giant dragon.
People generally have these impressions of them: greedy, reclusive, tyrannical, stubborn, fickle, and easily angered.
Dragons do not actually exist in the world, and most people believe this. The public's understanding of dragons mostly comes from ancient literary works, such as chivalric novels and myths.
After the development of the steam industry, even the various churches no longer regarded killing evil dragons as a means to highlight the power of a saint. Instead, they used the feathered serpents of the southern continent and the strange monsters that existed on the islands like wisps of smoke.
In short, people never believed that dragons could communicate.
They naively believed that such a powerful alien species, even with its destructive power that countless mortals could not match, would not give rise to true intelligence and reason.
Dragons are ultimately incomprehensible beasts.
...
The lush tree canopy concealed the color of the sand, and bluestone slabs extended from the gap in the stone coffin. A stream meandered, and the babbling of the water drifted among the numerous bookshelves and soft carpets. When it encountered the heat emanating from the fireplace, it steamed up and turned into wisps of white mist.
Klein could hardly imagine that this scene would appear in the mountains, and even more so that the owner of this comfortable residence was a giant dragon with a wingspan of more than twenty meters, and that it was only temporary.
"Hello, Your Excellency Brafalgar."
"Hello, messenger of the great Creator, esteemed Mr. V."
The giant dragon, perched on the compacted sand platform, occupied almost half of the temporary dwelling. Unlike its legendary counterparts, which were mostly gray and white, this "old gentleman's" silver scales, weathered by time, though dull and with over-oxidized black spots on the ends of its limbs and wings, could not conceal its inherent brilliance.
It is like an ancient sculpture, named the blade of restraint and introspection. Using its wisdom and thinking as a blueprint, it is sculpted into the most ideal form of fantasy creation that most people can imagine.
Klein bowed slightly, not only as a courtesy, but also to show respect for this elder, who, according to Jerry Zarathustra, was a full four hundred years old.
Borafalga is far inferior to Loholid, the jester beside the emperor's throne; it is neither a primordial dragon from before the Cataclysm nor a powerful Sequence 3.
Born at the end of the sixth century of the Empire's founding, and still at Sequence Five at the age of ninety-six, it chose to step out of the "spectator" and into the "prophet," taking a different path, which was actually influenced by Loholid.
After all, the title of "Three-Headed Dragon" was quite famous even within the vast territory of the Second Empire, and Borafalga's greatest wish was to one day become the second "Three-Headed Dragon".
Then, it will try to surpass its predecessor, Loholid, who wasted almost his entire life in Sequence Three and willingly played the clown, and try to win the favor of the Creator by taking the initiative to challenge the ritual of the "Elder of Filth" and win the crown of the first dragon angel in the Empire.
Therefore, upon receiving the invitation from Mr. V, the divine messenger, it proactively declined almost all tasks and used secret arts to tidy up its temporary lair at the front line, all to give this young man, who was rumored to be a follower, the best possible impression.
This may be its only chance in its life, or even the only chance for a dragon.
...
"Mr. V, please have a seat."
The long, slender tail with silver trim deftly hooks onto the handle of the enamel teapot, pouring tea into the teacup with perfect precision, filling exactly two-thirds of the cup's surface.
"I heard that you won a brilliant battle for the Empire and the Creator in the Rosed Islands. The 'Red Angel' values you highly. I wonder what task He has entrusted to you? Will you be working with us?"
Despite possessing sharp claws and thick armor, it spoke with the politeness of an elegant scholar, creating a stark contrast for Klein.
"He values me? He clearly said I was an idiot who didn't understand war..." Klein picked up his teacup and took a polite sip, surprised by the rich flavor of the tea, and then spoke.
"Unfortunately, the 'Red Angel' did not assign me any tasks. According to Him, I am not yet suitable to participate in the current conquest. Just treat me as a free man with nothing to do."
The venerable dragon revealed a warm smile, his eyes revealing a range of emotions.
"That's understandable, since it's rare for divine messengers to be directly sent to the battlefield; the Lord's shepherds have a more important mission."
"But... I think now that you've come to Morfara, you must not be content with just staying in the rear?"
"Yes, that's why I've come to visit you."
The sense of incongruity caused by the difference in size and language became increasingly intense. Klein felt he couldn't continue to compare his eloquence with the dragon in front of him, so he simply got straight to the point.
"Although the 'Red Angel' did not assign me any missions, another divine messenger and I submitted an application to His Highness, hoping to hunt down a 'devil' named Gostars."
"This is a dangerous enemy who was involved in the planning of the Backlund Smog and has caused many horrific tragedies at sea and on the highlands. He came into the intelligence department's sights a long time ago, but they have never been able to kill him."
"The 'Red Angel' has approved our plan. If all goes well, we will leave Morfala in the next few days, cross the front lines in small teams, and go deep into the highlands to pursue this 'devil'."
A cunning and experienced "devil"... Brafalgar had heard of the name Gostars.
In fact, there are only a handful of demigods in the world who are known by name and are frequently active, totaling no more than three hundred. If all their names were arranged one by one, they would only add up to ten thousand letters. This amount of information is certainly not difficult for a seasoned "prophet".
It spread its wings calmly, already understanding Klein's intentions.
However, it did not point it out directly, but instead habitually approached the issue from the sidelines first.
"The Creator will select outstanding and talented individuals from the empire who are Sequence Five to be granted the title of Divine Messenger. Almost every one of them will become a demigod in the future. They are important cornerstones of the empire and are carefully cultivated successors who are watched over by the current demigods."
"Generally, when a divine messenger acquires divinity, the title is passed on to the next talented young person, and very few people are able to retain this honor."
"I think you are the only demigod in your party. As for the other divine messenger, is it perhaps the 'Shepherd' or the 'Reaper'?"
Klein nodded.
"My companion, Mr. A, is a 'shepherd'."
As expected... just as Brafalgar had guessed, the aged-looking dragon nodded slightly and continued calmly.
"With two divine messengers here, one a 'trickster' and the other a 'shepherd' who is good in every way, it's only a matter of time before we take down that 'devil'."
"But since we are currently at war, it is not advisable to drag things out too long when we are deep behind enemy lines."
"You came to me to get my help to accelerate your process of rebelling on behalf of the Creator's will?"
Seeing a fleeting change in Klein's expression out of the corner of his eye, Brafalgar knew that the truth was roughly the same as it had guessed.
Then, to Klein's surprise, it changed the subject.
"Mr. V, if I may be so bold, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."
disappointment?
What do you mean? Jerry said this dragon is known for being incredibly shrewd and cunning, and loves to cooperate with humans and the angels. How come it suddenly changed its mind when it came to me...?
Klein suppressed his doubts and was about to speak when he heard Borafalga say something else.
"As you can see, I am no longer young. I can guess which old friend recommended me to you, but they seem to have forgotten that even dragons age, only our aging is slower than that of humans."
"After my four hundredth birthday, my body gradually decayed. I have already devoted all my energy to responding to the divine will of the Creator and throwing myself into this war to spread the Creator's glory to the land controlled by evil heretics and traitors."
"This war came too quickly, and many of my collections were left on the warm coast of the eastern part of the empire. If you wish for me to use my secret techniques to separate a portion of them to search for the whereabouts of that 'devil' or to provide you with prophetic items, I'm afraid I won't be able to help you in the short term."
"but..."
Brafalgar knew that there was always a leeway in everything, and after a moment of melancholy, he measuredly maintained his composure and changed the subject.
"The battle of Morfara has passed its most difficult phase. 'Red of War' is about to break camp, and another group of my compatriots will soon arrive on the battlefield. We, the vanguard who scout for the main force, will have a period of leave."
"I can apply to the military in advance..."
"No..." Even if Klein was slow to realize, he could tell what the old lizard was up to.
He only felt a headache.
It seems my identity has already been spread... He believed that Tristan and Colonel Taylor were not people who couldn't keep secrets, but the demigods of the Second Empire were not all fools, especially the older ones.
Klein's identity as a chosen one of the "Mysterious God" could not be made public, nor could it be known to anyone other than the "High Council" controlled by the angels.
But no secret is ever truly hidden; rumors will always leak out through the cracks in the walls. And for seasoned demigods, even a little bit of information is enough to make numerous guesses and elevate their evaluation and level of importance of "Mr. V, Gehrman Sparrow."
In their eyes, Gehrman Sparrow might be a candidate for angel chosen by the Creator, or perhaps a second Edmund Jason.
At the end of the Fourth Age, the second student of the "God of Mystery" appeared out of nowhere, seemingly growing out of thin air, and quickly became an angel, taking over the later "High Council".
In short, it is an indisputable fact among the middle echelons of the Second Empire that Mr. V is someone worth currying favor with and befriending.
The demigods each had their own thoughts, and it's not that they were malicious or had ulterior motives; it's just that Klein disliked their "enthusiasm."
This "enthusiasm" only reminds him of the artificially created false life he has lived, and of the absurd experience of his self-proclaimed uniqueness as Zhou Mingrui, and his daydreaming about going home.
Brafalgar unintentionally ruined Klein's good mood.
The young demigod, who had come all the way from Tingen, took a few seconds to adjust his emotions. With the powerful control of the "trickster" over his body, he almost perfectly made up for the momentary lapse. His restored smile was so genuine, and the slip of the tongue he had made was also covered up.
"No, the war is still the most important thing. The pacification of the highlands is what the Lord urgently wants to see. We must achieve it as soon as possible, no matter the difficulties or costs."
As he spoke, Klein took a sip of tea, finally getting his disguise back to its best state.
"Lord Brafalgar, as you said, I hope to catch up with Gostars as soon as possible, but not in the way of the dangers that may arise from a prolonged delay."
"My teacher is also active in the Southern Continent, and I have other friends who are good at traveling through the spirit world and are happy to help me."
"I just lack a precise prophecy that can accurately pinpoint the location of Gostars, as well as a means of counter-divination to combat the malicious perception of the 'devil'."
"A friend of the Zarathustra family told me that you are a renowned scholar in the Empire, and that many humans and elves cannot compare to you in the field of arcane arts. I have come here today to seek your guidance on some arcane arts."
"Of course, it would be even better if we could get items that directly provide anti-divination effects."
Klein's rebuttal was impeccable, without any hint of offense, and clearly expressed his rejection.
Seeing that his plan had failed, Brafalgar wanted to make amends by throwing out more attractive chips, but wisely stopped.
It sighed silently, and the breath it exhaled from its mouth blew across the carpeted earthen platform, condensing into a few drops of water.
"You're right, I've been lazy."
A rustling sound came from the tightly packed bookshelves as several books with worn covers detached from the shelves, carried by invisible spiritual servants to Klein.
"The malice of the 'devil' is not absolute. With just a cover-up and a little bit of the means to create a virtual personality, it can be deceived. I happen to have some knowledge in both of these areas, so I'm fairly competent."
"I can inscribe the secret technique on the talisman, and through the infusion of spirituality, you and your companion can enjoy both effects for a month."
"However, you must also be careful. If you encounter 'alien' beings or artificial vampire demigods during your search, this spell can easily be destroyed and lose its power."
"'Alien' species are skilled in curses, and most artificial vampires are also skilled in witchcraft. If they discover that I have left a virtual personality effect on the talisman, they may use it to harm you and your companions."
"This kind of damage is dangerous even for a newly promoted demigod."
Gostars jumped from the "vengeful spirit" to the "devil" path, which means the spell's effect can only last until you see him, and then it must be discarded. We only have one chance... Klein nodded and said calmly.
"Thank you for your help."
"You also deserve a share of the spoils he left behind after killing Gostars."
His attitude was clear, and Brafalgar knew that his last attempt had failed.