Chapter 133: The Dragon’s Godfather Part 3

I followed Tondra and moved into another space. Most of the lair was covered in crystals, but the place Tondra led me to had walls densely packed with various magic stones. The different magical powers emitted by each stone made me feel nauseous, almost as if I were seasick.

"Ugh…"

[Ah, I see.]

When I clamped my hand over my mouth, Tondra realized what was happening and flicked its tail. The magical powers from the stones subsided, and I felt much better. Ah, dragons. They remain unaffected even under such pressure.

—Ziiing.

When Tondra touched one of the magic stones, a thin barrier of magic enveloped the space. Since I couldn't hear any sounds, it seemed a sound-blocking spell had been used. This meant Tondra had something it wanted to discuss exclusively with me.

[Theodore.]

"Yes, Lord Tondra."

[The place I visited today is where I discovered the 'Great Fragment'.]

The Great Fragment.

So, it was talking about the "Fragment of Earte".

[Aquila. Her great-grandmother discovered the 'Great Fragment' buried deep in the Silver Mountains.]

"And then she informed you, Lord Tondra."

[Correct. It might sound arrogant to say, but it was a stroke of luck for this world that I became the protector of the 'Great Fragment'.]

"I agree. If it weren't for you, who knows whose hands it might have fallen into and what chaos it could have caused."

[In return, I had to endure an excessively long and deep slumber… but I do not regret it.]

"..."

Because of that "excessively long and deep slumber", Tondra lost countless lives it cherished. Even though it claimed to have no regrets, the deep sorrow in its heart must have been indescribably painful.

[The place where the 'Great Fragment' was found was known only to me and Aquila's great-grandmother. Today, I revisited the site to see if there was anything I might have missed…]

"I see."

[There were 'traces'.]

Traces!

[The moment I acquired the 'Great Fragment' I cast a preservation spell on the area. Even if it snows, rains, or gets windy, the place remains the same. Only the footprints of Aquila's great-grandmother and I should be there.]

"But other 'traces' were left behind?"

[Indeed. The unholy footsteps of dozens tainted the eternal snow. Their hideous struggle to find the 'Great Fragment'…]

"The crows."

[That is just one of their many names.]

"Do you know their true nature?"

[Well… I'm not sure if I can say I 'know'.]

"This is not the time for humility."

[It's not modesty. I don't know their true nature either.]

"…"

[It would be more accurate to say I'm 'still learning'.]

"In that case…"

[Of course, I intend to share everything I know with you.]

"…Thank you. I intend to do the same."

Tondra's blue eyes looked down at me. It was hard to figure out what was in those eyes. Trust? Faith? Or perhaps… distrust?

[Theodore, you seem to handle the 'Great Fragment' with ease.]

"Yes. But I don't know why I can."

[I sacrificed many things to seal the 'Great Fragment', and yet you, a mere 'human' can handle it without issue…]

"…"

[This means many things.]

I responded with a bitter smile. Even if I explained that I was hit by a truck and ended up in this damned pseudo-medieval land, Tondra wouldn't understand.

[You already have one. What about it?]

"The first fragment was obtained from the Dark Forest. Selem… a young dark elf almost destroyed all of Lysette after he got swept up by the power of the fragment."

Of course, it wasn't just Selem's problem; it involved the queen, the elders, and various issues of racial discrimination…

"It's not much different from the case with Rubaf. The crows. They lure the desperate and make them hosts for the 'Great Fragment'. They are not helping them. They are just using their sorrow and anger to obtain the fragment."

[Hosts who abuse the power of the fragment are consumed by it and perish. The crows wait for that very moment. If Rubaf's plan had succeeded, they would have returned to retrieve it.]

"That's what I think too."

Tondra knew more than I had expected. Moreover, it seemed Tondra genuinely cared about the safety of this world. After much hesitation, I finally spoke up.

"Tondra. You have already sacrificed a considerable amount of time protecting the Silver Mountains from the 'Great Fragment'. I want to trust you for that. As you know, this will be a long and arduous battle."

[…]

"The fragments are not all here. They are scattered across the world."

[But you are the only one who can handle them.]

"Yes. That's exactly what I wanted to say. I need help. I desperately need the help of someone like you."

[Help...]

"If I hadn't helped you, you might have had to sleep under the Silver Mountains for hundreds, no, thousands of years just to seal one fragment."

[I am truly grateful for your kindness, Theodore.]

"Gratitude is not enough. Now it's your turn to help me."

I declared firmly to Tondra. It felt somewhat audacious to speak like this to a dragon, but I had to be assertive.

"Great Dragon, I'm not asking you to become my servant. Just help me, as I helped you."

[....]

A moment of silence passed.

Tondra was well aware of the power and danger of the fragments since it sealed one before. Because of this, Tondra knew how troublesome this task could be.

One reason Tondra was friendly towards me was that it could "pass this troublesome task onto me". Tondra was probably hoping to find someone more suitable and step back from this responsibility. As a dragon, Tondra tried to gracefully withdraw, but I couldn't allow that.

I absolutely refuse to bear this burden alone.

[...Very well.]

Tondra seemed to realize that I had seen through its intentions and it turned its head slightly.

[I too will help you as much as I can.]

"Thank you, Lord Tondra."

[I will ask my kin for help as well.]

"That would be a great help."

[That's only if they 'respond'.]

"Hahaha, I see…"

[…Perhaps it is 'fate' that Legion chose you at such a time.]

I hoped it was. If he grew up quickly and became the "Legion" that would sweep away the crows, just as his name implied, I couldn't ask for more.

"By the way…"

I rummaged through my pocket. Ah, here it was. What I pulled out was the USB I had obtained in the "dream" at Didier's cabin. Even after waking from the dream, it had remained in my pocket.

Although it was just a dream, it surely contained information about the crows.

In reality, this USB which was a product of modern civilization was nothing more than junk in this pseudo-medieval land.

However, if you are a highly intelligent being like a dragon and a master of magic, wouldn't it be possible to read something from this piece of junk?

Though it was a USB in form, it was ultimately a fragment of my "memory". Surely, it held information about the "crows" that lingered in my mind, information I couldn't consciously recall. Information I had subconsciously gathered while working or playing games.

Maybe that's why the crows had desperately tried to hinder me when they invaded my dream.

I handed the USB to Tondra. Tondra received the USB which seemed as small as dust compared to its claws and examined it carefully.

"That is… well, it's a type of 'information' crystal. To read the 'information' inside, you need a kind of… magical tool called a 'computer' which is something we can't obtain here…"

[You say amusing things, Theodore. Talking about "magical tools" in front of a dragon.]

"That's exactly why I believe in this, Tondra. I thought that you might be able to read the information inside without a 'computer' or any magical tool."

[Hahaha! Are you testing me? Of course… hmm, wait.]

"…Is there a problem?"

[What is this magic circle? It's a form I've never seen before…]

"...."

[Theodore, who made this magical tool?]

"Well, it was made by people from a place called 'Earth'…"

[Truly fascinating…!]

I was relieved that Tondra took an interest in the USB. Good, then I could leave the USB information to it.

"…Anyway, please let me know if you discover anything."

Tondra was completely absorbed in the USB and it lazily waved its claw at me as if it couldn't be bothered to answer. Dragons, really. As soon as they find something that interests them, they're just like that…

"Theodore."

[…Yes?]

I thought it was over, but now what? I turned to leave but paused to look back at Tondra. The huge dragon absentmindedly traced a circle in the air with its claw again.

-Zzzzt…!

Suddenly, a blue spark from Tondra enveloped my hand and radiated light. What was this?

[A gift.]

When the light faded away, I saw a crystal dragon ring on my middle finger, with a blue gem in its mouth. The carving was so intricate that it looked like the dragon might come to life. I stared in shock at the ring, then at Tondra.

[You used a brute-force method to break through my space magic by destroying the magical tool. I never imagined someone would use such a simple-minded approach.]

Simple-minded… I did put some thought into it!

[That ring is a token of respect for using a method even a dragon wouldn't have thought of. I hope you like it.]

Did this mean it was a "space ring"?

Khalid wouldn't give me another ring, and I had been worrying every night about where to find such an item at a reasonable price…!

"…. Thank you, Lord Tondra!"