The Magma Wyvern Arde
A vast volcanic crater, deep within its heart.
Guided here by the Red Wyvern, I arrived at a massive cavern.
The Red Wyvern that had escorted me this far stayed outside.
Was it really okay to leave me—a total outsider—alone with their boss?
Maybe they figured someone like me could never pose a real threat to the boss anyway.
It grated on me, oddly enough.
Lava flowed calmly, like a serene lake.
Even with my A-rank Heat Resistance, I couldn't fully block the sweltering heat.
It felt like my scales and flesh beneath were cooking through.
I scanned the wide cavern briefly, but there was no sign of the "boss" the Red Wyvern had mentioned.
Had they stepped out for a moment?
The Red Wyvern hadn't told me anything specific...
I was waiting like that, pondering the absent figure, when suddenly—a massive mountain on one side of the cavern stirred.
Rumble—
A low roar echoed, not insignificant, rippling the once-still lava lake.
The cavern shook like an earthquake had hit.
On high alert from the sudden quake, my eyes met it without thinking.
A colossal pair of eyes, silently watching me.
It's huge.
It was like a mountain looming right in front of me.
I wasn't small by any means, but compared to this thing, I looked pathetic.
Even curled up as it was, it was enormous.
Its overall form wasn't much different from the Red Wyvern or the others.
The main difference? Sheer, overwhelming size.
I couldn't help but marvel at it.
Its lava-red eyes quietly sized me up.
That awe lasted only a moment—then came shock.
I hadn't sensed it at all.
We were in the same space, yet I'd been completely oblivious to its presence.
Even now, locking eyes with it, it was the same.
Right in front of me, fully aware of it now, and still... I couldn't feel its presence properly.
It was there, plain as day, yet it felt like it wasn't—like an illusion.
Like staring at nature itself, vast and indifferent.
It wasn't even exuding any aura; just existing there was enough to slowly overwhelm me.
[A little snake, are you?]
A soft voice echoed in my mind.
It was quiet, subdued—nothing like I'd expected.
Not threatening, not domineering.
Just calm, steady, with a hint of faint goodwill.
Only then did I properly meet its gaze.
Those eyes looking my way brimmed with kindness.
I had no clue why, but it was a relief all the same.
Tension eased off me a bit.
Still, I didn't drop my guard completely.
No matter the goodwill, the labyrinth's lessons so far weren't something to take lightly.
Sure, even fully alert, I couldn't really counter this thing if it wanted me dead.
But better than standing there like an idiot, waiting to get squashed.
[...You're the "boss," right?]
My cautious telepathic voice trembled slightly.
To my blatantly wary tone, the massive wyvern before me nodded simply.
[That's right. I am Arde, the Magma Wyvern, lord of this domain. Pleased to meet you, little snake.]
I nodded back at its casual introduction, though it left me a bit flustered.
That "little snake" nickname felt so alien.
As I said before, I'm not exactly small—no one would call me that anywhere else.
I'm plenty large, massive even by body length alone.
So "little" hit strange... but I couldn't argue, not against that ridiculous size.
From its perspective, I guess I do look small...
Not unpleasant, though.
Just... those kind eyes staring at me were a lot to take.
[...First off, thanks. I appreciate it.]
Before diving in, I voiced the gratitude I'd been mulling.
It was thanks for sparing me in its domain—far easier to just kill a rampaging intruder like me.
No matter how I spun it, from its view, I was the enemy who'd barged in, slaughtered its minions.
Which made its goodwill all the more baffling.
To my thanks, the Magma Wyvern said nothing special.
Just smiled faintly, like it'd only done the obvious.
That reaction only confused me more.
[You look lost in thought, little snake.]
[......]
[I get it. Not easy wrapping your head around someone like me.]
-Heh heh heh.
The wyvern's chuckle reverberated in my skull.
My brow furrowed instinctively.
Like it said, I'd never met a monster like this.
Thoroughly thrown.
I looked up at the chuckling wyvern, then shook my head.
I didn't know its game, but I wasn't about to get dragged along blindly.
At least it didn't seem hostile right now, so...
I spoke up plainly.
[Frankly, I don't get why you're being so nice. From your side, I'm the intruder who trashed your turf and killed your underlings—a clear "enemy," right?]
[Hoh—Trashed? The young ones did kick up a fuss, but I don't mind much. Youths get rowdy; it's natural.]
The wyvern brushed it off like an old-timer, then continued.
[Besides, hardly any actually died to you. I told them upfront: run from strong foes.]
["Hardly any" still means some, doesn't it?]
Right off, I recalled the drake I'd fought before the Red Wyvern showed—a brute several times bigger than average.
Tougher than expected; stuck in my memory.
It must've come on this wyvern's orders.
[I do regret that one, but I know it was unavoidable, little snake. It loved fighting too much. The others? Some even think it got a good send-off... Still, it saddens me a bit.]
[Then...]
[No. Regrettable, yes—but unavoidable. I guide them as best I can, but can't dictate every move.]
[......]
[Struggle's baked into monsters; can't escape it. Natural, really. They chafed under my "avoid fights if possible" policy. Bet that one went out satisfied, clashing with you.]
I couldn't follow up.
Like I'd sensed before, this Magma Wyvern was no typical monster.
Not even for an area boss—the pinnacle of monstrosity.
[Sounds like you ordered your minions not to fight, huh?]
[I did say: restrain yourselves unless lives are at stake.]
[Didn't you just say struggle's inseparable from monsters? You know that's impossible. Pretty hypocritical.]
My tone came out sharper than even I expected.
Afterward, I worried—would this wyvern take it as insolence?
One casual paw could flatten me; tension spiked.
Thankfully, no rage came.
I'd dodged becoming a pancake, at least.
[Hoh—Yes, little snake. You're right. Hypocritical? Can't deny it.]
Its ready agreement startled me again.
I'd figured no anger, but instant concession? No way...
Then its next words revealed it wasn't just yielding.
It had convictions.
[I've lived a very long time... young snake. Far longer than you can imagine.]
Its address had shifted from "little" to "young," but no time to nitpick.
The story continued.
[To reach this seat, I fought countless battles. Not always wins. Nearly died some, fled shamefully others.]
[......]
[Like all monsters, my life was endless struggle. Grow strong to survive, fight to grow strong.]
The wyvern lifted its head slightly. Unfurling a bit, its bulk seemed even vaster.
No overt aura, yet I felt crushed all the same.
Not just size—something like the weight of ages.
[Fought endlessly. As many losses as wins, but I endured to the end. And reached this place.]
[......]
[More scraps followed, big and small, but now? No worthy foes left. Days blurred into boredom—no threats, no challengers. Then it hit me.]
It lowered its head, gazing at me.
[What remains at the end of a life of nothing but struggle?]
[......]
[No enemies, no companions—what meaning in that?]
The calm question left me speechless.
Rebuttals sprang to mind, but none would come out.
Not just overwhelmed by its presence.
Deep down, I agreed, to some degree.
But fully affirming it? No—that'd invalidate my own path.
[Little young snake.]
Its soft call drew my eyes back unconsciously.
Clear lava eyes met mine squarely.
[Struggle matters. Growing strong matters. But it's not everything.]
That kindly elder's tone silenced me utterly.
My thoughts churned in chaos.
[Charge ahead like that, and you'll burn out eventually. I've seen too many like you collapse. That's why you seem so tragic.]
[I...]
[Little young snake, you're already weary.]
[......]
Its sigh-like words drew no rebuttal this time either.
It watched me silently.
Then, after a long pause, continued.
[Rest before you collapse. If you can't now, do it later. Not too late yet.]
[......]
Again, it waited patiently as I stayed mute.
Under that gentle gaze, I nodded faintly.
Arde smiled brightly at my response.
[You'll need a place to rest.]
[......]
[The Red Wyvern will guide you.]
I nodded weakly to Arde's voice.
No actions on my part—just listening to its words—and yet my whole body felt drained.
[Share stories while you rest. With me, or the others.]
To that warm tone, I nodded again in silent assent.
One thing was clear: I wanted rest.