Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Pipi and the Dragon's Breath
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Late into the night, I sat for a long time on the temple's main gate stairs with Pipi, gazing up at the starry sky.
There was no need to say anything to each other. That wasn't our style. It was just nice—being able to spend the same time together.
Just that alone made me keep smiling.
As the pitch-black sky turned purple, heralding the dawn, Rain spoke up.
"Fride told you to wait for me?"
That part was curious. No, more than curious—puzzling.
Why would she tell you to wait for me? For 300 years? For what reason? There must be some purpose.
Unless it was truly important, Fride wouldn't have left Pipi here like this—Pipi, whom she cherished more than her own blood.
Sure, all the hero party members liked and doted on Pipi, but compared to Fride's love, who raised it from a chick, it was nothing.
"This, this, this."
Pipi shook its neck. A very small pouch was hanging there. From it, one could take out a ring.
A ring embedded with a Flame Jewel, a treasure among treasures that glowed like blazing flames.
I couldn't help but gulp in surprise, not because of its value, but because it was familiar.
"This is Fride's, isn't it?"
"Right, right, right."
Pipi flew up as if saying follow me.
Its destination was in front of the firmly shut temple main gate. Worn by the flow of time, but the door made of red wood was intact.
"You fended off all the grave robbers for 300 years?"
"Protected, protected, protected."
"Why? No, what?"
Pondering how to open it, Fride's ring emitted a brilliant light.
In resonance with that light, light also poured from the red dragon statues on either side of the main gate.
Rumble... And with a cloud of dust, the massive door began to open.
As I whistled in admiration, Pipi flew inside, so I had to hurry after it.
"Pipi!"
Wherever Rain's feet touched, flames flared up from the candelabras hanging in the wall niches, so no need for lighting magic.
The dimly lit temple interior was full of dust, but the ceiling was dizzyingly high, jewels adorning the pillars glittered magnificently, and the red dragon statues lining the passage were imposing.
Outside was still the cold dawn of spring, but inside a mysterious warmth lingered, giving the comfortable sense of entering a womb.
"Pipi, where are you going? Pipi!"
How far did I walk following the trail of flames Pipi left behind as it flew.
Pipi finally stopped at the end of the long corridor, where the shrine maiden's bedroom was located.
'Fride's room....'
After hesitating a moment, I opened the door. Pipi landed on the bed, bobbing its head back and forth, humming a tune.
I thought it was happy about the owner's scent, but looking closely, something was under Pipi's claws.
A luxurious ebony box.
Feeling an inexplicable tension, I opened the box... A glass vial wrapped in red silk appeared. A mysterious liquid that shone vividly like red gold in the darkness, like a flame.
"What is this?"
What choked Rain's breath at that moment wasn't the liquid, but the small letter paper laid at the bottom of the box.
So old it was yellowed and brittle, as if it would crumble at the slightest rough handling.
And... on that paper, a familiar handwriting lived and breathed.
[1168.09.24 - To Lin.]
I flinched, breath stopping.
Hollow laughs bubbling up from my throat made it hard to breathe.
'A date from 250 years ago....'
Calming my breath, I carefully opened the letter paper.
To Lin.
I'm writing this letter again this year. Probably the last one.
Knowing you're terrible at treasure hunts, I gave up on hiding it somewhere because of grave robbers.
So I left Pipi as the gatekeeper. So that this letter and gift could reach you.
Did you meet Pipi? The Light Dragon took pity on us and extended Pipi's lifespan. It's a shame I can't see your surprised face myself.
Pipi and I have grown very old. Still, our desire to see you again is as strong as ever. As I age, tears come easily, and I keep thinking of things I couldn't do for you before.
Now, I must depart.
I'm thinking of going to the Antarctic [Flame Myriad Miles] with the legion. If my dream is fulfilled, maybe I can live until you come.
I'll end my letter here.
I want to write more, but if I do, who knows what Rista or Kies will say, so I'll stop.
Because we all wish not to burden you, who must start a new life, with chains of the past.
Enclosed with the letter is a birthday gift.
Lin, happy 19th birthday. We promised before. It's the Dragon's Breath.
I sincerely pray this gift helps, even a little, in the journey of life you must face ahead.
Thank you.
And I miss you.
- Your old friend, Fride.
The letters on the page blurred. I felt my eyes welling up moistly.
'Using formal language so unlike her....'
Such thoughts came, but realizing Fride was 90 when she wrote this, my heart felt inescapably empty.
Only then did I truly realize.
I had been harboring vain hopes. That somewhere my comrades might still be alive, that I might meet them again...
Living by soothing my vast solitude with that meager hope.
"Don't cry, don't cry. Lin, don't cry."
Pipi scolded me, hopping from shoulder to shoulder. I wiped my eyes and shook my head.
"I'm fine. Not crying. Just... the formal language is funny...."
I tried to act calm, but even gripping something with my hand was hard. I decided to put away the Dragon's Breath before dropping it.
As if knowing, Pipi pecked out the cork with its beak. Like heat rising from fire, a mysterious aura leaked from the liquid in the vial.
Thank you, Fride.
I muttered inwardly, then poured the entire viscous liquid into my mouth.
“...?!”
Something felt off from my mouth, and the sensation going down my esophagus was painful like swallowing flames.
But the pain... didn't feel like pain... more like tremendous vitality surging...
Veins bulged and glowed red all over my body, and into the Main Circuit circulating mana through those veins surged a power I'd never felt before.
An overwhelming fullness like uncontrollable power about to burst, a burning sensation like the Main Circuit being devoured by flames.
"Pipi, my bag."
"Bag, bag."
"There's an old diary I used to use. Open that for me."
Feeling dizzying euphoria and the explosive mana circulating in my body, strings of text unfolded before my eyes. RudiyËn, no doubt.
Gustaba: Objectifies the caster's physical condition into mathematical values.
・Main (柱): Current mana 13,222 -> 26,444.
My mouth gaped at the absurd mana increase.
Double?
Exactly double?
This was an insane amplification. The Eight Great Academies prepare soul pills and elixirs over centuries for the next chancellor, and even those give less than 5,000 mana increase.
'Ah, what a mistake...'
If I'd known it was this great, I'd have built up to 50,000 mana first, then consumed it to hit 100,000.
But I shook my head to dispel the gloom.
'But now I can use the Heart Image Barrier, right?'
Proof: In my bandaged left palm, my unique rune flickered faintly, asserting its presence.
Brante.
- New mana circuit, usage condition met: Flow Lord (流量世尊).
Mana growth is unique: initially a gentle downward curve, then after breaking a certain point, it turns upward.
Once in that trajectory, growth speed gradually accelerates.
No reason to be depressed. Mana growth rate will probably be worlds apart from before.
By then, morning light was dazzlingly shining through the temple's stained glass.
Packing Fride's box in my bundle, I said.
"Pipi, I have to go now. If I leave now, I won't be late for dorm curfew."
"Lin, must go. Lin, must go."
"So... want to come with me?"
Pipi’s eyes sparkled, but then it bowed its head as if it couldn't.
"Pipi wait for Fride. Waited for Lin, now wait for Fride."
Is that it?
Did they promise that?
Does this guy have to repeat an endless wait again? I couldn't leave it like that.
"Then wait with me."
"Lin, together?"
"Yeah. Fride is super famous, so if she's alive, it'll be big news. No need to wait here; we'll go meet her together then. She'll be so surprised she'll fall over...."
Pipi first tilted its head in confusion, then its eyes lit up, climbed onto Rain's head, and bobbed back and forth.
"Together, together, together."
Leaving the temple, morning sunlight spread, brilliantly coloring the world.
Thud, behind me the massive door closed on its own. Probably won't open again.
"Pipi, what do you want to eat?"
"Corn, corn, corn."
"Ah, right. Pipi loved corn a lot, huh?"
It was still a chilly spring morning, but talking with my old friend warmed my body and heart the whole way back.
Warmly, warmly, and warmly again, warming my soul.
* * *
After finishing the letter, Fride silently gazed at the paper for a moment. Beside her, Pipi was pecking at corn kernels.
"Pipi."
"Pipi, Pipi, Pipi."
"I have to go now."
Stopping mid-peck, Pipi raised its head and looked at its old master with clear eyes. A bitter smile formed on Fride's wrinkled lips.
"Will you wait here for Lin? So that child doesn't become lonely."
"Pipi wait for Lin."
"It will be a truly arduous and tough journey... Until he comes, you'll be the lonely one."
How painful and long that journey would be, Fride couldn't fathom. That's why she herself was leaving for the Antarctic now.
"It's okay, it's okay."
"Really okay? You can just come with me."
"Even if hard, Pipi wait for Lin. Lin, Fride's friend. Lin, Pipi's friend."
Ah...
Fride gently embraced Pipi with both hands and began to cry silently for a moment.
Perhaps this is the last time. But if...
"I'll be waiting in [Flame Myriad Miles], Pipi. When Lin is ready to set out on his journey, pass this message to him too."