Ridan flew around, circling the frozen Hazuki. He paused and crossed his arms while looking at him.
"If Kenjirou wished for immortality and got it, that ans he beca the new Demon King. From the information I gathered before I died, the heavier the wish, the longer the caster must remain locked away. They can’t leave the Demon Castle or its surrounding lands until a certain ti passes."
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"But that doesn’t an he couldn’t grow his power during that ti. Perhaps that’s also why the magic in this world is only beginner level now. After I was killed a thousand years ago, Kenjirou and his party destroyed all advanced and interdiate magic knowledge, leaving only basic spells behind. They wanted to ensure no one could rise to challenge them... maybe that’s why..."
Glacia tilted her head. "What do you an ’why’?"
Ridan rubbed his chin. "Perhaps the reason why this Hazuki was brought to this world is because he’s a summoned hero not bound to any nation or kingdom. A carefree hero who lives without rules or obligations. He wasn’t summoned by any kingdom’s ritual, he just woke up here. Maybe he was brought here to confront, fight, and stop Kenjirou."
Glacia’s eyes widened. "You think Hazuki is ant to face him?"
Ridan exhaled slowly. "I don’t know for sure. But the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. A hero who belongs to no one, who fights for no kingdom, who doesn’t care about glory or power...A hero who just lives aimlessly, doing whatever he wants, eating whatever he wants, sleeping wherever he wants. Soone who can’t be manipulated by promises of wealth or status because he simply doesn’t care. Soone like that... might be the only one capable of standing against soone like Kenjirou."
Ridan floated back and forth, both hands clasped behind his back.
"Just think about it, Glacia. This Hazuki here? He could casually withstand the freezing cold of this land, walk out of a poison swamp that could lt mithril like it was nothing but a dirty pool, climb out of a volcano crater without a single burn or wound, get chosen by the Life Tree and eat its fruits like they were regular snacks, and inhale the toxic gas from Hidun Grass that kills anyone else instantly, only to fall asleep and wake up complaining he was hungry."
Ridan glanced down at Glacia.
"He could even survive your cold breath attack, the attack that would kill anyone who wasn’t fully prepared. Not only that, he could stand your strongest punches, and now, look at him." Ridan pointed toward the frozen Hazuki. "He’s been frozen twice and still alive."
Ridan let out a long, weary exhale.
"But the problem is, he lost his mory after being frozen. Let’s just hope it’s temporary and he recovers soon. Because if it doesn’t... we might have to deal with a Hazuki who doesn’t know who he is, who he trusts, or why he’s even here. And that could make things a lot more complicated."
Ridan kept muttering to himself, pacing through the air as he analyzed the situation.
He glanced at the frozen Hazuki again.
"Oi, dragon brat. What’s with the silence? I was talking to..."
Ridan turned and noticed Glacia was lying on the snow, unconscious.
"Oi! Who told you to sleep on the ground? Wake up, lazy brat. Even if you’re an ice dragon, you shouldn’t..."
A sudden presence made his entire body shiver violently.
"Ah... crap..."
Ridan glanced around, floating in panic, his puffball form trembling as he searched for the source of the overwhelming pressure.
"Didn’t we already warn you, Ridan? Hmm?"
Ridan’s eyes widened as he glanced over his shoulder, shivering with panic.
He saw a young guy standing at a distance, one hand in his pocket, while an older man was leaning casually against the ice block encasing Hazuki, arms crossed.
"We already warned you several tis, Ridan. Do not tell anyone about him. Including this one here." The old man pointed toward the frozen Hazuki. "No one was supposed to know what his mission is, or why he was brought here. Even if you guessed it, you should have kept it to yourself. And yourself only."
The young guy lit a herb cigar, bringing it to his lips. He took a long, slow inhale, the tip glowing orange, before letting out a steady stream of smoke that curled into the cold air like a serpent.
"And yet you blew it wide open. You talked about it like it was nothing. Told the dragon princess everything you pieced together. About Kenjirou, the curse, the wish, the whole damn story. You couldn’t keep your mouth shut, could you?"
"H.. hey.. what’s up.." Ridan let out a sheepish grin while rubbing the back of his head. "I.. I didn’t tell her everything.. err.. you know.."
"No." The older guy gave him a sharp glare while still leaning on the ice block. "You were not supposed to say anything. I already told you not to reveal the truth. Not to anyone. Rules are rules. You were supposed to guide him, not explain the entire backstory. Especially not to a dragon princess who might blab to other dragons."
Ridan averted his eyes.
"Ah.. it was.. just a slip-up! She kept asking questions, and I got carried away explaining! It’s not like I told her everything!"
The older guy exhaled before raising his palm upward.
"Rules are rules, Ridan. And I’m sure ’she’ already knows. So we don’t have a choice but to seal you again."
"Ehhh!?" Ridan’s eyes widened before he clasped both his hands in front of him, floating side to side with a pleading, sheepish grin. "Co on! Give a second chance! I’ll be quiet from now on! I won’t say another word! I’ll just guide him silently! Please! Don’t seal again! I just got my freedom back!"
Both of the guys remained silent, while the older man’s palm began glowing with a soft, ominous light.
"Take your daughter back to your kingdom, Nykzix."
Ridan’s eyes widened when he felt the aura and turned to see...
A tall, handso man with pristine white dragon horns stood a short distance away. His body was perfectly sculpted, muscles defined beneath elegant royal white robes trimd in silver. He moved with the grace of a king, surrounded by several escorts in gleaming dragon-scale armor, each step radiating authority and power.
He walked calmly toward Glacia, who still lay unconscious in the snow.
"As the heavens decree, Right Hand of the Goddess. Thy will is my covenant." The white dragon king addressed the older man with a deep, respectful bow, then knelt on one knee. Behind him, all the dragon-armored escorts followed, bowing in perfect unison.
Ridan’s eyes widened in shock.
White Dragon King... Nykzix Tithur Zaxashin...
The strongest dragon rumored to be even stronger than the previous Demon King.
The only dragon Kenjirou never managed to defeat or even scratch.
Ridan watched as Nykzix picked up his daughter in a gentle, protective hold, cradling her unconscious form.
The younger man stepped forward and snapped his fingers, causing a special rune stone to materialize beside the older man.
Ridan panicked.
"Hey, hey~" Ridan let out another panicked, sheepish grin while rubbing the back of his head. "Perhaps there’s another way, yeah? A different punishnt? I’ll keep my mouth shut! I swear! You don’t have to seal again, right? Right!?"
Both of them remained silent.
The old man’s palm glowed brighter. The rune stone pulsed, humming with power as the sealing ritual began.
"Hey! What will happen to Hazuki if you seal !?" Ridan protested, floating frantically. "He needs ! I’m his guide! I’m supposed to protect him! If I’m sealed, he’ll be wandering alone without anyone to warn him about dangers! He might get killed! Or worse, he might accidentally stumble into Kenjirou’s territory without knowing!"
( End Of Chapter )
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