Chapter 180: Might It Be Helpful? (5)
Brandiego’s words are also the most famous among the phrases related to self-control.
It’s a common saying among martial artists, and a state that martial artists of Levidian’s caliber have undoubtedly achieved.
Also, it’s what Brandiego said was my role.
Levidian tilted her head.
“Does it mean self-control? If so, Risel can be seen as almost reaching that state. Does it mean to overcome oneself and become one’s own master every moment?”
“I don’t know. He just said that. And he asked me to give this to Risel.”
Kun took something wrapped in a cloth out of his pocket. Gray fur was wrapped around something…… At first glance, it looked like a dagger.
He respectfully placed it on the table, and I stared at it intently before slowly reaching out and grabbing it. That’s when the Guard warrior spoke.
“It will be of great help. The dragon guaranteed it.”
“I’ll take a look.”
I unwrapped the leather and took out the object inside. As I expected, it was a dagger.
It was a splendid dagger with the shape of a golden dragon spreading its wings on the handle and guard. In the middle of the guard, a rhombus-shaped black jewel-like object was embedded.
No matter how I look at it, it’s a decorative dagger?
It’s somehow funny that a dragon gave an object decorated with a dragon carving…… But I don’t feel anything other than the comedic element.
Is this really what Brandiego gave me?
「It is.」
“Whoa?!”
“Risel?”
“What’s wrong?”
I jumped at the sudden voice. It was a deep voice that resonated in my head. It was the voice of a being that was not of this world, yet the closest to it.
Oh, my God! Brandiego?!
「That’s right. I am Brandiego. The last dragon on Earth. And the one who left the last mission. We meet again, descendant of Herduke.」
I couldn’t help but chuckle with the dagger in my hand. Oh my, this is too unconventional!
“Risel……?”
“Are you alright?”
Levidian and Kun still had puzzled expressions on their faces. I’m sorry, but I ignored them for a moment and fell into thought.
The first and last encounter with the dragon. Moments that remain in my memory and are not forgotten. The answer I got there was that the Dragon Tribe is truly an unknown entity.
Brandiego didn’t tell me anything I wanted to know. He didn’t tell me about Artshever’s purpose or the reset, important things that I’m still curious about, and he just told me my role.
To overcome myself.
Brandiego. Is it time for me to fulfill my role?
「You could say that. As time passed, the time has come. And I must fulfill my mission as well.」
Mission? What mission? Who could give you a mission?
「To restore this world to its original form is my mission. A mission I gave myself. My time is coming to an end soon. Before that, I wanted to do something good for the world I stayed in.」
The world you lived in……? You exist in every parallel dimension, and they’re all connected, aren’t they?
「That’s right. Even so, I don’t forget the land where I was born. That’s what home is. For a dragon, the dimension where they were born is their home. In other words, the me in this parallel dimension and the me in all parallel dimensions are one and not one. It’s difficult to explain.」
I don’t know what it is, but I understand that there is such a thing. Then, do you need me to fulfill the mission you gave yourself?
「No. To be precise, it means that I benefit from what you do. Didn’t I tell you? You are at the center of everything. I just want to ask you a favor.」
I covered my temples for a moment and fell into thought. Brandiego can’t read the thoughts in my deep consciousness.
Right now, I’m trying to completely kill Artshever. Before the issue of him blocking the exit of the parallel dimension or being my friend’s enemy, it’s because he is my enemy.
Every time I think of him, I always feel familiarity, strangeness, and rejection at the same time. It’s enough to make me sick of it.
It’s about defeating the enemy that I instinctively chose. There’s no need for a reason. I’m just doing it because I want to.
Please wait a moment, Brandiego. I’ll talk to the people.
「Alright.」
I opened my eyes. Levidian and Kun were looking at me with puzzled expressions. I raised the dagger and said.
“This…… is something I can use to talk to Brandiego.”
“Huh?”
“If it’s Brandiego, is he the dragon that Risel met before?”
“Yes. He said he has a favor to ask. He could tell Kun, but…… I guess he wants to talk to me directly.”
Kun and Levidian looked surprised. What kind of favor could a dragon, a legendary being, ask for? I can’t even imagine. Neither can I.
“Ah, then take your time and talk. I won’t disturb you. Should I prepare some tea?”
“That would be great.”
“I’ll be silent for a while too.”
Levidian got up to prepare the tea, and Kun crossed his arms and looked at me with a very burdensome gaze. I wondered if I should ask him to look away, then just closed my eyes.
Really…… There are so many strange things happening these days.
Brandiego, what’s the favor?
「As you have decided, it’s to kill the one who calls himself Artshever.」
That’s something I’ll do even if you don’t ask. I don’t know what his purpose is, but I know he’s a being that won’t be swayed by compromise, negotiation, or pleas.
「Is that because he is your enemy, or is there another reason?」
Another reason…… I don’t think there is one. Artshever picked a fight with me himself, and made me pick a fight with him. Maybe this happened naturally.
「……」
I feel the dragon fall silent for a moment.
Even though he’s an immensely distant being, he feels like he’s right in front of me.
Whenever I think of Artshever, I feel a sense of familiarity that is strange, and a sense of rejection that is familiar.
It’s a strange emotion that I can’t name. As long as this exists, he and I can only draw parallel lines.
I gripped the dagger tightly.
Brandiego, whatever his purpose, whatever his true identity, I don’t care. He toyed with someone precious to me, and may have led my family to ruin. I don’t even want to know why. That alone is enough reason for me to consider him my enemy and decide to kill him.
「You would have done so even without my request.」
That’s right.
「Do you have that ability?」
It doesn’t matter what my ability is. It would be sad to think that my power doesn’t reach him, but to just stand by and watch because I’m not capable would be no different from a fool.
「What are the chances of winning?」
I bit my lip at the sharp question.
What are our chances of winning against Artshever?
He is strong. The experience and skills accumulated through countless lives make him extremely strong even if you face him as an individual. However, he also has weaknesses.
He has learned too much for his body to endure. His body can’t keep up with his skills, and he ends up with a burden. Until that moment comes, we just need to push him. That’s our secret to victory.
「I know that method too. But now he will have companions, so wouldn’t he be able to deal with you and your companions without struggling so much?」
If I had considered each and every one of those things, I would have done it already. What do you want to say? It’s not your purpose to make me frustrated, is it, dragon?
I couldn’t help but frown for a moment. I don’t know what this dragon wants from me. Why is he just saying useless things that discourage people?
The dragon chuckled softly. Or so it felt.
「Of course not. I just wanted to confirm your resolve. I’m sorry if you’re offended. I knew you would feel that way, so I sent you the dagger. You could say it’s a reward for the favor.」
This dagger…… you’re saying it can be helpful?
I pictured the shape of the dagger in my head. The overall shape is truly befitting of the term ‘dragon’s dagger’.
The blade is sharp, and despite the irregular shape of the blade, it feels stable. It’s definitely a dagger that can be effective in actual combat, but if you pull it out in actual combat, you might get cursed at by your opponent.
No matter how I think about it, this is a decorative dagger.
Let’s just ignore the marbling pattern that runs down the center of the dagger’s blade. It’s a shape that can never be achieved through forging, but let’s not worry about it too much.
The problem is the dragon’s head that sits on top of the blade and the dragon’s wing-shaped carving that makes up the entire guard. On top of that, there’s a small dragon sitting at the very end, spreading its wings.
The black rhombus-shaped jewel embedded at the intersection of the guard, blade, and hilt looks almost cute in comparison.
Brandiego, no offense, but it would have been better if it had a more simple design.
「Is that so? Didn’t you humans like that kind of design? I just made it because there are many swords like that in humans’ old stories.」
That’s because it’s a story. Who would use a sword like this in actual combat? I’m definitely not disregarding your sincerity, but I remember that even the founder of the Herduke family didn’t use a sword like this.
I recalled the tapestry that adorned a space in the Herduke family mansion in the capital. There was the figure of Viscerin Herduke, the hero who helped save the continent and establish the Empire.
As it was made by later generations, there are aspects that are exaggerated or have a halo effect, but the sword he was holding was depicted in the tapestry with practicality in mind.
Surely, Brandiego will remember it too.
「Ah, that’s right. However, don’t underestimate that dagger too much. Even though it looks like that, it’s something Magnolia Beming gave me in exchange for borrowing land.」
Excuse me?
「Well, to be precise, it’s the material and structure that make up that dagger. When Magnolia Beming was in this world, she came to me and asked to borrow some land. It was underground, not on the surface, but I allowed it because her intentions were good. She was delighted and showed me the sword she had as a gift.」
Wait a minute. Are you saying Magnolia Beming had a sword? Isn’t she a mage?
「Didn’t you know? She was also the owner of a sword with very powerful strength. With just that, she could use most magic without any special preparation. She called it the Divine Sword Laufaione. The dagger I gave you is something I made after seeing that Laufaione.」
Is that so? I have nothing to say if the Archmage said so…… But borrowing land, what do you mean?
「The Azot Kingdom’s Royal Family’s shelter. She was looking for a place to build it. As you know, across the Sair River is too far.」
That was there?
「It is.」
Suddenly, Silvan Harcian comes to mind. Poor friend. There’s no shelter under the royal palace, and he just went to Azot for nothing.
But Brandiego, is there anything Magnolia Beming left behind in that shelter?
「Of course there is. She said it would be interesting if someone visited later, and left something in there. Perhaps even the members of the Azot Royal Family don’t know about it. I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you.」
I nodded. Perhaps that’s the very thing Silvan Harcian was looking for. I don’t know exactly what it is, but I’ll have to tell Lime-hyung later and find out.
But it’s surprising. To think that the Azot Royal Family’s underground shelter was in Grenoian. It makes sense that no one could find it.
Then, does that mean I drank with Aila and Daisy in Grenoian a few years ago? Haha.
We’ve gotten a bit off track. So, according to Brandiego, this sword is almost the same as Magnolia’s? That Laufa…… whatever the name of that sword was.
「I should say I got the motif from it. Strictly speaking, it’s a different sword from Laufaione. And there’s a reason why I’m sure it will be helpful to you. It’s disposable, but even if it breaks, it has the ability to be restored to its original state. However, that’s just decoration. The true meaning lies in a certain object I put in when I made that sword.」
What is that?
「Open your eyes and look closely at the sword, especially the center.」
As he said, I opened my eyes and looked closely at the center of the sword, the rhombus-shaped jewel. It was a black stone with a shape that strangely asserted its presence without sparkling.
It’s too cloudy to be biotite, and it’s not a meteorite. It’s definitely not a black diamond, and he wouldn’t have jokingly put coal in there.
Then suddenly, I tilted my head. I remember seeing a jewel with a similar feel to this somewhere, although the shape is different.
What was it? I’m sure I know it.
Mirgaram, Grenoian, the valley that shone blue……
“Ah?!”
“Kyaa!”
“Puha!”
Levidian and Kun were startled by my sudden realization. Kun, who had violently sprayed tea, coughed a few times and looked at me with a bewildered expression.
“Ri, Risel, what’s wrong all of a sudden?”
“Th, this is……! Kun! Levidian!”
I pointed at the jewel embedded in the dagger. They tilted their heads and focused on the jewel I was pointing at. And after a while, their eyes widened like lanterns.
“This is……?”
“C, could it be? Risel, is it real?”
After the two of them exclaimed in surprise, Brandiego’s voice was heard.
「So, what do you think? Will it be helpful?」
Ha, haha! You’re asking if it will be helpful?! Of course it will!
I held myself back from jumping for joy and suppressed my excitement while firmly planting my bottom on the sofa.
Oh my God! I never thought of that! With this…… our chances of winning will skyrocket!
My face keeps trying to form a smile. Even though I try to control my expression with my hand, laughter keeps trying to escape, as if air has entered my lungs.
Hahaha!
I let out a burst of laughter as if exhaling deeply, then spoke quietly.
“Thank you, Brandiego.”
You are the best dragon! Hahaha!
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