Chapter 199: Overcome
< Chapter 199: Overcome (1) >
As soon as Ai called Ini, I immediately brought up the topic of Time Dragon, Chronos, without hesitation.
"That damn old dragon really"
After hearing that he personally invited us shortly after Ini disappeared, Ini was furious.
"Did he show respect? That odd fellow? That's strange."
When I spoke about our first meeting, Ini marveled with shining eyes.
And when the most crucial topic of the Time Dragon's death came up
"You personally took out Elder Chronos's heart with your own hands?"
"Yes."
Ini looked momentarily furious.
Of course. The Time Dragon had said that Ini was like a daughter to him.
Which means, that to Ini, Time Dragon was like a father. Who wouldn't be furious knowing someone killed such a being with their own hands?
"The reason is obviously the aftereffects you're experiencing you needed his heart to cure the aftereffects of Time Leap."
"Yes."
Nevertheless, Ini displayed extraordinary patience and swallowed her anger.
"Okay"
Ini gently closed her eyes.
It looked like she was mind-controlling, but also seemed as if she was organizing her thoughts. Probably both.
"I roughly get it. I understand that it's something Elder Chronos might do."
About a minute passed.
Ini quietly opened her eyes.
There wasn't a hint of resentment towards me in her eyes.
"You're not resentful?"
I asked out of curiosity.
Is it possible not to resent someone who brought death upon a benefactor?
"I am resentful."
Ini answered with a faint smile.
As expected.
Intellectually understanding is one thing, but emotionally is another. To the Dragon clan, "murder" is like negating their entire life, the utmost disgrace. It's inevitable that she would resent me even a little for giving such a disgraceful death.
"I'm sorr-"
Just when I was about to quietly apologize, Ini covered my mouth.
"Don't apologize. The one I resent is not you, but myself."
Then, she lowered her head in self-reproach as if reflecting on herself.
"The fact that you did the Time Leap and that Elder Chronos met a disgraceful death because of it, in the end, it's all because I couldn't properly stop that bastard."
She bowed her head deeply, her eyes hidden from view.
If it's about not stopping the Demon God, I can understand, but when it comes to the death of the Time Dragon, Ini has absolutely no responsibility.
Had I not done the Time Leap, the Time Dragon would have quietly returned to the embrace of mana.
"To put it bluntly, if you trace the cause like you think, the Demon God is the one most at fault. If the Demon God hadn't started the war, none of this would have happened. That means the enemy who killed the Time Dragon is the Demon God."
"That's"
According to Ini's logic, the initial cause that led to the death of the Time Dragon is the Demon God.
"That's why I'm saying don't blame yourself unnecessarily. Instead, keep thinking. How can we give the Demon God a hard time? How can we put him down? That sort of thing."
I just spouted out things that sounded like what Ini would think about.
"What does it matter if the plan you've built over 7 years falls apart or not? From now on, just make a better plan, right?"
Despite the pain, I desperately moved my aching left hand and placed it on Ini's head.
"If anyone can do it, it's you, Ini, right?"
Saying that I gave a faint smile. The pain was so intense I wasn't sure if I was genuinely smiling, but I was trying to, at least.
"Yes. It's possible."
She seemed to regain some strength.
Ini slightly lifted the corners of her lips.
"Just wait. Within a week, I'll completely analyze the information on the Demon God we obtained this time and come up with a new strategy."
"Alright. I'm looking forward to it."
"Expect it. I'll show you just how exceptional the analytical skills of a Dragon Lord are."
Seeing Ini smile like that was quite a sight to behold.
"Oh, before that"
Ini, seemingly back to her usual self, changed the subject as if she realized something.
"Elder Chronos didn't tell you how to use the Dragon Heart and Dragon Eye, did he?"
"Oh."
I forgot to mention the most important thing.
"He did say to place the Dragon Heart and one Dragon Eye in one place and leave it for a month. I'm not sure if this means simply placing them in the same space, or if there's a special process needed."
"You said he told you to keep them in one place for a month"
Ini stroked her chin.
She seemed to be thinking.
"I think I got it."
"Already?"
The contemplation was brief.
It felt like it didnt even take 5 seconds.
"Of course. I'm a Dragon Lord. When it comes to handling magic power, I'm the strongest on earth. It's a piece of cake."
Her playful arrogance was definitely a sign that Ini had returned to the character I knew.
What a relief.'
I silently let out a sigh of relief.
"So, can I leave these two things with you?"
"Leave them with me."
"Thanks. Here."
Ini quietly received the Dragon Heart and a pair of Dragon Eyes from me.
""
Upon receiving them, the expression on Ini's face looked rather sad.
Holding the Dragon Heart and Dragon Eyes in her hands, Ini quietly closed her eyes.
Then she slightly lowered her head.
She was probably saying a prayer for the Time Dragon.
After a while,
"Chronos' name will be recorded as a disgrace of the Dragon race."
"Is that really necessary?"
Ini nodded her head with a resolute expression.
"That's my duty as the Dragon Lord. I can't make exceptions."
The Dragon Lord with the cold expression described in the original work.
It was a very cold, rational look, reminiscent of that aspect of her personality.
"Oh, and what should we do with the remaining Dragon Eye?"
"You, Ini, should keep that."
When removed, the Dragon's eye hardens into something resembling a jewel.
It's a form perfect for keeping as a relic.
Of course, keeping a part of someone you regarded as a father as a relic does feel a bit odd.
"Really? Then I'll transform it into an artifact for you."
My eyes widened a bit.
"Is that okay?"
"Yes. That would likely have been Elder Chronos' wish."
Ini gave a bittersweet, yet warm smile.
"And you said you needed many artifacts."
"I do."
"A high-performance artifact would be much better, especially if you're going to use it, right?"
"Right."
"If I make an artifact using the eye of an elder-level dragon, undoubtedly, it will be a top-performing artifact. Exciting, right?"
"Indeed."
Honestly, it would be a lie to say I wasn't looking forward to it.
Dragon artifacts are rumored to be of high quality.
Combining the best materials with the best craftsman.
I wonder what kind of artifact will come out.
I truly can't thank Elder Chronos enough, no matter how many times I do.'
I offered another silent thanks to the Time Dragon.
"Well, it looks like our discussion is over. I should be on my way."
Ini rose from her seat.
"Leaving so soon?"
"Yes. I need to start as soon as possible."
Ini carefully placed the Dragon Heart and Dragon Eye into her subspace.
"Take care."
"Don't worry. I won't let you down."
Ini smiled cheekily.
"Oh, and once I start working on this side, Heavenly God and Aqua will be in charge of your rehabilitation training."
"Rehabilitation training?"
"Didn't I mention? Your current physical condition isn't great, so you'll need rehabilitation."
"Can't it be cured with healing magic?"
"If it were that simple, it would have been easier for us. Your body reacts adversely to external magic, which could cause more problems. You've felt it, haven't you?"
"Hmm."
Indeed, my physical condition is not good. Not just my body, my magical circuit doesn't seem normal either.
"Seems I'll need intense rehabilitation."
Fortunately, it feels better than when I first woke up.
But the problem persists.
"I don't know about Heavenly God, but Aqua is an expert in this kind of rehabilitation. You can trust her."
"I'm not particularly worried."
I know very well that Aqua (Ha Si-yeon) is a muscle enthusiast.
Thanks to that fetish, she has deep knowledge about muscles. When it comes to this kind of rehabilitation, she's probably the second-best expert after Instructor Pi Jin Ho.
"And one last thing"
"There's more?"
"This really is the last thing."
Ini reached into her subspace.
"I should've given this when we were talking about artifacts. I got distracted. Here."
Ini pulled her hand out of thin air holding a familiar-looking ring.
The Apellateni Ring'.
"And also, here."
She repeated the motion of putting her hand into her subspace and pulling it out.
With each repetition, new relics popped out.
"What's this?"
The moment exactly 10 artifacts floated in the air, I cautiously asked.
"What does it look like? Artifacts."
Ini, taking out the 11th artifact, smiled softly.
"Didn't you tell me? Your power source is artifacts?"
"Right."
I clearly remember saying that in the Land of Extreme Cold.
"So, I brought these for you."
Watching Ini take out the 12th and 13th artifacts, my mouth hung open in awe.
"I've selected a few for now. Let me know if you need more."
Come to think of it, this place is the Savior's main headquarters.
A central military base.
"There's a warehouse here with all the artifacts you could need, whether it's 100 or 1,000."
It made sense for such a place to have a storage of artifacts.
"In that case"
Looking at the brightly smiling Ini, I took a deep breath to steady my trembling heart.
"Give them all to me."
They're all mine.
Artifacts.
< Chapter 199: Overcome (1) > End.
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