642 – The Life You Gain – 1

I persuaded the dragon to hope for a safe resting place.

Although it was a conditional declaration that I would put off my intention until my death, it was a positive thing if the person who had declared his eternal rest his his temporarily gave up his intention his his his. That moment can become an opportunity that sparks your will to live again.

“Thank you for your hard work, Minister.”

When the report was made, the emperor sighed softly. A sigh filled with relief rather than confusion or frustration.

“It was something that the eldest member of the imperial family personally asked Malye Lee to do. He said there was no need to overdo it, but how could he do it with a light heart?”

“That’s correct. Besides, the person you asked to persuade is someone who contributed greatly to the founding of the empire, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. If a person like that chooses eternal rest, he won’t be able to raise his head as the emperor of the empire.”

I nodded because I could understand the emperor’s feelings.

The fact that the dragons who were persecuted by the Apels Empire support the Kpelopen Empire and the Rivnoman Imperial Family is tantamount to evidence that thousands of people were moved from Apels to Kpelopen. So, the successive emperors of Kpelopen did their best to ensure that the dragons lived without any inconvenience for 300 years.

But is this the first dragon to die since the founding of the empire? And that too by choosing eternal sleep?

‘The story behind it is bound to come out.’

If the dragon had chosen to go to sleep on his own, all sorts of things would have been said that he must have had a good reason. There were probably wild speculations about being disappointed by the fallen empire or that the imperial family was rude.

However, such a disaster could be prevented by persuading the black dragon. From the emperor’s perspective, the request of the eldest member of the imperial family was fulfilled, and the face of the empire and the imperial family was also saved.

“The minister has done a really great job. Thank you.”

“That’s too much praise, Your Majesty.”

This time, he gently bowed his head to the emperor, who patted him on the shoulder and praised him.

Actually, I was lucky with this persuasion. The black dragon told me that I was good at speaking, but if I thought about it carefully, it was a direct way of speaking that appealed to emotions rather than detailed persuasion. If the other person’s mind was tightly closed, ‘What should I do?’ Was all that could be said in response.

So, it wasn’t my ability to persuade the black dragon. It was thanks to the regret as small as a speck of dust that the black dragon itself had.

‘If I really had given up everything, I wouldn’t have taken care of the rabbits.’

Rabbits that lived together in a cave. Those rabbits were the black dragon’s regret and the possibility of building a new pillar in place of the empty hole.

Of course, you might think that the rabbits are staying in the cave because the black dragon didn’t pay them any attention. However, the prey that exists at the bottom of the ecological pyramid is rabbits. It makes no sense for such a rabbit to coexist with a huge dragon. No matter how still the dragon was, the rabbits would have been scared and avoided even approaching it.

This means that the reason the rabbits are in the cave is because the dragon took care of them, knowingly or unknowingly. Even though he is a scary dragon, he is a good master if he takes care of them.

‘A small spark can become a fire that covers a mountain.’

So I showed the black dragon the spark. Since you are paying attention to small and worthless rabbits, you will be able to make new friends. I think we can build a new pillar.

You haven’t given up everything yet, and you have little feelings and connections.

‘Did the rabbit save the life?’

Suddenly, I almost burst out laughing. The dragon lord was worried and the emperor was worried about the dragon’s death. It’s amazing that the one who solved the situation was a tiny rabbit.

Thank you, Cave Rabbit. Even if you die, I will remember you as much as I do.

“True. Minister.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Please speak.”

“The Lord will be very happy to hear this news, so how about having the minister who has made the contribution speak directly?

“…Yes?”

My hair turned white from the sudden drift.

What are you talking about. I say it myself. The shock of meeting the eternal hope dragon one-on-one hasn’t even subsided yet.

“Do you know? Maybe Lord himself will give us his fingernails or scales.”

There is no need for that. The scales of the black dragon are already proudly sitting in the warehouse of the mansion.

“These are truly heartwarming words, but it would be shameful to stand before Him with only a small achievement of one’s faith—”

“Anyway, he would like to see the Minister, the benefactor who saved his friend’s life, in person. Then, I will go to see him with him.”

“It is an honor to be able to give Him a little joy.”

A brief threat that if you don’t go now, you will come with him later.

It was a terrible situation to even imagine, so I decided to just go now. Instead of having the Dragon Lord in front of you and the Emperor behind you, wouldn’t it be more convenient to meet only the Lord?

‘Damn.’

Suddenly a feeling of sadness came over me. I never thought I would see a dragon other than the Lord, and I even never thought I would see the Lord again before the Crown Princess ascended the throne.

I wonder if there is another subject like me in the history of the empire.

I moved to the cave where the Dragon Lord stays.

Last time I visited, I felt like I was surrounded by the Emperor and King Seung-gong, but this time I was visiting alone, so I felt a lot of pressure. It’s tiring to deal with the emperor, but how tiring it must be to deal with the eldest member of the imperial family.

“Welcome back. I’ve been waiting for you.”

As soon as I stepped into the cave, Rod’s voice rang out.

“I already heard from Atelius. He said he was moved by your persuasion and put his eternal rest on hold.”

“How can that be my fault? I probably changed my mind because I understood Rod’s concern for his friend.”

He expressed reflexive humility in a voice full of warmth.

The name of the blacker dragon was Athelius. When I thought about it, I said my name, but I didn’t actually know the other person’s name.

“Don’t say things like that. I couldn’t change my friend’s heart. It was only with your power that I saved my friend’s life.”

Eventually, a golden hand popped out from the darkness of the cave.

“Come up. “I want to see you up close.”

“…It’s an honor.”

I was momentarily taken aback by his request to ride on his palm, but I gathered my composition and walked carefully. He’s already on his own, but his palms are so big.

Hehe…”

Rod, who lifted me up and brought me to his eyes, let out a small laugh.

“It’s amazing. Gilbert came with you, so I knew your abilities were great, but I didn’t know you were this great. I never thought you could break the dragon’s resolve with human power.”

“This was only possible because there was a small spark in the heart of a man named Atellius. Otherwise, how would I have been able to persuade a dragon who has lived for thousands of years?”

“It’s a spark.”

At my words, Rod slowly closed his eyes.

“Black child. If it’s okay, could you tell me what happened with Athelius?”

And the gently curved corners of the eyes and purple eyes full of goodwill welcomed me.

“Of course.”

It seemed like he was truly happy that his friend had put his resting place on hold.

Rod listened quietly to me without asking any questions.

As soon as Athelius saw me, he tried to tear off his fingernails. Before persuading Athelius, I told him my story first. Emotions were brought out by mentioning Athelius’ family his. It showed a spark that even Atelius himself was unaware of.

Lastly, the dragon, who lived in emptiness for hundreds of years after taking revenge on Apels, was only raising rabbits.

“Rabbit, rabbit. Athelius brought the rabbit…”

That fact seemed surprising even to Rod, as he kept repeating the word rabbit and bursting into laughter.

“I’m surprised again. That Athelius raises rabbits.”

“It was an amazing sight. I had no idea that a rabbit, much smaller than a human, would live next to a dragon.”

“The same goes for me. Who would have known that Athelius, who was called the vicious dragon, would have such an aspect.”

I almost nodded my head reflexively, but later I felt uncomfortable.

‘A vicious dragon?’

It seems like a great name just passed by naturally.

“This must be your first time hearing this.”

Rod must have sensed the sense of discomfort that passed through my expression, and he continued speaking with his eyes still smiling.

“I heard this from my mother, but Athelius was called a vicious dragon before the founding of the kingdom. Athelius’anger at losing his family was not something Apels could handle.”

“I see.”

I ended up smiling bitterly at those words.

How can you treat a husband who lost his wife and children like a vicious dragon? Why is it that when something ugly appears in the history of the continent, it mostly comes from Apels?

“By the way, I’m definitely starting to focus on small things. Maybe things will change over time.”

Rod blinked several times as if thinking about something and continued speaking carefully.

“Black child. “Can I ask you a favor?”

I was momentarily taken aback by the unexpected chain quest.

“You tell me. I will do my best for my friend.”

However, I quickly composed myself and answered. He had already left a message to Atelius that he would often greet him. There’s nothing I can’t do, even if it’s just a chain quest.

Because Atellius’s appearance is not like anyone else’s.

***

Human Child─ It was only a few days ago that Carl Crasius of Tyglehen was sent back.

“Knife.”

“…Yes, old man.”

“What on earth happened?”

However, we met again after only a few days.

“Wow! Wow!”

It also looks somewhat strange.

A small child with silver hair who keeps looking up at me and letting out exclamations of exclamation. A small child with black hair with sparkling eyes next to him.

Can not understand. What kind of situation is this?

“Lord… It’s good to communicate with small animals, but he also said to talk to human children who have a longer lifespan…”

“Huh.”

I sighed at Carl’s words. I never thought you would come out like this just because I withheld my eternal rest.

‘Ira is human.’

I looked down at the two tiny human children.

Of course, these children are bigger than rabbits, but it cannot be denied that they are still small enough to break if touched incorrectly.

“These kids manage to not be scared when they see me.”

“These kids are extraordinary kids.”

Carl responded to my words as if he was proud.

Judging by their reaction, I guess they are this guy’s children. Even the child seems to be unusual, taking after his father

‘…The silver-haired child is a descendant of the great emperor.’

Looking closely, the silver-haired child had purple eyes.

Whether they are the children of the sword or the descendants of the great emperor, they do not seem to have normal bloodlines.