a ‘conversation’ with a dragon.”
“Tondra?”
“Have you never heard of her?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“…Well, that makes sense.”
Dragons had vanished from the continent long ago. Rumors said they had crossed the sea to the eastern continent. Of course, a few still remained on this continent. But since the fall of Angsar, they had mostly fled the central regions to dwell in the barbarian lands of Altans.
So now, most people lived their lives having forgotten dragons existed.
Of course, that was just because people didn’t know. There were probably bizarre dragons living mixed in among humans. But spotting one, or even recognizing it as a dragon, was next to impossible.
“Please explain in a bit more detail.”
“Tondra, the silver dragon who still hasn’t left the Silver Mountains.”
The Silver Mountains stretched from the Dark Forest to Lyset, serving as a barrier across the Lake of Life and the Cursed Lands. Along with the Steel Mountains starting from Altans, they were known as the continent’s two great ranges. Famous for their treacherous peaks and even harsher weather, even the dwarves had abandoned the mines there and left. All that remained were cold, darkness, snow, thunderclouds, and all sorts of undead monsters.
“Are you sure she hasn’t left?”
“Certain. I met her ten years ago.”
‘Ten years ago, and you’re certain?’
Well, dragons’ sense of time was vastly different from humans’. To a dragon, ten years might feel like a month—or even a week. So the info that Tondra was in the Silver Mountains seemed pretty reliable.
But still…
“I can tell what you’re thinking.”
“…That obvious?”
“Tondra said she needed to take a ‘nap’ in her lair. She told everyone not to seek her out for a while.”
“Then…”
“It means we can go to her lair and meet her.”
“Perfect.”
“Who knows? Maybe not.”
“Why not?”
“We don’t know what might happen if we wake Tondra from her ‘nap.’”
Nothing was more dangerous than a dragon roused from deep sleep. Like a low-blood-pressure patient facing morning, awakened dragons turned ferociously mad…
“She might even try to eat us if she sees nothing worth her time.”
She’d be starving, after all.
Climbing the Silver Mountains was madness. Waking a dragon was madness.
But the rewards would be just as huge.
It had been centuries since a new dragon was born. Dragons were so wise they despised each other, leading them down a path of decline. Occasionally, dragons interested in other races produced hybrids, but a pure dragon birth? That was ancient history.
As mentioned, dragons were too wise. They laid eggs, but the eggs ‘chose’ not to hatch into a perishing world. Because they were too wise. With no eggs hatching, dragons stopped laying them.
‘And now a dragon egg appears in that situation…’
Plus, the egg I’d saved from the Swamp of Death had even ‘communicated’ with me briefly. It was as good as showing a will to live.
If a new dragon appeared after centuries, not just dragons but the entire continent would be shocked.
‘My reputation would skyrocket, and I might snag other rewards too.’
Naturally, I hadn’t saved the egg out of pure kindness. It was mutual benefit—picking up some falling crumbs. Like how Khalid only agreed to help after hearing about the ‘godfather.’
And there was one more reason.
‘There’s an Earte fragment beyond the Silver Mountains too.’
I didn’t know the exact spot yet, but according to the [??? Map], there was one beyond—or near—the Silver Mountains.
Maybe the silver dragon Tondra knew about the Earte fragments.
Of course, I shouldn’t jump to conclusions—it was just one possibility to keep in mind.
Solve the dragon issue and find the Earte fragment? Best of both worlds.
After chatting about Tondra, the Silver Mountains, and more, the sun had set. Khalid modified a magic tool like a chain net and wrapped the dragon egg in it. Apparently, it protected against the subspatial ring’s mana interference.
We headed to the inn to eat dinner and hammer out a real plan.
“You look thinner than last time I saw you. Are you eating properly?”
“Enough to get by.”
“That’s the problem with mages. They neglect themselves chasing research.”
I clicked my tongue at Khalid. With his beard trimmed, his sharp jaw made him look even gaunter and more intense. That’s why it’s hard keeping mage companions—they can’t even care for themselves. Of course, Khalid wasn’t my companion or party member yet…
‘For Khalid’s sake too, we need a hearty tonic dinner tonight.’
I called the innkeeper and ordered a special tonic meal. He looked puzzled at first, but when I handed over a few silver coins and ingredients myself, he nodded without complaint.
‘Heh, finally time to taste the Ekaitz deep-sea haul.’
The seafood I’d gathered going back and forth to the deep-sea dungeon for Ken was stored nicely in one side of my subspatial ring. Today, they’d finally see daylight. People in this world ignored seafood, so the Ekaitz waters overflowed with abalone, sea urchins, conchs, sea squirts, crabs, and lobsters—prime tonics everywhere. I grabbed them whenever I saw, and they never ran out. A true seafood warehouse.
No one here wanted them, so these pseudo-medieval folks ignored them.
‘Well, in medieval times, lobsters were prisoner food.’
Worked out great for me—I could monopolize the bounty. I gave the innkeeper very detailed cooking instructions.
As we discussed the Silver Mountains, the dishes started coming out one by one.
First, fist-sized abalone, scored and grilled with prime butter. So plump and vibrant, just butter made them smell divine. I’d have the leftovers for tomorrow’s soup. Missed abalone porridge, but oh well—when in Rome.
Next, conch. Simmered with the inn’s black mussels, herbs, garlic, and a bottle of my white grape wine I’d made. The sweet aroma was killer. Perfect with drinks. I pulled out more white grape wine and poured for Lloyd and Khalid.
“…Not bad.”
Khalid seemed to like the wine, sipping steadily. Picky eater, but surprisingly agreeable?
Tore off chunks of crusty flatbread, soaked in the conch broth—pure heaven. Popped a big conch from its shell, juice bursting. Man, if only I had gochujang…
Next, sea urchin and sea squirt. The innkeeper struggled most with these—prep is everything. No choice, I demonstrated. Result…
Scraped the bright yellow urchin roe, boiled into a cream sauce with herbs, tossed with pasta for sea urchin cream pasta. Wanted urchin sushi or donburi, but this would do.
Sea squirt, prepped clean with young veggies as a salad. Tart and sweet—not bad. Cleanses the palate? No one touched it due to looks, so I devoured it solo. Even gutsy Lloyd avoided it… Good thing I didn’t bring sea worms.
Grilled lobster topped with cheese, paired with potato salad. Khalid eyed it warily but watched me eat, then picked meat, ate with bread.
“…!”
Right, that face was inevitable. I grinned triumphantly at him; he reached for more wine.
“I like the pasta best.”
“You know good sea urchin, El.”
Thankfully, El scarfed it down without hesitation, showing huge appetite. I watched her like a proud dad, piling her plate high.
Aira wasn’t far off. Chomping rock lobster shells whole was a bit creepy…
Somehow, we ate without much talk, only chatting properly with dessert. I grabbed a cookie slathered in yuzu jam and turned to Khalid.
“I’d like some advice on the Silver Mountains.”
“Advice?”
“Yes. You’ve been there, right? Curious how you made it. Plus prep needed, things to watch out for…”
“No prep needed. Nothing to watch.”
“…Pardon?”
“I was with Tondra.”
“Wait. So this’ll be your first time actually going to the Silver Mountains?”
“Of course.”
“What about portals?”
“Did you hear what I said? Tondra’s lair is in the Silver Mountains. A special mana barrier from the lair…”
Damn it…
So Khalid had no real ‘experience’ climbing the Silver Mountains? I stared at him in disbelief. And he’d brought it up so confidently?
‘No way I have to drag this frail mage to the Silver Mountains?!’