Chapter 183 : Chapter 183
Chapter 183 - Dad, can I keep him?
─「Blood Fire Dragon Kairos」─
[Description]
: The Fire Dragon was turned into a Magic Dragon by demon worshipers, then received a new heart from a noble of blood. The new blood supplied by the new heart caused a change in the dragon's body and gifted it with another power.
*As the Fire Dragon transformed into a Blood Fire Dragon, it became able to handle a much more diverse range of flames, not just its existing fire.
[Unique Skills]
: Flame Thunder
: Bloodflame
: Breath
: [Learnable]
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While flying, I studied Kairos through the system.
The system left room for learning in the unique skill slot, and I focused on that.
Dragons liked things that sparked interest in their boring draconic lives and sought to learn them.
Learning was an inseparable word from dragons, and Kairos was no exception.
-I don't remember well because of the madness, but Master, you wielded a peculiar power.
You brought me to my knees with it.
“Those are curses that a vampire viscount named Kapus taught me.”
-Can you teach me later?
“…Curses?”
-If my master doesn't permit it, I will not learn them.
“No. I can teach you. I was just surprised that a dragon would want to learn curses.”
Originally, dragons were beings who had lived for several centuries or more by the time they met the player.
They had learned more than enough, developed countless things, and completely mastered them as their own.
For such beings to want to learn something from a human, and curses at that.
‘Man… No matter how much I play this game, new things just keep popping up.’
That was why I couldn't quit, and why I was here doing this. Furthermore, I wanted to share such a precious sight with others.
“You said you wanted to test your strength. If we keep going this way, a worthy opponent will appear.”
-A monster?
“He’s a person you can only think of as a monster. He’s human, though.”
-How do you know him, Master?
“He’s my father.”
Kairos was silent for a moment before speaking.
-I do not wish to injure my master's father.
“It's fine. Even dragons much older than you were no match for my father.”
-…A human of that caliber. That is rather intriguing.
He flapped his wings faster. The dragon flying above the clouds entered the Pantheon in the time it took to exchange a few words of idle chat.
From this point on, we intentionally flew below the clouds.
The sorcerers below, startled and thinking it was an invasion from Wisdom, looked like ants.
My dark purple hair fluttered as I roamed all over the Pantheon.
So that they could clearly see the Blood-eyed Youngest Son riding on top of the Fire Dragon with blood-colored scales.
-Master. I feel like we are deliberately taking a detour to our destination. What is the reason for flying so close to the humans' territory?
Enad answered for me.
[This guy always does some groundwork before he acts. By showing you to the family, he's imprinting on them that Millesdusk has its first dragon, and that it belongs to the Fifth Son.]
-So it's a political act. When you came to the Ash Mountains alone, I thought you were the type to act on your whims.
[Not in the slightest. He's a truly snake-like fellow, so be careful. The moment you let your guard down, he'll use you as bait.]
Enad's words were barbed, as if he still held a grudge about being sold to the Librarian.
“It was unavoidable given the circumstances.”
[Listen to this bastard talk.]
-Haha. A battle where I'd be used as bait wouldn't be a small one. If my purpose right now is to be bait, I must do my best.
[This one and that one. Both are dying to be loyal.]
Enad, having shot back, fell silent. It was because we were about to cross the Mind Demon's territory and enter the Demon Head Palace.
Kairos also sensed, through his innate senses, that something unbelievable lived on this land.
-…Master. Something is staring at me.
“That's our messenger. He's also my teacher, so you don't need to worry.”
It seemed a dragon's senses could even detect Ransis.
-Now it has moved away again.
Kairos muttered and, following my will, landed on an empty piece of ground.
The owner of the gaze from a moment ago, Ransis, greeted me with a polite posture.
“Visiting so suddenly is usually not possible except for urgent matters….”
Ransis's eyes craned up, looking at the dragon's high head.
“This seems like an urgent matter, so I will guide you to the Family Head. The dragon should transform into a human and─”
“He has not yet learned polymorph.”
“…Ah. I understand. Then he must wait here.”
Kairos nodded at being made to wait due to his size.
-I'll be back. Master.
“Alright. Wait a little.”
Holding Ransis's hand, I went straight to the Family Head.
I thought it would be his office as usual, but for some reason, we arrived in the backyard today.
This place, created and decorated for only one person, was filled with white baby's breath flowers.
With no other flowers to be seen, only baby's breath, it gave off a rather mystical feeling.
The Family Head, who was standing with his hands behind his back in the middle of the baby's breath field, spoke without turning around.
“You’ve stirred up the Pantheon quite a bit with your new pet. Youngest.”
“What would a ten-year-old know? I just wanted to boast a little, so I flew around inside the Pantheon.”
A ten-year-old doesn't usually say, "What would a ten-year-old know?"
“We’ll find out in due time whether it was a boast or a proof of power. Why did you bring your pet before me?”
Not only I, who brought the dragon, but Ransis also knew the reason well enough.
That was why he had acknowledged it as an urgent matter and guided me to the Family Head. There was no way the Family Head himself wouldn't know.
I smiled faintly to myself.
‘Even a monster has a cute side if you keep looking at him.’
Noticing what could be the Family Head's scheme or wish, I answered with a smile.
“He is not my pet. The dragon follows me as its master, so I am taking care of him for convenience's sake. Kairos is the family's property and asset.”
“Is that so.”
Only then did the Family Head look this way.
It was the second time since the banquet that I had seen his bare face, not hidden in darkness.
His black eyes, darker than midnight, were the same as at the banquet, but for some reason, a hint of satisfaction could be seen in them.
It seemed I wasn't the only one who felt it; I saw Ransis sigh softly beside me.
“If you are concerned that Kairos will only listen to my orders, you don't have to be. He is a gentle enough dragon to listen to the Family Head's orders.”
“Then… it would be fine to face Kairos now.”
“That's right. He is not a newly born dragon. His true identity is the Magic Dragon that was at the summit of the Ash Mountains.”
“You’ve done something strange again today. Was it with the Queen’s help?”
“I won’t say she wasn’t involved.”
The Family Head nodded, seemingly getting a rough idea of how things were going.
“Let’s go see Kairos.”
It was rare for the Family Head to suggest doing something first. Furthermore, to suggest meeting someone first.
‘From his talk about pets to his worries about ownership. He was worried he wouldn't get to see the dragon right away.’
The pet the youngest son had secretly brought in had stolen his father's heart before he even showed himself.
A dragon, a being almost revered in the East, had entered the family in a master-servant relationship.
As the Family Head, and as the one who knew the power of dragons best through the battle with Wisdom, Kairos's joining was a welcome event.
“Kairos. This is my father and the Family Head of Millesdusk.”
Kairos kept his four feet on the ground and only lowered his neck.
Only then did their height become such that they could meet eyes, and the pinnacle of the East and the dragon faced each other.
-My name is Kairos. My life was saved by Dante, and I have decided to become his subordinate.
The dragon sent its voice into the minds of everyone present.
The Family Head nodded slightly and received his words.
“I am Kulsian Black Millesdusk. I am the father of your master and the Family Head of the Millesdusk family, the ruling family of the East.”
-Millesdusk. I had heard that name even when I was suffering from madness. I never thought I would see its Family Head.
The dragon's vertically slit, vermilion eyes twitched as they scanned the Family Head.
-The nest where my master was born seems to be much larger than I thought. Seeing you makes it even clearer.
“I will not be modest.”
The two respected each other from their positions and had a short conversation.
While doing so, the Family Head Kulsian showed a smile from time to time. He seemed to be quite fond of the new animal in the house.
This wasn't the purpose of bringing Kairos, but if there was more to gain, anything was good.
“Youngest. No blood relative has ever tamed a dragon with a sound mind and a sound body.
You have achieved something that even I could not.”
“I was lucky.”
“You don't need to be humble. You didn't come here just to hear a few words of praise from me, but don't refuse them.”
The Family Head, as expected, had figured out the purpose of my and Kairos's visit.
“If this Fire Dragon is the Magic Dragon of the Ash Mountains, then you don't know its power well after it has been freed from madness. Don't you need an opponent to test it against?”
“Testing against the Family Head is out of the question. I am just grateful that you look upon my little tricks favorably.”
-I ask of you.
At the request of the dragon and the youngest, the Family Head, for the first time, unclasped his hands from behind his back as if he couldn't refuse.
“I wondered why they held a dragon's request so sacred in the West. It certainly has a charm that's hard to refuse.”
Smiling slightly, the Family Head gestured to Ransis.
“Let's move.”
“…We have never let a dragon into the ghost dimension before.”
“Ransis. How long do you intend to stay in the same place? Do not delude yourself into thinking that where you are now is the peak.”
At the Family Head's bitter words mixed with laughter, I also lent a hand.
“The Family Head's words are absolutely right. There is no end to the path of learning.”
“……”
The messenger's eyes narrowed sharply, glaring at the dark purple-haired father and son.
Then, eventually, he sighed and raised both hands.
“I apologize in advance to Kairos. It will be a cold you have never felt before in your life.”
-I was tortured by demon worshipers for over a century. I don't even blink at most strange feelings or pain.
“Yes. Everyone is so confident at first. Excuse me.”
Leaning his back against Kairos's pillar-like leg, he gently wrapped his hands around the wrists of the father and son.
“Go to the Mujin Plains.”
“…Understood.”
The Family Head suddenly set the First Son's territory as the destination.
The messenger, with no way to refuse, dragged those he was in contact with into the spirit dimension.
Sreureureureuk─
-…!
Kairos's eyes widened.
His body wasn't moving at all, but he was flying through an empty space where his feet couldn't touch the ground.
And it was incredibly fast.
“We have arrived.”
"After being dragged around frantically, we arrived at a place called the Mujin Plains."
True to its name, the horizon was easily visible, and even at the dragon's eye level, the end was not clearly in sight.
-Master. This is the land of another strong one. I feel a power from a certain direction that I can't help but be wary of.
“That's my eldest brother. He will be here soon.”
-…….
Kairos was silent for a moment.
It seemed the master who had saved his life had quite a large family. But all of his family members were monsters.
Furthermore, from now on, he would be testing his strength against one of those monsters.
-What should I call you?
“Kulsian. I permit you to call me by my name.”
-Understood, Kulsian. And please be careful. I am still inexperienced in handling my power, so it might be a little hot by human standards.
“As you wish.”
The smile Kulsian had shown earlier deepened.
He looked quite pleased at the thought of fighting a dragon after a long time.
As I was about to watch the fight from the side, someone approached me.
“Hey.”
It was the messenger I had teased quite a bit earlier.
“…Are you speaking informally just because I teased you a little? How petty.”
“That's not it. I have something to say, so come back here for a moment.”