Chapter of Arkdragon, Episode 4: The Arkdragon’s Pulse

After being rescued from bandits, Mewi of the Neko tribe was left in a complicated situation. The Magic Stones were still a mystery, and he was the only one who could refine magical catalysts at the moment. And while half-beasts had once freely intermingled with humans, they were still classified as monsters and couldn’t be explained to the citizens until the details were known. Therefore, he was transferred to a workshop by the river away from the residential area after his recovery was complete.

Due to being near the river, there were all sorts of vegetation unfamiliar to our region, like trees that had incredibly skinny trunks and leaves, and those that looked like palm trees. We stepped through the coarse sand as we scanned our surroundings.

“Oh, the wind is a little cooler here,” Marie spoke. “Maybe it’s more comfortable in this area?”

“Must be because there’s less direct sunlight since we’re at the rear of the slope, and there’s a river nearby. It’s definitely still hot, though.”

I pulled at my collar with a finger and fanned at my sweaty neck, but I couldn’t stop the pouring sweat. I felt as if I’d be producing pure salt soon.

As for Marie, she seemed to be feeling quite fine in her new outfit, and she coolly suggested I wrap a turban around my head.

“Yeah, black hair tends to absorb sunlight, so that might be a good idea. I wish there was something a little more stylish in design, though.”

“Oh, that’s a shame. I probably would’ve laughed out loud if I got to see you wearing such an outfit.” The girl giggled, and I silently decided against wearing a turban after all.

The workshop made of cut stones was cozy but well-built. I was surprised to find it had its own private waterway, with a small water mill alongside it. Looking up, I found a big chimney on the roof, which would likely be pumping out smoke if magical refinement was to take place there someday. But I didn’t really know how refining worked, so that was just a guess on my end.

There were two stern-looking guards at the entrance. When I cautiously spoke to them, they’d apparently been alerted of our arrival already and let us in right away.

“You’re here. Ah, that’s quite lovely. I did not expect an elf to arrive wearing the attire of our kingdom.”

When the door creaked open, Hakam was waiting for us at the table. He noticed Marie’s change in outfit right away and slowly stood up like a bear.

“Thank you for your kind words. The fabrics in this kingdom are very light and stretchy, so it’s breezy and easy to move around in.”

“I’m glad you seem to like it. The citizens will certainly be happy to see you wearing it, so I would love it if you roamed around in that outfit during your stay.”

He ushered us inside with a surprisingly kind smile. There were countless battle wounds on his sun-tanned skin, and while he stood with a military posture, he had a manner of speech that told me he was good-natured.

Someone else was in the room—a Neko that was small enough to be completely invisible behind Hakam’s frame. Mewi had once had the tendons of his foot cut by bandits, but he stood up from his chair and walked up with steady steps. I crouched down to greet him, and he reached out with fingers that looked like dumplings to grip my clothes.

“Hey there, Mewi. Looks like your wounds are all healed up.”

“Sir Kazuhiho. Thank you very much for saving me from danger.”

He bowed his head, and I noted what a polite half-beast he was. I’d heard they’d once spent time mingling with humans, so maybe their manners had been passed down from those bygone days.

I looked over to the table they were resting at earlier, noticing a fist-sized object resting there, wrapped in a piece of cloth. They should have gotten right into inspecting the Magic Stone sample they retrieved from the ancient ruins. The reason we were able to attend such a meeting that could affect the future of an entire kingdom... wasn’t because we were the first to discover the ruins.

“Thank you for coming here before returning home. There aren’t many who can speak the language of half-beasts... with a Neko dialect, no less. I’ll have to rely on you until he can learn the universal language.”

“Oh, it’s no problem at all. We wanted to come see Mewi as well.”

We ended up being invited here because we’d been taking care of Mewi until a few days ago. In other words, we weren’t sought out for our ability to explore labyrinths, but simply to act as translators. Of course, they were probably taking us lightly because we looked like we were fifteen, but I doubted they’d let any important information leak.

“I did ask for his protection, but I never expected such a nice workshop... Wait, huh? Mewi looks a bit tired...”

I took a better look at him and noticed his fur seemed a bit dull compared to before. He’d had round eyes like a kitten’s, but now... they were like those of an old cat with the wisdom of a lifetime. Glancing at the table, I noticed there were various books on the universal language, and it was clear to see he’d been through so much since recovering from his injuries.

“Oh my, Mewi looks a bit down. This won’t do. Here, come to me.”

Marie couldn’t speak his tongue, but as an avid cat lover, she lifted him up from both armpits without caring about the language barrier. Mewi hung there in the air and let out a “grrow.” He pretty much seemed like an ordinary cat.

“I hope you don’t mind if I take a seat next to you, Commander Hakam. So, how go the studies on the universal language?”

Hakam and Mewi shook their heads in response to the girl’s question. They both looked out the window and let out a sigh at the same time. It seemed like they were getting along well.

The man slumped his shoulders, then gestured for me to take a seat, as well.

“In any case, I’d like to proceed with the appraisal of the Magic Stone. That reminds me, you mentioned that you’ve all seen the Magic Stone in person. I’d like to ask, does it look like this?”

Hakam reached for the object on the table and removed the cloth covering it, revealing a turquoise stone reminiscent of the sea. It was much like an unpolished gemstone and was small enough to be fully concealed if I were to wrap my hand around it.

Marie, Mewi, and I moved our faces closer and stared at the stone. I was no magic user, but I felt like it was something more than just an ordinary stone. It was as if there were some sort of energy seeping through, like a quickening pulse.

“Hmm...” I pondered at the sight. “It’s similar, but I think it shone when Mewi touched it that one time.”

“Mewi, would you mind touching it again?” Marie asked gently.

Mewi touched the stone despite being unable to understand a word she was saying. Maybe he somewhat instinctively knew what she wanted, like normal cats.

His furry hand grabbed the stone, and he began rubbing it. Then, it seemed as if the stone began to glow, as I’d thought.

“Oh, I’ll go close the window.”

After standing up and covering the windows with wooden boards, we were finally able to see the changes in full. A bluish white phosphorescence filled the room, dimly illuminating the faces around the table.

“Is this... the real thing? Marie, how does it look from a sorceress’s perspective?”

“I can feel magic within it. But it’s faint... Ah! Is the stone... changing?”

Just then, the stone emitted a slight glint in front of us. The magic seemed to stabilize, and the previously wavering light turned into a steady gleam. Marie touched it with her finger, then strained her ears to listen to the stone’s voice.

“It’s been refined... It’s drawing out magic by changing its essence into something else. It’s called a magical catalyst, a tool that allows even an amateur to use magic.”

Hmm, so magical catalysts were something like batteries, then.

“Does it feel like the stone from before, Mewi? Maybe I’m just imagining it, but it seems much weaker.”

“Yes, I think it is very faint. But it feels very familiar. The smell, too.” He sniffed the stone as he answered my question.

So that made it very likely that it was a Magic Stone. But there was no need for us to confirm as much. So long as we figured out its value, it would answer the question of whether it was worth conquering the labyrinths or not.

I told Hakam as such, and he nodded deeply.

“I see. Then I’ll leave the rest to Aja. I’ll be excusing myself now, but I’d like it if you helped him with his studies, if you don’t mind. In that case, you will be free to visit this place any time you please.”

I was actually thinking about asking that, so I was surprised to receive permission first. It was clear to see the high expectations he had for Mewi by looking at the workshop that had been provided.

The reason he still permitted us entry was probably because he saw the girl gently petting the purring Neko. Maybe he was kinder than he seemed.

He stood from his seat, then picked up the stone and left the workshop.

As the man of authority left, it felt like we were finally able to relax. The three of us all let out a collective sigh, and we finally had the chance to take a careful look around the place.

The sunlight pouring in between the tree branches outside lit up the interior of the room. Someone must have once used the various alchemical tools that were stored there, but the walls and ceiling were well-kept.

“They gave you a cozy and well-lit workshop, didn’t they?” Marie said. “It’s the perfect place to have lunch, and it seems like a comfortable place to live.”

“I was very surprised to be given such a nice house. I cannot thank Sir Kazuhiho enou... *purrr*...”

He looked into my eyes and tried to thank me, but melted as soon as the elf began rubbing the back of his neck. His innocent eyes were now closed, his pink little nose twitching periodically.

“No, I’m glad everything worked out. You even have guards here, so you should be safe from any danger. Oh, speaking of lunch, have you eaten yet?”

Mewi glanced at the basket next to the window in response to my question. Black bread peeked out from under the cloth, and when I lifted it, there was a red soup full of spices underneath.

“I am not good with spicy foods... so I have only been eating bread.”

Beast tribes hardly ever cooked, so their tongues may have been sensitive. We’d brought ourselves some bento, so I decided to share with him.

I opened the lid of the boxed lunch, revealing the inarizushi with a subdued color palette. It probably looked bizarre to a half-beast, but Mewi’s nose was twitching in reaction to the faintly sweet aroma.

That made me think, were cats able to eat rice? I’d heard they shouldn’t eat too much grain, but he did say he’d been eating bread... The bigger issue here was the flavor.

Marie picked up one of the inarizushi and brought it over to Mewi’s mouth. “Here, open wide!”

“I may not look it, but I do know how to use a fork. I may fumble with it a bit, but... mmgg... mmf, oof!”

Mewi’s eyes snapped open, and he let out a strange cry. Sour-sweet juices seeped out with every bite, and the fragrance of sesame passed through his nose as he swallowed. The incredible, gentle flavor fortunately seemed to mesh with the Neko’s palate, and when Mewi looked up to me... Well, it was hard to explain the look on his face. It was like he was asking, “Are you sure I can have this?”

We wanted him to enjoy the food with us, of course, and I was still a little full from the French cuisine from the previous night, to be honest. As such, I nodded in response, and Mewi’s eyes glimmered like the Magic Stone. He then gripped Marie’s finger with both his paws and began eating with gusto.

The Neko seemed like he couldn’t get enough of it, and the elf was enjoying herself as he licked the remnants of the food off her fingers. Marie turned to me, and her glittering eyes seemed to be screaming, “Sooo cute!” I smiled and nodded. They both seemed cute to me.

A few minutes later, after Mewi finished eating about half the meal, he sat there on Ms. Elf’s knees with a full stomach and dreamy expression on his face. And of course, Marie had the same expression on hers.

Immediately after, though, realization seemed to hit her.

“Oh no! I can’t move at all!”

“Okay, should I feed you this time, then?”

Her eyes darted back and forth between the Neko and inarizushi, and then she said, “If you don’t mind...” with a completely serious face.

Wait... really? I was happy to, of course, but I hoped she wouldn’t protest later.

And so, our late lunch began with the sound of purring in the background.

We were relaxing with some tea some time later, and Marie and I began debating about the universal language. Actually, it was probably more like an argument than a debate.

Mewi suddenly woke from his nap and looked at us with confusion.

“Like I said, I think he should end his sentences with ‘mew.’ It would sound much more natural for him. Don’t you think it’d be adorable?”

“Y-Yeah, but whether or not he should talk like that should be up to him. Mewi, would you want to end your sentences with ‘mew’ when you talk?”

He thought about it for a moment, then shook his head as if to say, “I do not think I would.”

Marie lips turned into a frown, and she stared at the Neko with a strangely dignified look.

“I’m sorry, but there’s no room for compromise here. You must uphold your pride as a Neko and end your sentences with ‘mew.’ That’s what I think, at least.”

“Huh...? I don’t think that’s what a Neko’s pride is about...”

Mewi shook his head as if to say, “No, it is not.” That much was obvious.

Wait, maybe this was because of those picture books I’d been reading to her every night. Or it could’ve just been her personal preference, but I really wasn’t sure here.

Whatever it was, men were creatures bound to have their lives swayed by women. All we could do was awkwardly nod along.

W-Well, I won’t stop him if he agrees...

I couldn’t say she was completely wrong, either, and I had considered that making his speech patterns more flamboyant would change the impression he gave people.

As I put away the bento box after finishing our meal, I thought about how I could explain that the rest of Mewi’s life had been determined in that conversation.

Suddenly, I heard a clunk as the bento box hit something rigid. It was an item from the magi drake, which had been left in my bag and forgotten about for a few days now.

“While we’re at it, can you take a look at this? Someone gave these to us. They’re a dragon scale and dragon blood.”

“I do not know much about it, but I do not mind taking a look, of course.”

It was something different from Magic Stones, but maybe he could do that refinement thing.

Marie began explaining while Mewi touched and rubbed the objects.

“As I explained earlier, magical catalysts allow even amateurs to use magic. A skilled sorcerer would be able to reach even further beyond. But more importantly, Mewi, you should be ending your sentences with ‘mew.’”

Maybe he’d learn about those verbal tics in the half-beast language... Oh nooo...

I mulled over those unconcerned thoughts as I spoke to Marie.

“Huh? I thought refinement was the end of it.”

“Simply put, magically enhanced equipment can be created, too. It’s highly dependent on the quality of the original items and the caster’s skill, so there aren’t many of them circulating in the markets.”

Right, magic equipment. I’d seen things like that in games, but I didn’t expect them to exist in this world, too. It’d be nice to see at least once, but I thought that might be too much for Mewi to handle.

I translated for him, and as I thought, he shook his head sideways. “I-I have not learned that much... mew! Besides, I do not understand refinement very much either, mew.”

Wow, he’s so diligent... He’s actually ending his sentences with “mew.”

His eyes were a bit teary, but Marie had a warm smile on her face and rubbed his head as a reward. She seemed to genuinely find it cute when Mewi spoke like that.

His eyes narrowed with satisfaction, then looked up at me. “Master Kazuhiho, this is amazing. It is brimming with power, and I cannot seem to refine it.”

Hm, the drake did mention she was giving me a fresh scale instead of one of the scales on the floor that had run out of magic. And Marie had explained before that Arkdragons could generate magic simply by breathing. So maybe that meant it’d continue generating magic for some time. That may have explained why Mewi wasn’t able to handle it.

I peered in to get a closer look with the others, and Mewi furrowed his brows.

“Wait, there is something else... Permission? Contract? There are strange words showing... It still seems to be connected.”

I had no idea what he was going on about. I translated his exact words to Marie, and she seemed to share my confusion.

“Huh? What do you mean by ‘connected’?”

“There is still magic pouring into it... Is this really just an item? It feels like the source is too close...”

With that, he indicated the stone that had been soaked with dragon blood. Its faint glimmer seemed like a pulse, or a fire that was nearly about to go out.

“Maybe I’m just imagining it, but does it seem weaker?” Marie pondered aloud. “If it’s really connected to her, maybe something happened?”

“No, there isn’t anyone who would stand a chance against a magi drake. She’s probably sleeping or something.”

Then, as if reacting to our conversation, the glimmering changed its pace to resemble something like a heartbeat. Marie and I looked at each other. If she could hear us... Well, it was probably quicker to just ask her.

“Lady Arkdragon, is something going on?”

The glowing flickered quickly and brightly, and our eyes widened. This must have been what Mewi meant about us being connected. It was like she could hear us on the other side of a phone. Which also meant she probably knew about everything we’d been through up till now...

“In any case, I wonder what sort of danger she’s in if she’s asking for our help,” I questioned.

“I wonder, too. It could be that the danger isn’t toward the magi drake, but her eggs. I was planning to return to the Sorcerer’s Guild today, but let’s check with her first.”

I nodded in agreement, though I still couldn’t imagine how anyone could threaten a magi drake whose level was over 1,000.

As soon as Mewi saw us off, I decided to activate my long distance travel skill. And so, we headed off to the Nazul-Nazul Ruins, the magi drake’s haven.

＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋

In the hall, spell casters from high-ranking sorcerers to wizards had already gathered. It was customary for those who achieved a high rank to wear navy robes, but they could wear any color they wanted once they became a wizard.

In Alexei, the silver bird was a symbol of wisdom, and it was common to see it embroidered on robes. But the man who stood at the center, Sven, the Twin Blade Magic Swordsman, wore no such embroidery. His muscular build was far from that of an ordinary sorcerer, and he opted to wear high-quality black leather that was suited for combat. There was a dangerous air about him that made the other candidates keep at least a few steps away from him.

Bang, bang! The sound of a gavel could be heard, followed by silence. The guild leader’s assistant, a man with graying hair, seemed to be the one in charge.

“Allow me to explain why I’ve gathered you all here today. Just earlier, we received news from Arilai that the Ujah Peak Ruins have been completely sealed off.”

The hall became filled with voices. Everyone there had been surprised to find that the rumors were true. It also supported the talks of a half-fairy elf discovering the ancient labyrinth and receiving a license to explore it.

Bang! The gavel sounded again.

“Order. This will be discussed again upon Mariabelle’s return, but her rank is not sufficient to enter an AA-rank labyrinth. Therefore, a substitute candidate will be chosen instead.”

It would take at least a week to travel to Arilai, even with a horse and carriage. Considering the time left until Arilai would begin their search of the labyrinth, there was no time to wait for Mariabelle’s return.

There were a total of eight substitute candidates gathered at the hall, each specialized in varying branches of magic. Sven stood a head taller than the rest of them, wearing a condescending sneer the entire time.

“I’ll go. There aren’t many who can handle an AA-rank labyrinth or higher like me.”

“That doesn’t mean you’re the only one who can.”

Sven turned to face the one who had made the comment. There stood an azure-haired woman who seemed to be a similar rank as him, if the color of her clothing was anything to go by.

“Allowing you to go could very well be the cause of conflict with Arilai. It will take at least ten years for you to learn how to get along with others peacefully and pleasantly.”

“Ten years? That’s not nearly enough time.”

His shoes clicked and clacked as he walked up to the wizard, a dreadful grin on his face. The sheer intensity of the look in his eyes made everyone back away in a circle around him.

All except the aforementioned woman.

“Do tell. Who else is there? Who could possibly do a better job than me?”

The woman’s expression stayed calm, even in the face of his oppressive pressure. Her eyes were like clear, placid lakes, and it seemed as if they had no sense of sight. Perhaps the crystal on her forehead served to grant her that ability instead. There was also a somewhat mystic air about her, with her kimono-like attire and long, tied-back hair.

“Many of the candidates have already retired. Someone has rendered them incapable of speech for some unknown reason, but... nevermind that. I believe a substitute similar to you is neither needed nor wanted.”

Murmuring broke out once again. Mariabelle wouldn’t be approved due to her rank, but there could be an exception if a skilled escort accompanied her, as she had previously suggested.

The man laughed. “How surprising. I didn’t expect you to come to the rescue of your beloved disciple. But a chick that leaves its mother’s side will die quickly. Or is that perhaps what you want?”

“You’re quite wrong. The time for her potential to bloom is near.”

They stared at each other. One side smiled with an overwhelming heat, while the other accepted it with a smile like a serene lake.

Bang! The gavel was swung once more.

“As I just said, this discussion will continue upon Mariabelle’s return. Today’s meeting was merely to inform you all of the news. We are now adjourned.”

Mariabelle’s master seemed taken aback, then shot a cold look to the man in charge. The crowd muttered among themselves as they dispersed. The meeting was also meant to select a substitute candidate, but it had ended rather abruptly. Basically, it served to indirectly inform everyone that Sven was the number one candidate.

“Too baaad.”

Sven put his hand on the woman’s shoulder like a dear friend would, clearly enjoying her annoyed expression, then walked away. The only thing he needed now wasn’t Mariabelle’s return, but the license to explore the ancient labyrinth.

Sven, the Twin Blade Magic Swordsman, was walking down the road in a good mood. The rumors among the sorcerers had been true: the ancient labyrinth, which represented wisdom itself, was seconds away from being conquered. Now, the question everyone was focusing on was “Who would become the substitute?” That half-fairy elf wasn’t even considered.

“Boss, is it true? I heard you were chosen as the substitute.”

A figure wearing a black hood over their head emerged from the shadows. An iron chain was attached to the staff he was holding, indicating he was clearly not a proper sorcerer.

“Of course. Who else but me could conquer the ancient labyrinth? I made him choose me as the number one candidate. Now I just need to wait for that elf brat to come back. When she does, be ready to pick that labyrinth clean.”

The man in black snickered, his chains rattling as he followed after Sven.

A labyrinth that hadn’t been touched since ancient times would be filled with a mountain of treasures. It was highly likely that priceless wealth and undiscovered magic could be found there. This was why conflict between the various factions was to be expected, but it still seemed quiet so far. However, this silence would only last until Mariabelle obtained the license.

Suddenly, Sven began sniffing the air. The gesture was reminiscent of a hound, but the sight was far more terrifying than it was comical.

“Ah, she’s close. The elf girl is coming soon.”

“Your skills in using the Oracle ability are as impressive as ever, Master Sven. Will you be greeting her?”

“Yes, let’s go. Just as that woman said, I need to keep things peaceful at first and say hello.”

With that, Sven began walking outside, which had become stained in red.