Bang.
Byblos leaned toward me and slammed the sofa table hard.
Anger flared in his diamond-shaped eyes.
“Are you trying to joke with me right now?”
“No way. I’m serious.”
“You... !”
“Calm down, Byblos.”
Bang.
When Perdes tried to stop him, Byblos slammed the table again.
“How can I calm down when this human dares to toy with me!”
As Perdes tried to step forward again, I grabbed his arm and answered for him.
“I told you I never had it.”
“But why did you reject my offer?”
“Well, there are stories I haven’t heard yet.”
“...A story you haven’t heard?”
“Yes. You have to tell me why you want to go there.”
Maybe what this dragon wants is exactly what the Emperor wants.
Thinking about it that way, I became even more curious about the reason.
I also felt like I absolutely had to listen to it.
Byblos straightened his upper body, which had been leaning forward, with a hollow laugh.
“Why should I say that?”
“After all, I am the owner of this place, and you, the Great Sage, are a guest. I cannot accept a guest who does not disclose his purpose.”
“...”
The great sage twitched his lips as if he was not satisfied with my answer, but that was it.
Byblos leaned toward me and slammed the sofa table hard.
Anger flared in his diamond-shaped eyes.
“Are you trying to joke with me right now?”
“No way. I’m serious.”
“You... !”
“Calm down, Byblos.”
Bang.
When Perdes tried to stop him, Byblos slammed the table again.
“How can I calm down when this human dares to toy with me!”
As Perdes tried to step forward again, I grabbed his arm and answered for him.
“I told you I never had it.”
“But why did you reject my offer?”
“Well, there are stories I haven’t heard yet.”
“...A story you haven’t heard?”
“Yes. You have to tell me why you want to go there.”
Maybe what this dragon wants is exactly what the Emperor wants.
Thinking about it that way, I became even more curious about the reason.
I also felt like I absolutely had to listen to it.
Byblos straightened his upper body, which had been leaning forward, with a hollow laugh.
“Why should I say that?”
“After all, I am the owner of this place, and you, the Great Sage, are a guest. I cannot accept a guest who does not disclose his purpose.”
“...”
The great sage twitched his lips as if he was not satisfied with my answer, but that was it.
I didn't get upset or tell him to stop yelling at me.
I'm sure he knows what I'm saying isn't wrong.
“...What a truly impudent person.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“Shamelessness is the same.”
Who are you talking about?
The great sage smiled and waved his hand at Perdes.
“You go out for a moment.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m not doing anything. I just want to talk, so don’t worry and go out.”
“If that’s the case, let’s listen together...”
"No."
The great sage cut him off and pointed to the door.
“This is a story that normal people shouldn’t hear. So, you should stay out.”
Does that mean I'm not an ordinary human being?
“What does Adele think?”
When Perdes failed to persuade the Great Sage, he asked me for help.
It seemed like he wanted me to hold on, but unfortunately, I had no intention of doing so.
“Do as the Great Sage says, Perdes.”
If what the Great Sage was trying to say was related to my family, then it would have been right for Perdes, an outsider, to not listen.
“...”
When I took the side of the great sage, Perdes slumped his shoulders in disappointment.
"Sorry."
I held Perdes' hand tightly and comforted him.
“I’ll tell you what we talked about later, so please bear with me for a moment.”
“...You must tell me later.”
“Of course.”
I don't know if that will be 10 years later or 20 years later.
“I’ll be nearby, so if anything happens, just shout. I’ll come running.”
“I will do that.”
“What does that mean I’m doing to this human?”
When the great sage spoke as if he found it ridiculous, Perdes nodded.
“Since Lord Byblos is so easily irritated, that might be the case.”
“You really... Phew, no. That’s enough. Go out quickly.”
“You must not do anything to Adele.”
“I won’t! I won’t lift a finger, so don’t worry, and get out quickly!”
After Perdes was kicked out, an awkward silence fell in the room.
I guess he had something to tell me and had kicked Perdes out, but for some reason, the great sage just stared at me for a long time without saying anything.
“Didn’t you tell me the reason why you wanted to go there?”
When I, tired of waiting, asked first, only then did the great sage open his mouth.
“How much do you know about your family?”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you’re asking.”
“I was asking how much you know about the relationship between your family and the red dragon.”
So why are you suddenly asking that?
The words were rising to the tip of my tongue, but I forced myself to swallow them because I thought it would make the story unnecessarily long if I spit them out.
“I know the basics like the Red Dragon blessing the first Duke Leopold and that the Red Dragon is sleeping in the volcano in Leopold’s territory.”
“Phuha.”
What? Why are you laughing all of a sudden?
It was a rather unpleasant laugh as if it was mocking me.
As I frowned and stared at him, the great sage covered his mouth with one hand and waved his hand with the other.
“Oh, sorry. It’s funny how you say you know the basics when you don’t know anything.”
“You say I don’t know anything?”
"Yes."
The great sage suddenly stopped laughing and looked at me with a scary serious face.
“You don’t know anything. You don’t know a thing.”
“...”
“Of course, I don’t think it’s your fault. It was your ancestors who distorted the facts, and you just learned the distorted facts.”
“Please stop beating around the bush and explain it to me in a way I can understand.”
I was determined not to drag it out any longer, so I made my request firmly.
Then the great sage burst into laughter and buried his body deep in the back of the sofa.
“Where should I start explaining? It would be easiest to understand if I did it in chronological order, right?”
He stroked his chin and muttered to himself, then looked at me and said.
“First of all, the tales of the Red Dragon and the first Duke Leopold that you know are all fake.”
“...!”
“That man, the first Duke Leopold, made up a story to cover up his own mistakes. It’s also a lie that the bloodline of the Duke Leopold family received the blessing of the dragon.”
What the hell is this?
“That... can’t be.”
I said, denying the unbelievable facts.
“If all that was fake, then I wouldn’t have any physical abilities superior to those of a human.”
“That’s because you inherited the dragon’s blood.”
...What?
“You are all so naive. Dragons are not gods, and they can’t possibly grant blessings for generations.”
As the words struck the back of my head repeatedly, the voice of the great sage flowed in through my increasingly blurred consciousness.
It didn't seem like he was lying.
There was no reason to lie.
So does that mean I really am... a descendant of a dragon?
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Of course, it’s hard to believe.”
The great sage nodded as if he understood my feelings.
“But it’s all true. You definitely have the blood of a dragon. Although it’s very faint, I can sense the energy of your kind in you.”
I see.
I looked down at my hands, but I felt no energy.
“That’s why I hate you even more. You’re a human being, but you exude the aura of my own kind. It’s unpleasant. It’s very unpleasant.”
But seeing the sincere words and expression, I no longer doubted it, and even the remaining doubts were erased.
I really do have dragon blood flowing through my veins.
That means...
“The Red Dragon and the first Duke Leopold... were lovers.”
“Yes. They were very passionately in love.”
It seemed to express something that had already ended, rather than something that happened in the distant past.
“What happened?”
“I only heard it as a rumor, so I don’t know the details, but I heard that your ancestor was so blinded by greed that he not only betrayed the child but also cut out her heart.”
“... !”
You ripped out her heart.
I opened my mouth in shock at the horrific story that I didn't even dare to imagine.
Then the great sage laughed as if he found it amusing.
“What are you so surprised about? It’s not just yesterday or today that humans have been after the dragon’s heart.”
“...This is the first time I’ve heard of this story.”
“Really? Well, you’re not a wizard or anything like that, so that could be possible.”
The great sage continued speaking, leaning back on the sofa.
“A dragon’s heart contains vast amounts of mana. That’s why we are called the most powerful magical race.”
It was a voice that seemed calm but had suppressed anger.
“That’s why, long ago, greedy humans have been eyeing the dragon’s heart. Your ancestors were among them.”
“But... My ancestors were knights. Even if he obtained the dragon’s heart filled with mana, there would be no use for it.”
“Why is there no place to use it? It’s being used well.”
Are you using it well?
“The numerous Puras generated in Leopold’s territory are evidence that the Dragon’s Heart is being used.”
“... !”
So, to paraphrase what he said:
It is not the red dragon that is sleeping in Leopold's territory, but his heart.
Thanks to that, numerous Puras are created in the mines of the territory, is that it?
“I can’t believe it... I can’t believe it.”
“That’s true. But it’s all true. I saw it with my own eyes.”
“Does that mean... you’ve been to my territory? When?”
“When? The day you asked that guy to visit the territory.”
Oh, so you went with Perdes that time.
“The Dragon’s Heart is the most precious treasure to our species, and can even be said to be the Dragon itself.”
The great sage's voice became serious and settled.
“But I can’t tolerate it being used to satisfy a mere human’s selfish desires. I wouldn’t want that child dead either.”
His eyes, looking at me, flashed sharply.
“So, I would like you to help me retrieve the dragon’s heart.”
I'm sure he knows what I'm saying isn't wrong.
“...What a truly impudent person.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“Shamelessness is the same.”
Who are you talking about?
The great sage smiled and waved his hand at Perdes.
“You go out for a moment.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m not doing anything. I just want to talk, so don’t worry and go out.”
“If that’s the case, let’s listen together...”
"No."
The great sage cut him off and pointed to the door.
“This is a story that normal people shouldn’t hear. So, you should stay out.”
Does that mean I'm not an ordinary human being?
“What does Adele think?”
When Perdes failed to persuade the Great Sage, he asked me for help.
It seemed like he wanted me to hold on, but unfortunately, I had no intention of doing so.
“Do as the Great Sage says, Perdes.”
If what the Great Sage was trying to say was related to my family, then it would have been right for Perdes, an outsider, to not listen.
“...”
When I took the side of the great sage, Perdes slumped his shoulders in disappointment.
"Sorry."
I held Perdes' hand tightly and comforted him.
“I’ll tell you what we talked about later, so please bear with me for a moment.”
“...You must tell me later.”
“Of course.”
I don't know if that will be 10 years later or 20 years later.
“I’ll be nearby, so if anything happens, just shout. I’ll come running.”
“I will do that.”
“What does that mean I’m doing to this human?”
When the great sage spoke as if he found it ridiculous, Perdes nodded.
“Since Lord Byblos is so easily irritated, that might be the case.”
“You really... Phew, no. That’s enough. Go out quickly.”
“You must not do anything to Adele.”
“I won’t! I won’t lift a finger, so don’t worry, and get out quickly!”
After Perdes was kicked out, an awkward silence fell in the room.
I guess he had something to tell me and had kicked Perdes out, but for some reason, the great sage just stared at me for a long time without saying anything.
“Didn’t you tell me the reason why you wanted to go there?”
When I, tired of waiting, asked first, only then did the great sage open his mouth.
“How much do you know about your family?”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you’re asking.”
“I was asking how much you know about the relationship between your family and the red dragon.”
So why are you suddenly asking that?
The words were rising to the tip of my tongue, but I forced myself to swallow them because I thought it would make the story unnecessarily long if I spit them out.
“I know the basics like the Red Dragon blessing the first Duke Leopold and that the Red Dragon is sleeping in the volcano in Leopold’s territory.”
“Phuha.”
What? Why are you laughing all of a sudden?
It was a rather unpleasant laugh as if it was mocking me.
As I frowned and stared at him, the great sage covered his mouth with one hand and waved his hand with the other.
“Oh, sorry. It’s funny how you say you know the basics when you don’t know anything.”
“You say I don’t know anything?”
"Yes."
The great sage suddenly stopped laughing and looked at me with a scary serious face.
“You don’t know anything. You don’t know a thing.”
“...”
“Of course, I don’t think it’s your fault. It was your ancestors who distorted the facts, and you just learned the distorted facts.”
“Please stop beating around the bush and explain it to me in a way I can understand.”
I was determined not to drag it out any longer, so I made my request firmly.
Then the great sage burst into laughter and buried his body deep in the back of the sofa.
“Where should I start explaining? It would be easiest to understand if I did it in chronological order, right?”
He stroked his chin and muttered to himself, then looked at me and said.
“First of all, the tales of the Red Dragon and the first Duke Leopold that you know are all fake.”
“...!”
“That man, the first Duke Leopold, made up a story to cover up his own mistakes. It’s also a lie that the bloodline of the Duke Leopold family received the blessing of the dragon.”
What the hell is this?
“That... can’t be.”
I said, denying the unbelievable facts.
“If all that was fake, then I wouldn’t have any physical abilities superior to those of a human.”
“That’s because you inherited the dragon’s blood.”
...What?
“You are all so naive. Dragons are not gods, and they can’t possibly grant blessings for generations.”
As the words struck the back of my head repeatedly, the voice of the great sage flowed in through my increasingly blurred consciousness.
It didn't seem like he was lying.
There was no reason to lie.
So does that mean I really am... a descendant of a dragon?
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Of course, it’s hard to believe.”
The great sage nodded as if he understood my feelings.
“But it’s all true. You definitely have the blood of a dragon. Although it’s very faint, I can sense the energy of your kind in you.”
I see.
I looked down at my hands, but I felt no energy.
“That’s why I hate you even more. You’re a human being, but you exude the aura of my own kind. It’s unpleasant. It’s very unpleasant.”
But seeing the sincere words and expression, I no longer doubted it, and even the remaining doubts were erased.
I really do have dragon blood flowing through my veins.
That means...
“The Red Dragon and the first Duke Leopold... were lovers.”
“Yes. They were very passionately in love.”
It seemed to express something that had already ended, rather than something that happened in the distant past.
“What happened?”
“I only heard it as a rumor, so I don’t know the details, but I heard that your ancestor was so blinded by greed that he not only betrayed the child but also cut out her heart.”
“... !”
You ripped out her heart.
I opened my mouth in shock at the horrific story that I didn't even dare to imagine.
Then the great sage laughed as if he found it amusing.
“What are you so surprised about? It’s not just yesterday or today that humans have been after the dragon’s heart.”
“...This is the first time I’ve heard of this story.”
“Really? Well, you’re not a wizard or anything like that, so that could be possible.”
The great sage continued speaking, leaning back on the sofa.
“A dragon’s heart contains vast amounts of mana. That’s why we are called the most powerful magical race.”
It was a voice that seemed calm but had suppressed anger.
“That’s why, long ago, greedy humans have been eyeing the dragon’s heart. Your ancestors were among them.”
“But... My ancestors were knights. Even if he obtained the dragon’s heart filled with mana, there would be no use for it.”
“Why is there no place to use it? It’s being used well.”
Are you using it well?
“The numerous Puras generated in Leopold’s territory are evidence that the Dragon’s Heart is being used.”
“... !”
So, to paraphrase what he said:
It is not the red dragon that is sleeping in Leopold's territory, but his heart.
Thanks to that, numerous Puras are created in the mines of the territory, is that it?
“I can’t believe it... I can’t believe it.”
“That’s true. But it’s all true. I saw it with my own eyes.”
“Does that mean... you’ve been to my territory? When?”
“When? The day you asked that guy to visit the territory.”
Oh, so you went with Perdes that time.
“The Dragon’s Heart is the most precious treasure to our species, and can even be said to be the Dragon itself.”
The great sage's voice became serious and settled.
“But I can’t tolerate it being used to satisfy a mere human’s selfish desires. I wouldn’t want that child dead either.”
His eyes, looking at me, flashed sharply.
“So, I would like you to help me retrieve the dragon’s heart.”
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