Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: The Flower Language of the Winter Flower is Salvation (4)
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Snow Dragon—Pers may not be one of the higher dragon species, but it was still undeniably a dragon.
Unless you were on the level of someone like Nanna Bergil, one of the Seven Stars, capturing it was next to impossible.
So, it wasn't surprising that he was reacting with such shock to my words.
"...Yuri. You're really going to take on the Snow Dragon subjugation?"
Truly stunned, Lucas raised his voice without his usual fake smile.
Even if a demon was controlling his body, at Lucas's current level, taking down a dragon was out of the question.
Sure, the demon let him use magic, but that was still just human-level power.
"If you and Karin fight together, you can win."
Of course, it was a blatant lie.
A sixth-circle hack mage and a peak-level swordsman? What made them think they could take down a dragon?
If that were possible, all the dragons in this world would have been slaughtered long ago.
"We can win...? Against the Snow Dragon?"
Lucas asked again for confirmation, but my answer stayed the same.
"Well, if it seems impossible, I'll help out. Don't worry."
The Snow Dragon subjugation was just bait from the start.
"What, don't you want to go? Lucas."
"No, it's not that... I'm just puzzled."
As expected from a demon at heart, Lucas had an astonishingly sharp intuition.
But what good was sharp intuition? His participation in the subjugation was already a done deal.
"Isn't this great for you? A chance to solidify your position as the archduke's heir."
"...You're right. I'll gratefully accept this opportunity you've given me."
Unaware it might be a trap, Lucas bowed his head in thanks, and I couldn't help but smirk.
"Good. Then go on, Lucas."
I shooed him away with a wave, then turned my gaze to Karin, who had been silently listening to our conversation.
Her eyes were even more lifeless than when we'd first met.
Her once-beautiful hair was now a tangled mess, making it hard to believe it belonged to the same person.
Even the atmosphere around her felt limp and drooping.
Karin was utterly broken.
"Karin."
"......Yes."
"The hard times will be over soon. Just hang in there a little longer."
".........."
There was no response from Karin.
Then again, maybe that was to be expected.
No matter how tricky the situation had been, I'd essentially left her alone for days.
"...Fine. We'll talk after everything's done."
It felt like talking to a doll that looked eerily human.
In that strange sensation, I stroked her head once and left the room.
"Master. How is Karin doing?"
"Not good... I should have acted sooner."
"You couldn't help it. Don't feel so guilty."
Cecilia's soothing words wrapped around me like a warm blanket.
Lately, I couldn't shake the feeling that Cecilia was the one training me.
At this rate, I was starting to lose track of who was the master and who was the slave.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ About three hours after Yuri briefed Karin and Lucas on the Snow Dragon subjugation.
A man in a black robe stepped into a cave shrouded in snow and ice, chills emanating from its depths.
"Hah. It's been quite a while since I last saw your face, you damned fly."
"Calling someone a fly? Aren't you a lizard yourself?"
"Worm!! Provoking me the moment you arrive!!"
The roar echoed loud enough to shake the entire cave.
A voice so powerful it could knock out an ordinary person just from hearing it.
Yet the man simply smiled leisurely.
"Ugh... so noisy. Anyway, I've brought some very important information for you today."
"Important information for me? Ha! You think a mere fly like you can help me?"
"Typical arrogance from a dragon. But do you think you'll stay arrogant after hearing what I have to say?"
The man's relaxed voice wormed its way into the dragon's ears.
A voice too sinister and cunning to belong to a human.
The dragon couldn't help but frown.
Even a dragon had reason to wary of a demon.
"One of the Seven Stars is coming."
"...Seven Stars? Bergil, that human?"
Bergil had indeed entered the cave a few times before.
At first, upon hearing it was a Seven Star, he'd nearly fled in fear.
But once he learned of the Curse of Immortal Flesh on Bergil, even a Seven Star held no terror.
"Bergil wouldn't be an issue. He wouldn't even come looking."
"...Not Bergil!?"
"The opponent is Yuri Kalliam. Former Sword Saint."
"...What!?"
Pers, the innocent lord of winter, could only gape in shock.
No matter how arrogant and supreme a dragon it was, it had heard that name before.
Yuri Kalliam.
The empire's Sword Saint from the era when dragons were at their peak.
During the empire's conquest wars, he invaded a dragon's lair and slew the Dragon Lord with a single sword.
The dragons' numbers had dwindled since then, thanks to that man betting on dragon hunts with his fellow Seven Stars.
The perfect embodiment of a Dragon Slayer.
That was Yuri Kalliam.
"Wasn't that guy dead...?"
"If Bergil's alive, why wouldn't Yuri be?"
It was only natural.
Yuri was a human of even higher caliber than Bergil.
If Bergil lived, of course Yuri did too.
"...I need to abandon the lair."
Pers moved its body, which hadn't stirred in years.
Rumble rumble!!
The moment it rose, the cave shook, and the thick ice encasing it shattered into pieces.
Just as Pers reached to gather its treasure before fleeing the lair,
The man, who had been smiling silently until now, spoke up.
"No need to leave."
"...What?"
Words that left even the dragon species Pers flustered.
Pers could hardly believe its own ears.
"Did you just tell me not to go?"
"Yes."
"You want me to die?"
Pers was well-known among dragons, but it had no confidence against Yuri.
If even the Dragon Lord from the golden age of dragons fell to him, how could it possibly win?
It would be lucky not to end up as dragon meat with all limbs severed.
"I'm not saying die."
"Then... what do you expect me to do?"
"We catch him."
"...What?"
"Yuri Kalliam. The former Sword Saint of the empire you're so terrified of right now."
Pers doubted its ears once more.
At what that arrogant man had just said to it.
"...You're saying we catch that monster? You think that's possible?"
"Good grief. How can the mighty dragon be so cowardly?"
The man scratched at the dragon's pride as he spoke.
Pers endured it with effort and continued.
"...He's Yuri Kalliam, of all people."
"Exactly. But so what? If you and I join forces, some mere mortal is nothing to fear."
Dropping the fake smile, the man spoke with utter sincerity.
He was truly proposing they capture Yuri.
"...Arrogant. So arrogant. At this rate, I can't even tell who's the real dragon."
Dragons were arrogant and haughty.
But right now, this man was showing even greater arrogance than the dragon Pers.
"Don't be scared."
".........."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "I—Lucas Clayman, of all people!"
The man with pale purple hair peeking from under his robe declared this as he drew countless magic circles behind him.
Black magic circles, each emanating an ominous aura.
Too ferocious and murderous to be the work of a human mage.
A demon's magic, Pers thought.
"...Once we deal with Yuri, Bergil is no threat at all."
"True..."
Yuri aside, Bergil was bound by the Curse of Immortal Flesh.
In other words, they just needed to handle Yuri.
"Then, shall we toast to our victory tomorrow?"
Flashing his fake smile again, Lucas poured liquor into glasses—somehow already prepared.
Seeing this, Pers began to think it might actually be possible.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The day after briefing Lucas and Karin on the Snow Dragon subjugation.
My head throbbed from last night's binge drinking as I groggily rose at Cecilia's voice.
"Master! Today's the Snow Dragon subjugation! What are you doing sleeping in!?"
"Ugh... ah, sorry. I drank too much yesterday."
With so much on my mind, I'd lost track of time pounding drinks.
Of course, it was still better than the time with Cecilia.
"Mm. Alright, then let's head out quick."
I strapped on my usual sword and spare to my waist.
Even with lightweight magic, they had a satisfying heft.
For some reason, it felt like I'd gone back to my days as an active Sword Saint.
Basking in that feeling, I shouted energetically toward Karin and Lucas.
"Alright, let's go catch and thrash that Snow Dragon Pers!!!"