Episode 108
EPISODE.54
“I never thought I would see my benefactor here again.”
Io walked out from among the elves and smiled brightly.
The smile was so bright that it felt like the dark atmosphere unique to Underworld and the underground was disappearing.
“There are all kinds of coincidences.”
“That’s right.”
Following Io’s touch, Pepper in her arms lets out a soft cry.
Purr purr-.
Pepper was originally a very shy person, but her cries were much softer than when she interacted with others.
It has to be that way.
To Pepper, Io was one of the first people to appear after being summoned to the material world, excluding his master Russell.
‘He was also the first elf I met.’
Instead of stroking her stomach, Io stroked Pepper’s wings.
“Four wings. Plus, just looking at the power it feels is amazing. At this level, it would be quite high among mid-level spirits. congratulations. “Benefactor.”
The growth of the spirit occurs along with the growth of the contractor. In other words, Io was praising Pepper’s growth and congratulating Russell’s growth at the same time.
“thank you.”
Russell, who read what he was thinking, slightly lowered his head and moved his gaze backwards.
He caught a glimpse of the elves who were with Io, looking at him with wary eyes.
Seeing that, Io let go of Pepper as if she had forgotten and clapped her hands.
“Oh, look at my mind. “They are members of our tribe.”
I quickly introduced Russell to my family.
“This is the person I told you about last time. “He was one of the benefactors who saved me when I went abroad.”
At Io’s introduction, the wariness that followed the elves eased slightly, and one of them stepped forward.
“You are the young man who helped Io. “I am Skan, an elder of the White Ash Tree Tribe.”
“Is this how humans greet each other?” he muttered, extending his hand towards Russell.
“This is Russell Raymond, War Mage of the Tower of Endymion.”
“I’ve heard of Endymion’s Pyramid… … .”
It was an elf who introduced himself as an elder. Unless he has special powers, he is probably much older than he appears on the outside.
‘I guess your knowledge is that wide.’
As Russell was thinking such things, Elder Skan was also looking at Russell and sinking inwardly.
‘Uhm. What an amazing young man… … .’
As some of the elves grew older, they gained the insight to see into people’s inner thoughts.
Skan is also one of the elves who gained that insight. To Skan, Russell’s inner self did not feel like a person at all.
Mana is so pure and powerful that it is unbelievable for a human being, and what is contained within it is a heart that burns beautifully like a flame.
‘That’s amazing. amazing.’
Compared to the natural object most familiar to them, Russell’s being was a volcano.
It is an active volcano that has not stopped its activity, but is still burning hotly and has the power to explode at any time.
Will my meeting with this young man be a one-time thing, or will it continue?
If it is the latter, what effect will this young man’s temperament have on the elves?
‘Umm… … .’
While Skan was thinking about it, Russell turned to Io and asked.
“But what happens to the elves in the Underworld?”
“Ah, we came to buy weapons.”
“Weapons?”
Elves are said to be a peace-loving race, but that doesn’t mean they don’t fight.
The elves were the ones who could draw their swords and shoot arrows to protect their clan.
‘It’s not for nothing that they say elves are masters of the bow.’
However, that was not a reason to go to Underworld and purchase weapons in large quantities.
“Is something going on in the tribe?”
“that is… … .”
Io frowned. The answer came from Migi, the dwarf who was quietly listening to the story next to him.
“It’s because the monsters in the Amazon Forest suddenly became ferocious.”
“Monsters?”
“I see. Thanks to this, we also had more work to do as we suppressed those who crossed into the canyon. “I don’t know, but the White Ash Tree Tribe located inside the great forest must be dealing with more monsters than us.”
Skan and Io nodded at the same time, as if his explanation was correct.
Io then muttered self-deprecatingly.
“It would be nice if my blood blossomed… … .”
Skan comforted Io.
“It’s not your fault, so don’t worry too much about it.”
A short scene from the conversation between the two flashes through my mind. It was the scene when I first met Io below the deck of the pirate ship.
‘Even back then, you talked about enlightenment and awakening.’
If you look at the nuance of what he says, he’s probably talking about awakening the dragon’s blood flowing in his body.
‘Dragon’s blood… … .’
For a while, I looked at Io with meaningful eyes, recalling its connection with dragons. Io let out a sigh and changed the topic, as if to brighten her mood.
“By the way, what is going on in Underworld, my benefactor?”
“hmm.”
Russell, who hesitated for a moment, soon opened his mouth.
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“Actually, I came here for personal research.”
“If it’s personal research… … ?”
“It’s about finding traces of the dragon.”
Russell, who brought up the story directly, asked directly.
“Are there any dragons or legends related to them left in the White Ash Tree Tribe?”
They were elves who lived much longer than humans.
Such an elf elder might have known something that was not recorded in historical records.
Moreover, Io also had nothing to do with dragons.
“hmm… … .”
The two elves exchanged glances, and then Skan shrugged his shoulders.
Io shook his head.
“sorry. benefactor. “I only know that I inherited dragon blood, but other than that, I don’t know anything else.”
“okay.”
I was a little disappointed, but I couldn’t help it. This isn’t the first time I’ve been fooled.
“I plan to stay in Underworld for about three weeks. The accommodation… … .”
Removing his remaining regrets, Russell spoke to Io.
“I’ll take it there.”
The place Russell pointed out was a two-story lodging establishment that could be seen from the market where the two people were talking.
“So, if anything comes to mind, please contact me later.”
* * *
“It’s here. “How is it?”
After leaving my disappointment behind, I arrived at the Fire Dragon’s Altar, which had a shape that made it possible to recognize its location from quite a distance away.
‘It’s a dragon shape elaborately carved using red crystal. ‘Is this a fire dragon?’
How advanced has sculpting technology become to be able to recreate the scales of a blazing flame using crystal?
Although he didn’t even have a great aesthetic sense, let alone a good sense of taste, his appearance was so great that even Russell was impressed.
‘This is not the time to be like this.’
Russell, who had been captivated by the dwarves’ carving skills without even realizing it, attacked them violently.
Then, with deeply sunken eyes, he looked around the Fire Dragon’s Altar.
Not only pillars, but also altars for offering sacrifices and sculptures carved on walls.
Among them, the one I checked most carefully was a red crystal statue in the shape of a dragon.
‘hmm… … .’
I spent several hours looking at every part of the altar.
The dwarf who had guided him, Migi, was already dozing off on the floor, probably exhausted from waiting.
Is it because I’ve been paying attention to the altar for too long?
“after-.”
Russell sighed, feeling his eyeballs straining.
‘Let’s stop here for now.’
There was no need to be disappointed if you didn’t find anything special today.
There were still three weeks left, and I had memorized the location.
‘It would be better to look around the Silver Dragon’s Altar first, and then come back and investigate.’
Thinking so, Russell woke Migi up.
“Migi. Migi.”
I asked for guidance to the next altar.
“This time, please go to the Silver Dragon’s Altar.”
.
.
The Silver Dragon’s Altar that arrived was located in an exact symmetry with the Fire Dragon’s Altar.
‘Not only the location but also the shape is symmetrical… … .’
The only difference is that the crystal that makes up the dragon sculpture in the center has changed from red to white.
Tap, tap, tap-.
The sound of shoes sounding.
Russell moved his gaze as he walked along the corridor toward the sculpture and altar.
Just like before, I carefully looked around the altar building.
‘Is there anything unusual here?’
He crossed the corridor at a slow pace for about a few minutes, and eventually his steps stopped in front of the silver dragon statue.
Russell reached for it.
At that moment, paaaa!
flinch-.
“… … ?”
Russell took a step back without realizing it.
It was right after that Migi, who followed his unexpected actions, asked.
“Is something going on? russia… … hmm. Anyway, a little human friend?”
Russell regained his composure at that voice and opened his mouth.
“Didn’t the eyes of this dragon sculpture move just now?”
“The statue’s eyes moved?”
Migi asked again as if this was the first time and moved her short legs. He approached the silver dragon statue and looked around carefully.
“hmm… … .”
Then he bursts into laughter.
“Uh-huh. The little man is good at telling jokes. They say it imitates the appearance of a great person, but it is just a sculpture. piece. “There’s no way the piece would move unless there’s magic!?”
“Is that so?” Russell muttered, and his eyes naturally deepened.
The memory of when the dragon’s eyes moved is too clear to feel like it was just a momentary illusion.
Moreover, it seems that it not only moved, but also glowed.
“after.”
After first preparing his mind so as not to be surprised, Russell stretched out his hand.
The moment I brushed the silver dragon statue again with my fingertips, I flinched.
The two eyes of the sculpture reflected in Russell’s eyes move and shine. However, Migi, who is watching the scene from the side, still looks like she doesn’t know what’s going on.
‘Could it be that only I can see this?’
The dragon’s eye light flowing from the sculpture converges towards Russell’s fingertips, and…
Immediately after, a small green arrow, shaped like a compass, appeared on Russell’s wrist.
The only difference is that unlike a compass, which has two ends, the green arrow has one end.
‘Besides, it only points in one direction.’
There was clearly a clue of something related to the traces of the dragon.
Faster than Russell can internally burst out in glee-.
[It was truly a long wait.]
[Luckily, you came to visit me before the rest of my life was over.]
[…] … Hurry, follow the lead and come to me before it is too late. It is the beginning of all dragons.]
-A voice rang in my mind.
[Our master… … .]
wizard who swallowed a dragon
