Like a Dragon (3)
I know it all too well, being the youngest myself. The eldest is always weak to the baby of the family.
That's why I commanded High El. To find Yunak Seus's location.
Tracking mana traces should make pinpointing it easy enough. But I'd never seen Yunak Seus cast magic firsthand. And I couldn't even be sure that what dragons manifested was truly magic.
Which left me no choice but to worry.
It has to be ridiculously vast, after all.
The Arcana Continent is immense. Even with Yunak Seus's massive frame, it'd be less than a grain of sand in the desert.
So I figured finding Yunak Seus would be harder than finding a needle in a haystack.
But it was all for naught.
Like telepathy. A roar burrowed straight into my mind.
-"Kr...rr...."
Dragon Fear.
High El, having faced Yunak Seus directly, must have sensed it first. It relayed the roar's origin to me right away.
No reason to hesitate.
I manifested a portal and stepped into the swirl of light.
And there it was.
Well, now.
A horde of demons.
Utterly clueless about their place. The epitome of demonic behavior.
No fear at all. Truly.
A dying ancient dragon. Demons waiting for Yunak Seus's final breath.
The reason was obvious. They wanted scraps from its corpse.
But did they think I'd just stand by and watch?
No need for me to even get mad and intervene.
Yunak Seus. Connected to me through the World Tree, no less.
Would Grandfell tolerate seeing such a being die while these wretches leered?
Especially since the culprits were demons?
This strikes at both impeccable integrity and pride simultaneously.
No chit-chat with prey.
No need to utter a word. No raising my cane. No surging mana.
Clack—
Just one step forward.
The demons' faces drained of color.
No wonder, if they'd seen the message that just popped up.
I'd inflicted the abnormal status 'Fear' on tens of millions of demons before.
Facing me—a demon—and staying composed?
High Demon, Plaimp: Afflicted
Mid-tier Demon, Incubus: Afflicted
Seven Fingers of Blasphemy, Sevnaui: Afflicted
...and countless others.
Staying calm would be the real mystery.
In Grandfell terms... it wasn't even worth the effort of crushing bugs.
No bragging about hunting a demon horde without lifting a finger.
This is just what a natural enemy relationship demands, right?
And judging by the experience points not budging an inch...
They were probably low-level demons, around Lv.400-500 at best.
Which really drove home how close Yunak Seus was to death.
Couldn't even fend off these pathetic demons.
Before facing it, I'd wondered if healing magic could stabilize Yunak Seus.
My arsenal included healing spells, after all.
Not at Bellie Yusia's level, maybe...
But I was confident it'd rival most healer-class players.
Arrogance. Or rather, underestimating the target.
A dragon. King of all creation. The flawless being that made even elves envious.
According to Agentress, the elves' leader, dragons were perfect even without the First World Tree Blessing.
Meaning they inherently possessed the World Tree's blessing effects.
A wound even that regenerative life force can't heal.
The Dragon-Demon Great War.
Mage Tower records I'd read confirmed it: No ultra-high magic could scratch dragon hide.
Yet here it was, shredded to ribbons.
And not just that.
"My liege..."
Wings that once soared through dimensions—gone.
No wonder High El trailed off.
I approached the fallen Yunak Seus without faltering.
...My mind raced with a thousand thoughts.
Who did this to Yunak Seus? Could I even converse like this? Had it already breathed its last?
Thoughts I shouldn't have.
That instant—Yunak Seus's eyes cracked open, trembling.
Flutter—eyelids quivering. The look of one on death's door.
Meeting that gaze, I desperately racked my brain.
...Even with anomalies, it's impossible?
Did Healing Magic need some extra interference factor?
Despite all my struggles... my level was still far too low to defy a dragon's death.
But then—Yunak Seus's pupils dilated wide.
As if seeing something unbelievable.
It was definitely looking at me... but why the shock?
We even shared telepathy, remember?
First face-to-face, sure. But it knew me.
Pierced my item info, even.
Called me 'Dawn,' didn't it?
High El must have shared stories about me too.
So no reason for that reaction...
"Kk..."
As if opening its eyes wasn't enough, it strained to speak.
The sound was too faint to catch—but maybe gratitude? For offing the pesky demons?
Nah, no need to thank me for that.
I wanted to save you, sure.
But demons? I can't just watch.
No need to thank me for showing up either. No blood ties, but we're World Tree kin, right?
I have my reasons for being strict about lineage rules.
So I spoke magnanimously.
"I know, even without you saying it."
But apparently...
...I'd seriously misread the situation.
Yunak Seus struggled to continue, ignoring my words.
And what came out wasn't thanks.
"...Claudi."
Cr-ow-di?! Right to my face?! Did it hack my status window or something!!
...
Yunak Seus was certain. That silver hair unmistakably belonged to the Claudy family—the ones who once saved it and its kin.
Which was why it could barely speak.
...Mother, why?
The Claudy family. The ones Arcana despised most.
Why bestow your blessing upon those who must bow to Arcana?
For eons, Yunak Seus never doubted the World Tree's will.
Yet now, the ancient dragon wavered.
How could it not? The World Tree's will would be a cruel joke to the Claudy family.
So it held its tongue.
And counted itself fortunate to face death now.
I lack the strength to confront fate's cruel jests.
But a voice whispered in its ear.
"Do not doubt my liege, Yunak Seus."
Regrettably... it's not doubt, spirit. Merely resignation, awaiting the end.
As Yunak Seus thought that—the Claudy spoke.
I seek no mercy.
It expected icy coldness. Scolding was justified.
Recalling the Claudy family's end, and how it and its kin turned away...
Even a command to fulfill the oath couldn't be refused.
Yet why...?
"I know, even without you saying it."
The voice was endlessly benevolent. As if truly understanding all. Compassionate.
Yunak Seus murmured unwittingly.
"...Claudi."
Pouring maximum reverence from its dying breath.
It strained to speak again.
"This ancient dragon, Yunak Seus, pays respects to Claudy..."
Was its frail breath lingering for this moment?
Yunak Seus truly felt its heart—the Dragon Heart—fading.
Thump...
Thud...
Thuuud...
Uncontrollably slowing beats.
How cowardly. Yet Yunak Seus swallowed a bitter smile.
Forgive me. I misinterpreted your words.
One phrase from Claudy would let it rest easy.
Ignore all and slip into eternal peace.
The instant Yunak Seus resigned to eons of life—
"Yunak Seus."
"...?"
"I still have words to share with you."
"...!"
...So I wasn't misinterpreting?
It couldn't help flinching. Words to share meant hearing its excuses.
Yunak Seus's chest swelled.
If its torn wings remained, it'd spread them wide in response.
But no strength left.
Thump...
Its heart truly stopping—
...Thump!
...Thump-thump?!
Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump!!
Twitch!
Yunak Seus's body jolted upward.
What sorcery? Its halting Dragon Heart now pounded fiercely.
Life force returning? No.
...Only the heart races anew.
But that sufficed. All a dragon's power stems from the heart—the Dragon Heart.
Temporary or candle in the wind—it could achieve anything while it beat strong.
Thus, the mystery.
"Understand this."
What power lay in Claudy's 'word' to revive its sluggish heart?
Yunak Seus would never forget it, even in death.
"Vivace."
...
◈ No restrictions
◈ Effect: Grants vast musical knowledge upon equip. Applies equivalent buffs from that knowledge to all under wearer's control.
◈ Description: As noble in effect as its refined appearance.
Demon king trophies have bizarre effects. Beyond normal Arcana logic.
Incomprehensible by common sense.
That's why I figured it was worth a shot.
To temporarily accelerate Yunak Seus's fading heartbeat.
Lame method, even by my standards.
If only I were a bit more dashing.
I could've manifested a recovery anomaly and saved Yunak Seus spectacularly.
Even without healing magic—mastery of Reversal Magic might've reverted its wounds.
But my specialty is knowing my place. I grasp how lofty that realm is.
Doesn't mean I'll sit idle, sucking my thumb.
Just doing my absolute best.
In other words—struggle eternally with poise.
So understand, Yunak Seus. My way might be...
Crushingly cringeworthy.
Never thought I'd utter that word again.
I crisply swung the baton.
"Vivace."
As expected, it worked. I'm sharp enough not to forget contingencies, no matter how absurd.
From Yunak Seus's words, I gauged it.
-"This ancient dragon, Yunak Seus, pays respects to Claudy..."
I have no clue the full story, but Claudy and Yunak Seus are deeply linked.
Deep enough for the mighty Yunak Seus to use utmost honorifics...!
Rumble!
Yunak Seus raised its fallen body.
We both wanted a warm greeting, but no time.
Strictly temporary.
Neither I nor Yunak Seus knows when the heart stops.
So straight to business.
First—the World Tree's intent driving its child to death.
That's my top curiosity...!
And why that damned Claudy name exists on the Arcana Continent.
But all things have procedure.
Priority: Who dared reduce an Elder Dragon—Yunak Seus—to this?
I asked Yunak Seus.
"I wish to know the status of the Dragon Assembly."
"...!"
It flinched—shocked I knew of the Dragon Assembly.
Explaining from the top's easy, but no time for who Skal is or class quests amid urgency.
So I kept my iron mask, lips sealed.
Thus, I learned the full tale of the Dragon Assembly.
So...
...betrayed by its own kin, fellow dragons?!
No wonder death loomed.
This World Tree lineage is a total mess. Family bonds in tatters.
I spoke from the heart.
"Utterly arrogant."
What kings of creation? Disobeying mother, backstabbing their one dutiful eldest brother, Yunak Seus?
Grandfell's elder mindset can't abide such family dysfunction!
So I inquire.
"Yunak Seus."
How's that stinging betrayal feel? Any regrets closing your eyes now?
Even with Last Adventurer effects, charging a dragon pack alone is suicide.
I conveyed that intent in Grandfell-speak.
"What think you of discipline? For reference."
Utterly shamelessly.
"I favor corporal punishment."