[Complete the Beastfolk Alliance’s request. Time Remaining: 149 hours 34 minutes.] The dragonkin surveyed the cave, eyes wide from disbelief. Encountering one for the first time was an intriguing experience. His reptilian eyes and the small horns crowning his head really cemented his draconic ancestry. Apart from those features, however, his human-like face—it sounded somewhat absurd—bore a bureaucrat's typical countenance. Regardless, his astonishment overshadowed his haughtiness as he cast a glance over the dismembered cultists. After staring at their corpses for a solid second, he briefly shifted his gaze to the haggard survivors before finally landing his attention on me. A faint furrow appeared on his brow as he sensed something amiss. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the N0v3l.Fiɾe.net Moments later, his gaze flickered to my ears. His eyes somehow widened even further, shock evident. “S-s-savior of our ancestors! No, a benefactor’s heir!” Without hesitation, he bowed deeply, one hand placed behind his back while the other pressed against his forehead. Though unfamiliar with the gesture, I assumed it to be a mark of reverence. As expected, he recognized the scale tokens instantly. It was a promising start. I had a feeling things would proceed smoothly from here on out. Beside me, Langley stared at me with her mouth slightly agape, her eyes demanding an explanation. Meanwhile, the dragonkin maintained the bowing posture as he added, “My apologies. I failed to recognize you promptly due to the scent of blood.” “It’s fine. You may lift your head.” He began straightening but hesitated, appearing somewhat uncertain. “Did you sense it?” I asked. “Of course. It has been many years since we last encountered our ancestors, but their energy remains unmistakable. We still treasure their tokens as well.” His lips parted slightly, considering whether or not he should continue, before firmly meeting my gaze. “I was under the impression that very few humans know precisely what those tokens represent. Am I to presume that your ancestors shared a close bond with ours?” Not my ancestors, I am the one with the connection. Although I don’t see a need to share that. Dragons were relics of the past in this world, and stating the truth would earn me nothing but distrust. I would need to offer an explanation similar to the one I had given Langley. “My master entrusted it to me. My master’s master’s master received it. In any case, a distant predecessor of mine was said to have been on good terms with the dragons.” “I see. Hmm.” The dragonkin nodded slowly before glancing around. “Could you perhaps explain what occurred here? No, wait. It is not my place to question someone of your stature.” He promptly turned to Langley instead. “Will you provide an explanation?” “Uh.” Langley hesitated, stealing a glance in my direction, clearly debating whether she should disclose the information. Didn’t someone mention that the dragonkin rank highly among the beastfolk? Regardless, I didn’t particularly appreciate him addressing Langley instead of me. Though it was likely his attempt at showing deference, it didn’t sit well with me. Taking a step forward, I met his gaze. “Ignore that for now. We should be the ones asking the questions now. Who are you? And why are you here?” The dragonkin’s expression faltered for a brief moment, as if only now realizing his misstep. It seemed his authoritative demeanor had surfaced out of habit before he remembered who I was. “Forgive me. I should have introduced myself first. My name is Tashak, Keeper of the Dragons’ Grave.” “The Keeper of the Dragons’ Grave?” “I patrol the canyon where our ancestors rest, ensuring that nothing unusual occurs.” I barely managed to suppress a chuckle. Even so, the corners of my lips curled slightly, and Tashak seemed to notice. Scratching his chin in mild embarrassment, he fumbled for an explanation. “To be honest, it is an ancient title, and it now exists in name only. This place has long since become a haven for criminals. My office is far away, and I patrol infrequently.” I had assumed as much; he looked like the standard lazy government official, and acted like one, too. He was rather easy to read. Shaking off the thought, I asked, “So you just happened to come across this place while out on patrol?” “Yes. It may sound unlikely, but that is exactly what happened. I was off on one of my semiannual patrols when I saw a violet beam piercing the sky. I came to investigate.” Nothing about his statement had seemed off to me, and although dragonkin anatomy was sure to be different from human anatomy, he hadn’t given off any sign that he had lied. I had briefly suspected the dragonkins of colluding with the fiends, but at the very least, Tashak didn’t seem to be. It was completely plausible that the dragonkin would assign someone as a keeper, and Langley would have signaled me if she had caught anything. If anything, it almost felt as if everything had been orchestrated so that the dragonkin would find me after I had obtained their lost legacy. “I see.” Glancing briefly at Langley, I sought her approval before recounting the events that had unfolded in the cavern. There was no need to conceal anything. Although Tashak’s position seemed largely ceremonial, he was still privy to the affairs of both the Beastfolk Alliance and the dragonkin community. As such, the discussion proceeded swiftly. “S-so you’re saying that this relic is truly the ancestors’ legacy?” “Yes. The fiends themselves confirmed it.” “The way the mana is concentrated... is astoundingly precise. I have never witnessed our ancestors’ magic firsthand, but...” Tashak trailed off, then let out a quiet, deliberate breath. “To be frank, I am not in a position to verify its authenticity. Our people abandoned the search for the legacy centuries ago.” Though he remained composed, I sensed a hint of reluctance. He seemed aware that he had been swept into something troublesome. Wow, his resemblance to the stereotypical bureaucrat grows stronger by the minute. “Its corruption by demonic energy is also concerning. However, this is beyond my jurisdiction. It should be presented to Lord Sebedra.” “Their leader,” Langley answered before Tashak could, and he nodded in confirmation. “Indeed. Would you be willing to meet with him now? Coincidentally, Lord Sebedra is residing nearby.” “Right now?” Langley repeated as she glanced at the exhausted survivors. “Yes, is there an issue?” Tashak’s puzzled expression made it clear that he saw no problem with their condition. If Tashak’s reaction was any indicator of the average dragonkin’s perspective, I was beginning to understand what Langley had mentioned earlier. Even in the presence of the wounded and dying, they remained indifferent. Langley bit her lip, visibly torn. I had already made my decision, and I saw no reason to make her wrestle with her conscience any further. “Would you mind waiting a moment?” I asked. “Ah, of course,” Tashak responded immediately. Langley’s expression brightened slightly, though her gaze remained conflicted as she looked at me. She was silently asking if I had a solution. I met her eyes and gave a reassuring nod. Two-Way Portal would not only allow me to transport the survivors to the nearest city, but it would also allow them to bring some of the treasures piled in the cavern as compensation for their suffering. We couldn’t personally escort them to the city guards, but this would still give them a solid chance. There was no point in delaying. Without wasting another second, I opened a portal. As expected, both Langley and Tashak had recoiled in shock. Though there was some commotion over the portal, we successfully guided all the captives to the city. Afterward, both of my companions badgered me with questions about it, but I saw no need to offer them an elaborate explanation. I simply stated that it was a technique I had learned from my master and left it at that, calling it a secret. Even so, the way they regarded me remained unchanged. Their eyes were still filled with awe, as if I were some kind of monster, although Tashak’s gaze was mixed with wariness while Langley’s gaze carried something... different. I couldn’t quite decipher it. There was a hint of something else, perhaps resignation? Is she recalling what happened earlier? The fact that, despite having a portal at my disposal, I chose to lead them through the tunnels instead? Langley hesitated for a moment, her lips parting slightly, before she finally remarked, “A tunnel through space? You possess truly remarkable abilities. No, calling it an ability feels inadequate. That was unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.” “I’ve never even heard of such a thing, let alone witnessed it firsthand,” Tashak added. At times , all I could do was offer an awkward chuckle. “It really reminds me of... that,” Langley muttered, but quickly cut herself off. I could tell she had been on the verge of repeating her theory that I was a polymorphed dragon, but had caught herself, likely mindful of Tashak’s presence. Sensing the need to dispel any lingering doubt from our previous conversation, I decided to elaborate, “I can only travel to places I’ve already been. And it’s not something I can use freely.” “Even so, revealing it before us just to save those people speaks volumes about your character.” I wasn’t sure how to respond. Langley herself seemed to realize how odd her statement had been, and her expression turned slightly awkward. An uneasy tension stretched between us before Tashak, ever perceptive, shattered the silence by clearing his throat. “Ahem. Shall we get moving?” His sense of timing was, at the very least, commendable. I nodded quickly, somewhat relieved. “Yes, let’s.” Shortly after transporting the survivors, Tashak had suggested traveling by dragon carriage. We stared at him like he was insane—there was no way we would be allowed on another carriage. With both the dragon and its handler dead, we would be the prime suspects, so returning to the transport office was out of the question. It had only been a few hours since the incident, meaning our faces would still be fresh in their memories. With no other alternative, we set off on foot and followed Tashak’s lead. He mentioned it would take about a day, right? If we wanted to reach the village before nightfall, we needed to maintain a steady pace. Fortunately, the infestation of cultists had all been concentrated near their base, allowing us to move without concern. In fact, we were unlikely to encounter anyone at all, aside from the merchant caravan we happened upon along the way. It was a group of around fifteen, an uncommon sight in these parts. We halted, watching them approach from a distance. Narrowing my eyes, I quickly recognized a familiar face at the front. “Parein?” Langley echoed. “Black Butterfly probably caught on that something was amiss and decided to move in disguise.” They were likely posing as a wandering trade caravan, gathering intelligence as they moved through the area. If the demon-worshipping cultists hadn’t shot us down, we likely would have ended up encountering Parein before reaching the canyon, perhaps we would have even collaborated to track down their headquarters. Considering the canyon’s sheer expanse, it wasn’t an unlikely scenario. Tashak, having overheard our conversation, looked intrigued. “You know them?” “Ah, it’s nothing. Just someone I’ve crossed paths with before. Let’s keep going.” I had no desire to confront them directly. It would be inconvenient, unnecessary, and frankly, uncomfortable. Thanks to our sharp vision, we had identified them from afar. On the other hand, they had yet to notice us. Finding the cultist’s hideout in this vast canyon would be no easy task for them. Not that it has anything to do with me. Not giving him a second thought, we turned away and resumed our journey. Anyway, the sixty-fifth floor was nearing its conclusion. All that remained was to deliver the legacy to the leader of the dragonkin and see that it was purified—whether through the use of the Core of Decay or by some method unique to their kind, that didn’t really matter to me. Still, I can’t deny that I am tempted to take it. Just as I had taken the demon’s corpse, I wanted to keep this legacy for myself. This time it was purely out of selfishness, though. The relic’s sheer power and speed were charming. If utilized properly, it would make for an exceptional weapon. Of course, there was the issue of contamination by demonic energy, but where there was a problem, there was usually a solution. Although, since it is magic-based, it isn’t particularly suited for me. That just meant Ha Hee-Jeong would love it. Ah, now I want to claim it even more.