Mathis Drachen and his fellow Dragonewts bore an appearance that truly seemed as if dragons had been molded into human form. Heads reminiscent of horned lizards, bat-like wings, scales covering their entire bodies, and sharp claws and fangs. It was interesting to note that just like the young dragons we had encountered earlier, there was a variety in the number and shape of horns and wings among them.
Still, perhaps I should say it was surprising that the Dragonewts were dressed in modern clothing. Their weapons consisted of assault rifles, pistols, and knives that were uniformly chosen while their armor appeared to be camouflage uniforms with something akin to bulletproof vests. How did they acquire these? Perhaps they were even making them themselves.
Their appearance was strikingly similar to that of a special forces unit. Notably, their helmets on the sides, the backs of their bulletproof vests, and the trousers of their camouflage uniforms had holes to accommodate their horns, wings, and tails.
“Our weapons are manufactured using machines left behind by the humans who built this building. We also have equipment here for producing ammunition collected from cities so that we can supply our warriors.”
“Is that so…Could we possibly have a tour later?”
“Yes, that would be fine.”
Iris was clearly fascinated by their weapons and she continued to actively engage Mathis with questions even while on the move. It seemed that they were indeed producing these items themselves. She had skillfully secured a promise to tour the weapon manufacturing process after the meeting with the Dragon God was over. She was also a pretty good negotiator.
And where were we at that moment? We found ourselves in the elevator of the aforementioned building. The elevator which ran through the center of the building was encased in glass. That allowed us to clearly observe the various stages of renovation. It appeared that this place served as the dwelling for the Dragonewts.
“Wow, this feels so sci-fi~~!”
“I wonder what kind of materials they’ve used for the construction?”
“Guoo? Grrrru…”
The floor of the elevator was made of a mysterious material that was transparent and colorless, yet soft like a carpet. The strange sensation intrigued most of us, including myself, and we found it amusing. Karl, in particular, seemed to enjoy it and he repeatedly pressed down on it with his feet.
This must be some ancient technology, but it seemed like it would be fun if players could create something like this. I also thought about making it into a bed for Karl. I could already picture his happy face!
“We will soon reach the top floor, where our god resides.”
At the top of this elevator was a being who stood at the pinnacle of the dragon race. I was deeply moved to think that I had finally come this far after overcoming the Trial of the Azure Moon.
“The Dragon God, huh…. Must be strong.” Jigoro said.
“Hey, make sure not to start any fights, alright?”
Even though he had been in battle just moments ago, Jigoro said this with a belligerent smile on his face. I was here to return a drop item to its rightful owner, not looking to make enemies. It was necessary to make that clear.
“Relax, brother. I won’t start anything until you’re done with your errands.”
“That sounds like you’re planning to fight once I’m done…”
“Even though Mr. Mathis and others are right beside us…”
“Hahaha! How spirited! I guess I should say that’s to be expected of those that have been acknowledged?”
Mathis and a few of his subordinates were also in the elevator with us, but they didn’t seem to be angered by Jigoro’s words. Isn’t it strange that they weren’t concerned about someone openly declaring their intent to attack their god?
“There’s no need for concern. Our god is magnanimous and would likely welcome Mr. Jigoro’s challenge.”
“Is that so? Then I too would like a chance to test my mettle.”
“N-not you too, Grandpa…”
Genjuro as well! It seems that he secretly wanted to fight, as he came forward as soon as he knew it was okay to fight. Having such battle-junkies as our companions was very reassuring. But can’t they tone it down a bit?
“Aspiring to greater heights is a noble thing. Now, we have arrived. Please, this way.”
As we were grappling with our thoughts, the elevator dinged and the doors opened. As we stepped out, we were enveloped in a space adorned with magnificent paintings and sculptures. The term “enveloped” was no metaphor; the ceiling, walls, and even the floor served as canvases for paintings and art.
The motifs seemed to be all about records of battles. In one area, humans waged wars using grotesque monsters and gigantic weapons, while in another, dragons and giants engaged in valiant duels, reminiscent of the legendary battles that spanned across ages and cultures. Even Jigoro and Genjuro were overwhelmed and stood with their mouths agape in awe of the space that depicted such epic confrontations.
Despite feeling intimidated by the power of the art, I noticed a massive door about five meters tall right in front of the elevator entrance. Naturally, the wooden door was decorated with color and reliefs, featuring two motifs. The right side depicted a dragon reigning supreme over the corpses of various monsters, while the left showed a beautiful goddess with open arms and a gentle smile.
The golden dragon, with three pairs of wings and four straight horns, was certainly the Dragon God. Its majestic presence combined with an overwhelming sense of divinity was fitting for a being referred to as a god.
As for the goddess, the presence of a holy seal featuring a rose within a black ring identified her as Maria, the “Goddess of Darkness and Pleasure”. She was an exceedingly sexy deity, with her jet-black hair and a tight dress that accentuated her stunning figure. It seemed fitting for a goddess who presided over pleasure. According to Agnasrelim, it was this goddess Maria whose descent calmed the rampaging Dragon God.
Given the presence of reliefs of both the Dragon God and the goddess, I guess this area led to what might be called the “Throne Room”. When Mathis touched it reverently, the door slowly opened. It was finally time to come face-to-face with the Dragon God.
“Shall we go, everyone?”
We stepped forward with equal measures of tension and anticipation. Surprisingly, the room was quite simple, centered around a large table made of what appeared to be fine wood, around which about fifty sleek leather sofas were arranged. Wait, this looks more like a conference room than a “Throne Room”?
“Ah, you’ve arrived. I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Welcome.”
At the head of the table sat two figures. One was the goddess Maria, as depicted on the door’s relief. Contrary to the relief, she was wearing a gorgeous crimson dress and gold ornaments. While the relief’s dynamite figure might have drawn wandering eyes in reality, the shock of the goddess’s actual presence overshadowed any such distractions.
The real puzzle remained. Logically, the only one fit to sit in that seat should be the Dragon God. However, why is there a beautiful boy with blond hair and golden eyes sitting there wearing a soprano suit and speaking in a way that doesn’t suit him at all?
“A-A child?”
“Child? That’s your greeting, wanderer girl. I am Armadelux, known as the mightiest Dragon God in the world!”
At Shishu’s murmur, the boy puffed out his chest with full confidence in his reply. Indeed, it was hard to deny; this must be the Dragon God Armadelux. It was my first time hearing the name, and the casual demeanor left me more unsettled than I had anticipated. I was expecting a more solemn figure.
“It’s an honor to be in your presence….”
“Ah, relax. Formalities aren’t my thing! Also, sit down, that’s what the chairs are for. And Mathis, bring some cushions for those lads, will you?”
“Understood.”
I gathered my wits and attempted to offer a greeting, but Lord Armadelux made a face of displeasure and waved his hand dismissively. It seemed he disliked formalities. He then encouraged us to sit down.
I took a seat closest to the two of them while the others seemed to find places at random. Since Wool and the others didn’t have a humanoid form, they couldn’t sit down. So instead, they settled on cushions brought over by Mr. Mathis. Once we were all settled, I decided it was time to resume our conversation more casually.
“Understood. I am Isam, leader of the ‘Night Walkers’. guild”
“Still a bit stiff, but… fine. Isam, you and your group have come all the way to this remote location and defeated that troublesome fellow. You’ve certainly earned the right to meet with me… but what do you desire?”
Eh? Desire? What does he mean?
“Depending on what it is, I might offer you a reward. You seem to be an acquaintance of that Agna lad, so I’m willing to negotiate to some extent.”
“A reward? Negotiation? What exactly do you mean?”
The “Agna lad” surely referred to Lord Agnasrelim. However, we weren’t seeking rewards or negotiations. Our true purpose was to return an item to its rightful owner and we have journeyed here for that very reason. It seemed there might have been some misunderstanding in our conversation.
“What? What are you talking about? You’re after my treasure, aren’t you? I’ve heard that wanderers are like that from my wife…”
“Your wife? Could it possibly be…”
“Yes, Maria.”
“Ah, she’s your wife, I see.”
This was a shocking revelation. I had assumed that the Dragon God Armadelux had been either persuaded by the “Goddess of Darkness and Pleasure” Maria or forced to give up the search for the sacred treasure. Hence, when I saw them together, I mistakenly interpreted that they reconciled with each other.
However, I was wrong. Far from reconciling, they had become husband and wife. What exactly happened…
“I descended to stop this person from sending dragons to search for the treasure, but then he wooed me. Quite passionately, you know?”
“It was love at first sight. I found something more valuable than any treasure, which made it easy to give up on the stolen one.”
“Oh dear…”
It seemed like it was indeed a case of love at first sight. And here we were, witnessing the divine couple indulging in their affection for one another. The pairing of a beautiful woman and a handsome boy must be a popular genre among some, right?
Setting aside other matters, the source of the misunderstanding between us and the Dragon God became clear. We had journeyed here with a “specific purpose in mind”, but the Dragon God was under the impression that our “arrival was the intended goal”.
Indeed, the journey had been fraught with enough challenges to make such a misunderstanding plausible. However, it was essential to clear up this confusion. While the Dragon Godd seemed to have little attachment to the treasure itself, we must still see to achieving our true objective.
“I have come to this land, not on behalf of us all but for myself, to address the matter of the stolen treasure.”
“What do you mean?”
First, I took out a small cushion that Iris had made for me from my inventory and placed it on the desk. Then, I took out the Dragon’s Jewel and set it on the cushion. Lord Armadelux and Lady Maria were visibly astonished by this and their eyes were wide open.
“The dragon’s jewel has been returned to you.”
“…I see. You came all this way just to return this,”
Lord Armadelux murmured as he gently picked up the Dragon’s Jewel, his fingers caressing its surface and he was almost moved to tears. It must have been precious to him, considering that he had sent his dragon kin on a search for it with a fervor that could have torn the world apart. His eyes, filled with a tender gaze, undoubtedly conveyed a torrent of mixed emotions.
“This puts me in great debt to you… Maria, what do you think I should do to repay them?”
“Well… first of all, yes.”
――――――――――
God Quest: “The Dragon God’s Secret Treasure” has been successfully completed!
You have acquired the skill [Maria’s Blessing].
Your familiar, Karnaghtul, has acquired [Armadelux’s Blessing].
――――――――――
Qu-quest cleared, you say?! But we didn’t even accept one… And [Maria’s Blessing] too? And Karl received [Armadelux’s Blessing] as well… Isn’t this a bit too generous?
“This is my way of saying thanks to all of you. I’ve framed it as a quest reward. Please, consider it a recognition of your great achievement.”
“I’m no goddess, so I can only bestow blessings upon my kin. Sorry about that.”
With those words, Lady Maria winked. As she glanced around at everyone, it seemed that all had received [Maria’s Blessing]. Apparently, Lord Armadelux could only grant his blessing to dragons, and in our group, that meant only Karl could receive it. Had it been possible, it seems he would have extended his blessing to us as well.
“Still, this isn’t enough to satisfy me… Ah, I know; let’s do that. Follow me!”
“My, my… Well then, shall we go?”
As soon as he said that, Lord Armadelux rose and swiftly exited the room. We didn’t know what to do, but Maria urged us to follow him.
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