Chapter 31

Wrai posed the question, one I just wasn't in the mood to answer, nor did I really want to anyway. 

The room was quiet, it seemed like no one had any answers, so we just stayed like that for a while. It seemed like this silence would never end, stretching over several minutes.

I was slowly drifting off to sleep, before someone's voice shut that down.

"That was definitely the worst I've seen in my many years of adventuring. I had thought that those who had died were merely unfortunate enough to wander into a dragon's den.

But now, I suspect that he was purposefully luring people down to his nest, to fulfill his gruesome fascination with human art." Bastien was the first to speak, following Wrai's inquiry, and he voiced what he thought went down.

"That theory is most likely true, since the entrance was entirely inconspicuous, there were no signs that there was anything that lived within. Even if he didn't go out of his way to mark his territory, there would have been clues as to his presence.

Instead he hid and removed any traces that might have alerted wanderers, as to what dwelled within. He was an Elder, so he must have been centuries old, and from what I could parse he comprehended the human mind quite well. " Added Verica, as she developed upon the hypothesis.

She paused for a moment, taking her time to collect her thoughts, and continued on.

"Not to mention if he understood how human society worked, he would have known that the guild would have sent adventurers to investigate. Since he just continued to prey on all those who stumbled inside, as well as those who were sent to hunt him.

But, as an Elder Fire Dragon, he was so far above rabble, that it just wasn't funny. He must have thought that no human could slay him, and in a way he was somewhat correct. If any other Adamantite party had gone to investigate, they would have died without a doubt." 

Almost everything she said was mere speculation, however, it was extremely probable that a majority of it was true.

Especially what she said about the other Adamantite ranks, the primary reason we won was because I was present. And the other teams don't have someone like me, a person who could go head to head with such a creature.

Not to mention that both Verica and Wrai were both above average in terms of ability, amongst Adamantite adventurers. Bastien was no slouch either, despite not having the raw talent the other two did, he made up for it with a wealth of experience.

It was seen when I was taken out of the fight for not even a minute, and within that span of time he had almost wiped out all three of them.

And as a fighter, Dalawrairth was probably the second strongest after myself, his durability was off the charts, anyone else wouldn't have lasted half as long.

But, as we were discussing this idea, another came to me.

"Wait, don't dragons, in general, like ruling over others, having a plethora of underlings to do their bidding.

I know that there are exceptions but personality wise, he was just as arrogant as any other. And he seemed to be quite intelligent as well, not exactly the lone wolf type."

I asked, since it seemed a little strange to me.

We all turned to the ranger in our party, him being the resident enciclopedia on monsters, and their behavioral patterns, having hunted them on his own before joining Silver Sky.

Noticing our gazes resting on him, he took on a thinking posture, obviously trying to decipher if that dragon had acted in a way that would contradict his nature.

Of course, there was no such thing as a uniform species with no deviants, but he just didn't seem like one, he just looked like the stereotypical wyrm. The only thing that was a little out of the ordinary was the work of art that he had most likely constructed himself.

But, as much as the thought disgusted me, even that could be dismissed as an unusual hobby.

"Well, it's not impossible for him to be a sort of hermit, perhaps he just didn't socialize with others of his species, or dominate other weaker monsters. 

But based on the information we have, there is far more of a chance that he was simply temporarily separated from his main base. Normally, I don't think a dragon of his caliber would be satisfied with the lodgings he was living in.

However, what if he hadn't planned on staying there long. We know the disappearances only started a few months ago, so either he wasn't active, or the far more likely alternative, is that he had just arrived." Bastien speculated, but it was hard to come to a definite answer since the subject of discussion was dead.

Good riddance.

"But, why would he have all that treasure with him then? Wouldn't it be a massive pain to move all that, just to set up such a convoluted trap, when he could have kidnapped people by force.

And, it's not like he thought much of our kind, he didn't feel threatened by us at all. That is why he was so surprised when Fay could match him." Wrai asked, poking a few holes in that idea, bringing up an idea I hadn't thought of before.

Why was he so careful?

Despite not thinking that we could kill him.

But then Bastien replied, having an answer ready.

"Well, most dragons are extremely vain, and are completely obsessed with items that possess a high amount of man stored within, either from enchantments of some different method.

He evidently had planned to stay for a little while, since he laid such an elaborate trap. So, he was most likely just more comfortable with that much treasure.

Still, I don't think we'll ever find the answers we desire regardless."

After that, no one else had anything to say, having reached the end of the line in terms of this matter.

But.

There was one more thing, before we were done with the night.

"What should we do with the girl?"