“What are you saying?”
Flourishing River City is in an uproar, different and more peaceful than in previous days.
“Do you remember that wealthy man who built a mansion on that desote ke? Turns out he's a ranker! And one who tamed the fierce dragon in a decisive battle!”
“It can’t be…”
The man brings his hands to his head in deep ment.
“Are you okay? Is something wrong?”
“When I was building his mansion… I farted.”
“You farted in a ranker’s house?! Man, you really live on the edge huh.”
The entire city is talking about the ranker secluded near the ke. Nobody could have imagined that this wealthy man, thought mad for building in such a desote pce, was actually a hidden ranker.
Many wanted to greet him and offer their daughters as maids, but no matter how much they tried, an invisible pressure prevented them. Only hunters above level one hundred had the chance to see the mansion from afar, but that was as far as they dared to go, because after the next step, they heard a growl in the distance.
After learning this information, a decree was established.
“Entry to the mountains is forbidden. If anyone steps foot in that pce, they will not only incur the wrath of a dragon, but also of the ranker who tamed it.”
“As ordered, we will guard it around the clock.”
The scribe writes up the decree of the future queen.
“Among the punishments, is the death penalty considered?”
Princess Reminiscent Euphony nods without hesitation. “An example must be set with the most recognized entities, not everyone will receive this penalty.”
“I understand, it shall be done as you command.”
After a series of questions, the scribe finalizes the decree and carries it out as quickly as possible. From the next day, every path to the mountains is guarded by strict surveilnce.
“Reminiscent Euphony, shall we return to the capital?”
“Yes, I witnessed his battle from start to finish. I must be the one to report this to His Majesty the king. Doneire Fable, will you come with me?”
“Yes, I’ll be at your side.”
Though their marriage was arranged by the king and the aristocrats, both Reminiscent Euphony and Doneire Fable agreed. She knows he is a caring and competent man, and although there is no love on her part, this fact might not always be the case.
As long as Doneire Fable continues to decre his love as until yesterday, she might eventually yield.
“A ranker hides in our territory, the kingdom enjoys good fortune.”
Reminiscent Euphony predicts a radiant future.
+++
“I have allowed you to continue your work, but your gaze is disgusting. I did not give you the right to look at my body as you wish, this is why humans are so repugnant.”
Coldness Divine has been very calm these days, but the chances she has given Lawrence are running out.
“You overestimate yourself if you think I was looking at you.”
“Ha? Are you going to tell me you were seeking inspiration in me to solve one of humanity’s great problems? Don’t be absurd human, I know you like the palm of my hand. I know when you look at me with lustful eyes, you disgust me, I can’t stand to breathe the same air as you.”
“You…! You know what? I’m leaving, today you’re worse than usual.”
Lawrence turns to leave, when suddenly he feels the use of mana behind him.
‘This dragon bitch! I was only looking at your ass, why are you getting so aggressive?’
He internally admits that he committed the crime, but never imagined that just by looking for less than a second she would cause such an uproar. Who would have thought that Coldness Divine would turn around and catch him red-handed? He nearly died of fright!
‘We haven’t known each other for too long, just a month and a half, but this dragon bitch is too aggressive, always attacking with the intent to kill. If I continue dodging her attacks, there will be no end! The only alternative I have is…’
Lawrence dodges the attack, without knowing anything about it, nor its element nor its form, nothing. Unlike Serene Will, he can’t look at what’s happening behind his back, only predict.
So this action on his part…
“You…! Why?”
Might well have cost him his life.
Lawrence looks at her with hatred, "Stop taking it out on me..."
Blood falls from his shoulder, a bde of fire nearly cuts his neck.
“Are you talking about rights? Who gives you the right to attack me!”
Coldness Divine looks at him with annoyance, she should be the one who’s angry, not him. Does he think she hasn’t discovered what he’s plotting? Normally she would respond to the insolence of the human, but this time she’s not in the mood.
“Go, don’t come back.”
She does not apologize, but her expression and tone of voice are different from before. She turns around and enters her residence.
“Tsk…”
Lawrence’s expression remains, but his thoughts are very different. ‘It didn’t work out at all eh, this woman isn’t interested enough in me. The time we’ve known each other isn’t enough, but as long as she doesn’t attack me again, the objective will have been achieved.’
Lawrence uses sacred magic to heal his wound, but does not do so completely. He heads to the administration building to end his workday and demonstrate that taking care of bitches is not easy.
Only after leaving the sub-space, he begins to heal his wound for real. From the beginning, he let himself be hurt to try to move the cold heart of that woman.
Meanwhile, Coldness Divine lies down on her bed and breathes with tranquility.
“The time is almost up…”
Her words soon become a reality.
“Aagh! Aaagh!”
Until a deep headache afflicts her, memories of a future that will never happen begin to appear in her head one after another.
In that future, she sees him interfering again.
+++
“Celestial Firmament. By how you modified the mountain, your wounds must have healed. Let’s talk, I have time.”
The top of the mountain no longer grows towards the sky, trying to split it, on its summit now there exists an extensive hole, as if it were a volcano. In the center of this exists a cave, in which a golden dragon lives.
Lawrence descends and walks calmly towards the interior.
“I can’t understand how you consider this something beautiful.”
“It’s not finished yet, when my mana merges with the mountain, the environment will foster the growth of spiritual herbs, as well as a sacred aura.”
“How long for that?”
“About fifty years.”
“Too long.”
Celestial Firmament is lying on the ground, but despite this, he is so rge that Lawrence has to look up to speak with him.
“What do you want to talk about?”
Lawrence responds without blinking: “How do you make a female dragon fall in love?”
“…”
Human-dragon communication is impossible, Celestial Firmament learned something new.
“Human, the ancient dragons do not love, only the archetypal dragons have the possibility to do so.”
The ancient dragons are those that possess a beastly form, like him. While the archetypal dragons possess a human form. In neither case is it possible to have the appearance of the other, they are born with that appearance and die with it.
“The only heritage I have left has been through mutual agreement, she and I separated as soon as our child was conceived. This is how the ancient dragons behave, there is no such thing as love, but it is thanks to this that we can reach heights that the archetypal dragons can only dream of.”
Celestial Firmament moves his paw eloquently, he likes to expand the horizons of those beings he recognizes.
“The archetypal dragons inherited the feelings and emotions that we do not. Their growth is different from ours, their connection with the world is lesser, but it is thanks to this that they can acquire a knowledge of magic much more novel than ours. They are change, we are perpetuity.”
Lawrence nods and, with a smile, asks: “And how does that answer my question?”
“…”
For this kind of thing Lawrence interrupted him constantly in his battle, because Celestial Firmament encompasses such broad knowledge, that they will not necessarily answer the concerns of mortals.
“The only way to obtain her sincere and eternal love is to witness your death, only then will you leave an imprint impossible to erase--”
“Impossible, it’s of no use to me to gain her love if I won’t be able to enjoy it. Next.”
Celestial Firmament closes his eyes and thinks of something.
“Fulfilling the most hidden desires of an archetypal dragon.”
“What could a dragon possibly desire?”
“Knowledge.”
Dragons desire treasures not for their shine, but for their origin, their destiny. They live a long life not to witness the end, but to understand its meaning. All the actions of dragons are focused on understanding, knowledge.
“You’re not understanding me, Celestial Firmament. Do I look like someone cultured? Someone who tries to find the origins of life? You ftter me, but no. Next.”
If it were Serene Will, there might be a chance, but not with Coldness Divine. She has a deeper understanding of the Divine Pne. Coaxing her with some books won't have any impact.
Celestial Firmament is not offended, on the contrary, a smile appears on his dragon face. “Human, who do you have before you?”
It only takes a second for Lawrence to understand his meaning.
“The secrets of a dragon, are you willing to give them to me?”
“Not to you, to her. Nothing I tell you will be useful, because you are not a dragon. If you stopped to think about everything I have told you up to this moment, those words would have much more value than what I can tell you now.”
“I understand, if you’re willing to do it, I thank you.”
‘It will be useful to me indirectly, because she will be mine sooner or ter.’
Without showing his true thoughts, he continues listening to the golden dragon.
“Knowledge is useless if you can’t employ it, she will discover this when she sees that you remain an ordinary human. My words won’t be enough, you must demonstrate that despite being human, you have an incomparable vision of the world.”
If Lawrence expined with the same words as Celestial Firmament, then Coldness Divine might be moved, but wouldn’t it be strange for a human to expin, but not understand? She will eventually discover the truth.
“Human, I will teach you a skill that only ancient dragons acquire from birth, an archetypal dragon might spend their entire life without discovering this. Come closer, show me your back.”
Lawrence knows that Celestial Firmament is being sincere, so without any resistance, he turns his back, but before the dragon could make his move, he asks for his motivation in doing this.
“Because you are a user of sacred magic, only those of good heart can match the purity of my magic.”
Immediately Celestial Firmament teaches him the skill, not knowing that he is revealing his secrets to an unworthy human, to a crow that might eat his eyes as soon as he loses his usefulness.
But he himself is a minor character compared to what Lawrence might do to the Inferior Pne or even, to the Divine Pne. His greed and malice are slowly growing. If nothing is done soon, no one will be able to stop him.
“What is this? Why is my level decreasing? What are you doing?!”
His level 446 decreases to 445 and in the next few seconds is about to decrease to 444.
“Level compression. Dragons are invulnerable to level differences not because they are dragons, but because from birth they understand level compression. Answer, has your strength decreased?”
Lawrence closes his eyes and concentrates, he is surprised to realize that his level has decreased, but he maintains the strength of a level 446 hunter!
“Now that you know, meditate. The more you concentrate and understand, not only will your strength begin to improve, but you will begin to achieve enhancements that would otherwise be impossible for a human to achieve.”
Through his cw, he sends his own mana into Lawrence’s body, the tter closes his eyes and feels the movement through his internal channels. The mana makes a cycle through his entire body, then the next cycle, then the next.
Each cycle is the same, Lawrence manages to memorize it in the tenth cycle. It is at this moment that he performs it with his own mana, succeeding in his first attempt.
“Unlike dragons, humans have limits. Do not rush.”
That day, Lawrence fell back to level 425, but maintained the strength of a level 446 hunter.
