◈ Chapter 241. Like a Dragon (3)
I know it well, being the youngest myself.
The eldest is always weak when it comes to the youngest.
So I gave Hiel an order.
Find Yunaxus’s location.
If she tracked his mana traces, she could pinpoint him without too much difficulty.
But I had never personally seen Yunaxus manifest magic. On top of that, I couldn’t be certain that what dragons manifested was magic at all.
Because of that, I couldn’t help but worry. ‘It’d have to be unbelievably wide.’ The Arcana Continent was vast.
So vast that even Yunaxus’s enormous body would not amount to a single grain of sand in a desert. In other words, I wondered if Hiel finding Yunaxus would be harder than finding a needle in a desert.
But my fears were unfounded.
Like telepathy.
There was a cry that bored into my mind.
—“Gr……”
Dragon Fear.
Perhaps because Hiel had faced Yunaxus in person.
It seemed she had discovered Yunaxus even before I had.
Hiel soon relayed the location from which Yunaxus’s cry had come.
There was no reason to hesitate.
I immediately manifested a portal and stepped into the cluster of light.
And then I saw them.
‘Well, would you look at that?’
A horde of demons.
They truly had no sense of their place whatsoever.
How perfectly demon-like of them.
‘They’re fearless. Really.’
A dying old dragon.
They were demons waiting only for Yunaxus to breathe his last.
The reason was obvious.
They intended to scavenge whatever they could from Yunaxus’s corpse.
However.
Did they really think I would just stand by and watch that?
No, there was no need for me to get fired up and step forward.
Yunaxus.
Whatever the case, he was a connection linked to me through the World Tree.
Did they think Granfell would tolerate the sight of demons eagerly hoping for such a Yunaxus to die?
And the ones committing such an atrocity were demons?
‘This is an act that provokes both integrity and pride at once.’
One does not converse with prey.
Naturally, there was no need to open my mouth.
There was also no need to raise my mana or lift Gwicheol.
Clack—
Just one step.
The moment I stepped forward.
The demons’ faces turned deathly pale.
It was no wonder if one read the message that had appeared moments before.
I had inflicted the status abnormality “Fear”
upon tens of millions of demons.
For demons to face such a me and still be—
“……!!!”
[“Crushed” occurs to the high-ranking demon, Flaimp.]
[“Crushed” occurs to the mid-ranking demon, Incubus.]
[“Crushed” occurs to Sevnawe, Seventh Finger of Blasphemy.]
……
It would have been stranger if they were fine.
If I were to describe that scene in Granfell’s manner of speaking……
It had not even amounted to the trouble of trampling insects.
Even if I had hunted down a horde of demons without lifting a finger.
There was no reason to be smug.
At least this much should be expected of a natural enemy relationship, shouldn’t it?
‘And judging by the fact that my experience bar hasn’t even budged.’
At most, they must have been demons around level 400 to 500.
In that sense.
It truly hit me that Yunaxus was heading toward death.
‘He couldn’t even drive away such insignificant demons.’
Until I faced Yunaxus……
I had thought that perhaps I could improve his condition with healing magic. After all, the escape route I had dug for myself, the well, included healing magic too.
‘Even if it isn’t on Bellier’s level.’
I had been confident that I would not fall behind most healer-class players. But that was arrogance. No, rather than arrogance, it was underestimating the target.
A dragon.
The king of all creation.
A flawless creature that had even made the elves suffer from an inferiority complex.
According to Argentress, the leader of the elves.
Dragons were perfect beings even without the [Blessing of the First World Tree].
In other words, dragons essentially possessed the effects of the World Tree’s blessing by default.
‘Wounds that even such effects of vitality and regeneration cannot offset.’
The Dragon-Demon War.
Furthermore, I had witnessed it in the records the Magic Tower had left behind in books.
No matter what ultra-high-rank magic was used, not a single scratch could be made on a dragon’s hide.
And yet, the flesh of such a dragon had been torn to shreds.
As if that were not enough.
“My lord……”
The wings that had once glided freely through dimensions were nowhere to be seen.
Indeed, it was no wonder Hiel had trailed off.
I advanced toward that Yunaxus without wavering.
……
Truly, countless thoughts crossed my mind.
From who on earth had made Yunaxus like this.
To whether I would even be able to converse with Yunaxus in such a state.
No, even to the thought I must not have.
That perhaps he had already breathed his last.
It was at that moment.
Yunaxus laboriously opened his eyes.
Flutter—
His trembling eyelids.
It looked exactly like someone opening their eyes right before death.
Even as I met that gaze, I desperately racked my brain.
‘……Is it impossible even with a miracle?’
Was there truly no [something]
I could add to the interference process of 『Healing Magic』?
I had struggled so hard……
But my level was still far too lacking to defy the death of a dragon.
And yet.
For some reason, Yunaxus’s barely opened pupils
had gone wide.
As if he had seen something he should not have.
He certainly seemed to be looking at me……
But was there any reason to be that surprised upon seeing me?
‘Why? We even exchanged telepathy, didn’t we?’
Though this was the first time we had met face to face.
Yunaxus knew of my existence.
Just like how he had seen through my item information.
‘You called me Daybreak, remember?’
Hiel must also have told him about me.
So.
I thought there was no reason for him to be so shocked……
“K……”
As if merely opening his eyes was not enough.
Yunaxus struggled to open his mouth.
The sound that leaked out was so faint that I could not tell what he was saying, but was he perhaps trying to express his gratitude? Because I had dealt with the demons loitering around him?
No, if that was it, there was no need to force himself to speak.
‘I did intend to save you, but.’
It was simply that I could not stand by and watch when demons were involved.
There was also no need to thank me for coming here.
We might not be bound by blood, but aren’t we on the same World Tree family register, at any rate?
And I have certain circumstances that make me have no choice but to be strict about rules like this.
So I opened my mouth generously.
“I know without you saying it.”
But it seemed……
I had thought something terribly wrong.
Even at my words, Yunaxus laboriously continued speaking.
Because what followed was not words of thanks.
“……Claudi.”
C-C-C-Claudi?!
The moment he saw my face?!
Did you really see through my status window or what?!
...
Yunaxus could be certain.
That silver hair was unmistakably the silver hair of the Claudi family,
who in the past had saved him and his kin.
That was why he did not dare open his mouth.
‘……Mother, why?’
Claudi.
To the existence that should hate Arcana more than any other.
How could you
‘bestow the blessing that forces him to look down upon and watch over Arcana?’
For an eternity.
Yunaxus had not once doubted the will of the World Tree.
And yet, the old dragon was shaken.
He had no choice but to be.
The will of the World Tree
would not even be a damned joke to Claudi.
That was why Yunaxus could not bring himself to speak.
At the same time, he considered his own situation, with death before his eyes, fortunate.
‘I do not have the confidence to face such a cruel jest of fate.’
However, a voice reached his ears.
“Do not doubt my lord, Yunaxus.”
Regrettably.
It is not doubt, spirit.
I am merely waiting for the moment when I can relinquish everything and breathe my last.
The moment Yunaxus thought so.
Claudi’s mouth opened.
‘I will not ask for mercy.’
He thought it would be colder than anything.
He thought it would be only natural if he were shouted down.
If one recalled Claudi’s end, and considered himself and his kin, who had turned away from that end…… Even if he were immediately ordered to fulfill the “pledge,” he would have no right to refuse.
And yet, why was it……?
“I know without you saying it.”
What he heard was a voice more benevolent than anything.
As if he truly knew everything.
And yet understood nonetheless.
It was a compassionate voice.
Before he knew it, Yunaxus had murmured.
“……Claudi.”
With the utmost respect his dying self could offer.
He once again struggled to open his mouth.
“This old dragon, Yunaxus, greets Claudi……”
Was the reason his frail breath had held on until now for this very moment?
Yunaxus truly felt his heart.
His Dragon Heart, coming to a stop.
Thump……
Thuump……
Thuuump……
Its beat slowed uncontrollably.
It was truly a cowardly thing.
Yunaxus swallowed a bitter smile.
‘Forgive me. I have interpreted the meaning in your words as I please.’
A single word from Claudi.
With that alone, he felt he could close his eyes in peace.
He felt he could fall into eternal rest while turning away from everything.
It was the moment Yunaxus resigned himself to the end of his eternal life.
“Yunaxus.”
“……?”
“I still have something to discuss with you.”
“……!”
……
Are you saying I did not misinterpret you as I pleased?
He could not help but flinch.
There was something to discuss.
That meant he would listen to an excuse that was not quite an excuse.
Yunaxus’s chest swelled with emotion.
If he still had the wings his kin had torn away,
he would have spread those wings wide in answer.
However, he had no strength left for that.
Thump……
His heart was truly stopping……
……
Thump!
……
Thump, thump?!
Thumpthumpthumpthumpthump!!
Flinch!
Yunaxus’s body jolted violently.
What was this?
His Dragon Heart, which had been coming to a stop, began to beat fiercely.
If someone were to ask whether his vitality had returned, that was not it.
‘……Only my heart is beating quickly again.’
But that alone was enough.
For all of a dragon’s power originated from that heart, the Dragon Heart.
Even if it was temporary.
Even if it was a candle before the wind.
So long as his heart beat quickly.
He would be able to accomplish anything.
That was why it was a mystery.
“So understand.”
What kind of power was contained in the “word” Claudi had uttered
that it could make his slowing heart beat swiftly again?
Yunaxus felt that he would never be able to forget that word
until the moment he closed his eyes.
“Vivace.”
...
[Pentagram of Pure Knowledge.]
[Map That Communes with All Things.]
[Telescope of the Demon Eye.]
……
The Demon King’s spoils possess abnormal effects.
By the common sense of Arcana,
they possess effects that cannot be understood.
That was why I thought it was worth trying.
[Conductor’s Baton of Rhythm]
[Rank: Epic]
[Restriction: None]
[Effect: When equipped, you acquire vast musical knowledge and grant buffs with effects identical to that musical knowledge to all things under the wearer’s control.]
[Description: It possesses an effect as refined as its elegant appearance.]
Yunaxus’s heartbeat, which was gradually dying out.
I thought that, as a stopgap measure, I might be able to make it beat faster.
Even I have to admit it was a shabby method.
‘If only I were a little more impressive.’
I could have manifested a miracle of recovery and saved Yunaxus magnificently.
Even without bringing up recovery magic, if I had been a little more proficient in reversal magic, perhaps I could have reversed Yunaxus to before he was injured.
But my specialty is knowing my place.
Thanks to that, I know just how distant a realm that is.
Of course, that does not mean I have any intention of sitting around sucking my thumb.
‘I will simply do the best that I can.’
In other words.
I will struggle in my usual posture.
So understand, Yunaxus.
My method……
may be excessively cringeworthy.
I never thought I would end up uttering this word again.
I briefly waved the baton.
“Vivace.”
As expected, the effect worked.
No matter how absurd it was, I had not forgotten to read the room.
Thanks to that, I had guessed from Yunaxus’s words.
—“This old dragon, Yunaxus, greets Claudi……”
I truly had no idea what was going on.
But I knew that Claudi and Yunaxus were connected.
And so deeply connected
that even the mighty Yunaxus used the utmost honorifics.
Rumble!
Yunaxus raised the body that had been lying collapsed. I would have liked to exchange some kind of warm greeting, but we both knew there was no time for that.
‘It is literally a stopgap measure.’
Neither I nor Yunaxus knew when that heart would stop.
So I got straight to the point.
Yes, beginning with what on earth the will of the World Tree, which had driven its own child toward death, was.
‘Actually, what I’m most curious about is this side……!’
Claudi.
And the reason that damned name existed on the Arcana Continent.
However, there is a proper order to everything.
What had to be prioritized above all else was who dared to do this to an Elder Dragon.
Yunaxus.
Who had made you like this?
I asked Yunaxus.
“I wish to know the result of the All-Dragon Convocation.”
“……!”
The way he flinched.
It seemed he was surprised that I knew about the All-Dragon Convocation.
It would not be difficult to explain the whole story.
But in such an urgent moment, I had no time to explain who Skal was
or what a class quest was.
So, as always, I maintained my brazen expression and kept my mouth shut.
Thanks to that, I was able to hear the full story of the All-Dragon Convocation.
So……
……
His own kin, the dragons, had stabbed him in the back?!
‘He wasn’t driven to death for no reason.’
Seriously, this damned World Tree family register.
There was no family more broken than this.
I spoke with genuine sincerity.
“How utterly arrogant.”
What “kings of all creation,” you bastards.
Not only did they refuse to listen to their mother.
They went and stabbed their one and only filial eldest son, Yunaxus, in the back?
As if Granfell’s old-fashioned spirit
could ever tolerate such a state of affairs in that household!
In that sense, I shall ask.
“Yunaxus.”
So, how does the sting of being stabbed in the back feel?
I was asking whether he truly had no lingering regrets if he closed his eyes like this.
After all, even with the effect of [Last Adventurer],
I knew that charging into a pack of dragons by myself
would not even amount to throwing an egg at a rock.
I conveyed that hidden meaning in Granfell’s manner of speaking.
“What are your thoughts on discipline? For reference.”
With utmost shamelessness.
“I am of the opinion that corporal punishment is acceptable.”