Chapter 299: Let's make a bet (1)
“Not at all?” Lloyd’s cheeky response floated in the air.
A refreshing voice, audaciously thrown out.
It tickled the eardrums of Ice Dragon Tirannus, who was gazing down from a hole at the very top of the lofty ice wall.
“Not?” A wrinkle carved itself between Tirannus’s brows.
A cold storm brewed in the ice dragon’s eyes as he glared down at Lloyd.
“Truly not?”
“Yes, not at all.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Lloyd answered without even blinking.
A perplexed look settled in the dragon’s eyes.
“Hmm, I must have misjudged the person. My apologies then.”
“Yes, please go on your way.”
“…Did you think I’d just let it go?”
Crash! Whoooosh!
Tirannus roared, and the hole in the ice wall widened.
Through the expanded opening, the ice dragon’s entire body intruded.
Lloyd could now fully witness just how enormously large Tirannus was.
‘Crazy. He’s much bigger than Yongyong?’
He quickly used a measuring skill.
Scanned the full body of the ice dragon swooping down towards him.
Swallowing hard at the scan results.
‘270 meters. Weight, 10,000 tons.’
Terrifying figures.
Moreover, despite his massive size, Tirannus landed too swiftly and lightly for his size.
Just lightly by the ice dragon’s standards.
Rooooar-!
The heaven and earth trembled.
It was as if hundreds of tons of TNT had exploded, accompanied by a massive storm of dust.
“…Graaaaah!”
Lloyd had to crouch down to avoid being blown away by the gust.
Thanks to his resilience (?), he could witness the overwhelming presence of the ice dragon standing right before him.
“Say it again, human. You claim you do not have the Heart of Winter?”
“….”
Lloyd realized then.
‘The bluff didn’t work.’
He had tried to play dumb, hoping that if the dragon mistakenly believed him, that would be best.
He had fully armored his face with bravado, but…
‘It didn’t work. This dragon, I don’t know who he is, but he came here knowing I have the Heart of Winter. He has a purpose.’
He sensed it.
This dragon had come pinpointing him specifically.
Any form of bluffing or deception was unlikely to work.
‘Plus, this dragon doesn’t seem ordinary.’
Lloyd recalled the events that had just transpired.
He was about to disable the time freeze option when the dragon appeared.
And the place of his appearance was unexpectedly significant.
‘He flew here from outside the frozen area.’
He made a hole in the ice wall that covered this place.
He peered down through that hole and finally entered inside.
‘That means this dragon flew here from a region affected by the time freeze. Despite the freeze, he moved and flew, meaning he wasn’t affected by it.’
That thought made Lloyd’s heart race with a rhythmic trepidation.
‘This isn’t like the young dragon Solitas I negotiated to bring to my domain before. This one is different both in the visible size and in being unaffected by the time freeze.’
He couldn’t be reckless.
He might involve Javier and Yongyong if necessary, could attempt a surprise attack after lulling the dragon,
‘But better not to risk it.’
There was a feeling that they might not manage it, that it could backfire.
Even if Javier was a grandmaster.
Even if Yongyong was slightly stronger than an average dragon.
Even with him joining them.
He had an inkling they might not be able to subdue this tremendously formidable dragon.
From the moment he realized this…
“Ah, sir, it seems I was mistaken.”
He quickly hitched the trembling corner of his lips to his ear.
He rubbed his palms together, stiff with tension.
Sweating profusely, he bowed slightly and warmly responded to the ice dragon.
“I’m really sorry. My hearing hasn’t been great lately, and your voice is so deep and commanding, I thought you asked if I had the ‘Heart of a Mirror,’ not the Heart of Winter.”
“…”
“Yes, if you were asking about the Heart of Winter, then yes, I have it.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Lloyd nodded firmly.
If you need to cooperate with someone to make a good impression,
then sometimes you have to crawl a bit.
That was why.
He hastily signaled to Javier who had just rushed over.
‘Stop. Don’t draw your sword. Don’t even run.’
‘But, Lloyd sir?’
‘Just hold the handle of your sword. Walk slowly. Relax your face. Don’t glare at him. Smile, man.’
‘…’
Javier caught on to Lloyd’s intention.
The silver-haired knight internally nodded.
‘Indeed. That dragon is absolutely not ordinary.’
He could feel it, not just intuitively but from reaching the grandmaster’s state.
Through the matured expertise of his triple circles.
He could clearly sense just how terrifyingly powerful the dragon was.
‘I could only last about five minutes in a full-on battle.’
That seemed to be the limit.
This feeling was the second of its kind.
‘It felt similar when I faced Dragon King Berkis. No, this dragon seems a bit weaker than Berkis. Maybe Yongyong and I could hold him off long enough for Lloyd to escape.’
Javier steeled himself internally as he swallowed the tension.
In the meantime, Lloyd, who had signaled Yongyong to calm down, looked up at the dragon again.
“Anyway, if you’re looking for the Heart of Winter, I have it. But may I ask what brings you here?”
“Hmm, it’s simple. I came to reclaim the Heart of Winter.”
“…Yes?”
“Don’t you understand? I came here to take back the Heart of Winter.”
“…”
Lloyd’s smile twisted slightly.
‘Ah, I figured it might come to this.’
He was troubled.
The reason was simple.
“Well, really sorry, sir? I do have the Heart of Winter, but…”
“But?”
“If you take it, I’m going to die.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Honestly, it’s not my fault, but the Heart of Winter has been absorbed and fused with my Mana Heart. I can’t separate it on my own. Trying to forcibly remove it might shatter both my Mana Heart and the Heart itself.”
“And?”
“I’m really terribly sorry, but it might be a bit difficult to give you the Heart of Winter…”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Besides, sir?”
“Ice Dragon, Tirannus.”
“Ah, yes. Respected Tirannus sir? Um, it’s embarrassing, but you said you’re here to ‘reclaim’ the Heart of Winter, did you previously own it?”
“No, I did not.”
“Then…?”
“I created it.”
“…”
Lloyd’s heart sank.
The ice dragon’s gaze turned stern.
“You may not be aware, but I created the Heart of Winter. Hundreds of years ago, I gifted it to my human friend Michael Magentano when he founded his nation.”
“…”
“I still remember how happy Michael was. I was happy too. Even though I had to suffer a fever from overexerting myself creating the Heart, I thought it would ensure his and his descendants’ prosperity.”
“…”
“But then you recently absorbed it.”
“You, you noticed?”
“Yes.”
“…”
“I let it slide at the time. I thought the Heart of Winter was following its destiny. But it wasn’t so. You didn’t just absorb it; you’ve been misusing it. Like now.”
Tirannus’s icy gaze swept the sky.
He took in the ice wall enveloping the area and the region outside where time had stopped.
Then his chilling and strict eyes returned to Lloyd.
“I realized then that I couldn’t just leave it be. I made up my mind and flew here. To take the Heart of Winter back from you.”
“Um, erm…”
“Speak up.”
“I’m really, really sorry.”
Lloyd looked miserable as he spoke.
“I mentioned earlier, but if you take that, I’ll die?”
“So? You’re saying it’s not possible?”
“…”
“Do you think I came all this way to get your permission, brazenly?”
“That’s not what I mean, but…”
“Had I wished, I could have exterminated all life here, including you, without having this bothersome and irritating conversation. It would have been much simpler to just take the Heart of Winter.”
“…”
“But I’m showing mercy by only killing you to take it. Is that so unfair?”
“Yes.”
“…What? Unfair?”
“Yes.”
Lloyd stood up straight, not cowering under the icy dragon’s gaze.
He answered clearly, his eyes wide open.
Was it a sudden surge of courage?
Or a sense of desperation from inevitable pressure?
Neither.
In fact, he was secretly celebrating inside.
‘Nice. It’s actually better that he’s here to kill me rather than just take the Heart of Winter!’
It seemed right.
This was exactly it.
Before Tirannus could react heatedly, Lloyd spoke rapidly and sharply.
“I’m a member of the Dragon King’s support club.”
“…Hmm?”
“I receive support from the great Dragon King Berkis. Therefore, you can’t just kill me rashly. Especially a dragon as sensible and cultured as you, Tirannus.”
“…”
This time, it was Tirannus who was taken aback.
Lloyd proudly puffed out his chest.
His face was wreathed in a smile.
‘Yes, this is it!’
Lloyd internally celebrated.
The terrifying presence of Ice Dragon Tirannus.
When he blatantly demanded the Heart of Winter, Lloyd’s heart nearly stopped.
He thought he was about to lose the Heart of Winter without a chance.
But upon reflection, it wasn’t so.
‘If I give up the Heart of Winter, I die. But if a dragon kills me? That would directly violate the Dragon King’s support club membership.’
Maybe a different monster wouldn’t care about such an oath.
But a dragon?
Especially since Dragon King Berkis is a leader and guide to all dragons.
Even the most rebellious dragon wouldn’t dare harm him, a member of the Dragon King’s support club.
So, he blurted it out.
The effect was immediate.
“Dragon King’s support club, is that true?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Let me see.”
“…”
Tirannus’s gaze upon him turned meaningful.
Perhaps sensing something in a dragon’s unique way, a light flickered in his eyes.
“It’s true.”
“Thank you for acknowledging that.”
Lloyd inwardly sighed with relief.
Luckily, the risky tactic he had played seemed to have worked.
Tirannus muttered.
“Tsk. Who would have thought this human was under that guy’s sponsorship.”
“Excuse me? That ‘guy’… you mean you know the Dragon King?”
“Yes.”
“May I ask what your relationship is…?”
Calling him ‘that guy’ suggested a possibly adversarial or grudge-filled relationship.
Might he disregard the Dragon King’s support club and kill him anyway?
Lloyd tentatively asked, feeling slightly anxious again.
Tirannus snorted.
“That guy, he’s like an enemy.”
“An enemy?”
“Yes. He’s my son.”
“…Yes?”
“My son, Dragon King Berkis.”
“Ah, haha? Oh, Grand Dragon King!”
“…”
“Such a venerable being, and here I am, an insignificant human not recognizing you, I’m profoundly sorry.”
Suddenly faced with the almost soap-operatic family relationship between the Dragon King and the ice dragon, Lloyd promptly prostrated himself.
Tirannus asked with a sour look.
“Are you flattering me?”
“…Yes.”
“So you think I won’t take the Heart of Winter?”
“Well, I did mention before that if you take it, I’ll die…”
“It’s not my concern.”
Tirannus’s voice became firm.
His gaze as he looked down was just as resolute.
“The Dragon King’s support club is important, but so is the promise I made to my friend when I gave him the Heart of Winter. Actually, my promise precedes the support of the Dragon King.”
“What does that mean?”
“You’re quick to understand. The promise between Michael and me takes precedence and should be prioritized over the Dragon King’s support.”
“…”
“I can’t sense a drop of Michael’s bloodline in you. You are not his descendant, are you?”
“Yes.”
“Then you have no right to possess the Heart of Winter. Even less right to misuse it.”
“…”
“So, I’ll be taking it now… Wait!”
Lloyd suddenly shouted out.
“I am a servant of Her Majesty Alicia Termina Magentano, a descendant of Hero King Michael!”
“Still not of his bloodline, are you?”
“…”
“Planning to marry into the royal family?”
“That’s…”
“Not the case.”
“…”
“Then I’ll take the Heart of Winter. Before that, I’ll first pray for your soul. It’ll be a regrettable death but inevitable, so don’t take it too hard.”
“…”
“There will be no pain.”
Rumble rumble rumble…!
Tirannus made his judgment.
An intense cold surged from the ice dragon’s entire body.
The Heart of Winter?
That relic felt like a malfunctioning air conditioner in comparison to the overpowering cold now emanating.
No sign of compromise was visible.
‘What do I do?’
Lloyd swallowed dryly.
‘Should I fight alongside Javier?’
He glanced sideways.
He saw Javier’s hand stealthily moving towards his sword.
Yongyong, sensing the ominous atmosphere, was also preparing to charge, crouching down ready to pounce at a moment’s notice.
They seemed ready to attack the ice dragon immediately if given the signal.
But Lloyd internally shook his head.
‘No. Can’t beat that with force. We’d all die.’
That would be the worst outcome.
Especially losing Javier would be the absolute worst.
‘He’s the real protagonist of this world.’
What would happen to this world if its protagonist disappeared?
He couldn’t even imagine.
Besides, protagonist or not, he didn’t want Javier to be a needless sacrifice because of him.
Nor did he want to die himself.
‘So think. Use your brain. There must be a way!’
Lloyd frantically whipped his brain into action.
Faced with the ice dragon revealing its overwhelming intent to kill.
With the Centaur tribespeople panicking.
Javier and Yongyong ready to leap at the dragon at his signal.
Considering all this.
What could he do?
What resources and excuses did he have?
All possible outcomes.
He examined, analyzed, predicted, and measured.
And finally, an idea sparked.
He suddenly raised his head.
Towards the dragon preparing to unleash magic on him.
With a confidence betting on a 100% success rate.
With a tone sure to prick the opponent’s pride.
Certain it would hook him.
He blurted out rapidly.
“Do you dare to bet you won’t vomit from one punch from me?”
