Location: Leithanien.
Time: Dusk.
"What should we do? Our leader hasn't returned for a long time since he and our ancestor left..."
The locals in Tara were discussing this.
"Have we been abandoned? Does our ancestor refuse to return to Tara?"
"But didn't the leader leave together?"
"Because we're all Draco, we... are just Feline."
Silence...
After Loughshinny was taken away, the expedition team was left leaderless.
Although the previous bandits were wiped out by Zekrom, danger is never lacking in the wilderness.
Even with the remaining weapons, this group of elderly, weak, sick, and disabled soldiers still suffered wounded.
It wasn't a wild beast, but rather the torment of disease.
An elderly man was cut by Originium fragments during a previous shelling and has now contracted Oripathy.
However, Oripathy causes intense pain and weakens the body's immune system. If the elderly man does not receive timely treatment, death will be his end that night.
Fortunately, it seemed that the heavens were on their side, and they Miracle encountered a small team with a doctor in the wilderness.
"They look very strong, can't we really hire them to protect us?"
"Hey! We're on a mission, and we absolutely cannot expose our ancestor's whereabouts."
"But we've already been abandoned; whether we can even make it back to Tara alive is a question!"
"You! We swore an oath before we left, that we would rather die out there than not find our ancestor!"
Unable to determine a winner, everyone turned to the oldest man, who was the husband of the woman infected with Oripathy.
He did not respond, but looked towards the back of the crowd.
His wife lay on a makeshift bed, while Dr. Feline prepared medicine beside her, and there was a glaring Originium crystal on the doctor's shoulder.
"Let's take a look first..."
The old man lowered his head; he ultimately couldn't bring himself to abandon his wife.
On the other side...
"They seem to be hiding something. Isn't Ms. Kal'tsit curious?"
"Everyone on this Daichi has their own secrets, and excessive curiosity often leads to embarrassing results for both parties."
"Hmm... I agree. Whether you're a gentleman or a lady, secrets always make you more attractive."
"... If you're free, you can help out from the side, or you can simply stay away."
"That's a really hurtful thing to say. I'm using magic to maintain a sterile environment, and my body glows to provide light, isn't that right?"
The Tin Man shrugged, saying this, but his body instinctively took the equipment for disinfection.
"Even so, this environment is still not enough for you to practice your medical skills."
The Tin Man looked at the old man whose face showed pain.
"Instead of going through the trouble of treating this incurable disease, how about we give the other person two painkillers first?"
"The treatment is not over yet, please remain quiet."
"... As a doctor, you should know that her body may not be able to hold out until tonight."
Undistracted by the Tin Man's words, Kal'tsit focused on her hands.
Even if a serious illness is considered terminal by many people now, it is by no means equivalent to death in the eyes of doctors.
"Even if everyone is so convinced, doctors cannot and should not admit that there is no cure; this is absolutely not an excuse that doctors should use."
After bandaging the wound, Kal'tsit took out a syringe and injected a pale blue liquid into the skin through the needle.
"Whether to give up on life is a decision for the patient themselves, and my medical knowledge will not be used in ways that violate humanity."
"Even if Infected? Even if they don't trust you?" the Tin Man retorted.
"It is my duty to treat Oripathy, regardless of how the Infected are treated or how the Infected are treated."
The patient's breathing gradually stabilized, and Kal'tsit put the sterilized equipment back in its place.
"I will not give up on any life, any life that can still be cured; it is my duty."
"When you say this, are you speaking from the perspective of a guardian of civilization, or simply as a doctor?"
The Tin Man said meaningfully:
"The Sarkaz are all too familiar with the practice of sacrificing a few individuals for the sake of the greater good... I remember you served under His Highness?"
Kal'tsit paused in packing her medical kit; she understood what the other person meant.
From an outsider's perspective, it's truly baffling that she, who once led the coalition to destroy Kazdel, has now Kazdel Kazdel's side.
Before Kal'tsit could reply, the Tin Man waved his hand dramatically.
"Don't get agitated, don't get agitated. As for who you were in the past, what you did... don't worry, I don't intend to delve into those past events."
"Time always flies by for people like us, doesn't it? Constantly looking back won't keep you young."
The Tin Man exhaled blue smoke rings, casting the setting sun in its center.
"The sun will set in the time it takes to smoke another cigarette."
"If this is a habit you can't shake, I understand, but please stay away from patients."
Undistracted by the Tin Man's words, she had long since learned not to be swayed by words throughout her life.
Kal'tsit swept past the other person.
"Also... you're in a bit too much of a hurry."
Are you in a hurry?
The Tin Man fell silent, puffing on his pipe in quiet contemplation.
Having witnessed that dream, which Sarkaz could calmly forget it?
New Demon King, standing in an ideal land Hall of All Souls reside.
He had thought he would no longer have any expectations for Kazdel, but now...
The soul within this steel shell has not yet become completely numb.
Yes, the Tin Man is urging them on.
Rather than wasting time rescuing various refugees along the way, he preferred to get to Kazdel immediately to see the current situation clearly.
As a Dead Souls had been separated from its kind for an unknown period of time, bringing Kal'tsit, who worked in the Babel Tower, along would make it easier to contact the new Kazdel.
Kal'tsit exhaled another puff of smoke, frowning as she looked in their direction; the Tin Man seemed somewhat puzzled.
And look at him like this...
When the strange phenomenon occurred earlier, the other person seemed even more anxious than him, but now they've returned to normal.
Is it due to the doctor's sense of responsibility?
Seeing Kal'tsit walking towards them, the Tin Man immediately put away his antique pipe.
"If you mind, I can refuse to exhale the smoke."
"..."
"Don't look at me like that. I spent some time in a crater of a volcano in Bolivar, and that's when I developed this hobby."
"I can't quit, but I don't have lungs anyway, so I won't get sick."
Ignoring the other person, Kal'tsit turned and walked towards the crowd to check on those who might be injured.
The Tin Man is anxious, but where is Kal'tsit herself?
She also had her doubts.
The aurora borealis that covered such a vast area a few days ago might have been a beautiful celestial phenomenon to others, but it terrified Kal'tsit.
Others might not know, but she knew exactly what covered the sky.
If she hadn't known that the Doctor was stationed in Kazdel, she would have already urged everyone to travel through the night.
Of course, the Tin Man and Kal'tsit may have their own concerns, but they were not the most anxious ones present.
"Tsk! How much longer are we going to waste?"
Displeased, Ho'olheyak shook her toes, her face dark.
Strange phenomena in the sky? What does that have to do with her?
Many people are drawn to astrology simply out of curiosity about their own death date, but Feathered Serpent already knew his end.
Every minute spent in the wilderness is a waste of one's precious life.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Ho'olheyak, did we delay your schedule?"
A gentle greeting came from beside the campfire. Ho'olheyak glanced at it, her impatient expression vanishing, replaced by a professional, fake smile.
"Of course not, Miss Dross. I'm just glad you don't blame my companions for acting on their own initiative."
"How could that be? A doctor's heart is compassionate; following goodwill to help helpless refugees in the wilderness... Hmm, that's material worth writing into a novel."
Maintaining a fake smile, Ho'olheyak's eyes appeared somewhat bored.
Beside the campfire, the beautiful Elafia girl gently swayed her head. The enormous horns on her head did not disrupt the harmonious atmosphere; instead, they added to her elfin charm.
And then there's that truly magnificent face hidden beneath the hood.
Honestly, it's a stunning view that you could easily capture in a Columbia magazine photo.
But Ho'olheyak only found it troublesome.
Viviana Droste, of Shtond Fief Leithanien, a descendant of the House of Hochberg, Electors.
At the same time, she is the adopted daughter of Lady Russell, the leader of Kazimierz Grand Knight Commander.
As the group departed, the Grand Knight Commander entrusted them with escorting this girl of complicated background.
Even Ho'olheyak, who had the identity of a special agent, was stunned by this bizarre relationship.
The relationship between Leithanien and Kazimierz was far from amicable; the two countries frequently clashed in war. Why would an elector give his daughter to the other side's leader as an adopted daughter?
Ho'olheyak could deduce the reason for her departure.
Most likely, the father learned about the Flame Demon Incident and, feeling uneasy about his daughter remaining in Kazimierz, wanted to bring her back.
In this tense international atmosphere, Russell naturally could not send troops to escort them.
To this end, she found a public partner, Ho'olheyak, who was a member of Rhine Lab.
In return for the escort, the Elector would give a satisfactory answer.
Hmm, doesn't that sound great?
He only needed to escort her along the way; he didn't even need to carry out his plan to use intelligence to threaten the Elector into providing funds to Kal'tsit, and he could directly obtain the funding.
Is it really that simple?
From the fact that an elector was willing to send his daughter to Kazimierz, Ho'olheyak knew that this was no easy task.
It's probably some kind of political conspiracy again...
Given the unique nature of this team, they are unlikely to encounter any real danger, but they will probably face quite a few troubles.
Fortunately, the Grand Knight Commander wasn't so heartless after all, and provided them with a guard.
"Mr. Mlynar, are you reading the Wine Report?"
"Yes."
"Eh? But where did you come from...?"
"Because of my busy work schedule, I save some of the newspapers I haven't finished reading and use them to pass the time and have some fun."
Mlynar looked up at Viviana, who seemed hesitant to speak.
"If you're bored, you can choose a few here."
The girl immediately perked up.
"Do you have any newspapers about The Nameless Champion and the Black Knight? Of course! The Radiant Knight's will also be fine!"
"The third one from the top."
"Thanks!"
After taking the newspaper she wanted, Viviana cautiously glanced at Mlynar, drawn to the cute tag on the other's sword scabbard.
Was it made by the Radiant Knight for her uncle? Or was it made by her younger sister who joined the Engineering Department?
Based on Ms. Russell's description, she had assumed she was a serious person.
Should we ask? I'm so curious...
Mlynar's keen intuition detected the girl's gaze, and she silently raised the newspaper slightly.
As expected, I still don't feel comfortable interacting with younger colleagues.
My father's health improved, and he was able to relieve himself of the heavy burden on his shoulders.
Mlynar tried to be kinder to the younger generation, as others had suggested, but both Zofia and Maria looked like they had seen a ghost.
Although Margaret didn't show it, her eyes betrayed her astonishment.
Before even trying to change her image as her father had suggested, Mlynar accepted an invitation from Ms. Russell.
He wouldn't refuse to escort her adopted daughter, even if it were only because of the relationship between the two families.
However, Mlynar was dressed as a ranger at this moment, clearly not leaving in an official capacity in Kazimierz.
The reason for this was a conversation before my departure...
"Is this our first formal meeting, Nearl?"
"Just call me Mlynar. As the new spokesperson, Your Excellency Enciodes must be very busy, so let's get straight to the point."
"Of course, perhaps His Nearl Linguang would be willing to join us for afternoon tea when he has some free time on the weekend?"
"... as long as it's not Zofia's tea party."
"Haha, of course, time is precious, so I won't waste any more words. Mr. Mlynar, a knight named Chesed wishes to see you."
When Mlynar heard that familiar name again, although her expression didn't change, she still felt a little joy in her heart.
However, reality was clearly not as rosy as he had imagined.
It wasn't a reunion; Chesed came to turn himself in.
Mlynar never imagined that the friend he had met during his life as a wandering knight would harbor thoughts of waging war.
"Is it strange? I am different from you, Mlynar Nearl. You have reliable allies, but what about me?"
"Because my parents were vassals of a traitorous knight, we had no choice but to flee with our entire family, but even then, they didn't let us go."
"Why give up now? Ha! Anyone would give up if those flaming monsters blocked the door."
"You could have escaped much further..."
"Why run away? The new spokesperson told us about the changes in Kazimierz. I want to see if the current Kingdom of Knights can accommodate true justice."
"At least... wrongful convictions like Selena's should never happen again."
That day, the two friends talked for a long time in prison.
When the time for departure arrived, Chesed finally revealed the reason for his request to meet with Mlynar.
"I met Snitz and his men in Leithanien."
Upon learning of her brother and sister-in-law's whereabouts, Mlynar immediately put aside all other matters and set off with the Rhine Lab Group.
Chesed's message was ultimately too vague, but that's alright.
If she could find clues about her brother and sister-in-law, Mlynar wouldn't hesitate to search the entire Leithanien.
Of course, he did not forget his promise to Chesed and other Campaign Knight.
With the collapse of the Business Federation, the Adeptus Sprawiedliwy must also conduct a new review.
The number of wrongful convictions in the National Assembly is only increasing, and the damage caused by the distortion of justice cannot be fully repaired.
The Adeptus Sprawiedliwy has a long way to go before the light of justice shines throughout Kazimierz...
"Mr. Mlynar, would you be interested in having an academic discussion?"
Distracted, Mlynar put away the newspaper and looked to the side.
"Ms. Ho'olheyak, I am not a scholar, nor am I even a knight now."
"Knowledge never favors any particular individual, and it's never too late to start learning, is it?"
Mlynar sighed.
"... What would you like to talk about?"
"Your race, or rather... your ancestors."
Upon hearing the other party's agreement, Ho'olheyak's bored gaze instantly turned fervent.
"I have investigated. There is a race called Pegasus in Kuranta. They existed in a distant era and ruled Kazimierz. They are the Gods' People of Kuranta."
"The current Kazimierz is led by the Adeptus Sprawiedliwy; the era you described is hundreds of years ago."
"Yes, but the descendants of Pegasus still exist."
Ho'olheyak looked the other person up and down, her eyes narrow and long like a snake.
"They are said to have wings, and like the Feathered Serpent, they are the darlings of the sky."
"Perhaps... we can learn more about the past history of the Gods' People by understanding Pegasus?"
"I'm sorry, as I said before, I am not a scholar and I don't know anything about this."
Mlynar interrupted the other person.
"Judging from the current state of the dwindling number of the Gods' People, the relationship between Gods' People in the past was probably not as close as you imagine."
Seeing that the other party was truly uninterested, Ho'olheyak's lips curled down slightly, and she changed her approach.
"Alright, since you're unwilling to discuss that, how about we talk about the Gods' People Overlord have recently appeared in Kazimierz?"
"Based on the information I have, they should be the true form of Draco in ancient times..."
Draco.
They are always the protagonists of various myths and legends, often appearing as heroes or rulers.
Contrary to popular belief, although rare, Draco are still traceable.
To this day, their population is scattered throughout various regions of Terra.
Each region had a different name for them, but the reason they were eventually unified and their fame spread far and wide was due to the infamous Red Dragon Tyrant in Victoria history.
Despite the appallingly detailed descriptions of that tyrant in historical records, closer examination reveals little reliable evidence.
But one thing is certain.
The Draco are powerful, similar to the [dragons] of Yan; this species is a natural leader.
Legend has it that they can soar through the sky without the aid of Originium Arts, and breathe fire from thin air.
Of course, this legend has been seriously denied by many researchers.
Some creatures, whose hands can transform into wings, are so light that even the Liberi cannot fly directly.
Not to mention those Draco who have already lost their wings and whose body density is far higher than that of the Liberi.
One scholar who studied Draco said this:
[If they could just take to the air, I'd eat all my research data on the spot!]
"Huh?" (Aren't you going to eat?)
The prey fell to the ground from the dragon's claws, blood gushing from the huge wound on its neck, still steaming.
"I... maybe I'm not that hungry."
When his rare act of kindness was rejected, Zekrom snorted and turned his head away, refusing to look at the other person.
Loughshinny lowered her head in disappointment, stroking the spear.
After her sister gave her this weapon, the ancestor's prey was still the only gift she had received in all these years.
I guess you could call it a gift?
Loughshinny looked at the still convulsing corpse and covered her mouth in disgust.
It still didn't work...
Ever since she drank the dragon's blood, she found herself losing her craving for regular food.
A feeling of fullness filled my stomach, and even the sight of lava was more appetizing than blood.
And...
"Um!"
Loughshinny clutched her chest and let out a muffled groan.
The bandits' shells were all defective, and naturally, there were also many unprocessed Originium fragments.
When Loughshinny removed the Originium fragment from her chest, she had already suspected that she might be infected.
But... is Oripathy really this painful?
The Originium crystals on his chest flickered like breathing, while at the same time, he experienced itching and pain in his shoulder blades.
Is my back infected too? I wasn't attacked...
A look of worry flashed across Loughshinny's eyes.
She didn't care that Oripathy might take her life; there were many things on this Daichi that could kill her, and she wouldn't care about any one individual.
But she cannot die now; she has not yet fulfilled the contract and brought her ancestors back to Tara.
Even the people she was supposed to protect were unaware of their current situation...
"Roar--"
Zekrom issued a warning, Loughshinny reacted, once again using magic to ignite the flames.
"Roar~~"
His body, several sizes larger than before, began to swell again. Zekrom let out a low, pleasurable growl, enjoying the thrill of his increasing power.
After an unknown amount of time, the flames were extinguished amidst Loughshinny's exhausted gasps for breath.
Zekrom skillfully used his blood to help her recover, and Loughshinny no longer had her initial violent reaction.
Once the girl's breathing had calmed down, Zekrom turned to look at his own body.
As its body matured, its round body became slender, and its cute-looking wings truly took on the appearance of dragon wings.
Gazing at his own graceful dragon body, Zekrom let out a satisfied roar.
Compared to her brother's robust physique with a neck as thick as his body, this elegant figure was what she longed for.
The Red Dragon looked at the girl beside him.
He no longer resisted the blood supply as much as he had at the beginning, since the stronger Loughshinny was, the longer she could cast spells.
Over time, Zekrom also discovered a fact.
The humanoid Dragoness was not transformed like the other members of her kind in my memory; she had always looked like this.
Was he born with a disability? Otherwise, how could a dragon not even be able to fly?
While Zekrom was thinking, Loughshinny whispered:
"My ancestor, I... I have a request..."
"The people of Tara are still outside. I think... at least I should get them to a safe place first."
Hmm, and this humble attitude is completely unlike that of a proper dragon.
A puff of white vapor shot from its nostrils, and Zekrom used its dragon tail to wrap around the girl, then flew into the sky.
He is a noble dragon, not a reptile's nanny; finding a new nest is what he should be doing now.
Flying out of the canyon and leaping into the clouds, Zekrom remained oblivious to the tiny presence at the canyon's edge.
As the dragon's figure receded into the distance, the black-haired Caprinae gripped the hilt of his sword.
"Found it..."