Chapter 1015
Lair lands were usually difficult terrain.
This was to prevent the approach of surrounding life forms, and consequently, all resources in the vicinity were left undeveloped.
“What?”
“It’s my land… I can do whatever I want, and if there are no people around… hehehe.”
Leeha’s lips began to curl into a smile. There was something he really wanted to create at least once.
In Middle Earth, he thought, he could embody his imagination much more successfully than in the outside world.
“Shall we head to Lord Bahamut’s lair first?”
“Yes, of course. Allow me to escort you.”
Listening to Leeha’s brightened voice, Blaugrunn immediately used teleportation. He, too, was smiling.
Several metal dragons were already present at Bahamut’s lair.
Although fewer attendees were present than at the Bahamut selection meeting, Leeha no longer saw the place as spacious.
“Blaugrunn and… Ha Leeha.”
A figure with platinum hair and snow-white beard stood before them.
His presence alone gave the vast cavern a sense of being full. Leeha felt a sudden surge of emotion upon seeing him.
“Ahem, Lord Bahamut.”
Not all Bahamuts looked the same.
The biggest difference from his predecessor was undoubtedly the ‘beard’.
Compared to the predecessor Bahamut’s long beard, Kurpke’s beard was somewhat curly. His hair was not the long white hair of a typical mage, but was a short curly style closer to a woman’s bob, some of which he had tied back.
Though his style, face, and attire differed, the platinum aura emanating from him was enough to give Leeha a sense of reassurance.
“So, did you rest well?”
“Yes, thanks to your concern, I rested well.”
“That’s good to hear. Come to my lair and rest whenever you need. Though you were part of the previous era, you have now moved beyond even that.”
Bahamut didn’t merely succeed the name and species.
The reason Bahamut’s lair could hold more treasures than any other dragon’s lair was simple. Every generation of Bahamut had used this ‘dedicated’ lair.
“I’m also considered… part of the metal family?”
When he mentioned something from an achievement he had seen, Bahamut smiled gently. Not only were styles different, but demeanors also differed.
In terms of gentleness, this Bahamut had a far more gracious smile than his predecessor, and Leeha mirrored it with his own smile.
“Haha, you know well. The expression ‘my lair’ feels so awkward—
“Kur—Lord Bahamut! You shouldn’t find it awkward if you are!”
“Zelreja, even though you call me by my old name, how could I not find it awkward?”
“Really! I just… it’s always been that way!”
Zelreja was one of the few dragons attending.
Having worked alongside Kurpke, fulfilling tasks for the previous Bahamut, their bond was special.
“Zelreja! How could you act so rudely toward Lord Bahamut!”
“I’m sorry.”
“You must always remain attentive. How could Bahamut’s authority stand if you spoke like that outside? Being strong is different from being rude. Who taught you to speak threateningly to elders during meetings?”
Of course, this was only during the time of Copper Dragon Kurpke.
Now that he had become the proud leader of the Metal Dragons, Zelreja could no longer treat Bahamut disrespectfully.
The one scolding Zelreja was an elderly woman with hair of the same color as hers.
Leeha could tell that she was Zelreja’s mother.
During the meeting to elect Bahamut, she had been the one watching Zelreja with the most anxious and angry eyes.
“Even a dragon like her can have that expression. I thought she was completely unruly.”
The chastened Zelreja sat in a corner with a slightly sullen face.
Bahamut tried to say something to comfort the sulking Zelreja, but her mother shook her head, signaling that it wasn’t the right time.
“Such actions seem to belittle Lord Bahamut… Is that just the temperament of Steel Dragons?”
Leeha felt like chuckling for some reason. At the same time, an amusing thought crossed his mind.
Leeha’s elbow nudged Blaugrunn’s side.
“Hm? Ha Leeha?”
―What are you doing, aren’t you going?
―What do you mean?
―Where else. Go quickly. They’re probably waiting.
―You mean Lord Bahamut….?
Blaugrunn looked at Leeha with a bewildered expression. Leeha patted his chest lightly.
―Not Lord Bahamut, it’s Lady Zelreja.
―Me, me― huh? Why would I…?
―Hehe, hurry up and go. Blaugrunn, you need to start a family too.
―What? A family, you say―?
“Ahem, so, Lord Bahamut, how about the treaty… has it been finalized?”
“Whoa!”
Leeha pretended to walk towards Bahamut but used his hip to bump Blaugrunn. Startled by the unexpected move, Blaugrunn stumbled over to Zelreja.
“What’s this?”
“Zel… Zelreja. Haha, pleasant weather, isn’t it?”
“What nonsense? Are you here to tease me too?”
Zelreja looked up at Blaugrunn with a disgruntled face. Blaugrunn appeared quite unsure of himself.
Leeha swiftly whispered to him.
‘Sit next to her quickly! Thank her, talk about old times!’
“Tease you? How could I possibly do that to you, lady Zelreja… Uh, I－um, I thought I hadn’t properly thanked you for the, um, juvenile times—
“Thanks? Spare me. If you’re going to pity me, give me a weapon.”
“Oh right, regarding weapons, I recently discovered an intriguing material called ‘Quantum Sand’—it’s either visible or invisible as a weapon—
“What? What’s that?”
Zelreja’s expression changed instantly.
Leeha felt an uncontrollable smile forming. To think such an innocent dragon was older than Blaugrunn.
“Our Metal tribe’s desired treaty is about this. What are your thoughts on it?”
Leeha jolted when Bahamut suddenly spoke to him.
The benevolent elder had a smile that suggested he knew exactly what Leeha was thinking.
Feeling slightly embarrassed, Leeha quickly examined the treaty.
It was essentially the final draft result of many negotiations between the Metal Dragons and Chromatic Dragons.
“Oh, yes? Ah, I see. You extended the non-aggression agreement and territory infringement terms 10 years longer than what the Chromatic Dragons originally proposed. They’ll likely accept the rest since it’s similar… Oh, and this?”
Leeha’s eyes paused on a spot. He stared at Bahamut, surprised.
“In case anything happens, we should be prepared, don’t you think? Not just for the Metal and Color relationship.”
“I understand… I now know why Bailephus-nim resigned.”
The previous Bahamut had deep thoughts. However, he was an entity with a considerable accumulation of knowledge and experience from living as Bahamut for a long time.
Kurpke had just become Bahamut.
And yet, to possess such a broad perspective and thinking!
Leeha’s sincere admiration elicited a chuckle from Bahamut.
“Hmm? Haha! My Kurpke days must seem quite amusing to you.”
“Oh, no! Not at all! I just find you far more wise than expected—
“So you’re saying, back then, I seemed foolish?”
“What are you saying! I would never—
“It’s just a joke, just a joke. Hohoho!”
A joke? A jest?
Leeha was bewildered.
Could this playful dragon really be the same serious one from just before?
No, perhaps Bahamut, the Platinum Dragon, shared more than just his name with him…
“Does he share his personality too? He seems similar to the predecessor, doesn’t he? No, still, compared to the predecessor’s mischievous pranks―”
There was still a long way to go.
Leeha found it difficult to decide whether this should be something to celebrate or lament.
Observing Leeha’s complex expression, Bahamut spoke.
“Then, could you contact Elder Flamme for me? Tell her we should meet at once.”
“Yes, I’ve just finished contacting them. She says to meet right away.”
“Great. Then everyone, let’s move to the meeting place.”
Finally, the significant leaders of the metal dragon and Chromatic Dragon factions and their respective leaders were about to convene.
Naturally, Leeha kept any familiarity with them to himself.
It was an absolute secret that he had to be involved in choosing the elder of the Chromatic Dragons.
However, even without saying anything, it was clear.
『Then from now on… 』
『At least for the promised period… 』
When Bahamut and Flamme exchanged treaty documents imbued with each other’s mana imprints, it was certain that no conflicts would occur between the Metal Dragons and Chromatic Dragons until everything was resolved.
『A new neighbor we meet.』
『Let’s get along well.』
Bahamut and Flamme, revealing themselves in their dragon forms, shook hands.
Behind each leader, the Metal and Chromatic Dragons hovered in the air in their respective groups of around fifteen dragons each.
In this magnificent and grand signing ceremony, Leeha couldn’t hide his sense of fulfillment.
The only minor mishap was that this place of pride was too public.
“Dragons!”
“What, what’s that!? Isn’t it Bahamut?”
“One, two, three―more than thirty dragons!”
“Is this some event? This is crazy! Let’s run away first!”
The hunters on the Sentinel Mountain Range, where the borders of Fibiel and Minis converged, panicked and fled.
Leeha and the dragons laughed heartily at the scene.
* * *
“Surely the journey to Laputa remains an issue. Things have cooled down here already.”
Leeha returned to Gaza City after about two hours.
The floating populace, which had gathered like clouds in Gaza City, had decreased somewhat. Most of them had come to see Leeha’s face, so it was only natural.
Leeha hadn’t frequented Gaza City much lately.
“Bottleneck old man~”
“Oh, the lord has come―Eh? What’s that next to you―”
“… I’m Blaugrunn, dwarf.”
“Blau― Uh, the, the Lord’s Dragon?”
Bottleneck looked at Leeha with a face full of questions.
Leeha, finding it tiresome to explain, summed up the entire situation with a simple “That’s how it happened.”
‘Now that he’s become adult-class, he’s colder than before.’
Blaugrunn began to display sternness.
The weight was entirely different from his juvenile days when he used to act out pompously.
After surveying Bottleneck’s blacksmith shop for a moment, Leeha spoke.
“Is there anything you need these days?”
“Of course there are things I need. Why? Are you planning on buying them for me? Your, what― that butler or whatever is tightening the belt so hard it’s killing me!”
“Ha, ha, that’s a sign they’re doing well.”
“What, you rascal! Did you come here to mock me?”
Despite being overawed by Blaugrunn, the dwarf stubbornly addressed Leeha.
Blaugrunn briefly glared at him, but even while showing a slightly startled expression, Bottleneck continued to unabashedly voice his thoughts.