The Dragon's Palate
Even the same ingredient like Euterpe can taste worlds apart depending on how you cook it. Grilling, steaming, or boiling each brings out different flavors and aromas. And don't get me started on the seasonings.
To Malgras, memories were just like that.
The same subject's memories could vary wildly in taste depending on the intensity of the emotions involved. The power he could extract from them differed like heaven and earth.
In the beginning, after gaining his form, he'd devoured whatever he could get his jaws on. Just like the savage dragons from myth.
But after gorging himself endlessly, he began to distinguish between good and bad.
"What a bland life. Dull and pathetic."
Memories of peaceful, happy lives tasted awful.
"Killing thirteen in a lovers' quarrel? Splendid."
Stimulating, violent memories were delicious.
Eating more and more no longer satisfied him. Over endless years of swallowing memories, Malgras learned to act in ways that suited his needs.
"Pleased to meet you, little friend. No need to fear. I am Malgras."
To heighten emotions, rather than devour outright, he disguised himself as harmless.
"How tragic. ...Forgetting it all might make it better."
Right before killing, to shatter their minds, he pretended to understand human hearts.
But Malgras didn't know what human hearts were. He had no need or desire to know. Mimicry was enough to catch and eat them.
Demons were like that by nature. Their eternal lives driven solely by self-preservation and glory.
One day, Malgras stumbled upon a memory by chance. Right after unleashing Dragon Words on thousands, inciting mass orgies and slaughter.
"M-Mommy? Mommy?"
Amid the corpse piles, he found a human child who'd luckily survived. Being so young, it tasted of little.
He spat out the ashen remains right in front of her eyes.
For some reason, the mother wailed as if she'd lost the world.
So he ate her too.
That day, Malgras glimpsed a new horizon in memories. The most intense, profound emotion. A recollection that tore the heart a thousand times and stitched it back.
Maternity.
The feeling a mother has for her child.
Malgras invaded kingdoms. He devoured mothers with children in every way imaginable. Experimenting to maximize emotional amplitude, seeking the best way to shatter their happiest memories.
Around then, he heard absurd news.
"...Euterpe?" "Yes. They say she's betrothed to a human." "Has living barely a millennium driven her mad?"
The Frost Witch had betrayed her demon kin.
Come to think of it, he'd eaten kin before, but they didn't taste much different from humans. Demons were stronger, so more effort was needed.
An idea he'd never considered.
"She seems quite courteous in person." "Plenty of slander about me, of course. ...Little human friend, would you repeat that?" "Sure. Duchess Karstein... has borne an heir."
Euterpe had borne a human child.
A heartless demon had gained a human heart. Acquired memories demons lacked.
Malgras's inner being filled with joy.
How exquisite that delicacy must taste.
What emotions would she wail with right before he devoured her memories?
The Frost Witch wouldn't wield her full power. Those with something to protect always weakened.
"Euterpe. To grant me such a grand gift. I thank you."
The memory-eater Malgras. The world called him the Dragon of Oblivion.
Wrong. His innate authority wasn't oblivion.
Erosion.
The power to twist memories, overlay them, and spew them back out.
"Be careful."
"Yeah."
I led Freira into the massive pit. It was so vast the slope was gentle.
Amid the melted, fused royal palace ruins, the fire dragon still lounged. His eyes on Freira practically dripped honey.
That bastard's gluttony hasn't changed a bit.
One day it'll make him burst.
"...Hamel."
"Yes, miss."
Freira took a deep breath. A far cry from her bold stance kicking away the residual image earlier. Now, facing the dragon for real, fear had set in.
"If my mom didn't just leave, but was struck by the dragon's breath... could I recover my original memories?"
She was finally piecing it together.
"...I'm scared. What if everything I saw was real? What if I really was abandoned, a monster that shouldn't have been born?"
Humans are fragile. They steel themselves only to crumble and give up moments later.
Knowing that, I told her:
"If what you say is true, miss, then why is this still here?"
The necklace around the duke's daughter's neck chimed. Nearing the dragon's lair, it glowed blindingly blue.
"Tell me. What's this necklace called?"
"...Frost's Oath."
I met Freira's eyes.
"Would she make a promise to a child she didn't want? One fated to be abandoned? I believe not."
"...You always say the right things, Hamel."
Too early for admiration. Time to get serious.
"Miss. There's a way to see the real memories."
"How?"
"Like I said, we'll make Malgras vomit them up. Then make him choke on them. ...Pretend to hate your mother."
Freira blinked at the sudden indirect diss. Her eyes wavered lost for a moment.
"Sh-She's hate-worthy, sure. How do you abandon your kid? Right?"
But she soon nodded firmly.
"...Still, I don't think I should hate her. No idea why."
"Miss. It's fine. Just act. The rest will fall into place."
I synced our final plan as we walked. The dragon's crimson eyes loomed closer.
As I approached, the fire dragon rose its massive body. Above us, it greeted politely.
"Pleased to meet you, daughter of Euterpe. And your companion?"
"Hamel."
"Oh! The being spoken of by the Igniter!"
Final boss name-drop here?
Fine. Never met the guy once. No other players have either.
Think later.
"Allow a proper introduction. Your friend, Malgras."
Malgras spread his wings from a seated position. Sunlight vanished, shadows fell.
Disaster Encounter
Dragon of Oblivion
Ashes smothered the system log.
[■■ Dragon]
Beneath the ashes, the true authority emerged at last.
Disaster Encounter
Dragon of Erosion
Memory-Devouring Malgras
"I've awaited you so long. Might I have your name?"
"No."
Freira decisively hurled an ice pillar. It lodged in his wing, and Malgras chuckled.
"A witch's blood indeed! First, let me check if you're ripe."
He opened his maw, mana surging explosively. I feigned activating Aegis in front.
"Friend, I won't fall for the same trick twice."
Idiot. That's my line. How many times do you think I've seen your patterns?
In that split second, logs scrolled before my eyes.
The accelerator spun wildly at the barrel's end as the projectile launched. The amplifier added acceleration, shaking violently.
A heavy boom, and the sniper round buried in Malgras's maw. Mana detonated in a burst of multicolored light.
This was the powerless commoner's piercing spear.
"...Impressive! Only something like this qualifies as a delicacy!"
Unable to utter his Dragon Word, Malgras took to the skies. His massive wings shoved the air aside.
"Miss. Now."
"Freeze. Pierce. All of you."
A ring spun fiercely behind Freira's head. She'd saved every drop of mana for this moment.
Dozens of ice-flame orbs launched in unison. Accuracy wasn't great, but no issue.
How would he dodge the barrage?
Ice-flame orbs embedded in wings and body glowed red-hot.
"Explode."
With a roar, Malgras plummeted. Severely weakened now. Flightless, sealing a dozen patterns.
"... Astonishing. Truly. To think little humans could scheme this well. Daughter of Euterpe, your wisdom?"
Freira silent, Malgras grinned wickedly. Realizing it was me.
"Hamel. I commend you. No wonder the Igniter took notice."
Who's that, you fanboy? Never seen the final boss. Let me meet him too.
Malgras must be shaken inside. Two nuke-level hits turn one.
So he'd judge Freira fully ripened.
To savor her memories, he'd amplify her emotions.
All that's left is showing hatred for her mother.
I signaled Freira. The duke's daughter spat coldly.
"...That woman. Where is she. The bitch who abandoned me and ran."
"You mean Euterpe? No, no. She's still your birth mother."
"Shut up. Bring her here."
Freira channeled every drop of witch blood into her performance.
"I'll tear her apart and kill her myself. Collar her and present her."
Crazy filial imposter... Oh, right, acting.
Malgras's eyes filled with delight.
"Yes! That's the emotion! Hatred! Resentment! Don't you want to curse her? How could a mother cast out her child?"
One thing left. Show the truth to shred Freira's heart. Amplify emotions, then devour. That's his plan.
Malgras opened his maw. Freira didn't flee. She just gripped my hand tight.
For this moment.
"Remember."
Malgras breathed.
The Dragon Word became flames, striking direct. My body neither melted nor burned.
Instead, it was cold.
Bone-chilling cold and a blizzard whirling to engulf the world.
Auroras shimmering beyond the sunset, snow piled thick to the horizon.
Before my mind's eye unfolded a vast white snowfield.
And a mother and daughter, like frost itself.