Chapter 386

386 The Time of Choices #2

The shrine of Goddess Vesta was relatively simple.

Marble pillars supported the ceiling, and beneath them was a round dish or pot-shaped vessel. It was large enough that if you poured in some broth, it could boil about a hundred servings of noodles. Above it was a leaping flame, making it clear to anyone that it was a massive brazier of some kind.

Nearby, small children were busily cleaning the pillars and the floors with rags.

“Ononoi, I already cleaned that area!”

“There’s still a lot of dust! Crinis, you didn’t clean properly, did you?”

The clear voices and the short, pointed ears indicated that those were likely nymphs. There were as many as six nymphs cleaning the shrine.

“Look over there! Someone’s coming!”

“Hi, hiik, sh, let’s hide-!”

Their scattered chatter nearly made my head spin. Luckily, they hid behind the thick pillars or behind the statue of the Goddess in the shrine upon seeing me.

With a soft chuckle, the priestess who introduced herself as Eshe Dust said, “Please forgive them. Nymphs are quite timid. When someone unfamiliar enters, they often hide like this. They don’t mean any harm.”

“I understand. I’ve seen many of Paranoi, so I do know a bit about nymphs.”

“Ahaha… That’s a slightly mistaken statement. Paranoi is a unique nymph. It’s the first one like her in my fifty years of life. She must have taken after her mother.”

Clack, clack.

Amid the sound of footsteps echoing on the marble floor, I heard something rather unbelievable.

“Do you know Paranoi’s mother?”

“Of course. She was an old friend of mine. I don’t know what she’s doing now, but nymphs often disappear suddenly, so…”

“…”

“Come to think of it, nymphs have been disappearing frequently in Sodomora recently too. More friends haven’t been attending worship sessions, and they haven’t been reachable.”

Disappearing nymphs, huh?

I recalled Hippolyte mentioning nymphs had been going missing recently. The events this priestess described were likely the same.

“Originally, there were many more nymphs at this shrine. But now, there aren’t even ten left. Those remaining are trembling with fear…”

While conversing, we eventually reached the large brazier. A strange flame flickered in the massive hearth. It was warming the chilly autumn air perfectly, oddly soothing. I felt my body relaxing.

“Now, I’ll throw in some salt for a divination with the hearth fire. If the flame turns blue, it’s an acceptance. If it remains red, it indicates refusal.”

Eshe Dust reached into a small leather pouch at her waist and retrieved azure salt. She sprinkled it into the brazier as if seasoning, muttering softly.

“Merciful and compassionate Goddess Vesta, please hear the prayer of your servant, Eshe Dust.”

Chh, chwoh-.

As the salt crackled and popped within the flames, the previously calm fire surged dramatically, as if doused with oil.

“Great Goddess Vesta, young God Zigress seeks to borrow your servants. Please reveal blue flames for your acceptance or red flames for your refusal.”

Hwrack, hwrrrack-.

As the fire grew fiercer, I instinctively stepped back. The massive brazier flames flickered, lapping around like the tongue of a living being.

Then, it began to subside, gradually shaping into something akin to a human figure.

A person draped in a long veil.

Is it… female?

“Wh, what in this world! Goddess Vesta…!”

Eshe Dust knelt, her face to the ground, startled by the sight.

Do I have to do the same? Struggling to adapt to the sudden situation…

Clack.

The flame-formed woman tilted her head to look at me. Then, the burning mouth opened to speak.

“I welcome you to my hearth, Zigress. The last time we met was on the summit of Delphi’s mountain, wasn’t it? It seems you have grown into quite the god.”

“Uh, um, hello.”

“I’ve heard about your request. I understand you’d like to borrow a dragon, correct?”

“Yes, um, is there any possibility?”

“I will instruct my friends under my command accordingly. Sending a single dragon your way is exceedingly simple for me.”

“Really?”

Goddess Vesta seemed as compassionate as I’d heard, readily agreeing to lend me a dragon, making me tremble with gratitude.

“Zigress.”

However, my joy soon faded as she continued her sentence.

“How did Bacchus meet his end? Was he suffering? Was he sorrowful?”

“…”

I paused, trying to understand her intentions. With her fiery form, it was difficult to read her expressions or emotions.

“Zigress, you must have witnessed his final moments. Did he happen to say anything to you?”

Was it a pure inquiry about Bacchus’s end?

Or was she curious about my last conversation with Bacchus, assuming I was a traitor to Hypos?

There were many possibilities.

As I remained silent, the Goddess interpreted it and continued.

“Bacchus, despite being the youngest, is one of the Thirteen Gods. His downfall has caused much crisis within Hypos. Zigress, only you, who are free from Hypos’s rules, can safeguard our division and decline.”

“Rules of Hypos?”

“Yes. Even the king of the heavens, Jupiter, is bound by the rules and can’t easily extend his reach to the continent. I envy your freedom, Zigress.”

Crackling, crackling-.

The brazier fire grew louder and began to d*e down. However, the flame-formed Goddess soon faded as well.

*

“Look, look! A dragon is flying towards us!”

Koooong-.

At the shrine’s graveyard, Elpride shouted in surprise, seeing a dragon descend. After receiving Goddess Vesta’s permission to send a dragon, Elpride had waited there all day since early morning to greet it.

He shouted, wide-eyed.

“It’s a Frost Ancient Dragon! A Frost Ancient Dragon!”

A Frost Ancient Dragon, huh? One with attributes of ice, maybe?

Indeed, the dragon’s body was adorned with icy scales and icicles, looking like a beautiful sculpture. Its pointed form was strikingly majestic.

The creature gave out a mighty roar as it observed us from above.

I am the Frost Ancient Dragon, the Frozen Pearl, Icy Pearl. I have arrived here upon the request of Goddess Vesta. Who among you dares to use me so rudely as a mount?

Following the dragon’s inquiry, I felt everyone’s gaze shift towards me.

Raising my hand hesitantly, I wondered if it would swallow me whole, but then it spoke.

So, you’re the famous Juvenile Hassan. I’ve heard you defeated a Hydra.

The dragon’s face came close to my nose, blinking its enormously large eyes. Was I becoming well-known among dragons? It was the first I’d heard of it.

“I did defeat the Hydra, but there were circumstances.”

Actually, I intended to save the Hydra, and what really took it down was a single blow from Gloria piercing its chest.

But to this Icy Pearl, none of that seemed to matter.

That Hydra fellow – calling himself a Poison Dragon despite being a snake, it irked me. Snakes don’t just go around claiming to be dragons. One doesn’t just call oneself a dragon without passing the Dragon Trials.

So the Hydra being called a Poison Dragon irked him?

Frankly, from my perspective, a snake as massive as that Hydra might already qualify as a dragon.

But from what I gathered from his explanation, one must pass the Dragon Trials to be recognized as a dragon.

You must hold a pearl for a long time.

Or cultivate a king carp? Perhaps there’s even a written exam involved.

While I was pondering if dragons took midterms, the Frost Ancient Dragon continued speaking.

Since you’ve reinstated dragons’ dignity by defeating the Hydra, I might as well grant you a ride.

Given its speed, it won’t take more than two days to reach the island located in the southern sea. I, Icy Pearl, am notably swift! Truly, I resemble a frozen icicle.

Lowering its long neck, it indicated I should mount.

I climbed up under its neck and adjusted my position.

Elpride offered something from below.

“The autumn flight might be cold. One must beware of the cold when riding on a dragon’s back. Being a Frost Ancient Dragon, it might be even colder.”

The offering was a rather thick blanket.

Given that I would be in close contact with this chilly creature for a day or two, it was bound to be freezing.

Rustle.

Elpride handed me the blanket but fidgeted as if he had something to say, mouthing words awkwardly, making me slightly anxious too.

Then the Frost Ancient Dragon Icy Pearl spoke towards Elpride.

You’re the Elf of the Covenant who revived Goddess Vesta’s hearth, are you not? Elves are often unreliable creatures, but I owe you a debt. If you wish, you may ride my back as well.

“Wha!?”

Elpride gasped, then realizing how loud he was, cleared his throat.

“Hmm, er, no, did you say you’d give me a ride?”

Yes. Dragons are clear about our favors and grudges. If you wish, I shall grant you a ride.

“Hmpf, well, if you insists, I can’t really turn you down. It’s to repay your kindness, after all.”

“Just say yes if you want to. You like dragons, don’t you?”

“What? No, I’m just… interested in them.”

Saying that, Elpride finally climbed on behind me, wrapping the blanket we were given around both himself and me to avoid falling off by tightly holding around my waist.

“Again sharing a blanket, eh?”

“Shut up.”

As I jokingly muttered this, Elpride pinched my side hard.

And then –

Flap!

With a powerful wingbeat, we shot up into the air.

I waved to Paranoi and others down below before taking off.

“See you next Wednesday. Make sure to take care of Paranoi. I was thinking about bringing her along, but she insisted on staying, so I left her behind.”

“Understood! I’ll work on gathering more people! And I’ll plan for the knights’ formation as well, so you don’t need to worry!”

Thus, we soared into the sky like an arrow. The city of Sodomora began to look like a miniature as we ascended.

By the time we reached cloud level, I was feeling quite chilled despite the thick blanket. Had it not been for the warmth, I might’ve frozen already.

Flap, flap.

As we flew, we enjoyed the scenery and listened to the sounds of the wings flapping. However, the silence was broken first by Elpride.

“About the Dragon Trial you were talking about earlier, if Hydras aren’t dragons, can you explain what it is?”

The Dragon Trial is literally the test to become a dragon. Anyone can attempt it, and those who pass it can become a dragon.

“Is that true?”

Yes, it’s often misunderstood, but a dragon isn’t just a large flying reptile. Calling oneself a dragon is a revered title.

“Title?”

Anyone can take the test, and if they pass, even a goblin could claim the title of a dragon. But passing the test isn’t an easy feat.

“What does the test involve?”

Holding me tightly around the waist, Elpride asked. In response, Icy Pearl started laughing uncharacteristically.

Because of that, the creature’s body shook, and I was terrified I might fall down. After a while, he continued talking.

Elf, so you’re interested in the Dragon Trial, huh? But it’s not easy. Only one person in this continent has ever gained the title of ‘dragon’. And let me tell you, that person was incredibly strong.

“Really?”

If you’re interested, I’ll tell you after we land. Now I want to focus on flying.

Icy Pearl fell silent. His wingbeats grew stronger, and the scenery and the wind hitting my face became even more powerful.

I’ll drop you in Ideope by evening. Let me show you the full strength of my wings.

Sshaaaahh!

He accelerated like a jet, gaining speed.

The resistance grew stronger, and I had to cling to him tightly like a cicada on an old tree, lowering my stance as much as possible.

It was the same for Elpride.

“The Dragon Trial. The Dragon Trial, huh…”

His mind was filled with thoughts about the mysterious trial, looking content either way.

Even for the aimless Elpride, this was probably a turning point where he found a new direction.

Meanwhile, I took this fleeting moment to consider Ideope, the place we were supposed to arrive at by evening.

I had heard occasional descriptions, but I wondered how it would truly be.

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