Weston looked at Lichtswivsky with a peculiar expression.
"If you're looking for seclusion, wouldn't it be better to find a remote mountain in the Northern or Western Continents and crawl into it? That would be far better than coming to Ishgar."
The Luminance Dragon said in a muffled voice: "There are reasons why I chose Ishgar!"
"What reasons?"
What kind of motive could drive a dragon, one so weary of the struggles between humans and dragons that he sought a life of isolation, to step onto this land where Acnologia resides, even at the cost of his own life?
Weston's curiosity was instantly piqued to the maximum.
Lichtswivsky answered: "I am looking for a friend."
"Looking for a friend?"
The Luminance Dragon's answer made Weston even more certain that this was a dragon with a story.
"Is the friend you're looking for a dragon or a human?"
Upon hearing this, Lichtswivsky's copper-bell-sized eyes suddenly glared.
"A dragon, of course!"
"We are the noble Dragon Race; how could we possibly be friends with lowly humans?!"
Weston ignored the contempt for humanity in the dragon's words and, with a snap, opened the 'Memo' function of the Super Archive. He began inputting the newly acquired information while pressing further: "What's that dragon's name? What attribute is his magic? What's the relationship between you two? Elaborate a bit!"
Lichtswivsky: "..."
Why is this kid so gossipy?
He's actually planning to take notes?!
Could it be that in modern Ishgar, magic studies now include the collection of dragon intelligence as homework?!
"Ahem..."
"That fellow is a 'Shadow Dragon.' I've forgotten his original name, but I always called him by his nickname, 'Dark'."
Dark...
Isn't that nickname a bit too casual?
Since there's a Dark, are there other shadow-attribute dragons with nicknames like Bob, Jack, or Tom?!
Seeing Weston stunned in place, Lichtswivsky assumed he hadn't heard enough and continued: "Dark and I are old friends who have known each other for many years. Whether it's personality, hobbies, or even diet, that guy was a perfect match for me."
Old friends for many years?
Yet you forgot his original name?
The friendships among your Dragon Race are truly strange!
"But one day, Dark went mad for some reason and suddenly said he was coming to Ishgar. No matter how much I tried to persuade him, he wouldn't listen."
"Later, all word of him ceased."
No word?
He probably got taken out by Acnologia and died in some unknown corner...
"Coming to this continent this time, besides wanting to live in seclusion, my other reason was to try and find that guy to see if he's still alive."
Good grief!
Risking being killed by Acnologia and traveling thousands of miles just to find traces of a friend?!
This deep bond was truly moving.
It was almost on the level of Naruto chasing Sasuke!
"So, did you find this 'Dark' fellow?"
"Not yet!"
Lichtswivsky said flatly: "It's only been two months since I arrived in Ishgar. Moreover, I've been staying here the whole time and haven't actually started looking!"
"Ah, that..."
"Didn't you say you wanted to find a dragon? Why haven't you acted? Don't tell me you're the 'Otaku' of the Dragon Race?"
"Ah, I get it!"
A flash of insight suddenly struck Weston's mind, as if he had seen through the truth. He pointed at Lichtswivsky and shouted: "You're worried that while out searching, you'll accidentally bump into Acnologia and be treated like a speed bump, getting your kidney clawed out! That's why you're staying indoors to avoid his edge, right?!"
"It's nothing like that!"
Lichtswivsky's voice suddenly rose by several dozen decibels: "I'm not afraid of Acnologia! What 'avoiding his edge' bullshit? It's simply a case of 'King meets not King'!"
Acnologia is the 'King of Dragons' who slaughtered almost the entire race; what kind of 'King' are you?
The King of Otakus?
Weston chuckled and waved his hand dismissively.
"Stop lying!"
"When you mentioned his name just now, your entire body was clearly trembling!"
The Luminance Dragon was furious: "That's because the weather has turned cold lately! A cold front hit, and my chronic cold-dampness syndrome flared up!!"
As the majestic Luminance Dragon, he could lose or die, but he could not lose face.
"Do you even hear yourself?"
"It's spring right now; what kind of cold-dampness syndrome are you suffering from?!?"
"Besides, you're a dragon! What kind of dragon gets cold-dampness syndrome?!"
"Fine, even if it's real, it's so hot here now that any dampness should have dissipated by now!!!"
Weston's continuous retorts felt like needles to Lichtswivsky's heart.
"Stinking brat, have you said enough!!"
"If the story is over, leave at once! Don't disturb my rest!"
"Don't look at the fact that I stopped attacking and naively assume I'm some pro-human dragon!"
"In Guiltina, I was a dragon of the 'War Faction'!"
"You should be grateful I didn't eat you today!!"
Weston could tell that this Luminance Dragon's personality wasn't actually that bad.
Despite constantly emphasizing that he was from the 'War Faction' and had no love for humans, if he truly hated humans, he wouldn't have stopped attacking to talk this much with Weston. Furthermore, when the Council squad found him earlier, his actions should have been far more brutal and merciless.
"So, by hiding in these deep mountains all day, when exactly do you think you'll find your friend? Who's to say Acnologia won't find this place first and give you a swipe? Then you'd be finished."
"That has nothing to do with you, does it?"
Weston chuckled: "I actually have an idea! Why don't you hear it?"
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
"I've heard that all you dragons know Transformation Magic. Why don't you just turn into a human and blend into a human kingdom?"
"What?!"
Lichtswivsky suddenly screamed: "You want me to become a human?!"
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!!!"
"I am the great 'Luminance Dragon' Lichtswivsky! How could I ever turn myself into food..."
Such familiar lines!
Before this guy revealed his name, he gave almost the exact same answer...
Weston picked his ear with his pinky and continued listing the benefits of 'becoming a human.'
"In human kingdoms, scents are mixed. With their aura as cover, as long as you don't expose yourself, it will be very difficult for Acnologia to discover your presence."
"In that case, couldn't you use a human identity to openly search for your friend?!"
"Oh, and by the way..."
"My magic, Super Archive, is extremely useful for gathering intelligence. Why don't you come with me? I'll help you find your dragon!"
"Who knows? Maybe your friend Dark is currently living in some city disguised as a human right now?"
☰