Whispers of the Heavenly Dragon
Whiiiish—
The desert sandstorm brushed against his cheeks as hot as ever, warming them fiercely. The heat felt almost like the desert welcoming him back, stirring an odd sensation in Adel.
"But how could Shan have devoured Nephrem? A high god can't manifest on the continent without a connected treasure."
The 【Platinum Ring】, the medium for contracting a pure-blooded high god, was still stored in Ruinxen. Even for a dragon, summoning a high god without a treasure wouldn't have been easy.
[Well... The best thing would be to ask the person involved directly, but since the contract is so recent, that's not feasible. She's not attuned enough to summon a god yet.]
"Right."
[I don't think it was something he pulled off alone. Even without a treasure, it's no ordinary feat for a high god to be eaten by a dragon.]
"You mean he had accomplices?"
[Nine times out of ten. Even as an ancient dragon, Shan couldn't have pulled off something that sinister so easily.]
"Hmm..."
[The problem is we don't know if those accomplices were human... or dragons.]
In his previous life, dragons had never meddled in continental affairs.
'They were more like spectators.'
So Adel didn't know much about them either. He nodded at Kalderet's words.
[Or maybe both.]
"...What do you mean by that?"
Garon, who had been listening quietly, spoke up. Adel frowned slightly at Garon's tone, as if he knew something.
[Most dragons hole up in their lairs and ignore human matters, but not all of them. There are a few who wield influence over the continent.]
"True..."
[The Rundle Gauntlets I had are proof of that. They're a relic of the red dragon Karsea, who died 200 years ago, and a treasure linked to the red dragonkin.]
"But the red dragonkin are just sub-species, not true dragons. A dead Karsea can't be influencing the continent."
[Right. But if you know about Karsea's death, that changes things.]
"Karsea's death?"
[It's not in human history books. The dragons erased it completely.]
Whoosh—!
Garon's fireball appeared.
[You know the Dragon Lord's seat has been vacant for ages, right? It's been empty for a long time. But that's not because dragons lack ambition.]
Adel listened quietly.
[Dragons are greedy by nature. They wouldn't leave it alone. 200 years ago, they fought over it.]
"Among themselves?"
[Yes. It was a massive war. Even the gods were shocked. It reshaped parts of the continent's geography. Countless humans and demi-humans died, and even some low gods were obliterated.]
This was new to Adel too.
[What? A dragon civil war? Damn those dragons... They pulled that crap while I was sealed?]
Kalderet, listening in, bristled his mane and roared in anger.
[It wasn't nonsense. What can't the continent's strongest race—excluding gods—do?]
[Garon, what are you admitting to? That's why you're only a mid god.]
[...What?]
[Excluding gods is the biggest issue. Dragons are strong because they receive the most divine protection. But they did the one thing they shouldn't have.]
Garon frowned at Kalderet's words but couldn't retort.
[Gods live on faith. Killing the objects of faith is tantamount to rebelling against the gods.]
He growled lowly.
[Gods gave dragons power to be harmonizers, not tyrants. Misusing it like that?]
Kalderet wasn't wrong.
[Shan's bad enough, but those idiots who started the war are the real problem.]
[That's why I'm telling you this. Your accomplice might be one of those idiots.]
[Who are they?]
'A dragon meddling in human affairs on the continent...'
Adel narrowed his eyes, recalling memories as Garon spoke. A being with enough influence to cause such an event and still wield power today.
"...The Heavenly Dragon."
A twitch.
Adel shuddered involuntarily even as he said it.
[Right. Heavenly Dragon, Qunzel. He's an ultra-ancient dragon said to have lived over a thousand years longer than Shan. He fears no god.]
[Ridiculous. If he doesn't fear them, make him. Qunzel dared that? Where is he?]
[Well, Kalderet, finding him isn't hard. But he's lived and grown as long as you've been sealed. Even has gods following him now, and he's a dragon.]
[Insane... Gods following a dragon? That's even stupider than them starting a war!!]
Kalderet shook his head in disbelief.
[Adel, why the grim face? You think it's funny too, right?]
"No."
Unlike Kalderet, Adel's expression was deadly serious.
"He could absolutely do it."
[You talk like you know him.]
"I do. Very well."
Grind—
He hadn't expected to hear that name here. It was one of the few dragons he could never forget.
'He's Azal Kingdom's guardian dragon later, contracted with Karon Azal.'
It was strange. A dragon who waged war 200 years ago, ignoring human lives, suddenly becoming a kingdom's protector?
'No way it turned over a new leaf to protect humans.'
There had to be another reason. Amid clues linking Karon to the Forgotten Ones, Qunzel's actions might be part of that connection.
'Karon... Did you know and accept him as guardian for that reason?'
His mouth felt gritty, like chewing sand. The Forgotten Ones, the Empire, and now the guardian dragon. Pieces he'd never connected were linked by some motive, and Adel couldn't deny Karon was at the center.
[No need to get too confused.]
Kalderet spoke lowly, sensing Adel's turmoil.
[History is the victor's record. It doesn't mean truth. What you think is good might be fake, and what you see as evil might be righteous.]
Karon's betrayal, Merka's hidden side, the Empire's guardian dragon's true nature... Everything differed from what he knew.
[What you must do is not waver. Hold true to yourself.]
"You're right, Kalderet."
'What I know is just the future ahead. Qunzel hasn't appeared yet. He shows up when Karon ascends the throne and builds the central Empire.'
There was still time.
"To hold true, I need power. Their schemes don't matter."
[Exactly.]
"Let's head back. To the desert."
Adel knew it was time to claim that power.
* * *
"The Andal Strait... is it?"
"Yes. Hien commanded me to relay that."
Back in the desert, Adel hadn't expected a welcome, but the immediate order stiffened his face as he looked at Nazan.
"Right now?"
"That's the order, but you'll need time to prepare. Let me know when you're ready."
Nazan pointed to the bow on Adel's back.
"Leave the Lion Bow here. I gave it for your last mission."
"Got it."
Adel set it down.
"Sigh... Don't take it too hard."
Only after taking the Lion Bow did Nazan soften his tone with a low sigh.
"Hien is away on separate duties."
With his tasks done, he spoke casually.
"It's fine. I didn't need to see Father anyway. I'm not a kid seeking praise."
"You're at that age."
"Sending a kid like me to the Andal Strait?"
"..."
Nazan scratched his head awkwardly at Adel's retort.
"No choice. I heard you used an ancient god's power in Ruinxen. I don't know how you met him, but... be careful."
Adel thought, 'As expected. I figured there were eyes somewhere.'
Recalling who might be watching, one name flashed in his mind.
"Lu?"
"...No idea what you mean."
Adel was certain from Nazan's evasion.
"Now I get it. That odd gait. Not quite assassin-like... Nazan, you trained him."
Adel smiled faintly.
"No contact since?"
"Uh...? How did you...?"
"As expected. Good thing, then. I misunderstood."
"Misunderstood?"
"Thought the kid was linked to the Forgotten Ones. Had suspicions, so I locked him up briefly."
"W-Wait, you caught Hummingbird?"
Nazan scratched his head in dismay.
"Hummingbird? Fitting name from you, Nazan. Lu suits him better."
"Jeez..."
"Heard Ralka took him in. Didn't rough him up. Just trapped him in her Eight Trigrams Formation."
"The Queen Spider's barrier... Poor Hummingbird."
"He learned from you, so he won't break easily. Thinks of me as the fool who tricked him."
"Ugh..."
"I won't blame you, Nazan. It's natural. And I'm a bit sorry, so... how about this?"
"What?"
"Give him to me."
"Clever as always. If I refuse, you'll leave him with the Queen Spider."
Nazan looked flustered and dubious.
"Haha, I don't want to torment a tribesman. If you say so, I'll release him even without permission."
"Ugh. Retrieving Hummingbird from Ruinxen needs care. Can't just yank him out."
"Don't worry about Ruinxen. I have a surer eye."
"The Queen Spider? She follows you as Kalderet's contractor, but... I don't trust Ruinxen's trash. Better to trust Cratel's slave traders."
"Is that so?"
Adel gave a wry smile at Nazan's words.
'Looks like Cratel hasn't been reported yet. Or maybe no eyes there since it's unnecessary.'
Either way, the slave city business staying secret was fortunate.
"Anyway, we'll handle it later when the time's right. Hien's son having a few retainers isn't odd."
"Thanks."
"And watch yourself. It's secret for now, but if your brothers find out, they'll all be wary."
"Shouldn't Father be the wary one?"
"...What?"
"You know what the Andal Strait is, Nazan. No blessings work there. Hunters hate it most."
"Watch your mouth. Even with Kalderet's power, think Hien would care?"
Nazan warned sternly.
"It's the windless zone, but hunters still go. Like fifth sibling Rania."
"Sure. Just kidding. Father wouldn't send me there out of suspicion. The great Baekgwi."
Nazan started to say more but shut his mouth at Adel's response.
"Sigh, who can stop you. Prepare well. Tell me if you need anything."
"Got it. But Nazan."
"...Yeah?"
"I hid using the ancient god's power, but I never planned to hide his existence."
Grrr...
At that moment, the black wolf lounging lazily beside Adel rose and followed him out of the tent.
Adel thought there was no need to hide anymore.
"He's been with you all from the start."
A chill—
Nazan met the wolf's eyes and gripped his hand unconsciously.
"And he will be from now on."
"..."
It was but an instant, yet his palm was slick with sweat. He, who never felt fear even in the monster-infested Forbidden Zone.
"Now everyone will know."
Adel's voice was low, but it rang clear in Nazan's ears.
It was a declaration.