Dragon Tongue is Such a Hassle
Dragon Tongue was annoying. Really, seriously annoying. I was pretty sure the whole reason I'd hired the blue dragon was to dump most of the tedious crap on her.
"...Um, these are clothes modeled after Your form, Lord Red Dragon. Is there anything that might be a problem?"
[...Handle the trivial stuff yourselves.]
"...! Yes, understood! I'll take that as permission!!"
So why the hell was I still not free? Elenoa and Isabella kept buzzing in and out every damn day, chattering about every little thing like it was some big report. They looked thrilled about it, too.
"Red Dragon! Melt these gold coins down for me, will ya? Turning them into ingots might make trading easier."
The blue dragon would shove stuff on me that her crew could handle themselves, then vanish into her lair. Out of twenty-four hours, I was spending a solid four awake, listening to their requests and reports. It was enough to drive anyone insane.
...Why don't I have a status window or something? It's an old memory, but don't reincarnators usually start with one?
I was starting to envy protagonists from novels whose titles I couldn't even remember. Some slime on a remote island got a super AI from the jump and could do whatever without cleanup. A system where you just give orders and everything runs itself. God, I was jealous.
Back in 21st-century Korea, auto-hunting had seemed like a nightmare. Who'd have thought I'd end up craving it? People—no, dragons—really can't predict shit.
But time marches on regardless.
"Lord Red Dragon, Elenoa says preparations are ready."
[Is that so, Isabella.]
"Yes, Lord Red Dragon. Shall we go together?"
[Sigh... Yeah. Guess we have to.]
And so, today was the day. The lineup was set.
Those who would receive my scales.
Those who would earn my blessing and erase Verinal's brand.
****
Isabella, Elenoa, and the blue dragon had clear criteria for selection. The top priority: gratitude.
Those who'd received direct favors from the Red Dragon. Like the father of that baby from last time. Or the mage who'd learned magic from him.
Of course, that didn't mean they weren't afraid of the Red Dragon. How could they not be? The very reason they'd come here was because he'd burned Yggdrasil to ash.
But they hadn't forgotten their sins. Seeing Elenoa and Isabella—ignored and shunned by everyone until now—they knew they deserved punishment.
That's why they qualified.
"Have you accepted the punishment bestowed by the Red Dragon?"
"Yes, we have."
"Will you accept the mission given by the Red Dragon?"
"Yes, we will."
Like a god forgiving sins and granting new life.
"Finally, are you prepared to receive this scale?!"
"Yes, we are!!"
For them, the scale was proof their sins were washed away.
To the Red Dragon, it was just a simple ceremony.
But to everyone else, it was a baptism.
A new home. A new life.
Those receiving the scales no longer saw themselves as elves.
Apostles of the Red Dragon. Kin...
Draconic Elves.
That's what they called themselves now.
"...Engrave this deeply in your hearts: the Red Dragon is always with you."
"Yes, we will!"
Elenoa watched them with fierce ecstasy. These were the ones shedding the arrogant shell of the elf race—the race that had dared defy Verinal. And the Red Dragon had made it happen.
His immense power, his searing heat prickling at her chest. It filled her.
And in that moment.
—Shaaaa—!
Flames bloomed across her skin.
"Wh-what...?!"
Where the flames had kissed, red, translucent scales emerged.
Clean and beautiful, unlike a lizardman's. They appeared locally on her cheeks, arms, legs.
The Red Dragon simply watched.
[That is the achievement you have wrought. Wear it with pride.]
With those brief words, he slowly returned to his seat.
Thus ended their baptism.
Calmer than ever before.
Yet hotter than ever before.
...What the hell was that? Eh, whatever. Blue dragon'll sort it. Speaking of, where is she? She's super late today.
The Red Dragon himself knew nothing, of course.
****
Meanwhile, Leviathan had traveled to a distant market to sell the ingots.
...What's this?
She strongly sensed the atmosphere had changed.
For one, there weren't many people here usually.
Being relatively close to the Red Dragon's lair made it unfit for human habitation. That's why Lebn Hill was just a small town.
But now, it was packed with people.
And it wasn't just the crowd. Everyone was armed, their auras fierce.
Like the eve of war.
That tension filled Lebn Hill.
"...What's going on?"
She asked a merchant casually. They'd seen each other often, traded plenty.
He answered right away.
"Eh, honestly, I dunno either. From what I heard, dragon hunters."
"...Aha."
A chill ran down Leviathan's spine.
Dragon hunters. Specialists who made their living slaying dragons.
And now they were camping right near the Red Dragon?
The implication was clear.
...They don't even care that this is the Red Dragon's territory?
Unbelievable. Incomprehensible.
It'd only been half a year since the Red Dragon razed Yggdrasil. His name was at its peak.
For them to hole up here now meant they had serious backing.
"...I see."
Trade was off Leviathan's mind now.
This was critical intel. The world was stirring. Big changes brewing.
She had to rush back to her lord and protector, the Red Dragon, ASAP.
"Uh, nothing worth buying today."
"Really? Too bad. How about this? It's a new breed, famous for growing in poor soil—"
She turned to leave the town at once.
"—haha, I'll come back later—ghk...?!"
The merchant grabbed her wrist.
Cold sweat beading, eyes more intense than ever.
"Wait, just a sec. Then you won't have to live in this shithole anymore."
He stared at her.
...This feels off.
She was a dragon.
But her domain wasn't land. The fathomless blue depths.
So no wings, no all-seeing eyes.
What let her wander the surface safely? Insight honed in the sightless abyss.
That kept her alive this long.
And now, it screamed danger.
The peril those few seconds from the merchant's grip would bring.
The sinister aura that had claimed countless kin.
It permeated the air.
"—Tch!"
—Crunch!
"Guhk...."
She crushed the merchant's skull and bolted.
Then, a man's voice roared from behind.
"Leviiiaaaathan———!!!"
A voice she'd heard before.
The dragon hunter who'd butchered her kin before her eyes.
The half-orc Stubborn as an Ox.
Sword drawn, he charged in one bound.
"What are you waiting for! Grab that bitch NOW!!"
He bellowed at his comrades while pursuing her visually.
Hunters lurking throughout the town emerged, closing in.
"Ngh...!"
She couldn't stay human.
Human form offered precision, but lacked speed and power.
—Crack, craaaack...!
She unleashed her true form.
To escape them.
To survive.
Desperately fleeing faster than ever.
"Mage! Cast the damn spell!!"
"Y-yes...! [Freeze!]'"
—Ting!
[Where do you think...!!]
"Ngh!! Magic resistance too hi—gyaaaaaah!!"
"Don't let her go! She's in league with the Red Dragon!! Capture her alive as a hostage!!!"
She couldn't fly.
Only slither across the ground.
Not the fastest for her kind.
A boon for the hunters.
They could catch the blue dragon—the one they'd mocked strolling among humans!
Just that fired them up.
—Shiiiip———!!
[Grraaahh——!]
Arrows rained on her.
—Boom!! KABOOOM——!!!!
Spells bombarded her.
"Surrender!! Stop!! I'll spare your life!!"
The hunters narrowed the gap.
No matter how she blocked spells or dodged arrows.
[D-don't... move...!]
"Dragon Tongue! Prepare spell disruption!!"
"Yes, boss!! [It won't work!]!!"
No matter how she fled.
Ngh—! Mana's running low...! Is this my limit on land...!
Her full power was only with the sea.
...Shouldn't have come alone!
Deep regret.
Why? Why has everything changed? People used to be... kind.
Reflection on society's shift.
[—GRAAAAH...!!]
None of it mattered against the hunters.
To hunt dragons.
To kill and loot what dragons left.
They attacked mercilessly.
—Screeeeech———
Finally, an arrow coated in arachne paralyzing venom pierced her wound.
[—Guhk....]
Her flight halted.
"Keep the paralytic topped up. Every five minutes."
Stubborn as an Ox eyed the wounded blue dragon coldly.
Obviously—she was valuable alive right now.
First phase: success.
Capturing her brought him ecstasy.
She was sharp at assessing situations, a master escapist.
But her escapes relied on blending into crowds.
By setting base in this remote spot and tracking her visits, they'd snared her easily.
"Good work, everyone. Bind her. Move out. The blue dragon's got plenty of uses left."
"Yes, boss!"
He ordered his men at once.
With her caught, phase one was locked.
Now, escape this place.
Linger too long, and if the Red Dragon learned she wasn't coming, it might force a head-on clash.
"Time to contact them."
"Let's head back for a drink, boss."
"Nah, I don't drink. Gotta stay sharp."
And so Stubborn as an Ox withdrew with the rest.
Dragging the blue dragon, chained in iron.
Moving to the next phase.
...Or so he thought.
[Stop.]
A sharp sulfur stench stung their noses.
—Thud....
A colossal weight settled, palpable just from landing.
[Are you the ones who dared touch what is mine.]
Calamity.
Apocalypse's Red Dragon.
He blocked their path.