[Translator - Kie]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
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Chapter 311: The Dargon (1)
***
Dragon was literally beaten black and blue, so much so that dust flew up even on a rainy day.
The Imperial Supreme Sword watched the scene with a peculiar look in his eyes.
It was already amazing to see a living dragon but to see that dragon being beaten...
Every time Damien swung his club, the massive creature flew through the air, and broken scales and teeth scattered.
Dragons vanished a long time ago, yet weapons and armors made from their body parts are still considered the most powerful of all.
As far as the Imperial Supreme Sword knew, a single dagger made from a dragon's scale was as expensive as an entire castle.
The Imperial Supreme Sword looked at the piles of teeth and scales on the ground and calculated in his mind.
‘How much is all this worth?’
“Sir Damien!”
The Red Dragon, who had been beaten for a long time and laid flat on the ground.
Damien stopped the club he was about to swing at the pitiful sight.
“This foolish creature became arrogant and cocky, unable to understand its position! I am truly sorry!”
The Red Dragon even buried its head in the ground.
"It seems you've finally learned some manners."
"Yes, it's all thanks to Sir Damien!"
"Good. Very good."
Damien finally lowered his club with a satisfied expression.
"Your beating skills are extraordinary."
"It's just that there are too many arrogant ones, so my skills have naturally improved."
The Imperial Supreme Sword recalled the scene where Damien threatened the elf commander-in-chief.
He wondered if he was also in that category, but he didn't ask.
"Although I hear that your clubbing skills are so amazing that when you hit anyone, you leave no signs of hitting."
"That usually happens when you hit with controlled strength, but this time I was in a foul mood, so I didn't hold back."
The Imperial Supreme Sword nodded involuntarily.
There was something about the dragon's attitude that made him seethe with more anger.
"Hey."
"Yes, yes!"
The Red Dragon answered quickly. And he looked at the club Damien was holding with fear in his eyes.
A dragon wary of a wooden club? The Imperial Supreme Sword couldn't help but chuckle.
"Why are the dragons looking for me?"
"To hear the details of why the Oath was broken. The council wants to meet for you because of this.”
"Oath? What's that?"
"What? You don't know? Then how did you break the Oath?"
Oath was a new word for Damien. But the Red Dragon asked back as if it were strange.
"Isn't it because the Oath was broken that the demons crossed over to the surface in large numbers?"
Damien's eyes widened at those words.
Even then, he couldn't understand how the demons had crossed over to the surface so easily.
"What is a Oath? What was it that kept the demons out?"
"A Oath is... a very important and absolute rule. We dragons were also bound by that Oath and couldn't come to the surface."
The Red Dragon's expression grew serious. Damien's expression grew serious as well.
Damien waited for the Red Dragon's next words. But the Red Dragon said nothing.
"So?"
"Yes?"
"Surely that's not all. Tell me more about this Oath."
"I don't know any more than that!"
The Red Dragon said with an innocent face.
"L-let's go!"
The Red Dragon took off towards the dimensional portal in terror.
***
What kind of being is a dragon?
When asked this question, most people would think of a huge body, wings, and fire coming out of its mouth.
But those who knew something about dragons thought of something else.
The ancestor of magic.
In fact, the first magic was created by imitating the dragon's language, called Dragon Tongue.
Dragons could cause various supernatural phenomena through a special language called Dragon Tongue.
The dimension called the otherworld was also created using Dragon Tongue.
The otherworld was created by a group of powerful ancient dragons who sacrificed themselves.
"So, has Balhard returned?"
A dragon spoke from the inside of giant temple in the otherworld.
Moss had grown between its scales, showing how long it had lived.
"Chairman, there's still no news."
"Perhaps Damien Haksen is putting up more resistance than expected."
The other dragons gathered in the temple, each offering their thoughts.
"I'm more worried about sending Balhard. I hear this human, Damien Haksen is incredibly vicious."
A dragon with white scales spoke with concern. The other dragons burst out laughing.
Given their size, their laughter echoed loudly even outside the temple.
"No matter how vicious, he's just a human. How much can he really do?"
"Although Balhard is a bit foolish... but he's a good boy. He's one of the most skilled among the young ones."
"Instead of worrying about Balhard, we should worry about whether we can bring the human back safely."
"As long as his mouth is intact, isn't that all that matters?"
Just as the dragons were laughing and joking,
"Grandma! Grandpa!"
A hatchling came in. It was so small it could barely reach the feet of the other dragons gathered in the temple.
"The dimensional portal has opened! Balhard is probably coming back!"
"Oh, that's good. Let's all go see Balhard."
All the dragons in the temple went outside. Their sheer size caused the ground to shake and dust to fly up with each movement.
As they came outside, they could see the dimensional portal open in the sky.
A moment later, Red Dragon appeared from it.
"Balhard! You're finally back..."
The dragons who were about to welcome Balhard back could only pause.
Balhard looked strange.
"Th-that guy... why is all his scales missing?"
"It's not missing, it's like it's been shattered! It's like he's been beaten to a pulp."
"All his teeth are broken too?"
The noble Red Dragon was nowhere to be seen. He looked as miserable as a plucked chicken.
Balhard slowly descended to the ground. The dragons rushed to Balhard.
"Balhard! What happened?"
"Da, no, Sir Damien. W-We have arrived."
Balhard lowered his head and spoke. Then, a human descended from his head.
The eyes of the elder dragons gathered on the human.
Compared to the dragons, the human was as small as a pebble. But the human didn't feel intimidated at all and shouted.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Damien Haksen."
The human looked around at the dragons and added.
"Your lizardling told me you were looking for me, so I came here myself. You should be grateful.”
The dragons all looked at Damien with dumbfounded expressions.
***
[Translator - Kie]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]