TDAA Ch 15

And that night, as the pitch-black darkness completely swallowed the city and silence enveloped it, a small bird soared into the night sky. Flapping its small wings, the reddish-brown bird darted surprisingly quickly towards the high altitude. Only after it had risen beyond the clouds, to a point where its presence was difficult to detect from the ground, did the bird slow down and reveal its true form.

Beep-

What appeared was a giant bird with reddish-brown feathers. Having regained its original form, its massive figure looked like the king of birds.

As if lingering, he hovered in the air and slowly scanned the city below.

He had endured and waited patiently while staying in Eorzen’s city. And today, when Muriel came down to the Knights’ building and spoke of the events that were expected to unfold in the human lands, he knew it was time.

If such a thing was happening, the outer defenses of the country would inevitably be weakened.

His city, Marsiga, would be the same.

Soon, as he made up his mind and began to accelerate towards Marsiga, the sun began to rise behind him. The rising sunlight struck the bird’s feathers, giving them a burning hue.

⋆୨🔮୧⋆

“Hmm… I think this is good enough to be sold.”

The prosthetic leg, which Burdril claimed to have created after working all night with fellow researchers, was similar in form to the one Siol made, but it was more user-friendly. For example, patches were attached to the bottom for easy climbing on cliffs or trees, and the claws could be attached and detached, allowing only the worn parts to be replaced.

Indeed, things like these become more convenient when there are various opinions. Siol lightly admired it.

“Yay! Then shall we start accepting applicants?”

“Yes. At this level, I think hiding it away and continuing research won’t be as effective as getting user reviews.”

“Finally!”

“Um… Can I ask you a favor? Actually, there’s someone I’d like to make a prosthetic leg for first….”

“Hmm? Other than Ryufen? Who is it?”

Siol recalled the little wolf, Edot, whom he had met in the square.

Edot was the child who made Siol realize that the harm his creation had caused to this world was not over and was still continuing. If he hadn’t heard the story about the child’s uncle, he might not have immediately thought of making a prosthetic leg for Ryufen when he lost his leg.

So, he wanted to repay him, even a little.

“I met a child named Edot before, and I heard his uncle was a hunter who lost his leg to a landmine.”

“You don’t know anything other than the kid’s name?”

“Yes. I only met him once. Will it be hard to find him?”

“No! It’s Master’s first request, so I must fulfill it. Don’t worry!”

“Stop calling me Master!”

Even though Siol glared and spoke, Burdril didn’t get hurt or discouraged, only smiling brightly.

Could alchemy be that enjoyable? Of course, Siol also loved alchemy very much, but Burdril was a bit extreme.

“Hmm. Then, can I consider myself recognized as an alchemist to some extent?”

He nudged Siol’s side while asking subtly, and Siol chuckled.

“I’ll acknowledge you as a low-level alchemist.”

“Yay! Then what do I have to do to become intermediate level?”

“You have to make good trades with the world.”

At Siol’s firm condition, Burdril slumped onto the desk.

Since he first learned about trading with the world, Burdril had gathered various metal materials and herbs and repeatedly attempted trades under various conditions. However, no matter what he did, what was left for Burdril after the trade was only a small amount of the result, about 1/6.

“The varying quality of the results is probably because Burdril requested trades haphazardly without a specific goal in mind. It can’t be helped at first. You don’t know what you can make.”

“Yeah, so I’m writing down all the ingredients and results. If I know, I can make it again later!”

“That’s right. As for the small quantity – I think the deliveryman is being a bit spiteful. In these cases, building rapport is important. And the most effective way to build rapport is bribery. Since you don’t know what the deliveryman likes, try offering various things.”

“Building rapport is important, huh….”

Burdril muttered, as if his curiosity was piqued. There was no answer to this. He had no choice but to try various things and give lots of gifts, like playing a dating sim. If it were the deliveryman of this world, Siol could have given advice, but since it was a deliveryman from another world, which Siol was also seeing for the first time, Burdril had no choice but to learn through trial and error.

While they were seriously discussing what gifts to try, Ryufen jumped in through the window that was open for ventilation.

“Captain, it’s an emergency!”

“What happened again?”

As Eorzen put down the document he was reading and asked, Ryufen hurriedly replied.

“Asios of Marsiga has run away!”

“…What?”

“Ah, I’m talking about Asios, whom the lord of Marsiga entrusted to us. He was acting a bit strange yesterday after hearing from Muriel about the rebellion in the human lands, and he was gone this morning. He must have gone to rescue his father.”

Eorzen’s face contorted.

Marsiga, the city bordering the human lands, was the first land to be invaded by the human king. Just before his land was taken, he sent his eldest son, Asios, to Eorzen, and Eorzen had him join the Knights and looked after him.

Naturally, it was one of the cities to be reclaimed this time.

It was only a matter of time, regardless of the order, once it was decided which city to attack first today, but he couldn’t wait and ran off.

“Ryufen, you go down immediately and get the Knights ready.”

“I’ve already told them. They’ll be preparing already.”

“Good. Then we’ll leave right away.”

Then Ryufen started running down the mountain, jumping out the window first.

As Siol stared blankly at the rapidly unfolding situation,

“Let’s go, Sizool.”

Eorzen extended his hand as if it were natural. Siol, surprised, stared blankly at the hand before hesitantly taking it. Eorzen pulled him into an embrace. When Siol came to his senses after being whisked away, he was already in Eorzen’s arms, running alongside Ryufen.

Ryufen, seeing Siol, exclaimed in shock.

“No, are you planning to take Sizool to the battlefield?”

“Should I leave him with Burdril then?”

“…Let’s take him.”

⋆୨🔮୧⋆

Marsiga, the city bordering the human nation, was the first city plundered by humans.

There were reasons, albeit not excuses, for bearing such disgrace. The lord of Marsiga had just begun various exchanges through an agreement with the previous human king. Humans mainly exported plays, music, and spices, which were rare in the beastmen’s land, while beastmen mainly exported weapons and tools made from bones, leather, and tendons obtained from monsters.

This exchange enriched both sides. Humans and beastmen had what the other lacked, and both sides found it interesting.

When the lord of Marsiga heard that the human king had died, he worried about whether this exchange could continue. However, the new king reassured the lord, saying he would uphold the previous king’s will. Thus, the peaceful exchange continued.

Then one day, humans announced they would present a new play at a large newly built theater in Marsiga. Only invited guests could enter the theater, and the guest list was quite impressive. It seemed as though all the warriors who followed the lord and all the renowned fighters occupied the seats.

Asios whispered to his father sitting next to him.

“Father, what’s the play about today?”

“Well, seeing as they’ve gathered all the warriors here, it might be a rather grand heroic tale.”

“I’m looking forward to it! Humans are good at coming up with stories.”

Then, the director of this theatrical troupe, sitting across from the lord, Period, smiled slyly and said.

“You won’t be disappointed. I’ve prepared diligently for this play.”

“Can’t you tell me a little bit about the story before it starts?”

As Asios clung to Period’s lap and leaned towards the director, begging, the director appeased him with a troubled look.

“The story is about to begin, wouldn’t it be better to wait a little and see the play?”

“Just a little. Please? You can just tell me how it starts.”

“But….”

Asios abruptly shifted into his animal form. A tiny bird lay sprawled on Period’s lap, kicking its feet wildly.

“If you don’t tell me, I’ll stay a bird forever!”

“Oh dear… Asios. What is this behavior?”

Period scolded him in a flustered tone, but Asios covered his face with his wings and continued to kick his slender feet, throwing a tantrum. Asios at that time was the very embodiment of a spoiled and self-centered prince. Period wasn’t the type to strictly discipline his son, so there was no way to soothe the precious lord’s only son once he started throwing a tantrum.

Eventually, Period sighed deeply and gave the director a pleading look.

“…Well, I suppose I have no choice. I’ll tell you a little. You mustn’t ask for more. Understood?”

“Okay!”

As Asios nodded, still lying on Period’s lap, the director began the story.

“This play is a story about humans and beastmen confronting an evil lion. When the evil lion began to rampage and attack the surrounding cities, the humans and beastmen resolved to defeat it together. They decided to join forces and find peace.”

Oh, it’s a story about humans and beastmen getting along. That’s boring.

Asios was a little disappointed but didn’t complain. The director continued his story.

“…Thus, the two heroes succeeded in driving the lion into a cave. Killing the lion was now only a matter of time. The beastman transformed and bit the lion’s neck, shaking it and tearing it to shreds. At that moment, the human hero began to think. Why should I share this achievement with a beastman? In his eyes, the evil lion and the beastman didn’t look much different. Both were merely savage and violent beasts. So, the human hero stabbed the beastman in the back.”

“What kind of story is that? Savage and violent?”

Asios, bewildered by the insulting turn of the story, lowered the wings he had been playfully covering his face with. Then, he gasped and froze. His proud father, Period, was stiff as a wooden doll, his eyes fixed downwards on Asios. His arms twitched intermittently, but his joints didn’t move. It wasn’t just his father. All the warriors filling the theater were motionless. Amidst the darkness, only their eyes darted around noisily.

The director picked up Asios, who was staring blankly at Period in fear. The small bird barely filled his hand.

“Oh dear. It seems this act doesn’t work on transformed beastmen.”

Only then did Asios become aware of the smoke filling the surroundings. The cloud-like smoke had a sickeningly sweet smell.

“Keugh…Haaaaaaaa!”

Period suddenly let out a rough yell. Expelling the energy that had bound his body with the shout, Period, with jerky movements, roughly snatched Asios from the director and placed the signet ring he’d been wearing on his thumb onto Asios’s neck. Then he flung Asios towards the window.

Kwang! Asios, though small, had a sturdy body, and he crashed through the window and flew out. Asios flew back to the window, clinging to the frame and shouting,

“Father!”

“Go! To the dragon, the blue…dragon…go…”

Period, frozen in the same posture as when he threw Asios, couldn’t finish his sentence and froze completely, even his face. But his eyes spoke powerfully to Asios. Leave this place immediately.

“Damn it! Catch that bird!”

The small bird flew into the sky, crying. While his mind was in chaos, only his father’s words guided him.

And so, the small bird, having neither eaten nor slept for a week, flew with the lord’s signet ring around its neck to the embrace of the blue dragon, heralding the beginning of this war.

The grown bird was no longer small, nor was he the crybaby or the spoiled brat he once was.

He trained diligently in the Knights’ Order under the blue dragon, and now he was a recognized knight, a powerful warrior on the battlefield, and in the Death Squad, a stealthy assassin who, miniaturized, could approach the enemy’s nose without suspicion. His diligent pursuit of strength stemmed solely from his determination to reclaim Marsiga and rescue his father.

As soon as he heard that the humans were starting to withdraw their troops, he couldn’t stop thinking about going back. It was obvious, without even needing to think about it, that the blue dragon would start moving to reclaim the lost cities, but the thought of the order of reclamation was bleak. There were at least three or four cities taken by humans between Eorzen’s city and Marsiga.

Marsiga’s turn would likely be the very last.

But would the humans really just abandon those cities as they withdrew their soldiers?

Could his father survive until then?

The burning city, the collapsed walls, the corpses strewn across the streets… these horrific scenes wouldn’t leave Asios’s mind.

He closed his eyes in bed, but when he came to his senses, he was already soaring.

Asios covered the distance, which took him over a week as a child, in a single day.

However, the Marsiga he arrived at was not what he had imagined.

Although it was full of collapsed and damaged buildings, the scene of clearing the rubble in the square, picking up the scattered trash, and wiping away the traces of blood and ash was full of life. There wasn’t a single human on the streets, only beastmen moving around with a sense of urgency.

Asios spotted Period on one side of the square and ran towards him.

The man, turning around as the shadow approached, was terribly thin compared to the past, but he was alive. He hadn’t lost any part of his body and had the same shining eyes as before. Asios, flying towards his father whom he hadn’t seen in so long, transformed into his human form just before landing and jumped into his embrace.

“Father!”

“…Asios, is that really you?”

Period hugged his son, who was completely different from when he last saw him, tightly once, then, as if in disbelief, grabbed his head, pulled him back, and checked his face. The body four times larger and the expression completely different from his innocent childhood, but he could see his son’s face in that tearful expression.

“Oh my god…! To see you again, truly…!”

Period couldn’t continue speaking as he hugged Asios tightly again.

⋆୨🔮୧⋆

“Wait, isn’t that guy one of the blue dragon’s subordinates?”

A man stood in a dark space where the surroundings were barely distinguishable.

In a space that resembled nothingness, where left and right, up and down were indistinguishable, the man walked slowly with slow steps. Each time his foot landed, a firefly-like light flickered and then faded in the seemingly empty space. The large, circular, ornamented staff he held emitted a pale light intermittently.

Suddenly stopping, the man lightly tapped the floor with his staff, and light began to spread like ripples from that point.

A forest, a sea, a grassland, and the sky appeared and disappeared in turn on the ripples. After countless repetitions, reflecting different landscapes, the floor suddenly stopped.

The scene of the blue dragon and his subordinates preparing for camp was reflected there. Eorzen, sitting on a rock and reading a book, quickly caught someone who slid against his back around the waist. Wanting to see who was leaning on this usually reserved man, he moved closer, and Eorzen turned his head and glared at him.

And the next moment, the spell that had been reflecting another location lost its light and disappeared.

“Oh dear…This is troublesome.”

However, the man’s face was filled with joy rather than trouble.

The man’s eyes were deeply dyed with greed.

⋆୨🔮୧⋆

“But how did this happen?”

Asios asked after sharing a long and joyful reunion with his father. The city’s situation was incomprehensible. Until just recently, the city had been occupied by humans, but now there wasn’t a single human left, only beastmen remaining to restore the city. And they were moving freely around the city!

To Asios, who had only returned before something happened, hoping to see Period’s face one last time, the current situation was completely unexpected.

“The humans left. I don’t know the reason…but they suddenly left everything behind. Without any explanation.”

“…I roughly know the reason, Father. I heard there was a rebellion in their homeland. I came knowing they would leave. But…like this….”

“You didn’t expect them to leave so peacefully.”

Period spoke for Asios, who was struggling to find the right words.

“Yes. That’s exactly it. I definitely thought they would completely destroy the city before leaving.”

At those words, Period lowered his head and remained silent for a moment. Then, as if unwilling but unable to hide it any longer, he unbuttoned his jacket, revealing his thin neck. A thick leather collar was fastened around it. Not a collar worn for fashion, but a collar used to restrain and lead an animal. Sharp metal protrusions were embedded around its circumference. A ring was attached near his Adam’s apple, and a long leather strap dangled from it.

What a horrific sight this was.

Asios stared at the collar, speechless.

“Every single beastman in this city is wearing this collar.”

“I’ll…I’ll take it off for you. Why are you wearing something like that…!”

“Asios, calm down.”

“What do you mean, wearing something like that, like an animal?!”

“Asios!”

“I’ll, I’ll take it off for you!”

Since there were no visible seams on the collar, Asios drew the sword from his waist and thrust it towards Period’s neck without hesitation. To anyone else, it would look like he was about to behead his father, but Asios was confident he could cut the collar without inflicting even a scratch on him.

However, before Asios’s hand could reach the collar, Period roughly swatted it away.

“Stop it!”

“Father…?”

Period exhaled roughly, his face pale. Asios stared blankly at him panting, then sheathed his sword. Period’s hunched shoulders trembled faintly.

After panting for a moment, as if choosing his words, Period finally reached for the collar with a trembling hand, his expression resolute. A crackling sound followed, and Period flinched. A smell of burning flesh began to waft through the air.

Period swallowed the pain in his throat and met his son’s gaze. A bewildered look stared back at him.

“This is an alchemical tool. If anyone touches it, this happens.”

A bitter smile followed.

How foolish he had been to think the humans had left peacefully. They had simply put collars on their slaves to remind them of their status and temporarily released them. They granted this small freedom to ensure they wouldn’t die while unattended, so they could return after suppressing the rebellion and seize these collars again.

The reason they hadn’t burned the city was undoubtedly because they still considered it their possession, even if they were leaving for now.

“Why…why do humans use alchemy so horribly.”

“Isn’t alchemy inherently horrible?”

“No!”

Asios shouted forcefully.

“There’s an alchemist in Lord Eorzen’s city. That person doesn’t create such horrible things. On the contrary…!”

When he went all the way to Marvellon to rescue the beastmen, including Muriel, who were being dragged away in the transport procession, the fortress defense system he encountered there was a horrifying alchemical device. When it tore Ryufen’s leg to shreds, he couldn’t help but curse its wicked power.

However, after seeing the young alchemist named Sizool holed up in the laboratory making a prosthetic leg, Asios changed his mind. The alchemy that killed people and the alchemy that created Ryufen’s leg were ultimately just tools.

“That person would surely be able to remove it.”

“There’s an alchemist in the blue dragon’s city?”

“I’ll send a message asking if he can come. He’ll definitely come if we say we need help.”

“Well, I can’t trust that.”

Period, who had been treated like a slave by alchemical tools since the war began, expressed intense distrust. Asios suddenly realized that the face filled with anger and distrust no longer held the lord of Marsiga he once knew. Just as Period’s body had become frail after a decade of exploitation, so too had his spirit faded.

But what did it matter?

The fact that he was the father who had loved Asios dearly during his childhood remained unchanged, and so did the fact that he had used superhuman strength in his final moments to send Asios out of the theater. It was natural for them to feel estranged, given the time they hadn’t spent together. Period might also be feeling a greater sense of disconnect than Asios realized. His only son, who used to be all about acting cute and playful, had appeared as this large, grown man.

“You’ll see when you meet him, Father.”

“…What did he make?”

Period asked, picking up the rubble on the ground and putting it into a nearby basket. It was a step back.

“He made a prosthetic leg for the Vice-Captain. He lost his hind leg, but now he fights even more fiercely than before. He even says since it’s not a real leg, it’s okay if it gets a little damaged.”

“A prosthetic…leg.”

“He often gets scolded for it, but the Vice-Captain just doesn’t give up.”

“Alchemy is a human skill…who taught him?”

“I heard he was kidnapped by the Alchemist of Death when he was very young.”

Asios said, picking up stones and putting them into the basket alongside his father. He was squatting down, moving stones, and didn’t notice that Period, who had stood up at some point, was staring at him with cold eyes from behind.

“The Alchemist of Death?”

“Yes. They found the Alchemist of Death’s cabin and found him there. It’s fortunate they could rescue him.”

“Don’t tell me they brought a human here and protected him?”

“No way! He’s a wolf. A very small and cute wolf.”

“A young wolf…”

“Yes, I heard he’s about fifteen years old.”

Asios, having filled the basket, stood up with it and turned around, and Period, his face back to a smile, said,

“It’s reassuring to have your help. Thank you for coming.”

“It’s nothing. Where should I take this, Father?”

Period guided him to the place where they were collecting the rubble.

The beastmen were collecting and organizing rubble, broken wood, and food separately. They sorted through the gathered materials and food, separating what could be used from what had to be discarded, and moved some to places that needed immediate repair.

The most important place in every city was the ‘Tower of Survival,’ followed by the large square built near the tower. The protective barrier originated from the Tower of Survival. A city that lost its lord was bound to lose its protective barrier, but even then, the square was an exception. Thus, from long experience, the beastmen had developed the habit of gathering in the square surrounding the Tower of Survival whenever they felt threatened.

“We plan to create a livable environment near the Tower of Survival where everyone can stay together, and then restore the shopping district on the main street.”

“Not the houses?”

“Everyone has lived without homes for too long. To the point where being alone is unsettling.”

“…I see….”

Asios quietly nodded, pretending not to see the protective barrier above flickering and then strengthening again.

There was so much to fix in this city. Except for a few buildings where humans had lived, most were dilapidated and broken beyond recognition, having not been repaired for a long time. From the paving stones to the smallest signs, everything was the same.

But the first thing that needed fixing was the lord of this city, Period.

The fact that the Tower of Survival, which maintained the protective barrier in response to the lord, was losing its form, even momentarily, meant that the connection with the lord was unstable. Although unprecedented, if this connection were to break, all the residents of this city would be trapped in the square.

It was clear that his broken heart wasn’t properly connecting with the Tower of Survival.

And for that, the most crucial thing was to remove that dog collar around his neck.

Asios called a small bird and asked it to deliver a note detailing the situation here to the blue dragon. Sizool wouldn’t ignore this situation. And if Sizool came to this land, the blue dragon, who cherished that child, would surely come along.

⋆୨🔮୧⋆

Magic? Alchemy? Or some lost ancient technology?

Siol involuntarily clung tightly to Eorzen’s chest at the sight unfolding before him.

Magic was fluctuating wildly. The movement of magic, like a storm or a whirlwind, scratched and swirled around them. Anyone who didn’t know anything about it might not understand, but anyone who knew even a little about magic or spells and could sense magic couldn’t help but fear it.

Eorzen, as if understanding Siol, embraced him and stroked his back.

“Lord Eorzen, is that the protective barrier?”

“Yes.”

Unbelievable. How could something so ferocious be called by that name?

A name like magic storm or magic vortex would be more fitting. Siol could feel his own internal magic fluctuating and being disturbed by the violent magic movements. How could the blue dragon maintain his composure amidst this chaos?

Siol suddenly thought that the reason the blue dragon didn’t live in another city but started life on a bare mountainside might be due to the ferocity of the protective barrier. For a dragon sensitive to magic, living near this magic storm would be like living on a yacht in a stormy sea.

Glancing up, Eorzen pressed his cheek against Siol’s forehead.

“It’ll be alright soon. Once you get inside the city, it becomes peaceful.”

“Like the eye of a storm?”

“Yes, like the eye of a storm.”

Judging by the current sight, it was impossible to believe those words, but if the blue dragon said so, it must be true.

Siol observed the violent magic movements from the safety of Eorzen’s embrace.

The fact that it had a name, protective barrier, and that there was a lord maintaining it, meant that this magic storm wasn’t a natural phenomenon but something artificial. What principle did the Tower of Survival operate on that allowed it to artificially create this massive magic storm? Siol stared at the protective barrier with greedy eyes.

If asked if he could create something like this, he could only answer with a serious “impossible.” But it might not be absolutely impossible.

He had never even imagined it before, but if someone had created this—and if it was a human—who besides Siol in this era could possibly do it? If he couldn’t, then no one could.

Leaning on Eorzen, Siol continued to observe the magic storm with eyes filled with curiosity and greed. Where and how did it originate, how did it claw at the surroundings, and how did such a vast amount of magic sweep the area while maintaining its form without scattering into nature?

And as they slipped through the wind and entered the protective barrier, he closed his eyes tightly without realizing it.

When he opened his eyes, a peaceful city unfolded, so different from the outside that it was hard to believe.

Overall, it was a somewhat old and dirty city, but not entirely dilapidated. Shabby beastmen were working with hopeful faces, and smoke from cooking fires rose here and there.

They flinched and cowered defensively at the sight of Eorzen’s group suddenly appearing.

“I read it in the note, but…the humans really have retreated.”

“…We’ll take a closer look, just in case. They might have pulled some kind of trick.”

Ryufen, scanning the surroundings with a suspicious look, reported and then disappeared with his subordinates.

His suspicion was natural. Eorzen hadn’t dismissed the idea that something was amiss. Even if they had put ‘collars’ on the beastmen, completely evacuating the city was against their interests. If they had completely annihilated the city and taken everything inside, it would have made sense.

But they hadn’t.

Above all, they hadn’t taken the ‘beastmen.’ They left behind the very ‘beastmen’ that the human king and the royal alchemist Nathaniel had repeatedly targeted by invading the beastmen’s land. He needed to understand why they abandoned the ‘weapons’ they could have used in their civil war.

“Lord Eorzen, it feels…strange.”

Siol whispered, tugging at Eorzen’s shoulder.

“It feels like something is pressing down. Don’t you feel it?”

“I feel it too. A vague sensation I can’t quite describe….”

“It’s like a mirage. It’s there, then it’s not, and it’s not, then it is….”

Magic waves flickered in and out of existence around them, confusing his senses.

“Perhaps it’s because the protective barrier is unstable.”

“Why is the protective barrier unstable?”

“Well, perhaps….”

Eorzen, his face darkening, was about to continue when a muscular man with his shirt off appeared, running towards them with a small, thin man on his back. Siol jumping out of Eorzen’s arms and them arriving and setting down the person they carried happened almost simultaneously.

“Thank you for coming, Captain!”

This man was Asios, the protagonist of the runaway incident.

Siol, who had followed along after only hearing that someone had run away and they needed to rescue him, finally understood who he was. It was the giant bird who had carried Ryufen back to the city when he was injured, and who had taken Siol to the castle on the mountain when Ryufen woke up.

“But you came so quickly. I sent the message the evening before last, how did you get here already?”

“You idiot. We left right after you ran away from home, Asios.”

“Yes? Yes?”

Eorzen clicked his tongue and offered a handshake to the thin, middle-aged man standing next to Asios.

“Lord of Marsiga, Period. We finally meet face to face.”

“Blue Dragon, Eorzen. Thank you for protecting my son all this time.”

“Asios has been a valuable asset to our Knights.”

As Asios smiled shyly, Eorzen added,

“It would have been better if he hadn’t caused incidents like this one.”

“…I’m sorry…”

As a dejected Asios apologized, Eorzen nodded lightly.

In truth, what he had done wasn’t something to be so easily forgiven and overlooked. The Knights, compared to Earth, were like soldiers. Not just ordinary soldiers, but officers or special forces. Just as a soldier leaving his post without permission is a serious crime of desertion, the same applied to the Knights.

However, Eorzen decided to let it go with a mere mention in front of Period, for his sake.

“More importantly, Lord, I must ask for your understanding. My subordinates have gone to check the city for any traps left by the humans…”

“…I understand. I also suspect there’s a reason for their sudden departure.”

“Whatever the reason, I will help ensure this land is never taken by humans again.”

“Thank you.”

Despite his pale complexion, his face showed firm resolve. From that look, Siol could guess what kind of warrior this man had been before he became so emaciated.

“To do that, your health must be restored first, Lord.”

As Eorzen spoke gently, Period gave a bitter smile, as if understanding the hidden meaning behind his words.

“You’ve seen the instability of the protective barrier. As lord, maintaining the protective barrier is the most basic of duties, and I am ashamed that I have become unable to fulfill it.”

“I have no doubt that you will become a fine lord again soon. Of course…”

Eorzen said, placing a hand on Siol’s shoulder as he watched their conversation with curious eyes.

“My alchemist will help you.”

“Hello!”

Siol, having reflexively greeted him, took a deep breath, puffed out his chest, and froze stiffly.

My alchemist?! Wasn’t that not the case yet? He said he’d acknowledge it when Siol grew up?

Eorzen, amused by Siol’s confused eyes, continued,

“This child will be able to remove that thing around your neck. Now, would you show it to us?”

“…This small child is an alchemist…?”

“It’s natural to be doubtful since he’s still so small. But I swear on my honor. There’s no better alchemist in the beastmen’s land than Sizool.”

That solemn declaration wasn’t just mere words.

To a dragon, honor was something that must never be tarnished. The only being who could tarnish a dragon’s honor was their mate, so a dragon never lied in a promise made on their honor. Not once in the past tens of thousands of years.

At those words, Period unbuttoned his shirt without a word. It would be extremely rude to show reluctance when a dragon had spoken so definitively.

“Don’t touch it. If you touch the collar-“

“It delivers an electric shock.”

Siol said calmly, his face pale.

The metal protrusions embedded around the collar were sensors that detected contact and also functioned as electrodes. Even a low-level alchemist could tell by looking that the metal protrusions served that purpose.

This design wasn’t due to the creator’s lack of skill. On the contrary, it was a design meant to openly declare, ‘If you touch this, I will kill the wearer.’ A light touch would inflict pain on the wearer as a warning, and if anyone ignored the wearer’s pain and continued to approach, it would destroy not only the wearer but also the collar, making investigation impossible.

Nathaniel.

What on earth was that child thinking?

Siol was more distressed by the fact that Nathaniel was using alchemy to create such horrific things and commit such terrible acts than by the fact that he had driven Siol to death. Alchemy wasn’t this. It was a study to make life more convenient and lead it in a better direction, not to torment someone and treat them like an animal.

He couldn’t leave that child like this any longer.

Siol felt a sense of responsibility as the master who had shared his knowledge with him.

“…I’ll definitely remove it for you.”

Siol promised with determined eyes.

“But it’s a bit difficult in this state where I can’t even touch it. I need a sample to analyze… Would it be alright if I searched the graves?”

Disturbing the sleep of the dead was a sensitive issue, so Siol didn’t want to go this far.

However, such alchemical tools were usually strictly managed and numbered. No matter how hastily the army retreated, it was unlikely they would leave behind such valuable alchemical tools when their lives weren’t in danger.

But to his cautious question, Period shook his head with a bitter smile.

“The soldiers removed the collars before burying the bodies. It seems these collars are quite valuable to humans…”

His expression was filled with such deep emotion that Siol found it difficult to offer any words of comfort.

“But, fortunately, I have something that could serve as a sample.”

Siol momentarily misinterpreted it as meaning there was someone dying and sighed softly, but Period waved his hand and chuckled lightly, as if embarrassed by his previous display of dejection.

“Humans are strange creatures. They do many incomprehensible things.”

“And they tell a lot of lies.”

“They also undertake absurd challenges.”

“Absurd challenges?”

“Yes. The ones who were in this city…they were trying to tame monsters.”

Even Eorzen was surprised by that statement. Monsters weren’t beings that could be communicated with or tamed. If they could be controlled by force, dragons would have done it thousands of years ago.

Monsters, devoid of reason, thought, or even instinct, were beings solely driven by slaughter.

“If you go that way, you’ll find the barracks where the humans stayed. I once saw them taking a collared monster into the basement of that building. I didn’t see them bring out a body, and considering they consistently brought it food, it’s likely still alive.”

Siol looked at Eorzen, who nodded.

“Alright, let’s go catch it.”

“Thank you for your assistance, Blue Dragon.”

“Thank you, Captain!”

Leaving behind Period, who bowed politely, and Asios, who smiled brightly with repeated expressions of gratitude, Siol and Eorzen headed towards the barracks.

The strange magic waves he had felt since entering the city continued to bother Siol. He felt nauseous and dizzy, like he had motion sickness. He gripped Eorzen’s hand tightly, and Eorzen reflexively tried to lift him up.

Siol dodged slightly and said,

“I can walk.”

“Aren’t you staggering?”

“No, I’m not.”

Eorzen looked at Siol with a slightly hurt expression.

Siol deliberately ignored him and continued walking. He had been carried so often lately that it was starting to feel normal, which was troublesome. He had been carried by Eorzen the entire journey to Marsiga, to the point where he was starting to forget the use of his legs.

Of course, being carried by Eorzen was comfortable, but being carried all the time was starting to make him feel inadequate as a human.

“Ah, there are members of the Knights.”

Finding the barracks was easy. The Knights, who had been prowling around looking for human tricks, were gathered nearby. As if glad to have run into them, they chattered like birds.

“Captain! Something’s suspicious about this place.”

“We hear strange noises from inside.”

“There’s a strange smell too!”

“There’s definitely something in there!”

And then they all asked in unison, “Can we tear it down?”

Eorzen smiled at their sparkling eyes.

“No.”

“What? Why?! It’s really suspicious!”

“There’s a monster inside…”

Eorzen, seeming to lose interest, simply gestured with his chin, sending them elsewhere. The members, who had widened their eyes at the mention of a monster, pouted and dispersed at his gesture.

They looked like naive children wandering around in search of a new adventure, but that was the nature of beastmen.

“I’ll remove the collar, Lord Eorzen. Alchemical tools are delicate, and they might break if removed incorrectly.”

“Alright.”

“And if possible, I hope it’s alive. Touching a collar on a live monster is a bit cruel, but…just in case.”

“Alright.”

Eorzen hadn’t said no to Siol for a while now.