Chapter 19: Cadmus' Dragon Slayer
Kyriaki shook off all of her useless thoughts and smiled gently as she walked through the portal, following Endymion like a chick.
The moment she stepped inside, it meant she was back on the planet. If the portal was closed, the only method to go back was to use Endymion as a taxi, which would in return take a considerable amount of time.
Kyriaki tried her best not to show her admiration as she walked through massive piles of gold towering over them, various types of gemstones and all kinds of rare artifacts. There were also spaceships, robots, and unidentified tools and items here and there lying on the ground like some junk in the backyard of an old man.
She also saw questionable potions, extinct elixirs, magical ingredients and books that could fill the entire BNF, the national library of France.
Seeing all of that again and again, she thought she had grown immune. But no, what kind of immunity she was hoping for when she could see collections of mummified animals that are said to have gone extinct thousand years ago?
"What item is on your mind, my dear? Although my treasury is a bit messy I have confidence in searching."
It was just as he said. While Endymion appeared so neat and clean, his surroundings hardly fit into that category.
What makes it even funnier is that he shamelessly brushes it off by pulling an "old man" card on everyone.
"Don't worry, I know where it is."
"Oooh?"
"I saw it last time I played with Rio here."
"Ah, was it just after you finished your first growth pace? I remember now. You two didn't come out for five days and Rio even got lost once."
"Actually, he got lost four times, but he begged me not to inform dad of it."
"Pfft… ah, I should've been there to record it." Endymion's voice trembled slightly, holding back his laughter.
"Ahem…" Kyriaki cleared her throat. Walking past a pile of diamonds as tall as a two story building. "I already recorded it tho.."
"Gasp! Then let's exchange it with the item you want!" In response to Endymion's excited voice, Kyriaki hesitated.
She truly did, calculating in her head about the pros and cons of that kind of exchange.
Because no matter what, that kind of content where her twin brother got on his knees to beg, like a rain soaked puppy, was truly rare. It'd fetch a high price in the future.
"Ria~ you'd do that for grandpa, won't you?" Noticing her hesitation, Endymion coyly asked.
Kyriaki blamed herself for thinking how mysterious, handsome and cool looking he was when they first met.
"... It's a deal." Kyriaki finally stopped on her steps. Saying with a smirk on her face.
Her golden yellow eyes were fixed on one place that Endymion failed to notice in his peak happiness.
"I've struck Divine Diamond!" Endymion grinned, clenching his fist as if he won first place lottery.
The phrase "I've stuck gold" on earth had transformed into Divine Diamond instead of gold, which was considered priceless in this world.
"Instead give me that." Kyriaki slowly lifted her hand, pointing her index finger at something.
Endymion shed his flowery imagination and looked the way Kyriaki was pointing at. Immediately, the smile on his face vanished.
"...You want that thing?"
"Yes."
"...Why?"
"Because I'm going to one day get the real one. Until then, I need something else as a temporary measure."
"Hah!"
Elysium stared at his granddaughter with a genuinely shocked expression.
"You are going to get the real one?"
"Correct."
"Ria, the real one is okay… but this…" Endymion turned his eyes to glare at the item Kyriaki pointed out.
It was a rusty sword at the corner of his treasury room, lying on the floor like a useless stick one could find at any dump site. A magic circle was drawn under the sword as if to seal it on the spot.
"I know…" Kyriaki's gentle smile, the one resembling nectar said to be made in heaven, shook Endymion's mentality greatly as her words echoed in his ears.
[Ding!] Meanwhile Kyriaki was looking at the sword intently.
[Cadmus' Dragon slayer (Replica of Durandal)
Category: Weapon
Type: Whip-sword
Rank: EX (High)
Effects: All stats boost +20%, magical damage +11.5%, physical damage +13%. Has a 3% chance in one strike kill. +30% additional damage to angels and divine beasts. +25% additional damage to Dragons.
Description: In the God's war, when the Dragon Queen Selene's adopted son Cadmus showed interest in the holy sword Durandal, she personally killed the demon king Ebrah of the seven deadly sins, also known as Wrath, to capture his soul for the sake of creating a sword. Selene succeeded in creating a duplicate of Durandal. But the soul of Ebrah, which influenced the sword user, tended to awaken from time to time to slowly corrupt the user's mind. This led to the tragedy of "Moon's death". Be cautious when wielding this weapon, if not by Ebrah, you'll see your end at the hand of a Dragon.]
"I'll tame it." Said the one who needed taming.
"Sigh…Ria, the soul of a demon king is sleeping there. You, who's at the level of a G- rank can't handle the soul of a highest ranking demon. It's Wrath no less."
"Even if he was a demon king of the seven deadly sins, he has already fallen. According to my knowledge,you only need mental power to control him."
"That's right... you need mental power, which is severely lacking when it's come to a hatchling who wasn't even two centuries old. Your mind is still maturing, that's why we call you a 'hatchling', darling."
Endymion extended his hand and gently stroked Kyriaki's head.
She, on the other hand, silently listened to him like an obedient daughter, as if she didn't declare she would tame an omniscious weapon a moment ago.
"Forget it…I'll give you a better weapon. If you need a Whip-sword, then I have a recommendation. I think it was in that old guy Alexein's treasury. But worry not, I'll beat him up to a pulp and steal it. If that doesn't work out, how about I kidnap the king of dwarves? He's the best blacksmith of Mitherr-ge after all."
Endymion very solemnly spattered out some terrifying statements.
"If those options don't please you, I'll go and bring back the real Durandal. How about it?"
"No." Kyriaki immediately shook her head. "Durandal can't be moved, you know that, grandpa. And even if it was possible, I want to naturally form a connection with the Fairy Queen and ask for her understanding and permission before trying out my luck in becoming the master of the holy sword."
Endymion blinked in surprise.
"I didn't know you value racial unity and respect."
'No, that's not it. I just don't want to get on Fairies' bad side when a deadly war is coming up. It's crucial to get as much as help from them. In fact, I prefer manipulating them into blind loyalty if possible.' Kyriaki swallowed her thoughts and smiled faintly at Endymion, who was looking behind her for some reason.
"So Grandpa, how about a bet?"
"A bet?"
"Yeah…a bet where if I win, I get to use Cadmus' dragon slayer. But if you win, I'll kiss your cheeks every night for five hundred years, how—"
"DEAL!!!" A loud exclamation, like a dragon's roar shook the treasury floor and walls.
Kyriaki looked at Endymion with her large eyes filled with shock. Endymion's amber eyes were burning with newfound passion. It was as if someone had sprinkled fuel on them and then leisurely threw a lighter on top of that.
"Bu-but you didn't hear what the bet was?" Kyriaki was frankly flustered. She hadn't expected that at all. All she thought was a passing mark for the sake of entertainment.
"Doesn't matter…shall we sign a magic contract?"
A magic contract was something that bound both parties to tricky words of promises.
It can be done through your system, which will be directly engraved to your soul with the help of the will of the world. If one side breaks the promise, there are penalties.
Which can range from losing a few sub ranks of your core to complete annihilation of your soul. There were some cases where people even lost the privilege of the Mitherr-ge system.
And things get more serious when a dragon—a creature free from the will of the world— or a person of divine care—which refers to angels and demons in this world—makes such a contract.
In particular, a dragon's contract means absolute loyalty and trust on the Dragon's part. Because if the contract was broken by the dragon's side, they'll have to carry that penalty even as a celestial spirit.
In simple terms, it was akin to a public death. A humiliation.
And when a proud and noble dragon offers to have a contract?
Be glad! Be in awe! Treat them with utmost respect! No, one might at least kneel and kiss their claws or something.
'…Was what
Kyriaki shook her head vigorously. "No, that's not necessary. Grandpa, listen to me… the bet is about if I can become the master of that Whip-sword or not."
"..." Endymion fell into deep silence, staring into space with a wistful expression.
"I'll awaken Ebrah and face the trial. If I fail, you can pull me up with your power, and as the bet suggests, I'll kiss you for 500 years, in addition I won't kiss dad while our contract lasts. But if I pass the trial and become the master of the sword, you'll have to trust me just this once and let me use it. Of course that comes with the additional charge of supporting me when dad gets a hang on the news of my new weapon."
"..."
"Hmmm? Shall we seal the deal?"
"...You are stubborn." Endymion replied with a very low, saddened voice.
"Just like you." Kyriaki replied back with a soft smile of a monk.
"...and I'm hopeless."
"Just like me." Kyriaki again agreed with an understanding look on her face. Endymion covered his face with his large hand and exhaled sharply upon hearing her.
"That's right, our whole family is stubborn and hopeless." He then laughed as if he did it because he couldn't cry.
"Alright, let's do it. I can destroy an EX rank weapon with ease, especially an omniscious thing like this. It's just that circumstances didn't allow it before."
'I know. Thanasios gave a royal decree announcing that as long as it doesn't threaten the life of a dragon, the sword must be sealed and kept safe. His intention was to make Ebrah suffer for as many years as possible.'
"You're amazing, grandpa. Well then, I'll start."
"Hmph…empty flattery." Although he looked away as if he didn't care, Kyriaki noticed how the corners of his lips twitched.
She smiled brightly from the bottom of her heart as she walked into the magic circle, which Endymion released with his unique coral orange mana seeping out from outlines.
Why was she so happy?
Was it because she finally got him to go along with her?
Was it because she was finally getting a chance to have what she truly wanted?
Or was it because she knew she was safe no matter what happened?
She didn't know. Or perhaps, she knew, but feign ignorance. Like she always does.
Anyhow, even she couldn't deny that she was truly happy.
∆ ∆ ∆
"Cadmus' Dragon Slayer is practically a public enemy of Dragons after the tragedy of "Moon's Death". So much so there was a time it was used to cut down demons only, to weaken the sword."
—From the records of God's War—