Book 1 Chapter 560

560

Whoosh-!

A dry wind blew.

Lysinas clenched his fist silently, staring at the ruins spread before him.

Arion squeezed his eyes shut and turned his head away from the catastrophe before him.

Dragonia.

From time immemorial, this place was the dragons' territory and sacred ground.

When the Age of Calamity began,

dragons were driven from their homes by the invasion of Erebus and Tartarus.

And as time passed, they drove out Tartarus and were able to set foot in Dragonia again.

But the Dragonia they had so painstakingly reclaimed had been thoroughly destroyed by the demonic tribes.

Thousands, no. Tens of thousands of years of dragon history were said to be dormant in that land, but nothing remained but ashes.

Even in the Age of Gods, dragons were the most powerful race.

In particular, dragons, as agents of the gods, were also guardians of the earth.

Erebus hated the world.

Naturally, he was an antithesis to the gods, the world's overseers.

And the demonic tribes born from such an Erebus cursed the dragons, the agents of the gods, more than any other race on earth.

That's why Tartarus's demonic tribes, after occupying Dragonia, thoroughly destroyed it, captured the dragons, and cruelly tortured and killed them.

At the entrance, the cruelly murdered bodies of dragons lay scattered everywhere.

Blood flowed from Lysinas's tightly bitten lips.

His clenched fist trembled.

Dweyno said to Lysinas,

"Lysinas, I understand your feelings, but… for now, it's a priority to collect their bodies."

"Yes."

Lysinas nodded with difficulty at Dweyno's words and collected the bodies of his kin.

In front of the piled-up dragon corpses, Luna knelt and clasped her hands together.

"Oh, great agents of the gods, may you return to nature and rest in peace."

Fwoosh-

The dragon funeral ritual was to burn all bodies and return them to nature.

It was originally Lysinas's duty, but Luna took over the funeral, as Lysinas's mental strength was exhausted just from collecting the countless bodies of his kin.

Having received a high elf education as a candidate for the Elf King, Luna was well-versed in the funeral rituals for dragons, the agents of the gods.

Usually, Luna was far from formal etiquette, but now she mourned the dragons with a solemn demeanor.

Kyle, Dweyno, and Arion stood behind Luna, observing a moment of silence towards the burning flames.

Lysinas sat blankly, watching the scene.

After that, as the sun set and everyone was asleep, it was night.

Lysinas sat silently in the middle of the ruins.

In Lysinas's hand was a small box.

"What's that?"

"Ah…"

Lysinas was startled by the voice from behind and turned his head.

"Kyle? Why aren't you sleeping?"

"What about you? What were you doing away from the campsite?"

Several gourds were tucked between Kyle's fingers as he asked nonchalantly.

"What are those?"

"Alcohol, I found it in the ruins."

Kyle bit and pulled out the cork stopper at the mouth of a gourd.

Pop-!

With a sound, the aroma of alcohol spread everywhere.

Kyle, who had gulped it down straight from the bottle, wiped his mouth once and handed the bottle to Lysinas.

"…"

Lysinas, who usually didn't drink alcohol during expeditions, took the bottle Kyle offered him today.

Gulp-gulp-

"Huh."

Kyle let out a hollow laugh watching him.

"Why?"

Kyle said, looking at Lysinas, who wiped his mouth with his shoulder and asked.

"Because you drank just like Luna. I wondered if you drank that way too."

"I just wanted to drink without thinking. Though it's too expensive an alcohol to drink without thinking."

Lysinas handed the bottle back to Kyle and said.

"As expected, it must be good alcohol since dragons made it."

Kyle poured the remaining alcohol into his mouth.

Then, opening the next bottle, he asked.

"So, this place?"

"The house I lived in when I was young."

"I see."

Kyle picked up a charred leather cover lying on the ground.

Currently, the place was so messed up that one could only vaguely tell it used to be a house.

What looked like furniture was almost unrecognizable in form.

But the layout was strangely familiar.

"Was it a study?"

"More precisely, my room."

Though the form was gone, this place reminded him of Lysinas's study.

Kyle drank silently.

Lysinas had a strong attachment to his hometown, Dragonia.

It wasn't just Lysinas.

It was a characteristic of all dragons.

That's why Lysinas had made his study similar to his home in his hometown.

To soothe his longing, even a little.

Most of those born before the Age of Calamity had lost their hometowns.

But Kyle and Luna were orphans, so they had no feelings beyond where they were born.

Dweyno always wanted to see a wider world.

While the destruction of his hometown was regrettable and sorrowful, he likewise had no feelings beyond that.

He didn't think about returning, even if he saved the world.

But Lysinas was different.

He always used to talk about definitely returning and rebuilding his hometown.

He truly seemed happy when talking about Dragonia.

Therefore, the shock of this catastrophe must have been great for him.

Lysinas, who was sitting, pulled his knees to his chest.

"I knew. That it would turn out like this."

Lysinas buried his face in his knees.

"But seeing it in person, my emotions are uncontrollable."

Dragonia was a beautiful place.

The sight of his beautiful hometown destroyed without a trace was enough to shake Lysinas, who had always exaggerated his composure as the leader of the expedition team.

"How much more do we have to lose before it ends?"

"…"

"Is there even an end?"

Lysinas's voice trembled.

"What if… what if we fail?"

Kyle spoke calmly to that voice filled with anxiety.

"Don't show weakness."

Lysinas's shoulder flinched.

"You're the one who led so many people here, shouting about unseen hope."

"…"

"If you show weakness, who are those people supposed to rely on?"

"…"

Lysinas bit his lip tightly.

It wasn't wrong.

'Kyle is right. I shouldn't weaken this much.'

Many people had lost their hometowns.

They had become accustomed to despair.

If he were to encourage them by showing hope and then show a wavering appearance,

there would be nothing more irresponsible than that.

Lysinas lifted his head and stood up.

"I'm sorry, I showed weakness…"

"So."

"…"

"I didn't see your weakness today."

Kyle brought the bottle to his lips and said.

"I won't tell Arion, Luna, or Dweyno, ever."

Gulp-gulp-

The alcohol continuously flowed down Kyle's throat.

"Luna and Arion rely on you a lot, whether they know it or not. If they saw you like that, they wouldn't be able to pass on the burdens on their hearts anymore."

Kyle wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Dweyno, that old geezer, is different from the other two, but he'll try to shoulder your burden."

Lysinas stared blankly at Kyle.

"If that happens, this party will eventually waver. You have to bear the most for our party to maintain itself, there's no other way."

Kyle stared intently at Lysinas.

"So, just for one day, show weakness. I'll drink and forget everything."

"…Kyle."

Lysinas looked at Kyle with trembling eyes.

Then he tightly gripped the box he held in his arms.

"Would you like to come here for a moment?"

Lysinas patted the spot next to him.

When Kyle sat down beside him, Lysinas leaned his face on Kyle's shoulder and said.

"While I'm leaning, can I ask you one thing?"

"If it's something I can do."

"It's something you can do. Do you remember what you said? That we'd live in Dragonia after everything was over."

"I learned dragon etiquette until it became second nature because of that, how could I forget?"

As Kyle frowned and grumbled, Lysinas burst into laughter.

"When everything is over, will you help rebuild Dragonia?"

"It feels like it would take a lifetime to rebuild this enormous city, and still not be enough?"

"You said you'd lean on me today, right? And you said you'd have nothing to do after the world regained peace?"

"Alright, I get it."

Laughing at Kyle's resignation, Lysinas opened the box he held.

Click-!

Inside the box was a palm-sized piece of something.

Kyle tilted his head, looking at the fragment that resembled obsidian.

"What's that?"

"The eggshell I hatched from."

"Oh."

Kyle made a curious expression.

Seeing Kyle, Lysinas narrowed his eyes.

"You just had a rude thought, didn't you?"

"It just dawned on me again that you're a lizard."

At his words, Lysinas used his elbow to strike Kyle's temple.

As Kyle rubbed his temple and frowned, Lysinas handed his eggshell to Kyle.

"Write your name on it."

"Why my name?"

"It's dragon culture. A type of contract made when making an important promise."

Lysinas gave a slightly wicked smile.

"You said you'd help rebuild Dragonia, didn't you?"

"Even write a contract for it?"

"Hmm? Isn't it your fault for showing a weakness to a trickster?"

"Tsk."

At Lysinas's words, Kyle clicked his tongue and carved his name.

Lysinas took it, then put the egg fragment back into the box and said.

"Now you're mine."

"Being treated purely as labor, I see."

"Well."

Lysinas, with a somewhat playful smile and a slight hint of tongue, looked around the scenery.

"With you, Dragonia will surely regain its former glory, right?"

"Yes."

At Kyle's answer, Lysinas smiled brightly.

***

"…"

Leo silently gazed at the entrance of Dragonia before him.

Chelsea stood beside Leo, wearing a puzzled expression.

"What are you looking at so intently?"

"It suddenly made me think of old times."

Leo chuckled and shook his head.

This wasn't his first time coming to Dragonia in this life.

But it was his first time truly seeing the scenery of Dragonia.

During his first visit, he met Melina through the forbidden archives and didn't see any of the outside scenery.

The second visit was to see the overall scenery he had seen in Rhodia's world.

Other than that, he had only seen what was passed down in ancient texts.

That's why revisiting Dragonia like this felt fresh.

After that, neither Lysinas nor he had been able to return to Dragonia.

'It seems the dragons of later generations inherited Lysinas's will and diligently rebuilt it.'

The appearance of Dragonia's entrance wasn't much different from what Lysinas had described.

'Come to think of it, is the box where I wrote my name buried here now?'

It was when Leo recalled the fragment of the egg from which Lysinas, where he had written his name, was born.

"You're already here! Black Rabbit!"

Leo turned his head at the familiar voice from behind.

There, Ar, with her arms crossed, stood wagging her tail.

Beside Ar stood a powerfully built Azonia student.

"Long time no see, Leo."

"Long time no see, Dorveman Calian."

Dorveman, the student council president of Azonia, extended his hand to Leo.

Leo took his hand and said.

"You brought interesting news. A school-versus-school competition, you say."

Dorveman curled the corners of his lips.

"What did Azonia decide to do?"

"Azonia's students revere strength. They won't refuse a place where they can prove their strength. Of course."

Dorveman's eyes flashed.

"On the premise that it's a suitable stage to announce our arrival."

"You don't need to worry about that."

Leo chuckled.

"Because I'll prepare a stage fitting for heroes."

Leo's red eyes glowed ominously.

At that moment, Ar and Chelsea, seeing him, shivered involuntarily.

'This human! What scheme is he cooking up now!'560

Whoosh-!

A dry wind blew.

Lysinas silently clenched his fist, staring at the ruins spread before him.

Arion squeezed his eyes shut and turned his head away from the catastrophe before him.

Dragonia.

From time immemorial, this place was the dragons' territory and sacred ground.

When the Age of Calamity began,

dragons were driven from their homes by the invasion of Erebus and Tartarus.

And as time passed, they drove out Tartarus and were able to set foot in Dragonia again.

But the Dragonia they had so painstakingly reclaimed had been thoroughly destroyed by the demonic tribes.

Thousands, no. Tens of thousands of years of dragon history were said to be dormant in that land, but nothing remained but ashes.

Even in the Age of Gods, dragons were the most powerful race.

In particular, dragons, as agents of the gods, were also guardians of the earth.

Erebus hated the world.

Naturally, he was an antithesis to the gods, the world's overseers.

And the demonic tribes born from such an Erebus cursed the dragons, the agents of the gods, more than any other race on earth.

That's why Tartarus's demonic tribes, after occupying Dragonia, thoroughly destroyed it, captured the dragons, and cruelly tortured and killed them.

At the entrance, the cruelly murdered bodies of dragons lay scattered everywhere.

Blood flowed from Lysinas's tightly bitten lips.

His clenched fist trembled.

Dweyno said to Lysinas,

"Lysinas, I understand your feelings, but… for now, it's a priority to collect their bodies."

"Yes."

Lysinas nodded with difficulty at Dweyno's words and collected the bodies of his kin.

In front of the piled-up dragon corpses, Luna knelt and clasped her hands together.

"Oh, great agents of the gods, may you return to nature and rest in peace."

Fwoosh-

The dragon funeral ritual was to burn all bodies and return them to nature.

It was originally Lysinas's duty, but Luna took over the funeral, as Lysinas's mental strength was exhausted just from collecting the countless bodies of his kin.

Having received a high elf education as a candidate for the Elf King, Luna was well-versed in the funeral rituals for dragons, the agents of the gods.

Usually, Luna was far from formal etiquette, but now she mourned the dragons with a solemn demeanor.

Kyle, Dweyno, and Arion stood behind Luna, observing a moment of silence towards the burning flames.

Lysinas sat blankly, watching the scene.

After that, as the sun set and everyone was asleep, it was night.

Lysinas sat silently in the middle of the ruins.

In Lysinas's hand was a small box.

"What's that?"

"Ah…"

Lysinas was startled by the voice from behind and turned his head.

"Kyle? Why aren't you sleeping?"

"What about you? What were you doing away from the campsite?"

Several gourds were tucked between Kyle's fingers as he asked nonchalantly.

"What are those?"

"Alcohol, I found it in the ruins."

Kyle bit and pulled out the cork stopper at the mouth of a gourd.

Pop-!

With a sound, the aroma of alcohol spread everywhere.

Kyle, who had gulped it down straight from the bottle, wiped his mouth once and handed the bottle to Lysinas.

"…"

Lysinas, who usually didn't drink alcohol during expeditions, took the bottle Kyle offered him today.

Gulp-gulp-

"Huh."

Kyle let out a hollow laugh watching him.

"Why?"

Kyle said, looking at Lysinas, who wiped his mouth with his shoulder and asked.

"Because you drank just like Luna. I wondered if you drank that way too."

"I just wanted to drink without thinking. Though it's too expensive an alcohol to drink without thinking."

Lysinas handed the bottle back to Kyle and said.

"As expected, it must be good alcohol since dragons made it."

Kyle poured the remaining alcohol into his mouth.

Then, opening the next bottle, he asked.

"So, this place?"

"The house I lived in when I was young."

"I see."

Kyle picked up a charred leather cover lying on the ground.

Currently, the place was so messed up that one could only vaguely tell it used to be a house.

What looked like furniture was almost unrecognizable in form.

But the layout was strangely familiar.

"Was it a study?"

"More precisely, my room."

Though the form was gone, this place reminded him of Lysinas's study.

Kyle drank silently.

Lysinas had a strong attachment to his hometown, Dragonia.

It wasn't just Lysinas.

It was a characteristic of all dragons.

That's why Lysinas had made his study similar to his home in his hometown.

To soothe his longing, even a little.

Most of those born before the Age of Calamity had lost their hometowns.

But Kyle and Luna were orphans, so they had no feelings beyond where they were born.

Dweyno always wanted to see a wider world.

While the destruction of his hometown was regrettable and sorrowful, he likewise had no feelings beyond that.

He didn't think about returning, even if he saved the world.

But Lysinas was different.

He always used to talk about definitely returning and rebuilding his hometown.

He truly seemed happy when talking about Dragonia.

Therefore, the shock of this catastrophe must have been great for him.

Lysinas, who was sitting, pulled his knees to his chest.

"I knew. That it would turn out like this."

Lysinas buried his face in his knees.

"But seeing it in person, my emotions are uncontrollable."

Dragonia was a beautiful place.

The sight of his beautiful hometown destroyed without a trace was enough to shake Lysinas, who had always exaggerated his composure as the leader of the expedition team.

"How much more do we have to lose before it ends?"

"…"

"Is there even an end?"

Lysinas's voice trembled.

"What if… what if we fail?"

Kyle spoke calmly to that voice filled with anxiety.

"Don't show weakness."

Lysinas's shoulder flinched.

"You're the one who led so many people here, shouting about unseen hope."

"…"

"If you show weakness, who are those people supposed to rely on?"

"…"

Lysinas bit his lip tightly.

It wasn't wrong.

'Kyle is right. I shouldn't weaken this much.'

Many people had lost their hometowns.

They had become accustomed to despair.

If he were to encourage them by showing hope and then show a wavering appearance,

there would be nothing more irresponsible than that.

Lysinas lifted his head and stood up.

"I'm sorry, I showed weakness…"

"So."

"…"

"I didn't see your weakness today."

Kyle brought the bottle to his lips and said.

"I won't tell Arion, Luna, or Dweyno, ever."

Gulp-gulp-

The alcohol continuously flowed down Kyle's throat.

"Luna and Arion rely on you a lot, whether they know it or not. If they saw you like that, they wouldn't be able to pass on the burdens on their hearts anymore."

Kyle wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Dweyno, that old geezer, is different from the other two, but he'll try to shoulder your burden."

Lysinas stared blankly at Kyle.

"If that happens, this party will eventually waver. You have to bear the most for our party to maintain itself, there's no other way."

Kyle stared intently at Lysinas.

"So, just for one day, show weakness. I'll drink and forget everything."

"…Kyle."

Lysinas looked at Kyle with trembling eyes.

Then he tightly gripped the box he held in his arms.

"Would you like to come here for a moment?"

Lysinas patted the spot next to him.

When Kyle sat down beside him, Lysinas leaned his face on Kyle's shoulder and said.

"While I'm leaning, can I ask you one thing?"

"If it's something I can do."

"It's something you can do. Do you remember what you said? That we'd live in Dragonia after everything was over."

"I learned dragon etiquette until it became second nature because of that, how could I forget?"

As Kyle frowned and grumbled, Lysinas burst into laughter.

"When everything is over, will you help rebuild Dragonia?"

"It feels like it would take a lifetime to rebuild this enormous city, and still not be enough?"

"You said you'd lean on me today, right? And you said you'd have nothing to do after the world regained peace?"

"Alright, I get it."

Laughing at Kyle's resignation, Lysinas opened the box he held.

Click-!

Inside the box was a palm-sized piece of something.

Kyle tilted his head, looking at the fragment that resembled obsidian.

"What's that?"

"The eggshell I hatched from."

"Oh."

Kyle made a curious expression.

Seeing Kyle, Lysinas narrowed his eyes.

"You just had a rude thought, didn't you?"

"It just dawned on me again that you're a lizard."

At his words, Lysinas used his elbow to strike Kyle's temple.

As Kyle rubbed his temple and frowned, Lysinas handed his eggshell to Kyle.

"Write your name on it."

"Why my name?"

"It's dragon culture. A type of contract made when making an important promise."

Lysinas gave a slightly wicked smile.

"You said you'd help rebuild Dragonia, didn't you?"

"Even write a contract for it?"

"Hmm? Isn't it your fault for showing a weakness to a trickster?"

"Tsk."

At Lysinas's words, Kyle clicked his tongue and carved his name.

Lysinas took it, then put the egg fragment back into the box and said.

"Now you're mine."

"Being treated purely as labor, I see."

"Well."

Lysinas, with a somewhat playful smile and a slight hint of tongue, looked around the scenery.

"With you, Dragonia will surely regain its former glory, right?"

"Yes."

At Kyle's answer, Lysinas smiled brightly.

***

"…"

Leo silently gazed at the entrance of Dragonia before him.

Chelsea stood beside Leo, wearing a puzzled expression.

"What are you looking at so intently?"

"It suddenly made me think of old times."

Leo chuckled and shook his head.

This wasn't his first time coming to Dragonia in this life.

But it was his first time truly seeing the scenery of Dragonia.

During his first visit, he met Melina through the forbidden archives and didn't see any of the outside scenery.

The second visit was to see the overall scenery he had seen in Rhodia's world.

Other than that, he had only seen what was passed down in ancient texts.

That's why revisiting Dragonia like this felt fresh.

After that, neither Lysinas nor he had been able to return to Dragonia.

'It seems the dragons of later generations inherited Lysinas's will and diligently rebuilt it.'

The appearance of Dragonia's entrance wasn't much different from what Lysinas had described.

'Come to think of it, is the box where I wrote my name buried here now?'

It was when Leo recalled the fragment of the egg from which Lysinas, where he had written his name, was born.

"You're already here! Black Rabbit!"

Leo turned his head at the familiar voice from behind.

There, Ar, with her arms crossed, stood wagging her tail.

Beside Ar stood a powerfully built Azonia student.

"Long time no see, Leo."

"Long time no see, Dorveman Calian."

Dorveman, the student council president of Azonia, extended his hand to Leo.

Leo took his hand and said.

"You brought interesting news. A school-versus-school competition, you say."

Dorveman curled the corners of his lips.

"What did Azonia decide to do?"

"Azonia's students revere strength. They won't refuse a place where they can prove their strength. Of course."

Dorveman's eyes flashed.

"On the premise that it's a suitable stage to announce our arrival."

"You don't need to worry about that."

Leo chuckled.

"Because I'll prepare a stage fitting for heroes."

Leo's red eyes glowed ominously.

At that moment, Ar and Chelsea, seeing him, shivered involuntarily.

'This human! What scheme is he cooking up now!'