Chapter 569

Book 1 Chapter 569

Leo followed the path of his old recollections back to the entry point of Dragonia, eventually reaching an archaeological site that currently replicated the historical grandeur of ancient Dragonia.

“Black Rabbit. Are you sure this archaeological site is where we need to go?”

Stepping into the deserted, quiet area, Ar had a look of confusion on her face.

The scholars representing Wisdom had already made their way back alongside Enkinias.

“The layout here is quite intricate, so allow me to lead the way.”

Right then, Melina stepped forward to take charge.

“Since we have already arrived at the historical site of Dragonia, why don’t we turn this into an educational field trip?”

“I would really rather not.”

Ar shook her head in refusal.

“Don’t you think a field study would be beneficial?”

“Like I said, I’m not really interested—”

“We are going to do a field study, understood?”

“…”

Ar could only nod in submission, as Melina had suddenly leaned in so close that their faces were almost touching.

“I think that’s an excellent idea! These ruins are highly celebrated for showcasing the exquisite architecture of the Dragon Race dating back to the Age of Gods!”

Driana raised her fist in an enthusiastic gesture.

“This gives me a wonderful chance to recreate this aesthetic grandeur with my own artistic touch.”

“I am completely serious. Give up on that idea. You might genuinely draw a dragon’s curse upon yourself if you try.”

Ar offered her earnest counsel, but Driana paid no attention to the warning.

Watching the interaction, Lunia clicked her tongue in disapproval.

“No matter how much I ponder this, she seriously needs another encounter with Lord Dweno.”

“If they crossed paths again, wouldn’t Dweno honestly just crack Driana’s skull open?”

“Precisely. I would honestly prefer that outcome.”

Lunia spoke with absolute gravity.

“Setting that aside, Leo. What exactly are you trying to uncover by bringing us to these ruins?”

She had simply tagged along because Leo mentioned having business here, but he hadn’t shared his specific objective yet.

“I intend to retrieve an item that Risinas secreted away within the ancient borders of Dragonia.”

“A hidden possession of Lord Risinas?”

“Hold on! Could it be some incredibly potent divine artifact? If so, we’ve struck absolute gold!”

“Even if it doesn’t turn out to be a divine weapon, anything preserved by Lord Risinas is bound to be extraordinary!”

The exhilarated chatter between Lunia and Chelsea grew progressively louder.

“What are you two discussing that sounds so fascinating?”

Right at that moment, Ar shoved her head right between Lunia and Chelsea.

Catching sight of Ar, both Lunia and Chelsea instantly feigned ignorance.

“What do you mean?”

“I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.”

Ar narrowed her gaze, inspecting the pair suspiciously.

“You two are definitely keeping a secret from me, aren’t you?”

“Not at all.”

The truth regarding Leo being Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning, remained strictly confidential.

No matter how intensely Ar interrogated them, they could never divulge that truth unless Leo decided to share it himself.

“Black Rabbit! Tell me what sort of secret you’re keeping hidden!”

“Stop pestering Leo oppa.”

“That’s right, look over this way instead.”

Lunia produced an object resembling a fluffy foxtail out of nowhere and began waving it around aggressively.

“Do you honestly take me for an imbecile?!”

“Tch, that didn’t work.”

Lunia clicked her tongue, disappointed that her attempt to divert Ar’s attention had failed.

Ar glared sharply at Lunia.

“I would never fall for such a flimsy, ridiculous toy—”

Clink—!

“—nia!”

Swat—!

The moment Leo produced a cluster of keys from his pocket and jingled them, Ar’s hand instinctively darted forward to swipe at them.

“…”

“…”

Lunia and Chelsea stared at Ar with expressions of profound pity.

“Unbelievable! I have told you repeatedly to stop treating me like some kind of feline!”

Ar hissed in frustration, lunging at Leo and shaking him forcefully.

Meanwhile, Driana was completely absorbed in examining the crumbling structures, entirely oblivious to the commotion occurring right behind her.

Melina offered a gentle smile as she observed the scene.

‘These youths represent the future of our world.’

She placed absolute faith in Leo’s judgment. Even so…

‘Will everything truly turn out fine?’

Bearing a faint shadow of anxiety on her face, Melina guided the group deeper into the heart of the ruins.

Whoooooosh—!

The companions eventually gathered at an elevated vantage point within the Dragonia site, offering a panoramic view of the entire landscape below.

The hours had slipped away, and the deep night had transitioned into the very early hours of dawn.

“The sun will be rising shortly.”

“Yawwwn! I feel like we have traversed practically the entire region by now.”

“To think we spent the whole night trekking through these immense ruins.”

Lunia spoke softly, crossing her arms over her chest.

Ar let out a heavy yawn while rubbing her weary eyes, and Chelsea lightly massaged her aching leg while shaking her head from side to side.

Standing a short distance away from the rest, Leo silently contemplated the sprawling vista of Dragonia.

“What thoughts are occupying your mind?”

Melina walked up beside him, posing the question with a gentle tone.

“Old reflections.”

Leo kept his eyes fixed on the magnificent sight of Dragonia.

“Five millennia ago, during my initial arrival in Dragonia, this entire territory was nothing short of an absolute wasteland of suffering.”

“…”

“That marked the very first occasion where Risinas displayed vulnerability.”

“It is only natural, as dragons hold a deep affection for their native land.”

Melina could deeply resonate with the emotions Risinas must have experienced during that dark era.

“Because of that, I gave Risinas my word. I promised that even if it consumed my entire existence, I would assist in restoring Dragonia to its former glory.”

Leo let out a melancholy laugh.

“As it turned out, we weren’t able to achieve anything back then. However, if he could witness how spectacularly prosperous Dragonia has become today, he would undoubtedly feel immense joy.”

“To say the two of you accomplished nothing is incorrect. It is precisely because of legendary figures like yourself that civilization endures to this day.”

Melina corrected him with absolute conviction.

Leo gave a quiet nod in response to her declaration.

“Still, it is rather unexpected. Considering Lady Luna’s fiercely independent and wandering nature, I naturally assumed she would travel across the lands once order was established. What led her to ultimately take up residence in Dragonia?”

As Melina voiced her curiosity regarding this apparent anomaly, Leo responded with an expression of genuine bewilderment.

“That untamed girl would never willingly tether herself to Dragonia, would she? Besides, she bore the responsibility of rejuvenating the elves. Honestly, if she were still around today, she would most likely dump all her duties onto Berkia and run off to enjoy herself somewhere, wouldn’t she?”

“That does sound like her.”

Melina nodded along with Leo’s reasoning, but a sudden, massive contradiction struck her.

“Didn’t you state earlier, Lord Leo, that you vowed to assist Lord Risinas in rebuilding Dragonia?”

“I did.”

“Meaning you, Lord Leo, remained within Dragonia while Lady Luna roamed across the world?”

Leo nodded affirmatively.

‘How can this be? Lord Leo and Lady Luna are widely understood to be companions of the heart, so for what reason would they live separate existences?’

Melina’s face clouded with profound confusion.

‘Could it simply be due to both of them possessing such unbridled, independent souls? Even if that were the case…’

If Leo’s recollections were accurate, it sounded far more as though Leo and Risinas shared the bond of a couple.

It was precisely as Melina was wrestling with these troubling thoughts.

Leo, who had remained frozen while watching the horizon, spoke up softly as the initial rays of sunlight broke through.

“Ah, it finally comes back to me.”

“Excuse me?”

“The exact spot where Risinas’s residence stood. I remember it clearly now.”

The destination Leo led them to was a modest, unassuming house.

Because these archeological ruins were reconstructed utilizing the surviving blueprints of Dragonia from the period following the Age of Calamity, there were no records indicating the specific identities of the past occupants.

Creak—!

Leo pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Thump— Thump—

The rest of the party filed in close behind him.

The interior was entirely devoid of furniture, yet the small space retained a remarkably warm and welcoming atmosphere.

This historical recreation mirrored the environment of the Age of Gods with absolute precision.

“Is it this place?”

As Chelsea voiced her uncertainty, Melina glanced briefly at Leo’s back before providing an explanation.

“This structure is believed to be the dwelling where Lord Risinas resided during his childhood years.”

Upon hearing her revelation, everyone’s eyes widened in sheer astonishment.

“This is the actual home where the King of Wisdom lived as a youth?”

“That is truly incredible!”

“To think such a location has been preserved! Dragonia never ceases to amaze!”

Melina beamed warmly as she observed the thrilled reactions of the students.

“Indeed. Granted, this is a reproduction modeled after historical records saved after the conclusion of the Age of Calamity, meaning it isn’t the literal, original building where Lord Risinas resided. Nevertheless, it is an undeniable fact that Lord Risinas’s home occupied this exact plot, and this structure was replicated to match its ancient appearance perfectly.”

Melina delivered the explanation with a composed demeanor, though in reality, she was harboring the greatest excitement among everyone present.

‘I must maintain my professional decorum, but… heavens.’

Melina scanned the interior of the room with slightly trembling eyes.

This very location belonged to the youth of the King of Wisdom, a figure venerated by the entire dragon race.

While the rest of the group occupied themselves with exploring the small house, Leo stepped into one of the inner chambers.

Summoning the layout preserved in the depths of his memories, Leo dropped to one knee in the center of the room and brushed his hand across the floorboards.

‘Is this the spot?’

He picked up on an incredibly subtle trace of magical energy, a frequency that only Leo was capable of perceiving.

Leo channeled his own magical force into the ground.

Instantly, a glowing magic circle materialized on the floor.

Under normal circumstances, this particular barrier was an absolute seal that could never be breached by anyone other than Risinas.

However, the mechanism responded perfectly to Leo’s magical energy, which perfectly mirrored the core essence of Risinas’s own mana.

Startled by the abrupt discharge of magical light, the rest of the group came rushing into the chamber.

“Black Rabbit, did you uncover something?”

Ar inquired with great anticipation.

Leo reached his hand directly into the glowing magic circle.

His fingers clamped around a modest wooden box resting within the dimensional sub-space hidden just beyond their reality.

Leo pulled the object out.

Despite the passage of 5,000 years, the wooden container remained perfectly immaculate, looking identical to Leo’s memories, likely preserved by the timeless nature of the sub-space.

“Is this a relic left behind by Lord Risinas?”

“Could it be a grimoire? Is it a tome of spells?”

“Hurry up and reveal what’s inside, Leo!”

“Now, now, let’s everyone maintain our composure.”

Melina offered a steadying smile, calming the girls who had swarmed around Leo.

Naturally, she herself was filled with an overwhelming urge to press Leo to open it immediately, but she firmly mastered her impulses.

Leo unlatched the wooden container.

Click—!

Resting inside the wooden box was a slender, dark fragment that strongly resembled obsidian.

Chelsea blinked in confusion upon seeing the contents.

“What exactly is that?”

“This appears to be… a fragment of a dragon’s eggshell. Judging by the coloration, it belongs to a black dragon… could it possibly be?”

Melina’s eyes stretched wide in profound shock.

“The very shell from which Lord Risinas emerged upon hatching?”

“What?”

“S-such a relic still survives to this day?”

If her hypothesis was correct, this represented a monumental historical revelation.

While the entire room stood paralyzed in sheer amazement, Leo retrieved the dark fragment and flipped it over to examine the reverse side.

A sudden smirk broke across his face.

‘Of course, there it is—the slave contract.’

An phantom memory of Risinas scribbling her signature with a highly amused, mischievous grin danced through his consciousness.

“Mmh. It features inscriptions in Dragonic.”

“What is written on it?”

“It bears the names of Lord Kyle and Lord Risinas rendered in Dragonic script. Looking at the penmanship, the signature for Lord Risinas appears to have been penned by Lord Risinas himself.”

Because Risinas had bequeathed an immense wealth of literature to successive generations, her distinctive handwriting was quite well-recognized historically.

“In that case, was the other name written by Lord Kyle?”

Driana tilted her head to the side, scrutinizing Kyle’s signature with curiosity.

“T-this cannot be…?”

Melina’s voice rang out, trembling violently.

Every head in the room instantly snapped toward Melina.

Noticing the absolute bewilderment painted across Melina’s features, Lunia inquired anxiously.

“Lady Melina, what is the matter? Is this artifact something remarkably extraordinary?”

“Extraordinary, without a doubt… yes! T-to our dragon kin, this represents… an immensely… an incredibly sacred object.”

Melina’s speech faltered.

She parted and closed her lips repeatedly, staring at Leo with a gaze filled with an unidentifiable mix of emotions.

Leo knit his brows together, unsettled by her intense reaction.

“What does it signify?”

“Inscribing one’s signature upon the literal eggshell from which one was born… that represents a sacred covenant enacted exclusively by individuals who intend to bind their entire lives together.”

The moment those words left her mouth, a heavy silence fell over the entire room.

Chelsea stood frozen, her jaw dropping open in disbelief.

“T-that implies… so… this item is…”

“If this artifact is g-genuine… it represents the formal marriage covenant between Lord Risinas and Lord Kyle.”

Shock washed over every single face in the chamber.

“What kind of ridiculous nonsense is that? A marriage covenant?”

“Black Rabbit! Mind your manners when speaking to Lady Melina!”

“Why are you acting so completely bent out of shape?”

Ar and Driana gasped in unison, sharply reprimanding Leo for his outburst.

“This is an ancient custom of our dragon race. A sacred practice handed down from the Age of Gods, well before the occurrence of the Age of Calamity.”

Following that explanation, Ar spoke up.

“Hold on a moment! Wasn’t Lord Kyle openly recognized as being in a relationship with Lady Luna? If that is the case, why on earth does an item like this exist here? Are we looking at a love triangle?! Was Lord Kyle secretly playing both sides?”

“Hmm… if those are the facts, Lord Kyle is undeniably a dreadful individual.”

Driana crossed her arms, nodding with an expression of deep gravity.

Luna, the ancient progenitor of the nebula who had manifested not long ago, had openly proclaimed her devotion to Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning.

Yet now, an explicit marriage covenant had come to light linking the King of Wisdom to that very same Hero of the Beginning.

This staggering revelation, completely defying all conventional historical knowledge, was more than enough to set the girls’ imaginations wild.

“Wait. If an official marriage covenant exists… does that imply Lady Luna was actually the secondary spouse?”

“Do you possess a death wish?! You ridiculous cat! How dare you utter such an outrageous blasphemy by calling her a ‘secondary spouse’! Shall I incinerate your intellect completely?”

“B-but still! This is incredibly bizarre! What could have possibly transpired in the past?”

As the girls spiraled further into utter bewilderment, Melina observed Leo with an incredibly complicated expression.

Deep within her eyes, which had previously been filled with nothing but profound reverence, a distinct flicker of skepticism had somehow manifested.

Leo shifted his gaze toward Lunia and Chelsea.

The expressions they held were practically identical to the look Melina was giving him.

Leo stared down at the ancient covenant of Risinas resting within his shaking hand.

‘You absolute lunatic of a lizard. Of all the things to forge behind my back, you actually went and pulled a stunt like this?!’