Thank you to everyone who gave comments and coupons. Chapter 180.
57. The Valley of Magical Beasts and the Pyramid179 – The Valley of Magical Beasts and the Pyramid #2
Contrary to my expectation that she was just slightly miffed, Azidahaka’s castle seemed to have deep tunnels. Just how long had we been walking in silence?
Ssssh, ssssh, the sound of her delicate bare feet on the sand tickled my ears.
“I thought I’d catch her off guard since she’d seen it all before, but it turns out she’s as solid as a scale-covered dragon.”
Azidahaka, who wasn’t a Fire Dragon glowing red with rage, was a calm and composed woman, truly a refined lady. She likely imposed stricter standards on herself when it comes to modesty or integrity.
“Well, that day’s situation in the kitchen was practically a little play with fire. It’s not like she could refuse.”
Previously, I had forcibly tackled Azidahaka while she was bound, her limbs tied and her eyes covered. I had my reasons, but in my human days, I would have been dragged off and thrown into a cage.
Yet here I was thinking things like, “She was definitely enjoying it! It was a wild fling!” What kind of delinquent mindset was that?
“It’s not delusion. Azidahaka has occasionally shown a favorable attitude towards replenishing her magical energy. She even displayed a proactive side!”
Perhaps the thing that could possibly melt Azidahaka’s sturdy heart was some strange component mixed with my bodily fluids.
If I played my cards right, I might be able to roast this haughty lady into a warm, gooey marshmallow.
Just as I was spinning these twisted schemes in my head, Yingyi above me squeaked a tiny, tired, “Kyu-iiiying,” likely getting fatigued from the endless wild terrain.
“Thirsty, are we? I gave you a drink earlier. It’s all gone now.”
“Kyu-iiiying.”
Yingyi whined like a hungry child. Being a Wildling and Cloudring who preferred cool and moist places, walking through this sunbaked desert was surely like a march through hell for them.
“For the time being, we’ll be stuck in this barren wasteland. Not a single small oasis in sight. I still have some spring water left in my leather water bottle, so let’s use that.”
Azidahaka, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up in a calm tone, as if there was no other choice. I handed her the leather water bottle and sprinkled some water on Yingyi.
“Kyu-iiiying.”
Yingyi absorbed every drop without letting a single one fall, her fur soaking it all up. Watching this, Azidahaka tilted her head slightly.
“Is she saying thank you?”
“She said it’s a bit too lukewarm. Practically hot water.”
“There’s nothing I can do. My body temperature is high. It’s my item, so it’s bound to get heated up.”
Even though she looked human now, Azidahaka was actually a Fire Dragon with a heart of flames. It was only natural for her body heat to be high.
“Kyu-iiiying.”
“At least it’s better than not drinking at all. Thanks, but now Yingyi’s all out of water. We’ll have to go a while without any moisture.”
“I’m fine. Since I’ve stored magical energy, I can go months without food.”
“I can manage for a few days, too…”
My energy level hovers around 75. That means I could still move reasonably well even if I went a few nights without sleep. It might be uncomfortable, but I could get by for several days without food and water.
“Besides, I’m used to pain.”
During a fleeting century, I’d been stabbed countless times by bayonets and hit by the barrel of a g*n. Compared to those pains, thirst and hunger were nothing.
“The real issue is Yingyi.”
“Is there any moisture around here?”
“Kyu…”
Yingyi made a sound like she was crawling through a mouse hole.
If the shimmering heat wave was engulfing this sandy desert, then Yingyi would probably shrivel up and d*e within days if left here.
“This place is really a magical realm. The Fire Dragon’s desert.”
It occurred to me why this desert existed in the eastern part of the continent, one of the four ancient magical realms.
If the Ancient Nest is a dangerous place filled with strange monsters, then this location was basically a d*ath trap for survival. There was a severe lack of food and water.
I spotted the white bones of a beast half-buried in the sand. Did it d*e here from starvation too?
Cursed land.
To many hunters, it was known as the Fire Dragon’s desert. That name resonated with me now.
“This used to be a lush area, right? It was green?”
I scooped up the sand with my paw. Not a hint of nutrients. The lifeless shards of that barren land slipped through my paw like they didn’t even exist.
“It was a green, flourishing area. Especially near the gods’ river, the Nile, it was famous for its richness.”
“I can’t even imagine trees and plants growing here. So, are the rumors about this world true?”
“What rumors?”
“That the Fire Dragon brought d*ath to this land. They say this desert formed after you made your nest here.”
According to the legends I’d heard, after the Fire Dragon settled in the western lands and built her tower, it began not raining in this desert.
When it didn’t rain, trees and plants withered. And when those that the herbivores feed on disappeared, the higher predators vanished too, causing the cycle of life to end.
Extreme drought allegedly even showed the bottom of the blessed Nile.
People say that the Fire Dragon settled in this land, and because of her heat, the land dried up into a desert.
“That’s not true. It’s an unjust accusation! It’s really unfair.”
Azidahaka was desperately trying to defend herself, insisting it wasn’t her fault.
“No matter how much power I have over fire, I’m not strong enough to desiccate this entire region. There were various complex circumstances involved. Things like the arms race between Sumer and Cairo.”
“Cairo?”
At my question, Azidahaka pointed her finger toward the setting sun in the west.
“Just like the maze city of Sumer, where the fairies made their nests, there exists a city-state at the western end that boasts an ancient civilization. The country made by Stone Dwarfs, Cairo, is that place. The intense drought was a result of the Stone Dwarfs meddling with taboos.”
“I see…”
Stone Dwarfs. The unfamiliar name made me furrow my brow. I understood that the divine beings referred to the humans in this world as “dwarfs,” but what were these beings called Stone Dwarfs that Azidahaka referenced?
“Are they like those bearded little folks who are half your height? You know, swinging hammers and nails?”
“Ha! You know well. Have you seen them?”
“Maybe I have…”
I tried to dig up memories of the time I spent in the human kingdom with Batus.
Among the many people I saw there, some little dwarfs often caught my eye, just as I had mentioned, half the height of others.
“So those were the Stone Dwarfs…”
As I pondered, Azidahaka continued with a gentle voice.
“Perhaps the western end where Adonai pointed is Cairo. If Satan, a mythical being, was headed somewhere, it would be only that place in the west. The pyramid located there.”
“Oh, there’s a pyramid?”
I felt a thrill at the thought of witnessing one of the seven wonders of the world, my tail wagging with excitement. If there were tall towers in this world, surely the pyramid would boast a magnificent and grand appearance.
“Who would have thought I’d get to fulfill my dreams of traveling abroad as a human this way.”
As I daydreamed about the towering tomb, Azidahaka said, “Huh?” as if she was questioning something.
“Do you know about the pyramids?”
“A massive stone structure shaped like a square pyramid, right? It must be tremendously tall and impressive.”
“Hmm, it’s not that great. The Sumer we built is much taller and grander. Jupiter and the Stone Dwarfs just stack big, heavy rocks and think that’s everything.”
Azidahaka’s tone held a combative message hidden within her words about the pyramids of the Stone Dwarfs. Her sarcastic style made it clear how she felt about Jupiter and the Stone Dwarfs.
“Jupiter and the Stone Dwarf king Marduk are truly uncouth and barbaric. Once you see them, you’ll understand why I shudder.”
“Yeah, I’d like to see them soon. So how long until we reach this Cairo?”
I frowned at the vast expanse of wilderness where the massive pyramid was barely visible at the horizon.
“If we keep walking at this pace, it’ll probably take a month.”
“What the heck.”
“That’s considering the fastest route.”
“A month trudging through this desert? Isn’t there a faster way? A shortcut?”
“Flying is the easiest way to go fast. If I flap my wings, I could probably get there in about two days.”
“Well, you should’ve just flown already.”
Azidahaka, having fully shed her transformation, resembled a small aircraft. If she spread those massive wings and soared into the sky, it would surely allow for a swift journey beyond days’ worth of distance.
“But flying consumes too much magical energy. I haven’t fully recovered from the battle with the earth dragon. Also, trespassing into the Gryphon’s airspace may provoke an attack.”
“So we’re just going to walk through this empty sandy desert? There are definitely ways to replenish your magical energy.”
I grinned widely, revealing my sharp teeth. Azidahaka shivered as if she felt a chill.
“T-That’s… I don’t feel like doing that right now.”
“Kyu-iiiying…”
Yingyi drooped down tiredly.
“Are you planning to leave this poor Yingyi to roll around the desert for a month? She’ll disappear without a trace.”
“W-Well, there might be an oasis if we keep going.”
“But what if we don’t find one? If Yingyi withers and dies, you’ll take responsibility, right? You know she’s not just any Cloudring. She’s incredibly smart and adorable. More than that, she’s practically like my little sister now. If she dies because of your judgment, what will you do?”
Thanks to the power of my Skill “Charm,” thoughts I hadn’t considered slipped off my tongue easily.
Azidahaka was left speechless by my rapid-fire words and only managed to mutter a soft, “Ugh.”
“You’re so selfish, huh? It’s like you’re just thinking about yourself and wanting to fly. You need to consider everyone! Who knows how far Satan’s grasp extends? Plus, while we waste time with this pointless argument, that jewel could slip through our fingers forever. Of course, when the time comes, you’ll have to deal with it on your own. It’s not my fault.”
“Ugh…”
*
I felt a gust of wind hit my face, causing my fur to stand on end.
“Whoa, this is amazing!”
I was experiencing speed like never before, marveling with my mouth agape. Wind rushed into my open mouth, and I felt parched, but that didn’t matter as I was truly ecstatic.
“I, who’ve never been on a plane before, get to sit on a dragon’s back! This is something not everyone experiences.”
“Typically, I’ve never carried anyone on my back. This is special treatment, just for this occasion. For the sake of everyone and our cause.”
“Got it. Just hurry up and fly. Yingyi’s thirsty.”
“Kyu-iiiying.”
Flap.
With every flap of Azidahaka’s wings, the landscape below us changed rapidly.
I had once been dragged through the sky by Harpy Salome, but this speed was beyond compare.
If I didn’t hold onto the scales growing on Azidahaka’s back, I felt I might be swept away by the wind and fall to the ground.
Thank goodness I had the “Riding” skill I obtained while driving a carriage. Because of that, I could easily adapt to the situation of riding on Azidahaka’s back.
“Wow, this is fast. I might want to get one for myself.”
I playfully patted her scales with my paw while sitting on Azidahaka’s back.
“Kyu-iiiying.”
Yingyi seemed to be enjoying the pace as she clung tightly to Azidahaka’s massive back. Noticing our playful antics, Azidahaka flapped her wings and spoke.
“Make sure to keep your promise.”
“Sure, the gentlemanly magical supply. I got it.”
I promised to extract and give her magical energy without touching her body. That was the condition for Azidahaka to revert to her original form.
“Let’s just be satisfied with quickly reaching our destination for now.”
Of course, that wouldn’t satisfy my desires accumulated over a hundred years of military service. My mind was racing with schemes on how to release this hot, pent-up desire.
Just then, a shadow passed over me.
I assumed a cloud had drifted overhead, but when I looked up, I noticed someone else flapping their wings above me.
“Hey, you red-scaled lizard! This sky is the domain of the feathered ones. Fold your wings and get down to the ground.”
A sharp gaze from a bird of prey pierced through me. The creature, a fusion of an eagle’s upper body and a lion’s lower body, looked just like Gryphon Chino from before.
The only difference was that the one above me was about 1.5 times larger than Chino.
“Of course the Gryphons would interfere…”
Tch, Azidahaka clicked her tongue.
“Hey, scaly creature! Are you deaf? In the name of the sky king, Jupiter, I command you to fold your wings and come down to the earth!”
The Gryphon spoke in a manner reminiscent of a police officer commanding a driver to pull over and step out of the car.
“What now?”
At my cautious question, Azidahaka flapped her wings higher into the sky.
“I don’t like being looked down on by a feathered beast below me!”
“Whoa! Wh-What are you doing?”
In that sudden ascent, I almost lost my balance and fell. The uneven ridges between her scales were the only thing keeping me from slipping away.
The Gryphon let out a sharp cry, piirururu!
“Are we looking for a fight?”
[Afterword] If you enjoyed reading, please press the recommendation button at the top of the mobile screen! With just two seconds of your time, you can give a writer a happy day! @[emailprotected]
Thank you to everyone who gave comments and coupons.
If one day I suddenly stop my serialization without notice, please understand that I’ve been dragged into the story I wrote to live a military life.
