Return of the Calamity-Class Death Knight

[Translator - Kie]

[Proofreader - Kawaii]

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Chapter 313: The Dargon (3)

***

The scale of the place was truly befitting of a dragon's dwelling. Damien almost felt like he'd been transported to a giant's land.

"It's rare to have a guest. There doesn't seem to be a proper place for you to sit."

While there were beds and tables, they were all of immense size.

"Please wait a moment."

Iris said and closed his eyes and began to chant in an incomprehensible language.

In response to his words, the surrounding mana began to stir.

And a chair and table perfectly sized for a human rose from the ground.

Damien watched with interest. This was the first time he'd seen a dragon use Dragon Tongue.

Shortly after, Iris transformed into the form of a young girl using polymorph magic.

"Let me introduce myself again. I'm Iris, an ancient dragon."

Iris sat down in front of Damien.

Damien was dumbfounded since he thought Iris was a male dragon.

Iris seemed to notice Damien's thoughts and giggled.

"I have so many questions for you. That's why I've taken the liberty of inviting you here."

"Before that, I have a question. How did you find me?"

Damien stopped his train of thoughts and asked.

When he thought about it, there were too many suspicious points.

Alfheim was hidden by the World Tree. Yet, the dragons had found Damien's location far too easily, as if they had been watching him.

On the other hand, they seemed completely unaware of what had happened in Alfheim.

"It's thanks to my ability."

"Ability?"

"Do you know how the Otherworld was created?"

Damien shook his head. He knew nothing about that.

"It was created through the sacrifice of ancient dragons. They sacrificed themselves to create the Otherworld. But before they perished, they gathered their powers and left me behind."

"So, you're saying you're the last ancient dragon?"

Iris nodded.

"As the last ancient dragon, I inherited their memories and abilities. Thanks to that, I can read destinies."

Iris continued.

"When I learned that demons had been freed, I was able to see your image through destiny."

That must be why she could find Damien in Alfheim.

"However, this ability isn't perfect. I can only tell that you're involved, not the specific details. That's why I want to hear your explanation directly."

Suddenly, a thought occurred to Damien.

"You mean you can find the demons' location...?"

"Yes, with my ability, it's possible. However, to read the demons' destiny, I need a creature or object deeply connected to them."

In other words, Damien was necessary.

"Now it's my turn to ask. What exactly happened in Alfheim? How were the demons summoned?"

Damien had heard their part, so he had to answer.

Damien explained everything he had experienced to Iris.

As Iris continued her explanation, her expression darkened.

"A key... So the Oath has really been broken."

"What kind of Oath is it? Even that young Red Dragon didn't know about it."

Damien finally voiced a question he'd had for a long time.

"A Oath is an absolute rule, a promise. Because of the Oath, demons couldn't appear to the surface, and dragons lived in the Otherworld."

Iris explained in a calm voice.

"There are other things as well. The reason Master Classes keep appearing in the Empire is also thanks to the Oath."

"Who made this Oath?"

"Ruin."

Damien's expression turned to surprise at the name.

"You probably don't know him. He's a forgotten figure now."

"I heard he was the true hero who was betrayed by the Salvation Squad."

Iris was surprised that Damien knew.

"How could a mere human make a Oath?"

"Ruin wasn't a mere human."

"Then what was he?"

To Damien's question, Iris paused for a moment. After much thought, she said.

"… I don't know exactly what kind of existence Ruin was. I haven't fully absorbed the memories left by the previous ancient dragons. But I can tell you this much."

"What is it?"

"He was a being capable of anything."

A sense of awe that Iris couldn't hide was evident in her voice and eyes.

"Ruin defeated the seven Demon Lords who ruled the continent at the time and even killed the Dragonlord. He also defeated countless other powerful enemies."

Iris's praise continued.

"And he placed an Oath on the world, expelling other races and creating a paradise for humans. The key you mentioned is the tool used to make the Oath. Ruin also created it."

Even though he was hearing it directly, he couldn't believe it. Could such a being exist? Even if he did, he couldn't be considered human.

"It's like seeing a God."

"I think so too."

"Damien, the Oath hasn't been completely broken yet. The demons' goal is to completely undo the remaining Oath."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because they can't bring all the demons to the surface as long as the Oath remains."

Iris said with a serious expression.

"If the Oath is completely broken and demons flood in, then everything will truly be over. I want to prevent that."

Iris sighed deeply.

"But we dragons are also bound by the Oath, so we can't go outside. That's why I want to borrow your power."

Iris extended her hand, but Damien hesitated.

"Why do you dragons want to stop the demons?"

"So, dragons are also bound by the Oath, just like demons?"

Damien asked with a suspicious voice.

It was strange that such a race like dragons wanted to help humans.

"In the past, dragons fought against humans. But eventually, we cooperated with them in last."

It was true. Dragons had once been enemies of the Salvation Squad but later became allies.

"We aren't trapped in the Otherworld; we came here of our own accord for the harmony of the surface world. But the demons are trying to corrupt the surface."

Iris's eyes shone with determination.

"Many of our ancestors sacrificed themselves to drive out the demons. How can we let their sacrifices be in vain? We dragons want to help you and drive the demons back."

Iris extended her hand again.

"So, Damien Haksen, please help us."

After much deliberation, Damien took her hand.

"Alright. I'll cooperate with you."

***

After further conversation, Damien left the building. As soon as he was gone, a dragon entered.

"Iris, did the talk go well?" it was the thunder dragon, Typhon.

"More or less."

Iris replied as she sat down. Her face and attitude were filled with annoyance. The polite and composed girl was nowhere to be found.

"Thanks to your acting, Typhon, it was easy to gain Damien Haksen's favor."

In a fit of rage, Typhon attacked at Damien and Iris intervenes.

It was such a simple way to open someone's heart.

"I'm sorry. I actually wanted to kill him."

Iris was startled.

"Really?"

"Seeing my son's state made me lose control..."

"You really tried to kill him and failed?"

Iris asked and recalled Damien's appearance. She had thought he was strong, but she hadn't expected him to be this strong.

"I still want to rip him to shreds right now."

Typhon said, his eyes glowing fiercely.

Iris chuckled and said

"Endure it. We need him to recover the 'key' from the demons."

Iris had lied to Damien. It was true that the dragons had fought alongside Ruin, but they hadn't done so willingly.

They had bowed their heads in misery. If they don’t Ruin just simply annihilate their whole race.

Thanks to that, the dragons had saved their lives, but they were trapped in the Otherworld.

"The Otherworld is truly a dreadful place. The sky is low, the land is cramped. We can't even unleash our full power."

Iris said with strange voice emotions.

The dragons' true goal was not to protect the surface world, but to escape the miserable Otherworld.

To break the Oath, they needed the key that the demons possessed.

The problem was that the dragons were bound by the Oath and couldn't cross over to the surface. So, after much deliberation, Iris decided to use Damien.

"Tell Balhard to faithfully assist Damien Haksen."

She instructed. Damien Haksen would now become their pawn in the fight against the demons.

"And when the opportunity arises... tell him to steal the key."

With the key, they wouldn't have to be trapped in this cramped Otherworld.

"I will follow your orders, my lady."

Typhon bowed was left.

***

"What? So they were planning to use me all along."

Damien was lying in the dragon-made lodging a short distance from Iris's home.

Thanks to the sapling of the World Tree, Damien could easily eavesdrop on the dragons' conversation.

The sapling's detection ability was both extensive and discreet. The two dragons had no idea that Damien was eavesdropping on their whole conversation.

"Bunch of old sly lizards."

Damien mused and stroked his chin.

A part of him wants to get out and beat the shit out of these lizards but he knew he couldn't.

If he did, he would lose the only method to track the demons.

"I'll play along until I find the demons."

Damien thought to himself. But after that, he wouldn't let this slide. His eyes gleamed ominously.

***

[Translator - Kie]

[Proofreader - Kawaii]