Book Eater

Chapter 203: Sand Dragon Desertio (3)

Fortunately, Theo was able to prevent a bloody battle between Veronica and Aquilo. They didn’t stop exchanging barbs, but that was enough. Both were transcendent beings capable of destroying an army, so Theo hoped that the tension between the two would end with just words. He couldn’t think about laughing at all.

The problem was that he was at the center of the tug of war. In that sense, Aquilo was really cunning. Unlike her attitude, she knew she was at a disadvantage in the desert and had no intention of fighting. After all, she wasn’t some dumb beast but an intelligent being.

“By the way, hasn’t it been a while? Boy.” Aquilo ignored Veronica and grabbed Theo’s right arm out of the blue, wrapping her slender arms around him. “Even if you couldn’t call me properly, couldn’t you at least say hello? Isn’t that too much?”

“S-Sorry...?”

“You’re lacking sincerity. It’s all over your face.”

It was clear that this was the first time he had experienced something like this. Theo had spent his youth reading books, and his past experience with women could be counted on one hand. He couldn’t think straight because of the softness pressing against his right arm. His body and mind were simultaneously confused, so he didn’t know what to say.

Aquilo smiled like she knew that.

Kuk, what a cute response.

She had experienced it in the cave, but men like Theo shouldn’t be openly seduced. Rather, she had to gradually narrow the distance until his vigilance broke down. Aquilo remembered the pleasure of sinking her teeth into ripe fruit for the first time and couldn’t help licking her upper lip.

It looks like there are a few competitors but...

She had already noticed the silver-haired girl staring at her from behind Theo. She didn’t look too bad for a human. Then there was the mixed blood from the red clan. She also knew about the high elf she hadn’t seen yet. Aquilo had never failed in her seductions, so it was the first time she had rivals. However, this kind of challenge was exactly what Aquilo wanted. She would beat all her competitors and completely take away his mind and body.

She sighed. “... Hah...”

Theo flushed red as her breath brushed past his ear, but Aquilo was so excited that she didn’t even realize it. Like most cool-blooded animals, a flush appeared on her pale face when she became excited.

Then as Theo was about to lose his mind...

“Hey.” Veronica finally reached the limit of her patience and grabbed Aquilo’s shoulder. “Fish, don’t stick to the kid.”

Everyone heard an unpleasant crunch. Veronica’s grip was enough to break a large rock, and wasn’t something Aquilo could just shrug off. Theo was afraid a fight would break out.

However, Aquilo just dropped his arm coolly. “Truly savage. Do you have the blood of an ogre inside you?”

“The hell did you say?!”

“Well, I can feel relieved now. You can never beat me.”

Veronica frowned at the ambiguous words. She didn’t know why, but Aquilo seemed one step ahead in this quarrel. Neither of them spoke again. Aquilo just smirked, and Veronica seemed deeply troubled.

... The sniping was scary, but I don’t like this silence.

Theo sighed as he felt the weight of the silence on his shoulders. On one side was a dragon, the strongest species in the material world, and the other was a magician who hunted dragons. The unnatural silence lasted until they met Desertio again.

***

“It’s been a while, old man,” Aquilo said as she entered the situation control room.

It was a nickname that didn’t suit an ancient dragon like Desertio, who had lived for almost a million years. However, Desertio didn’t grow angry as he replied shakily.

[This voice, is it Aquilo?]

“Of course, it is. I knew this would happen, but I didn’t expect to be the one in charge.”

[Haha, me either. I didn’t know that a tomboy would be at my end... You didn’t return for more than a thousand years, so I thought you had already forgotten about this old man.]

Aquilo replied cheekily, “Who’s the one who lives in a desert? It’s hard to even breathe in this place. If you weren’t dying, I wouldn’t have come to you.”

[Y-Yes. Thank you...]

Desertio seemed like a grandfather listening to his cute granddaughter as he simply accepted Aquilo’s ridiculous words. The majesty of the dragon, who treated swordmasters as ants, was all over the place.

Was he only weak toward Aquilo or was it because they were the same species? The conversation between the two dragons was no different than that of an ordinary father and daughter.

Aquilo asked, “Don’t you still have a few hundred years left? I can still feel some life force.”

[Umm, maybe three hundred years or so. But it’s hard to imagine that this opportunity would come again. It will be difficult for you to be present when the time comes.]

“It makes sense, but...”

Death was a matter of fear and oblivion to humans; however, it was a natural end for dragons. They were born from nature, and in death, they would return to nature. Their powerful teeth and claws, solid hide, and scales... All the blessings they received when they were born would be returned to the material world. Sand dragons became grains of sand, sea dragons became water, and fire dragons became lava. They were a part of the world and would be reborn again in a slightly different form.

Desertio had understood this over the many years of his life, but Aquilo was still young.

[Don’t feel too much regret. I’m satisfied with my life.]

He had lived for a long time. He had watched, fought, negotiated and killed many humans, elves, dwarves, and dragons. It would be a lie to say he wasn’t feeling hesitation, but he had decided to end his life. This was the right time to do so while respecting his elders’ wishes.

Aquilo shook her head and muttered in a small voice, “Who feels regret, old man...”

[Hehehe, you feel regretful. You can’t put up a false pretense in front of this old man.]

“... Annoying.” She was still a sly dragon but she seemed more like a girl who wasn’t being honest at that moment. Desertio chuckled at her as he shifted his gaze. He looked at the human who had been chosen by this volatile child, the man who had brought him this joyful reunion.

[Young magician, you are this body’s benefactor. What is your name?]

Theo was surprised by the sudden question, “Theodore Miller.”

[Yes, Theodore Miller. You are the benefactor who will bring a satisfying end to this body. As I said before, I would like to thank you and will give you a corresponding reward. However, I don’t have anything other than this body. My power has grown out of control a thousand years ago, and all the treasures I gathered all turned to sand. If you are expecting treasures or gold, I have to apologize for not being able to meet those expectations.]

Theo had already guessed that much. Treasures from the Age of Mythology would long be weathered away. Gluttony had once said that sand dragons didn’t have much interest in goods. They were the opposite of water dragons who enjoyed piling up treasures into mountains.

However, a dragon wouldn’t lie about giving him a reward. After all, Desertio hadn’t said that he would repay Theo in gold.

Desertio called out to Paragranum.

[Ruins manager, are you listening?]

“... Yes, I’m listening.”

[Open the entrance for a moment.]

Paragranum was troubled for a moment. However, the opponent was a dragon who could destroy the outer walls, so she unlocked the entrance. Although it couldn’t be seen from the control room, Desertio had a clear view of the entrance.

It took a second for the sand dragon to speak again.

[... It’s inside. You can close the door again and take it.]

As everything in the laboratory was under Paragranum’s control, she moved the item to the situation control room without much difficulty.

Her eyes widened. “T-This...?”

It resembled a topaz jewel. It had a mysterious golden orange color which was difficult to express. Its size was even more amazing. The gem was larger than the head of an adult male. Even Veronica and Sylvia, who had little interest in jewelry, stared blankly at the scintillating surface.

However, their surprise only grew when Paragranum said, “... Dragon Heart!”

“What? This?”

“This gem is a dragon’s heart?”

The group cried out in astonishment, while Aquilo nodded with a bitter expression. She had already guessed it, but it was hard for her to describe her feelings at seeing a Dragon Heart this way.

“Yes, that is a heart.”

“B-But...”

Could any creature in the world survive without a heart?

Theo looked out carefully. Desertio had expected this reaction and calmly explained.

[Don’t worry about it. This body is already closer to a spirit than a creature, so the concept of organs isn’t that important anymore. In any case I’m going to die, so my heart will be taken out eventually.]

It was an unexpected gift. Even a dragon didn’t have an eternal body. Their hard bones and skin would become thinner as they aged. Their thick muscles would shrivel up, and even their claws would lose their sharpness.

The only exception to that was the heart, which overflowed with mana. The strength of a Dragon Heart increased in proportion to its age. As Desertio was a dragon who had lived a long time, the inherent power in his heart would be indefinite.

Theo regained his composure and raised his hand.

Appraisal.

It was now habit to touch items with his left hand.

[+?? Desertio’s Heart]

[The heart of Desertio, a dragon who has lived for almost a million years. The power of weathering is preserved within. If sacrificed, it is possible to call a god or demon. It can also be used as a permanent increase in strength. If you absorb it, you can obtain the power of weathering. However, the user’s vessel won’t be able to endure it and will break.

* The rating of this heart is Mythology.

* When consumed, the present user will die.

* When consumed, Power of Weathering will be learned. The present user won’t be able to control the power and will self-destruct.

* When consumed, a large amount of magic power will be absorbed. The present user won’t be able to suppress the magic and will self-destruct.

* When consumed, the amount of dragon blood will become thicker. The present user won’t be able to survive the change and will self-destruct.]

Theo's face stiffened. This was a mythological item! It was an object that surpassed Laevateinn and the complete Azoth Sword. Additionally, the explanation was even more fearsome. If he consumed it, he would be overwhelmed by the abilities and self-destruct.

Theo was quite accustomed to the system, so he could determine it.

... Based on this description, I probably won’t be able to absorb it even if I reach the 8th Circle. It is a truly ridiculous thing.

If he were at the 8th Circle, he could have consumed Death’s Worship, which lay forgotten in his Inventory. However, this Dragon Heart was at the 9th Circle. However, the heart of a dragon was being given to a human.

Let’s put it in my Inventory.

- Understood.

Theo pretended to put the Dragon Heart in his dimensional pocket, but he actually held it in his left hand as Gluttony swallowed Dragon Heart. He had a feeling that he could use it eventually. It was an unexpected windfall. Theo looked down at his left hand with a stunned expression as Desertio laughed with satisfaction.

[It seems like you like my reward. Yes, my heart is worth it. I hope this heart will be a great help to you, as you have been for me.]

“... I don’t deserve this gift, Desertio.”

[Huhu, don’t say that. Keep this in mind while taking care of Aquilo.]

“Yes?” Theo was surprised by the words and turned to look at Aquilo.

Aquilo stared at him and said, “Boy, is there something you want to ask of me?”

“Ah, Desertio’s end...”

“No, that is his favor. You haven’t asked me for anything. You just called me.”

“Eh?”

She wasn’t wrong. Aquilo had freely agreed after hearing him out, and Theo hadn’t requested anything. Since she had accepted on the basis of her relationship with Desertio, Theo still had the right to ask something of her. As a blue dragon, Aquilo disliked this type of vague ending.

Theo was troubled for a moment as he thought about the unintentional bonus.

What should I ask of Aquilo?

He could postpone the request, but it wasn’t common to have a chance to properly prepare a summoning spell. Theo had been fortunate that Paracelsus’ laboratory had such luxurious materials. He couldn’t guarantee that there would be another chance to call an adult dragon.

At that moment, someone entered Theo’s field of view.

“Ah.” The twisted puzzle in his head clicked into place. Theo’s eyes shone brightly as he turned toward Aquilo.

“My request...”