◈ Episode 245. One Word
Honestly, I wonder if I said something unnecessary.
Even discipline has to be carried out with the other party in mind.
It wasn’t a problem because he was a dragon.
The problem was that he was an opponent with whom there was no room for conversation in the first place.
Why, as you can see right now.
Kroararara—!
That ice dragon.
He was thoroughly enraged and kept unleashing Fear.
This was absolutely not a situation where I could afford to act relaxed.
I looked at the dizzying messages floating up before me.[The blessing of the First World Tree rejects ‘Dragon Fear.’]
It was written in detail even in the records of the Dragon-Magic War.
A dragon’s roar.
Dragon Fear had made even the mages of the Magic Tower, who boasted powerful mental strength, tremble in terror. In that sense, I was reaping the full benefits of the World Tree’s blessing, but…….
‘The problem is that I said those words with my own mouth.’
A stubbornness that insists on keeping whatever words have been uttered.
And even Gwicheol, who took after such a master.
Thanks to that, Gwicheol had not changed its form even while facing the ice dragon.
-Master, controlling one’s strength is difficult.
The purpose was not to cut, but to administer punishment.
In other words, because of my loose tongue, Yunaxus and I were the only ones suffering.
Whether or not he knew how I felt, Gwicheol continued.
-In that sense, Master, you are worthy of respect.
Worthy of respect, my ass. Are you mocking me……?!
I was literally facing him with every ounce of strength I had.
Still, the fortunate thing was that if Proznax had the vigor of youth,
Yunaxus had the seasoned skill of experience.
“Where do you think you’re running!”
Proznax persistently tried to engage in a physical struggle.
Yunaxus instead used his relatively smaller body as an advantage.
He flew by with the narrowest of margins, giving me openings to swing the switch.
‘As expected, it must be the effect of Vivace.’
However, not only I,
but Yunaxus himself must have known it as well.
That we did not have much time.
It would not be strange if Yunaxus’s heart stopped on the very next dive. In that sense, this really was a damn huge goal, and I was forced to understand my own place.
‘For my current level to try to reach the Temple of Dragons.’
Regrettably…….
I had to admit it.
The ice dragon was only the beginning.
According to Yunaxus, dozens of dragons had gathered at the Convocation of All Dragons.
Suppose, to put it bluntly, we properly taught Proznax a lesson and cleared [Hidden Piece, Snowy Mountain of the Ice Dragon].
There was more than enough possibility that the next dragon would immediately pop out and greet us.
Flutter—!
Suddenly, white outer wings rippled in my field of vision.
Yunaxus widened the distance from Proznax.
Then he spoke to me.
“I knew it would turn out this way.”
……
So you noticed?
Unlike Gwicheol, whose eyes were clouded when it came to me.
Yunaxus must have looked at me objectively with a dragon’s eyes.
He had the years he had lived, after all.
Wouldn’t he have noticed at a glance?
How pathetic my level was, aside from a few tricks.
And yet, without even knowing that.
‘I arrogantly spouted nonsense about punishment and whatnot.’
This is why a person should be careful with their words……!
My face burned, and I had nothing to say,
but I was incapable of self-reflection.
All I could do was recite in an unwavering voice.
“Is that so.”
Yunaxus immediately continued.
“That is why I am ashamed. No matter that I received Claudi’s grace, I knew this aged body could not properly stand against my kin, and yet……. I could not refuse the mercy you bestowed upon me. I beg your forgiveness.”
……
What, was that what he meant?
‘Then that’s a relief.’
Only then did I let out a sigh of relief.
I had been worried he might resent me for dragging him into this when I had no ability to handle it.
So there is no need to ask for forgiveness, Yunaxus.
No, rather, I am the one who wants to ask.
“Yunaxus.”
“I am listening, Lee Hoyeol Claudi.”
“Will you truly have no regrets?”
“May I ask what you mean?”
“Even if your heart stops on the next flap of your wings. Even if you fall like this to the bottom of the endless snowy mountain. I am asking whether you would have no regrets.”
Yunaxus let out a chuckle.
“Regrettably, I believe I would.”
His gaze was more intense than anything.
“There is still so much I must repay. Yet I am being pushed back by a mere young whelp. I would only be filled with regret over my own weakness. I would only resent this decrepit body.”
Is that so?
So that’s how it is?
I said calmly.
“We will change course. I hereby withdraw the plan for a prolonged battle.”
“Withdraw it……?”
“There are many who need discipline, so I will teach them swiftly.”
If that was how he felt,
then I could raise the intensity of the punishment a little more.
In that case, among the “Thirty Ways to Bring Down an Ice Dragon,”
I would move on to the simplest and most efficient method.
But before that.
“I will ask one last time.”
“I will answer as much as you wish, Claudi.”
“Are you accustomed to the cold?”
“……?”
He must have wondered what sort of chilly nonsense that was all of a sudden.
But it was an important matter, Yunaxus.
I recalled Senios’s strategy guide.──────However, the true natural enemy of ice magic is not fire magic. It is ice magic identical to its own. Unlike fire magic, which is subordinated to stronger heat, once ice magic reaches a certain level, neither can gain the upper hand over the other. It means that ice magic alone cannot bring about a conclusion. Because cold has a clear limit.──────At the end, he had even added those words.──────In that sense, I am regretful. If I had existed in the Magic Tower during the time the Dragon-Magic War broke out, then at the very least, the Magic Tower would not have knelt before the ice dragon. I guarantee that I would not have lost to the likes of an ice dragon.──────As if he had predicted the future.
Truly.
As expected of Elder Senios.──────Even if I must sleep eternally beneath the perpetual snow.──────As long as a limit exists.
Cold and cold cannot decide a victor between themselves.
Proznax.
Whether your cold has reached that limit or not, I will only know after clashing with it.
But on this side, I have definitely reached that limit.
Yes, the limit called [『Absolute Zero』].
When Yunaxus created distance, Proznax also,
unlike before, flew up into the sky.
He must have entered the next phase.
I could predict his next attack.
‘Fear, then naturally Breath.’
Fwoosh—!
A sudden sensation of heat.
Flames were blazing around Yunaxus’s mouth.
It seemed he intended to counter the ice dragon’s cold Breath with his own Breath.
But there was no need for that, Yunaxus.
“It’s fine.”
“……?”
“You need not step forward.”
“……!”
Fwoosh……?
Even at my words, Yunaxus could not easily swallow back his Breath.
Because he was also a dragon.
He must have known very well what kind of power Dragon Breath possessed.
But I’m telling you, it really is fine.
‘If it were any other Breath, I would have made a fuss too.’
But if it was cold Breath, as long as I had the anomaly, [『Absolute Zero』],
even if I took a direct hit,
I would not suffer any damage at all.
That was the situation,
and yet this damned solemn posturing never failed to appear anywhere.
I opened my mouth gravely.
“Therefore, I command you, Yunaxus.”
“This old dragon will obey Claudi’s command.”
“Do not close your eyes without my permission.”
“……!”
“Stay alive until I return.”
Absolute Zero.
As it was an anomaly I had used many times,
I knew exactly what its effect was.
It did not simply freeze a target.
It was absolute cold that froze even the “time”
in which the target and the target’s existence resided.
That was right.
I intended to sink my teeth into the ice dragon, Proznax, within Absolute Zero, where even the flow of time froze……! It was a method that went beyond miserable and into reckless, but no matter how I thought about it, this was all there was.
Thump, thump, thump…….
Before Vivace’s effects wore off.
The method to break through [Hidden Piece, Snowy Mountain of the Ice Dragon]
was only this.
Wasn’t I someone who showed through action rather than words?
Thanks to that, I could not explain in detail,
but Yunaxus nodded.
“……
I shall do so.”
Good. Wait for me.
I drew up my mana and stood alone in midair.
From Yunaxus, who was moving away, to Proznax.
I shifted my gaze.
Crrrrrack—It drew closer.
The ice dragon’s cold Breath that froze everything.
Without delay, I manifested the anomaly, Absolute Zero.
Just as Senios had done.
From myself.
From my heart.
To the circle wrapped around my heart.
To my breath.
To the moisture in the atmosphere.
Finally, all the way to Proznax.
I expanded the range of Absolute Zero’s manifestation.
Messages rose dizzily before my eyes.[An ‘inexplicable cold’ occurs within you.][The ‘inexplicable cold’ rejects the cold Breath.][The flow of time is distorted under the influence of the ‘inexplicable cold.’][An ‘inexplicable cold’ occurs within the ice dragon, Proznax.][The flow of time of the ice dragon, Proznax, is distorted under the influence of the ‘inexplicable cold.’]…….
Within Absolute Zero, where even time had stopped,
only I and Proznax existed.
If I had to compare it, was it a space similar to a “consciousness”?
‘From the exorcism ritual to the Space-Time Social Hall.’
I was used to spaces of consciousness.
But would the same be true for you,
Proznax?
“……
What have you done to me, insect?”
Proznax was looking not at me, but at Yunaxus.
Because of the distorted flow of time.
He must have felt a sense of incongruity upon seeing Yunaxus frozen in place like a painting.
Then he glared at me again.
Seeing me perfectly fine even within the cold Breath that was fading away,
he spat out hostile words.
“You dared play some petty trick.”
Did he think it was an illusion?
Proznax widened his eyes.
Indeed, even that appearance was befitting the king of all things.
Because he possessed a mentality as noble as a king’s,
by merely widening his eyes,
he could have easily shaken off most status abnormalities, including illusion magic.
But what a pity this is.
“This is no trick, hatchling.”
As I said, this is not a game for your amusement.
It is an eternal period of discipline
that will not end until you change your mind.
“How dare you……!!”
Even if you spray cold Breath in every direction like that, nothing will change.
Didn’t I say it?
Your cold cannot harm me, who am surrounded by Absolute Zero.
‘The same goes for hand-to-hand combat.’
Strictly speaking,
it was not Yunaxus who was stopped, but us.
It would be fair to say that anything happening within Absolute Zero was meaningless.
Well, it might not be easy to understand.
I guarantee it: even if you have lived a thousand years,
this is your first time experiencing something like this, Proznax.
But for me, even this is familiar.
Because I have had a similar experience.
That’s right.
Mugan (無間).
Beneath the Magic Tower.
Even in that place where the demon worshippers,
once revered as elder mages,
lost their minds,
I had calmly tilted a teacup,
and not only that, even enjoyed reading.
My ever-constant posture
did not falter
even within time stopped by Absolute Zero.
I opened my mouth.
“Until you realize it yourself.”
“……
You bastard!”
“No matter how long it takes, I will wait for you. Hatchling.”
As always.
“It is fortunate that I anticipated and prepared for a situation like this as well.”
While taking out a green tea bag (for cold water)…….
...
“……
Was that what you meant?”
Yunaxus stared at the two frozen forms.
Hoyeol and Proznax.
Only belatedly was he able to understand the meaning of those words.
“Was that what you meant by asking whether I was accustomed to the cold……!”
At any moment,
he wanted to drive away that indescribable chill.
If he could not drive it away, he wanted to leap into it.
But it was impossible.
The cold that covered Hoyeol and Proznax
was, quite literally, on a different “dimension.”
To the extent that it permitted the approach of no one, including himself.
“How foolish you are, Yunaxus…….”
What did it mean to call himself an old dragon who had lived for eons?
The meaning contained in his words.
When he could not even understand a single one of them, how could he……!
Yunaxus did not know what was happening between the frozen Hoyeol and Proznax. However, he steadied his collapsing heart. Yes, because Hoyeol had left those words behind.
-“Stay alive until I return.”
And so he waited.
“I shall wait according to the covenant.”
Even if.
“Even if that means eons.”
...
A life of ten thousand years
had made it so he could no longer feel a day as a day.
Yunaxus did not know how long he had waited.
However, even at this moment, time was clearly flowing.
Both within Absolute Zero, where that flow was distorted,
and outside of it.
If asked how he could be certain,
it was because a black figure suddenly appeared in midair.
Because that black figure whispered to the frozen Hoyeol.
“Diend has completed my lord’s command and returned.”
Because he reported the result.
“I found it.”
And that one sentence
“House Claudi’s mansion.”
was enough to awaken them.
Crrrrrack—The frozen memories of the “heir of House Claudi”....
Crrrrrack—Within the fading Absolute Zero,
I was astonished.
At Diend’s words.
The forgotten House Claudi.
Its vast settings, one by one,
rose to the surface of my memory.
“I declare to all dragons.”
In other words…….
“That I, the heir of Claudi, have returned.”
It meant this loose tongue of mine was only the beginning……!