Chapter 222: Ignisia the Elder Dragon (1)
The Wandering Merchant muttered quietly, a shadow of concern passing over their face as they approached the battered remnants of the lair. “I thought I sensed an excessive amount of power here... Just what have you all been doing?”
“Oh, you’re here?” Ignisia said as she greeted the Merchant. Her appearance was casual and unassuming despite the chaos. Her expression was awkward, almost sheepish, as if she had just been caught sneaking cookies from the jar.
It reminded Ketal of a child caught in the act.
“I was simply following the quest you gave me,” Ketal replied evenly, as though the explanation were obvious.
“This is what you call following the quest?” The Merchant’s gaze moved from Ketal to Ignisia, then to the scorched earth and shattered stone, and finally to the motionless dragon’s corpse at their feet.
“It’s because she wants the dragon’s corpse,” Ketal continued.
It was a straightforward declaration, but everything behind it was calculated. For Ketal, the Dragon Heart was essential for his own goals. If Ignisia took the corpse, all of his efforts would come to nothing. As far as he was concerned, fighting her had been necessary to fulfill the quest’s requirements.
“What...?” the Merchant said. Now the Merchant looked directly at Ignisia, suspicion clear in their eyes. “[What kind of prank are you pulling...?”
Ignisia responded, scratching her head, her tone somewhere between embarrassment and defensiveness. “Ah. Sorry. I just meant to have a bit of fun before we talked, but things got a little out of hand.”
“Hmm?” Ketal tilted his head, not quite following. “So, it wasn’t a competition? I thought I’d have to fight her for the dragon’s body. That’s what made sense to me.”
“Why would you assume that...? A deal must always be honored, no matter what...,” the Merchant replied.
“Then why did you fight me?” Ketal pressed, not letting her off the hook so easily.