Being a Guest

"Little girl, say something! I'm begging you!"

Anna, who had been wondering how to face Igneel, suddenly noticed a glow above her head. When she turned around, she happened to see Sordil and the others in the distance. Somehow finding the strength, she quickly got to her feet and ran toward Sordil.

"Are you this little girl's companions? The Dil'dixiu Mountain Range is very dangerous at night. How could you let her wander through the forest alone?"

The red dragon Igneel stared at Sordil and the others as he spoke. Before leaving Fostadu, Sordil had taught everyone Transformation Magic, so in Igneel's eyes, Sordil and the others were seven humans who had come here to adventure. Coupled with Anna wandering alone through the pitch-black forest, Igneel assumed they had abandoned her, so his tone was exceptionally hostile.

"Um... Mr. Dragon, you've misunderstood. We were playing a game, and my punishment was to stay in the forest for three minutes. I accidentally stepped on your tail just now. I'm really sorry!"

Afraid that her teacher would clash with him, Anna hurried out from behind Sordil and apologized to Igneel.

"A game? They didn't abandon you in the forest? Then why were you crying so sadly just now?"

"Of course Teacher and the others didn't abandon me. I cried because... because..."

Anna stammered for a long time without managing to explain herself. Unable to bear watching any longer, Sordil stepped in front of her and took over. "Anna cried for three reasons. First, she's afraid of the dark. Second, she didn't know how to apologize to you. And third... you look a little fierce and scared her. Am I right?"

With her teacher exposing what was on her mind, Anna nodded shyly, then darted behind Diphiya. Hearing Sordil's words and seeing Anna's reaction, Igneel was left speechless. He was considered quite handsome among dragons, and Metalicana and the others often envied him for being better-looking than they were. Yet among humans, the only impression he had left was that he looked fierce. The blow nearly sent Igneel into depression.

"Friend, if you don't mind, how about having something to eat with us?"

Sordil warmly invited Igneel, snapping him out of his transformation into a gloomy dragon.

"You're an interesting human. Aren't you afraid I'll turn you into food too?"

Hearing Sordil's invitation and recalling what he had just said, Igneel put on an act of being fierce to the very end as he asked this. What puzzled him, however, was that neither Sordil nor the others showed any reaction beyond a smile before returning to their respective tasks. Then Sordil's response stirred up a storm in his heart.

"Eat us? That's impossible, because you're Igneel!"

Kingdom of Tsuyioru Xiu, the King's Bedchamber

Belmod stood alone in silence on the balcony as the cool night breeze gently lifted his robes and hair. Suddenly, every light in the bedchamber went out, and moonlight cast a long black shadow across the balcony. Belmod, absorbed in the castle's night view, suddenly spoke to the sky before him.

"How did it go?"

"Reporting to my lord, their internal defenses are extremely tight. There has been no progress for the time being."

"Useless trash! You can't even handle such a trivial matter. What am I keeping you for?"

"Please rest assured, my lord. Your subordinate will complete this matter as soon as possible!"

"Three months. I'll give you only three months. If there's still no progress after three months, then don't bother coming back!"

"Yes! This subordinate takes his leave."

The lights came back on, but Belmod's heart remained shrouded in darkness. He was truly beginning to regret his original decision. Not only did the external threat remain, but a terrifying force had also emerged within the kingdom. It made him feel as though his throne could vanish at any moment. Yet after a period of silence, Belmod's usual cold and proud expression returned, and he made a resolute decision.

Just as Sordil encountered Igneel by chance, a fateful meeting also took place on the Western Continent.

"Acunologiya, long time no see!"

"If possible, I wouldn't want to see you at all, Belserion."

"Heh! I didn't expect you to still resent me for leaving Montes back then!"

"Belserion, I had no issue with you leaving Montes for Dragunov to repay a favor. But what did it mean for you to stand me up before leaving?"

"Uh, did... did that happen?"

"Hmph! To see you off, I waited for you on the summit of Montes all night long and froze until my nose was running nonstop. Yet you left through Gudla Pass without even telling me. Did you ever consider me your brother?"

"Sigh, listen to me. At the time..."

"Enough! Don't say another word. I've got things to do and don't want to deal with you. Move aside!"

"Hey..."

Belserion wanted to explain the real reason he had broken their appointment back then, but Acunologiya had already flown off into the distance after going around him. Watching Acunologiya's retreating figure gradually disappear, Belserion's right hand remained raised in a gesture of restraint as he quietly said, "I hope that the next time we meet, we can let go of our past grudges instead of facing each other on a battlefield!"

Perhaps not even Belserion expected that four hundred years later, those who inherited their names would truly face each other on the battlefield. Of course, that was a story for later. For now, Belserion's top priority was to bring the intelligence he had gathered back to Dragunov.

Dil'dixiu Mountain Range

Igneel rubbed his still-aching head and stared at the wrecked campsite around him as a string of questions drifted through his mind. Who am I? Where am I? What did I do?

"You're awake! I didn't expect you to hold your liquor so well. Looks like I can come here often to have a drinking match with you in the future!"

Taking the hot water Sordil handed him, Igneel finally recalled the reason for his headache. Yesterday, while he had still been confused, Sordil had forcibly dragged him into their game and punished him by making him drink a beverage called alcohol. At first, he had thought it tasted pretty good and paid no mind to it. Who knew that not long afterward, he would fall into a groggy sleep? When he woke up in the morning, he was in this state.

"Now that you're awake, it's time for us to part ways. But don't worry. I'll come find you here again before long!"

Sordil forcibly suppressed the urge to abduct Igneel and bid him farewell.

"Where are you going?"

"Oh, we were originally heading to the capital of the Kingdom of Tsuyioru Xiu, but we came here because we took a wrong turn for certain reasons. Now we need to hurry to Tsuyioru Xiu!"

Huh? You're just going to run after taking advantage of me? As if it could be that easy! Igneel thought silently as he stared at Sordil's face. After frowning in thought for a moment, he said, "Since you've already lost your way, why not come to my place and rest properly before continuing? I can also host you properly, as repayment for yesterday."

"I see. That works! Then we'll be imposing on you!"

Sordil looked at the hand Igneel had placed on his shoulder and answered very "happily."