Chapter 1003
Leeha could feel her love.
“It’s better to repeat one thing ten thousand times than to do ten thousand different things once.”
The thing he could do best. That wasn’t a concern.
He had been doing it since he was a child, and even after losing the lower half of his body, he continued.
And it was the very skill he regained in Middle Earth.
Ram Hwayeon’s hand, which had been caressing Leeha’s cheek, stopped. His eyes began to ignite again.
“By the way, what I just said, it was Bruce―”
“Thank you, Hwayeon.”
“―Lee―”
Ram Hwayeon couldn’t continue her words. Her lips were being pressed by Leeha’s.
Leeha had made up his mind.
No matter what happened, he was ready to express his opinion.
* * *
It was now an ownerless lair, yet it was not empty. Leeha recognized all the faces there.
In the lair of the deceased Bahamut, all the Metal Dragons of adult class and above were gathered.
All had transformed into human forms; however, real humans were only three, including Leeha.
“Alexander, Ram Hwajung, it’s been a while. Ah, perhaps not that long?”
“Hmm.”
“Oppa.”
Alexander nodded but did not express much delight towards Leeha. It had indeed been a long time since the number one ranker appeared this tense.
‘It’s typical of Ram Hwajung. But today… it seems different.’
As he looked at Ram Hwajung holding Arjenmat’s hand tightly, Leeha could only manage a wry smile.
All three of them were part of the 〈Sacred Alliance〉 and were well-acquainted users as partners of the Metal Dragons.
Yet, the chilly atmosphere likely resulted from today’s happenings.
“Well… shall we then start discussing the selection of the next Platinum Dragon?”
Bailephus opened his mouth.
Though it was a round table with no head seat, given that he was the oldest dragon after Bahamut, all eyes were naturally drawn to him as the chair of this meeting.
“Even though it’s been a while since our last meeting, I believe none of us have forgotten. Any dragon of adult class and above can make recommendations… and the meeting will continue until a unanimous consensus is reached among attendees. Let’s start the first meeting―”
“―Before we begin! May I have a word?”
“Hmm… Ha Leeha?”
Bailephus looked at Leeha with a face full of surprise.
The human users, unlike the dragons seated at the round table, were seated a bit away in special seats.
To interfere in such a situation?
“That brat! Blaugrunn! Even as an adult, you can’t control your partner―”
“Um, excuse me, Zelreja, would you please listen to what I have to say?!”
“How dare you interrupt me―”
“Zelreja.”
“―… Understood, Kurpke.”
A dragon like Zelreja found it hard to suppress her impulses, showcasing her vehemence.
She had been gesturing and glaring at Leeha, but sat down reluctantly due to Kurpke’s intervention, though her eyes were still shooting daggers at Leeha.
“What are you doing, Ha Leeha?”
“Oppa……”
Alexander and Ram Hwajung looked at Leeha with faces full of confusion.
Leeha briefly met their eyes and then turned toward the Metal Dragons who were also watching him.
Among them were the ones whose names Leeha knew, like Kurpke, Zelreja, Arzenmacht, and Bailephus, as well as many whose names were unknown to him. He made eye contact with each one before finally fixing his gaze on Blaugrunn.
Blaugrunn, too, looked back at Leeha, their gazes locked in place.
Leeha nodded. Blaugrunn nodded back.
The conversation had already concluded.
Leeha intended to do what he did best.
In this particular matter, the leader of the Metal Dragons, and the partner of the Platinum Dragon, had agreed there was no room for interference.
As Blaugrunn stood up, he bowed.
“I’m sorry, elders. I have no desire to become the Platinum Dragon. Please withdraw my nomination.”
The impact of his words spread rapidly.
* * *
“What, what!?”
“Blaugrunn! Are you out of your mind?”
“Withdraw? Withdraw? Foolishness! Do you think this is some human prank?”
“Yes, Blaugrunn! Are you—declining the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that a dragon might never even experience?”
Despite Blaugrunn’s declaration, Zelreja stood unmoved. Kurpke had already cast various debuff spells on her.
Yet, there were plenty of Metal Dragons ready to voice their opinions to Blaugrunn.
“You might want to reconsider your words before Zelreja breaks free from the paralyze spell and charges at you, Blaugrunn.”
Kurpke offered a challenging suggestion, among others.
Even as the crackling sounds emitted from Zelreja’s body, Blaugrunn remained calm and unwavering.
With a calm gaze and firm resolve, he reiterated the ‘conversation previously had with Leeha.’
“I’m sorry. I have no intention of retracting my will. It was the will of the late Bahamut that allowed me to revive and return to the adult stage so swiftly. I have never forgotten his power and will. However… something more important to me exists.”
“Does it have to do with Ha Leeha?”
“Yes, Bailephus. I believed you would understand.”
“Hmm…”
Even Bailephus couldn’t help but simply stroke his beard, masking his embarrassment.
The once playful youngster, Blaugrunn, was nowhere to be seen.
In place of infectious enthusiasm, there now existed a sober and mature way of expressing his intentions.
“What will you do, Bailephus?”
“Even as one with a partner, I fully understand Blaugrunn’s feelings.”
“Thank you―”
“However. Having already possessed the qualities of a Platinum Dragon, stepping down cannot be done merely at your whim. Though your intentions may be considered, the role of ‘Lord’ is to strive for the safety and prosperity of the entire metal dragon race.”
“Yes.”
“To withdraw might imply you lack the desire, and even if everyone here unanimously selects you, could you still stand by those words? Are you saying you would abandon the peace and order that the late Bahamut constantly emphasized?”
Accepting Blaugrunn’s withdrawal immediately was not something Bailephus was prepared to do.
Bailephus spoke sternly. The other Metal Dragons present all fell silent.
The crackling sound resonated faintly, followed by an outburst from a woman.
“What!? Are you going to act so selfishly? And you find accompanying such a fragile human more important than protecting our entire race?”
Zelreja didn’t rush towards Blaugrunn.
Even Leeha could sense how much she was holding herself back.
Thus, Ha Leeha decided it was time for him to step up and exercise at least a minimal level of restraint.
“May I add a word to that?”
Zelreja glared at Leeha and was about to speak, but Leeha spoke first.
“In terms of maintaining peace and order, and for the safety of the Metal Dragons… Hmm, could I suggest something? What do you think of the concept of ‘peaceful coexistence with the Chromatic Dragons’? Wouldn’t achieving just that make maintaining peace among the Metal Dragons much easier?”
“What? Ha Leeha, I know you delivered a great blow to Tiamat. But are you not aware that the Chromatic Dragons and we exist at two polar extremes with entirely different pursuits?”
Bailephus quickly retorted.
Alexander, too, wanted to interject, but Leeha was already nodding and preparing a ‘comeback’.
One of the things he had already discussed with Blaugrunn was exactly this.
“No, not permanent peace or anything like that… For example, if a new leader of the Metal Dragons and a new leader of the Chromatic Dragons agreed to a ’50-year non-aggression pact’ or something like that?”
“If that were possible—”
“For this to happen, what if we could elect a new elder for the Chromatic Dragons… with our help?”
“So! If that were possible—”
“What if it’s possible?”
“Are you trying to play word games with me? No matter if you’re Blaugrunn’s partner, in this sacred meeting—”
“Black Dragon’s top rank, ancient-class, female, Harveti. Red dragon’s top rank, ancient-class, female, Flamme. Although she’s ranked top among Red Dragons, in practice, her strength is akin to the third place in Black Dragons. The election of the new elder for the Chromatic Dragons is virtually confirmed to be from the Black Dragons.”
When Leeha spoke, even Bailephus, who was getting agitated, gradually became silent.
The same went for the other Metal Dragons. Even Zelreja, who had been about to leap up from her chair, couldn’t rashly charge at Leeha.
Leeha, who had completely taken control of the assembly, glanced around.
He believed that all Metal Dragons present had understood the words he had just spoken.
“What can you do, even if you know that?”
Zelreja, the sole one who hadn’t understood, asked.
“Um, Zelreja… what I’m suggesting is that we support the disadvantaged red dragon faction to ensure she becomes the new elder of the Chromatic Dragons.”
Startled at first by Leeha’s response, Zelreja soon adopted a sharp expression.
“If the Chromatic Dragons find out we’re meddling, if it leaks that we helped, the Red Dragons selecting an elder won’t stop the other dragons from acting against us.”
This, indeed, was the biggest concern at hand, and any other metal dragon could have pointed it out if Zelreja hadn’t voiced it.
Leeha had been waiting for this very statement.
As soon as Zelreja finished her question, he and Blaugrunn laughed simultaneously.
“Even though I can’t handle thousands of matters… I can manage one very well.”
“What?”
“Blaugrunn and I. The two of us will handle this. Through the thing I do best. The truth that ‘we’ helped will not remain.”
The target had been identified. The equipment was ready.
And there was someone to control it.
“Ha Leeha! Do you really mean that!”
“Yes, Alexander. Exactly what you’re thinking.”
Leeha intended to conduct a sniper operation.
If he could eliminate every ‘stronger Chromatic Dragon’ than Flamme, the strongest among the Red Dragons, then wouldn’t she become the elder?
The Metal Dragons were all speechless at Leeha’s audacious declaration.
Even Alexander and Ram Hwajung widened their eyes at Leeha.
It was an improbable proposition.
Yet…
If it were Ha Leeha.
Oppa…
Might be able to do it.
The fact that they were even entertaining the thought astonished both Alexander and Ram Hwajung, who were geniuses of Middle Earth and knew better than anyone how impossible it objectively sounded.