Chapter 1001
“―That is the old Blaugrunn, right?”
Ram Hwayeon whispered to Leeha, her expression unchanged as she casually held a teacup.
Leeha, barely maintaining his composure, asked Blaugrunn, “Why?”
“Because he is someone who will lead the coming thousands of years.”
“Ah…”
As Leeha opened his mouth and nodded deeply, alev was momentarily bewildered.
“He seemed like a smart human. Unexpected.”
“Well, you know! Our perception of time differs from yours. Anyway, whether or not there’s a deadline, you must feel the need to elect someone quickly.”
“If it’s similar to Metal, then yes. When there is unanimous agreement after ample deliberation. It would be best if there were a dragon with magic, physical prowess, wisdom, and virtues, but if such a situation is unlikely…”
Arev looked towards Blaugrunn.
Blaugrunn nodded, acknowledging what Arev intended to convey.
“The strongest one shall be chosen. It’s the same for Metal.”
“Indeed.”
The logic of strength.
Leeha could discern how the deceased Bahamut and Onyx were each selected.
Listening to their conversation, Leeha could form a rough direction.
“Alright then… Arev?”
“Why are you calling me?”
“Would you be able to list the hierarchy of the red dragon family at this point?”
“… I don’t understand the reason. I wouldn’t answer such a question, nor why you’re asking it.”
Arev tilted his head, looking at Blaugrunn.
Though it seemed like a request for the metal dragon to explain, Blaugrunn also shook his head.
“Um, I recalled something I heard before. The red dragon and Black Dragon have long been rivals… Right?”
It was something Leeha heard when he was once dragged to a meeting place of the Chromatic Dragons.
The words were from a deceased Lavartle. Regarding Leeha’s achievements, when dragons gained freedom and when witnessing Kuzgunak’Sh’s wish achievements, it became a substantial thread woven into Leeha’s tapestry.
“Then? What does that have to do with humans—”
“I’m trying to make one of the Red Dragons the elder.”
What if one of the red dragon clan, who could request a halt to combat, became the elder of the Chromatic Dragons?
Arev’s firm crossed arms began to drop.
Even Blaugrunn’s eyes widened as he watched Leeha, a testament to how unexpected his plan was to everyone present, and even to all external entities.
* * *
“Is that—Do you intend to disgrace not just me, but our entire Chromatic Dragon clan? A human meddling with the election of an elder—not just meddling but implying that you would hold the decisive power?”
Arev was momentarily flustered, but more than flustered, he expressed anger.
Even though he was almost sequestered, the aura of the dragon was not diminishing.
Watching the red dragon, Leeha gave a sly smile.
“Surely not. I also know well that the Chromatic Dragons see me as a bad guy. Actually, well, I did kill Tiamat among others, including the Elder, Onyx… But think about it. It was an inevitable choice for me too, wasn’t it?”
Leeha shrugged his shoulders.
Arev quivered, letting out a deep breath, but didn’t charge at Leeha.
‘The temper of the red dragon hasn’t changed. It’s still alive. And the very fact that he’s showing such a reaction…’
At least, the fact that Arev was ‘holding back’ meant that he understood as well.
Tiamat had been resurrected incorrectly.
There was a high possibility of her falling prey to the whim of the Demon King’s Fragment.
That was something undesired even by the Chromatic Dragons, so bypassing her would, in fact, be beneficial for them too.
And Onyx?
He was the dragon who tried to seize power by killing Tiamat.
If his plan had succeeded, the Elder of the Chromatic Dragons would never have changed, and Tiamat might never have been resurrected again.
“I became a participant in the fight and made a bit more of an impact, so you all know me well. Don’t you think so?”
In essence, it was as if Leeha had prevented the Chromatic Dragons from falling into a bad path, potentially saving them from falling into a pit they could never climb out of.
This was precisely what Leeha intended to assert, and Arev’s reluctance to attack despite trembling indicated that he, a red dragon, understood this far.
“Kuz-
“The fact that I fought with ‘Kuzgunak’sh’ was, well, also inevitable. Regardless of how the Chromatic Dragons may perceive it, Blaugrunn-ssi here died because of Kuzgunak’sh. Who should take revenge if not me? He was my partner dragon.”
Before Arev could mention his name, Leeha spoke first.
In reality, Blaugrunn became Leeha’s partner dragon after Kuzgunak’sh had died. However, Leeha did not explain such detailed matters to Arev, who knew none of the prior circumstances.
Leeha’s focus was on securing Arev’s agreement before he could logically protest.
“Hmm…”
Arev looked at Blaugrunn.
Blaugrunn nodded calmly, lending weight to Leeha’s words.
“And speaking of which, the side of the Chromatic Dragons didn’t support Kuzgunak’sh from the start, did they? Onyx didn’t want Tiamat’s resurrection either. At the time, he was clearly in a position where he hoped for help, but it was the red dragon clan that ignored him. Feel free to contradict me if I’m wrong.”
Despite being under the oppressive directive of Elder Onyx, Kuzgunak’sh had not received any support from any Chromatic Dragons.
Not even from fellow Red Dragons.
This was known to Leeha because of the information he had received from Bailephus and Bahamut at that time, and naturally, Arev could not refute Leeha’s words.
It would be akin to acknowledging their clan’s despicable self-concealment, yielding to Onyx.
Arev was much calmer now.
“I am not an enemy of the Chromatic Dragons. If you must make a distinction, I was merely the enemy of Onyx. Even though I fought with Kuzgunak’sh… Among the Chromatic Dragons, the one with the most spirit and leadership was Kuzgunak’sh, in my opinion. I mean, I prefer the resolute and bold demeanor of the Red Dragons over the deceitful Black Dragons.”
Leeha took a sip of tea.
One should not push too hard. When an enemy is close to acknowledging everything, that’s when the final blow—’persuasion’—comes into play.
Though Leeha was usually not poor with words, he had another reason for being so articulate even before dragons.
―The rice should be ready now.
―Is it the time to give the carrot after the stick?
―Yes. ‘Oppa’ is good at that, right?
This was all thanks to Ram Hwayeon’s timely advice!
Of course, just having good timing doesn’t make one articulate. When the materials and conditions for persuasion are all set, timing merely adds more force to it.
Knowing this, Ram Hwayeon called him oppa when she saw Leeha skillfully managing all the elements and conditions.
And she also knew: This was much like a game.
When focused like this, Leeha became so immersed in his target that he forgot even being called oppa. She knew well that the name she secretly used wouldn’t reach his ears.
“If you have an intention for one of the Red Dragons to be the elder, please tell me about the current hierarchy and situation.”
Leeha set his teacup down as he spoke. The clear sound of the teacup meeting the saucer resonated along with the gleam in his eyes.
Arev stared at Leeha for a significant time. Yet, neither Leeha nor Ram Hwayeon nor Blaugrunn showed any signs of impatience.
“Flamme.”
“Pardon?”
It was precisely this kind of silent period that indicated the matter was proceeding correctly.
“He is currently the strongest and most venerable elder among the Red Dragons. Regardless of what I know, all members of the Red tribe follow his will.”
A gentle smile crept up to Leeha’s lips.
“Alright. Could you arrange for a meeting with Sir Flamme?”
He then stood up and extended his hand toward Arev. Arev quietly extended his hand toward Leeha, sealing an accord through their firm and brief handshake, signifying the fulfillment of Kuzgunak’sh’s final wish.
* * *
Leeha managed to catch his breath approximately 30 minutes after Arev departed. He had to attend to a few guild members from Hwahong who approached Ram Hwayeon, asking if they could take screenshots together, revealing the nuances that accompanied such requests.
“Almost treated like a star?”
“It’s because you didn’t stop them, Hwayeon. Even though they seemed cautious, they all came over, wanting to take pictures, goodness… It’s not as if I’m an entertainer.”
Though Leeha grumbled, his lips had already stretched into a broad smile. Ram Hwayeon couldn’t help but chuckle at his demeanor.
Why didn’t she stop them? It was simple. Of course, in the case of Hwahong’s guild members, maintaining confidentiality was a given. Plus, who would oppose her boyfriend becoming a well-known figure?
Now gathered in Ram Hwayeon’s office, Leeha finally turned his attention to what genuinely piqued his interest.
“Blaugrunn.”
“Yes, Ha Leeha.”
“That… that form, so what happened?”
When did Blaugrunn reach adult status?
The last time Leeha met him was post-Bahamut’s demise, when the Metal Dragons gathered in his lair.
Alexander and Bailephus were still unconscious, and Kurpke was conveying Bahamut’s last wishes to Leeha. From that point, Leeha had not encountered Blaugrunn.
Though some time seemed to have passed, it hadn’t even been a full month yet.
Blaugrunn briefly gazed at Leeha before beginning his Tale.
“Do you recall I mentioned being unwell?”
“Of course. You said you weren’t feeling well, although I don’t recall you specifically mentioning pain.”
“Yes, I’m a little embarrassed to say, but it seems it was a kind of growing pain.”
“Growing pain?”
Both Leeha and Ram Hwayeon tilted their heads, intrigued.
Blaugrunn smiled bashfully.
“I grew too quickly. While this was thanks to you, Ha Leeha-ssi, I experienced firsthand what I couldn’t in my past life, only reading or learning about indirectly through records and legends. Perhaps that actually hindered my growth.”
“Hindered your growth?”
“I became conceited. Do you recall the time I just reached juvenile status?”
“Ah, was it after we returned from the New Continent?”
“Even then, I already had a heart capacity similar to that of an average adult dragon.”
Blaugrunn laughed sheepishly.
His words might have sounded self-praising, but neither Leeha nor Ram Hwayeon sensed arrogance in them.