Chapter 202: Turning Point (2)
A dragon, huh.
Come to think of it, just how many times had I run into a dragon by now?
As I stared at the young dragon, that thought crossed my mind.
Even in the face of her menacing appearance, unabashedly brimming with killing intent directed at me, my attention was entirely elsewhere.
“……”
The man standing behind her.
His presence was so overpowering that even the immediate threat before me felt like nothing.
“Menoruka is safe.”
I was the one to break the silence.
My voice was calmer than I’d expected it to be.
The young woman narrowed her eyes.
Then, a deep sneer spread across her lips.
“Oh my? We never once said we were looking for that girl, yet you seem to know all about it. What do you think, kidnapper bastard? You just admitted it with your own mouth, didn’t you?”
“A dragon coming all the way to the center of the capital—no, waiting in human form to speak to me—there could only be one reason for that.”
I spoke evenly.
“She’s currently inside the Academy. If you’d like, I can take you to her. And just to be clear, I’m not some kidnapper. I only helped her at her request, and her staying at the Academy now is entirely by her own will.”
“Pfft…! What a well-crafted load of crap, you kidnapper bastard.”
The young dragon scoffed.
Her gaze was openly filled with contempt.
“Why should we go crawling into your filthy little domain? How would we know what kind of scheme you bastards have set up there?”
Mixing formal speech with profanity, she spoke again.
“Most of all… with that disgusting half-breed wench still holed up there, do you think I’m insane enough to set foot in that place?”
Half-breed—she must be referring to Windy May.
I thought as much and kept quiet, waiting for what she’d say next.
“We’ll be the ones making the proposal.”
The young dragon took a step closer.
Her voice and eyes made it clear—she wouldn’t accept a refusal.
“If that girl is really unharmed, just like you, kidnapper bastard, say… then bring her out to us.”
Then she pointed at me and Cecilia, one after the other.
“One of you comes. The other stays.”
I kept looking at her, as if to say, go on.
Her eyes twitched, clearly displeased by something.
“Let me just say this in advance—you should know we’re being very generous here. If you don’t like my proposal… well then, how about we put on a little rampage, right in the heart of the capital?”
I continued staring at the young dragon but quietly shifted my gaze to the old man behind her.
He still looked at me with an indifferent expression.
If I’d encountered him under normal circumstances, he would’ve seemed so calm I wouldn’t have sensed any danger at all.
Hmm.
I looked back at the young woman in front of me.
She certainly looked agitated on the surface, but she wasn’t so overcome by rage that she’d lost her reason.
If that’s the case…
Then it was clear—they were here to talk.
That’s the conclusion I came to.
And recalling what Amaruah and the others had told me, I remembered that they probably already knew Menoruka’s condition to some extent.
That she was in the Academy, unrestrained, and both physically and mentally sound.
Yet even so, they hadn’t entered the Academy directly and instead lingered around its outskirts.
And then, just my luck, I happened to get caught in their detection net.
The situation more or less made sense.
I slowly nodded.
“Understood. Then I’ll stay. …Cecilia.”
I turned to Cecilia, who stood beside me.
She was pressed closely against me in silence.
It wasn’t hard to notice that she was trying to figure out whether she should fight or not—and if so, when exactly to summon the spirits.
“I don’t think we need to worry too much.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
I nodded.
She stared at me for a moment before speaking.
“I can stay.”
“No, I think it’s better that I stay. I need to speak with them, too.”
As I said that, I whispered quietly.
“Go to the library, give them my name, and explain the situation. Also, to Master.”
I didn’t mention Windy May’s name directly.
Though she was known as the Dragon Slayer, there was an odd reluctance that held me back.
As if just speaking her name would somehow complicate the situation further—that was the kind of ominous feeling I had.
“…Got it.”
Cecilia nodded firmly, understanding my intent.
Without hesitation, she turned and began to run.
― …….
In that moment, a small spider hidden within my collar stirred soundlessly, as if to announce its presence.
The old man who had remained silent until then finally spoke.
“There are too many people around.”
His voice was deep and low.
It carried a strange resonance that seemed to swallow all surrounding noise.
“I’d prefer somewhere quieter. Shall we walk a bit?”
He looked at me as he spoke.
“Since you're a Spirit Sorcerer, it shouldn’t be hard for you to figure out where you are at any given moment. I don’t think a short walk will be an issue.”
“Of course.”
I replied without the slightest hint of unease.
And so, the three of us slowly made our way to a more secluded place.
“You seem to have something to rely on.”
As we walked, the young woman suddenly questioned, almost accusingly.
She clearly didn’t like me.
“From the moment you approached us, it meant you were willing to talk, didn’t it?”
“Hm?”
“You chose conversation over a fight, and at least for now, before negotiations break down entirely… I figured there was no need to be scared.”
Then he added, as if in afterthought.
“And as I said before, if Ms. Menoruka were to come herself, it would clear up all misunderstandings.”
“Ha!”
At Lian’s reply, the young dragon burst into mocking laughter.
“What a calculating bastard you are. All I’d have to do is twist your neck off and dig around in your head myself.”
“Would you really?”
“Yes, I would. I’m planning to neatly tear off your neck, head, arms, and legs.”
She said mockingly.
“Since your proud face is so disgusting, I’ll be extra thorough when I rip you apart.”
“Child.”
The old man called her in a low voice.
There was a clear warning in his tone.
“Don’t be reckless. And mind your mouth.”
“……”
But the young dragon ignored his words and suddenly reached for Lian’s throat.
Her nails gleamed sharply as they slashed through the air.
Lian didn’t dodge.
No, he didn’t need to.
Her hand, as if trying to grab a handful of mist, merely passed through the air and right through Lian’s body.
“What…?!”
The woman’s eyes widened in shock.
She stared back and forth between her own hand and Lian, as if she couldn’t believe it.
“……”
Not missing the opening, Lian quietly rested his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist.
“Enough.”
The old man stopped her again.
He extended his arm between them as if to block the space between Lian and her.
There was clear anger in his voice.
“…I apologize. She’s still young, and her blood runs too hot. She doesn’t yet know when to act and when to hold back.”
The old man sighed and gave a small bow toward Lian.
“You should rein yourself in as well. That nearly became a real disaster.”
At his scolding, the young woman pouted and grumbled.
“Hmph, as if I would ever— to a mere human…”
But when the old man shot her a sharp glare, she flinched and reluctantly lowered her head.
“…I’m sorry.”
A moment of calm followed, and the old man let out a short sigh.
“…Well. Since we’ve met like this, even if by chance, it would feel odd to part without at least exchanging names.”
The old man returned to a gentler tone.
“My name is Urkubar. I’m Menoruka’s grandfather and also the head of our lineage.”
He added,
“My son and daughter-in-law might’ve lost their minds if they’d come here themselves, so I came in their stead.”
At his words, the young woman still wore a displeased expression, her lips tightly sealed.
“I’ve no name I care to share with mere humans.”
“She’s Junongren.”
Urkubar brushed off her words lightly.
“Elder!”
Junongren shouted, clearly flustered, but Urkubar ignored her and continued.
“She’s a child of our lineage, and the youngest after Menoruka. Also… once again, thank you for staying your hand.”
The last words were directed at Lian.
Lian looked at Urkubar for a moment before he spoke.
“I’m Lian Gwendil.”
He offered his name briefly.
And with a bit of caution, he asked,
“…Did you know in advance what I was going to do?”
“I didn’t know that much. But I could tell one thing for certain—if you truly meant it, that child wouldn’t have come away unscathed.”
Urkubar’s gaze fell to the sword at Lian’s waist.
“What you carry is something forged from Airos’ body, is it not?”
“…You know Airos?”
“It was a fairly well-known name back in the day. If that fellow went so far as to offer a piece of himself, then I figured you were no ordinary human. He may be a bit rigid and frustrating at times, but he’s not a fool.”
As the conversation continued, the three of them arrived at a clearing where all traces of people had vanished.
“Well then, shall we finally talk?”
Urkubar spoke quietly.
His gaze now shone with a sharper edge than before.
“There’s only one reason I’ve come here.”
“May I ask what it is?”
“It’s nothing much.”
He looked directly at Lian.
“To kill someone.”
Before he even finished his words, a cold voice rang out from behind.
“Who?”
When had she arrived?
Windy May had appeared at some point, arms crossed, glaring at them with eyes like icy blades.
“My disciple?”
Urkubar turned to face her slowly, not the least bit surprised.
A faint smile spread across his lips.
“Oh, Windy May. The Dragon Slayer, no less.”
At those words, Junongren bared her teeth and growled, as if she had been waiting for this.
Her gaze burned with clear hostility and intense fighting spirit.
But Windy May didn’t spare Junongren a single glance.
Instead, she shot back with a voice as cold as ice.
“You’d best not throw your life away over some childish tantrum.”
Though devoid of emotion, her words carried a chilling pressure that made the air itself feel heavy.
Junongren flinched for a moment but quickly ignited her hostility even further.
“……”
Urkubar watched the two for a moment, then waved a hand toward Windy May.
“No need for concern. Of course, I swore vengeance against you, and that oath still holds…”
He cleared his throat.
“In exchange for my daughter’s life, I swore to take the same from you. So I intend to claim a member of your family, not your disciple.”
For a moment, Lian doubted his own ears.
Daughter? Family? Revenge?
The words hit him like a storm.
At that moment, Windy May, who had silently approached Lian’s side, asked Urkubar,
Her voice was still chilled and heavy.
“So, who is the person you intend to kill?”
“And why should I answer you?”
Urkubar shot back.
“Depending on your answer, I might have to send a grieving father to follow after his child.”
At that, Urkubar let out a low chuckle.
“Hrmm. That sharp tongue of yours hasn’t changed.”
You damn mutt.
He muttered a curse laced with contempt, then regained his composure and spoke again.
“Unfortunately, I have no intention of fighting you. There’s only one person I intend to kill.”
Urkubar whispered quietly, almost muttering.
“The one who seduced my precious, beloved granddaughter.”
He added,
“I plan to hold him accountable. And his family, too.”