Chapter 52
Eldrin And Dmir.
Heroes of the Forest and Rock Tribes, and the absolute beings who subdued the tyrant of this world, the colossal dragon.
“Drugan is strong. Strong enough to destroy this world outright.”
The one who had commanded the Forest Tribe at the time.
Moonlight Eldrin always kept her eyes on the dragon.
A cunning beast.
Even with overwhelming power.
Instead of annihilating the world in one stroke, it chose to slowly torment and plunder the two tribes.
One day, Eldrin declared:
“We cannot continue to endure this.”
She proclaimed war against the dragon.
“The difference in strength is vast. We cannot kill it, but if we join forces with the Rock Tribe, perhaps we can at least seal it away.”
Elves alone could never stand against it.
They would need the blacksmiths and alchemy of the dwarves.
So Eldrin reached out first to the dwarves.
“I agree. We too are weary of the dragon’s tyranny.”
The legendary blacksmith, Dmir, gladly clasped her hand.
“Do you need weapons? Need magic enhanced? We will make them for you!”
It would later be remembered as the great alliance of the races.
The synergy between the two tribes was overwhelming.
They fought fiercely, as if to vent every grievance they had suffered.
The elves took up the weapons forged by the dwarves.
Under their queen’s command, they united and gave their lives willingly.
Somehow, they succeeded in sealing the dragon.
But the question remained.
‘Why did the two heroes have to die?’
And also—
‘Why have the two tribes still not reconciled?’
That was the secret I had to uncover in this dungeon.
—
“Ahh, how resplendent.”
Dagnard’s eyes gleamed at the sight of the relics glowing with mysterious light.
Yet he did not dare approach.
Because I still stood unmoving before them.
“May I check them first?”
I asked gently.
But however kind my words, Dagnard had no choice but to agree.
Thump!
Sunny struck his spear against the floor, fixing him with an unblinking stare.
“O-Of course! It’s thanks to you we even got here! H-Haha! I’m fine with it!”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
I nodded and stepped forward.
[You have reached the Dragon’s Seal Altar.]
Its structure resembled an altar.
A place built to offer sacrifices.
A space that even felt sacred.
Two relics.
The bow and hammer lay displayed upon it.
‘The bow.’
I approached and examined it first.
[Item: For Eldrin]
[Rank: S]
[Type: Bow]
[Description: A bow crafted by the legendary blacksmith Dmir as a gift for his eternal companion Eldrin. It boasts immense power.]
[Effect 1: All stats +20.]
[Effect 2: Arrows fired with its special magic can be infinitely recovered.]
[Effect 3: Skill cooldown reduced by 20%.]
[Effect 4: Energy +50.]
[Effect 5: Skill power increased by 200%.]
[Effect 6: Usable only by Moonlight Eldrin.]
‘Crazy…?’
Its performance was overwhelming.
A 200% boost to skill power?
That meant triple damage from any skill.
Compared even to the S-rank Flame Dragon’s Staff, it was absurd.
[Fire attribute skill power +100%.]
That staff doubled fire skills only, with a restriction.
‘So this is what a bound item is?’
Bound items far outclassed general ones.
By limiting it to Eldrin, it had been made even stronger.
‘Now the hammer.’
I turned my gaze.
[Item: Dmir’s Hammer]
[Rank: S]
[Type: Hammer]
[Description: A hammer forged by the legendary blacksmith Dmir for his own use. It boasts immense power.]
[Effect 1: Production-related skills can be used without any external tools.]
[Effect 2: Infuses natural energy into items, granting enchantment effects.]
[Effect 3: Production speed increased by 500%.]
[Effect 4: Energy +100.]
[Effect 5: Usable only by Dmir.]
The hammer, too, was astonishing.
A concept like enchantment, boosting production speed fivefold.
Gulp.
I couldn’t help salivating.
Bone Six could’ve made perfect use of it.
A pity it was bound as well.
“Hm?”
Between the two relics lay something else.
A black orb.
Its strange glow made it feel like it might swallow me whole.
[Ding!]
[You have discovered the Orb of Prohibition.]
Orb of Prohibition?
What was that?
Curious, I peered closer, but no further details appeared.
Instead—
[Consume 50 energy.]
[Activating skill: Memory Reenactment (S-rank).]
The familiar skill triggered on its own.
Which meant—
A soul nearby had memories I could read.
[Reenacting the memory of the cursed soul: Moonlight Eldrin.]
[Reenacting the memory of the cursed soul: Great Dmir.]
[Transferring shortly.]
What?
Eldrin and Dmir’s memories?
My eyes lit up.
I instinctively knew this was the key to the dungeon.
‘Let’s go.’
I clenched my fist.
A blinding light engulfed my entire body.
—
“…”
I felt weightless.
The surroundings were a dark forest.
I had only awareness, no physical form.
Just like when I read the old man’s memories.
But there was a problem.
“W-What is this?”
“Huh?”
Dagnard was here too.
“I-I can see you like a ghost! I have no body! What sorcery is this?”
“….”
I frowned.
It must have dragged him in because he was close by.
“W-Where is this? A forest? Did the elves have such a place?”
“If I’m right, this is a memory from 500 years ago.”
I gave him a quick explanation.
Whatever.
Better to look at it positively.
At least with Dagnard here, I wouldn’t be bored.
“500 years ago?”
“Look there.”
I gestured.
In the shadow of the trees, two figures stood.
An elf and a dwarf.
—
“Eldrin.”
The dwarf quietly called out to her.
There was no hostility in his gaze.
“You’ve endured much. Today, after a hundred years of bloodshed, it ends.”
“Yes, Dmir. You’ve endured as well.”
Resolve was etched on both faces.
Silence hung over the still forest.
Within that silence, countless thoughts and emotions churned.
Because tonight.
They had sworn to lay down their lives in a final battle with the colossal dragon.
Though they were heroes.
They were still mortal, still bound by fear of death.
Eldrin’s breath steadied.
“Thank you. The day my people resolved themselves, you took my hand.”
“Don’t say that. It was the natural course.”
“There is nothing natural in this world.”
Her breath was calm, yet rough.
“There are no lives that are destined to die. I may accept it as queen, but you—”
“Enough, you talk too much.”
“Dmir.”
“Heh, we made a pact, didn’t we? You and I. To fight for our peoples. We united two tribes that had never stood together, and came this far. I regret nothing. So let me say it again.”
“…”
“Don’t speak such words.”
“…Thank you.”
Eldrin raised her bow.
It was the masterwork of the greatest blacksmith.
Dmir hefted his hammer.
No mere tool, but closer to a magical staff.
—Grooar!
The world darkened further.
From beyond the horizon, the massive body of the dragon rose.
A suffocating aura.
The ferocious wind made the trees shudder, every living thing hold its breath.
The tyrant who had driven both tribes to the brink.
The colossal dragon, Drugan.
“Dmir.”
“….”
“Are you ready?”
“Ready anytime. If I can land a blow on that damned dragon, I’d give up my heart itself. Don’t you worry.”
“Dependable as ever.”
Despite the crushing power,
The two heroes’ eyes did not waver.
The gaze of those who had already accepted death.
—Kahaha! How laughable!
The dragon’s laughter shook the world.
A force that made skin prickle and spines shiver.
—Two insects think they can oppose me?
The heroes did not answer.
They simply moved.
Clang! Clang!
The legendary blacksmith.
Dmir struck his hammer to the ground.
Alchemy and magic fused in that strike.
[You have obtained an Absolute Shield Scroll (S-rank).]
A scroll appeared instantly.
“Use this.”
“Thank you.”
A sight to make anyone gape.
“What the—?”
I cursed without meaning to.
An S-rank magic scroll, created just like that?
“…Those are our ancestors?”
Dagnard gasped.
“Truly… the pinnacle of blacksmithing. Just like the records. To craft a magic scroll with a hammer stroke—what a sight.”
This was Dmir.
The blacksmith who could mass-produce S-rank gear with ease.
Dmir smiled.
We watched as he continued.
“I’ll build our tomb here. Can you hold it off for me?”
Clang! Clang!
He struck his hammer again, constructing something.
Eldrin smiled back.
“Of course.”
She raised her bow once more.
“No matter how mighty the dragon, it won’t look down on me.”
She was Moonlight.
The mother of all elves.
The absolute queen of her age, 500 years past.
—Foolish!
Drugan roared.
It raised its massive foreleg.
Thump!
The ground quaked with every step.
The earth split.
—Queen of elves. Fire all the arrows you want. You won’t scratch me.
The dragon advanced.
—This world belongs to me. I am its predator. All else is prey. Why defy the fate of the heavens?
“Shut your mouth!”
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Eldrin loosed arrows.
“If you are truly a predator, then today you’ll have to devour us all.”
Crash!
The arrows fell like guided missiles upon Drugan’s body.
Moonlight Fall.
A bombardment of arrows under the moon’s glow.
—Grrr.
The dragon grimaced.
The strikes were sharp enough to sting.
Like a wasp’s sting—it could crush it easily, yet hesitate at the thought of a sting in the eye.
“Cowardly dragon.”
Dmir grinned.
Clang! Clang!
With dazzling speed, he forged something anew.
“Today, in exchange for burying my bones here, I’ll bind you with prohibition.”
—Do not toy with me!
The dragon sensed danger.
It abandoned caution.
Flap!
Its wings spread wide, rushing the rulers of two tribes.
Eldrin did not remain still.
She drew her bow like a storm.
Dmir tore open scrolls by the handful.
A symphony of magic.
The clash of three giants made the world itself scream.