Chapter 116
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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116.
—Hmm, I only called for one.
It was not the Flare Dragon.
It wasn't even in dragon form.
What met my eyes was a woman sprawled languidly across a chaise lounge with armrests on only one side.
—Not bad at all. I do have a fondness for beautiful things.
In her hand she held a long smoking pipe.
There was no smoke rising from it, no flame burning within, not even tobacco ash visible inside, yet it suited the languid atmosphere perfectly.
She rose slowly and settled into a reclined position.
—You certainly possess a strong will. Resisting my power and being dragged here regardless—quite impressive.
She laughed with perfect composure.
And as I heard that voice, I patted Cassian Artez's back beside me.
Unlike myself, who stood unaffected, he clung to me so desperately that he would never let go, cold sweat beading on his forehead as though he'd forgotten how to breathe.
"Could you help us?"
I asked, thinking there was nothing to lose, and she crafted a convincing smile.
—How could I refuse what you desire? Especially since you've taken such a liking to that beautiful one.
With a single wave of her pipe, Cassian Artez's breathing stabilized immediately.
I looked up without ceasing to pat his back, checking if he was alright, only to find him wearing an expression of contentment despite the lingering pain in his eyes.
Had this man's tastes truly become so peculiar? Had my guidance of him gone so wrong?
Had my upbringing of him failed at this point?
As I gazed at him with unfounded anxiety, the dragon burst into laughter.
—You harbor strange thoughts.
"...Do dragons always read people's hearts like that?"
—Not all of us. But I can certainly read the hearts of you and that beautiful one.
I felt oddly wronged.
The dragon laughed again.
—You think in contradictions. Fear not—I have no intention of meddling in such matters.
At the dragon's words, tapping her pipe against the armrest as though brushing away ash, Cassian Artez's harsh expression softened.
What on earth was he thinking?
—Life is most entertaining when shrouded in mystery, key-bearer.
"That's actually what I was curious about."
—Is that so now?
I nodded in agreement at her words.
"Since it's become something I must do, more information is always better. Though it was a different dragon who called for me."
—We too labor under many constraints, child.
She rested her arm on the armrest and leaned back slightly as she spoke.
—You must find it frustrating as well, but we too have waited quite a long time.
"Are you saying there's another dragon waiting for me besides you and Flare Dragon?"
—No, that's not quite it. There are those who have been freed. Unexpected things happen in this world, after all. Truth be told, I myself wasn't without opportunities to escape.
I focused intently on her words.
Flare Dragon had said something similar before.
—Since you freed me from my shackles,
it seemed she too was bound by something.
Could this be connected to the worlds bleeding together?
Even as I exist here, is the original world still turning somewhere else?
If so, are this world and that one separate, or is one of them false?
—Child, you've already arrived at an answer before.
"I've already decided on an answer?"
—Unconsciously, perhaps. But that too is something you must correct.
Both Flare Dragon and she spoke with frustrating ambiguity.
Was this the dragon way of speaking?
I'd find the speech patterns of a typical noblewoman far easier to understand.
At my thoughts, Gaia laughed without dignity, and Cassian Artez regarded me with curious eyes.
"I was thinking that dragons make their words difficult to understand."
"Ah."
Cassian Artez nodded as if in agreement.
—That's too much, both of you. There are two of you, and I'm alone.
Gaia pouted in a manner most unbecoming of a dragon.
Of course, I had no intention of falling for such theatrics.
Instead, I decided to ask what I was curious about.
She showed no sign of limiting my time; rather, her demeanor suggested I could ask as much as I wished.
"You said you could have escaped—why did you stay here?"
—Out of curiosity.
"...About me?"
I wondered if I was being somewhat self-absorbed, but it was the only conclusion I could draw from the available information.
—That's right. I thought you might never appear, but if you did and I failed to meet you, I'd feel cheated.
She laughed refreshingly once more.
—In fact, there are those who do feel cheated. This is why one must see gambling through to the end.
The gambling hotline is 1336..., or rather, it isn't.
You're saying things harmful to young, developing minds.
Gaia spoke as if protesting my inner thoughts.
—Still, there have been occasional beings with similar wavelengths, particularly among those who've come and gone recently—one remarkably alike to you.
At those words, I recalled what I'd been thinking before being dragged here by Gaia.
That Maribel and I shared similar dispositions.
Of course, that didn't mean I thought she was my reincarnation or anything like that.
'Will you confirm that my guess is correct?'
With that thought, I looked at Gaia, and she nodded readily.
-If that were the case, I would have satisfied my curiosity long ago and wouldn't be here at all. It was merely a well-crafted counterfeit, after all.
Still, calling someone else's mother a fake is a bit much.
-That's why I'm keeping it hidden from him. How amusing—you have so many desires.
It's not troublesome?
No matter how I looked at it, living for so long meant everything was entertaining.
I pondered for a moment, then asked her directly.
"Is this place something that was created?"
-There's no place that wasn't created, child. Everything is born from inspiration of some kind, no matter where.
Gaia continued speaking, tapping her pipe habitually.
-The place where you lived is the same. But child, just because something was created doesn't mean it's false, does it?
So was she saying that the original work I saw in my past life was actually from a different world—this world—and was merely turned into a novel?
-That may be close to the truth in some respects. But what's certain is that everything is reality.
"I know that."
Even though I'd mentioned the original work, the reason I could so freely destroy the predetermined route was because I believed this place was reality.
-Yes, so you are the one who holds the key and #@.
Gaia spoke, then covered her face slightly with an expression of regret.
I suddenly realized that her slurred pronunciation was quite similar to the name the Pot Stirrer Slave had used to refer to me.
One was a corrupted character, and the other was a slurred pronunciation, yet strangely similar.
-Time seems to be running short for me as well, so ask your questions quickly.
"How can we prevent the worlds from merging? Should I really trust what those who sent me this scroll said?"
-Well, they're not lying to you. But it's difficult to say it's entirely their fault. Of course, if they'd been less curious, you would have suffered less.
Gaia cast a gentle gaze toward me.
-But human nature is something that can't be helped.
Was this related to the fact that I held the 'key'?
And to the word #@ that had been slurred?
-I've given you quite a few hints.
As always, your words are cryptic.
The word 'inspiration' gives me some idea, but I was hoping it wouldn't be that—it feels too burdensome.
Based on the pattern this world has shown me so far, it was likely another futile hope.
This time, rather than laughing, Gaia simply gazed at me as if offering encouragement.
Ominously.
"Then, can we find those who sent this scroll?"
I wanted to at least grab them by the collar.
-It won't be easy since the axis is misaligned.
"The axis?"
-I'd love to tell you more, but I'm afraid I can't go any further, child.
So I tried to deduce various things in my mind.
Time, space, an entirely different world.
Gaia had merely offered a hint with her gaze—that something existed among them.
Shadows gradually deepened where Gaia sat.
I sensed our exchange drawing to a close.
"Does this Abandoned Mine belong to you?"
-You already know the answer to that. We concern ourselves not with shells.
"Then just one more thing-"
I was curious why she had mentioned dragons being bound.
But she-
-Your straightforward nature is endearing, yet haste breeds misfortune. Do not worry. You shall reach the answers you seek in due time.
Gaia's form grew increasingly translucent.
Watching her fade, I realized we had never even exchanged names.
As I gazed at her, the dragon opened her mouth with evident delight.
-The order seems quite reversed, yet that makes it all the more amusing. I am she who governs the earth.
She gave me a name I recognized—Gaia.
Her voice, now barely audible as her form vanished, resonated in my ears.
-Be cautious. You who hold the key. I pray you transform that power into happiness.
My vision flickered in tandem.
Cassian Artez dissolved first, and soon I too felt myself enveloped in warmth.
Like the earth itself—gentle and eternal.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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