Dragon Communion Church

With the Demi-Human Chief defeated, the other little demi-humans lost their will to fight and posed no threat at all.

I went over to disarm them, then drove the demi-humans out of the cave with the wolves.

Since it was dark, I also sent the White Wolf King to bring our companions over from the Church of Elleh. From now on, this cave was ours~

"Still as odd as ever, my customer." Kale followed with a chuckle, rubbing his hands together. "Now, I trust you haven't forgotten our agreement."

"Of course not! How could I forget after all the help my old friend has given me~?" I readily condensed a Golden Rune and handed it to Kale.

After all, Kale had essentially brought Ishutobon to us, too. He deserved at least half the credit for our assault on the Coastal Cave.

"One... one hundred and thirty-six?!" Kale's eyes widened, his cheeks twitching slightly. "My dear customer, this is no time for jokes."

"What do you mean?!" I declared without a shred of shame. "I gave you half of everything I own, old Kale!"

"Impossible. Didn't we just defeat the chief here?" Kale still couldn't believe it.

I calmly held out my hand. "If you don't believe me, check for yourself."

Kale immediately took my hand. After a brief inspection, he discovered to his astonishment that I really did have only one hundred and thirty-six runes left.

"H-how is that possible?" Kale was utterly stunned.

I spread my hands helplessly. "Looks like Boc got credited with the final blow just now, so all the Demi-Human Chief's runes went to him."

"Well..." Kale was speechless.

After all, in this real world of the Elden Ring, the Tarnished wasn't the absolute protagonist. It wasn't like the game, where all the runes flowed to him no matter what.

Only whoever dealt the final blow could claim an enemy's runes-that was the rule here.

And throughout this assault, I had been occupied with the Demi-Human Chief.

Though Storm Stomp could forcibly interrupt his attacks, it dealt very little damage. The other demi-humans simply couldn't get close; I hadn't killed a single one.

So everyone here was rich except me, the broke bastard. Boo-hoo!

I consoled Kale. "Still, you defeated plenty of demi-humans yourself, didn't you, old Kale? Consider the runes you earned your payment~"

Kale gave me a weary eye roll and shook his head. "Following you has cost me so much I'm about to have a seizure."

"Besides, think about it. The Church of Elleh offers no shelter from wind or rain. How could it compare to this place?" I patted his shoulder. "And you can invite that old friend of yours outside to move in, too~"

"...Don't tell me you want me to play babysitter here as well?"

Hehe, he saw right through me.

Kale let out another helpless sigh. "But that lad Huf is a real loner. Even if he's left outside on his own, I doubt he'll come."

Oh, from the sound of it, had Kale agreed?

As we chatted and returned to the depths of the cave, we saw Boc kneeling on the ground. At the sound of our footsteps, he turned around and ran over excitedly. "Lord Zero!"

"How did it go? Did you find what you wanted?"

"Yes!" Boc took the items out from inside his clothes.

"A Sewing Needle and a Sewing Kit?" Kale looked puzzled.

Boc nodded. "My mother was a seamstress, and these are the keepsakes she left me... I was born less capable than everyone else, after all. She taught me everything she knew because she wanted me to be able to make a decent life for myself."

As he spoke, he couldn't hold back his sobs.

"Born less capable than everyone else?" Those words seemed to stir memories in Kale, too. In a rare gesture, he crouched down and patted Boc. "You've had it rough, too, Boc."

"...But I met Lord Zero, and Lord Kale, and everyone else..." Boc raised his head, smiling through his tears. "When I was utterly desperate, you all helped me get my mother's treasures back... I'm so lucky. No matter how often I thank you, it could never repay you... Thank you! Thank you so much!"

"Well, that was our agreement, after all," I said with a smile. "So there's no need to thank us."

Boc continued excitedly, "I'll become a tailor as skilled as my mother. From now on, leave all your clothes and anything else that needs sewing to me!"

"Oh! We'll be counting on you!" I readily accepted his offer, then added... "But you should probably charge old Kale."

"Gah! That's crooked merchant behavior, my customer!" Kale sprang up in outrage.

"You're the last person I want calling me a crooked merchant!" Oof, this old fellow was tougher than he looked! At level one, I could only just match him in strength.

Watching us tussle, Boc couldn't help laughing. He hurried to play peacemaker. "If Lord Kale needs anything, I'll do my best to help him, too. But I'd also like you to teach me how to keep accounts... Perhaps that will let me help everyone someday."

Oh, what a good kid!

Kale and I exchanged looks that both said, "See? Take a lesson from him."

Still, never mind.

I had never been comfortable with sentimental moments anyway. Trading barbs suited me better.

Looking around the empty cave, I asked in confusion, "Boc, do you know where Master Ishutobon went?"

"Lord Ishutobon seems to have gone down the passage at the very back of the cave."

Hm? Had he gone to the Dragon Communion Church?

Kale and I followed the tunnel through the depths of the cave and emerged on a small island off the other side of the coast.

The sea breeze was cool and refreshing.

Beneath the tranquil night sky, the golden motes of the Site of Grace shone against the ruined church, lending it a peculiar air of solemnity and antiquity.

As we stepped through the doorway into what had long since become crumbling ruins, the fallen body of a White Dragon came into view.

Ishutobon stood before the petrified Ancient Dragon.

There, in a brazier atop a stone pillar, an undying flame still burned, so deep a red it was almost black, like boiling dragon blood.

Hearing movement behind him, Ishutobon turned around. "Oh, you're here."

Kale was completely transfixed. "S-so this is a dragon? Ah... what breathtaking beauty."

"Yes. Even in death, even turned to ancient stone, a dragon remains so powerful and beautiful. You can still feel its presence." Ishutobon gently stroked the dragon's head.

Puzzled, I asked, "Master, did you know this dragon? Or perhaps another dragon?"

Ishutobon looked slightly surprised. "How did you know?"

"Your armor is covered in hard scales that look very much like dragon scales. That's what made me guess."

"Hahaha, you really do have a knack for this, Brother Zero!" Ishutobon laughed heartily, though a hint of melancholy crossed his face. "Indeed, I once knew an incredibly powerful and beautiful dragon, as well as a group of very dependable companions. They gave me this armor, too."

"But after we Tarnished were banished to the wilds, we lost all word of one another... Even after returning to the Lands Between, so much remains unclear." Ishutobon sighed and raised his head to the sky. "The Dragon Communion Church. We once came here together to stop this pointless, terrible ritual, and fought with all our strength. But like this ruined church, the Lands Between are now in even greater disarray than they were back then. I wonder how my scattered brothers are faring."

Ishutobon's old friends were probably his comrades from the original Roundtable Hold-Vyke, the White Wolf Knight, Vyhle, and the others.

I couldn't bear to tell him their fates.

As for whether Ishutobon had visited the present-day Roundtable Hold, I didn't know either. I could only offer sincere reassurance. "You'll have your chance. I'm sure of it."

Ishutobon looked at me and chuckled softly. "Yes, those fellows were far stronger than I am. If an old man like me is still around, there's no reason they should have fallen."

"If I get the chance, I'd love to introduce you to them, Brother Zero." With that, Ishutobon headed out of the Dragon Communion Church, waving to us with his back turned. "I must be on my way as well. Let us meet again on the road to becoming a lord!"

"Yes. Farewell, Master Ishutobon." I bowed to his retreating figure in thanks.

-Even if, the next time we met, we might be enemies.