Altera gazed at the dragon with fiery determination in her golden eyes. The dragon also faced her, and an odd silence ensued. It was the kind of silence that would only end when someone finally spoke.
“…Could I possibly invite you instead of Father when I hold my wedding ceremony? Since I have no one worthy of being called Father.”
Fortunately, Altera broke the silence first, so neither I nor Yuna had to step in. Still… just moments ago, she was attacking with lethal intent, yet now she seemed unusually docile.
She’s even using honorifics on her own—this is new. Though it wasn’t strange per se, it felt peculiar. Her tone carried a different atmosphere than the awkward politeness she used when unsure what to say, making it feel oddly unsettling.
We already knew she had no one worthy of calling Father, having observed her all this time. Still, talk of a wedding… I tried imagining Altera in a pure white dress but couldn’t quite picture it.
And the face of the man who would take her hand as her husband…
“Hmph, if there’s no one for you to call father, then yes, you may call me when you chop off Kalpi’s head. But tell me, who do you plan to marry?”
“That…”
As soon as the words left his mouth, the dragon looked directly at Altera. She glanced at me, faintly smiled, then turned back to the dragon.
“…You’ll see when the time comes. What should I write on the invitation? Should I write your name?”
“Artist. Write that down, then bury it in the ground. So, is there anything else you wish to ask? The method by which your mother conceived you, perhaps, or why awakening the dragon’s power repeatedly stole your consciousness. The tricks played on your mind, or what was intended when they sought to tear apart your soul. Or maybe where your long-sought father resides. Ask whatever you like. You are the most intriguing being I’ve encountered in the last five hundred years, after all.”
The dragon, referring to himself as an artist, seemed to take a liking to Altera and encouraged her to ask anything.
“My father… could you tell me where Kalpi is?”
“Are you not asking for his true name?”
“I assume you won’t reveal it.”
The artist chuckled lightly, intending to tease her, but decided she was too clever. He tapped his temple with his finger and said,
“Kalpira… Twenty-one years ago, he succumbed to a witch’s enchantment during his revelries and sired a child. If he hasn’t fled out of sudden fear, he’s likely still posing as a priest of the Goddess in Manox.”
“Manox… church. Priest… thank you for telling me.”
“Hmm. Aren’t you curious about your mother?”
“That’s enough. It doesn’t matter anymore.”
Averting her gaze, Altera closed her eyes tightly, dismissing the topic. Honestly, even we bystanders were shocked by how grotesque the situation was. It’s probably better that Altera doesn’t know the details.
To isolate her completely and make her entirely dependent… sigh. Is that really something humans should do?
I stared blankly at my sword. Even though I haven’t released him, he will wander endlessly through the worst nightmares forever. Yet, I don’t feel any pity.
“If that’s how you feel, I won’t force anything upon you. Let’s see… it seems you have something to think about. While you sort that out, I’ll take questions from your companions one by one. You there, the elf fidgeting restlessly like a dog desperate to relieve itself. Go ahead.”
Yuna hesitated briefly when called upon but then unleashed a torrent of words.
“Um, Sir Dragon… before—or even after—you arrived here, did you happen to notice any traces of elves? Bones, anything! Even a withered tree root would be fine!”
“…Traces of elves…? Hmm… Well, it’d help if I could distinguish between humans and elves… Ah, right. When I came here, I saw a tree that didn’t belong. About two kilometers that way. It bore strange fruit too. I left it alone since it looked interesting.”
“Tree fruit…! Ah…! Then…! Thank you so much!!!”
Yuna dashed off in the direction indicated by the artist at incredible speed. If that fruit truly belongs to an elf… it might be a trace of them.
Plants don’t naturally grow here, and most elves carry some form of plant within their bodies…
…Perhaps the plant grew from the body of a deceased elf, or the elf is alive but has been completely consumed by the plant. Neither scenario seemed pleasant.
It seems whenever people around here get involved with family, things don’t turn out well. That’s what I thought.
“Next, you. Altera’s lover. Myungho, was it? Anyway, ask something.”
Just as I was about to ask a question, Altera, who had been quietly lost in thought, suddenly interrupted with alarm.
“L-lover?! We’re not lovers! N-no, wait, um… we’re not lovers, but… um, boyfriend…”
“…Isn’t that the same thing? What’s the difference?”
What I mean is, if Altera calls me her boyfriend and I call her my girlfriend, aren’t we lovers?
“G-gr… It’s complicated to explain, but… they’re different!”
“I find it hard to understand, but if that’s how you see it, I’ll respect it. Altera’s boyfriend. Whatever.”
I couldn’t comprehend her standards either, but I didn’t intend to press the issue. Now, what should I ask… ah, right.
“Just now, you referred to Crystal Gorge as your workshop. Does that mean you’re the Great Worm who once resided there?”
That’s strange. A dragon appearing where there shouldn’t be one does raise suspicions. Crystal Gorge is nearby, so it was a reasonable assumption.
Especially considering his earlier statement. His answer was simply “yes.”
“While displaying my works, I eventually filled the space. So, I decided to move outside for exhibitions.”
Just as I was about to turn my attention to Akashi, another curiosity arose, and despite knowing it was rude, I asked,
“One more question. Why do you take human form? Is it because you’re in the midst of revelry?”
The artist stroked his chin as if genuinely surprised by the unexpected question and then answered.
“…Not revelry. Simply put, for delicate work, I need to be smaller. Or maybe I’ve grown accustomed to this form. I’m uncertain.”
Surprisingly, he gave an answer without any fuss and turned back to Akashi. For some reason, Akashi appeared uneasy, staring off into the distance.
“Next… you… Wait. Your face seems familiar. That aura… those mannerisms… you’re the remnants of the Wingless Omnipotence.”
“Damn. Caught me.”
Hold on. The Wingless Omnipotence—that’s the god Akashi worships, isn’t it? And Akashi is its remnant?
“Former deity of the dwarves. How dare you set foot in this world again after nearly destroying it by allying with the Demon Tribe?”
Unlike before, the dragon’s voice boomed with immense power, threatening Akashi.
Indeed, dozens of radiant crystal spears encircled Akashi, their sharp points aimed at him.
What’s going on all of a sudden? Is Akashi a god? Moreover, the god of the ancient dwarves?
“Wait, wait. No, it’s not like that. Listen up. Honestly, I swear by Aria and Gaia—I’m here to do good this time, but you guys wouldn’t let me in! And I didn’t force my way in! This is a copy I left behind before leaving!!”
“Good deed? Are you talking about joining forces with the Demon Tribe again to transform this entire planet into the Demon Realm?!”
“That’s… uh. Ask my exiled self directly. Seriously, I swear I’m here to do good, so can you please remove these spears?! I’m going to burn up!”
Akashi looked desperately at me, making me wonder if I should really help him. From what the dragon says, it sounds like Akashi was the mastermind behind the demon invasion two hundred years ago.
Witches are bad enough. Why do those obsessed with magic always end up like this?
“…Though it may seem presumptuous, Artist, please withdraw the spears from him. We need him.”
“Necessary?! Do you not know what this creature has done, servant of Aria? This one nearly handed over the entire planet to the Demon Tribe! All for his vulgar curiosity!”
“That… yeah. No excuse there, damn it! The original guy never helped at all! Just leave me alone! I’m sorry! Why am I held accountable for the crap the original made?!”
If I weren’t learning black magic from him, I wouldn’t care if he burned to death. Sighing, I earnestly pleaded.
“I beg you. To assist Altera, I need him.”
Altera, who hadn’t cared about Akashi burning, now looked genuinely puzzled as to why I was kneeling for such a person. I couldn’t explain this…
“…Tch.”
The artist withdrew the violently spinning spear blades and stepped toward Akashi. Towering over him by a head, the artist suddenly plucked out his own eye and shoved it into Akashi’s.
Ignoring Akashi’s screams of pain, the artist declared,
“What you see is what I see. Should you ever act against Gaia’s will, even once… I will not grant you a merciful death.”
With smoke rising from Akashi’s eye sockets, the artist returned to Altera.
“…Hmph. I knew you were extraordinary from the moment I sensed your bloodline, but I didn’t expect you to be this much trouble… Your fate seems exceptionally tangled.”
“That… rather than that, his eye…!”
How can he be so calm after gouging out an eye? But there was a reason. At some point, his empty eye socket had refilled.
“Humans only carry one eye anyway. So, have you sorted your thoughts?”
Altera stared blankly at his intact eye, shook her head, and asked,
“…Thankfully, you’re fine. Yes. By any chance, is there a way for me to grow stronger?”
“Why aren’t you rushing off for revenge immediately?”
“…Because even when you fought casually, I couldn’t even touch you. Fighting recklessly now would only result in my meaningless death.”
Blood flowed from Akashi’s eye sockets. Hopefully, he hasn’t gone blind.
Regardless, Altera, seemingly shocked that she couldn’t significantly harm the artist, asked about ways to grow stronger.
“True. That one could unleash a breath attack, so he’s strong. Though I have many artistic treasures, there aren’t many items to make one stronger, and none suitable for you. However… yes. I know a dragon who detests Kalpi immensely. It might be helpful to you.”
“Is that so? Where does it live?”
“Between Koluscia and Manox, across the strait. I heard it’s been stationed there for decades, shooting down ships and airships alike.”
Ah.
So that’s it.
…I don’t want to return to my homeland.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. I merely don’t wish for your story to end futilely. I refuse a tale without a proper ending.”
…No.
What bothers me is the sight of those two getting along so well.
Honestly, I barely have any feelings left for my home country anymore. Even if they begged me to return, I’d ignore them.
But that image is impossible to overlook.
In the distance, Yuna returned carrying something.
“Um… Could I possibly call you Fa… ”
“No, absolutely not. I despise taking responsibility.”
The brand on the back of my hand burned painfully.
-Their relationship seems quite affectionate, doesn’t it? You’re a bit too young to give paternal love to that child.
…And in an instant, I saw a vision of Altera embracing the artist.
…
