Ch.259Chapter 259 – What the Dwarves Have Lost (1)

After the commotion that unfolded while surrounded by four women, I decided to move to another location with the real ones.

“Why did you return to Rubrum’s lair?”

“Master Kay’s condition was serious… and the Hatchlings said they could open a warp to return to the lair anytime, so we came back urgently.”

Chris explained quietly.

Then, as if slightly annoyed, she placed her hands on her hips and continued.

“…We struggled tremendously for three days. Both Sera and I. We were anxious that you might stop breathing at any moment, and despite their limited medical knowledge, Beatrice and Asam joined in trying to help…”

“I-I’m sorry.”

I quickly apologized to Chris, but she merely looked up at me with slightly narrowed eyes.

As I looked at her, my gaze gradually drifted downward.

‘…She’s grown.’

I noticed it before, but she’s definitely grown.

I wonder if holy power also helps with physical development.

Chris used to be so flat-chested that she occasionally emitted a terrifying aura toward Sera, but it seems those days are over.

Come to think of it, the way she’s placing her hands on her hips now almost seems like she’s deliberately emphasizing it…

“Kay, you’re thinking something inappropriate, aren’t you?”

“No. Absolutely not.”

Eve’s cold voice quickly brought my thoughts back to normal.

When I looked at her, she sighed lightly and said:

“We were all worried sick about you and couldn’t even sleep properly… you’re too much.”

“I’m sorry.”

“We told you repeatedly not to overexert yourself, yet you did anyway.”

“The situation…”

“Even if the situation called for it, it doesn’t change the fact that you pushed yourself too hard, does it?”

I glanced at Sera, Chris, and Beatrice one by one, hoping for some support.

However, they all seemed to share Eve’s sentiment, as their expressions weren’t particularly sympathetic.

‘I have no allies.’

Feeling a strange sense of loneliness, I quietly lowered my gaze to the floor.

Since I was the one who had caused them worry, I couldn’t bring myself to look them in the eye.

As I hung my head, Eve spoke again.

“…Kay.”

“Yes.”

I answered with a slight tremble, sensing the pressure in her voice.

Eve remained silent for a moment.

An awkward silence gently enveloped our surroundings.

But before long, Eve spoke again.

“…Next time, please value your life more.”

Her voice was slightly cracked.

When I raised my head slightly, I saw Eve turning her face away from me.

“I apologize for getting unreasonably angry. But… thinking that Kay has shortened his lifespan again by overexerting himself, I couldn’t control my emotions.”

“Eve.”

“I… want to stay with Kay longer. The others feel the same way.”

“Please, next time… at least refrain from engaging in battle before recovering your lifespan.”

“Eve.”

Eve said nothing more after that.

Then Sera, who was walking beside me, gently took my hand.

“I also ask this of you, Mr. Kay.”

Sera’s voice cracked as well as she finished speaking.

It seemed they had all been more worried than I thought.

Guilt tightened around my chest, and my head felt even heavier than before.

Then Chris quietly addressed me as I stood there dejected.

“Please listen carefully, Master Kay. From now on… you must really refrain from summoning the dragon armor, at the very least.”

I quietly looked at Chris after hearing her words.

Then I asked softly:

“From the way you’re talking, it seems my physical condition is quite serious.”

“By my estimation, you should now be counting your remaining lifespan in months rather than years…”

Chris took a deep breath before continuing.

“From now on, it’s 2 times.”

“2 times?”

“The number of times you can summon the armor… but…”

Chris looked at me with determined eyes and said:

“If you summon the armor a second time, I truly cannot guarantee your life.”

Chris finished speaking.

The atmosphere around us grew even darker.

‘They all knew.’

They must have discussed this while I was unconscious.

Once again, a heavy silence enveloped our surroundings.

‘2 times, huh.’

According to Chris’s diagnosis, the second use would be fatal.

In other words, I could only summon the dragon armor once more.

‘I really don’t have much time left.’

The extension of life I had barely managed to gain before was coming to an end.

I unconsciously clenched my fist tightly, and I saw Eve and the others exchange glances with each other.

My footsteps felt unbearably heavy.

The air felt unbearably heavy.

After continuing in this heavy atmosphere for several minutes, walking in silence,

we finally emerged into a wide-open space.

“Ah, you’ve arrived.”

[You’ve come, you have.]

Eina and Dvel approached us and spoke.

Behind them, I could see familiar faces.

“Everyone’s safe.”

“Somehow.”

“Dying there would have tarnished the dragon’s name.”

Lirina and Lorona answered.

Besides them, I could see all the members of the lair gathered, including Asam and Perry.

Then Mask approached me and spoke.

“Are you able to walk?”

“Thanks to the good treatment.”

After I answered, Mask nodded.

Then I quietly asked while looking at Mask:

“…The mask?”

“About that.”

Mask showed me the mask they had been wearing all along.

It was a mask showing fragments of what had been cleanly broken in half.

“I got a bit excited earlier and ended up breaking it.”

“I see.”

“I liked it, what a shame.”

Mask sighed as they spoke.

Beautiful blue eyes, which had been hidden behind the mask until now, were filled with regret.

Then Mask suddenly smiled strangely and addressed me.

“Or perhaps it’s a good thing for you?”

“What is?”

“Look. Honestly, wouldn’t you say I’m quite beautiful?”

Mask said while striking a slight pose.

“Isn’t it nice to feast your eyes on a beautiful face? Especially for a man like you.”

Mask chuckled and then looked at all of us.

Soon after, Mask addressed us:

“I understand you all have many concerns, but I think it would be good to shift your thoughts, if only for the sake of my face.”

Saying this, Mask looked at each of us and continued:

“Sometimes it’s best to set aside your worries and divert your attention for a moment. Life can be surprisingly simple at times, and solutions often come easily when you briefly turn away from the problem.”

Mask spoke gently.

At these words, we exchanged glances with each other, and Eve nodded and said:

“…You’re not wrong. Being too downcast isn’t good either.”

Eve sighed as she spoke.

Then she soon smiled slightly and said:

“As Mask said, let’s all calm down a bit. If we keep such gloomy faces, Kay will feel burdened too.”

Eve quietly suggested that we set aside the discussion about my lifespan for now.

Seeing our mood lighten, Mask nodded once and said:

“Shall we begin?”

Then, she addressed the empty air.

“Everyone’s here.”

[Wait.]

A voice echoed in my head.

And shortly after.

Space distorted, and Rubrum, wearing armor, was walking toward us.

[Immature dragon-child, have you awakened?]

“…Thanks to you.”

I had heard from Pia while unconscious that Rubrum had also participated in the healing.

Rubrum nodded silently and made a gesture.

Soon after, a large table and chairs appeared in the spacious area.

[Sit. You need to hear about what happened while you were asleep.]

I carefully nodded and took a seat.

After all members were seated, Rubrum addressed us.

[Besides your physical condition, you haven’t heard about the current situation. Correct?]

“That’s right.”

Rubrum nodded.

Then, he looked at Chris silently, and Chris nodded before speaking.

“…First, about the soul-absorbing formations. With Beatrice destroying one and the Dwarf Knights sacrificing themselves to neutralize the remaining one, the soul-absorbing formation crisis in Ferarius has been resolved.”

“The monsters too, despite many casualties, have somehow been dealt with. Although the extermination isn’t completely finished yet.”

Beatrice added a brief explanation.

“And the Dwarf Kingdom has officially announced that… Master Kay and our group resolved this crisis.”

“Huh?”

Why are we being mentioned there?

When I looked at Eve, she sighed lightly and said:

“…While we did go to resolve the issue at Rubrum’s request, since Rubrum’s existence cannot be publicly announced, the credit has fallen to us.”

“And the holy knights of the Jeoley Order who participated in the capital’s defense have been advertising it extensively…”

“So it was those guys.”

I sighed lightly at Sera’s words.

They ended up saving my life, but I hadn’t expected them to repay me in this way.

Then Eve took a breath and continued:

“Normally we would officially receive compensation, but given Ferarius’s current circumstances, it seems difficult for them to provide payment. So we won’t be receiving compensation from Ferarius right away.”

“That’s unfair.”

However, given the current situation where a major disaster has swept across the entire nation, their financial problems must be severe.

In fact, since we didn’t actually move at the request of the Ferarius Kingdom, it’s a bit awkward to demand compensation all the way.

Still, it’s inevitable to feel some dissatisfaction.

“So our master has decided to add the compensation that Ferarius should pay on top of what he was already going to give you.”

“Really?”

“Of course. In exchange, Ferarius will be even more indebted to our master.”

Lorona’s slightly wicked smile made me a bit concerned for Ferarius’s future.

They already seemed to be at a disadvantage with Rubrum, and now they’ll be even more so.

“The compensation will be bestowed after this conversation ends.”

Lirina added lightly.

I nodded at her words and looked around before asking quietly:

“…Any other notable matters?”

“Well, there’s the matter of Kara.”

Chris said, slightly bowing her head.

“What happened to Kara?”

“Perhaps because the god Emiris appeared directly… she’s just sitting blankly, passing time.”

“I examined her too, and it seems she’s suffered a significant psychological shock.”

Sera said she had prescribed medication and was checking on her regularly.

At that, I gently asked:

“Is Kara in the lair?”

“She’s in one of the guest rooms in the lair. However, she is under surveillance.”

Lorona explained that surveillance was necessary both because she was a patient and because she had been an enemy.

“For now, she’s not showing any hostility toward us, so we’re just monitoring her condition rather than treating her.”

“I see.”

I thought about checking on her myself.

As I wondered if there was anything else, Eina raised her hand.

“And about the Red Knights…”

“What happened to them?”

Eina nodded.

“They’re all in a comatose state, brought here to the lair.”

“Comatose?”

“Yes, comatose.”

Why would they suddenly fall into a coma?

As I pondered this question, Asam stepped forward to answer.

“Based on the remaining evidence, they appear to have been affected by a dragon’s Fear.”

“Fear as in…”

“Yes. The one we all know about.”

A special roar that instills fear in enemies.

More precisely, a roar that stimulates survival instincts.

I think I heard that depending on how it’s used, it can even control monsters.

“Of course, that’s not the only factor. It seems the mind control magic malfunctioned when the will of Emiris, their commander, disappeared.”

“That’s why they all fell into a coma. The brainwashing state will gradually resolve. As a precaution, we plan to move them all to the magic tower later.”

Beatrice added that there, they could be monitored and studied, and like me and Eina, they would all eventually regain consciousness.

Then Asam grinned and said:

“Those Order guys must be having a terrible stomachache right now.”

“…I wonder about that.”

Beatrice responded to Asam’s comment with a slightly dark expression.

“Anyway, Helmet, that’s what happened while you were hovering between life and death.”

“I see.”

I now had a general understanding of what had occurred while I was unconscious.

Then Eve cleared her throat lightly to gather attention and said:

“…For now, we’ve decided to rest for a few days for Kay’s recovery before heading toward the fourth seal.”

“Recovery, huh.”

“Yes, recovery. We all had many tiring experiences here, so I think we should rest a bit before moving on.”

“As for me, Asam, and Eina, we plan to return to our home country in a few days.”

Perry finished speaking.

It seemed that even the future schedule had been somewhat organized while I was gone.

“That’s all we have to share.”

“Do you have any questions?”

Lorona asked with a smile.

Looking at her face, I suddenly remembered something.

‘Come to think of it, I never asked about that.’

It wasn’t about what just happened, but something I’d been curious about for a while.

Since the opportunity presented itself, maybe I should ask now.

“Um, I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“There’s something I’ve been curious about for a while.”

After taking a slight breath, I quietly asked:

“I heard before that the Dwarf Kingdom lost something and Rubrum was greatly angered by it.”

According to information Beatrice had obtained, that was the reason for Ferarius’s isolation.

It was clear that it was something extremely important, enough for the Dwarf royal family to be wary of Rubrum even now, but I hadn’t heard what it actually was.

“What exactly did they lose that made the Dwarf Kingdom so cautious around Rubrum?”

At my question, Lorona turned her gaze to Rubrum.

Then I quietly said to both of them:

“If it’s uncomfortable, you don’t have to answer.”

Originally, the question was based on simple curiosity.

If it was something I didn’t need to know, I could do without hearing it.

It was just a casual question I asked because the opportunity arose.

That’s why I was slightly expecting a refusal.

[There’s no need for that.]

It seemed Rubrum was willing to answer.

And as he raised his massive body, he said:

[What they lost was.]

Rubrum looked down at me and said:

[The hero’s armaments.]