How did he look?
I don’t remember.
I remember he was smiling, but I can’t recall how he looked at all.
I just can't remember his face...
But for sure, he was there.
A man with a face that I can’t remember.
I was surprised.
Because until when he suddenly appeared, I hadn’t sensed him at all.
Saleyakt stood up with his giant body and threatened him.
My two subordinates were also shocked by him.
"Who are you...?"
"Who am I? I am Human God, God of the Human World."
He called himself.
God of the Human World.
Of course, I knew that there are six gods among the worlds.
I heard from Dragon God about the existence of Human God.
When Human God first appeared in the Dragon World was a time of mythology to me as well.
Dragon God and the Dragon Race were still battling the dragons for world domination.
Human God appeared in the Dragon World around then and made a proposal to Dragon God.
Let's have a conference of the gods and exchange information.
The Human World was more developed than other worlds.
As the shortest-lived race among the inhabitants of the Six Worlds, their civilization developed rapidly.
Unique individuals and revolutionary ideas evolved more frequently for them.
Therefore, the information presented by Human God at the conference was particularly useful for the other worlds.
At the initial conference held in the Human World, Dragon God learned of the existence of "language" and "letters."
It was due to the sharing of human knowledge of language that Dragon Race could develop a civilization at all.
That was not all.
Human God generously shared various wisdoms from his world.
How to build cities, how to manage a large population, how to battle in groups, and animal husbandry.
None of those would have been possible for the Dragon Race alone.
Therefore, Dragon God had great trust in Human God.
Respected as leader of the gods.
“Excuse my rudeness!”
Thus, I corrected my posture immediately.
I stood up and gave the utmost salute.
I could not show disrespect to Dragon God-sama’s peer, and certainly not one with his respect.
"No, it's fine. As you were."
Human God approached my nervous self and patted me on my shoulders kindly, and sat down.
“I had a little business with Dragon God and happened to pass by.”
What was he doing here?
He answered, as if reading my heart.
“You seem desperate to find the killer of the Dragon General."
"How did you know that?"
"As I said, I had a little business with Dragon God, and he mentioned it. He was worried about you."
"..."
His words pierced deeply into my heart.
After searching for so many fruitless years, it felt like a thorn had lodged in my heart.
When I heard that Dragon God was not angry at me, but worried instead, my chest felt like it was about to burst.
I realized how powerless and diminutive I was.
I was near tears.
“Him and I go way back. If you’re troubled, I don’t mind helping you a little.”
“You know how to find the suspect?”
Human God laughed, knowing he snared his mark.
"No. like Dragon God, I’m not omniscient either. I don’t know everything, but I do know knowledge from the gods of each world. For example, your true potential…”
"My potential...?"
"Yes, you, a mixed blood of Demon Race and Dragon Race, contain a certain power within you."
Human God paced before me leisurely.
A smile on his face.
A reassuring smile.
But a reassuring smile isn’t always so reassuring.
Remember this.
It’s always tricksters who practice their smiles.
But I didn't know that at the time.
I was so relieved.
Fully trusting him.
“Haven’t you had moments when you could sense enemies moving behind you, or detect where enemies have gone?”
Indeed, I had had those moments before.
Sometimes when fighting dragons with Saleyakt, I could feel movements behind me.
Not just that.
Even back at the Demon World, I had some semblance of such ability.
Otherwise, it would have been difficult to survive alone in a world brimming with evil creatures.
"That's the power of your demonic eye. Use the power within your eye and look again. Take another look at the crime scene, you’ll surely find what you’re searching for… fufufu…”
Human God was still laughing as he slowly disappeared.
Maybe he walked out of the cave instead, but it felt as if he had disappeared.
I couldn't move and could only witness his disappearance.
"..."
By the time I realized it, he was gone.
Saleyakt and my subordinates were fast asleep, their bodies curled.
As if nothing had happened.
I also felt like I awoke from a dream.
However, I knew that gods sometimes employ mysterious powers.
Maybe this was one of those instances.
That was why I did not disregard the dream, but gave this demon eye a try.
■
I certainly had my suspicions.
If the circumstances were different, perhaps I would have been more suspicious.
Instead of wasting time on a power that might or might not exist.
But I was impatient.
I thought I had to do something about it.
Even grasping at straws.
I immediately returned to the Gold Dragon nest.
Nothing from Crystal remained, it returned to being a typical Gold Dragon nest.
A dark-red cave with ferns hanging down the ceiling.
Gold Dragons were mostly carnivores, but they could subsist on ferns when hungry.
There, I consciously focused at the back of my eyes.
"What’s this…"
Then, it was exactly as Human God said.
I clearly saw something at the back of my eyes.
It did exist, and I had been unconsciously using that power.
It’s difficult to explain.
Well, how about this.
It's like an internal organ.
You don’t usually notice your own heartbeat, unless you pay attention, right?
My demon eye is like that, except I could manipulate it at will.
I didn't even know it existed until then.
Maybe what Human God said was a catalyst of something, and unlocked a power I had been using only unconsciously until then.
My eye was a demon eye.
It was different from the demon eyes that are commonplace nowadays… But if you must give it a name, it’s a demon eye.
In my eyes, there were clear traces left behind.
Where the corpse of Crystal was, where the Gold Dragon’s corpse was.
Also signs of Maxwell’ and the subordinates’ investigation.
And, a sign of somebody else, someone different, floating in the air.
I could see it clearly.
Without a doubt.
I followed the lead with great conviction.
I jumped on Saleyakt and flew through the expansive Dragon World like wind.
Crossing six mountains and seven valleys.
Following the lead without an ounce of doubt.
I was confident that it must have been the culprit.
You might think I jumped to conclusions, but it couldn’t be helped.
It was the first lead I had.
Everyone wants to believe what they have is special.
I flew like an arrow.
■
Then I reached a mountain.
An unnamed mountain without any special features.
Not particularly tall, nor host of any special types of dragons, not particularly cavernous.
A mountain typical to the Dragon World.
There was a cave on the mountainside.
Yes, a single cave.
It shouldn't have existed.
Did it always exist, or was it dug out by someone?
Probably the latter.
After all, the entrance to the cave had traces left by something sharp.
It looked artificial.
"..."
I hesitated for a few seconds.
A criminal capable of killing a Dragon General might be in there.
Could I manage him somehow?
It may not be possible.
Won’t it be better to go back and ask the Dragon Generals for reinforcement?
But I immediately shook my head.
Until then I was in a constant state of blunder.
The state of “no results to show.”
The only way to recover from this blunder was to take the criminal's head and bring it back.
I thought back then.
"Gora, Scrubava... Let’s go."
"Yes!"
"Watch my back."
I kept Saleyakt waiting at the entrance and jumped inside with my two subordinates.
Looking back now, it might have been better to send one back to Kayos and request for assistance from the Five Dragon Generals.
But the subordinates might have shared the same thought.
Neither hesitated.
The inside of the cave was narrow and damp.
Hard green stones covered with moss, leaving the impression that nothing had lived there for a long time.
But it was obvious to me that someone was.
There were traces everywhere.
No, not mere traces.
A bed made of wood branches, decorated by skulls of small lizards.
“Seems like no one’s home, but stay vigilant.”
“Yes!”
I was sure the culprit was there.
The feeling from the bed was the same as in the Gold Dragon nest.
Even though I could sense him, I couldn’t see him.
Was he out?
Or...
"...!"
"Gwaaa!"
At that moment, I heard a voice from behind me.
At a quick glance, Scrubava's neck was cut off, he collapsed without even spilling blood.
It was too abrupt.
I couldn’t deny my carelessness, too eager from the new found power of the magic eye.
"Who the hell...!"
It flew in the darkness and attacked toward Gora.
I didn’t let the opportunity slip.
In a single motion, I placed myself in its path, grabbed its arm and tossed it against a hard rock.
Then, the light from the entrance revealed its appearance.
I was surprised.
Black skin, four arms.
Red eyes.
Definitely not Dragon Race.
A demon.
I knew right away.
After all, something I saw innumerable times before, something I once longed for.
But what surprised me wasn’t that he was Demon Race.
It was that he did not appear in my demon eye.
Through some technique or by nature?
Fortunately, even though I couldn’t trace him, I could still follow him through his footprint and scent.
I just couldn’t see him with my magic eye.
『――――! ]
He yelled at me.
It’s in Demon Language.
But I didn’t understand.
I hadn’t learned the Demon Language.
But I could feel his hostility.
“We must avenge Crystal-sama and Scrubava! Gora, watch my back!”
"Yes!"
I judged that he was Crystal’s killer.
Extending my claws, pushing Dragon Touki through my body.
Right hand before me, left hand on my chest.
Same stance as Dora-sama.
『――――! ]
The demon screamed something, recognizing my murderous intent.
Immediately he reposed himself, facing me.
I corrected our distance, and Gora covered my blind spot.
The exit behind us.
There was no escape.
『――――! ]
The demons screamed and kicked the ground.
The battle had begun.
■
It was a terrible battle.
He was strong.
Whether cut with my claws or pierced with my fang technique, it instantly regenerated, moved, and attacked again.
Of course, I was overwhelmed.
I was beaten down many times and vomited blood again and again.
I didn't feel like I could win.
At times I thought of retreating and requesting the Dragon Generals for reinforcements.
It was certainly the smart option.
Even though Dora-sama taught me to never run from an enemy… It was just a temporary withdrawal to fulfill the mission.
But second-guessing during the battle was a folly.
Gora was killed.
He had his heart ripped out and died.
A brief moment of hesitation.
It was just before I thought to suggest a temporary withdrawal.
I could never forget Gora’s opened dead eyes when he pierced her chest.
I lost both of my men and my path of retreat.
I kept fighting.
Full of retreat.
My relationship with Gora and Scrubava had been brief, but we had traveled together, eaten together.
I must avenge their death.
More than that.
If I pulled out then, it could mean abandoning our hard work all these years.
However, I was gradually pushed into a desperate situation.
Wasn’t it obvious?
How could I defeat someone immortal?
No matter how much I attacked, it regenerated.
But I couldn’t.
Slowly, I was cornered.
Lacking the power to overwhelm him.
The only saving grace was my nearly unlimited physical stamina, so I didn’t lose right away.
That fight continued for ten days and ten nights.
The cave caved in from collateral damage of the battle, the mountainside collapsed, but our match remained undecided.
We both stubbornly hung on.
Yet, surprisingly, he reached his breaking point.
Maybe he wasn’t the kind that could go a long time without eating.
When I paid attention, he seemed shockingly thin.
He had wings on its back and could fly, but nowhere near as capable as Dragon Race.
So he couldn’t have gone far in search of prey.
No matter how powerful one is, after ten days of fighting one’s strength would weaken.
On the tenth day, I noticed that his regenerative power had weakened.
He understood that as well.
I could see “I don’t want to die” reflected in his eyes.
However, I was even more tattered and full of scrapes. It wouldn’t have been surprising if I fell at any moment.
Almost no strength was left.
I thought that if I continued fighting like this, I would certainly have been defeated.
Even though victory was within reach, I was about to break first.
If I lose, he will eat us -- me, Gora, and Scrubava -- to regain strength.
Instead of avenging Crystal-sama, becoming food to the enemy and the source of his strength.
That wasn’t my mission.
I had to clear Dora-sama's regret.
I could not waste the Five Dragon Generals’ support for me.
I had to meet the expectations of Dragon God.
"Oooooooooooooooh!"
So I squeezed my last remaining strength.
Something swelled from deep in my belly.
Just below my heart.
An overwhelming force, like boiling magma.
It may also have been related to the opening of my demon eye.
I unleashed it...
Actually, I don't really remember how I released it.
Even if you ask me to do it again, I probably couldn’t.
However, awashed with hope for victory and hate for defeat, I let it all out.
And the mountain disappeared.
■
When I woke up, both of us had fainted, lying side-by-side on a nearby mountain ledge.
My Dragon Touki exploded.
Like a suicide bomb.
The energy unleashed blew apart the mountain and caused him to faint.
It was a mutual defeat.
It seemed like Saleyakt caught both of us while we were unconscious and brought us to this ledge.
Saleyakt saved my life.
As soon as I woke up, I restrained his arms and legs with a rope made of leather and dragon bone.
To be honest, I was lucky to have woken up first.
Anyways, I caught the man who killed Crystal.
I had accomplished my mission.
How did he look?
I don’t remember.
I remember he was smiling, but I can’t recall how he looked at all.
I just can't remember his face...
But for sure, he was there.
A man with a face that I can’t remember.
I was surprised.
Because until when he suddenly appeared, I hadn’t sensed him at all.
Saleyakt stood up with his giant body and threatened him.
My two subordinates were also shocked by him.
"Who are you...?"
"Who am I? I am Human God, God of the Human World."
He called himself.
God of the Human World.
Of course, I knew that there are six gods among the worlds.
I heard from Dragon God about the existence of Human God.
When Human God first appeared in the Dragon World was a time of mythology to me as well.
Dragon God and the Dragon Race were still battling the dragons for world domination.
Human God appeared in the Dragon World around then and made a proposal to Dragon God.
Let's have a conference of the gods and exchange information.
The Human World was more developed than other worlds.
As the shortest-lived race among the inhabitants of the Six Worlds, their civilization developed rapidly.
Unique individuals and revolutionary ideas evolved more frequently for them.
Therefore, the information presented by Human God at the conference was particularly useful for the other worlds.
At the initial conference held in the Human World, Dragon God learned of the existence of "language" and "letters."
It was due to the sharing of human knowledge of language that Dragon Race could develop a civilization at all.
That was not all.
Human God generously shared various wisdoms from his world.
How to build cities, how to manage a large population, how to battle in groups, and animal husbandry.
None of those would have been possible for the Dragon Race alone.
Therefore, Dragon God had great trust in Human God.
Respected as leader of the gods.
“Excuse my rudeness!”
Thus, I corrected my posture immediately.
I stood up and gave the utmost salute.
I could not show disrespect to Dragon God-sama’s peer, and certainly not one with his respect.
"No, it's fine. As you were."
Human God approached my nervous self and patted me on my shoulders kindly, and sat down.
“I had a little business with Dragon God and happened to pass by.”
What was he doing here?
He answered, as if reading my heart.
“You seem desperate to find the killer of the Dragon General."
"How did you know that?"
"As I said, I had a little business with Dragon God, and he mentioned it. He was worried about you."
"..."
His words pierced deeply into my heart.
After searching for so many fruitless years, it felt like a thorn had lodged in my heart.
When I heard that Dragon God was not angry at me, but worried instead, my chest felt like it was about to burst.
I realized how powerless and diminutive I was.
I was near tears.
“Him and I go way back. If you’re troubled, I don’t mind helping you a little.”
“You know how to find the suspect?”
Human God laughed, knowing he snared his mark.
"No. like Dragon God, I’m not omniscient either. I don’t know everything, but I do know knowledge from the gods of each world. For example, your true potential…”
"My potential...?"
"Yes, you, a mixed blood of Demon Race and Dragon Race, contain a certain power within you."
Human God paced before me leisurely.
A smile on his face.
A reassuring smile.
But a reassuring smile isn’t always so reassuring.
Remember this.
It’s always tricksters who practice their smiles.
But I didn't know that at the time.
I was so relieved.
Fully trusting him.
“Haven’t you had moments when you could sense enemies moving behind you, or detect where enemies have gone?”
Indeed, I had had those moments before.
Sometimes when fighting dragons with Saleyakt, I could feel movements behind me.
Not just that.
Even back at the Demon World, I had some semblance of such ability.
Otherwise, it would have been difficult to survive alone in a world brimming with evil creatures.
"That's the power of your demonic eye. Use the power within your eye and look again. Take another look at the crime scene, you’ll surely find what you’re searching for… fufufu…”
Human God was still laughing as he slowly disappeared.
Maybe he walked out of the cave instead, but it felt as if he had disappeared.
I couldn't move and could only witness his disappearance.
"..."
By the time I realized it, he was gone.
Saleyakt and my subordinates were fast asleep, their bodies curled.
As if nothing had happened.
I also felt like I awoke from a dream.
However, I knew that gods sometimes employ mysterious powers.
Maybe this was one of those instances.
That was why I did not disregard the dream, but gave this demon eye a try.
■
I certainly had my suspicions.
If the circumstances were different, perhaps I would have been more suspicious.
Instead of wasting time on a power that might or might not exist.
But I was impatient.
I thought I had to do something about it.
Even grasping at straws.
I immediately returned to the Gold Dragon nest.
Nothing from Crystal remained, it returned to being a typical Gold Dragon nest.
A dark-red cave with ferns hanging down the ceiling.
Gold Dragons were mostly carnivores, but they could subsist on ferns when hungry.
There, I consciously focused at the back of my eyes.
"What’s this…"
Then, it was exactly as Human God said.
I clearly saw something at the back of my eyes.
It did exist, and I had been unconsciously using that power.
It’s difficult to explain.
Well, how about this.
It's like an internal organ.
You don’t usually notice your own heartbeat, unless you pay attention, right?
My demon eye is like that, except I could manipulate it at will.
I didn't even know it existed until then.
Maybe what Human God said was a catalyst of something, and unlocked a power I had been using only unconsciously until then.
My eye was a demon eye.
It was different from the demon eyes that are commonplace nowadays… But if you must give it a name, it’s a demon eye.
In my eyes, there were clear traces left behind.
Where the corpse of Crystal was, where the Gold Dragon’s corpse was.
Also signs of Maxwell’ and the subordinates’ investigation.
And, a sign of somebody else, someone different, floating in the air.
I could see it clearly.
Without a doubt.
I followed the lead with great conviction.
I jumped on Saleyakt and flew through the expansive Dragon World like wind.
Crossing six mountains and seven valleys.
Following the lead without an ounce of doubt.
I was confident that it must have been the culprit.
You might think I jumped to conclusions, but it couldn’t be helped.
It was the first lead I had.
Everyone wants to believe what they have is special.
I flew like an arrow.
■
Then I reached a mountain.
An unnamed mountain without any special features.
Not particularly tall, nor host of any special types of dragons, not particularly cavernous.
A mountain typical to the Dragon World.
There was a cave on the mountainside.
Yes, a single cave.
It shouldn't have existed.
Did it always exist, or was it dug out by someone?
Probably the latter.
After all, the entrance to the cave had traces left by something sharp.
It looked artificial.
"..."
I hesitated for a few seconds.
A criminal capable of killing a Dragon General might be in there.
Could I manage him somehow?
It may not be possible.
Won’t it be better to go back and ask the Dragon Generals for reinforcement?
But I immediately shook my head.
Until then I was in a constant state of blunder.
The state of “no results to show.”
The only way to recover from this blunder was to take the criminal's head and bring it back.
I thought back then.
"Gora, Scrubava... Let’s go."
"Yes!"
"Watch my back."
I kept Saleyakt waiting at the entrance and jumped inside with my two subordinates.
Looking back now, it might have been better to send one back to Kayos and request for assistance from the Five Dragon Generals.
But the subordinates might have shared the same thought.
Neither hesitated.
The inside of the cave was narrow and damp.
Hard green stones covered with moss, leaving the impression that nothing had lived there for a long time.
But it was obvious to me that someone was.
There were traces everywhere.
No, not mere traces.
A bed made of wood branches, decorated by skulls of small lizards.
“Seems like no one’s home, but stay vigilant.”
“Yes!”
I was sure the culprit was there.
The feeling from the bed was the same as in the Gold Dragon nest.
Even though I could sense him, I couldn’t see him.
Was he out?
Or...
"...!"
"Gwaaa!"
At that moment, I heard a voice from behind me.
At a quick glance, Scrubava's neck was cut off, he collapsed without even spilling blood.
It was too abrupt.
I couldn’t deny my carelessness, too eager from the new found power of the magic eye.
"Who the hell...!"
It flew in the darkness and attacked toward Gora.
I didn’t let the opportunity slip.
In a single motion, I placed myself in its path, grabbed its arm and tossed it against a hard rock.
Then, the light from the entrance revealed its appearance.
I was surprised.
Black skin, four arms.
Red eyes.
Definitely not Dragon Race.
A demon.
I knew right away.
After all, something I saw innumerable times before, something I once longed for.
But what surprised me wasn’t that he was Demon Race.
It was that he did not appear in my demon eye.
Through some technique or by nature?
Fortunately, even though I couldn’t trace him, I could still follow him through his footprint and scent.
I just couldn’t see him with my magic eye.
『――――! ]
He yelled at me.
It’s in Demon Language.
But I didn’t understand.
I hadn’t learned the Demon Language.
But I could feel his hostility.
“We must avenge Crystal-sama and Scrubava! Gora, watch my back!”
"Yes!"
I judged that he was Crystal’s killer.
Extending my claws, pushing Dragon Touki through my body.
Right hand before me, left hand on my chest.
Same stance as Dora-sama.
『――――! ]
The demon screamed something, recognizing my murderous intent.
Immediately he reposed himself, facing me.
I corrected our distance, and Gora covered my blind spot.
The exit behind us.
There was no escape.
『――――! ]
The demons screamed and kicked the ground.
The battle had begun.
■
It was a terrible battle.
He was strong.
Whether cut with my claws or pierced with my fang technique, it instantly regenerated, moved, and attacked again.
Of course, I was overwhelmed.
I was beaten down many times and vomited blood again and again.
I didn't feel like I could win.
At times I thought of retreating and requesting the Dragon Generals for reinforcements.
It was certainly the smart option.
Even though Dora-sama taught me to never run from an enemy… It was just a temporary withdrawal to fulfill the mission.
But second-guessing during the battle was a folly.
Gora was killed.
He had his heart ripped out and died.
A brief moment of hesitation.
It was just before I thought to suggest a temporary withdrawal.
I could never forget Gora’s opened dead eyes when he pierced her chest.
I lost both of my men and my path of retreat.
I kept fighting.
Full of retreat.
My relationship with Gora and Scrubava had been brief, but we had traveled together, eaten together.
I must avenge their death.
More than that.
If I pulled out then, it could mean abandoning our hard work all these years.
However, I was gradually pushed into a desperate situation.
Wasn’t it obvious?
How could I defeat someone immortal?
No matter how much I attacked, it regenerated.
But I couldn’t.
Slowly, I was cornered.
Lacking the power to overwhelm him.
The only saving grace was my nearly unlimited physical stamina, so I didn’t lose right away.
That fight continued for ten days and ten nights.
The cave caved in from collateral damage of the battle, the mountainside collapsed, but our match remained undecided.
We both stubbornly hung on.
Yet, surprisingly, he reached his breaking point.
Maybe he wasn’t the kind that could go a long time without eating.
When I paid attention, he seemed shockingly thin.
He had wings on its back and could fly, but nowhere near as capable as Dragon Race.
So he couldn’t have gone far in search of prey.
No matter how powerful one is, after ten days of fighting one’s strength would weaken.
On the tenth day, I noticed that his regenerative power had weakened.
He understood that as well.
I could see “I don’t want to die” reflected in his eyes.
However, I was even more tattered and full of scrapes. It wouldn’t have been surprising if I fell at any moment.
Almost no strength was left.
I thought that if I continued fighting like this, I would certainly have been defeated.
Even though victory was within reach, I was about to break first.
If I lose, he will eat us -- me, Gora, and Scrubava -- to regain strength.
Instead of avenging Crystal-sama, becoming food to the enemy and the source of his strength.
That wasn’t my mission.
I had to clear Dora-sama's regret.
I could not waste the Five Dragon Generals’ support for me.
I had to meet the expectations of Dragon God.
"Oooooooooooooooh!"
So I squeezed my last remaining strength.
Something swelled from deep in my belly.
Just below my heart.
An overwhelming force, like boiling magma.
It may also have been related to the opening of my demon eye.
I unleashed it...
Actually, I don't really remember how I released it.
Even if you ask me to do it again, I probably couldn’t.
However, awashed with hope for victory and hate for defeat, I let it all out.
And the mountain disappeared.
■
When I woke up, both of us had fainted, lying side-by-side on a nearby mountain ledge.
My Dragon Touki exploded.
Like a suicide bomb.
The energy unleashed blew apart the mountain and caused him to faint.
It was a mutual defeat.
It seemed like Saleyakt caught both of us while we were unconscious and brought us to this ledge.
Saleyakt saved my life.
As soon as I woke up, I restrained his arms and legs with a rope made of leather and dragon bone.
To be honest, I was lucky to have woken up first.
Anyways, I caught the man who killed Crystal.
I had accomplished my mission.
