### Chapter 24: Barren Earth, Dragon Bones, and Fairies (Part 2)
Down below the cliff, amidst the foggy rock formations, I could hear some rustling sounds mixed with strange shouts rapidly approaching from all directions.
Something was coming, and it sounded like quite a bunch…
It was probably those pesky fairies!
A slight panic bubbled up inside me, and I wasn’t sure what to do. I started to slowly back away, but then the big white dragon stood up with a loud thud, taking two hefty steps to block my path. I quickly shifted my gaze, grabbed onto its fluffy back, and scrambled up to its shoulder, clutching its horn and settling cross-legged.
“ROOOAR—!!”
The white dragon opened its massive mouth and let out a roar that was intimidating enough to make me cover my ears. I sensed those rustling sounds were about to emerge from the cliff, so I patted Big White on the head, signaling it to back off. At the same time, another thought popped into my head.
If those fairies dared to mess with me…
I’d just gobble them all up!
This silly thought flickered briefly through my mind, and I shook my head, discarding my dark intentions and appetite, trying to think calmly.
No, I can’t be reckless…
I had no idea how many of them there were, and in my current state, getting tangled up would be catastrophic…
Who knew what tricks those fairies had? Big White could hold its own, but it couldn’t always protect me…
I had to deal with them calmly…
Thoughts raced through my mind, and just as I was still trying to figure out a plan, the commotion below the cliff grew louder. I clenched my fists, urging Big White to retreat further, eyes fixed ahead. Suddenly, a hook flew up with a clang, getting stuck in a crack, and the first fairy climbed up the rope, followed by a second and third…
Rotting, hideous green-skinned fairies appeared, still wearing those disgusting, oozing expressions. They had snarling, wretched hounds in tow, crawling out from the cliff and dark rocks on either side brandishing sharp stone spears and huge bows, shouting in a language I didn’t understand, slowly closing in on us.
I felt my nerves tighten, the Dead Smoke in my palms beginning to swirl.
So many…
There were so many of them…
What do I do…
“ROOOAR—!!”
The massive white dragon seemed rather displeased with the approaching fairies, bellowing once more with a booming growl. The wind from its roar spread out, causing the fairies to take a step back. I could vaguely feel Big White’s restless mood—was it wanting to wipe out these nuisances?
Wait a minute…
These fairies didn’t seem to have any fight in them; they didn’t look like they were here to start a brawl…
Realizing this, I quickly dispelled the Dead Smoke from my palms, stroked Big White’s fluffy head, and patted its horn: “Shhh, shhh! Quiet… just wait.”
I could see it now.
These fairies suddenly appeared up here, brandishing weapons and looking fierce, but they didn’t seem intent on attacking us.
They seemed even more nervous than I was, hesitant to approach, stopping about ten meters away, peeking over cautiously, as if confirming something. Then they spotted me sitting on Big White and gasped, fearfully shouting back: “Wakada, Dasa!”
“Kabapagda! Kukushi…”
What were they saying…
Were they… scared?
Scared of Big White?
Or scared of me…
I kept my composure, trying to maintain a serious expression, yet my mind was somewhat tangled, unsure of what they wanted and too afraid to make a move.
Then, a lot more fairies rushed in from behind—at least a hundred, maybe more. They froze at the shouts from the front, and suddenly, one fairy dropped its weapon and knelt down, muttering nonsense in a language I didn’t understand. “Thud!” went the sound as it dropped to the ground.
Soon after, more fairies followed suit, dropping their weapons one by one, kneeling down.
…Huh?
This unexpected scene left me, who was already contemplating retreat, dumbfounded as I sat atop the dragon’s shoulder, scratching my little face, utterly puzzled.
What’s going on…
Why are they all kneeling…
What kind of creepy cult game is this? What are you playing at?
You guys nearly scared me to d*ath…
“‘Abyss Language’ Great… Helavis, Great… Gidels, Apostle…”
A figure riding a disgusting hound emerged from among the kneeling fairies. He looked like a burly male fairy, with rotting flesh hanging off his chest, revealing the ribs beneath. He approached, and beneath the disdainful gaze of Big White, knelt down on one knee, raising his right hand, a clenched fist touching his forehead.
It looked like he was bowing to us.
Great Helavis…
Oh, Helavis is the name of Big White’s dragon kind, right? I think I remember that… Apostles of Gidels? Is that what they’re calling me now?
No longer referring to me as the Apostle Rabishixemos?
I stayed silent, made no movements, just tightly pursed my lips and stared.
After bowing, the fairy slowly lifted his head, revealing a terrifying face with corroded lips and yellowing teeth.
“‘Abyss Language’ We… are here. To guard, the skeleton of sin, the Forest Tribe. Noticing, Great Helavis has awakened. We especially came to pay our respects…”
It was still that characteristic awkward and clumsy Abyss language, but at least I could finally understand what they were saying.
They were basically saying they came to check out Big White’s awakening… Oh, so Big White only just woke up too? That explains why I was suddenly pulled in here…
I turned to Big White and blinked at it.
So, Big White, were you the one who dragged me in here?
You have the power to open the Land of Dragons… No wonder I met you out in the forest. Not only that, but you can also drag me inside… that’s how it is, right?
Could you at least warn me before yanking me around like that?!
“Grrr.”
In response to the fairies’ friendly greetings, Big White let out a huffy breath, making a rather dismissive snort.
“‘Abyss Language’ Great Helavis. We… are still informed. Standing upon the right shoulder of the dragon. Is, what the dragon protects. Not the Apostle Diana… We have been here accompanying the dragon for a thousand years, willing to follow the will of the dragon tribe. Great Helavis, please do not harbor hostility toward our tribe.”
After this speech from the fairy, Big White grunted, sounding still a bit derisive, but its exposed teeth gradually tucked back in, the intimidation lessening.
Oh…
So, it thought these fairies wanted to harm me…
I felt a warm sensation in my heart, and my tension eased considerably.
Even if my strength hadn’t fully returned, as long as I had Big White by my side, what was there to worry about… Honestly, I was overthinking everything…
But wait, Big White even understands Abyss language?
As I pondered this, I shifted my gaze from Big White’s head, staring expressionlessly at the kneeling fairies, and after a moment, I slowly spoke: “‘Abyss Language’ What do you want?”
Actually, they…
Were just a group of poor, persecuted beings…
Now that I understood the historical truth, I felt a hint of sympathy for their plight… They had turned into this, and as long as they held no ill will toward me, why should I harm them… Gobbling them up could wait…
The fairies, upon sensing Big White’s awakening, had rushed over eagerly, clearly having been waiting here for a while, and definitely seeking something…
So first, let’s hear what they want.
