Reincarnated Dragon Goes to the Academy!

Chapter 149 : What Trust Is.

After that, Turkam swallowed and wiped away his tears several times.

"Friend. Is my decision the right one?"

"..."

Lucas remained silent for a moment at Turkam's question.

"Even if it's wrong, we'll have to make it so that it isn't."

It was a carefully chosen statement. Even if his decision was wrong, to make it so that it wasn't.

That was the way to respond to the last chance given to the dragons.

"Khaha! Anyone would think you were a dragon. Still, thank you."

"Not at all."

"Ah. I have something to give you."

Turkam, who had gotten up from his seat, appeared a short while later with a small box.

"This is Turkam's masterpiece. I hammered and hammered for days and nights for you!"

At his confident voice, Lucas was already filled with anticipation.

"Here. Open it!"

And then he placed the box on the table with a thud.

"Hurry!"

As Lucas's hand moved leisurely towards the box, he urged him on, as if he couldn't even bear that.

"Haha. Alright."

At Turkam's urging, Lucas laughed and opened the box.

"How is it? Amazing, isn't it?"

What was in the box was a small ring.

"It may not look like much, but it's amazing. See the gem in the middle? That's the Tear of Astal, and it was hard to get."

"Astal, the god of war?"

"Then what, is it Astal, the neighbor's dog?"

Turkam sneered at Lucas's question as if it were absurd.

"Ahem."

At that, Lucas let out a small, dry cough.

'The Tear of Astal.'

Astal, the god of war. The number of relics related to him was quite large.

'He scattered them every time a war broke out.'

That didn't mean its effect was insignificant. But this gem was something Lucas was seeing for the first time.

"Right. That's the Tear of Astal. Its effect is amazing."

"Hmm..."

Lucas, who had picked up the ring, read the ring's aura for a moment.

"Is it anti-magic?"

"Huh? How did you know? You can think of it as being specialized in black magic and the demon race. The opponent we have to fight in the future is clearly decided, isn't it? It's good for fighting against the demons."

"Oho."

Admiration came out on its own.

The demons increased their attack synergy through contracts with the demon race. As a result, the attribute of their magic naturally leaned towards demons or black magic, and for there to be an artifact specialized in that!

"Its name is the Devourer of Demons! And since it has the holy attribute, it can deal even greater damage to the demon race or demons!"

"Huh?"

And even the holy attribute. It was amazing.

"Is it really okay to give this to me?"

"Aish! Of course. I stayed up all night worrying about what gift to give you! Since you're a dragon's contractor, you must be a master of magic, so there wasn't much I could give you."

Turkam poured out his impassioned speech.

"And then the Tear of Astal came to mind. Since there were no demons to command the demon race in the world, the Tear of Astal was as good as useless. But not anymore, right?"

"Thank you."

"Khaha! No need for thanks. It would be best if it never happens, but if a real war breaks out, won't you be in the biggest trouble? Since you have to fight in the middle of the dragons and the demons."

Lucas, who had nodded his head, carefully picked up the ring and put it on his finger.

"I used a gem that increases compatibility. And I put a lot of a dwarf craftsman's breath into it. It's my masterpiece! My masterpiece!"

There was no lie in his words. This was truly a masterpiece.

"Most holy relics wouldn't even come close to its heels."

"Khaha! You're stating the obvious. It's me! Turkam Urdur."

A smile spread across Lucas's lips as he examined the ring.

'I've obtained something amazing.'

This was the reason why all the races coveted the dwarves.

Incredible crafting ability. They always created artifacts that had two or three times the efficiency, even if they used the same materials.

"Ah."

Just then, a thought crossed Lucas's mind.

"Have you by any chance met a Siren?"

The incredible number of artifacts and materials in Giestio's warehouse. What if they were reborn at Turkam's hands?

"Eh? A Siren? Those things that live in the sea?"

"Yes."

"When would we have met them? We just know them as a race that lives around there. But why?"

Lucas grinned at Turkam's words.

"All the countless treasures that have sunk into the sea are there."

"...!?"

Turkam's eyes widened.

"How enjoyable would it be to reincarnate them with your own hands?"

The pure desire of a master craftsman ignited.

***

Lucas and the dragons were spending busy days preparing for the impending war.

Along with that, the academy's vacation also arrived.

"Ugh! It's vacation!"

As Pola stretched and jumped, Nella, who saw it, let out a 'pfft' and laughed.

"Are you that happy?"

"Yeah! I really hate classes. And I hate the tests we have every week."

"But you still get good grades. You're amazing, Pola."

Skir praised her.

"Are you going to Sitata with us this time too?"

"Ah. I think I'll have to go separately in a few days."

It was a foregone conclusion that they would all spend their vacation in Sitata.

But for some reason, Skir said he would come separately in a few days.

"Why? Is something wrong?"

"Um..."

As Skir hesitated, Pola quickly waved her hand.

"No. Don't say it if it's hard to talk about. So when are you coming?"

"That's..."

Skir hesitated again.

"Alright. Tell me with the crystal ball first when you're coming."

"Then I'll go first!"

"Be careful."

Nella and Pola said their goodbyes as they got on the carriage.

"I will."

"Or ask Rookie to go with you! You have a crystal ball anyway."

"Ah. That's a good idea too."

These days, Lucas was so busy with something that it was hard to even see his face.

"Right. I'm going!"

"I'm going."

Nella and Pola waved their hands and moved away.

***

The O'Neil ducal family was in a state of emergency these days.

No, all the central noble families were in a state of emergency due to the sudden death of the emperor, but the ducal family had another problem on top of that.

"Oh. Skir. You've come?"

"Yes. Father."

As he entered the drawing room, Duke Cirus was pacing around anxiously.

"My brother is..."

"Not yet."

The emperor's death was already a headache, but his eldest son, who had been half out of his mind, had also gone missing.

"Where on earth did he go..."

Therefore, Skir could not go to Sitata and had returned to the ducal residence.

A few years ago, Skir's older brother, Stun, had dabbled in black magic and had gone half mad.

No, it would be fair to say that he had only just half returned to his senses, that's how out of his mind he was.

Therefore, the O'Neil family had worked tirelessly for their eldest son, and Stun had only just reached the stage where he could meet people after several years.

It had only been a few months since that had happened. And such a Stun had gone missing.

"Don't you worry too much. We are currently making inquiries in all directions."

"How can I not? It's not just anyone, but my brother."

Duke Cirus smiled bitterly at Skir's words and nodded his head.

"Right... no matter how incompetent, he is your brother. You know that, right?"

"Yes. Father."

As Cirus said, no matter how incompetent, he was his brother, so he couldn't help but feel frustrated and angry.

'I hope my brother returns...'

In fact, when he found out that Stun had disappeared, the first person who came to Skir's mind was Lucas.

He felt that Lucas, of all people, would be able to find Stun, but there was one reason he hadn't said anything.

'It's a family disgrace.'

No matter how close a friend Lucas was, he couldn't reveal his family's disgrace.

His chest felt like it would burst from frustration, but this was the life of a noble that he had learned and lived so far.

"Stun... where are you."

Cirus's face was full of worry.

***

"Really?"

"Yes. That's what happened. I was really scared."

Pamela and Liwol, sitting in front of a small bonfire, were in the middle of a conversation.

"Ah, do you remember that parfait I mentioned last time?"

"Yes. You described it so well. It even appeared in my dream that night."

As he had said at first, Liwol had consistently worked for Pamela's safety, and thanks to that, Pamela was finding stability on the uninhabited island.

"I hope we can go together someday. That place has a new menu, and that's really delicious too."

If it weren't for Liwol, who came every few days, Pamela would not have been able to endure this life.

"Really?"

"Yes!"

Liwol was truly a great talker. All the stories he told were vivid, and when he described the taste of food, it even felt like she was experiencing it herself.

"Mr. Liwol, you're really amazing. How can you be so good with words?"

At Liwol's always consistent behavior, Pamela also slowly opened her heart, and the two had become quite close.

"Oh dear. Good with words. Actually, I'm very shy and awkward. So before I come here, I worry several times about how to talk."

"Really?"

Liwol was a really nice person. He was like that when she first saw him, but as time passed, he became an even better person.

"Yes. Really. I want to come often too, but as you know, I'm working..."

"Ah... it's okay."

In fact, although she couldn't say it out loud, Pamela was lonely. Life on an uninhabited island with nothing was really so hard and painful.

She endured and endured because of the fact that Liwol would come someday. Pamela actually even thought that if Liwol hadn't been there from the beginning, this loneliness would have been less.

"Um..."

Liwol hesitated.

"Yes?"

"By any chance, do you have any thoughts of leaving with me?"

The hesitating Liwol opened his mouth.

"Ah... you know. I'm..."

As Pamela smiled pitifully, Liwol nodded his head.

"Yes. I know well. In fact, I still don't even know your name. Ah, I'm not asking you to tell me, so don't worry."

That was right. Pamela had not yet even told Liwol her name, and thankfully, Liwol had not asked either. Pamela liked that about Liwol and was also grateful.

"I might not be able to come in the future. So... I'm worried."

At his words, Pamela felt her heart drop.

'He might not be able to come in the future?'

Pamela's eyes shook violently.

"I think I'll be moving my residence inland, not towards the port. If that happens, it will take a full day to get to the port, so to come this often..."

"...Then can you come sometimes, sometimes?"

Pamela, who had already thrown away all sense of shame at the thought that she might be left alone forever, asked urgently.

"...Actually, I can't promise."

"..."

Liwol hung his head low.

"I know you'll feel burdened and dislike it if I say this."

Liwol raised his head and looked straight into Pamela's eyes.

"But I'm saying this today, mustering up my courage, at the thought that I might not be able to see you in the future."

Liwol's voice trembled.

"I don't know your name, your age, or who you are. But I like you."

"What... does that mean..."

"If you come with me, I will protect and hide you for the rest of my life. So that you won't be in danger, I will for the rest of my life... for the rest of my life..."

Liwol was now even trembling his hands.

"...Are you serious?"

At Liwol's sincerity, Pamela's heart was finally swayed. No, actually, she was scared at the thought that she might be left alone on this small island to die forever.

"Pardon?"

As if it were an unexpected answer, Liwol's eyes widened.

"Will you really protect me?"

At Liwol's unadorned reaction, Pamela's heart was definitely swayed.

'He must have thought it might really be the last time. That person might be able to protect me.'

At that, Liwol nodded his head vigorously.

"Of course. Of course!"

At Liwol's seemingly foolish behavior, Pamela couldn't help but laugh.

"Then I'll go with you."

At that, Liwol grabbed Pamela's hand.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes. I'm Pamela. Pamela Pelleve."

As Pamela told him her name as a sign of trust, a bright smile bloomed on Liwol's face.

[End of Chapter]