Chapter 71: Encounter with the Dragon God - Part 1
That night at dinner, I told everyone that I had to leave town for a couple days to go meet an 'old friend'.
"Do you need me to come with?", Father said with a slightly serious tone.
"No, no. It's nothing like that. It's not like I'm heading out to go fight somebody."
'Oh God, I sure hope not', I thought.
"Can I come with?", Sylphiette asked.
"Don't you have your classes to attend?", Hope asked as if to say 'No'.
"No, this is the last week of school. They're having a graduation ceremony for the seventh year students so there aren't any classes to attend."
"Oh, I didn't know you had no classes on the last week. I don't mind then. I trust you'll look after her, Rudy?"
A huge, excited smile burst onto Sylphy's face after getting approval to come with me on one of my 'Adventures'. It really broke my heart to have to tell her 'No'.
"As much as I'd love to bring you Sylphy..."
After leading with that, her smile already vanished and was replaced by visible disappointment.
"The closest teleportation circle I know of to meet with him is situated atop the Red Dragon Mountain Range, near the lower jaw.
"RED DRAGON MOUNTAIN RANGE!?", Several people, notably Paul, yelled out simultaneously.
"Rudy, if you think I'm letting you wander off and play amongst a hoard of Red Dragons all by your lonesome, you're crazy!"
"Ugh... Father... I'm NOT going there to play."
"Hah! I'll believe that when I see it."
"Fine, whatever, you can come with if you insist, but nobody else. I'm sorry, but unfortunately the Red Dragon Mountain Range is a dangerous place and I can't afford to worry about protecting someone inexperienced if worst comes to worst."
"Oh, Rudeus! Why do you always insist on doing all of these dangerous things? Can't your friend just come here instead? Why didn't you leave earlier and take a safer route?", Zenith worriedly exclaimed.
"I'm sorry Mother, I didn't mean to worry you. To be honest that's why I didn't even want to mention where I was headed..."
"THAT'S NOT THE POINT!", she yelled. "Lying about where you're going doesn't make it any better. All that's going to do is make me worry whenever you go anywhere!"
"I'm sorry... You're right. Honestly though. I've dealt with Red Dragons before. I'm not saying I can take down an entire herd, but that's not the point. Navigating the mountain range is simple enough as long as you don't make a commotion. Also, I can escape back to our house with a teleportation scroll at a moment's notice just in case, so please don't worry."
"Ugh. It's not like you'll listen if I tell you not to go anyway", she sighed. "Just promise me you'll be careful and escape if you get in any danger."
"Oh he will, I'll make sure of it", Paul said with a smile as he pulled on my cheek.
"Can you really not take me with...", Sylphy said with a pout. "I've never seen a Dragon. It sounds really exciting."
"No Sylphy! I don't want you going someplace where you could get swarmed by a bunch of dragons", Laws scolded.
"Next time Sylphy", I said. "Next time I visit the mountain range, when we're a bit older, I'll take you with. I promise."
"Well, Ok. I'm going to hold you to that!"
The next morning Paul and I packed our things and walked down to the basement. Everyone followed us down to send us off. Zenith looked especially worried. I felt bad that she always had to stay at home and worry about our safety.
As soon as I activated the teleportation circle, we found ourselves on a mountain top. The magic circle was carved into the stone on the very top of the highest peak near the lower jaw.
To say the view was beautiful would be an understatement. We were at an elevation above the clouds. Looking down between the clouds we could see beautiful grassy plains to the north and a dense forest to the south. More, smaller, mountains followed along the mountain range to the northeast and southwest. We could also see the occasional dragon flying around down below us.
It was freezing cold up here, but thankfully we had prepared for that. Both Father and I had worn our fur coats and gloves in preparation for the cold weather.
"Father, before we set forth, there's something very important you need to know."
"Why are you always waiting until the last minute to hand out the 'Important' information?"
"Haha, sorry. I just didn't want to make Mother worry."
"Worry more than traveling alongside a bunch of red dragons? Just what is it that you haven't told me!?"
"Well, it's about who I'm setting out to meet."
"Oh? So you DID come for a fight after all."
"No! No! Most definitely not! In fact, that is the absolute WORST scenario. Whatever happens, this is NOT somebody we want to fight!"
"Just who is this guy who's got you so worked up?"
"The man we are looking for is the strongest in the entire world. The Dragon God, Orsted."
"The... Dragon God? Why are you looking for somebody like that?"
"As I've told you before, I spent my entire life searching for a way to reach Hitogami. He exists in a dimension outside this world. It is only because I found that ancient dragonfolk temple that I learned the magic necessary to send me back in time giving me a second chance at life. That being said, I'm no closer to reaching Hitogami than I was before."
Paul nodded in understanding as he listened closely.
"I've met the Dragon God once before, in my previous life. The man is truly terrifying. When I had met him before, he asked me if I had ever heard of 'Hitogami'. Without thinking, I told him he appeared in my dreams. I didn't even get to finish my sentence before Orsted had lunged for my chest in an attempt to kill me. Ruijerd, Eris, and I tried to defend ourselves but we were all effortlessly dispatched. He plunged his arm through my heart, a lethal blow by all rights. The only reason I survived is that his companion convinced him to spare me on a whim."
"Why are we actively searching out someone like that!? This sounds suicidal!"
"You might be right... That's why I wanted to go alone. The thing is, we have to be careful about how we interact with him. No matter what happens, we absolutely do not want to fight him. Even with both of us together we stand no chance at all."
"Let's just turn back then. There must be some other way to reach Hitogami. You don't have to involve someone like the Dragon God."
"No. You don't understand. I spent over fifty years searching for a way. The only way I'll ever be able to kill Hitogami and protect our family is by working with Orsted."
"Working with him? Why would he want to work with you!? The man sounds like a maniac!"
"Perhaps. But the thing is, our objectives actually align. Just like me, Orsted's ultimate goal is to kill Hitogami. By all rights, we SHOULD be allies."
"When you phrase it like that... Perhaps you're right after all."
"One last thing. Orsted has a curse placed on him that causes everyone in this world to hate or fear him. I'm sure you are no exception to that. The moment you lay eyes upon him you will be struck by an unnatural fear. Please, don't act upon that. While he is truly a scary individual in reality, just remember that the fear you are feeling is due to the curse. I think it would be safer if you just let me do the talking."
"Understood."
Despite saying this, the look on his face told me that Paul didn't actually understand everything.
"So where is he then?"
"I'm not actually sure, but I know where he will be soon."
"Oh?"
"Within the next couple days, he and a young companion will be traveling south across the Red Dragon's Lower Jaw. Using my magic, we should have no trouble getting there in time from here."
"Lead the way", Paul said as he motioned for me to walk past him.
"Well it's actually this way", I said pointing in the other direction across the magic circle we had arrived at.
"Hmm?"
When I turned to look in the direction I pointed, I saw two figures standing centered in the magic circle we had just arrived at a couple minutes prior.
My finger happened to be pointed directly at the taller of the two, a man who stared inquisitively at us. He was obviously surprised to find the two of us here.
It was none other than the man we were searching for. Dragon God Orsted.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone