Chapter 267
Chapter 267
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 267
>Chapter Title: Can You Fly, By Any Chance?
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First off, it was only after I'd handed over all thirty-three moonstones intact to the wyvern that we could finally have a proper conversation.
And once all the talking was done...
"So, Yeokcheon spoke to you? And as a result..."
[I have returned, me. Great dragon.]
The wyvern boasted arrogantly.
From what I'd pieced together, it went like this.
'...Yeokcheon must've pulled some strings to bring me back to life.'
A sudden question popped into my head.
Why had Yeokcheon gone through the wyvern instead of using his power directly?
Were there some conditions attached?
Anyway, I set the questions aside for now.
The wyvern told me that after passing all its power to me, it thought it was done for, completely still. But when it came to, it was inside a pile of golden ashes.
'...No wonder it felt so heavy.'
Apparently, that's because the wyvern had coiled up inside it.
But anyway.
"You're really a dragon?"
[Yes. This body, dragon.]
"Have you ever seen a dragon?"
[Well...]
It rolled its eyes, at a loss for words.
[Quiet, you primitive human.]
The wyvern snapped at me curtly, then shoved its front paw into the subspace pouch I'd hung around its neck and rummaged around. When its short, chubby hand emerged again, it clutched a single moonstone.
Crunch.
I watched the wyvern chew and swallow the moonstone for a moment.
'Whether it's a dragon, wyvern, or some mutant drake—that's secondary.'
What mattered was something else.
The wyvern had a physical body now. And... our relationship.
After taking some time to carefully examine it, I realized the contract between us hadn't vanished entirely, but it wasn't the same spirit contract as before.
So what was it?
...A familiar.
I hadn't fully grasped the details of the familiar contract linking me and the wyvern, but there was one fatal catch for it.
The wyvern's life was now bound to mine.
'Is that what he meant by giving up immortality?'
If I die, the wyvern dies.
The reverse didn't apply, but it was still a deadly condition for the wyvern.
Realizing anew what the wyvern had sacrificed for me weighed heavy on my heart, but I shook my head to clear my thoughts.
Instead...
"...Thanks."
[More moonstones?]
Maybe it was the moonstones talking. I wouldn't have minded giving it four instead of the usual three—morning, lunch, and dinner.
'For now, that's the wyvern situation sorted.'
Truth be told, there was something even more important. You could call it the main goal of this trip.
Arapurugin land.
Time to get a firm commitment from Kalia mercenary captain Britra.
But hold on.
'...They got out safely, right?'
If not, we're screwed.
Pocketing my unease, I scanned our surroundings to get my bearings.
'Let's see.'
Mountains stretched out in a row all the way to the horizon.
Definitely not Torres territory, but with just mountains, I had no clue where we were.
"How far did you fly?"
[Time, meaningless. This body, great.]
It had no idea.
'Guess we just keep running straight, then.'
Fine. Pick a direction and something'll turn up eventually.
"Alright, let's go."
Without further delay, I kicked off from my spot and dashed down the mountainside, but I didn't get far before I had to loop back toward the peak.
I'd forgotten the wyvern.
'Tch, it kept up fine before.'
Now that it had a body, it seemed it couldn't follow like it used to.
Sure enough.
[Me, me... Me, abandoned. Friend, trash.]
The wyvern waddled down the slope on its stubby legs.
I scooped it under my arm and hurried on.
* * *
I arrived at Lortel's main camp around lunchtime.
"What in the world happened? And what's that with you..."
The young patriarch had gotten word via the communication crystal on the way and was waiting outside, his face full of worry.
Getting this worked up over not seeing me for a day.
Not that I minded.
And the wyvern... how to explain?
"Picked it up on the road."
"A gift?"
"Nope."
How does picking something up make it a gift?
He stared at me puzzled, then scratched his head, embarrassed about his grumbling.
"You look surprisingly fine, so I was just joking. Anyway, neat monster. Looks like a drake, but with wings..."
"Mutant drake."
"I see. Well, come on in. I've got more questions than I can count."
The young patriarch set aside his curiosity about the wyvern and led me inside.
We entered the meeting room.
He spoke first.
"What exactly happened? I heard you took on two Seven Mages. We all thought you were dead for sure."
I took the drink from his aide and spoke calmly.
What happened after splitting from Exstra. How Zaifo and Coksen died.
Everything except the wyvern becoming a dragon.
'...The wyvern. Tch. Come to think of it, Decullan mages saw it.'
It worried me a bit, but I brushed it off quickly.
Who'd believe in dragons these days anyway?
"...Incredible."
"Tell me about it."
I nodded calmly at his reaction. Even I was shocked, and it was my own doing.
'Holland tore apart two Seven Mages, but those were the bottom-feeders.'
Zaifo and Coksen were a whole different league. And I'd taken them plus two mage squads.
But that wasn't the point right now.
"Oh, right—the stragglers make it back okay?"
"The stragglers? Oh, Sir Exstra and the mercenaries? Got word they're safe. Heading back to base soon."
Good, that's a relief.
So, what now?
'Head to Torres? Or wait?'
I wanted to bolt straight to Torres, but I was beat.
My body's condition was better than ever, but the mental toll was real.
No need to decide right away, so I chatted with the young patriarch about this and that.
Mostly him asking, me answering. I filled in the gaps where brief explanations fell short.
Once we'd wrapped up...
"Yeah, I think I need to head to Torres."
"...Without resting more?"
I nodded.
I couldn't afford to dawdle.
Because the wyvern wasn't the wyvern anymore.
"Any chance you can open a gate to Torres territory?"
"Not a problem."
"Then I'm counting on you."
With that, I left the main camp again. This time, I didn't forget the wyvern.
But.
"Hey, can you fly, by any chance?"
[This body, dragon.]
"Yeah, so can you fly?"
[...]
The wyvern stayed silent.
Yeah, wasn't expecting much.
Those tiny wings didn't look flight-worthy.
With the wyvern unable to fly, best to hightail it back to the academy ASAP. ...Not sure if it's even a wyvern anymore.
* * *
Anyway, after leaving the main camp.
I exchanged brief greetings with Kalia mercenary captain Britra in Torres territory, then used the warp gate Lortel opened to drop into a city near Hazen.
By the time I warped again to Hazen proper, it was late night.
I strolled the night streets with the familiar Hazen scenery as backdrop.
'Familiar sights.'
Not that I'd been gone a full three days from the academy.
Still, after those unusually long three days, the city felt refreshingly new.
Oh, and the talk with Captain Britra went smoothly.
- If Pola promised, I'll honor it.
She agreed to pay up, treating it like blood money, and said she'd send legal transfer papers to Pola later.
What did that mean?
"...I'm the landowner."
Yeah, I owned land now.
Sure, you might say what's the big deal, but it hit different for me.
Think about it.
Born a Black-White Slums urchin, chased nonstop right up to the brink of death. Never stayed put longer than a month, let alone owned land. And now this?
[Me, dragon.]
"I'm a landowner."
[Me, dragon.]
"I'm a landowner."
I quickened my pace, dying to share the good news with my slave... no, Evelyn.
Then I remembered something I'd forgotten.
'Right, it's the weekend.'
On weekends, Evelyn would be in the Second Black-White Slums.
To see her, head to the Second Black-White Slums.
Come to think of it, needed to meet Pola too.
On my way there.
I crossed the dark field with a light heart. The stars shone extra bright that night—not a bad mood at all.
'See, living right pays off.'
Good things happen.
I sped up toward the distant Black-White Slums silhouette. Or tried to.
...If not for the sudden voice from behind.
"Hey, young man."
It sounded like a kindly neighborhood grandpa, but every hair on my body stood on end.
Instinctual alarm bells.
'...Where?'
Couldn't pinpoint it.
Heard it clear as day, but no sign anywhere?
I slowed down naturally, and an old man appeared in front of me.
Leaning on a cane, he rubbed his hunched back—pure country bumpkin vibe.
But.
A curse slipped from my lips.
'...Fuck me.'
Familiar face.
No, not really familiar. Even in my past life, I'd only glimpsed him once from afar.
But that mug was burned into my brain, clear as day—and just as shocking.
Decullan's second absolute.
The first seat of the Seven Mages.
Aevilon von Prauksan.
...Right now, a mage who'd climbed higher than even Patriarch Pahren von Decullan.
* * *
Good mood didn't last.
The unexpected arrival chilled my spine with sweat as I swallowed hard.
Just moments ago, starlit night; now it felt like a pitch-black abyss closing in.
Aevilon and I stood face-to-face, staring. I spoke first.
"...Did you call for me?"
"Hm? Oh, yes. Sorry about that. Haven't seen a fine young man like you in ages... Heh heh."
The white-haired Aevilon chuckled good-naturedly.
No killing intent, no aura at all, but my head spun like I might puke.
'What the hell?'
Why was Aevilon here?
Why stop me?
A tangle of dark thoughts, none hopeful.
Oblivious, Aevilon kept rubbing his back like it ached. Then he spoke.
And I knew.
My bad feeling was spot on.
"By any chance, are you headed to the Second Black-White Slums?"
"...Yes."
"Then do you know a Duke? Or Knight, maybe. Or Mage. Something like that, I hear."
...
Aevilon's goal was the Second Black-White Slums.
No, even more...
"Ever heard of the Magic Tower?"
The Magic Tower itself.