Chapter 237

Chapter 237
## Chapter 237

In Tarak (2)

-Individual Name: Howard

-Race: Dwarf

-Common Traits: “Mind Hub”, “Persona”, “Super Recovery”, “Clear Mind”, “Super Strength”, “Hypersensitivity”, “Insight”, “Xenoglossy”

-Individual Traits: “Artisan Spirit”, “Dwarven Creation Logic”, “Song of Fire and Metal”, “Artisan’s Soul”, “Metallurgy”, “Precision Crafting”

-Special Notes: Has advanced past the apprentice level to become a recognized Dwarf artisan. Possesses high immunity to fire and metallic elements. Currently experiencing enhanced development rates due to the “Growth Elixir”.

The hidden legacy of the Dwarves that Zaonic had passed down to him, “Artisan’s Soul”.

To put it plainly, it granted the capacity to fashion items that went far beyond mundane handiwork… magic tools.

This was the capability to infuse items with mana and endow them with supernatural traits purely through the manufacturing routine, completely bypassing the need for magical circuits or ritualistic carvings.

Naturally, such a process demanded premium substances and exhaustive labor, meaning he was incapable of churning out magic tools on a massive scale…

Even so, it provided him with a massive edge over ordinary blacksmiths.

‘World Tree branches. Their efficiency is truly beyond dispute.’

The absolute finest fuel available for a smithy.

Any ore smelted within these flames acquired extraordinary characteristics, transforming into the ideal foundation for channeling “Artisan’s Soul”.

It made perfect sense why master-tier smiths went to such lengths to acquire World Tree branches.

“A multi-purpose battle power suit? Isn’t that essentially just… full-body plate armor?”

It’s completely different!

An entirely separate concept!

‘Though trying to explain it with words won’t convince a skeptic.’

Demonstrations carry far more weight than declarations.

Howard scrutinized the internal mechanisms of the finalized forearm component, built through “Precision Crafting”, and offered a firm nod of satisfaction.

The elements designed using Earth’s technical principles, which he had been analyzing alongside the lessons from Zaonic, fitted and linked together flawlessly.

Furthermore, every single segment had been treated with “Artisan’s Soul”, containing latent capabilities.

‘The components I’m working with are still basic grade, and I haven’t managed to fully replicate all the manufacturing steps yet.’

Since this was merely an initial prototype, there remained vast opportunities for refinement.

His objective was to customize the blueprint—a fusion of advanced engineering and diverse alien methodologies—to fit the laws of this reality and forge it into existence.

While he was cementing his determination, Zaonic spoke up once more.

“Well, once the entire thing is assembled and given its magical enchantments, it will certainly be an impressive suit of armor. Though it’s not a completely novel concept. Word has it that the Empire’s Royal Knights are all provided with gear forged along similar lines.”

He was well aware of that fact.

The defensive gear belonging to Heinrich, known as Glory’s Guardian, which was currently undergoing restoration at the Roselia Cathedral, had been manufactured via a comparable process.

The vast majority of top-tier protective equipment in this realm was produced in that manner.

“Just wait and see! I am going to construct something that will absolutely blow your mind!”

“Is that so? You certainly don’t lack self-assurance.”

“Naturally!”

Howard threw out his chest with pride and meticulously put away the finished component.

This was merely a solitary arm segment.

He still needed to forge the remaining sections of the suit, apply the arcane augmentations, link the power core, and complete numerous other tasks…

‘One phase at a time. I never anticipated this would be a simple endeavor.’

By virtue of the temporal divergence, he possessed an abundance of hours. There was absolutely no call for haste.

Bridging the gap between reverie and actualization,

His modest ambition was gradually taking physical form within the smithy located in Tarak.

—

In the center of an expansive and opulent chamber.

“Huu— Ha—.”

A tiny youngster, appearing no older than five or six years of age, reposed upon the gargantuan mattress, inhaling deeply while shifting his arms and legs about.

‘His capabilities are mind-boggling.’

A mere forty-eight hours had passed since Horus, the youthful dragon, had made his entry into this realm.

He had spent that entire duration confined within Hubert’s home, tumbling across the bedding and rehearsing “Polymorph” to familiarize himself with his dual shapes…

‘Is this standard behavior for dragonkind, or is the potion simply that potent?’

In all likelihood, it was a combination of both.

He was experiencing in real-time what it meant to accumulate power through the simple act of respiration.

By utilizing “Ruler of All”, the ambient mana he drew in circulated through his frame and was integrated by the Dragon Heart resting within his chest.

As the vitality gathered inside his core multiplied, the physical enhancements granted by his “Gold Dragon” nature scaled accordingly.

‘Which explains why the adjustment phase took longer.’

A dragon’s physical makeup was vastly distinct from the alternative species he had inhabited previously, and his perceptual field kept shifting alongside his rapid development, rendering the transition highly taxing.

“Ucha—!”

Nonetheless, that hurdle had been overcome.

Horus leaped off the mattress and stood upright, conducting a mental appraisal of his physical state.

Though he maintained the guise of a small youngster, his mastery over his physical form was now absolute, and its internal efficacy was significantly higher than before.

‘I still require practice with the draconic shape, but given that I intend to occupy my human guise for the vast majority of the time, it is of little consequence.’

A dragon, particularly a youngster belonging to a bloodline widely assumed to be extinct, making a sudden appearance would trigger massive chaos.

To be fair, it would represent an excellent method for gathering Karma… but it remained wiser to dodge unwanted scrutiny until he possessed sufficient leverage.

‘I will make my public debut once I have accumulated more strength. And after I discover a method to simulate a more mature physical appearance.’

His presence in Auterica amounted to just a pair of days.

There were still numerous variables to calculate.

His initial blueprint had involved him soaring atop a Bone Dragon, with the champion Heinrich mounted behind him, marching out to confront the Immortal King…

Judging by the current trajectory, a significant amount of time would have to pass before that grand ambition could manifest.

‘My immediate focus should be mastering arcane spellcasting. It will generate incredible synergy alongside “Dragon Language Magic”. And as my power ascends… ’

Right as Horus was immersed in these calculations—

“Truly, a genuine hatchling.”

An unexpected voice reverberated through the space, catching him entirely off guard.

He was supposed to be completely unaccompanied, was he not?

“Eek?!”

Horus recoiled in alarm, dropping into a defensive crouch while scanning the area to identify the speaker.

‘When did they arrive?’

This location was Hubert’s private quarters.

The defensive measures here surpassed even Hubert’s personal guarding, reinforced by multiple tiers of protective barriers and arcane devices.

Even an individual of master-level caliber should have found it impossible to slip inside so effortlessly…

Yet, an intruder had breached the perimeter without triggering any alarms, instantly identifying Horus’s hidden nature despite his flawless human camouflage.

He directed a sharp glare toward the uninvited guest, a male appearing to be in his third decade with muted golden locks and amber eyes.

Horus’s intense, circular gaze locked onto the newcomer’s seemingly exhausted expression.

Yet, that standoff proved brief.

‘What?’

An odd, recognizable resonance washed over him as he analyzed the stranger with greater scrutiny…

And by sheer intuition, he understood the entity’s true identity.

‘A fellow dragon!’

A member of dragonkind, a race universally presumed to have vanished completely from the annals of the mainland’s history.

Furthermore, this was no random dragon, but a Gold Dragon, matching his own specific lineage.

“The defensive field does not bind you. Excellent, my decision to slip in silently was correct.”

The mysterious dragon scanned the surroundings and offered a deliberate nod.

Following this, shifting his attention back toward Horus, a gentle smile graced his features as he spoke in a noticeably strained, almost mechanical attempt at a comforting tone.

“I am known as Shri Hartgen, an Elder Dragon belonging to the Gold Clan. Little hatchling, by what name are you called?”

Elder Dragons occupied a tier situated between typical mature dragons and the supreme Ancients.

They functioned as living records of bygone eras, having survived for millennia and wielding colossal might capable of triggering widespread environmental catastrophes.

“…Horus.”

“Horus?”

Horus suppressed his youthful impulse to act combative and grumbled his designation under his breath.

He recognized that the visiting dragon harbored no hostile motives, yet he found it impossible not to remain defensive in the presence of such an overwhelming force.

By maintaining that cautious stance,

“…An unconventional designation.”

He successfully held back the instinctive retort that rose within him at Shri Hartgen’s offhand comment.

‘Your own designation is far more bizarre!’

He could not prevent a wave of irritation from welling up inside his mind.

—

Just as suspected, Shri Hartgen’s motives were entirely benevolent.

To be precise, he had traveled there to safeguard the sole surviving juvenile of a bloodline considered entirely wiped out.

“…I entertained no hope of ever completing my obligation. This can only be attributed to Dracarion’s benevolence. Following the loss of Hureione to those forces, I was convinced the Gold Clan had reached its bitter end.”

He spoke with a sorrowful cadence, reflecting upon the grim chronicle of his lineage.

The precise era when the sole remaining juvenile was lost following a protracted and brutal conflict.

‘Hureione?’

Horus cocked his head upon hearing that familiar designation…

And then it suddenly struck him where he had encountered it previously.

『Dragon Heart of the Gold Dragon Hatchling Hureione (910,000)』

‘Ah, that particular item… ’

The specific Dragon Heart that had served as his foundational catalyst.

The identity of its original bearer, which he had largely overlooked at the time.

A wave of internal embarrassment washed over him, causing him to subtly redirect his gaze away from the speaker.

“…She was not of my direct blood, yet every member of our lineage held her dear. She possessed such a spirited and loving nature, even when we had cause to discipline her… Ah, pray forgive my indulgence.”

Shri Hartgen, caught up in his recollections, observed Horus’s shifting expression and fell silent, his face displaying genuine regret.

“My apologies. Beholding you brought her memory to mind. It is unseemly toward both of you for me to linger on what has passed.”

The ancient dragon offered a minor nod of contrition.

Before Horus could formulate a reply, the elder continued, his delivery recovering its steady poise.

“The nature of your origin or your specific identity holds no weight.”

…He had harbored doubts regarding Horus’s sudden emergence.

Such skepticism was perfectly logical, given that he had just finished detailing the demise of the final juvenile.

Then, out of nowhere, an entirely new hatchling manifests.

A brief interval of quietude hung between the pair of dragons.

Once more, it was Shri Hartgen who broke the stillness.

“Nevertheless, you stand as the sole remaining hatchling of the Gold Clan left within this realm…”

He locked eyes with Horus—

“And of far greater import, Dracarion has granted you recognition.”

Then, with absolute certainty in his voice,

“…I, Shri Hartgen, formally recognize you, Horus, as the sole remaining heir to the legacy of the Gold Clan.”

The sole remaining heir.

Wooong—

The instant the pronouncement left his lips, the profound gravity of those terms reverberated inside Horus’s core.

His Dragon Heart pulsed violently, as though aligning its frequency with the world itself—

A wave of transient vertigo washed over him, followed by the realization that he had been anchored to a fundamental aspect of this reality.

‘…Could this be… genuine Dragon Language?’

Having only recently obtained “Dragon Language Magic”, his mastery remained rudimentary, yet he could sense that a monumental transformation had just been enacted.

“Is this the hand of destiny as well? Presenting an heir precisely as my own existence draws to its close. Because of your arrival, my purpose may endure… What an ironical turn of events, Dracarion.”

Shri Hartgen let out a soft chuckle and smiled gently, observing Horus, who remained visibly unsettled by the residual sensations of the proclamation.

“I stand as the final survivor of the Gold Clan, the guardian of its treasures. Had you not manifested, the entirety of our heritage would have defaulted to an alternate bloodline upon my passing.”

At that moment, Horus finally understood that the weariness etched into the elder dragon’s features was not mere physical fatigue, but the looming presence of mortality.

If the elder’s assertions were accurate, the Gold Dragon Clan was on the precipice of total extinction.

With no one left but himself.

‘…Hold on, if that’s the case… ’

The true implications of the speech finally clicked—leaving Horus utterly dumbfounded by the sudden revelation.

Shri Hartgen, reading his astonishment, let out a soft smile and delivered his final statement.

“…The entirety of it is transferred to you now.”

…Consequently, Horus did not merely inherit a solemn ‘purpose’,

Instead, he gained absolute dominion over the complete accumulated wealth and legacy of a grand bloodline, preserved across countless millennia.

He had been established as the solitary beneficiary.