I Became the Younges Chapter 109: Ascalon (4)

Chapter 109: Ascalon (4)

TL/Editor: Rungir

Schedule: none

Illustrations: none

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"What is the matter, Your Highness?"

Groud Ozlima, looking at the First Prince furrowing his brows in contemplation, asked.

Ever since the Ozlima family had sided with Rubrious, Groud often spent ti like this with the First Prince.

Rubrious, of course, was more than welcoming, having one of the Five Great Families under his command.

"There's sothing that's been bothering

lately," the First Prince said, then fell silent again.

Groud knew what this silence ant.

Rubrious and the Ozlima family were not fully trusted yet, and the First Prince was pondering whether it was safe to discuss his concerns.

After so ti had passed, Rubrious spoke.

"Do you think soone who cannot feel the touch of a god can serve a god?"

"The touch of a god, do you an divine power?"

"No, it's different. I'm talking about the literal touch of a god."

"I... I don't understand what you an," Groud replied, shaking his head.

Every so often, the First Prince spoke in ways that were beyond Groud's understanding.

This was why he was known as the 'Zealous Prince'.

"I saw such a person in the Imperial City recently," Rubrious continued, ignoring Groud's comnt.

"It was a priest from the Order of Light's branch within the city. I first saw them heading towards Chimseong Palace. On the night that incident happened."

"That incident... do you an the night when a light rose above Chimseong Palace, illuminating the sky over the Imperial City?"

"Yes."

Interest flickered in Groud's eyes for the first ti.

He thought the priest ntioned by the First Prince might be connected to what happened at Chimseong Palace.

The light from Chimseong Palace that night was a mystery to him, and he was very curious to find out more.

"I spoke to him that night in the garden. He was alone and seed quite startled."

"Do you believe that this priest is connected to the incident at Chimseong Palace?"

"I pretended to head towards Chimseong Palace but secretly followed the priest. And then, I saw sothing unexpected."

"Sothing unexpected?"

"The priest entered Jaseong Palace."

Groud's face hardened at Rubrious's words.

Utekan does not believe in the god of light.

In fact, he doesn't worship any god.

A priest of light entering Jaseong Palace, where Utekan resides?

Yes, it was possible that Utekan, the Fourth Prince, suddenly decided to believe in the god of light.

'But why would a priest, who was heading to Chimseong Palace alone on the night of the light, suddenly change direction after eting the First Prince and go to another royal palace?'

Especially to Jaseong Palace, the residence of the Fourth Prince Utekan, who was recently in opposition to Prince Zion?

It might have been a coincidence, but so many coincidences happening at once was extrely rare.

"I'll look into this matter regarding the priest and the Fourth Prince."

"Thank you," the First Prince replied, nodding with a cold gaze.

---

---

Zion stopped in his tracks as a voice suddenly echoed in his head.

"Prince Zion...?"

Rohanna and others stopped too, looking at Zion with questioning eyes.

Without answering their questions, Zion, after pondering for a mont, started walking towards the forbidden area.

"Your Highness, you shouldn't go there!"

Rohanna exclaid urgently.

"The forbidden area is only accessible to the head of the Ascalon family!"

It wasn't just that others were prevented from entering by the family; it was truly inaccessible to anyone but the 'head of the family'.

Those who were not the head of the Ascalon family, if they even approached the forbidden area, would be blocked by an unknown force or sotis even cursed.

People speculated that it was due to so 'entity' inside, but only the heads of the family knew the truth about it.

"I know."

Yet, Zion continued towards the black tower, ignoring her outcry.

Soon, as he reached the edge of the forbidden area,

"Your Highness, it's dangerous...!"

Rohanna, hurriedly following, reached out to stop him, but at that mont,

Boom!

A bright light burst forth from the ground where Zion stood.

The light spread rapidly in all directions, enveloping Zion's entire body.

"What, what is this!"

Rohanna stopped in her tracks, her voice a mix of confusion and astonishnt, as she witnessed this scene for the first ti.

As the light grew brighter, people from nearby buildings started coming out to see what was happening. Then, suddenly, whoosh!

The light engulfing their view disappeared in an instant.

"Prince Zion!"

Rohanna shouted, looking at the spot where Zion had been.

But by then, there was no one there.

---

---

'Is this inside the tower?'

Zion, surrounded by nothing but pitch-black darkness, thought to himself.

From the mont the voice first echoed in his head, he had sensed that the owner of the voice was the entity within the forbidden area.

That's why he had headed straight for it, and as if waiting, the owner of the forbidden area had drawn Zion inside.

Then,

-...What? You are not a warrior.

The sa voice echoed once more in Zion's head.

Along with it ca a piercing gaze from one side.

Turning towards the gaze, Zion saw a pair of eyes burning red in the darkness.

The pupils, as large as those of an adult man, were slit vertically like those of a reptile.

And beneath it, a long neck and a massive body filling the entire tower.

To soone seeing it for the first ti, it would have been an overwhelmingly intimidating sight, but Zion, who already knew its identity, showed no change in expression.

The Black Dragon, Kalonix.

This black dragon was the evil dragon ntioned in the Ascalon family's legends.

Contrary to the legend where it was said to be dead, it actually made a certain pact with the first head of Ascalon and resided within the forbidden area.

-I thought you were the warrior of this generation because you slled similar to the last one I saw but it seems I was mistaken.

A warriors scent? What is that?

Zion imdiately asked upon hearing Kalonix's muttering.

After all, he had entered this place to find out why he was being called a warrior.

-Hmm...

The black dragon's eyes shone curiously.

Despite seeing it for the first ti, Zion neither panicked nor even asked about its identity.

He simply looked into its eyes with an utterly relaxed gaze.

Intrigued by this deanor, Kalonix readily answered Zion's question.

-Every being carries their own destiny, and these destinies have unique scents. I can sll such scents.

So, youre saying my destiny is similar to that of the previous warrior?

-That's what I thought when I first sensed it. But now that I see you up close, it's not the case. Even for , this is a first, and admittedly, a bit perplexing.

Kalonix had never mistaken the scent of destiny in its countless years of existence.

Was there sothing wrong with its senses?

Similar destinies...

Though Kalonix called it a mistake, Zion thought there might be truth in those words.

After all, hadnt the god of light also given his oracle alongside the warrior?

Although it was only in na.

Perhaps this too was a clue to why he existed in this world.

Slowly, a clear picture was starting to erge.

Then, what was the reason for calling the warrior?

Zion asked, turning his thoughts back to the black dragon.

-The reason I called the warrior... No.

Kalonix, about to answer, stopped and looked at Zion with a peculiar gaze.

It had not planned to answer the second question, yet found itself almost naturally responding to this humans words.

This too was an experience it had never had before.

-Before that, how about revealing your identity first? It seems you know mine, but it would be unfair if I didnt know yours.

You probably already have a guess.

Zion replied with a slight smile, pointing to his hair.

A deep gray color.

There was only one family in the world with such colored hair.

-...A bloodline of Agnes, I see. Thats why your questions seed so natural. Well, if this too is another destiny, then let it be so.

Was the black dragon satisfied with that?

It murmured without asking Zion any further questions.

"Tell

now."

-The fate of this world is already predetermined, and everything flows according to it. You know this, right?

Zion nodded to this unexpected statent.

He had already heard sothing similar from the Guardian who protected 'Chronoss Five Questions.'

It was probably about the main story of the Chronicles of Frosimar.

-Dragons like

can glimpse parts of that destiny. That's how I knew a warrior would co here soon. I intended to call upon such a warrior to ask for a favor. That was the destiny I foresaw. But...

Kalonix's blazing red eyes looked at Zion.

-That destiny has already been twisted. By calling you instead of the warrior.

If the warrior's party visited the Ascalon family again, Kalonix thought to call upon them, but it was uncertain how this slightly altered destiny would now unfold.

So, you wanted to ask the warrior for a favor?

-Yes. But you need not worry about it. It was my mistake to call you mistakenly. If you wish, I can send you back imdiately...

But what if,

Zion interrupted Kalonix in a soft voice.

I were to fulfill that favor?

Zion said, looking calmly at the black dragon.

-...?

Kalonix looked at Zion, a flicker of surprise in its eyes.

Had it heard wrong?

Soon, the dragon's eyes curved as if it was smiling.

-Ha! The favor I intended to ask the warrior. Do you not understand its significance?

This implied that only soone of the warriors caliber, the savior of humanity, could fulfill such a favor.

Of course, it wasn't that extre, but the favor was indeed very difficult.

Even for the royalty of the empire, Kalonix thought, it would be a challenge.

I know. And I also know what that favor is.

-...What?

To dispel the darkness that shrouds the entire Ascalon family?

-!!!!!!

Kalonix's eyes shook greatly at this.

It was the correct answer.

-How could you possibly know...

The darkness that secretly enveloped the Ascalon family.

Only Kalonix itself and the current head of the family, now bedridden, knew of its existence.

Yet, how could an outsider, not of the family, know this?

That darkness. I will erase it all.

Zion said with a smirk, addressing the astonished black dragon.

After all, this was one of the things he had intended to do in the Ascalon family.

Zion could not tolerate other influences touching the Ascalon family, which would soon be his.

'Might as well take the reward this creature offers while I'm at it.'

In the chronicles, the warrior fulfills Kalonix's request and receives a reward.

And Zion rembered that the reward was quite good.

'After all, a reward from a dragon can't be anything but.'

Then,

-Is what you said true?

A doubtful voice erged from Kalonix.

Normally, it would have scoffed and sent Zion away imdiately upon hearing such a claim.

But knowing already about the favor, being of Agnes royalty, and those eyes filled with languid confidence yet certain conviction shook its resolve.

Sohow, looking into those eyes made it feel like his words would indeed co true.

Additionally, Kalonix was in a pressing situation.

'400 years.'

It was the duration of the contract between Kalonix and the first head of the Ascalon family.

If the Ascalon family were to disappear before the contract ended, Kalonix's existence would also vanish.

That was the nature of the pact they had made.

But now, in Kalonixs view, the Ascalon family seed on the brink of collapse at any mont.

-Can you really fulfill it?

I already answered that.

With those words, Zion extended a hand towards the black dragon.

-...?

Kalonix looked at Zion's hand, as if wondering what he was doing.

Zion then spoke with a slight smile.

Before we start, I'd like to receive one of the rewards first.

Perhaps this eting might make his tasks concerning the Ascalon family much easier.