Chapter 564

564.

“Wow, it’s not much different from any ordinary city, is it?”

Arga exclaimed as she followed Leo out into the nighttime streets of Dragonia.

Indeed, the night streets here were no different from any other city.

It was bustling with activity, almost like an ongoing night market, adding vitality to the city.

It was an exceedingly familiar, everyday sight.

“Dragonia was supposed to be amazing, but it’s a bit of a letdown.”

“What did you expect?”

“I thought everything would be massive!”

“Oh, I kind of expected that too.”

Ar listened to the conversation between Arga and Lunia while Leo let out a soft chuckle.

‘What do they think dragons are?’

Even dragons don’t remain in their true forms all the time.

“Still, everyone here is a dragon, right? That in itself is quite impressive, isn’t it?”

Said Chelsea, peeking out from behind Leo.

Even for Hero Candidates, who are regarded as the future of all races, encountering multiple dragons in one’s lifetime is rare.

And unless you’re a hero of considerable renown, entering Dragonia itself is nearly impossible.

“That is quite an extraordinary experience indeed.”

Lunia muttered in wonder as she said this.

“Where’s Driana?”

Leo realized Driana wasn’t in sight.

“Oh, she’s over there.”

Arga pointed her finger to where Driana was speaking to a girl carrying a basket.

“You are so beautiful.”

“…?”

“I’m an aspiring artist. I’d like to use you as a model.”

“…?”

“For a n*de, if possible…”

BAM!

“What the hell are you saying, you pervert!”

Lunia struck Driana’s head with her elbow.

However, Driana immediately grabbed the elbow and rolled on the ground.

“Lunia, I’ve told you before—resorting to violence is a bad habit.”

“Y-Y-You… make me use violence… Ugh! Stonehead!”

“That won’t stop my artistic passion. Hit me all you want!”

“Oho? Really?”

“Just kidding, please spare me.”

Arga laughed as she asked, causing Driana to surrender neatly.

Even a dwarf born unnaturally tough couldn’t fight Ar, who was a Beastman, in pure hand-to-hand combat.

“Are you alright? You must have been startled. Believe it or not, these people are harmless.”

Chelsea consoled the girl, who looked frightened.

“What’s with this appearance? What’s with it?”

Lunia muttered while rubbing her elbow but didn’t contradict further.

Certainly, there was no mistaking the frightening sight—someone proposing n*de modeling then promptly striking the suggester with an elbow.

But the girl still maintained a perplexed expression.

Reacting as if she didn’t understand what was happening.

As Chelsea became slightly flustered, Leo took a step forward and spoke.

An unfamiliar language came out of Leo’s mouth, but the girl understood what he was saying, widening her eyes and slightly bowing her head toward him.

“What kind of language is that black rabbit using?”

“It’s the Dragon Tongue. Lunia, you must have studied it, right?”

“I studied it due to magic, but not enough to use it in conversation like that.”

“Hmm. It is a complex language. Leo, as always, is impressive. Is there anything he can’t do?”

“Hem!”

“Why are you smirking?”

Driana made a baffled expression while looking at Chelsea.

The conversation with Leo finished, the dragon girl hesitantly approached the four of them and lifted the cloth covering the basket.

The basket was full of flowers.

She handed the flowers one by one to each of the travelers. When it came to Lunia’s turn, she hesitated a moment before carefully pinning a white flower in Lunia’s hair.

When Lunia’s eyes widened, the dragon girl spoke.

Lunia glanced at Leo who translated,

“Thank you for helping me in such a difficult situation. She loves the tales of Lunia’s heroics and she supports you as someone who follows after the Star Cloud.”

Lunia’s face expressed her deep feeling of being moved.

The dragon girl hesitated for a moment and then shyly smiled, extending her hand.

“She’s asking if she can shake your hand.”

“Of course!”

Lunia smiled and shook the girl’s hand, before waving goodbye.

“Well, this is unexpected. I thought all dragons spoke the common tongue?”

“Dragons are indeed the guides of heroes, but not all dragons serve that role.”

Leo looked at the dragons walking about the streets and commented.

“Is it that dragons also have their own everyday lives? That makes sense.”

Driana nodded her head.

As Leo silently gazed at Dragonia’s streets, it reminded him of the image of dragons Rissinas once dreamed of.

“During the Age of the Gods, dragons were the chosen race of the gods.”

All dragons at that time devoted their entire being to guarding the earth within their territories.

Rissinas too, as a young black dragon, had his life dictated to him.

“The choice to save the world was entirely based on my own will, but not all dragons must shoulder that as a duty.”

Thus, after the Era of Catastrophe, Rissinas wanted many dragons to enjoy ordinary, peaceful lives.

“The culture of Guardstron has indeed greatly influenced the dragons.”

Dragons born in Guardstron exchanged knowledge with many races.

Even now, while continuing their culture since the Age of Gods, they are the only race that maintains their unique language without using the common tongue.

“But even so, this mundane scenery resembles Guardstron.”

Leo faintly smiled.

“It’s just as you wanted. Your kind has cast off the shackles they once bore.”

“Leo, how is it?”

Lunia touched the flower in her hair, asking.

“It suits you.”

As Leo answered, Lunia’s face lit up with a smile.

“Black Rabbit, watch out! You’ve got a flower in your hair. You never know when they’ll jump!”

Arga yelled while hiding behind Leo.

At that, Lunia’s face lost its expression as she rushed at Arga, who quickly fled.

Chelsea observed this and said,

“If the dragon who just gave the flower saw that, wouldn’t she regret her kindness?”

“She didn’t see.”

At Leo’s answer, Chelsea nodded her head.

“Where did those fools go?”

Watching the two disappear into the crowd, Driana exhaled.

“They’re not even children and they’ve already gotten lost?”

“Hmm. Indeed.”

At Leo’s words, Driana nodded.

“Anyway, Leo, didn’t you come out to see something? What is it?”

“I need to look for something.”

The contract paper used for the promise 5000 years ago when Erebus was defeated, for the pledge to rebuild Dragonia.

‘That day, Rissinas left this in Dragonia before departing.’

A piece of the egg that contained Rissinas.

That fragment itself is a key to entering Rissinas’s world.

If the Hero Record exists, Leo can enter Rissinas’s world at any time.

But not so for others.

‘Because I might not always be around.’

It would be prudent to find the key beforehand for such situations.

“Let’s head toward the entrance first.”

Leo recalled the memory as he headed towards the entrance of Dragonia.

*

“Where are we?”

“It’s your fault we lost our way.”

“Why is it my fault? It’s because you ran away.”

“I ran because you were chasing me like you were trying to k*ll me.”

“So why were you mocking me and who said I was trying to k*ll you?”

“Then? What were you planning to do?”

“Make you feel a little bit like you wanted to d*e.”

“Even more cruel!”

Though Arga opened her eyes drowsily, Lunia merely smirked.

“So exactly, where are we?”

Not a soul was in sight anywhere.

Even the interior of Dragonia is vast to an extreme degree.

But not all of Dragonia is populated by its residents.

Especially in the outlying areas, it’s more like a restored relic from the Age of the Gods.

Therefore, the backstreets of Dragonia are like a complicated labyrinth by definition.

There’s no danger, but getting out is difficult.

Lunia looked up.

“They say there’s barrier magic above Dragonia, so if we fly up, the dragons will come.”

When Lunia proposed this simple method, Arga shook her head violently.

“No way!”

“Why not?”

“Because that perverted dwarf will find out we got lost.”

Arga frowned darkly.

“He’ll definitely look at us like we’re complete morons.”

“…That would be embarrassing.”

Lunia’s eyebrows furrowed.

Indeed, being seen as fools by Driana was unacceptable.

These three were the successors of Luna and Aron, recognized by the Dragon Lord.

“Leo recognizes us as the successors of the Great Heroes.”

To Lunia, who knew Leo’s true identity, his recognition was both special and weighty.

It was this equal footing that allowed them to be honest and quickly befriend each other.

‘Because we can be honest with each other, we absolutely cannot lose to each other.’

“How then are we going to find the way? Do you have any methods?”

“Hmph.”

Then, Arga put her right hand, with only her thumb and index finger extended, under her jaw.

“Stop striking a pose and just explain.”

“Who am I? The next Student Council President of Azonia! Ar Tune, remember?”

As Arga dramatically struck her chest, she pointed her hand at her nose.

“We’ll follow our scent!”

At that, Lunia exclaimed in disbelief.

“Wow! You really are like a dog!”

“I’m a cat!”

Arga flared up, her tail standing straight, when suddenly,

Four people appeared at the alley’s corner.

Lunia and Arga exchanged confused looks.

“You two. Aren’t you Lunia El Rundah and Ar Tune?”

At the first boy’s question, Lunia tilted her head, arms crossed.

“Yes. And who are you guys?”

“Lunia, look. They’re wearing something like uniforms.”

As Arga noticed their attire, the boy smiled.

“We’re aspiring Guides.”

“Guides?”

Lunia’s eyes widened.

The Guide.

The title of dragons who lead heroes.

“I’ve heard of it. In Dragonia, there’s a place where dragons with great talent study to become Guides.”

“That’s right. Imagine it as the Dragon Hero Academy. My name’s Riden. Nice to meet you.”

Riden stepped forward, extending his hand.

But Lunia and Ar only stared blankly at it.

“Isn’t that a handshake?”

At the puzzled expression on Riden’s face,

“I’d shake if I were you.”

Lunia smiled.

“Doesn’t staring at us like that make us feel uncomfortable too?”

At that, Riden scratched his cheek.

“If I hurt your feelings, I’m sorry. As future Guides, we’re supposed to lead heroes, you see. And meeting Hero Candidates like you is a first for us. We’ve been looking forward to this.”

Riden grinned widely.

“Your fame has already spread through Dragonia. Especially Lunia El Rundah, you’ve already secured your place as a hero, haven’t you?”

“So?”

“We came here to test how far you’ve come.”

“Hmm.”

Lunia slightly curled the corner of her mouth in amusement.

At that moment, Ar wagged her tail and spoke.

“My qualification as a hero can only be judged by one person.”

“What? Who is that?”

Looking at the bewildered Riden, Ar smirked.

“Leo Flove.”