Reveal

Clemence thought about it. He didn't need to know the details behind Anthony creating and drinking the Pulse-Raising Potion. But, as his teacher, he wanted to know what drove the less-than-a-year-old boy to consume a potion that didn't seem to do anything other than raise his pulse.

It also seemed like Anthony had a plan behind his actions. And as a teacher who had taken a liking to Anthony, he wanted to help, even if only to see what Anthony would do in the future. Anthony was already talking to Clemence as an equal—well, almost—and Clemence responded in kind. What would happen when Anthony grew up, learned more, and started practicing magic or medicine?

Clemence didn't doubt for a second that Anthony would be talentless in regard to mana manipulation.

"Hmm."

Clemence let out a thoughtful hum as he rubbed his chin. He could ask Anthony to tell him what he was doing and, by doing so, find ways to help or guide Anthony so he doesn't let his cold heart steer him toward a path of death and destruction. Or he could let his personal desire and pride control him and continue trying to guess what it was that made Anthony so special.

"Alright, I fold."

Clemence nodded after making a decision. He wasn't sure how much he could actually impact Anthony's course in life, but he had to try at least. He felt responsible after being given the opportunity to interact with Anthony during his formative years– months. Since Anthony was willing to listen to him, Clemence had to make sure he listened to something decent.

"But before you tell me the details about the potion and why and how you're using it to strengthen your body, can you tell me how close I was? Like, would I have guessed why you are like no other baby if I had more time?"

Anthony decisively shook his head.

"No. I do not think you would have ever gotten the right answer, even with unlimited time."

Clemence sighed in defeat.

"So, it's not a physique."

"Ah, no. I do have a special physique, and that episode with my sensitive hearing is due to that. But that is also the only thing related to the physique itself, at least directly. The walking, talking, training, potion-making is all me."

Clemence deflated. He had borrowed a ton of books from the Imperial Library about different physiques, but he had been on the wrong track.

"Alright. I will probably need a good night's sleep to melt this, but go ahead. Please tell me who or what you are, Anthony."

"Right. Clemence, have you heard of the Dragon King, Anastrus?"

Since it had been a while since his last trip to the human world, Anthony wasn't even sure humans would still remember his previous life.

"...Dragon King, Anastrus…"

Clemence rubbed his chin as he looked up while wracking his brain.

"I must say it does ring a bell–! Ah! The Bookeater!"

Clemence slapped his thigh as he remembered, and he looked at Anthony with wide eyes.

"'The Bookeater'?"

"Yeah! Is that not him?"

"What kind of moronic curse-gobbler gave me such a horrendous nickname?!"

Rage filled Anthony. It and the revelation hidden in Anthony's words surprised Clemence enough to make his jaw hit the floor.

"Y-you're the Bookeater?!"

"No!"

Anthony stood up in his armchair and slapped his hands against the table as he shouted in indignant denial.

"I don't eat books! I would never do something as barbaric as destroying a physical manifestation of knowledge!"

"So you're not the Bookeater?"

"No!!"

"But you are Anastrus, the Dragon King?"

"Yes!"

Still enraged, Anthony couldn't help but slam his palms against the table again.

"Uh, are there two Dragon Kings then?"

Anthony sighed and threw himself back in the armchair. Clemence wasn't involved in giving him the nickname, so there was no need to take his anger out on him.

"There are many Dragon Kings, but there is only one Me, and there has only ever been one Me. Someone has been foolish enough to slander me during my slumber."

Anthony still had an angry frown, creating deep furrows in his brow as he crossed his arms and huffed.

Anthony immediately decided that he not only had to seek out the robed mage and exact revenge while going to the bottom regarding the mystery of his rebirth. He also had to right a couple of wrongs. There was no way he would allow someone to defame him, even if he had now technically been reborn. He had to find out who decided to give him that horrendous nickname and punish them accordingly, if possible. After that, he would have to make it clear to the entire world that Anastrus, the Strongest Dragon King, does not eat books. He reads them.

"So, you are Dragon King Anastrus, the one I'm thinking of, but you are not the Bookeater?"

"Exactly."

Anthony nodded, still with a grumpy face.

"I'm sorry, but that's all I know about Anastrus, and since it's wrong, I don't know anything other than the name."

Anthony tilted his head slightly as he remembered what Clemence had asked during this conversation.

"Wait, you asked if there were two Dragon Kings, not two Dragon King Anastrus. Why?"

"Well, is there such a big difference? Isn't there only one king of dragons? You just said there was only one of you, after all."

"Yes, there is only one of me. But I am not the only Dragon King."

"You're not? How does that work? Do you and the other kings split the rest of the dragons, or do you have countries like humans do?"

"Hmph."

Anthony snorted both in disbelief and disdain.

"A Dragon King is not someone bestowed with a title like humans. It is a classification of superior dragons. It is not far from the difference between goblins and hobgoblins, but it is shameful I have to make that comparison to make you understand. Dragons were subjects of awe and study the last time I ventured into the human world. Why do you not know about us–them or me–my past life?"

Anthony gave Clemence a gaze of scrutiny, suspicion, and curiosity. A lot of things seemed to have happened in the time he had holed up in that mountain.