Chapter 59 : Wyvern’s Nest (3)

With overwhelming force, Wolfgang pushed the Wyvern’s Nest out into the open in an instant, swiftly widening the distance between herself and the nest.

In that brief moment, she surveyed her surroundings with her one and only eye.

They were far up in the sky, a great distance from the ground. 

Even so, she could still sense the absence of any signs of life nearby, confirming this was an empty land devoid of humans.

However, in that short time spent scanning her surroundings, the Wyvern’s Nest had gained the slightest of breathing room—something it was not about to waste. Wolfgang scowled.
 

“Nothing else to get in my way. I’ll finish this terrifying thing quickly, head back to the estate, and get some rest.”

But just then, an unfamiliar voice resounded.

[Wait a moment.]

“Whose voice is that? Is there still a human who hasn’t escaped yet?”

[I am no human. I am the Mother of all Wyverns and their home.]

“…That means…”

Wolfgang’s gaze froze as she instinctively looked around again. 

And then, her eyes turned toward the source of the voice—a massive form that dwarfed everything else.

The Wyvern’s Nest.

It was speaking to her.

She hadn’t expected such a thing to be possible. 

Caught off guard, Wolfgang could only stare in surprise. However, her momentary shock did not last long.
“So it can communicate. But what difference does it make? My task remains the same.”

As if to solidify her resolve, flames began to burn fiercely once more within her. Yet, even as Wolfgang steeled himself, the Wyvern’s Nest made no move to defend itself.

[Listen to my story. It will cost you nothing.]

“What could I possibly discuss with a monster like you?”

[I can tell you what you seek.]

“…”

Damn it. I hesitated for a moment.

The first rule of negotiation is to maintain a poker face. 

To be fair, though, Wolfgang had been frustrated. 

Despite all her time in the kingdom, she hadn’t found even a clue.

It was understandable. 

After all, the kingdom’s ultimate weapon—its asymmetric power—wouldn’t be something one could find by flipping through records. 

Still, that didn’t make it any less infuriating.

That frustration must have made her waver for just a moment at the Wyvern’s Nest’s words. 

But Wolfgang quickly snapped out of it.

“I’m not stupid enough to fall for such tricks.”

[I know what worries you. The servants of the Winter King, yes?]

“How… How do you know about the Winter King?”

The Winter King.

No matter how hard she tried, Wolfgang could never forget.

The source of the Winter War was the king of the Wendigos who commanded countless others. 

Wolfgang had suffered countless defeats at her hands.

Anyone else might not understand, but Wolfgang had fought with all her strength at the war’s frontlines. 

The Wyvern’s Nest, sensing her hesitation, continued speaking naturally.

[The Winter King is one of our old gods who descended to this land. Though he has since been stripped of his status and made a laughingstock.]

“Wait… Are you saying the Winter King is still alive?”

[A god does not die. They simply return to their original place. But do not worry. He is weaker than we are now.]

The Wyvern’s Nest spoke as though to calm Wolfgang’s shock, but her mind was racing too much to hear. 

That cursed monster… still alive?

I killed him. I know I did.

The reason Wolfgang had never imagined the Winter King could still exist was simple: 

She had burned him to ashes. 

Every last piece of flesh, even the bones—she had reduced it all to cinders. 

It had taken a full week to completely incinerate him, and Wolfgang had even disposed of the ashes.

That hateful and terrifying enemy… still alive?

Wolfgang took a deep breath to steady himself. 

Calm down. 

Stay focused.

Nothing changes just because I’m afraid.

Almost without realizing it, Wolfgang’s hand reached for a cigarette in her pocket. 

Yet unlike usual, her hands trembled as she lit it. 

Even so, the first puff did help her settle.

“So, what is it you want?”

The Wyvern’s Nest is the ultimate form that a dragon can achieve after surviving for centuries. 

Only the strongest dragon could become a nest to cradle the eggs of other dragons.

And apparently, its words weren’t empty.

[We wish for you to let us go.]

“You want me to let you go?”

[Yes.]

“That’s… unexpected. Isn’t this where you suggest we join forces to conquer the world?”

[Humans and monsters can never coexist. Even temporarily joining hands is impossible.]

“And yet you’re asking me to let you go?”

Wolfgang frowned. 

Hadn’t it just said humans and monsters could never coexist? 

Why would a human like him have any reason to let it go?

Sensing Wolfgang’s hesitation, the Wyvern’s Nest spoke urgently.

[We can still make a deal. There are countless examples of such arrangements.]

“Why even bother coming to me? Why not just slip away quietly?”

[Do you not realize? All living beings on this land—humans and others—are interconnected like veins. No matter how far we flee, news of us will eventually reach your ears.]

“…”

[And what happens when you come looking for us then? More of my family will die than today. So I ask you to ensure our safety now.]

It wasn’t wrong. 

The Empire had relied heavily on aid from other nations during the Winter War. 

If one of those nations called for help again?

I’d be the first to fly there.

But the dragons were making one mistake. Wolfgang smirked faintly.

“There’s no paradise where you’re running. Even if I let you go, you’ll attack humans again. And then I’ll have to hunt you down.”

[Do not worry. We are headed for a land meant only for monsters.]

“A land for monsters?”

[Yes. It is our homeland, our only paradise. Until now, we remained outside of it under the pretext of serving the Demon King. But now, it is time to return home.]

According to the Wyvern’s Nest, there was a land on the continent meant for monsters alone—a haven for all who had once been oppressed.

But Wolfgang wasn’t convinced.

“You’re surprisingly quick to surrender, considering how I’ve burned your kin before.”

[Tell me—if a neighbor’s house is destroyed in a storm, what’s your first thought? Do you seek revenge on the storm, or do you rebuild your home to prepare for the next?]

“Of course, I’d rebuild.”

[We are the same.]

The Wyvern’s Nest had left one detail unsaid: it believed this deal would ultimately favor the dragons.

They knew they could not win against Wolfgang now. 

She had already proven that resistance was futile.

But there was one strategy left to them—something only beings with longer lifespans could attempt.

They would return to their paradise and bide their time.

If they waited 100, 200 years, Wolfgang would long since have turned to dust.

This was the Wyvern’s Nest’s sole plan for victory. 

To achieve it, it had to offer Wolfgang something tempting.

[Let us stake our souls in this contract. All we wish for is to return to our homeland safely. If you agree, I will give you the answers you seek.]