"You know, I'm going to die. The old mage looked up and calmly told Is, "But Mudd may be able to continue...... As long as you can find the right way. ”

“...... Me?" Iss frowned.

He knew that dragons could be very powerful spellcasters...... But he really prefers to tear his enemies apart with his claws - and of course, frost crack is not bad.

"Of course, you. The old man replied confidently, "I am dying, and you promised to guard this valley and what I have left behind...... A dragon does what it says, doesn't it?"

Is's face froze, unable to refute. He was quite willing to keep that promise, but not now...... Not forced to do so.

"To be honest, I didn't expect me to die so quickly. Inglis sighed slightly, as if he could see through his hesitation at a glance...... But instead of letting him go, he unceremoniously pointed out, "And you really can't be a reliable guardian right now." ”

Is's face twisted involuntarily.

"Mulder would be a good helper. "It understands how the defenses of this valley work...... It also makes tea, cooks, trims flowers and plants, and cleans the house...... Do everything you don't love to do and have to do. ”

He snapped his notes shut and pushed them to Iss with a smile, "This is the first, the second and third are on the shelves - you'd better read them before I die, or you'll have to ask Abby if there's anything you don't understand." ”

Is's face quickly darkened.

“...... Can I get her out?" he asked. He wasn't afraid of the woman...... Of course she wasn't afraid, but the strange look she had when she looked at him always tickled all over his body. It's like there's a thousand caterpillars crawling around.

“...... Of course not. "You promised to protect this valley and everything here—"

"I promised to guard your pile of broken books. There's not a female mage in there who doesn't know when she's going crazy!" Ise cried out.

"'I swear I'll protect everything here...... Like a dragon guarding your treasures. The old mage repeated his oath word for word, his memory so clear that he didn't look like a dying man at all, "Now that she's imprisoned here, of course it's a part of it. ”

In the midst of Is's glare, a bitter and helpless smile that had never appeared on his face spread from the deep wrinkles in the corners of his lips and eyes.

"Say it again. He added softly, "How long do you think she'll live?" if I remember correctly, Abigail Norman." She is also almost ninety years old...... No matter what kind of talent she has, she is just a human after all. By the time you blink and take a nap, she's probably gone. ”

Isis fell silent.

That's a fact. Human life is so short...... So briefly.

But...... Does he really want to stay like that?

Fingertips unconsciously brushed over the notes that had been pushed into his hands. The young ice dragon was slow to make a decision.

"Of course, if you have something more important, I don't mind waiting. Inglis folded his hands over his abdomen, looking serene, as if he was ready to wake up at any moment, "But, honestly, I don't know how long I can wait." ”

More important things......

Isis stared down at his fingers, his mind at a loss.

He remembered the fruitless conversation he had with Scott - their conversation. Most of the time it seems to have been fruitless.

When he left the Stormy Fortress in a fit of rage, his goal was to find Bingmang's bones. He thought that the deception and betrayal he had suffered was enough to make him abandon the ...... that belonged to humanity At least. It was enough for him to abandon Scott Criess. The words he threw down were as cold and resentful as a frozen spear, as if the next time they met, they would just be enemies.

But it didn't take long for the frozen soul to relentlessly. The hatred faded so quickly that it left only a rift in the heart that may never go away...... Before he knew it, he had deviated from his goal.

Reminded by Mork, the silvertooth dwarf, he became a young human hunter - but no longer had the blond blue eyes that resembled Scott.

It was to hide people's eyes and ears, and it was also some kind of childish rebellion.

He was not good at finding out news, so he could only wander in the forest, between several villages, and observe secretly. He set his sights on the suspicious hunters, not only because they were the "warriors" of Nethers, but also because he felt as if he had seen them in the Temple of Collins......

And when the "hunters" unexpectedly took Kormit as their prey, he did not hesitate to save the blacksmith.

He still remembers him...... Scott once ventured into the town of Bayou to find out the news, which meant that Scott believed this man, so this man should be saved - and when he realized how he made his decision without thinking, Iss was so annoyed that he just wanted to backhand himself with an arrow.

In a fit of rage, he reached out and demanded payment. Either way, money is still important to live as a human being. He was a little surprised when Kormit caught up with him, after all, he didn't act friendly at all...... But then I realized that this might be another opportunity.

It is not normal for believers to attack their pastors. With Kormit, he might be able to find something useful...... And he did.

He recognized Enoch's runes drawn on the ground. It's a slight difference, but it's a rune that sacrifices precious things to the Sea of Nothingness for power—a rune created by a dragon. It has disappeared for hundreds of thousands of years, but in this way, it has appeared in front of him again.

What is it that Scott does not religiously believe in, the deity who gave him a second life and great power?

From then on, whether he wanted to admit it or not, there was far more worry about Scott than anger.

The huge altar in Sidney's temple somewhat confirmed his suspicions, and Scott didn't deny it...... From start to finish, he knew what he was doing.

Is that Scott Criess really still him?

And the worst part...... Even so, even if he left in anger again, he still couldn't give up.

The damn blacksmith wasn't wrong about that.

Perhaps because of his repeated fright, Kormit was calm when he heard Iss tell him that the god he believed in was probably an ancient dragon.

“...... That can explain a lot of things. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "But there are many things that still cannot be explained...... But it looks like you're not going to pursue it any further. ”

Iss replaced his answer with silence.

He hasn't made a decision yet, but he does prefer to stay here. This small valley, all the time he spent here in addition to maybe less than half a month, but it could make him feel the peace that even the current Criesburg could not bring him.

Although there is still an undercurrent surging under the calm, chaotic, fierce and dazed, as if it may roar through the ice at any moment, but there is no direction to rush away.

"I'll be here for a while. Finally he said, "But I can take you wherever you want to go first—and if you want to stay here, of course, that's fine." ”

Kormit bowed his head and was silent for a moment.

“...... Gabriel. "If you can, take me to Gabriel, preferably in a low-key way, I don't want to be discovered...... I need to know if the people there are safe and sound. And...... We may have been in too much of a hurry and missed some clues. ”

“...... Did the old man tell you something?" Isis couldn't help but ask, "I heard you talked all night. ”

Kormit gave him an apologetic wry smile.

"Yes. "He told me a lot...... Untold legends. ”

He didn't seem to want to say more, so Iss didn't ask any more, and there was a slight sadness in his heart. They were companions, but now he left him behind...... And in fact, he didn't do Kormit any favors, but probably caused him a lot of trouble.

"If you need any help......" he burst out, but didn't finish his sentence.

Can he really help him in any way?

He has the natural arrogance of a dragon, but day by day he realizes his uselessness more clearly.

If you don't have the magic and power you have talent, you don't have the memories and knowledge you inherit...... Impulsive, naïve, weak, irritable, self-righteous, impatient and lacking perseverance...... Whether as a human or as a dragon, he seems to have lived an unusually failed life.

"I know where to find you if I need help. Kormit nodded and smiled at him, hesitated for a moment, and then whispered, "I have something to tell you...... It's not trying to dictate your decision, but I think you should know. Before the old mage fainted, he was somewhat delirious and said something to someone who was probably in his head...... He said, 'I made a promise if you could see it...... I think I've done it. I think that sentence has something to do with you. The reason why he asked you to guard this valley may not be as simple as he said...... But I believe it wasn't out of malice. ”

――Nothing seems to be as simple as it seems.

Ise was stunned for a moment, vaguely remembering that the old mage had mentioned Celebrian...... But he had also said that the Half-Elf Priest had nothing to ask of him.

So, the one who made the old mage make a promise would be Allen...... Or Scott?

Judging by Kormit's expression, he seemed to think it was the latter. But Iss was very suspicious - from the last time Scott and Inglis met, they had no friendship with each other, nor did they have any affection for each other...... And Inglis is not one to accept threats.

And...... What kind of "promise" is that? (To be continued......