#After returning, the family was ruined (199)
Ardenheit.
Ethan had never encountered this metal in person. However, I was able to guess what it would look like.
I had checked phrases describing the appearance of Ardenheit through various literature, and crucially, the entire body of the divine sword I used in my past life was made of this metal.
A metal as blue as the sea.
Inside the metal, an enormous amount of mana continued to swirl like a whirlwind.
“Voila. how is it?”
“It’s genuine.”
Ardenheit was not a metal that could be imitated through clumsy tricks. I knew it as soon as I saw it. It was authentic, without a doubt. The amount was much larger than he expected.
‘Enough to form one sword body?’
It’s a huge amount.
I was so curious as to where on earth they got this much Ardenheit.
I stared at the dragon in front of me.
“Did you at least find the Ardenheit Mine?”
Otherwise, I couldn’t explain what was happening. The church, a clearly hostile force, handed over a large amount of divine metal.
This is difficult to do unless the metal is overflowing with rot. No, strictly speaking, even if it were overflowing with rot, it would be difficult to do.
Anna chuckled.
“Our Duke looks so curious when he looks so cute, doesn’t he?”
“You have long limbs.”
“You even gave me a gift. Wouldn’t a gesture of reconciliation be enough?”
“Reconciliation?”
Ethan sneered coldly.
Of all the dragon people I’ve ever seen, I thought they might be the ones who told the lowest quality jokes.
“Do you think I don’t know what you guys are up to?”
“Hmm. “What are our intentions?”
Ethan, who saw the sly smile, responded coldly.
“It’s obvious what you dragon people think. Aren’t they trying to dominate humans? “It’s not funny that people like that use the word reconciliation.”
“Well, is that really true?”
It was a meaningful question.
“Of course, I agree that our primary goal is as the Duke said… but we are also higher creatures in our own way.”
“Are you trying to make a joke with me?”
“Hehe. Don’t be too angry. “I just want to say that we don’t always move as one body.”
Anna waved her hand and continued speaking.
“Ardenheite is one of the metals that is very precious to us. “Even if you are the religious leader, there is no way you can get this metal right away.”
“so?”
“Why did you hand it to the duke? “If it’s enough to make one sword, you’ve handed over more than 80% of what you have.”
Ethan’s eyes lit up.
This was because I had a sense of what Anna was trying to say.
“Do you really want to say that the dragon race has factions just like humans?”
“It’s similar. “If I were to use an analogy, I think it would be a perfect distinction between radicals and moderates.”
This was completely my first time hearing this story. Because in my past life, there were no factions that could be called factions. The dragons at that time moved as if they were completely one body. It’s not some kind of human aristocratic society.
It was a little absurd.
As if she sensed something, Anna quickly continued her explanation.
“Many people think that the dragon race is one race, but that is absolutely not the case. How should I compare it? To sum it up in one word, it is a structure similar to a large tribe created by multiple tribes coming together.”
“The warchief must be a dragonlord.”
“Yes, that’s right. The dragonlord conquered numerous dragon races and created a unified nation. “That is the dragon nation called Dragonia.”
Dragonia.
I’ve at least heard the name.
Even in the West Continent, you have to go down the sea road for a long time to reach Monster Land. Dragonia was a country located deep within Monster Land.
However, human footsteps rarely reached that place. This was because the Yongin tribe had made their home there for a long time, and there were few humans who tried to provoke the powerful monsters.
Up to this point, it was like my previous life.
What I’m curious about is…
“So why did factions come into existence?”
This is exactly what it was about.
Anna answered with a sigh.
“You said it was similar to a tribal society, right? “Wouldn’t there be a tribe made up of people who are ignorant but strong, and there would also be a tribe made up of people who are smart in their own way?”
“Are you saying that the conflict arose for just that reason? “It’s hard to believe.”
“know. It must be difficult. On the outside, it will look like they are moving as one body. In fact, the biggest reason is… the monarch closed his eyes.”
“The dragonlord is dead?”
“He didn’t die. “The only problem is that I haven’t been able to wake up for a long time.”
The leader has disappeared.
It was a variable that was not revealed in my previous life. Until the last moment he closed his eyes, the dragonlord was actively attacking the western continent.
‘If it’s that kind of variable.’
I could also understand why there was a factional fight among the Yongin tribe. Because there was a strong leader, numerous tribes were able to unite as one.
Since such a leader has been absent for a long time, isn’t it strange that some people start to think differently?
“By our standards, the leader is a very moderate member of the dragon race.”
“A passing dog would laugh at how gentle the dragon race is.”
“Well, with the human way of thinking, you might think that way. In any case, even if they conquer the Western Continent, they will prioritize mental and ideological enlightenment. On the other hand, those who say they are extremists.”
Blue energy formed on Anna’s hand.
It was mana.
Mana headed to the floor completed a picture in an instant. Illustration of a farmer leading a cow holding a whip.
Even the sight of such a cow being slaughtered with its skin completely removed.
“Dominate by force, reproduce and eat. Well, something like this. And that’s completely outspoken. Aren’t you so ignorant? “Humans can help us a lot if we leave them alone.”
“I think it’s him.”
“That’s because it’s completely different. “Don’t you know the difference?”
“know. Isn’t it just a difference whether you rule openly or rule in the dark? “In the end, the idea itself of ruling over humans is the same.”
“It’s too much. Still, that guy is not that guy. “If you were the duke, which would you choose?”
Would you choose a hell where the dragons are running wild, or would you rather choose a seemingly peaceful world instead of manipulating humans in the dark?
The answer was simple.
“You don’t have to choose anything. “There is no reason to be dominated.”
“It’s frustrating. What’s good? Because the duke is a very outstanding human being. “We can respect that level of choice.”
Anna said, looking away.
“In the end, the point is simple. “I hope the duke will take ‘our’ side.”
“What scope are we talking about?”
“Hehe. First of all, the leader and I? There may be a few more besides…”
It seemed like he had no intention of saying any more about the members.
“Now do you understand why I gave you Ardenheit? This is a very good offer even for the duke. lets think. “If that ignorant bastard, the Iron Tyrant, had eaten this much metal…”
The results would have been terrible.
The leader who rules over the metal dragon.
As he was the leader of numerous metal dragons, the rate at which he absorbed metal and applied it to his body was extraordinary.
Anna, seeing the duke slightly frowning, tilted her head.
“Do you seem to know?”
“You are not the only ones with eyes and ears.”
“Hoo…”
Anna’s eyes sparkled.
Unlike Naraxus and several ‘chieftains’ who were active externally, the Iron Tyrant was one of the representative dragon races who were active in the shadows.
In order to increase strength, metal is needed, and metal is a resource that is usually mined underground rather than above ground.
As such, it could be said that there were very few people who knew of the existence of the Iron Tyrant.
The information network is quite extensive.
He was definitely an attractive person. So much so that I can understand why the cult leader reaches out to the duke.
“how is it? Joining hands with us.”
“I have no intention of leaving the church alone.”
“Are you saying we should be a little more flexible? “If we’re going to kill them all anyway, wouldn’t it be easier for the duke to kill them in an advantageous order?”
It was an advantageous order…
It was obvious what they wanted.
I will provide help secretly, so I guess they are telling me to stop the dragons belonging to the extremist faction first.
“I need to know this first. “How many tribes belong to that extremist faction?”
“About half? In general, all people who work hard are like that. The same goes for the Metal Dragon, the Destruction Dragon, and the Shadow Worshipers.”
“Can you help me?”
“The weaknesses of their location, and some supplies and guides to help with hunting.”
I know my weaknesses, so I’ll leave them out of the discussion.
It seemed like location and product directions could be helpful.
However…
‘There is no need to give a definite answer here.’
There are many things to consider.
“Let me think about it.”
“I hope you don’t forget the sincerity with which you paid in advance. “Think about it carefully, Duke.”
Anna’s new brother has disappeared.
A box containing Ardenheite.
Ethan closed it and looked at the sky.
‘We’re having different feelings.’
It was a much more advantageous situation than he thought. If all the dragons were united like in the past, it would have been quite difficult to deal with them.
But if you have a different mindset like you do now…
‘It might be worth a try.’
The situation was quite interesting.
* * *
“Let the semifinals begin!”
Out of tens of thousands of knights, only four people made it to this point. If I hadn’t experienced it in my past life, I would have been quite excited. Isn’t it the time when everything is green?
But it was different now.
The first match between Damian and an unknown knight. Instead of watching the game, Ethan was closely observing the leader.
Because the competition was merely a means to confront the person known as the religious leader.
[Did you receive the gift well?]
Grinning.
A smile appeared on the face hidden under the robe. At first glance, it was a smile that seemed truly gentle.
[Where is the nearest dragon clan?]
[The Iron Tyrant is located in one of the hidden mines in the Dwarven Kingdom. It is the closest location to here.]
[What will the goods support?]
[We will support the artifacts developed by the church. Even if it is an attack from the Iron Tyrant, it is a piece that can block several times. [There…]
The religious leader thought for a moment and continued speaking.
[I will try to draw the metal dragons’ attention to the other direction as much as possible. How about this?]
“The first match of the semifinals ended with a complete landslide victory for Sir Damien! Now let’s start the next match!”
As he walked inside the Colosseum, he answered the cult leader’s questions.
[I’ll accept it.]
Hunting the metal dragon.
It was something that appealed to me.