Chapter 288

Chapter 288 \nhapter 288 – Let's Talk About the Past\n

Two hundred years ago, Hyvern's Archduke at that time ordered the Dragon Knights to investigate Elsta Floating Kingdom, and 100 pairs of Dragon Knights and dragon mounts came to this floating island.

To begin with, the reason for the expedition was that dragons and Dragon Knights that went to that area were never seen or heard from again. Therefore, with the request of God Dragon Emperor Naga, the expedition was carried out at the Archduke's order.

Then, the expedition ended when the Dragon Knights were defeated by a mysterious tough dragon and forced to retreat. Since then, Hyvern Dukedom stopped exploring this floating island as a nation… that was what Kazane and the others had heard. However, from the perspective of a person concerned, it seemed that was different from the truth.

『In exchange for defeating this dragon, we were annihilated. There were certainly Dragon Knights who went back, but those were only the ones who were injured in the beginning battles against Griffons and Wyverns. After that, all of our dear dragons were stolen away by the Dragon Eaters, so we lost our means to return, and out of a sense of duty, we went on to explore this shipyard.』

That answer came from a Dragon Knight who had already become a skeleton. He was Jin Bahar, the commander of that past expedition. When Kazane and the others entered this section and stood in front of the mechanical dragon, both of his skeleton's eye sockets suddenly lit up, and he began to move.

Then, he sat down on the spot and called Kazane and the others over to talk about himself and the other dead people.

「Hm, if I'm not mistaken, Morphia-dono said the Birdmen and Hyvern Dukedom only started communicating with each other after the expedition's failure. It seems the information about the iron dragon had been handed down among the Birdmen before then, and since your group didn't return, it wouldn't be strange if they told the country that you were all killed by this iron dragon…」

It was conceivable that the information about the dragons and Dragon Knights going missing and that leading to the request from the God Dragon Emperor wasn't handed down to posterity because of the Dragon Eater problem.

If dragons had stopped returning from this area before the expedition, the Dragon Eaters had probably started multiplying on this island a little before it as well. And in this country, Dragon Eaters were a taboo subject. Therefore, that part of the expedition's story being completely omitted wasn't strange.

『I never expected that the story of us being destroyed by the iron dragon would be transmitted while the information about the island's fall would be forgotten. Well, at that time, our relationship with the Birdmen couldn't be called good. We did tell them that the island would fall in 200 years, but I guess they simply thought we were speaking nonsense?』

Jin said with a bitter smile.

「Which means your group obtained these Power Orbs to maintain the island?」

After Jinrai's question, Jin replied『That's right.』

『The six-armed Skeletons were tough, but we're Dragon Knights. Unlike the ones in the ruins, they have Cores, so defeating them wasn't impossible. We had obtained many Power Orbs by the time we reached this far, but we had heard that the more we obtained, the longer the island would last. We advanced deeper without change, but…』

Although they were able to bring down the opponent, they were tragically simultaneously annihilated.

「Huh? You entered the Dragon Boats? That should normally be impossible?」\n

Kazane raised her hand and asked. Kazane and the others had had no difficulty entering the Dragon Boats due to the Infinite Key, but without that, they would have had no choice but to destroy them. However, the Dragon Boats hadn't been destroyed. At that question, Jin took out a card and showed it to them.

『That was due to this. It seems to be called a『Key card』. Holding it up in front of a door will unlock it. It seems to be a type of magic tool.』

「We didn't get anything like that.」

Kazane said with a sullen face. Butler No. 13 told Kazane and the others to destroy the Dragon Boats to enter inside.

『It seems this is the only item with the highest authority. There probably weren't any others.』

After Jin's words, Kazane said「I see」and nodded. If there was only one, it couldn't be helped. Moreover, it seemed like it was a powerful item in its own way. Kazane thought it could be useful for something.

『Which means that you guys also came here to obtain Power Orbs to stop the floating island from falling?』

「Yeah, that's right. All the Dragon Boats up to this point were misses, but that was because Jin-san's group took them out.」

And after obtaining them, they were annihilated, so the Power Orbs couldn't be found in the Dragon Boats and were scattered about this place.

『That's how it is. You don't look like your envoys of the current archduke, but you were able to come here while defeating the six-armed Skeletons that『I』drove out of here. You must be strong.』

So saying, Jin looked at Kazane and the others.

『I have one request.』

「What is it?」

Kazane frowned while feeling a disquieting premonition.

『We met our deaths here, but my will continued to stay here. That's fine. But I was unable to leave this place.』\n「If you could leave, you would have returned with the Power Orbs.」

Jin nodded after Kazane spoke.

『I was taken in. The six-armed Skeletons guard this land, but here, I replaced them.』

So saying, Jin stood up.

「It couldn't be… you're saying that in your chest…!?」

Tiara's eyes opened wide as she looked at Jin Bahar's chest. Light was leaking from his armor. They didn't notice it when he was sitting, but there was a monster Core in his chest.

『That's right. In other words, this is the reason I exist. With my will to protect the Power Orbs, I couldn't help but be taken in. And my will is about to reach its limit. It's ironic that I have to point my blade at you when I should hand them over.』

So saying, he pulled his spear out of the mechanical dragon's head.

「Gungnir…?」

Lyle was astonished by Jinrai's murmur.

「That's the God Spear, Hyvern's Guardian Armament, isn't it? Why is it here!?」

Kazane responded to those words.

「A Gungnir is made from the transformed carapace arm of an Odin Centaur from the『Dark Forest』in the north. There's no particular reason there can be only one.」

However, an Odin Centaur was a monster of the same rank as a Dairokuten Odanobunaga. It had the face of an old man, a muscular human upper body, and an eight-legged horse for its lower body. It was a fearsome existence that used the godly power Divine Spirit, and even a max level player would instantly die if they were hit by its thrusts. Of course, since its materials couldn't be obtained normally, there should only be a few Gungnirs in this world.

「There are two Gungnirs in our country. One is used by Rynox, and the other is kept safe as a Guardian Armament. I'd heard that there used to be a third one that was lost on an expedition.」

Jinrai took one step ahead.

\nOccupation: Summoning Fighter

Title: Ogre Killer, Dragon Slayer, High Beast Summoner, Rea King

Equipment: Staff 『White Blaze』, Two Handed Sword『Black Fang』, Draghorn Tonfa x2, Dragonscale Breastplate, Drake Gauntlets, Silver Sheep Clothes, Sylphyn Skirt, Plasma Pants, Dragon Eating Ogre King's Greaves, Indestructible Cloak, Mysterious Pouch, Crimson Saint Coffin, Heroic Spirit Summoning Ring, Circlet of Wisdom, Aim Bracelet, Magic Accumulator, White Magic Accumulator, Rainbow Necklace, Rainbow Dragon Ring

Level : 36

Health: 145

Magic Power: 304+420

Strength: 67+20

Agility: 71+14

Endurance: 38

Wisdom : 72

Dexterity : 47

Spell : 『Fly』『Torch』『Fire』『Heal』『Firestorm』『Healer Ray』『High Heal』『Golden Dusk「Dragon Exclusive」』『Mirror Shield』

Skill : 『Kick Devil』『Warrior's Memory: Lv2』『Night Vision』『Crushing Blow』『Dog's Sense of Smell: Lv2』『Golem Maker: Lv3』『Rush』『Fire Principle: Third Chapter』『Healing Principle: Fourth Chapter』『Air Jump: Lv2』『Killing Leg: Lv3』『Fear Voice』『Invisible』『Tiger Eye』『Wall Walking』『Intuition』『Cheat Death』『Nimble』『Charge』『Material Shield: Lv2』『Information Link: Lv2』『Optical Camouflage』『High Dash』『Bloodsucking Blade』『Dragonization: Lv2「Dragon」』『Regenerate』『Soul Breaking Blade』『Stealthy Hand Placement』『Thunder Chariot: Lv2』『Sturdier Teeth: Lv2「Dragon」』『Crystallization: Lv2「Dragon」』『Devil King's Intimidation』『Stone Minotaur: Lv2』『Mega Beam: Lv2』『Space Expansion』『Pseudo-Silver Creation』『Poison Claw』『Fireball「Dragon」』『Cuticle「Dragon」』『Arms Creation: Black Flame』『Ingredient Connoisseur』『Dragon Pheromone「Dragon」』『Boost』『Monkey's Strong Arm』『Two-sword Style』『Boobies Plus』『Living Armor』『Alarm』『Six-sword Style』

Yumika:「I also wanted to see ittt.」

Kazane:「Hee hee, we have a special seat.」

Yumika:「Well, I'm in the hot spring with Tatsuo, so do your best.」

Kazane:「Wha… what!?」