Chapter 109: The Essence of Flame

"Where have you been until now..."

Thud—

Yurin Huygar began to scold Karyl, who had returned late into the night, but Karyl tossed something to him. It was a gold coin, engraved with an anchor.

"What's this?"

"It's a token that allows you to pass through not only Cove but also the remaining territories of Lord Fran. With this, you can also pass safely through the White Bunker."

Yurin stared at the coin. The token, marked with an anchor, was only given to important guests recognized by Fran Lurein himself.

"This..."

"Didn’t you say, Sir Yurin, that we needed to be well-prepared? Consider this part of the preparation.”

Yurin was dumbfounded, unable to comprehend what kind of magic Karyl had employed.

"Oh, yes, Karl will stay here until we return. Unlike us, he won’t do well in the lair of the Fire Dragon.”

Though his navigation skills were exceptional, Karl’s physical abilities were only average. Moreover, unlike Karyl and the two priests, he was unfamiliar with the emperor's affairs, making it difficult for him to accompany them to the end.

Joey and Yurin nodded in agreement with Karyl's decision.

Well, Karl already has plenty to do here anyway.

There was no need to discuss various matters with the two of them.

I gave Kamma a rough idea, and being quick-witted, he'll manage well. A meeting between Karl and Suan... It's a shame I won't be able to see that.

Karyl smiled faintly.

***

"Hehehe... I only asked for a week, and it's already been over a month. Haven’t you made your decision yet? Hey, isn’t it time to really go back to the empire?"

Laughter echoed in the cave.

"..."

Deep underground, where the ceiling was out of sight, something massive was frozen. The ice, hardened by the passage of time, couldn’t even be broken with a sword. It was as clear as a diamond.

Inside the ice pillar lay a dark object; it looked as though someone had purposefully frozen it for long-term storage. The object was full of inscriptions of various ancient languages.

"Why are you showing me this? And how long have you known about it?"

The man standing in front of the frozen pillar was Kuwell MacGovern. He should have been back in the empire already, but he was still stuck in the north. Why was that?

His eyes flickered.

"Hmm, well... I’m the only one that can cross the continent without being hindered by monsters like the beast of Fonein or the Lord of the Rolling Hills."

"I didn’t ask how great your airship is. I’m asking when you found out about this!” Kuwel growled.

In response, Gordon chuckled and took a swig from his flask. "You have quite the temper... You’re an imperial knight, yet you always look like you’re ready to devour someone."

"What the hell..."

Gordon cut him off, "Kuwell, do you think I showed this to you, the least favored within the empire, just because you're here in the north?"

Then, Gordon took out a large pipe from his coat and put it in his mouth.

Snap—

With a flick of his finger, he lit the pipe.

"No one else knows about this place besides me. Not even Jaygun knows. If he did, the emperor would’ve found out by now.”

"..."

"Loosen up a bit, will you? As a father, you should at least know what your children are up to. Well, if I’m being honest, I don’t particularly dislike him. Actually, I quite like him. That’s why I placed him as the vice-captain."

Gordon inhaled deeply from his pipe, not even exhaling before he took a drink.

"Hehehe... With him around, the Guidance Mercenary Gang is unlikely to fail. But you understand what I mean."

It wasn’t the internal affairs of the Guidance Mercenary Gang he wanted to discuss.

"This is something that not even the emperor knows about.”

Gordon tossed the empty flask aside.

"I met the kids at the imperial palace. All three are interesting lads. I understand why you chose the second one, but...”

He patted Kuwell on the shoulder as if he were dealing with an old friend.

"In the empire, there’s no one else I trust enough to show this to. It may be a headache that I’m passing this onto you, but at least I trust your judgment. You have the eye to decide who the rightful king is."

As they left the cave, Gordon took another puff from his pipe.

"It seems we've been delayed longer than I expected. If we stay much longer, the airship might freeze up and not take off. The journey to the magic stone is troublesome. Hopefully, that kid will come up with a new engine soon."

"The kid?"

"There’s one fellow, barely worth mentioning, but he managed to withstand my punch."

Kuwell looked at Gordon with mild surprise. Gordon Fabian was generally rough and seemingly reckless, but he could be incredibly cool-headed when it mattered.

Even knights struggle to withstand one of Gordon’s punches.

Gordon chuckled as he recalled the memory.

"In fact, he even fought back, so he’s much better than your average Joe. Honestly, contracts don’t matter. The airship is sufficient as it is. But I’m curious about his growth."

"Fought back, huh... You must be past your prime if you’re allowing a newbie to counterattack, Gordon Fabian.”

"You’d change your mind if you met him. He’s not just a Sword Master or a sorcerer. He did it all through pure combat instinct."

"..."

"Enough chit-chat. I’ll leave the decision to you. I likely won’t need

that guy

anyway."

Gordon waved his hand dismissively as if bidding farewell.

"Let’s meet somewhere warmer next time."

"Gordon,” Kuwell called out to him as he went up the cave stairs to get out. Gordon stopped and turned to look at him.

"What’s the name of that kid from earlier?"

"Are you interested too? But why should I tell you? He’s a talent I don’t want the empire to snatch away. Who knows? Maybe I'll make him my successor,” Gordon teased.

"Hmph..." Kuwell MacGovern clicked his tongue.

"Hehehe..."

Gordon was perhaps the only person in the continent who could treat him like this.

"His name was Karyl,” he revealed as he kept going up the stairs.

"!!!"

At that moment, Kuwell’s eyes widened more than when he had discovered the frozen pillar.

***

"Ah... it's cold. Are you alright, Lord Karyl?"

"Yes. Well... I'm somewhat resistant to the cold."

Unlike Joey, who was bundled up in several layers of winter robes, Karyl only wore a single cloak. He spread his hands as if welcoming the long-missed blizzard.

It’s been over a year since I last touched snow.

Though he was far from the north from where he had once fled, the familiar chill of the area was oddly welcoming, stirring a strange emotion within him.

He had been worried about crossing through the White Bunker.

I’m glad we at least didn't get delayed. I’ll have to meet Tuli Lurein someday, but not now. The war she and Fran will start is still six months away.

The groundwork had already been laid. It was crucial not to encounter Tuli Lurein until she herself came looking for him.

I need to make her anxious, compel the arrogant snowflake to come out on her own.

Karyl smiled as he recalled her face for the first time in a while.

"Remembering something funny?”

"Huh?"

"You were smiling,” said Joey.

"Nothing much,” Karyl replied with a slight nod. “It’s just being here at the lair. Look, you can see it over there."

Concealing his thoughts, Karyl pointed at a large volcano in the distance, its spewing flames undeterred by the fierce blizzard.

"It’s truly remarkable." Yurin shared their sentiment. The undying flames at the peak felt as if the Red Dragon were still alive there.

It’s been a while.

Just as he had felt the northern cold anew, Karyl’s gaze upon the dwelling of the Fire Dragon was distinctly different from Joey and Yurin’s.

I was with Narh Di Maug last time.

Now, he was alone.

Thinking back, Narh Di Maug was the only dragon who had interfered in human affairs. He had opened the Gray Training Ground, unlocked the seal of the Fire Dragon’s dwelling, participated in numerous wars, and ultimately, helped Karyl return to the past.

To Karyl, the Platinum Dragon was more than just an entity he was grateful to.

"..."

And yet, he could not forget what Allen Javius had told him.

“Can you truly trust him?”

Karyl’s expression hardened slightly. He was still troubled by that question. That was why he had come here before seeking out Narh Di Maug’s lair.

The artifact is in Riseria’s possession.

As expected of a dragon's lair, the Fire Dragon’s was full of treasures.

While slightly inferior to Clear Distilled Water, the artifacts made of Orichalcum, a special mineral found only in specific mines, were incredibly valuable.

Of course, Clear Distilled Water can be obtained again now...

Yet, the Orichalcum artifacts were still items that money couldn’t buy.

Had Narh Di Maug not secured these, humanity would have struggled greatly in the war against corruption.

But they’re still a notch below the weapons made of Clear Distilled Water.

While Karyl didn’t need them, as he already had the Freezing Talon, arming the southern barbarian troops with the Orichalcum artifacts from the lair could grant them combat prowess comparable to the knights.

Two hundred and fifty years have passed since Kaye Aesir hunted the Fire Dragon, but humanity without dragon power has its limits in finding treasures.

No longer was Karyl merely receiving the Platinum Dragon’s grace.

Right now, this place is as it was before he broke the seal. The treasures that the empire has not yet found still remain.

Finally, Karyl recalled what Kaye Aesir had said.

“Be covetous.”

Etching the words of those he had met in the past into his memory, Karyl slowly stepped into the lair.

This time, I will take everything.

Karyl’s eyes gleamed.

He had only one objective here—not the herbs for the emperor’s antidote or the Orichalcum artifacts, but the real treasure of the Red Dragon Riseria, which was the Ein Trigger, otherwise known as the Essence of Flame.