231. Sea Road, To the Dragon City (4)
#231
It was impossible to confuse the vicious presence. It was the mana of the black man I saw in Aurora Skal. Goosebumps ran down his arm as he held the hilt of the sword.
‘Is he still around?’
If you don’t know what it is it could be very dangerous. Ronan said urgently looking back at Asher and Schlieffen.
“Just do some research around here. hurry.”
“Now?”
“okay. “It’s urgent.”
Although the two were puzzled they followed the instructions. In addition to Adeshan the two highest-performing detection nets at Phileon Academy spread out in all directions. Asher who had her eyes closed stammered.
“There is no one within a 5km radius of the bar. “I’m sure.”
“3km radius… huhm.”
Schlieffen who was about to speak after her silenced her. She was glancing at Asher as if she was indignant so it seemed that Asher’s detection ability was better.
“Thank goodness.”
Ronan breathed a sigh of relief after hearing the report. It seemed like he had already finished his business and left somewhere. He frowned as he looked down at Drahavier’s body.
“What the fuck happened to you?”
The part where the neck and body connect. Blood and seawater were gushing out from inside the hole which was so wide that it felt cool. It looked like it had been hit by a single blow as there were no wounds other than the hole.
Judging by its size and the thickness of its scales it was a dragon so strong that it could not be compared to Lando Heisel but I couldn’t believe that it had gone so easily. It was the car he was trying to bring closer to his face.
【Big…gasp!】
“Fuck it’s a surprise.”
Drahavier’s head hanging in the distance twitched. Ronan embarrassed by the sound similar to a whale spouting water let out a curse.
I thought she was definitely dead but it seemed like she was still breathing. He stepped on Drahavier’s neck and leapt onto the wing on the other side.
Since his left wing was placed in front of his face I was able to frame it as if they were facing each other. Looking at it like this it was a really big dragon.
Bright yellow eyes as big as a palm fruit were staring at me. It was important from here on. Ronan cleared his throat once and opened his mouth.
“Mr. Drahavier. Are you okay?”
【That’s right. Are you a member of an organization?】
“Yes. “What on earth happened to you to suffer such an injury?”
【Ah…ah. Hehe that’s a good thing. Has he left?…】
Ronan calmly imitated a Green Tusk member. Asher and Schlieffen swallowed dry saliva.
Dra Javier who was lying down was not yet aware of the condition of his son who was lying on top of his wing. He continued speaking after coughing up his blood.
【My son…tell Randoheidel…to run far away from Adren…that spear…】
“yes? “A window?”
【This guy…is planning to assassinate His Majesty with that…maybe…even worse…】
“your majesty? Are you talking about the Dragon King? “Please speak a little louder.”
Ronan asked but there was no answer. Soon de la Javier began rambling like an old man suffering from dementia.
【This poisonous dragon…the butterfly of the sea…ah…】
It seemed as if death was imminent and I had lost my mind. window? It’s a window. Suddenly the incident at Aurora Skal came to mind.
‘The box.’
According to Didican the man in black requested a weapon that was confusing as to whether it was a pillar or a spear. The box containing the weapon could only be moved by six men. Ronan remembered how he had blown off the heads of two Green Tusk members with a drop of blood on a box.
‘Did you get hit there?’
He wasn’t sure since he’d never seen the inside of the box in person. However if the hypothesis is correct it was truly a vicious weapon.
To cut through dragon scales which are known to be one of the hardest substances in the world like a piece of paper. Ronan asked with a hint of impatience.
“Do you know the name of that black guy? “Who is it?”
【Great job… right before our eyes… filled with regret…】
“Hey poisonous dragon!”
【Lando…Heidel….】
Ronan asked but there was no reply. The light faded from Lyn de la Javier’s eyes as he chanted his son’s name for the last time. Ronan who had been scratching his head spat on the floor.
“What the fuck…?”
It was difficult to understand the current situation. A man in black and a plan to assassinate the Dragon King with an unidentified weapon. I couldn’t come to my senses because so many stories were pouring in that I couldn’t take in one by one.
One thing was certain: I had to go to Adren first. At that time Schlieffen who was examining Lando Heidel shook his head.
“This person died instantly. “Seeing as there was no heart there must have been no time to scream.”
“okay. Should I say I’m glad I didn’t see my son die…”
Lando Heidel’s heart and the surrounding area had been completely cut out. It was much smaller than Drahavier but the size of the hole was the same so it looked relatively more serious. Ronan who was looking at the corpses of the two dragons clicked his tongue.
“Oh shit.”
It was a luxury that the person who was supposed to turn into an enemy had disappeared but I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable. And the father and son died together. Even considering that he was an enemy it was a very tragic death.
Of course that’s it and I’ll do my job. Ronan who was examining the corpses and making an estimate opened his mouth.
“Asher. “If you have any empty bottles or containers please move them here.”
“Huh? “Why are you sick?”
“I need to get some poison. I also pulled out my teeth. “When I saw it earlier it seemed like it would be very useful.”
“Oh devil…!”
“Then will you at least hold a funeral?”
Asher’s face turned pale. Anyway Ronan raised his sword and began to dismantle the poisonous dragon that had reached the end of its life. How many opportunities will there be to obtain the dragon’s materials?
Because the poison was boiling on the sea Ronan was the only one who could work. He took five oak barrels’ worth of poison tooth leather and other miscellaneous by-products. Someone’s voice was heard from behind Schlieffen who was blowing away poison with the wind.
“Hmm. “It’s interesting too.”
“hmm?”
It was a small voice that could be considered an auditory hallucination. Schlieffen quickly turned his head but there was no one on his deck. It was the same even when I sharpened my senses.
“…Did I hear it wrong?”
“Hey keep the wind blowing. “A venom is rising.”
Schlieffen looked forward again. The work was completed about three hours later. There was no sign of the black man until the Red Whirlwind set sail again.
****
The Red Whirlwind carrying Ronan and his party continued for two more days. Due to a sudden storm the time was delayed by a day.
Still the messed up hull became a little cleaner. The strong rain and wind washed away all the blood stains on the deck and mast.
After the storm left it was a clear day. It was the evening of a week since the voyage began. The boat which was moving with a favorable wind suddenly stopped.
“Why are you like this all of a sudden?”
“It looks like we’ve arrived at our destination.”
“Arrived? “There’s nothing?”
Ronan looked around. But no matter how hard I strained my eyes I couldn’t see anything that resembled land. There was only a huge southern sunset on the horizon setting the sea on fire.
“…Did I drink too much poison?”
Ronan and the others looked at the map drawn by Itargand again. Unless all three of them were blind it was clear that this was the place. The blade of doubt was slowly turning towards Itargand.
“wait for a sec.”
Suddenly one fact passed through Ronan’s mind. Almost all dragons had wings and could fly in the sky.
He slowly raised his head. An enormous cumulonimbus cloud was blocking about half of the sky. Although it seemed to be floating quite high it was difficult to even properly gauge its actual size at that scale.
“…no way.”
“Ro Ronan. “It’s not what I think it is is it?”
“I think that’s right.”
The three people who sensed something looked at each other in turn. It was an absurd idea but no matter how much I thought about it there was no other option. Ronan tapped Asher on the shoulder.
“Everyone’s lives are at stake so please do it delicately.”
“Hey! “Really?”
“Then there is no other way. “I really wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t brought you.”
Asher looked like he was going to cry but Ronan was stubborn. He thought there would be an entrance exclusively for outside guests but it was a mistake to expect such consideration from the dragon.
“Then I’ll try my best…”
Asher soon gave up and let out a sigh. He trudged along and sat cross-legged under the mast.
It seemed like preparation for precise manipulation. As he closed his eyes and chanted the spell the ship slowly began to rise. Ronan said looking back at Schlieffen.
“Then let us do our thing.”
“hmm.”
Schlieffen pulled the hilt of his sword as if to reply. The sloop which was ascending soon entered the cumulonimbus cloud. Nothing was visible in the thick clouds.
The two men were alert in all directions with all their attention. If Asher’s concentration was broken by even an attack in the air it would have ended very badly. Their weapons were ready to fire sword energy at any moment.
“Ugh….”
We had been ascending for about twenty minutes. Asher who was concentrating groaned slightly. The rising sloop swayed slightly.
“what’s the matter?”
“I sense powerful presences. “I think it’s true that Adren is beyond here.”
Ronan concentrated his mind after hearing those words. Indeed I felt that the air current around me had changed. Conversation: The flutter of wings a small roar… The sound spreading from beyond the cumulonimbus cloud was tapping on my sensitive eardrums.
Fortunately there was no threat. A few more minutes had passed. Suddenly the curtain of clouds covering all directions disappeared and an open space appeared. The stagnant sunset poured over the deck. Ronan and Schlieffen’s eyes widened.
“Oh fuck.”
A huge island was floating in the middle of the sky. The majestic buildings rising jaggedly were shining in the sunset.
It was a sight reminiscent of the Drimoore that Ronan had once seen but it was dozens or hundreds of times different in scale. Dragons of all kinds were roaming freely in the air around the island. Asher who only then opened his eyes was amazed.
“Three worlds…!”
“It was hard. Asher.”
Ronan ruffled Asher’s hair as if he was proud. It was a scenery I never got tired of seeing. I never thought dragons would have such an aesthetic sense. Asher who was moving his boat in a daze stuttered and said.
“Where are we going now?”
“I’ll have to go through immigration. “I know where this is.”
Itargand said the only immigration checkpoint is on the north side of the island. Asher moved his hand and the bow turned. The young hatchlings flew around the boat and laughed.
“Ahaha human! human being!”
“Hello hello!”
After sailing above the clouds for a long time they were able to arrive at their destination. As expected a long wide stone pier reminiscent of a bridge was sticking out in the middle of the northern face.
A pure white obelisk that appeared to be five stories high indicated that this was a special place. It was an immigration checkpoint that checked people coming from outside.
At the dock there was a line of vehicles using animals such as airships and griffons. A huge gate that even non-polymorphed dragons could pass through stood at the end of the dock leading to the island.
Asher landed his ship on the dock. It was ugly to see the stomach tilted like it was lying down but it wasn’t an airship and it couldn’t be helped. They disembarked after a week and slowly walked towards the main gate. Ronan shrugged his eyebrows.
“There were more than us.”
In front of the gate there were five or six people who appeared to have arrived first. Judging from the flashy and unfamiliar attire it seemed as if he was a messenger from another country.
Two large men who appeared to be sentries were blocking the gate. An old man with a long crown on his head was sitting next to him. It seemed that the old man was the judge. Schlieffen who was watching them closely opened his mouth.
“The atmosphere is not very good.”
“ok?”
Ronan tilted his head. When I concentrated a little I could hear the sounds of an argument just as he said.
“Go back. “We are not currently receiving outside visitors.”
“That can’t be possible! “It’s a promise we made six months ago!”
“That’s too bad. But I can’t let you in.”
“This is nonsense! “I will file a formal complaint!”
A man who appeared to be a messenger began to vent his anger. The judge must have been a dragon or one of its servants so it seemed quite unfair to see him do that without fear.
But the guards just kept repeating the command to run like a machine. After no matter how many minutes had passed the examiner stood up. He walked out between the guards looked at the messenger and said.
“Judge Vanartier. “Are you not planning on going back?”
“Now a person with whom I can communicate has appeared. “I told you I received orders directly from our king!”
The messenger who saw the examiner raised his voice. The old man named Vanartier quietly listened to his complaints. The messenger was even making gestures and complaining about the injustice.
“This is not a simple problem. It is clearly an act of disrespect between nations. To our king…!”
“okay. “I understand.”
Suddenly the examiner’s mouth opened wide. The sentries turned their heads back. Quaaaaa! Flames poured from the examiner’s mouth and engulfed the messenger. Ronan and the others froze in place.
“Hee hee!!”
Asher screamed. The flames that poured down like molten metal died out in less than three seconds. The upper body which had been moving so lively just a moment ago had disappeared without a trace.
thud. The messenger fell silent and fell to the floor. The tanned lower body could no longer speak.
The people who appeared to be the messenger’s party looked as if they were about to faint at any moment. After freezing for a long time they screamed and ran away.
Because no one had taken care of the body the burned lower body was still there. The judge looked back at Ronan and the others and said dryly.
“next.”
“…I’m killing you.”
Ronan laughed. It was indeed an entry screening worthy of notoriety. He said looking back at Asher and Schlieffen.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of. “We have an imprint.”
“Isn’t it right? “I guess that’s it?”
“okay. We are servants of the famous Itargand. “Don’t be scared.”
Asher asked crying. Schlieffen nodded his head calmly. Ronan tapped the two people on the shoulder and opened his mouth.
“Then let’s just check before we go. “Please show me the engraving.”
“Here…!”
Asher rolled up his sleeves. Schlieffen silently showed the back of his hand. A pattern symbolizing Itargand was clearly engraved. Finally Ronan lifted his shirt.
“Okay then me too….”
I wanted it to be inked on my back because I wanted to keep it in shape. The examiner’s face suddenly hardened when he saw Ronan’s back who was attacking him.
“…ah?”
“Is it clear that it was engraved here?”
“What do you mean? “You all saw it until yesterday.”
For some reason the expressions on both of their faces were not good. Frowning his brows Ronan reached for his back.
The engraved area was so slightly indented that its presence could be detected even by touch. He raised his eyebrows as he fumbled with his back.
“Huh?”
The imprint was not touched. Only the feel of his skin and the muscles beneath it passed through my fingertips.
Asher and Schlieffen were staring blankly at Ronan’s empty back. The examiner couldn’t stand it anymore and opened his mouth again.
“Didn’t you hear? next.”
