Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: White Ancient Dragon
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The Salamander, silently climbing the snow-covered mountain path, suddenly halted its steps at a certain point.
It wasn't an abrupt stop.
At first, its pace noticeably slowed, then its breathing grew ragged, and finally, it refused to take even a single step forward.
"Hey, just a little further. Come on, just a bit more."
The coachman handling the Salamander tried to coax it in a low voice, but to no avail.
The creature that would normally spew flames and charge through rough terrain stood with its head deeply bowed, utterly motionless.
Like a mouse frozen before a cat.
"Can you even call this a forest?"
"Well... depending on how you look at it, you could call it an 'Ice Forest'."
What blocked our path was a forest.
But there were no trees.
Only ice pillars towering sky-high.
Crooked, transparent crystals jutted up haphazardly, covering the entire mountainside like living plants.
The sunlight reflecting off them was dazzling, but there wasn't a shred of warmth within.
When the wind slipped between the ice pillars stacked like skyscrapers, all that echoed was a eerie sound like metal scraping against metal.
"'The Boundary of Icewoods'. Once we pass this, the dragon's lair should be right ahead."
At the sight, the Salamander let the lava it had been holding in its mouth dribble out.
A sign of sheer terror.
An apex predator.
A magical beast that wielded fire and lava.
A being that dominated even the harshest frozen wastelands.
And yet, this Salamander had instinctively frozen, screaming with its body: go no further.
At that moment, we all knew.
This was the boundary line.
"From here on... we'll proceed on foot."
Lady Elysia said quietly.
The coachman hesitated for a moment before bowing his head.
"Yes, milady. I'd love to take you further, but... this one won't listen anymore."
He stroked the Salamander's neck once.
"It senses it too. That it can't handle what's ahead."
The lady nodded at his words and gazed beyond the ice forest.
"That's to be expected."
Her voice was calm.
"A Salamander may be an apex predator, but dragons reign supreme above them."
A place where even fire-eating magical beasts bowed their heads on instinct.
Once we crossed this Boundary of Icewoods, the realm of humans would end.
And beyond lay the dragon's lair.
The sanctuary of this world's oldest predator.
"Lady, I've got all the luggage."
"Leave the grunt work to us! You just focus on fighting, milady!"
From here on, no wheels could roll.
Beasts, fire, carriages—none were permitted any further.
Only those who walked on two feet could advance.
Honestly, at first, I was worried sick.
Trekking through this northern chill in nothing but a blanket?
The memory of nearly freezing while huddled in the luggage compartment was still fresh. Now they wanted me to walk? That was practically a death sentence.
But as expected of the Duke.
When we rummaged through the luggage again, out came not just random supplies, but full-on war gear.
Thick fur coats for snow mountains, gloves and socks lined with mana fibers, insulated boots that warmed right down to the soles.
Plus rations, emergency potions, and permanent hand warmers made from mana stones.
Every item was a "just in case" precaution, and those "just in cases" were spot-on for right now.
The result?
After changing inside the carriage and stepping out, a blizzard raged, turning our vision white.
But it wasn't cold.
Even as the icy wind clawed at our faces, no bone-chilling frost seeped in.
We could walk right into it.
Naturally, Lady Elysia's luggage was all split between Miya and me.
She was the only fighter here, and we were her support.
"You two, stay right by my side. No straying."
Lady Elysia said curtly.
Less a command, more a vow of protection.
"Yessir!"
"We'll stick like glue!"
I nodded along with Miya's reply.
Now it really begins.
The path into the dragon's domain.
And no one was thinking of turning back.
The Boundary of Icewoods.
A literal forest of ice encircling the dragon's domain on all sides.
Massive ice pillars rose from the ground to the sky, so immense that even the north's fierce winds couldn't penetrate.
Less like nature, more like walls deliberately erected by some hand.
Sky, earth, horizon—all drowned in icy light.
It felt like stepping into a colossal ice dome.
But ironically, a few steps further in... and the wind died completely.
The cold air lingered, but the north's skin-flaying bite was gone.
"Huh...?"
Miya's eyes widened.
"It's not cold at all from here on!"
"Yeah."
Lady Elysia nodded.
"I heard the inside of the Boundary of Icewoods completely blocks external air currents. Like a natural barrier guarding the dragon's domain."
Sure enough, deeper in, the heavy coats started feeling cumbersome.
We paused to shed the fur outerwear.
And stuffed them all into the backpack I was carrying.
It looked like an ordinary knapsack.
But in truth, it was a high-grade magic tool—a space-expansion bag that could easily fit a small warehouse inside.
"Every time I see this stuff..."
Miya said in an admiring tone.
"Nobles really are on another level!"
"That's what it's for."
Lady Elysia glanced around as she spoke.
A path wound between the ice pillars.
Each one the size of a castle wall, their surfaces etched with natural cracks like ancient runes.
"They say once you cross the Boundary of Icewoods, you reach the dragon's lair. And it's supposed to be... warm territory, from what I've heard."
"I've heard it's paradise!"
Miya chimed in.
"Just legends."
But the lady shook her head.
"Humans who enter the dragon's lair and return alive are one in a few centuries—if that. And the surviving records all contradict each other."
In this world, even gods walk among us.
And dragons are among the few beings that can reach the 'Heavenly Vault' where those gods dwell.
Some nations even worship dragons as deities. Maybe that's why they've grown accustomed to such reverence.
At some point, they began viewing any intrusion into their domain as blasphemy.
As a result, survivors could be counted on one hand, leaving what little info we have as mostly myths and guesses.
"Some records say it's a perpetual snowfield. Others describe endless green plains... There's even one about a city with stairs leading to the heavens where you can speak to gods directly."
"And stuff like it only exists in the morning, or lives underground—tons of wild tales."
"I see..."
A brief silence fell.
Then Miya turned to me.
"But Jinwoo, how do you know all this so well?"
I shrugged.
"While you were eating and sleeping, I was reading books."
"True, you were..."
"Heh. Exactly."
Lady Elysia chuckled softly.
"Even as a slave, Jinwoo picked up reading the moment I taught him a little, and he devoured books like that."
"You're too kind, milady."
We were laughing like we were on a picnic when...
...how nice it would have been if that peace lasted just a bit longer.
But about a day after entering the Boundary of Icewoods, it shattered all too easily.
The next day, after pitching tents and spending the night, as we set out again.
Around lunchtime, judging by the faint sun peeking through the ice pillars.
The moment I went to set down my bag to prepare food.
Thud.
Someone blocked my path.
"Miya...?"
"Ahead."
Miya's voice dropped low.
"Something's there."
Only then did I sense it.
A presence I'd missed.
The air had shifted, ever so slightly, but unmistakably.
The sly grin was gone from Miya's face.
Her pupils narrowed into slits, her body lowering naturally.
A quadrupedal stance.
Not fleeing—preparing to confront. The posture of a predator.
"Grrrrr..."
Almost simultaneously, Lady Elysia reached into empty air.
Light coalesced, summoning the Holy Sword Balmung.
Its tip pointed unhesitatingly forward.
"No way..."
The lady steadied her breath.
"To think it'd come at us first."
"Miya. How many?"
"...One."
Miya bared her fangs slightly.
"But its presence is leagues above those dragons that invaded the castle before..."
Only then did I look straight ahead.
And I saw it.
Moving slowly enough to be clearly visible, as if it knew we were watching—a figure emerging.
Skin pale as white jade.
Antique noble attire.
Perfectly cascading hair.
A face flawless enough for any portrait, yet atop its head rose two unmistakable dragon horns.
The White Ancient Dragon.
Even in human form, its very existence overwhelmed the surroundings.
It stopped and slowly raised its gaze.
Locking eyes directly with Lady Elysia, it spoke.
"Elysia von Valenhardt. I've been waiting for you."
"...Me?"