episode_0082

It’s probably not a coincidence that the name Bertain is used.

No, there will be a strong connection.

What are the characteristics of the Bertain family?

She has purple hair and blue eyes.

The dragon claiming to be ‘Bertain’ right now in front of me is… .

“That’s not a claim, that’s my true name.”

Bertain has purple scales and blue eyes.

Let’s say that it may seem that way on the surface.

Even appearance can be a matter of chance.

but.

《Young Berthain. Don’t you feel a sense of relief when you see me?》

Elin’s gaze at the dragon was also unusual.

If there is a wizard who has realized the truth, wouldn’t he have an expression like this?

“… You look hungry.”

But, for an epiphany, something very unexpected came out of my mouth.

《That’s right. As expected from my descendants.》

“… … Yes?”

Let’s put aside for now how that is correct.

“What do you mean descendants?”

“You’re dumber than you look. Didn’t you notice when I told you my name?”

It wasn’t that Luke was stupid.

It is a well-known fact that the family name is derived from the first head of the family.

But isn’t it a grave mistake to say that dragons are the ancestors of humans?

“Then what is your gender?”

《By human standards, she’s a woman.》

“That means.”

oh my god.

The first head of the Bertain family was said to have had sex with a dragon…

“I don’t know what the misunderstanding is, but they really aren’t the ones that came out of my egg.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Luke breathed a sigh of relief.

《The first head of the household just borrowed my power. He was really fine until then…》

Bertain looked into space as if reading a corner of the past.

Luke also knew Berthain’s history very well.

It’s not like Natia, who has a really high nose, talks like that every day.

Because I studied Berthain’s history in order to save Elin.

But as far as Luke knows, the name of the first patriarch is ‘Bertain’.

It means that the name of the dragon in front of you is the same.

“Well, that guy borrowed my name.”

“… … ?”

《Huh? Don’t people these days even know this?》

“Because there are no dragons these days.”

《Well, that’s true.》

Berthain, who was soon convinced, continued speaking.

《To use our power, we must borrow the true name. The first guy put my name in the family as a token of his gratitude to me. However… .》

Ugh.

There was a sound of rocks splitting.

Looking closely, I saw that Bertain was grinding his teeth.

I felt like I shouldn’t let him vent his anger alone, so I gave him a round of applause.

“Now Bertain is corrupted.”

“Yes. Those who don’t know grace have trapped me in this cave.”

I didn’t know there was such a story.

Bertain, who was snorting, looked at Luke and said abruptly.

“Looking at your eyes, you seem to be of Bucklin’s blood.”

“… No way.”

I didn’t ask how he knew.

“He was a guy I was pretty close with.”

I thought you might say something like this.

“… … ”

I opened my mouth blankly.

I never thought I would learn a family secret in a place like this.

Even the Bucklin family was a family that received the power of the dragon.

“Huh, why are you so surprised? Most families were founded by the power of dragons.”

“Then, is there a dragon in Berkeley too… .”

“No. He didn’t become like me. Bucklin wasn’t that weak of a guy.”

“Then why aren’t there any records left?”

“I killed her because she dared to cheat on me. It would have been a bit awkward to record that.”

“… … ”

《You said you’d only look at me your whole life…》

“Oh, I see.”

I cut off my words without answering.

Even the most calm person couldn’t help it.

It’s also shocking that his ancestors received the power of an ancient being.

Another ancient being is said to have killed it.

…and that too because of love.

《Please don’t do that. Originally, Berthain only looked at one person.》

“Yes? Yes. Okay.”

I don’t know why I’m telling Luke that.

For a moment, I nodded.

《Anyway. I’m hungry, just like the kid said.》

“Are you going to eat us?”

《Hmm… I’m thinking about it.》

Bertain made a sound that brought back his appetite.

But Luke didn’t use any defensive magic.

“Why are you just sitting there? Are you just going to be my food?”

“There’s no point in resisting. I was wondering how I could fill your stomach.”

《That boring guy… … .》

Bertain was disappointed.

There are bound to be humans who get sucked into caves like this once every hundred years.

Among them, the wizards always pretended to be noble.

The only joy in life was seeing guys who had been bragging all sorts of things panic and beg for their lives after telling a few jokes.

But Bucklin’s descendants had nothing particularly surprising to say, aside from the story of their ancestors.

“Wise Bertain. Then, do you also know about the curse that has been placed on the princess?”

Rather, he is shamelessly asking questions.

Luke should be grateful.

If Bertain hadn’t liked such an insolent person, he would have died screaming on the spot.

“Of course I know. It must be a curse that has been placed on this body.”

“Then, can I release it by defeating Bertain?”

“Why? If I say so, will you attack me?”

“… … ”

Luke swallowed hard.

I never thought the day would come when I would have to fight a dragon.

If it’s for Elin, then that’s enough…

Kuk.

From behind, Ellen pulled Luke’s collar.

“What are you going to do…?”

Ellen looked at Luke as if she was looking at a crazy person in the world.

Of course, it was true that it was that dangerous.

It actually hurt my heart to receive this gaze from Elin.

“There’s an easier way to lift the curse than killing me.”

“Can I ask what it is?”

“I’ll solve it myself.”

Bertain continued, grinning.

“But I’m so hungry I don’t feel like doing that.”

“What would you like to eat? Just tell me.”

Seeing Luke’s attitude suddenly become more polite.

Bertain laughed in vain, as if he found it ridiculous.

* * * * *

It’s no longer important to get out of here.

If Elin’s curse really involves an ancient being like a dragon.

It is almost impossible to solve this problem with human power alone.

So now I had to get Bertain’s help somehow.

“Actually, I’m not hungry. To be exact, I can’t be hungry if I’m here.”

“You clearly said you were hungry earlier… .”

“Yeah, I’m hungry.”

“… … ”

Luke looked at Berthain quietly.

If we were to interpret the meaning, it would be something like, ‘What on earth do you want me to do?’

《Kill Kill Kil…》

Bertain laughed vulgarly.

After being locked in a dark cave for hundreds of years, the loneliness seemed to have become severe.

“Then what should I eat?”

Luke, with his head down, asked calmly.

Unless you bring me something I want to eat.

It doesn’t seem like they’ll let me go anyway.

“This body eats mana.”

“What is that?”

《I’ll tell you in advance. I can’t eat the mana inside this.》

Luke was going to ask that anyway.

It’s so full of mana that it’s hard to use space magic.

Then what on earth do you want?

“Bring me some condensed mana that’s easy to eat.”

“… I have no idea. Could you give me an example?”

“A little Berthain would be a good fit.”

Luke frowned.

But Bertain exhaled as if this was no joke.

《Looking at it, it doesn’t seem like you ate enough mana. Where else could you find something more condensed than that?》

“The princess has never taken mana.”

“That can’t be. The curse I put on you is a curse that consumes mana. Everything will be condensed in it.”

“… eat?”

Luke looked at Elin.

To be exact, the mana heart inside it.

Actually, it was strange from the beginning.

Even if it is a curse, it is impossible to completely erase mana from the world.

I wonder if it would be better to send it to another dimension.

However, Elin’s curse consumed all the mana in the surrounding area.

What if it wasn’t destroying it, but storing it within a curse?

Although it cannot be explained by modern magic.

If it’s ancient magic used by dragons, then there’s no reason it wouldn’t work.

“He’s not as stupid as he looks.”

Bertain’s words were no different from Luke’s thoughts being correct.

“So now you’re saying you’re going to eat Bertain’s descendants?”

Luke hid Elin behind his back.

Elin’s hands, which were holding onto her collar tightly, were trembling.

“Well, I said it was good to eat, I never said it had to be that little guy.”

“… … ”

If that’s what you’re saying, then there must be another way.

Luke closed his eyes and fell into thought.

Where on earth can I find condensed mana?

Mutant creature?

They also have a curse similar to Elin’s, so they may have condensed mana.

I don’t know if Bertain would like it if I collected the corpses of mutant creatures and gave them to him… .

“Even if you eat something like that, it won’t get you anywhere, so don’t prepare it.”

Bertain, with a serious expression, wrinkled his nose.

“It smells pretty good outside where you came in.”

“… Ah.”

For a moment, I remembered the cave I was in before I was sucked into the portal.

“Then, can I go outside for a bit?”

“Okay. I’ll let you go if you promise to get me something to eat.”

“I will do that.”

Luke spat it out for a moment and then thought about it.

No matter how you look at it, it’s a problem that has no answer here.

“But if you don’t bring me a satisfying meal, you’ll be stuck here. ”

“Forever?”

“Yeah. You’ll live here forever listening to my jokes.”

It’s terrible.

That is a future I absolutely do not wish for.

《Or, offering up Bertain’s little one is another option.》

“I’ll be back soon. Please open the portal.”

《Kilkil… Okay, I understand.》

Bertain blinked.

Wheeing-

At that moment, a portal opened where the gust of wind had struck.

《The deadline is one day only. Until midnight tomorrow.》

“Yes? Mr. Bertain. That’s too short―”

“Just go and have a go.”

Shu-

Berthain forcibly closed the portal and chased Luke out.