Ch.112Special Side Story – To Another Continent (5)

“A dragon? Are you referring to the dragon I’m thinking of?”

“According to Irefi, it’s just a big lizard.”

“With wings attached. There might be differences between individuals depending on their habitat, but that’s not an incorrect description.”

What a surprise.

Honestly, I was prepared to be ridiculed for saying something absurd, but instead of mockery, he’s actually confirming the existence of dragons.

I’m guessing they’re not treated as merely legendary beasts.

“Actually, I was quite surprised just now. You explained it quite specifically. You seem to know a lot?”

“I just have access to records, so my knowledge is broader than most people’s.”

“There are even records about them. How fascinating.”

In the Eld Empire, creatures that could be called mythical beasts were rare.

In terms of ecosystem, the Eld Empire was infinitely similar to my previous life.

But that doesn’t mean there weren’t any creatures comparable to dragons.

‘Though I wonder if they can even be called living creatures… they’re already extinct anyway.’

To explain this, I need to refer to the timeline of the game “Eldchain.”

The first protagonist of “Eldchain” was the hero Cavannil. And the female protagonist who assisted him was none other than Saint Yashasmisha.

These two had a backstory of blocking and sealing the rampage of the Founding Noble Netionpis.

They spent their lives sealing the Chainlich Phenomenon that was rampant across the continent.

Thanks to their dedication, the continent achieved the remarkable feat of completely blocking the Chainlich Phenomenon for 500 years—until the moment Miren contracted the Chain Disease.

In the “what if” future where I didn’t intervene.

In the world where Irefi became the Destroyer and destroyed the world, the third protagonist Zikharun awakens in the Spirit Sanctuary and meets an elderly Bartlant.

The fact that Zikharun is the third protagonist implies that there was indeed a second protagonist.

The second series of “Eldchain” was notorious for its extreme difficulty compared to all other series.

Although it couldn’t match the fortress of “Boss – Terrible Destroyer Irefi,” it completely dominated all other bosses.

That’s because the second protagonist wrote an epic of defeating the remnants of the Chainlich.

The remnants of the Chainlich that were sealed in the first series were beings that wouldn’t easily perish over time.

Unlike ordinary magical beasts, particularly powerful individuals could root their existence in the world inside the chain even after a certain period.

The otherworldly dragon Jahakra, used as Feita’s ultimate weapon, is an example.

Although it met a futile end, Jahakra was the final boss of the main story in the game.

The enemies that the second protagonist had to defeat were all of the same kind as Jahakra.

Even excluding internal game circumstances, the setting presented the worst conditions.

All species in the Eld Empire that resembled mythical beasts were of this kind.

‘If real dragons are as hideous as byproducts of the Chainlich, I’d want to go back… wait a minute?’

While I was in the middle of drawing a dragon on the canvas of my imagination, I hesitated due to a sense of incongruity.

“Hey Rishecrate, I have a question.”

“Yes. Go ahead.”

“From what you’re saying, it sounds like you’ve only read about them in records, not seen them directly. Is that right?”

“Of course! If a dragon appeared in the imperial territory, it would be a major historical event!”

“That’s… certainly true!”

I’d heard from Irefi that they were creatures that couldn’t be dealt with by ordinary means.

To her, everything might as well be lizards or monkeys, but she at least acknowledged that they were monsters with power worthy of their name.

The slave collar that could instantly restrain a dragon was essentially a deus ex machina.

If such a dragon had invaded the center of the imperial territory, it might have overthrown the dynasty…

“To be honest… we actually came all this way to see a dragon.”

“What?!”

“This is the last continent to be discovered, right? And quite recently at that.”

Rishecrate’s reaction was quite lively. She quickly regained her composure and answered.

“Hmm, yes, that’s right. A village in the west was completely destroyed. Fortunately, there were no casualties.”

“Is that possible?”

“It wasn’t hunting; the village just happened to be in the dragon’s path.”

“So dragons really are strong!”

“It’s like a natural disaster. That’s why there’s even legislation providing central government support for damage caused by dragons.”

Rishecrate puffed out her chest as if proud of this progressive culture.

But then her expression stiffened dramatically as she asked:

“…You came to see such a dragon? Excuse me, but are you in your right mind?”

“It’s fine, I won’t die.”

“That’s the kind of bad habit that increases the mortality rate of men.”

“When Nepy says it like that, it doesn’t sound like a joke…”

Both Rishecrate and Irefi shared their thoughts on my bold declaration.

Personally, it was half joke and half serious self-deprecation, so my heart ached a little.

“Mr. Nepy, I’m sorry to say this, but… no, never mind. This isn’t just your fault, but also your wife, Irefi… Ire…”

…

……

Rishecrate turned her head sharply toward Irefi, but her volume decreased by the second until it sounded like an ant crawling.

Her trembling lips and eyes dropping to the ground conveyed her psychological state.

I hugged the girl who was struggling even with timid resistance and offered words of comfort.

“There, there. It’s okay. Would you like to take a deep breath?”

“Uuugh… y-yes…”

“Shh… it’s not scary. Not scary at all… let the scolding fly away.”

“Fly away…”

I gently stroked Rishecrate’s silver hair as she grimly echoed my words.

The sensation of stroking what felt like polished silver threads filled me with an unfamiliar emotion.

After being frozen like someone struck by lightning, a realization suddenly knocked on my consciousness.

‘I see. Is this it? What I’m holding in my palm…, is this paternal love?’

“You two really get along well, making me out to be the villain.”

Irefi crossed her arms and looked at us with an incredulous expression.

Still, as the adult being relied upon, I had to say something definitive here.

“Irefi.”

“What?”

“Should we… adopt her?”

“Just how far are you planning to go, Nepy?!”

Irefi completely lost her composure, spectacularly abandoning her dignity. I didn’t have the audacity to deny that my judgment was slightly off. But I also didn’t have the audacity to deny the strange emotion wrapping around my heart.

Just that…

…but probably not just that.

‘Maybe I have a severe case.’

The feeling of being relied upon by a child young enough to be my daughter awakens a rather peaceful emotion.

In my previous life as an ordinary mortal, I could only vaguely imagine this feeling.

Then I met Irefi and formed a marital bond with her.

An ordinary family I thought we could naturally have.

But we were humans possessing malice that could kill life with just a touch.

Me, attached to Netionpis’s body, and Irefi, infused with a soul from the future timeline.

We understood far too slowly that we both couldn’t have children.

Casting envious glances at couples walking hand in hand with a child between them wasn’t something that started yesterday. Without distinguishing between you and me, we just cast vague glances.

When Irefi and I noticed each other’s longing gazes, our chattering lips would firmly close.

Now we’re quite used to it, making self-deprecating jokes like this… but half-truths peek out from within our jokes.

“Nepy, I can roughly read what’s in your head. Would you please snap out of your contemplation?”

“Mmm, sorry, Irefi.”

“You don’t understand the essence. Do you know what I’m trying to say?”

“The essence… I…”

“Rishecrate is suffering. As an ordinary person, she must feel suffocated by your embrace.”

“Ah…!”

I had been so absorbed in my inner thoughts for shameful reasons that I ignored the outside world. Moreover, Irefi saw through my head being filled with unnecessary thoughts.

The reality of not being able to have children isn’t just my misfortune, yet I ended up disturbing Irefi’s heart as well.

What excuse could I make, what could I add?

I had caused a huge inconvenience on what was supposed to be a pleasant journey.

“I’ll apologize… to both of you.”

“Huu… huuu… it’s okay…”

“I don’t particularly want to be sensitive in front of a child.”

Irefi approached me as I hung my head in shame. She bent her knees slightly to meet my eye level.

From the corner of the dry ground, a blue lake flickered and rippled.

It was her eyes.

“Nepy.”

“Yes.”

“Stop making a fuss and look at me.”

I gently raised my head at her urging.

There, sadly, was Irefi’s face bearing traces of the harsh winds of time.

The same body as when we had our worst first meeting. It was Irefi’s form, different from me who maintained an unchanging appearance.

“That’s right.”

She smiled.

A painful smile of knowing.

We don’t know. We can’t know because we haven’t experienced it yet.

Whether it’s a bond formed through adoption or friendship.

When wrinkles increase, eyes close, and eventually bones turn to dust.

We are ignorant about how large a void will be created in the heart of the one left behind.

The relationship between parent and child is said to be special. Therefore, it was unknown how deeply a heart dwelling in an unchanging body would be torn.

It might remain a lifelong wound for someone looking at ordinary people.

“You have me.”

“Irefi.”

“Don’t be too afraid. We’ve managed somehow, haven’t we?”

“Yes. Yeah…”

I am so inadequate.

Conversely, Irefi was too good a partner for me.

I make jokes as I please, get upset as I please, and receive comfort as I please.

If it weren’t for Irefi, I would have long ago…

“Um…”

At that moment, someone’s voice penetrated our world.

“I don’t really understand the situation… but you have me too.”

“Rishecrate?”

“I’m actually quite remarkable, you know? Whatever it is, I might be able to help.”

“Haha…”

This is troublesome.

To receive clumsy comfort from this young child.

This only reinforces my perception of my inadequacy deep in my soul.

“Oh my…”

However, Irefi seemed to have a different opinion.

“Rishecrate is still very young.”

“Y-yes…?”

Tremble tremble tremble tremble…

Rishecrate’s body instinctively begins to generate seismic waves.

“I mentioned it before, didn’t I? Rishecrate’s position comes with many responsibilities.”

“Y-y-yes, but…”

“Then… is it appropriate to carelessly make promises using your position to complete strangers? Is it or isn’t it?”

“I… guess… not…?”

“You understand well.”

“Hehe…”

“So, you understood but still did it anyway?”

“…”

Rishecrate’s eyes gradually roll toward me.

Though my heart was pounding violently, I couldn’t bring myself to look directly at her.

I blamed myself for lacking the ability to protect this virtuous child.

“Repeat after me! Now!”

“I! Will not carelessly make promises to others!”

Far away.

The rote education that could reach all the way to a dragon’s nest built somewhere echoed through the sky.

It was Rishecrate’s pitiful wail.