Kays Translations

Chapter 82: Demon Dragon

Two years ago.

Crane and Fagra were in an underground passage so narrow that they had to bend their backs to pass through.

It was directly beneath the undead city of Bulgia.

It was bitterly cold, and their breath turned white.

“There, Crane.” 

Fagura pointed downward.

Peering down, they saw that the passage ended in a sheer cliff. Falling would mean certain death.

Far below, something was there.

Crane stared at it intensely.

Far below, there was a huge white sphere, as big as a castle. And something was entwined around that sphere.

Roots, perhaps?

Crane squinted even harder.

“…a dragon.”

A pale blue dragon was entwined around the sphere.

No, it would be more accurate to say it was stitched onto it.

Something like black thorns intricately sewed the pale blue dragon and the sphere together.

Just looking at it sent shivers running down their spines, and their hearts pounded violently.

Every cell in their body sent signals to their brain, urging them to flee.

What… is this magic?

With every breath, a disturbingly thick and potent magic seeped into their lungs. It felt almost feverish.

There was no need for identification; it was undoubtedly of the highest grade.

No, it was more than that.

The eerie, pale blue dragon’s eyelids fluttered open faintly.

Even from a distance, its eyes were so cold, so inhuman.

“That… what is it?”

“It’s something called a Demon Dragon. Seems to have come from the Corroded Sea far to the east. Whether it fled from there or destroyed the Corroded Sea completely, we don’t know.”

“A Demon Dragon… I’ve never heard of such a species.”

“A dragon species that shouldn’t exist in this era. According to dwarven records, it appeared even before the Age of Blue. It’s half-legendary, but…”

“Before the Age of Blue?!”

A time long, long ago.

Humans descended from the heavens and set foot on this land. Thus began the Age of Blue.

After that came the Age of Red, dominated by war, and then the current Age of Green.

“It seems that because of creatures like that Demon Dragon, humans fled from the heavens during the Age of Blue.”

During the Age of Blue, there was a far more advanced civilization than now. It was an era when structures known as godly constructions, like labyrinths and towers, were built.

Humans, who boasted such a civilization, could only flee from monsters.

That… is the root of it all.

“Leaving aside the Age of Blue, it’s certain that the creature that wiped out Bulgia in a single day was a monster. The Immortal Dragon sealed in the heart of the labyrinth by the warriors of the Covenant and the Dragon Knights, risking their lives.”

“Sealed in the heart of the labyrinth? What does that mean?”

“Like the undead, the Demon Dragon is also immortal. So, it’s kept bound by constantly transforming the labyrinth’s magic into wedges.”

“So, the story about the dwarves conspiring with the Republic to destroy it was a lie after all.”

“Long ago, the dwarves and the Republic seemed to have been on good terms, so such rumors spread. The dwarves also gave the Republic the Magic Swords because of their connection to the Holy Land of Magic Swords.”

“But, didn’t humans and dwarves seal that Demon Dragon together? They could’ve left some clues at least.”

“All the humans who participated in the battle have turned into undead. The only ones left are the words of those who watched from afar and didn’t join the fight.”

Crane nodded strongly while hiding himself.

“Then I’ll change that. I’ll decipher the Demon Dragon’s spell.”

“Crane. Is it okay to say such things?”

“It’s fine. A while ago, someone made a contract with an evil dragon! The one I mentioned before, the one with the four magic cores! Dragon research will leap forward from now on!”

“Really?”

Crane and Fagra looked at each other.

“It’s okay. Let’s put an end to the world where dwarves and humans are at odds.”

“Yeah, I believe you.”

Saying that, they gazed at each other for a moment, then their lips met.

After embracing for a while, the two headed towards the dwarf elder, Damur.

Today, they had an important report.

“…Haa! Engagement?”

The one who let out a deep sigh was Damur, the dwarf elder and Fagra’s father.

The elders raised their voices in protest.

“Fagra! What are you thinking!”

“You are to be the next elder! And you’re considering a human!”

“A weak man who doesn’t even have a beard. Shouldn’t it be more… like this?”

To this, Fagra responded firmly.

“Marriages between humans and dwarves used to be common, right? If the child born is a dwarf, they can live as a dwarf, and if human, as a human. Isn’t that enough?”

The elders, stunned, remained speechless.

Damur finally spoke with a heavy voice.

“By the way, um… about that. Is everything settled with that guy?”

This was the story of Damur’s wife, Fagra’s mother.

“I’ll never forgive the humans who killed my mother. But those who did the killing are the ones to blame, not Crane.”

“…Is that so?”

Damur, the elder, looked at Crane.

“Crane, was it? Are you sure about this? You’re going to become the leader on the human side, aren’t you?”

“The leader of humans is a king. And this land belongs to the Norris-Windsor, one of the Four Great Noble Families. We, the Orleans, are merely its caretakers.”

“That’s not the point, and it’s not important there. It’s about whether you’re truly prepared. Your marriage won’t be blessed by anyone, I can assure you of that.”

Damur glared at Crane.

As the dwarf elder, as someone whose wife was killed by a human, and as Fagra’s father, he asked about their resolve.

“…I never want to be separated from Fagra again. And if dwarves and Orleans join forces, we can surely defeat the root of the curse on this land, the Demon Dragon!”

“The Demon Dragon, huh. Then make one promise.”

Crane straightened his back.

“I will make Fagra happy no matter what!”

“Don’t jump to conclusions. Whether she’s happy or not is for her to decide. What I want you to promise is about the Demon Dragon. As long as it’s in this labyrinth, dwarves can’t leave this land. The labyrinth will die. Are you really going to do something about the Demon Dragon?”

“I promise. I will definitely decipher the immortal spell held by the Demon Dragon.”

Damur closed his eyes.

“I see… I won’t say anything more. Do as you wish.”

At once, the elders began to protest, but their words fell on deaf ears.

Crane and Fagra looked at each other, then turned to leave the room.

As they left, a small voice was thrown at Crane’s back.

“I entrust my daughter to you.”

Crane swallowed his breath.

He turned back again, bowed deeply, and left the room.

As soon as he left, Crane breathed a sigh of relief.

“Thank goodness.”

“I never expected Dad to accept it so easily.”

“All right, mine is next.”

The two walked toward the exit, with the dwarves in the city staring at them.

“Crane, are you sure I don’t need to come with you?”

“It’s okay. Wait for me at that big rock. I’ll definitely convince them.”

“Yeah.”

Leaving Fagra behind, Crane returned to the Orleans family’s base.

Then, he informed his father and grandmother that there was something important to discuss and gathered them in the head of the family’s room.

The first words from his father, Latos, were as expected.

“I absolutely won’t allow it!”

“Father, I’ve already made up my mind.”

“It’s unthinkable for the blood of dwarves to mix with the Orleans family! Have you considered how the other nobles will see us!?”

“Father, this is unscientific. Once upon a time, it was common for mixed-blood dwarves and humans to be in the old capital, Bulgia. Even the ancestors of Orleans who were in Bulgia originally had dwarven blood in them.”

“We’re not talking about genetics! We’re talking about the blue blood! And what’s this about a Demon Dragon!? Do you really believe the stories of those dwarves!?”

Father Latos was in a panic, while grandmother Guffel’s eyes sparkled with amusement.

“Calm down, Latos. Wouldn’t it be interesting if it were true, the existence of a Demon Dragon that disappeared from history? If you join forces with the dwarves, how much knowledge could you bring to Orleans?”

“Mother, the times have changed! This isn’t an era where we can talk about wisdom and truth. The country will move greatly from now on! If we make a wrong move, Orleans will lose everything!”

“What value does Orleans have to the kingdom if it doesn’t pursue knowledge? Really.”

Father had changed. The father who was so enthusiastic about research was no longer there.

Father was a master of the transfer spell.

The healing spell was effective for injuries, but not suitable for treating diseases.

So he immersed himself in research to remove mother’s lesions and degenerative substances from people and transfer them to dolls.

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t cure mother’s illness.

Still, mother kept saying.

“I believe in Orleans.”

And then, everything shattered.

It was because of mother’s death.

The words father muttered on the day mother died, “Wisdom is worthless,” still linger in my ears.

All the countless research instruments, which filled the room to the point of being unable to move, were discarded.

The room where mother spent her long battle with illness was transformed into a study, and father immersed himself in different work.

Leaving behind only the paintings collected for the motionless mother.

There was one thing left in father’s heart.

“As the head of the Orleans family, I have a duty to protect my clan! No one else, no one will be lost anymore…”

Originally, Orleans belonged to the northern nobility.

Rather than the north, where decline was certain, the current head, Latos, was busy with diplomacy to increase relations with the west, south, and east.

He was originally a quirky researcher. He was not good at dealing with people or negotiating.

While being laughed at and forced to drink alcohol he didn’t like, Father learned to smile and got used to flattery.

“…I understand how father feels. But I want to marry Fagra.”

“No! Absolutely not!”

Crane and Latos glared at each other.

“If you insist, I’ll leave the house.”

“T-The next head… you?”

Latos’ voice was unsteady.

“I don’t mind. I can continue the research on dragons alone.”

Feeling there was no need to discuss further, Crane headed towards the exit of the room.

It was also the room where his mother spent her last days.

“She believed in you becoming the head of the Orleans family until the end! Are you going to betray even your mother!?”

—Mom…

In front of my diverted gaze was a painting that my mother cherished the most.

It was a picture of Bulgia, once called the Golden City, before it was known as the City of the Dead.

Next to the painting hung a robe with gold embroidery on black fabric.

It was what I wore on my coming-of-age day.

While lying in bed, my mother embroidered it for me.

The embroidery also depicted the Golden City, which was the origin of the name “Orleans” and which we should reclaim someday.

And there was also the figure of a young man walking towards the Golden City.

I couldn’t speak, and my chest felt tight.

“W-Wait!”

Latos grabbed Crane’s feet as if clinging on.

“Father, let go.”

“Are you… are you going to leave me too!?”

Father’s face looked like he was about to cry.

It was the face of someone I had admired.

—It’s hard to breathe.

Avoiding everything, as if seeking air, I turned away.

“I’ve done everything I can! I wanted to respond to Tania’s words, who believed in me! Every day, for years! What more could I have done!?”

“…I don’t know about that.”

With only the words pushing away his clinging father, Crane left the room.

Leaving the base, his steps towards the big rock were terribly heavy.

To the extent of doubting whether his father was still clinging to his feet.

Shy Fagra, confident father, smiling mother.

Fagra’s tears, father’s crying face, mother’s agonizing face.

Memories were jumbled together.

—Father, mother, Fagra, father, mother… Fagra.

When he was almost at the big rock, rain started to trickle down his cheeks.

It soon turned into heavy rain.

When he arrived, water was dripping from his clothes all over his body.

On the other side of the big rock, where he always was, Fagra was standing alone.

—She’s soaking wet.

He tried to call out to Fagra, but no words came out.

Instead, on the opposite side of the big rock, Crane stood.

Twenty steps away was the person he loved.

But for some reason, his feet didn’t move at all.

Amidst the continuous rain, occasionally, Fagra’s sneeze could be heard.

Despite being struck by the cold rain, she continued to wait for Crane.

Her body must be getting cold.

Crane collapsed onto the muddy ground, as if crumbling away under the rain.

“Your marriage won’t be blessed by anyone.”

Fagra’s father, Damur’s words echoed in his mind.

How long had it been? One hour? Two hours?

The rainwater drenched his entire body, filling his mind as if a flood was happening inside his head.

Emotions were in turmoil, beyond control.

“Fagra.”

He wanted to hold her right away.

He wanted to tell her he loved her.

He wanted to say let’s live together.

And that he had abandoned the Orleans family—

“…I can’t say it.”

Why couldn’t he remember?

He loved them. His father and mother.

“I can’t say it!”

Tears flowed down his cheeks along with the warm rain.

As the sun began to set, Crane stood up alone.

And then, he left the big rock.

Alone.

“…I’m sorry.”

Thus, Crane left the Orleans family.

On the opposite side of the rock, despite being drenched in rain, she continued to wait for him, her beloved, as he left.

From that day on, Crane devoted himself to the study of dragons. Or perhaps, it should be said that it became the sole purpose of his life.

The demon dragon was beginning to revive.

He became aware of this fact a year ago.

The labyrinth that spread beneath the old capital, Bulgia, began to collapse. It shook the ground and manifested as earthquakes.

He repeatedly visited the site, conducting observations and experiments. Ironically, the only place where a large number of sub-dragons could be observed was the City of the Dead, Bulgia.

One day, he was fixated on two ghosts that emerged from the cracked ground.

They were the commander and the vice-commander, both carrying magic swords.

According to what he had heard from Fagra, on the final day, the dragon knights who bravely fought against the demon dragon knew that many of them would enter the labyrinth.

Knowing they wouldn’t return alive, at their own request, the dwarves sealed the exit.

To prevent them from turning their blades against the city they were supposed to protect, after they became undead.

Crane was ecstatic.

If there was someone closest to the demon dragon, it would be the evil dragon.

He had heard from his grandmother that the contract holder of that evil dragon was seeking the magic swords.

Unable to stand idly by, he volunteered and went to meet Lucius himself.

To establish camaraderie, he devised the plan himself and offered to lead the expedition.

The boy was just as his grandmother had described.

He had thrown himself in harm’s way, shielding them from Lucial’s attacks.

He had faced the immortal undead.

He’s strong…

He wasn’t someone who could sever ties with his family or make his loved ones cry.

“I’m not strong at all.”

It’s a lie!

Crane couldn’t believe Lucius’s words at all.

He possessed strong magic power and powerful spells.

That’s why he could be optimistic about everything. He could believe in his own potential.

Thinking about such things, he slowly made his way back to the base.

His heavy footsteps didn’t progress easily.

He knew that cooperating with the dwarves again would lead to another repetition of the same situation.

When he was dropped off by Lucius, it was midnight, but by the time he returned to the base, it was already the next afternoon.

He opened the gate of the base and made his way to his father’s office with his head bowed.

It was also the room where his mother spent her final moments.

“Father.”

He opened the door without knocking.

Immediately, a voice resounded.

“Crane! Y-You!”

His father, Latos, rushed over and hugged him.

“…Father?”

“You’re alive!? His highness Dion told me you were attacked by Lucius-dono and the undead, and fell into the valley!”

Looking around the room, he noticed a man sitting deeply on the sofa.

It was Dion, the candidate for the king from the West.

A large red sword was propped up against the sofa.

Dion looked at Crane with cold eyes.

And then he said only one word.

“Lucius?”

“He’s alive.”

“I see.”

With that, Dion stood up.

After pondering something, he spoke.

“Orleans. I must return to the capital now to denounce Lucial, the candidate for the Southern Kingdom.”

Father Latos seemed puzzled by Dion’s explanation.

“What… do you mean?”

“It was Lucial who pushed both of them into the valley. If they had lost their lives, I thought it best to keep it within my heart to avoid unnecessary confusion. Forgive me.”

“What on earth are you talking about, exactly—”

But Dion ignored his words and tightened his grip on his sword.

“Turn the carriage around.”

“Um—”

As if to interrupt Latos’s words, a coldness flowed around them, and the air suddenly became as chilly as midwinter.

It was only a little late for them to realize that it was an immensely chilling magic power.

It was an overwhelming magic power.

Even Latos, who had previously denied its existence, was made to understand what it was.

“The demon dragon… has awakened.”

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