Chapter 241 – Like a Dragon (3)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Since I myself am the youngest, I know it well.

That the eldest is inherently weak to the youngest.

So I commanded Hiel.

To find Eunaxus’s location.

If she tracks the magic power traces, she can specify the location without difficulty.

But, I have never seen Eunaxus manifest magic myself. Moreover, I cannot be certain that what dragons manifest is magic.

Because of that, I couldn’t help but worry.

‘It has to be quite wide to even say.’

The Arcana Continent is vast.

To the point that no matter how massive Eunaxus’s body is, he wouldn’t even amount to a grain of sand in a desert. So wouldn’t Hiel finding Eunaxus be harder than finding a needle in a desert?

However, it was a groundless concern.

Like telepathy.

Because there was a cry that burrowed into her head.

-“Krr…”

Dragon Fear.

Is it because Hiel had directly faced Eunaxus before.

It seemed she discovered Eunaxus even before I did.

Hiel soon conveyed the location where Eunaxus’s cry was heard.

There would be no reason to hesitate.

I immediately manifested a portal and advanced into the cluster of light.

Then I saw it.

‘Oh ho?’

A swarm of demons.

Truly unable to grasp their own place in the slightest.

They are looking more demon-like than anything.

‘They truly have no fear.’

A dying Old Dragon.

They were demons waiting only for Eunaxus’s breath to stop.

The reason was obvious.

They must be intending to get anything they can from Eunaxus’s corpse.

However.

Do you think I would just stand back and watch that?

No, there was no need for me to step forward in anger either.

Eunaxus.

Regardless, he is a connection linked through the World Tree.

The sight of them anxiously wishing for such Eunaxus to die.

Do you think Granfel would tolerate it?

And it’s demons committing such an atrocity?

‘This is an act that stimulates both integrity and pride at the same time.’

I do not converse with prey.

Naturally, there is no need to open my mouth.

There is also no need to raise my magic power or raise Ghost Iron.

Step

Just one step.

As I step forward.

The faces of the demons turn pale white.

If you read the message that popped up a moment ago, it wouldn’t be surprising either.

To tens of millions of demons.

I was the one who caused the status effect, ‘Terror’.

Even after facing such a me.

“…!!!”

[The High-ranking Demon, Flimp is inflicted with ‘Crush’.]

[The Mid-ranking Demon, Incubus is inflicted with ‘Crush’.]

[The Seven Fingers of Profanity, Sebnaui is inflicted with ‘Crush’.]…

Because it would be more strange if they were fine.

To explain that scene in a Granfel-esque expression…

It didn’t even amount to the effort of trampling on bugs.

Even if I hunted a swarm of demons without lifting a finger.

There is no getting cocky.

Shouldn’t I do at least this much to call it a natural enemy relationship?

‘And seeing how the experience bar hasn’t budged an inch.’

They must have been demons around level 400 to 500 at best.

In that sense.

I truly felt that Eunaxus was heading towards death.

‘He couldn’t even chase away such trivial demons.’

Until I faced Eunaxus…

I had thought, perhaps I could improve Eunaxus’s condition with healing magic. Because the lifeline I dug, the well, also included healing magic.

‘Even if it’s not up to Belier’s level.’

I had the confidence not to fall behind compared to decent Healer class players. However, it was arrogance. No, rather than arrogance, I underestimated the target.

Dragon.

The King of All Creation.

The flawless beings that made even elves suffer from an inferiority complex.

According to the leader of the elves, Agentress.

Dragons were perfect beings even without the [Blessing of the First World Tree]. That meant dragons basically possessed the World Tree’s blessing effect inherently.

‘Wounds that cannot be offset even with such life regeneration effects.’

The Great Dragon-Demon War (魔大戰).

Furthermore, in the records left as books in the Mage Tower, I had witnessed it.

That not a single scratch could be made on a dragon’s hide with any ultra-high-ranking magic.

But, the flesh of such a dragon was torn to shreds.

As if that wasn’t enough.

“Lord…”

The wings that freely glided through dimensions were also nowhere to be seen.

Indeed, Hiel had good reason to trail off her words.

I advanced towards such Eunaxus without wavering.

…Really, all sorts of thoughts enter my mind.

Starting from who on earth put Eunaxus in this state.

At this rate, will I even be able to converse with Eunaxus.

No, before that, wondering if he hasn’t already drawn his last breath.

Even thoughts that shouldn’t be thought.

It was that moment.

Eunaxus opened his eyes with difficulty.

Tremble

Trembling eyelids.

It looks exactly like opening one’s eyes right before passing away.

Even while meeting his gaze, I desperately wrack my brain.

‘…Is it impossible even with Anomaly?’

Is there [Something] to add to the interference process of 『Healing Magic』?

I struggled so much, but…

My level was still far from enough to defy a dragon’s death.

However.

Why did Eunaxus’s barely opened pupils.

Become so wide.

As if he saw something he shouldn’t have seen.

He definitely seems to be looking at me though…

Is there a reason to be so surprised looking at me?

‘Why, we even shared telepathy.’

Although this is the first time we meet face-to-face.

Eunaxus was aware of my existence.

Why, just like how he saw through my item information.

‘Didn’t you call me dawn?’

Hiel would have also conveyed stories about me.

Therefore.

I thought there was no reason to be so surprised like that but…

“C-…”

As if merely opening his eyes wasn’t enough.

Eunaxus painfully opened his mouth.

The sound leaking out was so small that I couldn’t tell what he was saying, but was he perhaps trying to express his gratitude? Because I got rid of the demons hovering around?

No, if it’s that, there’s no need to force yourself to speak.

‘There were things I wanted to seek out too.’

It’s just that I couldn’t stand back and watch demons.

There’s no need to be thankful for seeking him out either.

We don’t share blood, but we’re on the same World Tree genealogy regardless, right?

I also have some circumstances that force me to be strict about these disciplines.

So I generously opened my mouth.

“I know even without you having to speak.”

But it seems.

…I must have miscalculated something quite terribly.

Eunaxus struggling to continue his words even at my remark.

Because what followed was not a word of thanks.

“…Claudi.”

Clauuuuudie?!

As soon as you see my face?!

Did you really see through my status window or what, what is this!!

.

.

.

Eunaxus could be certain.

That silver hair was unmistakably from the past.

The silver hair of the Claudi family that saved him and his kin.

Because of that, he couldn’t dare open his mouth.

‘…Mother, why?’

Claudi.

To the existence that should hate Arcana the most.

Why.

‘Did you bestow the blessing that obligates them to look after Arcana?’

For eons of time.

Eunaxus had never doubted the World Tree’s will even once.

But the Old Dragon was wavering.

It was inevitable.

The World Tree’s will or whatever.

Wouldn’t even remotely amount to a damn joke to a Claudi.

Because of that, Eunaxus couldn’t dare open his mouth.

At the same time, he considered his situation of facing death fortunate.

‘I do not have the confidence to face such a mockery of fate.’

However, a voice was heard in his ears.

“Do not doubt the Lord, Eunaxus.”

Regrettably.

It is not doubt, spirit.

I am merely resigning everything and waiting for the moment my breath stops.

The moment Eunaxus thought so.

Claudi’s mouth opened.

‘I will not seek mercy.’

He thought he would be boundlessly cold.

He considered it only right that he would yell.

Recalling Claudi’s end, and considering himself and his kin who turned a blind eye to that end… Even if he ordered him to fulfill the ‘Oath’ right away, he wouldn’t be able to refuse it.

But, why…?

“I know even without you having to speak.”

What was heard was a boundlessly benevolent voice.

As if he truly knew everything.

Yet as if he understood.

It was a compassionate voice.

Eunaxus ended up murmuring without realizing it.

“…Claudi.”

The maximum respect that a dying self could express.

Containing all of it.

He opened his mouth with difficulty once again.

“The Old Dragon, Eunaxus, greets Claudi…”

Was his feeble breath clinging on until now for this very moment?

Eunaxus truly felt his heart.

His Dragon Heart coming to a stop.

Thump…

Thu-ump…

Thuuuump…

The heartbeat slowing down uncontrollably.

It’s truly a cowardly act, yet.

Eunaxus swallowed a bitter smile.

‘Please forgive me. I arbitrarily interpreted the meaning contained in your words.’

A single word from Claudi.

Because just with that alone, he felt he could comfortably close his eyes.

Because he felt he could fall into eternal rest having turned a blind eye to everything.

It was the moment Eunaxus resigned his life of eons.

“Eunaxus.”

“…?”

“I still have a story to share with you.”

“…!”

…Are you saying I didn’t interpret it arbitrarily?

He couldn’t help but flinch.

A story to share.

That meant he was willing to hear excuses that weren’t excuses.

Eunaxus’s heart welled up.

If he had the wings torn off by his kin.

To the point where he would have spread those wings wide to respond.

However, he had no strength left to do so.

Thump…

His heart was truly stopping…

…Thump!

…Thump-thump?!

Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump!!

Flinch!

Eunaxus’s physical body jolted up significantly.

What is this?

The stopping Dragon Heart began to beat wildly.

Did his life force return? If someone asked, that wasn’t it.

‘…Only my heart alone is beating fast again.’

But that was enough.

Since all power as a dragon stems from that heart, the Dragon Heart.

Even if it is temporary.

Even if it is like a candle before the wind.

While the heart beats fast.

He could handle whatever task capably.

That’s why it was questionable.

“So understand.”

Claudi, what kind of power was contained in the ‘word’ he spat out.

To make his sluggish heart beat fast again?

Eunaxus felt he would never forget that word until the moment he closed his eyes.

“Vivace (Vivace).”

.

.

.

[The Pentagram of Pure Knowledge].

[The Map that Connects to All Things].

[The Telescope of Demonic Eyes]…

The spoils of the Demon Kings possess anomalous effects.

That is, they possess effects incomprehensible with normal Arcana’s common sense.

So I thought it was worth trying.

[Baton of Rhythm]

[Grade: Epic]

[Restriction: None]

[Effect: Upon equipping, acquires vast musical knowledge and bestows an effect identical to that musical knowledge as a buff to everything under the wearer’s control.]

[Description: Has an effect as elegant as its elegant appearance.]

I thought I could make Eunaxus’s gradually dying heartbeat.

Beat fast, albeit as a stopgap measure.

Even I think this couldn’t be a more pathetic method.

‘If I was just a little more capable.’

I could have manifested an Anomaly of Recovery and saved Eunaxus splendidly.

Even if I don’t necessarily bring up recovery magic, if I were a bit more proficient in reversal magic. Perhaps I could have reversed Eunaxus to his state before he got wounded.

However, my specialty is knowing my place.

Thanks to that, I know how distant of a realm that is.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I have the intention of just sucking my thumb either.

‘I am merely carrying out the best I can.’

Put differently.

That I will struggle with a constant attitude.

So please understand, Eunaxus.

My method like this might be…

Excessively cringeworthy, you see.

I didn’t know I would end up uttering this word again.

I swiftly waved the baton.

“Vivace (Vivace).”

As expected, the effect was valid.

No matter how absurd it was, I hadn’t forgotten how to read the room.

Thanks to that, I guessed from Eunaxus’s words.

-“The Old Dragon, Eunaxus, greets Claudi…”

I don’t know what this really is but.

That Claudi and Eunaxus are related.

And to the point where the great Eunaxus uses extreme honorifics.

They are intertwined incredibly deeply…!

Rumble!

Eunaxus raises his fallen body. I wanted to exchange greetings gladly somehow, but we both know well that we don’t have the luxury to do so.

‘Because it’s literally a stopgap measure.’

Neither I nor Eunaxus knows when that heart will stop.

So I immediately brought up the main topic.

Yes, starting from what on earth the will of the World Tree that drove her child to death is.

‘Actually, this is what I’m most curious about…!’

Claudi.

Up to the reason why that damn name exists in the Arcana Continent.

However, there is a procedure for everything.

What must be prioritized above all else is who dared to make an Elder Dragon.

Eunaxus.

Make you into this state.

I asked Eunaxus.

“I wish to know the progress of the All Dragon Convocation.”

“…!”

Flinching.

He seems surprised at how I know about the All Dragon Convocation.

It wouldn’t be hard to explain the whole story but.

In such a pressing time, explaining who Skal is, and what a class quest is.

I didn’t have the luxury to do so.

Therefore, maintaining my thick skin as usual, I kept my mouth shut.

Thanks to that, I got to hear the whole story of the All Dragon Convocation.

So…

…You’re saying you got backstabbed by your kin, the dragons?!

‘You weren’t driven to death for nothing.’

Really, this World Tree’s family tree.

There’s no broken family like this broken family either.

I spouted off sincerely.

“Endlessly arrogant.”

What King of All Creation are you guys.

Not only not listening to your mother.

You backstabbed the only filial eldest brother, Eunaxus?

That household’s state.

There’s no way Granfel’s boomer spirit would tolerate it!

In that sense, I shall ask.

“Eunaxus.”

So how is the sting on the back of your head?

I’m asking if you really have no regrets closing your eyes like this.

Why, no matter if I have the [The Last Adventurer] effect.

For me alone to rush into a gang of dragons.

Because I know it wouldn’t even amount to throwing eggs at a rock.

I conveyed that hidden meaning through Granfel-esque manner of speaking.

“What do you think about discipline? For your reference.”

Endlessly shameless.

“I am of the principle that agrees with corporal punishment.”