Leave a comment

Efrain and the “Wisdom Eye Vortex” were suspended in the air by some force, but it abruptly ceased.

Monica plummeted while clutching the azure staff.

However, Monica, unfazed by the situation, was giving hell to the Regalia.

“You absolute fool! Spoiled brat!!”

In a tone that could be described as “shouting in someone’s ear” to a human.

The force of her voice seemed as if she were trying to crush it with pressure.

Monica gained the ability of Dragonian through Giselle’s ring.

Dragonian was a language that burst with layered meanings within its short, neigh-like words. It was a torrent of vivid and moving information.

But Monica, like a raging wildfire, painted over it all in a single color and hammered it out.

It was the childish and pure passion stemming from her being human, and being Monica. Lucella knew this to be her true nature, despite her defensive demeanor.

While entangled with swirling water, Monica and the “Wisdom Eye Vortex” fell.

And finally, due to the water dragon stirring the water, they crashed onto the ground, which had turned into muddy sludge due to the water level dropping.

An abnormal amount of water spray rose, and in the midst of it, Monica, soaked to the bone, immediately stood up.

“You keep yelling into someone’s ears and bring them over only to cast them away… Don’t give me that! You should be grateful to have someone to accompany you to see your mom!”

Saying this, Monica swung the “Wisdom Eye Vortex” – yes, of all things, a Regalia – and repeatedly slammed it onto the ground.

On the muddy ground, numerous marks were left where the staff had pierced.

Of course, this level of treatment would not leave a scratch on the Regalia.

“Your way of choosing is nonsensical to begin with!

What was that? Are you saying only unhappy people are welcome!? Did you think you could become friends and lick each other’s wounds if you were similarly unhappy!?

What an utter fool! You think a drowning person can save someone drowning next to them!?

At least you’re more foolish than a human! Acting all high and mighty, disposing of those you don’t need, huh?! With that attitude, you won’t make friends with humans, let alone dragons, in your entire life, you fool!!”

Furthermore, Monica threw the “Wisdom Eye Vortex” into the mud and, with all her weight, repeatedly stomped on it, gaining momentum.

The azure staff remained unscathed, but with each stomp, it sank deeper into the mud.

It was a spectacle that left Lucella dumbfounded. Despite the long history of the human race, there had never been anyone who dared to treat a Regalia in such a manner.

Monica’s Dragonian carried blatant, raw emotions. It was akin to anger, yet not sharp. It had a feeling of closeness, yet also felt like frustration towards oneself.

Suddenly, Monica grabbed her staff from the mud and shouted into it.

“…Shut up!

Just get rid of this stupid storm first! Life isn’t so easy that you can be saved just by shutting away!”

And in the next moment, light pierced through.

“……It stopped.”

As if waking up from a bad dream, the rain clouds and rain disappeared in an instant.

The splashes of rain remnants scattered, shimmering in the sunlight, casting a rainbow in the evening sky.

And all that remained was the water dragon, with a hole pierced through its chest by Togul’s power.

“…【Return it】…”
“You shut up too!!”

Monica pointed her Regalia at the outstretched water dragon.

The mass of water that had maintained the form of a huge dragon exploded upon the touch of the staff alone.

A large amount of water fell heavily, kicking up splashes from the muddy sludge.

Then, silence fell.

After incessant sounds of heavy rain and thunder, the sudden quietness felt almost unsettling.

“Take it away.”
“Oh, yes.”

Monica threw the Regalia at Lucella, who came back to her senses only then.

From Lucella’s hand, someone swiftly took the Regalia.

“I see… I understand now. When wielding power, this connects to the world…”

The enchanting blue-haired noble was the avatar of the Blue Dragon King.

Togul observed the azure staff intently and snorted.

“I must ask… wasn’t this Regalia supposed to be placed in Mount Kuguse?”
“It had been indeed. Through the Regalia Lines, it controlled the homeland’s environment and could be deployed to battlefields if necessary. It has been used in combat before, but returned when required…”
“That explains it. Exposing this to the center of dragon aura would likely awaken its will far quicker than simple overuse.”

Lucella was both surprised and convinced by Togul’s analysis.

After all, a rampage was when the Regalia, which was supposed to be a tool, continued to move on its own fuel by itself.

So, what is the initial fuel to start that cycle?

Normally, it would be the residual power accumulated from excessive use of the Regalia.

However, Kafal’s dragon aura took its place. After all, a Regalia was originally a dragon, so dragon aura would likely blend well with it.

“That rampage… was the will of the Regalia…”
“In the past war, humans created Regalia from the remains of dragons. The Regalia near the Sylnir Sea likely contains the water dragons that are our kin. Naturally, there may have been parents and children among them.”

Togul’s words were clear.

Items crafted from the remains of many dragons. It wouldn’t be surprising if materials for Setulev’s and Maltgartz’s Regalia were from a parent and child.

“Did it plan to break the Regalia to free its kin?”
“Who knows? Even if this wreckage harbors some fleeting will, it’s unclear whether it can think properly.

Regalia is a human tool. I only know a little.”

Togul glanced at the staff one last time before returning it to Lucella.

While many aspects of dragon perspectives on life and death remained unknown, at least Togul seemed uninterested in Regalia made from the remains of his brethren.

“Anyway, if you want to avoid trouble, make sure those humans understand to never awaken this thing again.”
“Can’t I become friends with it?”
“………What?”

Seemingly caught off guard by the unexpected question, Togul’s face contorted as if he had just been given a strange and complex potion of sweetness, bitterness, and sourness.

His dignity as a dragon king was nowhere to be found.

“I don’t understand Maltgartz’s Regalia’s intentions, but… I think this one was just lonely.”

Lucella’s voice was heard. Monica also heard it…

In other words, the Regalia embarked on a journey to find its mother.

It sought companionship in its loneliness.

To simply see this as a disaster and seal it away seemed cruel. At least, that’s what Lucella thought.

Togul said Regalia was a human tool. Then, this should be something for Lucella, who existed between humans and dragons, to handle.

Togul seemed to ponder, tilting his head and ruffling his hair for a moment, but eventually let out a long sigh.

“Do as you please. I won’t interfere no matter the outcome.”

Lucella felt like Togul found this amusing.

　＊　＊　＊

The pure quagmire was dyed in the lingering sunset glow.

The sound of crashing waves echoed in the evening sky.

“What’s a happy family like… I wonder…”

Efrain, half-buried in mud, gazed at the sky.

His body had undergone changes. The armor-like carapace covering his entire body had mostly peeled off, but immature azure scales still grew here and there. His right arm was severed at the elbow, with only dangling remnants of the crumpled carapace, no flesh or blood visible.

Lying on the mud, he watched the sunset with his human eyes that he barely retained.

“Marrying someone you love and are loved back… having children, maybe even grandchildren someday… laughing together like in the juvenile dormitory’s lounge… I wonder if I should have been searching for something like that…”
“I wonder. Family, happiness, all that—I believe there’s no set standard for them.”

Lucella said confidently.

To think she would gain a family in this way… and even find happiness in it, she hadn’t imagined any of it. She was aware it was unconventional, but still. She was convinced that happiness wasn’t confined to predetermined forms.

“It’s not that you’re happy because you have a family. You have a family because you’re happy. If you don’t know what happiness is, you won’t know what to seek.”
“Yeah, I guess… you’re right… I’ve made a terrible mistake again…”
“You haven’t made any mistakes. You just weren’t given anything…”

Regret tinged Efrain’s voice.

But… those who should be saved often don’t even know how to be saved.

Lucella was just lucky. The pieces fell into place perfectly in the blank spaces.

Efrain turned his gaze towards Lucella beside him, twisting his neck with a creak.

“Lucella. Can you… be my girlfriend?”
“Dumbass.”

Lucella peered into Efrain’s eyes and decisively dismissed him.

“Find someone on your own. You’re already free, Efrain.”
“I see. You’re right…”

In the evening sky, the shadows of birds appeared, dotted against the red sky.

They, too, wouldn’t continue flying through the endless, empty sky forever.

Before the day was over, they would likely alight on some branch.