Chapter 55: Like a Dragon (2)

No one could make sense of those words.

They didn’t even know what a “Dragon Speech Organ” was.

If only Hernando were here—he might have had some insight. Yuri suddenly felt the absence of the man keenly.

Just then, Simon spoke up.

“Forgive my humble mind, but I find it hard to follow the great Dragon’s words. So, is this ‘Dragon Speech Organ’ an organ that allows one to speak like a dragon? Surely, only a being like the great Dragon Cruar would possess such a thing?”

In Hernando’s absence, it was Simon who untangled the situation.

Born a bastard and used to eating humble meals, his silver tongue was surprisingly effective—even the proud dragon before them seemed to hang on his every word.

Yuri wanted to applaud Simon instead of Cruar.

[Normally, the great Dragon Cruar is cold and taciturn, but if someone is this polite and humble, perhaps a lengthy explanation is warranted…]

“Thank you, great Cruar!”

[‘Dragon Speech’ refers to the Power Word Spirit. The Dragon Speech Organ exists only in dragons, but its form isn’t all that different from the vocal organs of humans or other creatures.]

As Cruar spoke, he ran his hand over Kori’s body. The fever that had tormented Kori was slowly fading, his complexion growing calmer.

Simon asked again.

“Listening to the great Dragon Cruar, I think I understand. So, Kori just happens to have vocal cords resembling that organ by chance?”

[Not exactly vocal cords, but something similar. Because this half-breed…]

Cruar’s previously light tone grew heavier.

[He is a half-breed with orc blood.]

Humans and orcs are alike, yet different.

Yuri knew that orcs originated from humans, which made Cruar’s words all the more meaningful.

[Humans are inherently beings of chaos, but with orc blood mixed in, that nature is amplified. Chaos means infinite possibilities, so a mutation appeared—though with extremely low probability.]

Yuri and the others began to grasp Cruar’s meaning, having seen other half-orcs before.

Half-orcs had no fixed form. Every individual was essentially a mutation. Some had multiple arms, others had rudimentary wings. Some even had antennae instead of eyes.

Compared to those, Kori was remarkably normal.

So Cruar’s explanation was that, amid such bizarre chaos, some pieces just happened to fit together—and as a result, Kori developed something resembling the Dragon Speech Organ.

[If I, the great Dragon Cruar, were to judge, it’s a miracle born of indeterminate genes.]

Then Cruar looked up at the sky.

Though it was hard to read a dragon’s face, his expression seemed tinged with melancholy.

Silence stretched between them.

[……]

Not wanting to encourage the mood, Yuri nudged Jose and Laurent with her elbow.

They clumsily clapped.

Simon, however, had already dropped to his knees and was bowing deeply.

“A miracle born of indeterminate genes—how poetic. It strikes a chord in my heart…”

While Cruar looked pleased, Yuri approached Kori to check his condition.

Thanks to Cruar, Kori was improving, but not fully healed. Heat still radiated from his body.

Yuri asked Cruar.

“Cruar, then what must Kori do to recover?”

[Hmm…]

He scratched his cheek with a claw.

[If you ask more politely and with proper respect, I might give you a hint…]

“Cruar.”

Yuri was done flattering him. Simon was enough for that role.

Someone had to speak to this dragon as an equal.

Her voice firm, she said,

“Kori is my precious comrade.”

[Hmm? Hmm…]

“Please, tell me about Kori’s condition.”

Cruar scratched the back of his head.

[I was going to tell you anyway… but I might feel a little hurt…]

“……”

[That cold gaze… is he really the son of that monster human?]

Cruar fidgeted, then placed a large hand on Kori’s body.

[Once the Dragon Speech Organ starts moving, it won’t stop. There’s only one way to heal.]

“What is that?”

[To fully master the Dragon Speech Organ.]

In other words, Kori must awaken the power of the Power Word Spirit, a force granted only to dragons.

Kori’s fate now rested with Cruar.

Cruar crossed his arms and glanced sideways at Yuri.

[Ahem, hmm… what to do…]

“Cruar, please save Kori. I beg you.”

[Thinking back to your serious expression earlier, I’m not sure I want to…]

At that, Yuri immediately dropped to one knee.

Cruar flinched.

[Wow, a prince kneeling might be unnecessary…]

“I beg you, Cruar.”

[A human who values his comrades…]

Cruar nodded.

[Alright, get up now.]

“Are you going to save Kori?”

[Since the son of that monster human knelt, I suppose I must…]

“Thank you, Cruar.”

Yuri rose and extended her hand.

Cruar tilted his head.

[What’s that?]

“It’s a handshake.”

[Handshake?]

“Humans shake hands to build friendship.”

Cruar’s eyes widened.

“And I am not the son of a monster human—I am Yuri Briol. Please call me Yuri from now on, Cruar.”

[A bold human asking to be called by name… this might be a first…]

“Do you dislike it?”

[Not really, Yuri human…]

“Just Yuri.”

Though their hands didn’t quite fit, Yuri managed to form a handshake and shook it up and down.

She said,

“Cruar, I know you intended to save Kori from the start.”

[Is that so?]

“That’s why you came here yourself.”

Yuri had already figured out Cruar’s personality from the way he awkwardly praised her.

What else could explain his swift arrival the moment Kori collapsed?

And why, as seen in Gert’s memories, he wouldn’t leave Kori lying there but instead bestowed the magic of the Power Word Spirit to help him stand again?

Though fearsome in appearance, the dragon was kind.

“If I had known you were this gentle, Cruar, I would have come to see you sooner. I’m glad to know now. Thank you.”

[Hmm, ahem…]

Cruar’s expression brightened noticeably.

Simon had been groveling from the start, but Yuri was not so easily swayed. Hearing such praise from him, Cruar could sense her sincerity.

[This half-breed is precious to you, Yuri?]

“Yes, he is.”

[Those who can wield the Power Word Spirit are rare. This is a rare opportunity even for me. I will take responsibility and teach him properly.]

“Thank you.”

[Is this half-breed named Kori?]

“Yes.”

[Yuri, Kori. I will remember.]

“Thank you.”

With that, the matter of Kori was settled for now.

Cruar lowered his head to meet Yuri’s gaze and asked,

[By the way, how did Gert’s end come about?]

“That is…”

Yuri explained the recent events.

Upon hearing that Gert had perished with the Devil’s Flower, Cruar nodded quietly, lost in thought.

[He was a man with a will like a mountain. It was a pity to let him pass unnoticed…]

He knew that dark magic disturbed the world but claimed he did not interfere in human affairs. Yuri suspected it was more out of laziness.

Aside from what happened in Adelvine, he knew little about dark magic.

But he did share something meaningful.

[There is a grimoire imbued with dark magic. It has a will of its own and is said to change masters. Could that parchment be a page from the grimoire?]

“A grimoire?”

Yuri asked, and Cruar tilted his head.

[I only glimpsed it in an old book. I don’t know much. I’ll search the library later, and if I find anything, I’ll let this half-breed Kori know.]

“Thank you sincerely for your kindness, Cruar.”

[Ahem, hmm…]

“When will Kori be fully healed?”

[That depends on his will, but if a great dragon like me teaches him, it might not take long…]

“As expected of you, Cruar.”

[Hrrmm…]

Yuri glanced up at the sky.

The sun was setting.

“It’s getting darker.”

It was time to leave Adelvine.

With Kori on his back, Cruar soared into the sky, cheered and bowed to by the rest of the group, his pride swelling.

He circled a few times, as if showing off his flight, then headed toward the distant sunset.

Watching him, Jared muttered,

“Kori, you’ll come back safely, right? That dragon won’t suddenly get hungry and eat you, will it?”

“Do dragons eat meat?”

“Probably. Look at how big he is.”

“Elephants are herbivores…”

“But those teeth look like they could crush bones.”

“Maybe he lives off the mana of nature since he uses speech magic…”

“Yeah, right.”

“I hope Kori’s okay…”

“Hahaha, Kori will manage just fine.”

Jose burst out laughing loudly before speaking.

“Well then, shall we head to Bursen?”

“Hm?”

“Didn’t I say I’d treat you to a full course after this is all over? Before we return to Briol, why not stop by Bursen for a bit?”

Yuri nodded.

“Sounds good. Finally getting to try the full course from Bursen that I’ve only heard about!”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Sir Jose will make sure to treat us right.”

“Sir Jonathan and Sir Proin will be glad to see you too. Actually, why not take this chance to pay a visit to His Majesty as well?”

“That wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

Meeting the king of Bursen could be useful for keeping the empire in check down the line.

Their destination was set. They would head toward Bursen, not far from Adelvine.

“But, um…”

“Yes?”

“Where did we leave the horses we came on?”

“Ah…”

“We fed them mandrake and hid them…”

Yuri and his group looked around blankly.

The destruction of the Grand Library had left the surroundings in chaos. The landscape had changed so much it was hard to get their bearings.

Yuri cleared his throat.

“Let’s go rescue the horses first.”

“Yes!”

---

Kory slowly opened his eyes.

“Ugh…”

A dim light flickered. A torch mounted on the wall swayed, casting shadows that revealed the rough texture of stone walls.

As he sat up, he realized he was somewhere unfamiliar.

“Uh…”

He was lying on a bed, surrounded by antique furniture.

A large mirror hung opposite him, reflecting his bewildered expression.

The place felt like a cave, but everything inside was elegant and refined.

He tried to recall what had happened before he lost consciousness. He took a breath without realizing it.

Though not every detail was clear, the outline came back to him.

He had met a dragon.

And then came to its nest.

“What happened…?”

At that moment, a voice came from outside the room.

[You woke up. I might be a little hurt if you don’t come greet me right away…]

Only then did the encounter that had felt like a dream begin to come back vividly.

After he had fallen unconscious from killing the demon flower, a dragon named Cruar had found him. And together, they had come to the nest.

Kory immediately got up and headed toward the voice.

A faint torchlight illuminated the cavern, and in the center, Cruar was curled up. His yellow eyes followed Kory’s every step.

Kory bowed awkwardly.

“Ah, h-hello. I-I’m Kory.”

It was strange. Standing before the dragon, an instinctive fear welled up inside him.

Yesterday, he had been too weak to even look properly, but now, facing the dragon’s form, a deep-seated terror gripped his whole body.

He struggled to speak.

“Th-thank you… for saving me…”

[Hmmm…]

Cruar made a low sound, and Kory froze even more.

“I-I’m sorry. I’m just… nervous…”

[Not only do you have the dragon’s language organ, but you’re also born with a fear of dragons. How peculiar. Humans truly are clumsy and fascinating creatures…]

Kory couldn’t understand what the dragon was saying. Facing those scales, that form, and those yellow pupils, rational thought escaped him.

[I suppose it can’t be helped…]

“I-I’m s-s-sorry…”

[The great dragon Cruar will show mercy. Wait, Kory.]

Cruar even said his name.

Then, he muttered something.

“Huh…?”

Light burst forth.

Kory shielded his eyes from the glare. When the cave darkened again, he lowered his hands from his face.

And then, something unbelievable happened.

“Wha—?”

The dragon that had terrified him was gone.

In its place stood a figure Kory could never have imagined.

“Well, this form should be fine, right? Hrm, ahem… If you bow your head in admiration of my mercy, the great dragon Cruar might be in a better mood…”

A beautiful woman with flowing red hair, dressed in a gown, glanced sideways at him, gauging his reaction as she stared off into the air.