Chapter 362: The Dragon Kings Past

362 – The Dragon King’s Past

【[Diabolos: Rank A] 】

【Its overwhelming destructive power permits no rivals.】

【A single swing from its tough claws can kill ten humans.】

【A single breath from its mouth can burn hundreds of humans.】

【An evolved form reached by a dragon that receives the favour of the Demon Lord.】

…I knew from the status, but if I’m a recovery-specialist, this guy is an attack-specialist. I’ll guess I’ll check out the title skill that piqued my curiosity.

【Title Skill [Dragon King]】

【The title bestowed to the most powerful dragon in the world.】

【Confers an improvement to lifespan as well as the rate of increase of the attack stat.】

【The required experience points is reduced, and acquiring resistance skills becomes easier.】

【In addition, the level of resistance skills increases upon evolution.】

【Confers a large influence on future evolutions.】

It’s essentially the same as my [Dragon King’s Son] title… Actually, it’s just better. In my case, I don’t get the improved life span or faster increase to my attack, and the increase to my resistances I get when I evolve caps out at level 5. But by the time you get this title, surely you’d already be in your final evolution… It somehow feels like a complete waste.

But Demon Lord, Demon Lord… I vaguely remember hearing that term in the species explanation of other monsters, but… I never would have expected to see the Demon Lord’s former subordinate like this. For that matter, there’s a Demon Lord?

Aro chases after me and lines up next to me, fearfully looking at the giant dragon, the diabolos, then looks up at me worriedly. By the way, the nightmare is with my partner, and treant-san is way back on standby next to the stairs up.

It’s okay. The diabolos isn’t hostile… He shouldn’t be.

The diabolos glares at Aro. For a moment, I sense a freezing pressure and immediately heighten my wariness, but that doesn’t seem to be need, as the bloodlust quickly disappears.

『Oh, not a human. An undead?』

Frightened by the diabolos’s pressure, Aro clings to my hind leg, shivering . Even I find the diabolos intimidating. The terror Aro and the others must be feeling must be many times stronger.

『Why did you come to this island? Your surprise… It seems you did not know I was here.』

I want to confirm if he’s my father, but… Is that really okay to ask? It feels a bit awkward, or rather it doesn’t feel real to me… No, I feel an incredible sense of intimacy, but that’s another matte from being able to suddenly call him dad. I’m an ouroboros, you know? I haven’t even been alive a year, but I’m a pretty splendid dragon, you know? But then surely it’s weird for this dragon to have abandoned an egg in a forest far from this island… But, but, this skill…

『…You wish to ask me something. Why do you hesitate?』

The diabolos slams his tail into the ground in displeasure. The floor shatters, and the surroundings shake.

“…Gua”

『…What are you getting bashful for? It’s gross.』

My partner jabs, peering at me through thinned eyes.

B-but, that’s my father!? I might have been fidgeting a bit, but… I don’t know what to do now that my father shows up like this. For that matter, my father is also yours, right? Though doesn’t seem like you care at all.

As I exchange words with her, the diabolos grows more and more irritated. He probably doesn’t like being ignored. Flustered, I turn away from my partner and face him.

S-sorry, I really felt out of place there… Umm, why is diabolos-san here?

『Oh, you know my species name?』

Huh… Is it bad to know that? Ah, that would be the case. It’s not like everyone has [God’s Voice] or [Status Inspection]. Diabolos has to be among the rarest of the rare dragon species. There are hardly any A rank monsters in the first place. How many diaboloses could have been born in this world?

I look down and scratch my throat to try and evade the question. I don’t have any idea what the significance of those skills is around here. It’s probably best not to speak carelessly.

The diabolos looks at me suspiciously, but then brings the conversation back on track with a 『I suppose it’s fine. Why I am here, you ask…?』. It seems he’ll tell me without difficulty. With how quickly he’s discarded his doubts, he might have actually been itching to talk. He has [Loneliness Resistance: LvMAX], so he might have been starved for a conversation partner.

『I am because I received a divine revelation from the Will of the World.』

T-the Will of the World…? Is that a name for the sham god behind God’s Voice? Certainly, he does have [God’s Voice] in his skills. It’s only a paltry level 1 though.

『Originally… I was a monster in service to the Demon Lord. After the Demon Lord was defeated by the Hero, many monsters followed in death. They recklessly attacked human lands and were slain… A great many others flew to the edge of the world… never to return. That was also my intention.』

I-it’s becoming a surprisingly brutal story. For that matter, does Hero mean that blond bastard? I’m sure Dragon King-san could easily turn the tables if he was attacked by three of that guy.

『I do not know who you associate it with, but this is a tale of five hundred years ago.』

It’s completely unrelated. Y-you’ve been alive for five hundred years?

『However, when I decided to die, a decree from heaven was handed down to me. I heard a voice in my head. One day, the Demon Lord will reappear in this world. As the Dragon King, you are able to live a long time. Swear your fealty to the Demon Lord of the next era, and put an end to age of humanity. I knew right away. This voice what Demon Lord-sama spoke of as the Will of the World.』

…Uh? Umm, it seems the story is moving in a disturbing direction…

『From then on, I hid myself and bided my time… It has been long. I have hidden myself on this island, occasionally walking outside to watch the rise and fall of the sun. Many times I have doubted the owner of the voice. But I know. That time is now close. Previously… I had only recently evolved and could not fight alongside Demon Lord-sama. But now I am different. I will not fall behind the Hero. I shall herald the coming of my new master and guide them forwards. For the sake of producing the world the former Demon Lord-sama desired, I shall offer my soul to the cause.』

With a raptured expression, the diabolos looks up at the ceiling. Those eyes must surely be looking at the sky beyond.

Th-this is no good… My dad is totally a baddie.

『You show promise as a dragon, to be able to dispel the adams. Come with me. I will make you my subordinate. Serve the coming Demon Lord with me.』

As I look down in shock, the diabolos watches me concernedly.

『What is wrong? Do you not wish to be my subordinate?』

Th-that’s not it though… There’s something more fundamental… Wh-what should I do here, what can I do? The Demon Lord’s return? The Will of the World?

But it doesn’t look like I can avoid replying. For the diabolos, it seems it’s natural for a dragon to accompany the Demon Lord. If I say something that associates me with the human side, he might see me as an enemy and attack.

There’s only one thing I can do to end this peacefully…!

I press my chin against the floor and lower myself to the ground.

I gratefully accept. When that day comes, this ouroboros shall use all my strength to serve diabolos-san!

『Hey partner, is that really okay…?』

My partner looks at me as though to say she has some thoughts on the matter.

I-it’s fine. That time won’t be coming any time soon. It’s fine if I can just bluff my way through this conversation.

『…He’s probably killed tons of humans.』

…Th-that might be the case, but… But he might be my father, you know? It’s not like I’ve seen him doing it in front of me, and he doesn’t seem to be hostile… Though it’s not like I have any idea how I should be acting toward him at all…

『Hrm, diabolos, diabolos… It seems you do not know your manners.』

The diabolos deliberately shakes his head, sighing deeply. M-manners…? Manners between dragons…?

『I have the precious name of Eldia that was bestowed onto me by Demon Lord-sama. I shall specially permit you to call me by that name. Diabolos is only a word to describe my form.』

He says proudly with a sidelong glance at me… He’s putting on weird airs, but essentially he wants me to call him by name.

Is this ossan a tsundere…? I want to let my guard down around him, but because of the diabolos’s… No, because of Eldia’s remarks, I can’t quite settle down. I’m grateful for the welcome, but… It might be best not to stay on this island too long.