Chapter 118: The Dragon Who Forgot

“I can’t take you any further than this.”

That was Eos’s statement.

“I can’t transport you directly past the border.”

“You could if you wanted to, but you won’t.”

“Well, as you know.”

After confirming that the direction Freya pointed in was the Holy Kingdom, they immediately called for Eos and arrived at the border zone.

However, Eos explained that traveling directly into the Holy Kingdom of Hibernia could cause an international incident, so such a move was impossible.

Moreover, it seemed that Eos’s spatial movement skill had more demanding requirements than expected. Crossing beyond the Empire’s territory apparently required several preparations.

Even if the chances were slim, spatial movement was inherently risky—if anything went wrong, you could be torn apart or stranded in some strange space.

“Right. We should go safely. Thank you, Eos.”

“Yes. Then take care.”

Without a backward glance, Eos turned and used their power to return, as if their duty here was done.

No hesitation, no lingering attachment—it was just so typically Eos.

That left only three people behind: Hio, Airlights, and Freya.

“Hmm… Being out here together like this feels like a real trip. So this is why people go traveling, huh?”

『This isn’t a trip, we’re on a super important mission!』

“That’s just a short way of saying trip, kid.”

Ugh. I know that’s not it. (‘-‘)

Leaving the two chattering away, who somehow became close enough for such banter, Hio’s gaze turned to the distance.

“Anyway, since I’ll be traveling sweetly with Hio, you, little one, can…”

Just then, Airlights seemed to sense something and looked in the same direction as Hio.

It was a presence that Airlights would never have noticed before.

But with the newly acquired Elf body, those keen senses picked up a massive source of magic far away.

“That is…”

An energy so blatant and obvious.

It was faint from this distance, but that only made it impossible to guess how powerful it must be up close.

And then Freya made a decisive gesture.

That way! It’s even closer than before!

Her tiny finger pointed in exactly the same direction Hio was facing.

“Looks like something big is going down, Hio.”

With a faint smile, Airlights drifted to Hio’s side.

“We’d better hurry and solve it, don’t you think? I feel like this new body is even more agile. If you and I move fast together…”

“Airlights, can that body turn into a ghost, by any chance?”

“Huh? A ghost?”

“Probably not, right?”

“…No? Actually, I think I can? I don’t know what that means, but I’ll give it a try.”

Without knowing the reason, Airlights strained to become a ghost.

Leaving her to it, Hio summoned a Phantom Steed.

「Skill – ‘Summon Phantom Steed’ activated.」

「Trait – ‘Spiritualization’ activated.」

After all, the situation seemed urgent.

Hio could feel it more clearly than anyone—just how immense the surging magical energy was.

How massive and concentrated that presence was.

“Ugh… Becoming a ghost… That’s a weird taste… Or should I try moving along slowly together instead?”

“I’ll go ahead. You take Freya and follow quickly.”

“…Huh?”

“Sorry, it feels really serious. Don’t give Freya a hard time, and Freya, make sure you follow your big sister, alright?”

“Yes!! Don’t worry, go on ahead! Please… take care of him!』

“Alright.”

As soon as Hio mounted up, the Phantom Steed began running without a moment’s delay.

“Wait… hold on?”

Airlights tried to protest, but Hio was already growing distant.

“Hold hands and come together nicely!”

…..

Before long, Hio had become just a dot on the horizon.

“Ha.”

Looking in the direction Hio had vanished, Airlights let out a dry laugh.

It couldn’t be helped from his position, but for Airlights, it was a bit deflating.

Still, she wasn’t one to be wounded by something so minor.

“Guess I’d better figure out how to become a ghost.”

Instead, she fired up her competitive spirit.

“Then I won’t have to get left behind again, right?”

Whether it was competitiveness or something else, she burned with motivation.

And just then, a small figure crept closer to Airlights.

Not content with just approaching, the little one gently took Airlights’s hand.

“…What is it?”

“Let’s go!”

“With you? Why? I’d be faster alone.”

『Because Hio told us to hold hands and come together!』

“…Such a hassle.”

With Hio gone, Airlights scrunched up her face but still bent down to lower herself.

“Get on. No way I’m going to hold hands with someone with legs as short as yours for all that distance.”

“Yes! Big sister! 9(‘^’)”

“…Hmph, ‘big sister,’ really.”

And so, Airlights and Freya—the resurrected undead and a small Piece of Dragon—hastened after Hio.

As the red sky slowly began to fall asleep.

***

Regarda.

When I close my eyes, it’s all still so vivid.

That gentle voice that brings peace to my heart.

The voice that taught me how to see the world, how to face it.

Aerial was Regarda’s parent.

Regarda.

Even as time passed, the voice remained unchanged.

Gentle, yet filled with strength.

There was never a wrong answer to any question.

That’s why she was Regarda’s great teacher.

Regarda.

Once he became an adult, he had to inherit the mission.

The absolute who governed wind and nature—the Green Dragon, Aerial.

Regarda’s clan had always served the Dragon.

Among that clan, he had been chosen as the most honored.

Yet, he never fully understood until he was grown.

To protect Aerial?

Claiming to know her best only made it more incomprehensible.

What was there to protect her from? She was already a complete, supreme being.

So, Aerial became Regarda’s one and only friend.

A friend with much to teach.

The only two who could truly understand each other.

That’s what it means to be a Dragon and a Dragon Knight.

A parent, a teacher, and the only friend.

But perhaps he took his mission too lightly. He never had time to grasp what had happened.

Truly, in a single instant, the Dragons went extinct. Overnight.

If Aerial managed to hold onto hope for the future, it was thanks to Regarda being by her side.

A miracle impossible for a Dragon, a creature who always lives alone.

So, Regarda has continued the mission even a thousand years later.

Endlessly blaming himself for not doing his best back then.

Holding onto the promise he swore he would keep, enduring the endless years.

The promise itself wasn’t much.

Normally, he’d have laughed and dismissed it.

It was so trivial.

And yet, that promise…

When I open my eyes again, I’ll greet you with a smile, Aerial.

You don’t have to try so hard, you know…

No, I will see you again. I promise.

Who could have known it would be so hard to keep?

Who could have known it would go awry just as I thought I was almost there?

So, Aerial.

“Remember me.”

With those wise, gentle eyes and that soft voice of the past.

“Look at me, and call my name.”

Such was Regarda’s wish.

KWA-AAANG-!

But before the wind that Aerial unleashed, Regarda was crushed once again.

KRAAAAH!

A voice neither wise nor gentle.

Less a voice, more a scream—a roar.

A predator’s gaze, devoted only to destruction.

KWAANG-!

With such ferocity, Regarda blocked every movement with a single spear.

Golden energy shot forth, sealing the Dragon’s tail, body, and wings all at once.

“I learned all this from you.”

No matter how supreme a being, without intellect, there was nothing but instinct.

A creature pushing forward mindlessly on instinct couldn’t get past Regarda.

KWAAAANG-!

Infinite magical power, and a Dragon—the true master of magic.

But now that Aerial’s mind was gone, all that remained was an enormous body, tough scales, and occasionally a mass of magic power in a devastating breath.

All of it.

With a roar, the Green Dragon unleashed attacks that sent chills down Regarda’s spine.

Regarda met those attacks with a gleaming golden aura.

KWAANG!

KWAANG-!

KWAAANG-!

The collision of the Dragon’s massive form and the small spear made the earth tremble and buildings shake.

Tough scales and a quick tail were countered by concentrated aura, or other skills left in this body.

PAAAA- the breath of wind the Dragon exhaled was entirely neutralized by his own aura, covering the sky.

Dozens of clashes happened in the blink of an eye.

Amidst the thunderous cacophony, Regarda realized something.

A Dragon reduced to mere instinct is not as strong as expected.

With the will imbued in his spear, he could pierce even those hard, beautiful scales.

Feeling this, Regarda called out all the more desperately.

“….Aerial, remember me.”

He was the knight who protected the Dragon.

It was his mission, and the Dragon was his parent, his teacher, and his only friend.

Standing before Aerial with a smile was a promise that had to be kept.

That’s why—

“Please…”

He could never kill the Dragon.

KWAAAAANG-!

‘Could a human’s strength really achieve this?’

Such a gigantic Dragon, as large as a castle.

Scales that resisted arrows, spears, and even catapults, and a breath of pure destruction.

His only weapon: a single spear gripped tight.

Yet, he didn’t give an inch.

With a shining golden aura, he blocked the Dragon’s breath.

He faced the massive, devastating onslaught with swift movements and a straight spear.

Irina, watching from below, wore an expression clouded with confusion and doubt—she simply couldn’t understand.

‘Why did the Dragon so desperately want to destroy the Cathedral?’

‘Who was that man facing the Dragon, and how was he so strong?’

‘And… why did both of them seem so sorrowful?’

Both the Dragon and that man.

KWAANG-!

Of course, it was just a baseless intuition.

It was simply how Irina saw it.

Almost as if to prove her right—

“The Messenger of God has descended!”

“The Goddess has sent her Apostle!”

“Ah, thank goodness. Thank goodness…”

“Thank you, Liphyue…”

Voices of relief came from outside.

Sitting or kneeling, each person looked up to the sky.

“It’s the Dragon Knight… The Dragon Knight has appeared!”

“A knight standing against the evil Dragon!”

“That’s it! The Dragon Knight!”

“Dragon Knight!”

“Dragon Knight, please defeat that wicked Dragon…”

Hearing those cries, Irina looked up again at the man now being called the Dragon Knight.

And wondered once more.

Weren’t their voices of joy and hope so different from the reality she saw?

The man’s twisted expression seemed somehow desperate.

The Dragon’s movements seemed so pained.

KWAAAAANG-!

Their clash resounded with mournful echoes.

“Dragon Knight! Dragon Knight!”

The truth was, the Dragon Knight existed to protect Dragons.

But no one here knew that.

***

Tsk tsk.

‘You’re awfully cold, aren’t you?’

At Purunel’s words, Hio replied lightly, casting a shield spell before his eyes.

“I can’t help it. Only spirits can ride a Phantom Steed.”

Still, can’t you say something a little warmer to a woman who likes you? At least half of what you think—

“Stop with the nonsense. I have to focus.”

Riding the Phantom Steed, Hio rushed toward the presence of that immense being.

Even though there was still quite some distance, the tremendous shock grew clearer.

A clash of powerful magic and another mighty force.

As expected of a Dragon. But it doesn’t feel like it’s using magic at all.

“It’s probably completely lost its reason.”

So is it Regarda facing the Dragon?

“Most likely…”

…Tsk. That’s a tough situation.

“Yeah. Time to steel myself.”

The sky was already growing dark.

Riding the sole, glowing Phantom Steed across it, Hio muttered low.

“If it comes to it, I may have to kill the Dragon.”