Chapter 301: Let's Make a Bet (3)
Ding-dong.
[A powerful strike that makes any opponent vomit everything in their stomach in one blow, <Solar Plexus Shot>, has been activated.]
Fresh messages filled Lloyd’s vision.
At the same time.
“…Ohhhhh-”
The Ice Dragon clutched its stomach.
Shivering all over, it retched.
However, it didn’t bend over as humans do when nauseous.
Instead, it threw its head and body backward.
It looked up at the sky.
And then, with a gurgling sound,
it vomited an awe-inspiring overbite (?).
Whoosh!
A breath filled with severe cold shot into the sky.
The air above instantly froze.
Moisture in the air rapidly condensed.
The condensed moisture turned into heavy snow that fell everywhere.
Finally, the Ice Dragon, Tirannus, managed to stop its retching.
“Cough, cough! Hack!”
Silence engulfed everyone.
Including Javier, who had been about to draw his sword as he anxiously watched the outcome of the bet.
Even Yongyong, who was burning with the will to protect Lloyd at all costs.
And the Centaur tribesmen who had been anxiously watching from a distance.
They were all enveloped in a huge shock and silence.
Was it because the dragon’s retching was so majestically authentic?
Or because the resulting snowfall seemed so supernatural?
No, that wasn’t it.
‘Is it really possible for a human punch to turn a dragon’s stomach inside out?’
Everyone thought the same thing in the silence.
Their eyes all turned to the same place.
Lloyd was there, clenching his fist.
‘It worked!’
He inwardly cheered.
The hope he had barely dared to feel.
Had indeed come back as he expected.
‘The flattery option never lies.’
Suddenly, he remembered the praise he had received in the Mermaid Kingdom.
The option he had acquired then had also come to mind.
‘It was an option to make any opponent vomit everything in their stomach in an environment deeper than 50 centimeters.’
That was the Solar Plexus Shot.
Thanks to it, he had been able to propose a bold bet against the Ice Dragon.
He had managed to deceive not only the Ice Dragon, the subject of the bet, but also all the onlookers.
‘Well, who would have expected such an outcome?’
A human punch inducing dragon vomit.
If he hadn’t known about the flattery option?
He would have scoffed at such an idea himself.
‘But anyway, it worked. That’s how you play a trick.’
Lloyd grinned and raised his head.
His eyes met those of the dumbfounded Ice Dragon, Tirannus.
“…How did you do that?”
“Uh, I just did my best.”
“Did your best, you say?”
“Yes.”
“Are you asking me to believe that?”
“Uh, honestly, I have no other way to explain it.”
Lloyd smiled awkwardly.
There was no way to explain things like flattery or options to the Ice Dragon.
“I truly put all my strength into it. Maybe my sincerity reached the heavens and caused a miracle.”
“….”
“Really.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“Seriously?”
“Yep, seriously.”
“…Sigh. It’s hard to believe, but I can’t deny the results.”
The Ice Dragon looked down at Lloyd, its brow furrowed.
What a bizarre incident.
Just a human punch turning its stomach inside out.
It just couldn’t understand.
‘It’s strange. Too strange. That guy didn’t infuse his punch with mana, nor did it feel immensely impactful.’
Honestly, it felt nothing when hit.
Right after being hit in the solar plexus by that human.
There was no abnormality or sign.
And he was about to declare victory.
But suddenly, his stomach turned inside out.
Without realizing it, he had vomited everything in his breath.
As the Ice Dragon pondered this, it shook its head inwardly.
‘It definitely wasn’t because of the physical force.’
To flip his stomach with physical force?
At least an Archangel from Heaven or a Demon King would need to be involved.
Only someone of that caliber could invert his stomach with a precise hit to the solar plexus.
‘Or perhaps my beloved.’
He thought of his wife, the Sulphur Dragon Kalidris.
‘Anyway, that guy, he’s really strange. There must be something I don’t know.’
That’s why such a result came from a mere punch.
Suddenly, he became curious about the secret behind the punch.
On one hand, he felt he had no choice but to acknowledge the human.
“…Alright.”
The Ice Dragon’s gaze softened as it looked at Lloyd.
“Honestly, I don’t know what kind of trick you used, but a bet is a bet. Since my stomach was turned, this bet is your win. Thus, I will leave the Heart of Winter with you.”
“Is that really true?”
“Of course.”
A bitter smile appeared on the Ice Dragon’s lips.
There was really no choice.
They had made a bet.
A bet is a promise.
‘If I break a promise I made myself, I might lose the power of Dragon Speech.’
The great power of Dragon Speech, which invokes magic through mere words.
The power of words comes from actions that prove them.
Actions that break a promise lose the trust of the words.
And words that lose their trust lose their efficacy.
Eventually, even the power of Dragon Speech would be lost.
‘I can’t afford to lose Dragon Speech like this.’
He hadn’t expected to lose a bet this way.
The Ice Dragon’s bitter smile deepened.
“Really? You think I would say one thing and do another?”
“Ah, that’s…”
“It’s settled. A bet is a bet, and you won, so I won’t take the Heart of Winter. But are you sure about that?”
“About what?”
“About possessing the Heart of Winter. There could be side effects.”
“Side effects?”
Lloyd tilted his head, slightly skeptical.
Suddenly mentioning side effects, could it be that this Ice Dragon was planning some mischief?
But the Ice Dragon’s reply was serious.
“It’s a divine artifact with a strong cold force. It might be too much for a human body and mana heart to handle. You might not notice anything now, but over time, your whole body will freeze. Slowly, without you even realizing it.”
“My body will freeze?”
“Yes.”
The Ice Dragon nodded its massive head.
“The mana circulating through your body will gradually become colder, and this chill will settle in various organs. By the time you notice the symptoms, it will be too late. It’s somewhat similar to cancer, if you were to compare it to a human disease.”
“Wow.”
Lloyd gulped down his saliva unknowingly.
‘That doesn’t sound like a bluff.’
He asked the Ice Dragon.
“Then, is there a way to prevent these side effects?”
“Of course, there is. Should I tell you?”
“Yes.”
“It’s simple. You just need to absorb another divine artifact of the same level but with opposing properties.”
“So, it’s about neutralizing the cold with heat?”
“Exactly. Have you ever heard of the Summer’s Teardrop?”
“Yes.”
“Smart.”
“Thanks.”
“Why do you seem like you’re about to cry?”
“Do I look like I’m not crying?”
Lloyd managed to hold back his tears and snot as he replied.
“That Summer’s Teardrop, it’s one of the three great relics of the Magentano royal family, right?”
“That’s right.”
“So that’s why tears are coming out.”
“Why?”
“Because I can’t think of a way to eat it.”
“….”
“Oh man. I just barely managed to handle one relic with excuses and lots of sweating, and now I have to fetch another without clashing with the royal sister. It’s not even just a small request. Oh man, my fate really is tragic. Oh man.”
“….”
The Ice Dragon remained silent, and Lloyd genuinely lamented.
He could feel that the Ice Dragon’s advice was not false.
There was no grand reason.
It was something like an instinctive feeling.
Especially since he actually possessed the Heart of Winter.
He often became aware of the cold seeping into his mana.
Especially when he activated time freezing recently.
He couldn’t take the Ice Dragon’s warning lightly.
“But, esteemed Tirannus?”
“Speak.”
“About these side effects you mentioned. How long would it take?”
“You mean, how long until you feel the effects in your body?”
“Yes.”
“At least 5 years. At most 10. Is that okay?”
“Yes, that’s enough.”
“Enough for what?”
“Enough time to extinguish the fire that’s about to fall on my feet. The matter of consuming the Summer’s Teardrop is for later, now I have more urgent matters.”
“Hmm, more urgent than preventing the side effects of the Heart of Winter?”
“Yes.”
“I’m curious.”
“It’s nothing big. Just need to find some important materials.”
“Important materials?”
“Yes.”
“If you’ve been looking for important materials in a place like this, could it be, are you trying to rebuild the Jewel of Truth?”
The Ice Dragon unexpectedly asked a sharp question.
Lloyd flinched and replied.
“Yes, that’s right. You know of the Jewel of Truth?”
“I do.”
The Ice Dragon grinned.
“Isn’t it the building of wisdom that provides the wisest answers to any question? It was also one of the most brilliant treasures of the mythical era, though it was destroyed in my grandfather’s father’s time. But you’re looking for materials to rebuild it?”
“Yes. And it’s killing me.”
“Why?”
“Because they’re so hard to find.”
Lloyd bore a sincerely bitter smile.
But an amazing reply came from the Ice Dragon.
“Hard to find? There’s no way that should be.”
“Where is it?”
Lloyd’s eyes sparkled.
He almost hung onto the Ice Dragon’s rear claw, ready to shake it vigorously.
The Ice Dragon nonchalantly replied.
“One is in the capital, Magenta. Another is at the peak of the nearby mountains. Two are in my home, the Ice Caves. The last one is quite far away. Anyway, I stashed two of them a long time ago.”
“You stashed them?”
“Yes. They were just right as pillow rocks.”
“….”
“Since about 800 years ago, I’ve preferred softer pillows, so I haven’t used them for a while. If you need them, should I give them to you?”
“Yes, please!”
Lloyd nodded at the speed of light.
In the process, he didn’t forget to subtly probe the Ice Dragon’s intentions.
“Thank you so much, but may I ask why you are helping me like this?”
“Hmm?”
“Do you perhaps need some urgent funds or something?”
“Tsck. Do you think I’m helping you in hopes of a reward?”
“No, not at all.”
“Surely not.”
“….”
“I’m just curious. How a punch without mana or brute strength flipped my stomach in one go. If you die early from the side effects of the Heart of Winter, I won’t be able to satisfy that curiosity.”
“…Ah, yes.”
“So, don’t die early. That’s why I’m doing this.”
“So, you’re giving me time to satisfy your curiosity through me?”
“Exactly.”
“….”
“Anyway, what does it matter? Humans die of old age within 100 years anyway. I’ll just collect the Heart of Winter then. It’ll be more convenient for me.”
“….”
Lloyd kept his mouth shut.
He thought it was too good to be true.
There really is no such thing as a free lunch.
But now wasn’t the time to be picky.
‘He’s offering all the core materials for the Jewel in one go, who would pass that up?’
Rather, he should gratefully accept whatever comes his way.
Whether the Ice Dragon takes him on a curiosity expedition later or opens an experimental classroom.
For now, the priority was to build the Jewel to stop the damned phenomenon of fate restoration.
“Understood. Thank you. But, one more thing.”
“What now?”
“You mentioned earlier that two are in the Ice Caves, and another is quite far away.”
“Oh, the last one? Do you want to know about that too?”
“Yes. Since you’re already being generous….”
“Generous?”
The Ice Dragon scoffed.
Watching him, it felt like he was somewhat shameless.
Yet strangely, that shamelessness didn’t seem very offensive.
It was rather amusing and even somewhat adorable.
Like watching a dung beetle struggling to climb up.
The Ice Dragon’s voice grew more generous towards Lloyd.
“Well, it’s not difficult. Actually, my son, the Dragon King, was once obsessed with research on dimensional travel.”
“Dimensional… travel?”
“Yes. Dimensional travel. Anyway, during that time, he sent various items to other dimensions in his experiments, whether they were precious or not. The last core material you are looking for was also sent to another dimension at that time.”
“Wow.”
Lloyd was horrified.
Another dimension.
How on earth was he supposed to find that?
It felt like the world was closing in on him.
“So, which dimension was the last core material sent to?”
He asked with a sense of dread.
The Ice Dragon grinned and replied.
“Seoul.”
