Reincarnated Dragon Goes to the Academy!

Chapter 142 : Persuasion (2)

It was an unexpectedly good performance, but Aman's expression was sullen.

"Tsk. No, what important story were they talking about!"

He seemed annoyed that Turkam had excluded him and spoken with Lucas.

"Still, isn't it a relief?"

"Hmph! Isn't it arrogant? What on earth was there to talk about that excluded me?"

"It was nothing much."

It really was nothing much. Lucas had simply made Turkam face reality.

But the problem was that reality would be too harsh and cruel.

A race war. It would stain this land with blood.

And as everyone knew, dragons were not a very benevolent race.

The king of the land would mercilessly slaughter the subjects who did not side with him. The demons, too, would try to seize victory somehow on the blood-stained land.

"But there's something a little suspicious."

"Suspicious, you say?"

The demons had said they wanted nothing from Turkam, but that was absurd. To have the best craftsman on their side and want nothing?

"The demons said they wanted nothing from the dwarves."

"Hmm... as the Lord says, that is a little suspicious."

Aman also nodded his head.

"And Turkam said so. That if they don't side with the demons, they will make enemies of all races."

"Ha. Does that mean that most of the races have already sided with the demons... is that what you're saying?"

"Who knows."

If that were the case, it would be a truly big problem.

"Are you alright?"

Aman's expression hardened rapidly.

"Did we... do that wrong?"

"..."

"Were we such a bad race to them?"

Aman's trembling voice tugged at Lucas's heartstrings.

"Was it such a great fault of ours that we were strong? Was it such... such a great sin that we, with our great power, could not look after their pain?"

"Do you feel wronged?"

Lucas looked at Aman's eyes steadily.

"It's possible. You must feel betrayed. Dragons, too, are just a race with great power, nothing more, nothing less. It's not your fault that humans oppressed the other races."

"But, but why do they hate us so much?"

"They needed someone to blame. In fact, the dragons are not at fault. As you said, they just have great power."

At Lucas's words, Aman's expression became even more wronged.

"However. Aren't we their kings? Didn't we also reign over all the races that set foot on the land? Didn't we take their respect, which was based on fear, for granted?"

A short groan escaped from between Aman's clenched teeth.

"Didn't we also live thinking we were their kings?"

"..."

"So they must feel wronged too. Because the ones who became kings abandoned them. Because they didn't look after them."

"But..."

"Doesn't your feeling of being wronged and betrayed all stem from there?"

Aman slowly nodded his head as if he understood.

"Yes. I understand what you mean. But I only understand it with my head. My heart is still a little sad and wronged."

"Haha. Right. It's possible. So let's give it a try."

Lucas smiled at Aman's all-too-honest inner thoughts.

"And."

"...?"

"It's also suspicious that they are persuading the other races. The pixies, and all the other races they are persuading."

At Lucas's words, Aman tilted his head as if he didn't know. But Lucas continued to feel uneasy.

Why would those who had the demon god on their back go out of their way to persuade all the races?

"The pixies' magic is amazing. If that power is gathered, it will surely be a help to them. But to draw in all the other races as well... is strange. There must be something more they are plotting."

"Maybe they just don't want us to be helped?"

At that, Lucas shook his head slightly.

"That can't be. In any case, if it turns into a race war, most of the living creatures on this land will be crushed."

"Ah."

"Let's go."

Lucas held out his arm.

***

The place they came to was the territory of the Sirens.

"To think you've never been here before."

The Blue Dragon, with its strong water attribute, liked the territory of the Sirens. Also, since they were a race that lived in harmony with nature, they always welcomed the visit of dragons.

"I didn't know the way."

"What an absurd thing to say. You could have found out just by asking Hasel."

Even when he had saved a Siren from a slave ship before, Aman didn't seem to know much about Sirens, but he had never imagined that he had never even looked for them.

"Ahem. Lord? What is that?"

It was when Lucas took out the necklace Giestio had given him from his subspace pocket and put it on.

"The king gave it to me."

Aman, as if the large chain necklace was funny, let out a 'pfft' and smiled.

"It may look like this, but it's a very effective item."

"Puh-hup! Yes. Understood."

Lucas glared at Aman once and then moved his steps.

As they reached the entrance, a Siren who was on guard duty, just like last time, swam towards them.

"You've come. Ah, this time the Dragon Lord has come with you."

The Siren, who recognized Aman, bowed his head low in respect.

"Yes."

"Giestio-nim will surely be pleased. Now, this way, please."

Aman seemed a little surprised by the Siren's natural attitude. It was understandable. Other races would be busy trembling just by facing the existence of a dragon, but the Sirens were different.

Aman couldn't say anything and just followed behind, at the sight of them greeting and guiding them naturally as if it were always like that.

'Well, this must be a first for Amarok.'

It was a familiar sight for Lucas. A long time ago, when he had lived, all the other races had this attitude. They had even considered dragons as strong friends rather than fearing them.

The dragons, too, had actively interacted with them and built friendships.

But as time passed, this wall-less friendship gradually disappeared, and as generations passed, far from friendship, only fear of dragons remained.

'It used to be like this for everyone.'

Lucas, who was walking beside Aman, smiled bitterly.

"Now, please enter."

The Siren who had guided them to the end bowed his head low and turned around.

"Ooh!!!"

It was before the door had even fully opened.

"No! What a pleasant surprise!"

Giestio, who had thrown open the slowly opening door, approached, wagging his mighty tail vigorously.

"No, no! The Dragon Lord has come too!"

The small fins on Giestio's waist shook violently.

"Ahem..."

As Giestio grabbed Aman's hand and shook it up and down, creating bubbles, Aman finally let out a small, dry cough.

"Haha! I'm sorry. I have committed a discourtesy again. Please, please come in."

Giestio was so excited that he led the way, then turned around and came back, repeating this. Just like a child urging his parents.

"Now, now. This way! This way, please."

At the sight of the overly excited Siren King, Aman seemed slightly dazed.

"Um... Lord... is he always like this?"

In the end, as Aman whispered in a small voice, Lucas nodded his head.

"He's a good person."

"...Yes."

At that, Aman had a reluctant expression, but he forced a smile whenever his eyes met Giestio's.

"Hohoho! What is this. For some reason, I had a good dream last night."

Giestio, who had sat down, began to chatter excitedly.

"In my dream last night, I grew legs and went to the land, you see? It was a dream where I met very beautiful things there, and for such a beautiful thing to happen today!"

"Haha..."

Aman gave an awkward laugh.

"Dragon Lord. Why did you come so late? I heard the news that the Blue Dragon Lord was newly born hundreds of years ago! You have no idea how long I've waited."

Not only did he welcome him, but he even chided him for being late. Now Aman couldn't even speak properly and was just moving his mouth.

"Haha! It's alright. Still, what does it matter that you've come like this? I'm truly, truly happy to see you."

The dragon race, as their numbers were not large, their births were also a rare event. Therefore, even if there were dragons of the same attribute, their numbers were not large, but it was not that there were none at all.

But Aman was currently the only Blue Dragon.

'Well, it's been about two hundred years since the last Blue before Aman died, so it's understandable that he's happy.'

Unlike the excited Giestio, Aman was just rolling his eyes like a mute who had eaten honey.

"Are you perhaps uncomfortable? Haha! It must be because I talk too much. Actually, I received a lot of scolding from Beordin-nim too."

"Ah. Beordin-nim."

Beordin was the Blue Dragon who had died two hundred years ago.

"Ooh! Do you know Beordin-nim?"

"Of course. Beordin-nim was like a father to me."

As a name he knew came up, Aman's mouth finally opened.

"Ooh! That's right. I also really liked Beordin-nim."

"Is that so."

"Yes. Of course. But more importantly, I didn't know you would come so soon, but for the Dragon Lord to come with you. Thank you so, so much."

At that, Lucas smiled and nodded his head.

"It's nothing compared to what Giestio-nim has done for us."

At that, Aman glanced sideways. He must be wondering what on earth Giestio had done.

"But more importantly..."

As Lucas opened his mouth and then closed it again, Giestio gestured with his hand to encourage him.

"Please speak."

At that, Lucas chose his words for a moment.

'Right. I have to confirm.'

In fact, asking him if the demons had come was nothing, but he was worried. He was worried about what would happen if they had sided with the demons.

"Did the demons come to visit by any chance?"

"Pardon? Ah, hahaha!"

Giestio laughed heartily at Lucas's question.

"You came because you were curious about that. Yes! That's right. The demons came to visit. No, I don't know how they knew to come to this deep place. I was grateful."

"..."

At his words, Aman's brow furrowed slightly.

"Ooh! Of course, I know. That all the demons have disappeared from the land, and what they have done."

At that, Giestio waved his hands and took the initiative.

"Could you please tell me what they said if they came to visit?"

"Hahaha! Of course. You must have come knowing roughly, but they said something like, 'side with us'."

At that, Lucas and Aman quietly waited for the next words.

"And then they told me they wouldn't touch the sea. Haha! Isn't that funny too. The sea is not something we own. We are also just living here as guests!"

Aman's eyes widened at his novel reaction.

"Ah, and they said something else too."

"...?"

"They said they would give me power. The power to freely come and go from the land."

"Ah."

Lucas and Aman sighed at the same time. With such an offer, even the Sirens could be swayed. They had been curious about the land for a long time.

"Of course, I did not accept that offer. We are sufficiently satisfied with just living in the sea as guests."

Giestio's expression was endlessly gentle.

"Also, I cannot betray a long-time friend, the dragon. No matter what unjust things they have suffered, I cannot stab my friend in the back, can I?"

Aman, who was moved by that, looked at him with an expression as if he were about to cry.

"Did you say Giestio?"

"Yes."

"My introduction was late. I am Amarok Teridier. Can I be your new friend?"

At Aman's sudden words, Giestio seemed to think for a moment, and then.

"Hahaha! Of course! Of course, you can!"

He answered with a hearty laugh.

[End of Chapter]