Chapter 67

“…It seems I truly can’t make anything decent.”

“…Leave it be. Do you think I’m doing this for just anyone?”

Standing nearby, a golden-haired elf, Gal Dragon—who had transformed to appear as an elf—received a scolding.

The Gal Dragon, who had transformed into an elf to try and understand the speaker, was in the middle of making clothes.

Using plant fibers to create clothes was put on hold.

Afterward, an attempt was made to use leather, but the beasts in Gal Dragon’s domain were as mammoth in size as they were thick-skinned. The leather was far too tough; it would be better suited for a Titan’s garb rather than for a human’s clothing.

Above all else, one of the reasons Gal Dragon was utterly against the idea was because it involved wearing the corpses of animals.

‘Kidnapper though they may be, they sure are picky.’

However, the material selected afterward was agreeable to both me and Gal Dragon.

Gold.

The gold in the dragon’s nest became the material for the clothing.

Though this is a tale limited to those who are masters in martial arts capable of reshaping even metals, it was easier to mold compared to plant fibers.

Extracting gold threads to make clothes was common, but since it was hardly different from using plant fibers, I simply flattened the gold into gold leaf and used it like fabric.

There was no lack of gold. It wasn’t just lying around like stones on the road; it was piled up like a mountain, so acquiring enough was not a problem.

The Gal Dragon was also delighted at the prospect of using his favorite material for clothing and readily offered up the gold, watching the process with great interest.

Though he looked like a male elf, now voiceless, there wasn’t too much discomfort from him being so close, at least not yet. However, it was quite unpleasant when the elf form of Gal Dragon got so close that his flesh pressed against my skin.

There were only three sisters among the high elves who had been granted permission for physical contact.

And so, using an iron palm technique, Iron Mountain Lean (鉄山靠), I sent the elf-form Gal Dragon flying across the room, before continuing to combine the gold leaf pieces to create clothes.

“Your sense of aesthetic is horrifying.”

These were the words uttered by Gal Dragon as he held up the attire I had made.

It was a simple, tube-shaped outfit made of gold leaf with no notable curves or embellishments.

The only advantage might have been the clean seams, meticulously connected for a tidy appearance.

“Did you intentionally make it this way?”

“…Right now, as long as it adequately covers my body, that’s all that matters.”

“To be honest, I still don’t fully understand why we have to wear such grotesque attire if clothing is this desperately needed.”

“Enough. You’ve been nagging ever since we started. If you’re so full of complaints, why don’t you try making something yourself?”

“You’re right. It would be better if I make it myself.”

“Huh?”

Initially intended as a jab at Gal Dragon for constantly interrupting, the male dragon nodded as if it was a great idea and picked up the gold, beginning to breathe life into it with energy like I had done, flattening and shaping it.

“Considering you’ve never really seen proper clothing before.”

“I understood how to make it by observing what you previously wore. Other than that, I trust my aesthetic sense, so it shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“Talk is cheap…”

Despite his confident approach, it occurred to me that all he had done until now was meddle. Even though he had acted childishly, I decided to watch and mock his efforts once he produced something.

With a serious expression, the gold shone and came together under the dragon’s hands.

Through careful shaping, an outfit with graceful, flowing lines began to emerge, each detail carefully considered.

It didn’t take long for him to complete it.

“…What is this?”

“Hmm… It’s not entirely satisfying, but this is my first attempt, so it’s understandable.”

Gal Dragon observed the garment he had made as it hovered in the air.

Though not designed in the style of the martial robes from the Middle Plains that were given to me by Arta, it was impressively made. Moreover, despite not resembling a skirt, it gave the impression that it would be suitable for a woman to wear because of the way it accentuated the essential form lines.

This was possible due to its precise attention to detail.

Seemingly unsatisfied with his first work, Gal Dragon gathered another piece of gold and began drawing out gold leaf to create another.

Each new piece of clothing had its own unique features.

“The structure of its shape is problematic, isn’t it? When it’s simply flattened gold, it seems the durability and form become over-simplified.”

“Is the issue the intricacy of the structure? Perhaps weaving plant fibers is done for that very reason.”

“If so, by creating a thin structure, drawing it out, and weaving it together into a fabric, we might achieve a more stable form.”

“Then… somewhat troublesome though it may be…”

Suddenly absorbed in the process, he began creating diverse kinds of garments using the gold, ignoring everything around him.

Though I had abandoned creating threads due to the excessive effort required, he even attempted to make gold threads to weave fabric.

He diligently compared the garments to his own body, passionately forging forward in their creation.

“…Now that I think about it, weren’t there an absurd number of gold statues modeled after himself?”

Witnessing the incredible skills and imaginative talent of Gal Dragon, who seemed oddly proficient, brought back memories of the finely crafted gold statues of Gal Dragon I had seen upon awakening in the treasure chamber.

“…Not very fitting, isn’t it? Or rather, does it suit him in this instance?”

Though it may have been a somewhat prejudiced thought, artists are often depicted as arrogant and eccentric, aren’t they?

The elf form of Gal Dragon, with his beautiful exterior and serious expression, earnestly devoted to his work, looked appropriately artistic.

Though knowing his inner self personally, his demeanor was both haughty and pitiable. Yet, somehow his involvement in art made it somewhat understandable. What was galling was recognizing that it even somewhat justified and elevated his character.

In the world of martial arts, if one lacks the proper moral character according to one’s martial skills, one is generally regarded as a rogue or thug.

Yet, when possessing artistic talent, it not only somehow justifies, but even elevates the personality.

“…Feels a bit irrational.”

Somehow disgruntled, I simply watched Gal Dragon work.

Neither of us, myself nor Gal Dragon, were ordinary beings anymore. We maintained life without food or much sleep with no issue.

Still, watching Gal Dragon engrossed in his own little world wasn’t exactly a pleasant experience, so I quietly distanced myself and focused on cultivating my internal energies, restoring my body.

My clothing, which Gal Dragon had deemed a desecration of the material, had long been dismantled into gold threads, leaving me entirely unclothed.

However, the only one around to see me was Gal Dragon, and he was too preoccupied to notice. So, for the first time in a while, I could focus on my recovery and training without any distraction.

“…Actually, if it weren’t for his gaze and attention, this place isn’t too bad.”

Just as the giant’s territory was Gal Dragon’s garden, the nest also had an exceptionally dense distribution of mana.

“Though I don’t know the exact reason, I suspect it might be related to the Elder Roas.”

The environment around the World Tree El Prigion, my mother, also possessed a higher concentration of mana compared to the regions inhabited by humans.

This affected not just the size limit of the creatures like the Elven Road and the animals of Forhelinia but also the number and size of fruits on plants and had a significant influence on the vegetation.

This place had not one but two Elder Roas, Gal Dragon and Terato, existing in its northern range, which explained the exceptional growth of the vegetation here.

“Considering that, the vegetation here starts to make sense.”

The Titans are beings artificially created by Terato, an Elder Roa, much like how the elves were artificially created, but the animals and plants forming the ecosystem here were clearly normal living beings.

Unless they were abnormal beings like the elves or Titans, creatures generally wouldn’t grow to colossal sizes like the Brachio beast I had observed in the north.

The larger a body becomes, the more it’s subject to normal rules, often ending up crushed under its own weight.

Given the two Elder Roas filling this place with abundant mana, it was understandable that they grew so large.

Moreover, the creatures here predominantly resembled lizards in some way.

Clearly not artificial creations, they oddly resembled various creatures mixed together, such as birds, rats, chickens, and lizards.

Considering they were originally different animals but had been influenced by Gal Dragon’s aura…

“…This might be going too far.”

I, too, had grown up in the forest within my mother’s domain.

Still, I’ve never seen plants evolve into new life forms.

More importantly, while purifying the energy absorbed from within the nest, the high concentration made it hard, yet I never felt a sense of mutation in myself.

In fact, thanks to this dense energy, the recovery process felt much faster.

“…The masters of prestigious families or the leaders of famous sects conduct their energy cultivation in chambers made of ancient Korean oak.”

Based on my practice over the past week, Gal Dragon’s nest seemed to possess capabilities comparable to these chambers.

The efficiency of cultivating my internal energy and healing my meridians here was twice that of other places.

Even if I returned to Elven Road to recover, it wouldn’t be any faster than here.

“Should I call this good fortune or misfortune disguised as a blessing?”

Ultimately, the owner of this place was Gal Dragon, and my situation was akin to being a captured hostage.

Though it was a complicated matter, it wasn’t something to rejoice over, regardless of finding such a place.

With a somewhat complex mindset, I spent two days focusing on my body’s recovery and vital energy while Gal Dragon remained absorbed in making clothing.

“…? What is it?”

“The information I have is slightly insufficient to complete this purely from imagination.”

“? I’m not sure what you mean. Clarify.”

“The human body and how it changes during continuous physiological activity. Comparing it solely with my frame doesn’t offer enough information.”

“…You’ve had ample time to observe my body so far. Moreover, haven’t you made so many clothes and haven’t made any for yourself yet? Why are you still naked?”

“The discussion about what I will wear can wait. I require information about you.”

“…What are you planning to do? That look in your eyes is strange. Hold on! Don’t come closer!”

Suddenly unfurling from his cross-legged position, Gal Dragon pursued and pressed against me as I tried to move away.

“This is insane! You’re out of your mind!”

“Your skin is soft… each joint and tendon… the ribcage moves with each breath…”

“Stop touching me! Snap out of it!”

I panicked and screamed as his hand ran over my body.

Attempting to use a kick to repel him as he forcefully latched onto me, I slammed him back with a strong impact, but he, the insane transformed elf, collapsed with a hollow chest, spitting out blood while refusing to let go.

“Ugh… this line…”

Despite suffering serious injuries from his collapsed chest, with broken capillaries in his eyes and flowing tears of blood, the elf showed no intention of letting go as mutterings emerged from his lips.

I was seized by fear as this horrifying sight of him continued.

“Hold it, uh, you, no, you brat, hey!”

Forsaking my dignity and unleashing a volley of profanity in a flash of anger, I threw a lethal punch at his intrusive hands, but Gal Dragon already had some sort of defensive barrier activated. Not only did I fail to kill him, but my balance was compromised, rendering my resistance futile.

Ultimately, before my second humiliation in this world was over, I met my third with no way to avoid it.