Chapter 99
“They are sensitive about their territory and do not forgive those who trespass. You could say that… just as humans admire the Sun God, they revere the land itself.”
“Not a god of the earth?”
“As you know, other races do not place much faith in gods. The ancient gods did not do much for them.”
■■■■■ snapped a branch in half and tossed it roughly into the burning campfire.
Crack, crack……
Sparks flew as crimson flas flickered.
“…Are they truly descendants of dragons?”
“You never tire of bringing that up. I was wondering when you would.”
“This is the first ti I have ntioned it…….”
“They resemble them physically. Scales, tails, skill with magic… It is said that dragons who took human form left offspring behind, and that those are their descendants. But I do not know the full truth.”
“There are things you do not know?”
At Ark Batchel’s words, he rely shrugged.
“Well, you know they lack flexibility. Rather than calling them unpleasant, they are more like a program that returns an automatic response no matter what complaint you submit…….”
“Automatic response? Program?”
“It ans they always give the sa answer. Like parrots.”
Ark, who had been roasting three skewered fruits over the fire, cast him a sidelong glance, clearly not understanding.
■■■■■ snatched the skewer from Ark’s hand.
“Ah.”
“The point is how to sway their hearts. You may forget by next ti, but rember it well this ti.”
“I never forget anything. More importantly, give back my skewer.”
He grinned and bit into one of the fruits.
Ark lowered the hand he had extended.
Still, as if he had expected as much, he calmly began preparing another skewer.
After finishing the fruit, ■■■■■ continued, “In any case, normally you would have nothing to do with them once you left their territory. But if that is not possible…….”
***
“Y-Young Master……?”
Porzelin turned around in shock.
Aquila had been unconscious just monts ago—how had he risen?
Moreover, his complexion looked far better than before.
Though he swayed slightly from rising too abruptly, the sharp light in his black eyes remained undimd.
Aquila pressed Heinen’s shoulder once as the man caught his breath, then released him and faced the hooded figure directly.
“We ca to this forest by chance. Please understand that we had neither purpose nor intent.”
Then Aquila added one more sentence.
“I swear it by Seneterini.”
At those words, the figure jerked slightly in surprise.
“…You know of Seneterini?”
“Is she not the mother and father of the Blue Scale Clan? Of course I know.”
Aquila lightly tapped Porzelin’s shoulder in reassurance, then stepped forward.
As he did, his face beca clearer.
The oddly bright surroundings seed to intensify, illuminating his blazing red hair.
“…A bloodline blessed by the Ancient Dragon Igdrein. You are of Reschenhardt.”
“That is correct. She and House Reschenhardt were comrades and dear friends.”
Seneterini.
A dragon fad for her beautiful blue scales, said to be so breathtaking that none could look away when she spread her wings and took to the sky.
It was told that Seneterini, a close friend of the Ancient Dragon Igdrein, succumbed to wounds sustained during the war a thousand years ago.
“…This is the first ti I have heard that tale from a human. I suppose one truly must live long to witness such things.”
The other’s voice carried genuine surprise.
After all, aside from Igdrein, stories of dragons had never been properly passed down.
The figure stared at Aquila’s blazing red hair, then slowly lowered the hand they had raised.
At once, the magic arrows aid at them vanished, and the killing intent dissipated like smoke.
Porzelin exhaled in relief.
“I had heard that your kind nested in the North and rarely ventured out, but this is also my first ti eting a bloodline of Reschenhardt. Truly, you are red.”
Crunch, crunch.
The robed figure stepped closer through the undergrowth.
Others followed.
From behind the trees, from within the forest’s shadows, they erged one by one.
Five in total.
All wore robes, and each carried a bow or sword.
Porzelin instinctively raised his blade again, but Aquila extended one arm to stop him.
He tightened his grip slightly on the necklace in his hand.
“Since you have invoked Seneterini, it is only proper that I give my na.”
With that, the one at the front pulled back his hood.
His muted blue hair was cut near the shoulders. Without bangs to cover it, his face was fully revealed.
Yet what stood out most were the blue scales along his cheek.
Like cracks running through parched earth.
He lifted a hand and drew it in a straight line from his forehead down to his chest.
“I am Tesser. Bloodline of Reschenhardt who has not forgotten Seneterini, we welco you.”
His long, vertical pupils—like those of a reptile—fixed upon Aquila’s group.
***
This was the longest and deepest pain Aquila Reschenhardt had endured yet.
The Mana exploding within him.
It felt as though his entire body had shattered, as though everything from his heart outward had been torn apart.
And on top of that, he had been forced onto a teleportation circle bound for the distant East.
It was akin to dragging a body torn to shreds and plunging it into a sea of saltwater.
‘…Damn you, Ark Batchel.’
Aquila ground his teeth.
He had truly thought he would die this ti and begin the cycle anew.
In fact, had the pain continued any longer, he might have killed himself.
Yet there had been a warm force that steadied him.
It differed slightly from Yujelia’s—more resolute, more upright.
Divine Power seeped into his heart and suppressed part of the agony.
And then there was the necklace.
The one identical to the Eye of Igdrein except for the color of its gem.
The mont it entered his hand, the chaotic Mana within him began to settle.
It cald the Mana that had threatened to surge in reverse and allowed it to circulate properly.
Because of that, Heinen’s Divine Power was able to nd the fine cracks in Aquila’s mana vessel.
Gradually regaining his senses, Aquila was able to open his eyes.
In short—he had nearly died again.
‘When I see him next ti, I will absolutely hit him at least once…….’
Aquila swore bitterly.
Whether by yanking out that thick hair of his or striking him hard sowhere—it did not matter.
His chest would not feel at ease otherwise.
If he could, he would search this forest at once for Ark Batchel.
He had definitely boarded the teleportation circle to the East as well.
Though he had likely hidden himself imdiately after arrival.
‘He must be sowhere in the East. Though perhaps not in the land of the Blue Scale descendants…….’
Aquila shook his head.
He knew no main scenario or sub-quest occurred here at this ti—but the tiline was so tangled that nothing could be certain.
“…Is it truly safe for us to rest here?”
Porzelin whispered, glancing toward the door.
The silver-haired knight remained vigilant, his sword never leaving his hand.
They had been invited to Senetalia—the village of the Blue Scale descendants.
Their young leader, Tesser, had extended the invitation.
Once they had exchanged nas and greetings, they were no longer outsiders—and thus had to be welcod.
Moreover, their condition left much to be desired.
Aquila was self-evident, and Heinen, who had poured nearly all his Divine Power into him, was on the verge of collapse.
Thus, Tesser had imdiately provided them with an empty house near the entrance.
He had said he would visit in the evening after they had rested, and then left as though he had never threatened them at all.
Porzelin remained wary.
But Aquila rested his face against a soft grass pillow and said lightly,
“They declared us welco. They will not drive us out or threaten us. They cannot lie.”
“…Cannot lie?”
“Yes. They believe it violates their values—and it is likely because of their connection to the spirits.”
He explained quietly.
“You must have noticed the forest was strangely bright before we arrived. That is thanks to the light spirits. They despise lies. So of them have likely ford contracts.”
“It is said that contracting with spirits grants great power. To think there are so many here…….”
“Spirits are that much more capricious. It is best not to.”
Porzelin had heard of their fickle nature.
He had also heard what befell those who incurred the wrath of a Great Spirit.
Nodding, he examined Aquila’s complexion, then glanced at Heinen, who had finally collapsed into sleep after stubbornly holding on.
Before fainting, Heinen had said to wake him in thirty minutes.
Exactly thirty minutes had now passed.
“Then shall we not wake him?”
“He must have overexerted himself. Let him sleep. We have ti until evening.”
Aquila rummaged inside his coat and pulled out a Red Mane Root of Belmaian.
He placed it in his mouth and began chewing.
Porzelin did not know what it was, but Aquila’s calm deanor eased him slightly.
Even so, he straightened his back, reminding himself that he alone remained capable of action.
“…Then please rest as well, Young Master. I will inform you when they arrive.”
Porzelin bowed respectfully.
Aquila nearly told him there was no need to be so cautious, but stopped himself.
Perhaps it was better to let Porzelin act as he wished.
Feeling the pain subside little by little, Aquila nodded.
***
As promised, Tesser ca in the evening.
Heinen and Porzelin, both now awake, roused Aquila.
It seed he had fallen unconscious the mont the pain dulled.
Fortunately, he had removed the Red Mane Root from his mouth before sleeping—otherwise he might have awakened to hallucinations.
Still groggy, he sat up and faced Tesser and two other Blue Scale descendants, who had brought a simple evening al.
Various fruits, edible flowers, and a stew made from spider at.
“I do not know if it will suit human tastes, but I hope you enjoy it.”
“We are grateful.”
Aquila expressed his thanks for their hospitality.
The at in the stew ca from a type of monster—but if one did not know that, it tasted quite good.
Aquila decided not to inform Heinen and Porzelin.
As they ate, they explained how they had co here.
What had occurred in the capital, Denimarad.
The enormous magic circle that had appeared in the plaza.
After recounting everything, Aquila said to the attentive Tesser, “That is the situation… but in truth, I have one request.”
“A request from a human to us?”
“It is nothing major. If you have any, I would like to borrow repair tools.”
“Repair tools?”
“Yes. I need to repair a magic tool.”
Aquila glanced at the bracelet on his left wrist.
The Communication Bracelet crafted by Beirets Hurbel.
At a ti when he needed to send word, it had been completely ruined by the Mana storm.
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