Book Eater

Chapter 202: Sand Dragon Desertio (2)

Theo was taken aback. “No way. You came because of me?”

[That’s right.]

The sand dragon, Desertio’s, assertion was surprising. However, it was a natural response. The dragon had been around since the Age of Mythology. What did it want with Theo? It was a different situation from Aquilo, who had grown interested in Theo after interacting with him. Living for millennia had created a manner of thinking which mortals couldn’t understand.

Theo’s eyes trembled nervously. He couldn’t help feeling guilty because of the danger the sand dragon’s presence brought to the investigation team.

However, Desertio spoke in a gentle voice.

[Don’t be too nervous, young magician. I didn’t come with the intention of harming you.]

Theo’s battle intuition wasn’t going off, as if to prove Desertio’s words. Regardless of whether Desertio was speaking the truth, Theo was forced to go along. This conversation might be the only lifeline before a death sentence was passed on them.

“... Can I ask what your business is?”

It was good to know that the conversation could go in both directions. So, Theo raised his courage and carefully asked the dragon why he was here.

[Hmmm, I’ll have to explain.]

Desertio replied calmly.

[However, I will ask you one thing before I explain. Have you heard anything about the reduction of dragons?]

“Reduction?”

[It is what happens when a dragon reaches their end or is near the end.]

Theo finally realized Desertio’s intention as he recalled the conversation he had with Gluttony while crossing the wilderness.

- The sand dragon Desertio, who lives in the center of the Meuse Desert, is at the epicenter of the drought. Although, don’t misunderstand. Desertio might not be causing the drought maliciously. The dragon, who has survived for nearly a million years, is already closer to a spirit than a creature. Therefore, he changes the environment around him.

A dragon would instinctively want to return to nature. Gluttony had once told him that this was the reason behind the decline of dragons and the beginning of Dracomachia. All the other races, including the human race, had joined forces to hunt the dragons.

In some ways, the phenomenon called Reduction might be nothing to Desertio, who had suffered through Dracomachia.

Theo carefully replied, “Are you trying to tell me about the drought?”

[Oh, I suppose it isn’t hard to guess. That’s correct. If you are already aware of that, the story will be quicker. The creation of the Meuse Desert and the drought was caused by the aging of this body. It is proof that this body is approaching death. I want your help with the post-processing.]

“My help...?”

[Uhh, to be precise, I would like you to deliver my message to the sea dragon linked to you.]

Aquilo’s face crossed his mind. He hadn’t seen her face for a while, but his impression of her was clear in his mind. Theo couldn’t help remembering her beauty, which was more striking than many women he’d seen. His relationship with Aquilo was one of his most powerful trump cards, and he would prefer not to use it. Additionally, he had no confidence in dealing with her again.

She isn’t the type to be dragged around.

It might be possible if Theo was much stronger than Aquilo, but that possibility wasn’t worth discussing when he was only at the 7th Circle. He couldn’t help but start to worry.

As Theo remained silent, Desertio continued speaking

[This is a request based on draconic tradition. If you listen to my favor, this body will give you something that is equivalent to the favor.]

“Then please explain this to me.”

[It is very simple. In the past, a dragon would use Reduction to destroy the territory of other species. This tradition, known as the Ritual of Reduction, was created by examining the bitter past.]

The Ritual of Reduction didn’t seem to be a secret, so Desertio continued talking in a voice that the others could hear. It was a type of pledge. The storm of power that burst out when a dragon died was incomparable to what it released consciously. In Desertio’s case, it would generate a heat wave that would sweep through the entire Central Continent.

Therefore, the dragon elders created a reduction ceremony. It was a tradition that allowed a dragon with the opposite property to balance the aftermath. For a dragon with the power of weathering, the dragon that controlled water was the right choice for the ritual.

[It is a ritual that has fallen to history, but this body wants to maintain the wishes of the dragon elders. Please let me finish my life by using your link.]

“Um...”

All of a sudden, Mujak interrupted, “Wait! Desert dragon, I have something to say to you!”

[This body has nothing to say to you.]

“Damn, listen to me first!” Mujak called out.

Perhaps Mujak had forgotten who it was in front of him due to Desertio’s modest attitude as he hollered with a red face, “Take some responsibility for being the cause of the drought! You should apologize to the people of our kingdom rather than ask that young man! Do you know how many people have died because of you?”

Reduction was a sacred ceremony to a dragon, but it was a national disaster for others. The fury of the Austen guardians, who had lost lives for hundreds of years, was reasonable in many ways.

However, Desertio dropped any semblance of politeness with Mujak.

[That is human logic.]

Desertio had the gaze of a transcendent being who looked down on all things.

[Do you remember and mourn the number of ants you stepped on during your life?]

Everyone froze for a moment. The blatant comparison to ants clearly showed the gap between a human and dragon. Theo tensed up again. Desertio wasn’t concerned about humans. He wanted to preserve the dragon elders’ wishes, but he didn’t care about those who had already died.

Damn, I’m not in a situation to worry about whether I should accept it!

Despite Desertio’s modest attitude, Theo had no other option. He had to finish this before Mujak made things worse.

Theo hurriedly opened his mouth. “Desertio! I will accept your request.”

***

They made swift progress. The catalysts needed for the summoning spell were soon stacked in a pile in the laboratory. Additionally, after receiving Satomer’s knowledge, Theo could be called the best summoner in modern times.

With aquamarine, sapphire, a blue drake’s heart, and a magic circle for elementals, this was literally the best he could do. Theo finished his work and sighed.

This is all I can do.

A blue magic circle, that anyone who studied magic would admire, flashed under his feet. There were only a few researchers in the field of summoning magic.

William marveled, “Wow, isn’t this magic circle really amazing? It is on a different dimension from the basic principles shown in magic books. How can he do that?”

Sylvia murmured, “Theo is amazing. This is breaking the frontiers of summoning magic.”

Veronica didn’t look very impressed. It wasn’t hard to guess why, so Theo smiled bitterly and walked toward her. “Tower Master.”

“I know it can’t be helped, but I don’t like it,” Veronica grumbled.

The red dragon blood flowing through her body refused to meet with a sea dragon. Her irritation was already rising despite having never met Aquilo. It wouldn’t be strange if they fought when they actually met.

She huffed, “Well, I’ll look at your face and try to endure it.”

“Thank you.”

“But you should keep one thing in mind.” Veronica tapped Theo’s nose. “I will blow away all enemies in front of me.”

“... Please be lenient.” That was the only thing he could say.

Theo stood inside the summoning circle again and took in a deep breath. “Then let’s get started.”

It was fairly difficult to summon a dragon, but Theo didn’t have much trouble. The biggest problem with summoning was negotiating with the invited being. However, Aquilo had already agreed to be summoned. Moreover, she had already said she would help him once unconditionally, so she wouldn’t refuse him. Theo rotated his seven Circles and recited a spell.

“Inform her.”

He would normally require a large-scale ritual, but he just needed to reach deeply into his connection with Aquilo.

“Ruler of the ocean, master of the waves. I use your name and blood to be reunited in this place.”

As he chanted the spell, the magic circle started to glow a faint blue. The blood flowing inside Theo’s body slowly cooled as it started to resonate with the circle. As the blood of the Sea Dragon Aquilo strengthened, Theo’s body temperature grew lower than was humanly survivable. Theo’s face was turning white when he finally heard the voice.

「What? You called me after a long time, boy.」

The drowsy, yet charming voice was truly strange.

Theo was glad to hear the voice.

Aquilo.

「You didn’t call me just to speak my name, did you? Huh?」

Of course not. It is something more troublesome...

「There’s a lot of time, so explain it to me.」

It was usually a significant burden to use summoning magic, but Aquilo and Theo were able to rely on their connection to hold a long conversation. After a thirty minute conversation, Aquilo readily accepted his summons.

「Okay, I understand that this is caused by my link with you.」

Then you’ll come when called?

「No, it’s annoying, so I’ll just come now.」

What? Wait!

Theo stepped aside hurriedly as the magic circle flashed bright blue.

Pahat!

Her sapphire-like blue hair and her two playful fluorescent eyes soon appeared above. As always, Aquilo was wearing an outfit which made it hard to look at her. It was only a thin piece of cloth covering the important parts, just enough to shake a man’s heart. However, it was strange that it didn’t look crude on her.

“... Why are you always naked?” Theo said, turning his eyes away.

Meanwhile, Aquilo fluttered her clothing with a naughty smile. His eyes couldn’t help being drawn to her soft skin.

“Are you enjoying it? Men are all the same.”

“C-Cough.”

Aquilo teased Theo as she stepped out of the magic circle. But then she took a look around and grumbled, “Ah, I don’t like the desert because the air is too dirty. I never would’ve come if this wasn’t happening.”

She suddenly stopped as she turned to face Veronica. Clearly, it wasn’t a one-sided rivalry. The hostility between the red dragons and blue dragons were the same. It was Aquilo who opened her mouth first.

“Who is this, the red clan famous for their brutality?” She said with a bright smile that almost made Theo misunderstand it as a greeting.

Veronica’s bright smile was equally blinding as she countered, “Aren’t you the one famous for pirating?”

This time, Aquilo’s eyebrows twitched. “You, a quarter dragon... Do you intend to go against a pureblood dragon?”

“I’m sorry, but I’ve already killed one. Aren’t sea dragons more incompetent when out of water?”

“... Ha, haha.”

“Ah, did I hit the bullseye? I’m sorry.”

Veronica was clearly not sorry at all, while Aquilo’s lips twitched. Killing intent started to build up in the atmosphere. It seemed like a fight could break out at any moment. The gazes of the group naturally rested on one man, Theo.

Damn.

Theo had already anticipated something like this, so he sighed and walked in between them.