Book 1 Chapter 564

564.

"Oh? It's not much different from a typical city, is it?"

Ar, who had come out to the night streets of Dragonia following Leo, gasped in admiration.

True to her words, the night streets here were no different from any other city.

Many people were actively moving about the streets as if a night market had opened, adding vitality to the city.

It was a perfectly familiar, everyday scene with nothing special about it.

"I thought Dragonia would be amazing, but I'm a bit let down."

"What did you expect?"

"I thought everything would be gigantic!"

"Ah, I kind of expected something like that too."

Leo let out a short laugh, listening to Ar and Lunia's conversation.

'What do they think dragons are?'

Even dragons don't maintain their true form all the time.

"But everyone here is a dragon, right? If you think about it that way, isn't that incredible?"

Chelsea, who poked her face out from behind Leo, said.

Even for hero candidates, who are considered the future of each race, meeting many dragons in one's lifetime is not easy.

Furthermore, entering Dragonia is impossible unless one is a hero who has achieved remarkable feats.

"If you think about it that way, we are having an amazing experience."

It was when Lunia mumbled with a surprised look on her face.

"Driana?"

Leo realized that Driana was not visible.

"Ah, there she is."

Ar pointed to Driana, who was talking to a girl carrying a basket and walking down the street.

"You are very beautiful."

"……?"

"I'm on the path of art. I'd like to use you as a model."

"……?"

"Nude, if possible……"

*Thwack!*

"What are you saying, you pervert!"

Lunia slammed her elbow down on Driana's head.

But she immediately clutched her elbow and rolled on the floor.

"Lunia, I've told you before, resorting to violence is a bad habit."

"You… you… make me… use… violence…! Ugh! You blockhead…!"

"That much won't stop my artistic will. Hit me as much as you like!"

"Oh? Really?"

"Just kidding, save me."

Driana promptly surrendered when Ar asked with a laugh.

No matter how sturdily dwarves were born, they couldn't engage in pure hand-to-hand combat with Ar, a beastkin.

"Are you alright? You must have been very surprised, right? You wouldn't believe it, but they're harmless people, even if they look like this."

Chelsea soothed the girl, who looked frightened.

"What do you mean 'even if they look like this'? 'Even if they look like this'?"

Lunia grumbled softly, rubbing her elbow, but couldn't retort any further.

Indeed, one asks for a nude model out of the blue. Another slams them with an elbow.

Anyone who didn't know them would certainly be terrified by the sight.

But the girl still had a perplexed expression.

It was as if she didn't understand their words.

It was when Chelsea was slightly flustered seeing that.

Leo stepped forward and opened his mouth.

An unfamiliar language flowed from Leo's lips.

But the girl seemed to understand his words, her eyes widening, and she slightly bowed her head towards Leo.

"What language is that the Black Rabbit is speaking, anyway?"

"It's Draconic. Lunia, you would have studied Draconic, wouldn't you?"

"I did study it for magic, but not enough to converse freely like that."

"Indeed. Draconic is a complex language. Leo is always amazing, no matter when I see him. What can't he do?"

"Ahem!"

"Why are you puffing up your chest?"

Driana looked at Chelsea with an incredulous expression.

The dragon girl, who had finished her conversation with Leo, cautiously approached the four girls and removed the cloth covering her basket.

The basket was full of flowers.

She handed a flower to each member of the group in turn, and when it was Lunia's turn last, she hesitated, then carefully placed a white flower in Lunia's hair.

As Lunia's eyes widened, the dragon girl spoke.

When Lunia glanced at Leo, Leo said.

"She's thanking you for saving her from a difficult situation. She says she really likes Luna's hero stories and will cheer for you, who chases after the nebula."

At those words, Lunia's face showed a touched expression.

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

"She's asking if you'll shake her hand?"

"Of course!"

Lunia smiled and took the dragon girl's hand.

Soon after, they waved goodbye.

"But that's surprising. Aren't all dragons supposed to be able to speak the common language of the continent?"

"Dragons are certainly guides for heroes, but not all dragons are guides."

Leo said, looking at the dragons moving along the street.

"So dragons also have ordinary daily lives? That makes sense."

Driana nodded her head.

Leo silently gazed at the streets of Dragonia.

In a way, this street was also the form of the dragon race that Lisinas had wished for.

'During the Age of Gods, dragons were the chosen race by the gods.'

At that time, all dragons dedicated their all to protecting the land in their respective domains.

Lisinas also said she spent her early days being forced into a life as a Black Dragon.

'The choice to save the world is purely my own will. But there's no obligation for all dragons to do so, is there?'

So, after the Age of Calamity, Lisinas wanted many dragons to enjoy ordinary and comfortable lives.

'The culture of Gardsron certainly influenced dragons a lot.'

Dragons born in Gardsron interacted with many races.

Now, they still maintain their culture that has existed since the Age of Gods and are the only race that uses their unique language instead of the common language of the continent.

'But even so, this everyday scenery resembles Gardsron.'

Leo smiled faintly.

'It's just as you wanted. Your race has laid down the burdens they carried.'

"Leo, how is it?"

Lunia asked, touching the flower in her hair.

"It suits you."

It was when Lunia smiled brightly at Leo's answer.

"Black Rabbit, watch out! She has a flower in her hair. You never know when she might pounce!"

Ar shouted, hiding behind Leo.

At those words, Lunia, whose face had lost all expression, pounced on Ar, and Ar quickly fled.

Chelsea said, watching them.

"If that dragon saw this, wouldn't she regret giving her the flower?"

"She didn't see it."

Chelsea nodded at Leo's answer.

"How far have those idiots gone?"

Driana sighed, watching the two disappear into the crowd.

"They're not children, they won't get lost, will they?"

"Hmm. Certainly."

Driana nodded at Leo's words.

"By the way, Leo, weren't you out on the street because you had something to do? What was it?"

"I need to find something."

The contract written after defeating Erebus 5000 years ago, promising to rebuild Dragonia.

'That day, Lisinas left it behind in Dragonia and departed.'

A fragment of the egg that contained Lisinas.

That itself was the key to entering Lisinas's world.

As long as the Hero's Record exists, Leo can enter Lisinas's world anytime.

However, it's different for others.

'Because there are times when I won't be there.'

It was good to find the key in preparation for such times.

"Let's go to the entrance first."

Leo recollected his memories and headed towards the entrance of Dragonia.

***

"Where are we?"

"We got lost because of you."

"Why is it because of me? It's your fault for running away."

"I ran away because you were chasing me like you were going to kill me."

"Then who told you to tease me? And who was chasing you like they were going to kill you?"

"Then? What were you going to do?"

"I was just going to make you feel like you wanted to die a little."

"That's even more vicious."

Ar narrowed her eyes, but Lunia merely snorted.

"Anyway, where in the world are we?"

It was a place where no sign of people could be found.

Dragonia is vast, so much so that even its main territory is enormous.

However, not all of Dragonia is inhabited by residents.

The outer regions are like ruin zones where the entire landscape of Dragonia from the Age of Gods has been restored.

Therefore, the outer alleys of Dragonia were literally like a complex labyrinth.

There was no danger, but it was difficult to get out.

Lunia looked up.

"They said there's a boundary magic spread over Dragonia's airspace, so if we fly up into the sky, dragons will come."

When an easy way to find their way was suggested, Ar shook her head vehemently.

"No."

"Why?"

"Then that perverted dwarf will find out we're lost, won't she?"

Ar scowled intensely.

"She'll definitely look at us as if we're pathetic."

"…I don't like that."

Lunia furrowed her brow.

Indeed, being treated like an idiot by Driana was unbearable.

The three are successors to Luna, Arion, and Dweno, recognized by the Dragon Lord.

'Leo also acknowledges us as successors to the great heroes.'

For Lunia, who knew Leo's true identity, Leo's recognition was special and weighty, unlike Ar and Driana.

It was because of this equal standing that they could openly show their true selves, and thanks to that, they quickly became close.

'We can be honest with each other, but that also means we absolutely cannot lose to each other.'

"Then how do we find our way? Do you have a method?"

"Hmph."

At that moment, Ar placed her right hand, with only her thumb and index finger extended, under her chin.

"Stop posing and tell us the method."

"Who do you think I am? The next student council president of Azonia! Ar Tun!"

Ar puffed out her chest, slapped it, and then pointed to her own nose with her finger.

"I can find the way by smell, I say!"

At those words, Lunia exclaimed in admiration.

"Wow! You're really like a dog!"

"I'm a cat!"

It was when Ar bristled, even raising her tail.

Four people appeared from the alley.

Seeing them, Lunia and Ar looked puzzled.

"You two. You are Lunia El Rundia and Ar Tun, right?"

Lunia, arms crossed, tilted her head at the boy's question, who stood at the front.

"That's right, who are you?"

"Lunia, look closely. They're wearing something like school uniforms."

Ar said, checking the four people's attire.

The boy smiled when he heard her words.

"We are trainee guides."

"Guides?"

Lunia's eyes widened.

Guides.

The title of dragons who lead heroes.

"I've heard about it. There's a place in Dragonia where dragons with excellent qualities study to become guides."

"That's right. You can think of it as a hero academy for dragons. My name is Riden. Nice to meet you."

Riden stepped forward and extended his hand.

But Lunia and Ar merely stared at his hand.

"Aren't you going to shake hands?"

It was when Riden looked puzzled at their reaction.

"I want to shake your hand."

Lunia smiled sweetly.

"It makes us feel bad when you stare at us as if you're evaluating us."

At those words, Riden scratched his cheek.

"I apologize if I offended you. As guides, we're in a position to lead heroes. But this is our first time meeting hero candidates. So we have high expectations."

Riden smiled brightly.

"Your reputation is already famous in Dragonia, especially Lunia El Rundia. You've already reached the position of a hero, haven't you?"

"So?"

"We came to test how good you are."

"Hmm."

Lunia curled the corners of her lips.

At that moment, Ar wagged her tail and said.

"There's only one person who can judge my quality as a hero."

"What? Who is that?"

Ar grinned, looking at Riden's perplexed expression.

"Leo Flov."