Chapter 98

Several days have passed.

Elysion has now fully recovered and is spending peaceful time in the Evergreen Forest.

Beside her is always Gaizen, sometimes holding hands, occasionally hugging, and sometimes even more…

Anyway, as Ariel thought, Elysion and Gaizen were indeed that kind of relationship.

Their gazes were too passionate to simply label them as dragon and guardian.

Now, the Evergreen Forest seemed to be their secret paradise, with the trees and flowers as silent witnesses to their forbidden love.

A love that transcends species.

Rakia, watching them, often looked envious, and when Ariel was around, she would blush for no reason.

Then, as if lost in some imagination, she would smile or let out a small scream.

“Are you hurt?”

And the one who asked Rakia with a worried expression was none other than Saintess Revena.

Revena placed her hand on Rakia’s forehead and tilted her head, saying, “No fever.”

After healing Elysion, Revena had been visiting the Evergreen Forest every day.

As a reward for saving her life, Elysion had allowed Revena to visit freely.

Ariel had even set up a Teleport Portal under the sanctuary, so Revena could come and go as she pleased.

Sometimes, she would stop by Delight in the Imperial City Center and buy a ton of desserts, all funded by Elysion.

Elysion had also taken a liking to Delight’s desserts.

With her frequent visits and Revena’s lively personality, Revena quickly became friends with everyone.

Fairy Roo, Dragon Rakia, and even the wolves Ghost and Black became her friends in no time.

Watching Revena play by the lakeside with Ghost and Black, chatting happily with Roo, it was clear that the Saintess was indeed the Saintess.

The Saintess, who loves all things and is loved by all.

However, even the Saintess had someone she was still awkward around—Rakia’s brother, Lionel.

Lionel had been feeling sensitive since the incident at the Magic Hot Spring.

He rarely left his room, and whenever he bumped into Revena or Ariel, he couldn’t look them in the eye and would awkwardly avoid them.

Elysion and Rakia found this strange, but they could never figure out why.

Only Ariel and Revena knew the reason.

*

Knock knock.

Ariel knocked on Lionel’s door.

There was a rustling sound inside, and Lionel slightly opened the door, peeking out.

“Hello.”

As Ariel greeted him, Lionel’s expression stiffened.

He tried to close the door again, but Ariel held it open.

‘What kind of strength…’

A dragon unable to match an elf’s strength? Lionel thought it was absurd.

Ariel easily pushed the door open, and Lionel had no choice but to step back.

“Can I come in for a bit?”

Ariel asked, but it was more of a statement.

Even if Lionel refused, she would come in anyway.

“J-just for a bit…”

Lionel replied, still avoiding eye contact. Since that day, Lionel had been suffering every night.

Dancing was fine. Being naked was acceptable.

But the way he spun around awkwardly with his hands on his head at the end…

That was definitely a mistake. That seductive pose was unbearably embarrassing.

Meanwhile, Ariel quietly looked around Lionel’s room.

It had a different vibe from Rakia’s room.

The room was filled with various tools, and the walls were adorned with weapons and armor Lionel had made. To Ariel, they looked a bit crude.

On a desk in the corner were scattered books on weapon crafting and metalwork, and in the wardrobe were neatly hung clothes modeled after traditional Dwarf attire.

“Why are you looking around like that…”

Lionel grumbled. He sat hunched at the edge of his bed.

“I like this room.”

Ariel smiled as she looked around.

“It feels like a Dwarf craftsman’s room.”

“……”

Lionel’s cheeks turned red, and he looked away. A hint of pride showed on his face.

But only for a moment.

Lionel’s expression turned slightly bitter.

“But I heard… that the Ragnarok I made broke… and you had another Dwarf repair it…”

Ariel nodded.

She had come to talk about that.

She had been waiting for a chance to talk to Lionel for days, but since he wouldn’t even make eye contact, she had no choice but to come herself.

Ariel couldn’t stay at the Dragon’s Lair forever, and once she left on her adventure, she wouldn’t see Lionel for a while, so she decided to be bold.

“I… I guess I’m just not talented at crafting weapons…”

Lionel muttered, hugging his knees.

“I’m not a Dwarf craftsman… I’m just an ordinary dragon…”

“……”

Ariel slowly approached and placed a hand on Lionel’s shoulder. Seeing his sullen face made her heart ache.

“But the Ragnarok you made is a wonderful sword.”

“It’s useless if it breaks… I put so much effort into that sword… I gave it my all…”

Indeed, if that was the case, he truly lacked talent.

For all the effort he put in, Ragnarok broke too easily.

But still.

“It’s the best sword to me. I like it.”

Ariel swiftly drew Ragnarok from her back.

The cool, gleaming silver blade.

The blade had been replaced with Titanium, but the hilt was still Lionel’s work.

“I like this effect too.”

As Ariel touched the mana stone on the hilt, a red glow emanated from Ragnarok.

Lionel stared blankly at the light.

“I… I want to keep making weapons… but I realized this time… I have no talent…”

Ariel sheathed Ragnarok and quietly looked at Lionel.

Tears welled up in Lionel’s large eyes.

Ariel asked softly.

“How about learning directly from a Dwarf?”

“…From a Dwarf?”

“Yes.”

Normally, Lionel would have been furious.

‘I’m a dragon! Who dares to teach a dragon?! Dragons don’t need to learn! We’re perfect beings who can do everything!’

He might have shouted.

But after the crushing blow of Ragnarok breaking and the mental shock from the Magic Hot Spring, he could think more calmly.

‘Indeed…’

Lionel had many questions about weapon crafting.

The unique forging techniques of Dwarves, the characteristics and pros and cons of different metals, how to improve strength, and so on.

No matter how much he read, there were things he couldn’t fully understand through theory alone.

The secrets only craftsmen knew, things books didn’t teach.

‘If I could learn those directly from a Dwarf…’

A smile slowly spread across Lionel’s face.

In his mind, he pictured himself having deep conversations with Dwarf craftsmen about weapon crafting.

It would surely be an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding and advance his skills.

Lionel jumped to his feet.

“That’s it! I’ll learn directly from a Dwarf!”

Suddenly, Lionel looked full of energy.

“Hmm, but I should hide the fact that I’m a dragon, right? If they knew I was a dragon, they might be too scared to teach me properly. And I should go to the Dwarf Mountain Range. That’s where the true Dwarf craftsmen live. I should leave right now.”

Lionel began packing in a flurry.

It showed just how extraordinary his drive was.

Ariel quietly approached him.

“Should I introduce you to my Dwarf friend?”

Lionel stopped and looked at Ariel.

“F-friend? You have a Dwarf friend?”

Lionel looked somewhat envious.

Ariel nodded and gently stroked Lionel’s beard.

“His name is Bagran. He lives in the Dwarf Mountain Range. I’ll introduce you to him.”

*

After leaving the Dragon’s Lair, Lionel soon arrived at the Dwarf Mountain Range.

Following Ariel’s directions, he came across a house made of thick logs.

The sound of metal clanging echoed non-stop around the house, and black smoke rose from the chimney.

As he approached, various tools were neatly arranged near the entrance.

An old but sturdy anvil, tongs, and various pointed tools.

Just seeing them gave a sense of the Dwarf craftsman’s touch and spirit.

Lionel’s heart raced.

Soon, he would learn the secrets of Dwarf crafting.

Taking a deep breath, Lionel turned the doorknob and entered.

“Welcome.”

An unfriendly voice greeted him.

“What, a Dwarf? Thought you were a customer.”

The owner of the voice soon appeared.

It was Bagran, a Dwarf with a thick beard.

Sweat dripped from his forehead, and he held a large hammer.

Lionel introduced himself.

“H-hi, I’m Lionel.”

Bagran gave him a ‘so what’ look.

Lionel continued.

“Um, Ariel introduced me…”

“Ariel?”

Instantly, Bagran’s face lit up.

“Ariel? That cute and kind elf? My friend Ariel?!”

Lionel nodded slightly.

Bagran’s face broke into a wide smile.

His fondness for Ariel was evident.

“Ariel introduced you? Then you’re definitely welcome! Come in! Want a drink?”

Lionel shook his head.

“I don’t drink.”

“…?”

Bagran looked at Lionel with confusion.

A Dwarf who doesn’t drink? What kind of…

Meanwhile, Lionel was busy looking around Bagran’s house.

The interior was filled with various weapons and armor.

A Mithril Alloy Shield on the wall caught his eye.

“That… that shield is amazing…”

Bagran grinned.

“That shield? It’s my most precious treasure. Ariel gave it to me.”

“Oh, did Ariel make it?”

“No, she won it in a tournament. But how is Ariel doing?”

“She’s doing great. Very great.”

“Haha! That’s good. I miss her. How about the others? Rakia and Roo? And Ghost?”

“They’re all doing well.”

Lionel answered absentmindedly.

They’re all doing too well.

But what mattered now was the reason Lionel was here.

“By the way, why are you here?”

Bagran finally asked.

Lionel swallowed and answered.

“Um, I want to learn… about weapon crafting…”

“From me?”

“Y-yes…”

“So, you want to be my apprentice?”

“Yes…”

“Hmm, interesting.”

Bagran looked Lionel over.

He seemed like a somewhat clueless Dwarf.

Not particularly sharp, but Bagran did need an assistant.

‘Besides, this guy was introduced by Ariel…’

Bagran spoke.

“Hmm, becoming my apprentice won’t be easy. Are you prepared?”

Lionel nodded with a determined face.

“Of course. I can do anything.”

“Good.”

Bagran patted Lionel’s shoulder.

“Then let’s start right away! I’ll teach you the secrets of Dwarf crafting, one by one!”

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