Chapter 68

“An ultra-advanced civilization that matches, or perhaps surpasses, the current civilization exists!”

A human species whose size is only half that of others.

Yet, they refer to themselves as the descendants of giants.

The dwarf professor in charge of magical engineering spoke passionately, his face turning as red as a jujube.

“If that were not the case, how could an enchanted object from 3,600 years ago still be functioning perfectly, and we have yet to determine the principles behind its enchantment? If not for the thick-headed fools who walk around with their heads adorned like ornaments, it’s the humans who still seem foolish. Could they have created such an object 3,600 years ago!”

The pride and craftsmanship in the dwarves’ unique skills and knowledge.

From that stemmed a sense of superiority and a temperament that was inherently explosive, making it a race that even human supremacists would shake their heads in avoidance.

At least this professor had remarkable theoretical achievements and actual results in magical engineering, and when teaching related classes, he was usually normal. However, when a topic appeared that could trigger certain historical events or discussions, he would abandon his original lecture and fervently rush into a tirade like now, demonstrating why dwarves tend to be narrow-minded and not suitable for social engagement.

Even though more than half of his students were humans, and the rest were essentially mixed-breeds with humans, he casually made derogatory remarks about them.

New students attending this professor’s class for the first time opened their eyes in shock, but those who had attended the class last year merely brushed off the professor’s words with familiar indifference.

Despite continuous warnings from the academy committee, this was a situation that had been going on for a long time, so the students just accepted it as is.

One could not hire a professor of dwarf origin if we examined these issues point by point.

“A bunch of arrogant pointy-eared idiots who can’t even craft anything properly, prattling on about their ancient history as if they were the pinnacle of magic and culture! Absurd! The cowardly pointy-eared ones surely discovered traces of the glorious ultra-advanced civilization.”

The dwarf professor pointed at a holographic image of an artifact from 3,600 years ago.

Of course, the students majoring in magical engineering, and those who followed the new god doctrine would be familiar with the artifact.

It was more appropriate to refer to it as a holy relic than merely an artifact.

The golden priestly robe worn by El Araya.

A masterpiece from the history of magical engineering that El Araya left in the human world before returning to the Elven Road, for which the principles have yet to be determined, and it is considered a holy relic by the new god faith.

“Artifacts or knowledge used by pointy-eared ones or humans are by no means products of that era. They exist entirely in isolation! Those with heads that are mere ornaments dream about geniuses and believe anything is possible if they’re smart enough, but that’s just foolishness. They cannot surpass the era without any knowledge, ideology, or infrastructure! While the priestly robe is remarkable and still not fully understood, they claim that dwarves manufactured the pure metal known as ‘Jin’—a material so difficult to process at that time, we had only just started with iron tools 3,600 years ago? Ridiculous! What utter nonsense!”

The students internally reflected thoughts like ‘So it’s a myth?’ or ‘Why is he so heated about an old story?’ or ‘Here he goes again,’ while merely listening to him.

But it was well known to anyone aware that the prideful dwarf still harbored an inferiority complex towards the fact that it was the very despised pointy-eared ones who first handled the magical mineral ‘Jin’, considered the pinnacle even in modern times, not the dwarves.

“The cowardly pointy-eared ones must have definitely monopolized the legacy of that ultra-advanced civilization and acted like divine emissaries! Just looking at the foolish circuits the pointy-eared ones have drawn, you can see their level! Those pointy-eared ones claim to have created masterpieces akin to holy relics? How laughable. The Elven Road, the revered ground of those arrogant fools, burned to the ground one morning, and it surely happened because they misused the legacy of the ultra-advanced civilization with their pathetic knowledge and skills!”

A few students flinched and expressed their anger at the dwarf professor’s tirades, presenting a moment’s reaction.

Those reacting were all elves with long ears.

Two thousand years had passed since the Elven Road, sacred ground for both elves and humans, disappeared.

Though there were no pure-blooded elves to speak of, elves, even if mixed-breed, continued to exist as a higher class within human society, eternally.

Specifically, as elves prided themselves on being the origin of human history, their exceptional pride made it inevitable for them to react angrily to the professor’s verbal outbursts.

Moreover, they could no longer contain themselves after the professor’s following comments and rushed out of their seats.

“The gods might have actually been dwarves! Without a doubt, exceptional individuals could be pointy-eared! The gods recorded in history are nothing like the giant pointy-eared ones; they were of moderate size like us…! What! Who do you think you are to speak with such arrogance? Let go of me! I’ll not allow this to happen!”

“A crazed professor! Just a mouth spouting nonsense!”

“Let’s tear him apart! How dare a shorty like him talk to someone like me!”

A clash erupted between the dwarf professor and the elf students, and dwarves also rose to help the professor, resulting in instant chaos within the classroom.

“Another fight started! Call security!”

The graduate student serving as the dwarf professor’s teaching assistant, seemingly accustomed to this situation, instructed the students to call security while solidifying his haggard face filled with dark circles and rushed into the battlefield.

◈ ◈ ◈

I sighed as I looked down from a massive hill that seemed extraordinarily large, almost like the navel of this world.

It had been three months since I was abducted by the Gal Dragon.

After passing through the slightly chilly season of autumn, the winter returned, a season that all living beings struggle to endure each time.

When gazing at the grand nature and the snow covering the high hill, which no giant could reach, a sense of grandeur should fill anyone’s chest, but my heart was in utter disarray.

And I sighed while looking at the cause.

About three Ron Eltei away, there was a beautiful elf in splendid golden attire, wandering around as if in a royal court.

Even though I had never taught her, watching her move while using magic arts made me chuckle bemusedly.

The Gal Dragon. An elder Roa like Terato, located in the north, whom I now refer to as Gal.

However, unlike Terato, who, as a mission, sought to enrich the world like my mother or created titans to achieve some purpose, this elder Roa led a lazy life, rarely leaving her nest, wasting her power.

Before abducting me, her activities involved, akin to gathering pretty shiny stones, collecting or crafting gold and jewelry.

Perhaps due to this, despite such an extensive territory, I couldn’t actually see a single Roa.

The only time she left the nest was when unknown giants born from Terato’s spilled blood dared to invade her territory.

But recently, she had come across the concept of clothing and became absorbed in it, focusing on making garments.

Initially, Gal used only her favorite pure gold to craft clothing, but eventually, feeling a lack of diversity in form, texture, and color, she began to look at other materials.

While pure gold was the primary component, she started incorporating materials once considered base, such as plant or animal products and other metals.

“She seemed like Saras, whose curiosity was solely focused on clothing.”

When I noticed that, it reminded me of my sister, who did not think twice about uncovering something that provoked her curiosity.

In fact, both of them were on a similar level of not often leaving their territory.

However, the problem was that this hobby was exceedingly excessive.

While staying with Gal, I had to feel like one of the dolls that little girls played with.

I had to try on Gal’s creations several times a day.

“Well, it’s not that bad now.”

Although it was certainly clothing that would have been disastrous to wear in the central world.

I gazed at the garment I was currently wearing.

The golden attire, adorned with an embroidery of her own image, reflecting Gal’s strong self-love.

It resembled clothing only permitted for a supreme emperor.

If the outfit that Artie made for me before was akin to common clothing, now this was close to royal apparel.

It was not a comfortable garment but rather one meant to signify nobility and rank.

Moreover, it was a splendid piece enhanced with gems crafted by herself.

It was an outfit she made, remembering that clothing also symbolizes social relations for humanity.

However, I, dressed in several layers, was not restricted in my movements much, so it hardly mattered.

“…Actually, having several layers is a good thing. To think of drawing magical formations on clothing.”

This golden attire I wore had magical formations embedded within it.

Strictly speaking, it was hard to say they were formations per se.

“‘Your attacks shall never reach me.’”

The words of a dragon emerged from memories of the past.

The sovereign power of Gal, which I had named the dragon language that had brought me a moment of despair.

The power of that dragon language, which defied logic and was beyond even my interpretation, was embedded in this garment in three layers.

Unless interpreted or broken forcibly by another power of similar rank like Araya’s mimicry, this garment wouldn’t even sustain a scratch conceptually.

Literally, it was a precious treasure.

Considering I had spent the last two weeks in a state of nudity, it was something of an extravagant item.

Though my spirit had been wounded, recovery of the upper dan was still far off, my physical wounds and energy channels were already healed and in perfect condition.

Additionally, even though I had occasionally been allowed to take walks under the pretense of collecting materials, I could roam outside.

“…I could not escape.”

There was no opening.

With the foresight of the unrecovered upper dan, I was convinced that if I stepped outside a certain realm, I would certainly be tracked and captured.

Above all, even if I succeeded in escaping now, would Gal simply give up on me?

Considering the fixation I had observed in the dragon so far, it was certain she would pursue me to the ends of the world.

If Gal, in perfect condition, was not someone who could be outmatched even by my mother or the entire elf race.

Even if I managed to repel her, thinking of the anticipated damage, winning wouldn’t feel like a victory.

“If that’s the case, I have to grow stronger than Gal, regardless of how long it takes… or wait until Gal gets bored with me.”

Whichever route was uncertain in terms of timing.

In the latter case, given Gal’s habit of treating items taken but not used as treasures to keep, I couldn’t even guarantee she would let me go easily.

“Rescue won’t come… It’ll be hard.”

Ultimately, it must be by my hand that I must break free.

How much time would it take to defeat Gal, who had easily subdued the burdened me at the upper dan?

Even considering myself a genius, imagining a time span of 10 or 20 years felt profoundly unsettled.

I lifted my left arm, looking at my wrist.

Where my mother’s bracelet made from her branch had once been.

“They must already suspect something is wrong with me. It would be difficult if they recklessly came searching after not hearing from me for so long.”

Though I had conveyed that I would undoubtedly return to my two giant brothers, I was worried.

Gal’s kindness towards me, having killed nearly hundreds of titans who dared to taint her territory, was indeed extraordinary.

If the hasty Palas were to come leading the elves, a horrific situation could arise.

In the current situation, where there were no other choices, perhaps the best course was for nothing to happen.

Although I did not know how long I would be detained, I was no longer a human but an elf.

Several decades of life would not be considered long compared to the time I still had left to live.

“Don’t worry; it would be nice if I could send a message.”

As I thought that, I locked eyes with Gal, who was far away.

It was something beyond common sense, yet it had become a usual occurrence for us whenever the material collection ended, and we returned.

I let out a sigh, unable to count how many I had, and flew toward Gal.

“Well… I guess it will work out somehow.”

Thus, fully bracing for decades of exile, I returned to Gal, only to find an unexpected opportunity to escape soon presented itself.

Just as winter transitioned into spring, the event came upon me suddenly.

In fact, there had already been signs.

The settlement of the repercussions from events between dragons and giants hundreds of years earlier had begun.

That day, instead of wandering outside as usual, I focused on training, waiting for Gal’s return to the nest.

And when Gal returned to the nest, I could not help but open my mouth in astonishment.

For the past six months, Gal had not returned to her original form after taking on the appearance of an elf.

The enormous, beautiful golden dragon she had briefly shown me before.

Inherently, her nature was fitting to be counted as one of the absolute beings in this world, yet her golden body was now riddled with enormous swords, exposing her torn flesh as blood poured out, while one side of her wing was utterly crushed.

I could only stand there gazing blankly at the woeful sight of an absolute being that had utterly dismissed my imaginations of victory.