Chapter 143-144

Chapter 143 – The Merchant Returned!

"Hmm. This tea is quite good…"

Demon King Elto was gracefully enjoying some tea under the World Tree.

"So, you like it then? I've been asking around about it. We're thinking about making this tea one of the products this island will be known for."

"I have no complaints! When I return to the continent and retake my place on the throne, I shall buy this tea at a high price!"

"I'm grateful to hear that."

"Yes, it really is some good tea… Huh!?"

As Elto smiled with pleasure, her face suddenly turned to shock.

"I can smell it. Someone with the same scent as me is coming from that direction…"

Elto said as she pointed to the ground.

And so I searched for magic energy in that direction.

"You're right… It's far away, but also very big. Hey, this is…"

It was a familiar shape… And if it smelled just like Elto…

"A dragon…an Earth Dragon?"

I looked at Elto and she nodded in agreement.

"Indeed. This smell of dirt could only come from an Earth Dragon. I should go and meet it."

"Don't worry, I told the others to let Earth Dragons come through. If it's the same dragon that came last time, Roydon, then he should come to meet us up here on the surface."

"I see. Then I should wait for him here, like the Demon King that I am."

So saying, Elto reclined heavily into her chair.

We waited for some time after that, and then a giant dragon came lumbering out of the cave.

It was Roydon… He started waving at me as soon as our eyes met.

"Ah, Heal! I see that you've been well!"

"Hello, Roydon! You look pretty good yourself!"

Roydon and I bumped our fists together.

"I decided to take you up on your offer, and have brought all kinds of things with me! Also, some of my friends will be visiting soon as well."

"I see. We happened to have made a Commercial District. There's even an inn, so you should go and see it later."

"Oh, I see. Then I think that I'll stay here tonight! …Oh, by the way, who is that young lady that's been staring this way?"

Roydon asked. Elto growled in reply.

"Who are you calling a young lady! Youngsters these days have no manners! I was once called the Dem…"

"Wait, wait, Elto! I'll explain it to Roydon."

Roydon looked very confused.

He would likely not believe whatever Elto told him.

And so I decided to tell him myself.

Elto was originally a Demon King from the continent, and a Hero had sealed her away.

"…So, that's what happened."

"Thi-this young lady?"

"I'm not a young lady! I even look like a grown woman! Or have you not been able to grasp the full extent of my great power?"

Sweat began to pour from Roydon's forehead as Elto spoke.

"N-no…your magic is immense. But since Heal is so strong, it's not really surprising to me that he has strong friends…"

Roydon said. Elto's mouth then closed and her shoulders slumped.

I suppose she had lost face as a Demon King.

However, Roydon continued.

"But, Heal. I'm surprised that you knew the story about Demon King Elto and the battle with the Hero."

"Well, it was Elto who told me about it."

Roydon looked at Elto with a conflicted expression.

"That is hard to believe…"

"I really am a dragon! See!"

So saying, Elto transformed from a dark-skinned woman to a dragon.

A dragon that was smaller than Roydon.

Upon seeing this, Roydon just tilted his head as if he were even more confused.

Indeed, she did not really look like a Demon King…

I turned to the disappointed Elto and said,

"Well, thousands of years have passed. So it can't be helped."

"Grrrrr… I knew this would happen. But it still makes me sad."

And then Elto fell into my arms and wept like a child.

Roydon looked very apologetic as he said,

"I-I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I'll even give you some wyvern meat."

This only caused Elto to cry even harder.

I had already told her that dragons were now fighting and eating each other…

But it was still something that made her grieve.

"Ro-roydon. I'm sorry that this is all so sudden. In any case, why don't you go to the hotspring and wash off that sweat? Then we can eat."

"Oh, ah… I thank you."

So saying, Roydon followed Number 15 off to the hot spring.

"Elto, you have to be flexible. First, listen to Roydon and learn about the continent. Ask him if there isn't anything that he can do to help. I'm sure they'll slowly come to understand and accept you as the former Demon King."

"Sniff…yes…I will do that."

However, she continued to cry in my arms for quite some time after that.

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Chapter 144 – Shoulder Massage!

"Phew…this drink is so delicious…"

A smile appeared on Roydon's face as he sat down and drained a whole barrel of tea.

I was sitting on the chair opposite of him. And so I had to ask.

"We're thinking about making it this island's famous export. What do you think?"

"Good… Very good! In fact, I want to buy your whole stock right now!"

"I-I see. I'm glad that you like it!"

Rienna and I looked at each other with expressions of relief.

"By the way, young lady. I appreciate the gesture, but…"

Roydon said as he looked over his shoulder.

"What? It was a long journey, and I'm sure you're very tired. If there is anything I can do to help, just let me know."

Elto said as she continued to hit Roydon on the back.

Elto was currently in the form of a dragon that was about the same size as a human. And so it just looked like a child dragon giving their parent a massage.

"One moment you call yourself a Demon King, and the next… Well, I do see that you have great power. Perhaps many of the others will feel it too if they see you fight."

"No, I have no intention of fighting. Instead, I mean to stop it…"

"It's not like we enjoy it. We fight because we have to. It is not an easy thing, stopping all wars."

Roydon and the other dragons used each other for food and materials.

No, they had no choice but to use each other. Their continent was now just a wasteland covered in rocks.

If only the Elto continent was rich like Sheorl…

I couldn't help but think about it.

"Roydon… We have rare stones here on Sheorl. I want Elto to take them and return to your continent. It might help make plants grow again, like it did here."

"She would be very welcome. At least by us Earth Dragons."

"So you'll help Elto then? We will also support you with food."

"Th-that is most generous…but what merit does this have for you? I understand why this young lady wants to be Demon King again, but…"

"There is this prophecy… It's because of it that I want peace to come to the Elto continent."

"Prophecy?"

And so I told Roydon of the prophecy that I heard from my father.

The prophecy about the world ending and Sheorl being the only exception.

Roydon listened to this and tilted his head with puzzlement.

"I cannot believe that… But then again, we don't need a prophecy to know that there isn't much of a future for the Elto continent… And still, what does that have to do with you?"

"You were able to come to this island, because it's connected to the Elto continent. Isn't that right?"

"So it's a part of Sheorl? Is that what you're saying? …Hmm. I don't know…is it really?"

"I don't know. I don't even know if this prophecy is true. It's just a theory at this point."

"And yet you still want to help us…"

"We do, but I also have a debt to repay to Elto. There was quite a disturbance on the island recently, and Elto helped me…"

Elto became teary-eyed as I said this.

And then Roydon let out a great sigh.

"Well, I can at least make the others listen to me."

"Really!?"

Elto's eyes lit up.

"Aye. Will you come with me to the Elto continent, young lady?"

"Of course. Let's go now!"

"Th-that being said, it will take more than a month."

"What? It will not take a day if I fly in the sky. I shall carry you, so don't worry."

"I would probably be gone by the time you arrived…turned into dust. Well, in any case, the other Earth Dragons will be coming here. So we can decide then."

"Very well!"

Elto answered. And then Roydon got up to his feet.

"Now, I think it's time we discuss business… That being said, it's a little awkward for me, considering what we were talking about…"

Roydon said as he pulled out his products from the bag.

There was nothing that was made of dragon materials.

I was sure that he had actually brought dragon scales and other items. But Elto had cried at the sight of dragon meat, and so he didn't take them out this time.

He had also brought about a hundred eggs, but he ended up just telling us to raise them.

Ultimately, the only thing Roydon could offer us was various precious stones…which we already had.

However, he had traveled all of the way here. We couldn't let him go without buying anything.

"Please allow us to pay for the eggs. And we'll take good care of them. Also, if there are some rare precious stones… Huh? What's this?"

I noticed a certain green stone of uneven shape.

"That? Those can be found underground in the Elto continent. They are not exactly rare."

"Huh. I wonder if the Encyclopedia will know…"

<Evergreen Stone… Seed of the ancient plant. Creates a field of grass if you continue to water it.>

"So that means plants will grow… Roydon, you can use this!"

"What do you mean?"

"It's called an Evergreen Stone. Apparently, it will make plants grow around it if you give it water."

"Tru-truly?"

Sweat began to drip from Roydon's forehead.

"We'd love to buy some… But if you have a lot of them, why don't you try planting them back on the Elto continent?"

"Yes, we shall do that! If what you say is true…it will help us greatly… Thank you for telling me."

"No, I'm glad to be able to help. So we can buy this one then?"

"Of course. I'll just dig up some more when I return."

"I see. Thank you."

"Still, this is a surprise. So you know all about different types of stones? In that case, you should take a look at the others."

"Yes, I'll do that. Hmm. I don't think I've seen this one before either?"

This time I found a dark red stone.

<Dragon Transformation Stone… Those who are not dragons can eat it and transform into a dragon.>

Uh…isn't that quite insane…? It seemed like it could be very useful. However, it looked a little bit like raw meat, and I didn't feel like eating it…

Still, being a dragon meant being very powerful. And you would even be able to fly in the sky.

Roydon was looking at me with great curiosity.

"What kind of stone is it?"

"A Dragon Transformation Stone. It gives you the power to turn into a dragon if you eat it."

"In other words, people can become like us?"

"Yes. It seems like it. I guess I should buy it…huh?"

The Dragon Transformation Stone had disappeared from my hand.

When I turned around, I saw that Mappa was standing there, eating the stone.

A moment later, Mappa seemed to have choked on it, as he looked to be in severe pain.

"What are you doing, Mappa! You shouldn't just eat… What!?"

Just as I was about to hit him on the back, Mappa's body began to glow brightly.

The light then expanded until it enveloped the entirety of Sheorl Island. Then it burst…

"Wh-what…!?"

When I opened my eyes, I saw a giant man with green skin and wings on his back.