Dragon Maken War - Chapter 184

Chapter 184

Chapter 184 - Two Persons (2)

“Who are you?”

Kairen’s hand moved towards his sword sheath as he asked the question .

There was something there beyond the darkness .  It wasn’t a Guardian Shadow .  It was some being with a powerful presence .

<I’m not your enemy . >

An Undead made its appearance as it spoke those words .  At a glance, this being didn’t look like an Undead .  

It was a being wearing a worn out black robe .  However, there was nothing within .  The robe was filled with darkness .

‘It is akin to a Guardian Shadow, but it is an Undead .  What should we do?’

If it wasn’t an evil spirit, a part of a corpse had to be used as the core to make an Undead .  Normally, there should be bones that would be visible… . .

<This happens once an Undead exists for a very long time .  Even if the bones are protected by magic, they aren’t eternal .  Please don’t ask how long I’ve been like this .  I do not remember . >

The Undead spoke as if he could read what the others were thinking about him .

Kairen queried ihim .

“May you reveal who you are?”

<I am his messenger . >

“Archmage Carlos’ messenger?”

<I believe he went by that name before . >

‘What about now?’

There was a strange nuance hidden within his words .  However, the Undead didn’t give the party time to question him any further .  He continued to speak .

<He said it would be rude to make guests wait indefinitely, so he wanted me to deliver what he had prepared for all of you . . >

“He prepared something?”

<He prepared items that might be of great strength to you .  He has observed you all for a long time .  This is why he had prepared tools that will be useful to you . >

“Ho-oh . ”

Kairen’s eyes shone .  The Archmage had created the Guardian Shadows .  Of course, Kairen was interested in the tools prepared by him .

This was especially true, since he had lost one of his two Dragon Swords in the battle with Almarick .  When he resided within the Albatan Forest, the smith offered to replace his sword as a gift, but he had found the new sword lacking .

The Undead turned around as he spoke .

<Please follow me .  I will guide you to his armory . >

3

The conversation between Azell and Carlos was never ending .

They talked about memories from the Dragon Demon war, and the events had that occurred during Azell’s sleep .  Then they talked about events after Carlos receded from the surface of history… . . .

There were plenty of topics to talk about .  Even if they talked for four days and four nights, they wouldn’t have run out of topics to talk about .

“It is unfortunate that we don’t have any alcohol here . ”

<I didn't have the means to acquire any alcohol .  Still, that is the world’s most precious water . >

Carlos shrugged his shoulders .

Azell held a cup made out of ice, and light was sloshing within it .  It was groundwater from within the mountain peak of Laus .  As expected of the sacred mountain peak, the water contained enormous amount of energy .  Carlos had refined it with magic, and Azell was drinking that water .

<I don’t really remember what alcohol tastes like .  It is the same with food .  It’s so faint that I have to ruminate over it through my memories .  I think about it until the memories run out… . . . >

It was a miserable story .

However, it was something that happened naturally for an Undead .  An Undead could not experience what it enjoyed as a human .  Basically, an Undead couldn’t enjoy the fruits of being alive .  It was the biggest reason why Undeads lost their minds over time .

Azell could tell that Carlos was a special existence when compared to the other Undeads .  However, this didn’t change the fact that he wasn’t alive .

‘No, even if he was alive… . . . ’

Memories became altered, and it wore down through the flow of time .  Carlos had been trapped in this dark space for over 100 years, so it was inevitable that his past memories eroded away .

Azell briefly looked at Carlos, and he brought up a topic he had been putting off .

“I have a lot I want to ask you . ”

<You want to know about events that occurred after I died?>

“Yes . ”

<Hoo hoo .  Where should I start the story from…… . >

Carlos hesitated .  When he raised his arm, the black chains binding his body clanked .

<Hmmm .  The problems that occurred during that time was so numerous that I’m having a hard time talking about it .  In truth, I want to put off talking about it .  If possible, I never want to talk about it… . . . >

“If that is what you want, I’m fine with it . ”

<Those from the Plain of Darkness might come here at any moment, yet you are ok with it?>

Azell had already been worrying about that possibility .  However, he spoke in a firm manner .

“I don’t care if they come or not . ”

<…ha ha ha .  You haven’t changed at all, Azell . >

Carlos let out a cheerful laughter .  There was such a bleakness in his voice, but Azell was able to find the voice of Carlos within it .

<If I was alive… .  If blood pumped through my heart, I would have shed tears .  That’s right .  I would have immediately rushed out from this place with you, and… . . . >

“If you want to do it, you should do it .  What’s the big deal about you being dead?  I doesn’t matter if you are alive or dead .  That isn’t the important part . ”

<I’m already dead, Azell .  I was removed from the surface of the world, and the only thing I can do is to prepare for the future in the dark and damp darkness . >

“In historical terms, I’m in the same boat .  The era I lived in died the moment I was put to sleep . ”

<That’s…… . >

“You are Carlos .  It doesn’t matter what you look like right now .  You are Carlos Rizester, who put your life on the line with me .  We fought the Dragon Demon king’s army .  Who cares if your heart doesn’t pump any blood?”

Azell didn’t hesitate as he spoke .  A part of his mind thanked Leticia .

He had listened to her advice, and he had resolved the indecision within his heart .  If he hadn’t done so, he wouldn’t have been able to express his feelings clearly .  If he had been indecisive, he might have hurt Carlos .

<Hoo .  Yes . In truth, you don’t have to worry about the problem I just spoke about . >

“You mean those bastards from the Plain of Darkness?”

<Yes, they won't be able to find this place .  It has always been that way… . . >

“I see . ”

Azell didn’t ask how this was possible .  If Carlos said it, it was based on him having sufficient evidence to make that statement .

<Azell . >

Carlos’ voice was infused with emotions that he couldn’t voice .

<I’m sorry . >

“About what?”

<I wanted to apologize to you if we ever met again .  I want to apologize for not being able to protect the County of Karzark . >

“You don’t have to apologize for that .  You did all you could . ”

<How can you be so sure?>

“If it’s my friend Carlos, I’m sure he would have done exactly that . ”

<…… . >

Carlos’ shoulder shook .  Only darkness existed where his face should be, but he laughed as he covered his face .  It was as if he was sobbing from the grief he felt, but at the same time, one could also feel his joy .  It was a confusing laughter .

Carlos laughed for a long time before he spoke .

<If we met when I was alive, we would be having a slightly different conversation . >

“You probably would have gotten angry when I mentioned your baldness . ”

<Maybe .  No, I’m sure I would have been angry .  Maybe, there would have been a distance between us, because I would have spoken to you like an old man .  In the latter years of my life, I pretended to be a respectable Archmage . >

“You aren’t acting that way right now . ”

<Is that so? Jeez .  I tried by hardest to live, so I could someday treat you as if you are a brat .  However, when my body became like this, such thoughts started to fade away .  Instead… . >

For a brief moment, Carlos thought about the right expression he wanted to say .

<From the moment I met you, I feel like my old self .  It is as we’ve gone back to the old days . >

“I see . ”

Azell snickered .  It was true that Carlos’ attitude towards him hadn’t changed much .

“I’ve already had a similar conversation in the past . ”

Azell told him about the conversation he had in the past with the Carlos’ thought construct, who had been old .  Carlos started to snicker .

<I’m glad I left behind my thought construct .  It relayed words that I cannot convey to you right now . >

“I’ve received many benefits from your forethought .  No, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you . ”

If Carlos hadn’t found a way, he wouldn’t have been able to win out against Atein’s curse .  From the moment he had woken up, he had benefited from all the measures taken by Carlos .  He wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Carlos’ planning .

The friendship between the two of them had transcended a timespan of 220 years .

“That is why it is my turn to help you .  I’ll help you in any way I can . ”

<Just one…… . >

Carlos spoke .

<I have one request I want to ask of you . >

“Are you planning on asking me to end Atein’s ambitions?  If so, you don’t even have to ask it of me . ”

<Of course not .  The tasks we couldn’t finish in our era… .  Yes, it is our duty .  We have to settle it . >

“Is that why you sacrificed yourself?  You let yourself become what you are for that reason?”

<It isn’t as if I did this, because I wanted to do it . >

“I know .  You probably did it, because you had no choice . ”

<…… . >

“What is your request?  I’ll grant whatever request you have . ”

<You promise?>

“Of course . ”

When Azell nodded his head, Carlos spoke .

<Let’s talk about that later .  Before I can tell you my request, you have to know some other facts first .  If you have something you want to hear first, ask me it . >

Azell furrowed his brows at Carlos’ words .  However, he followed Carlos’ suggestion instead of questioning him .

“I heard it from Albatan .  As compensation, you traded Atein’s curse to him .  He spoke as if something meaningful had happened .  What was it?”

<That old Dragon should have told you everything if he went so far as to tell you that .  He always does such annoying…… . >

“I know right .  He is a Dragon yet he acts like a naughty old man . ”

The feelings the two of them felt for Albatan was completely synced, so they sniggered .

Soon, Carlos confessed to something Azell could have never imagined .

<Azell .  In truth, I failed in the attempt in saving you . >

“What?”

<The disappearance of the curse inflicted on you had nothing to do with the sleep of the Dragons .  There is a really important story I have to tell you . >

4

Carlos had suggested the sleep of the Dragons in attempt to save Azell from Atein’s curse .

The Dragon and Dragon Majins displayed a surprising amount of life force during their hibernation .  In exchange for entering a period of no activity, a wound that could have killed a Dragon or a Dragon Majin could be healed over a long period of time .  However, one was completely defenseless in this state .   

It was unlike the hibernation of other animals .  There was proof that magic was active during this sleep .

Carlos took notice of this characteristic .  Since Azell possessed Dragon Demon magic that exceeded most Dragon Demons, he hypothesized that Azell would be able to overcome the curse through the sleep of the Dragons .

<I was too naive .  At the time, I didn’t even know what Atein’s curse was, and I failed in identifying the true nature of this curse .  I merely allowed you to maximize your strength .  It allowed you to resist against the curse, but I couldn’t find another way to defeat the curse at the time . >

“However, I woke up from the 200 year sleep, and I recovered from the curse . . ”

<The curse didn’t disappear, because you recovered from it .  I found this out later, but the curse wasn’t something that could be overcome with just power .  It was obvious if I look back on it .  Atein was the founder of magic, and he reached the zenith in the art of magic .  A being of that caliber had used this curse in the moment of his death .  It was Atein’s final technique . >

“So why did the curse disappear?”

<I eliminated it . >

“What?”