Chapter 46
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: A Guest More Precious Than Holy Relics! (7)
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—Unless you bring a Spirit Guardian, it's hard for a mere human to soothe the spirits. That's what you said, right?
—Correct. And Spirit Guardians mostly refer to the elves of the Great Forest—they're never humans.
—Then what is that man right in front of us?
The three dragonkin busily exchanged telepathic messages.
The spirits' rampage had been calmed by a human man. No matter how hard they tried to stay composed, the doubts were inevitable.
The doubts grew bit by bit every second until one of the dragonkin finally spoke up via telepathy.
—Actually, the spirits didn't rampage at all, did they?
—Foolish nonsense. You can tell just by reading the flow. The traces of their frenzy are still vividly intact.
—But Gromon, a human?
—I've heard there are rare humans with high spirit affinity. But even for them, the best they can do is communicate with spirits.
—…
Telepathy among the dragonkin cut off for a moment.
Sharing the same language doesn't mean they're close. It can even drive them further apart when they realize their differing opinions.
Yet to go beyond communication and actually subdue the spirits? A truly astonishing feat.
—Maybe someone the 2nd Princess prepared on purpose?
It was a reasonable guess.
The dragonkin had demanded the princess show them "human potential," and the scene unfolding before their eyes was one unexpected possibility they hadn't foreseen.
After a brief silence, Gromon slowly transmitted.
—Such a human is definitely rare on the continent. He looks pretty skilled too.
—So what do we do now? If we can snag the 2nd Princess's soul, it'd fetch a king's ransom.
—Hmm…
Gromon's group had thoroughly exploited the desperation of those awaiting ascension rites, raking in indescribable profits under the pretext of soul trade compensation.
Hedera was a rare breed—human-born yet suddenly empowered with draconic might. Securing her soul would yield massive gains.
Gromon soon finished his calculations.
—We use that man instead.
A firm transmission.
—Use him? I still don't get the plan.
—Exactly three days ago, Recon completed a soul trade.
Recon, the one positioned farthest left among the three dragonkin.
—That utter incompetent broke through realms in just three days after the trade. If Recon crushes the human outright, the princess will see the need for a trade too.
—Understood.
A simple, straightforward plan—they all nodded in agreement.
Their course of action was set.
Inside the treasury, the spirits had settled down.
—Zekiel, be more careful next time.
—Yeah. We all nearly froze solid and dissipated.
—Man, that chill never feels human, no matter what.
—I'm not an armrest! Get off me!
The now-calm spirits began chattering incessantly. Timid to the extreme, but once they got talking, they never shut up.
Spirits are always like this.
Zekiel thought. It hadn't been intentional.
Elements handled by ordinary humans always carry that distinct artificial trace, but Zekiel's chill was raw—something human flesh could barely endure.
And this was the result.
The spirits always feared Zekiel's chill at first, but once they got used to it, they loved it.
Meanwhile, Teder was first to pay his respects to Hedera.
"P-Princess! I greet you…!"
But Hedera's gaze was locked solely on Zekiel. Everyone else found the encounter bewildering, yet Zekiel alone remained utterly calm.
Hedera glanced at the piled-up heap of Sunweed.
"…You seem to have forcibly suppressed your chill."
It bothered the princess.
Her health was already poor to begin with; to subdue the spirits, he'd clearly overdone burning Sunweed. The thought made her uneasy.
"I'm fine. Chewing Sunweed to my heart's content was just nice."
At the man's nonchalant reply, Hedera scanned the surroundings.
Not a single holy relic was damaged—they were all pristine.
…She'd leaned on him again. She began wondering inwardly if there were any more relics worth rewarding him with.
"Thanks for watching over the holy relics. It could've wrecked the entire first floor, so I'll make it up to you."
"No need? I'm happy just making spirit friends."
…Hallucination?
The spirit stone seemed to tremble for a second there.
That was when it happened.
The dragonkin suddenly stepped forward before Hedera.
"We meet a peculiar human. Pleased.
"D-Dragonkin!"
Teder swiftly bowed his head.
Zekiel offered only the appropriate courtesy.
Teder's reaction is spot on. They really are dragonkin.
Dragonkin—beings born between dragons and humans.
A race innately brimming with immense magical talent. They almost never left the Heavenly Realm, yet here they were in the human world.
…Suspicious.
Suspicious. That was Zekiel's sole impression.
It was only natural, really.
Those content with Heavenly Realm life wouldn't budge an inch, even in death. For them to visit the human world they so despised, there had to be a reason.
Either the exceptional sort, or refuse from the Heavenly Realm.
Just as humans varied from brilliant to worthless, so did dragonkin. True, they started with lofty magical realms by birth, but the slothful ones showed it plainly.
Those were the refuse.
"No need for lengthy introductions? Knowing we hail from above should suffice."
The dragonkin glared at Zekiel with bulging eyes, but he brushed it off calmly.
A man who'd rolled through every gutter imaginable.
Even a real dragon wouldn't faze him.
"You seem on familiar terms with the princess. What's the connection?"
"Just an inspector from the Imperial Magic Tower."
Hedera jumped in quickly to answer. She looked like she had more to say, but Gromon gave her no opening.
"So the princess appointed you by her own judgment. Must be exceptionally capable—and timely, since we have a dragonkin just starting his training."
Gromon nodded toward the leftmost dragonkin. Recon, fresh off his soul trade three days prior.
"One who completed a soul trade by my judgment, versus a human handpicked by the princess. How about a little magical exchange? Plenty to learn all around."
"That wasn't in the plans…"
"Princess, you never know. We might just witness human potential here."
Gromon cut Hedera off.
Blatant discourtesy. Zekiel's expression grew subtly sharp.
They want to humiliate the princess.
Not even grasping the facts, yet goading a magic clash—their foul intentions were obvious.
And they'd thought it through. A scrap between underlings, easily spun as an "exchange" afterward. Perfect cover.
Maybe watch a little longer.
True, a princess had named him inspector—but that was Solana, not Hedera.
Zekiel saw no need to clarify.
He was curious about their suspicious motives.
"M-Magic exchange…? Basically a duel…!"
Teder muttered in disbelief.
Embarrassment clouded Hedera and Teder's faces, while the actual participant, Zekiel, stayed utterly impassive.
Well, I did smoke too much Sunweed.
His chill suppressed to an extreme low. They must've thought it doable.
Zekiel spoke leisurely.
"Princess."
Hedera turned, and Zekiel nodded quietly. He'd accept the exchange.
Meanwhile, the dragonkin's side-talk was plainly audible.
"Gromon, can I wrap it up in one shot?"
No effort to lower their booming voices. Total confidence in victory, evidently.
Zekiel eyed his opponent. Simple-minded look, but the aura was fierce.
Gromon nodded.
"Holding back would be rude. Recon, go all out."
"Then politely—one and done."
At last, Zekiel and Recon faced off.
The spacious entry to the treasury turned impromptu arena. A duel with dragonkin, no less.
Been a while.
Countless experiences had forged the current Zekiel—including scraps with dragonkin.
Wonder what caliber these were.
The guards and guardians who'd reported upstairs returned just in time, starting to spectate. Somehow, a ring of onlookers formed around the fighters.
"What about the spirits?"
"Quiet! Big shots everywhere!"
"No kidding? Princess on down to dragonkin?"
"Magic exchange, huh…? This'll be good!"
Amid the growing hubbub, Zekiel slowly spoke. No Sunweed in his mouth for once.
"You boasted you could end me in one go."
"No offense taken needed. Not joking—right now, I really can't fine-tune my power."
The other two dragonkin quietly flanked Hedera.
"Recon just did a soul trade three days back. His realm's surging out of control, so forgive any injuries to your inspector."
"You'll grasp the wonder of soul trades soon enough."
With his keen hearing, Zekiel smirked at their words.
Soul trades were their true aim.
Now that their ugly scheme was clear, no mercy due.
Whoosh—!
The next instant, the air twisted.
Not the air—Recon's opener. An invisible ki blast hurtled fiercely.
Kagagagak!
Air shredded, a savage roar echoing.
Tremendous power.
Gained in mere three days from one trade.
Could a magic newbie pull that off so fast?
Impossible.
And in a week? A month? Even stronger.
No wonder so many fell for soul trades.
But.
Sloppy. Can't rein in his own power.
Strength beyond one's grasp turns venomous.
Shhh—!
Zekiel swiftly surged his chill.
"…Hm?"
Stunned it manifested pre-impact? Or by chill exceeding expectations?
Likely both.
Panic flickered across Recon's face.
"Such restraint…? Hiding that much chill!"
Kaaaaang!
Recon's ki wave smashed into the ice barrier. Defense held firm, but Zekiel had no plans for a plain win.
An overwhelming triumph. One with gains.
That was his desire—so he laid bare hand to the ki wave.
"…!"
"Madness! Barehanding a raging ki surge?!"
Utter recklessness.
All eyes bulged.
Crackleracklerackle—!
Zekiel's hand flash-froze the entire ki wave.
The invisible blast iced over instantly, form materializing.
A midair vortex of ice sculpture. Masterpiece-worthy.
"You dared utter 'one go'."
As shocked stares poured onto Zekiel and Recon.
At last, Zekiel lit his Sunweed.
"Keep going. Curious on which try you'll quit."
The dragonkin's jaws hung slack.
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