Chapter 1
A man suddenly realized that he was lying on his back.
What spread in his sight was a blue sky, and if he tried to reach for it, it felt like he got it.
It was a beautiful fine weather.
Was such a thing happened because it pa.s.sed through his mind?
While thinking that, the man inadvertently reached out, but… failed.
For some reason, his arm wasn’t moving.
He was questioning himself, why there was such a thing–…
[–Splendid, human.] (??)
When he looked toward the sudden voice heard, there was a huge mountain over there.
Nope, with that degree, he couldn’t think anything else but something huge.
And the man finally remembered when looking at it.
He was wondering of what he had been doing… and why it became like this.
"Hmmm… it seems that I have somehow win." (??)
[…I guess so. You are not losing even a limb, but look at my situation. There is no doubt. It’s your win.] (??)
The voice wasn’t only heard from the huge one.
It was rolling right there, and where compared to it, the sound from it was too small.
The huge one was its body, while the small one was its head.
However, this was a persistently talk to the bitter end, that the small one was bigger than the man.
When looking at such a thing, the man let out a sigh.
"…Well, to be honest, I don’t really feel that I have won. And you haven’t died. By the way, how can we speak even in such a state?" (Man)
[Hmm… Isn’t because I am a dragon? Furthermore, I am standing at the top among them. Since this is the case, I will not die easily. And in the first place, I am not talking to you with my vocal cords. I don’t have need for such a feature.] (Dragon)
Yes, it was a dragon.
With that exaggerated imitation, it wasn’t done by any imposter.
The thing was his existence was one of the few mysteries.
When looking at the sky, the human was fascinated. But he was embraced by fear again.
There were strongest symbols of desperation and misery.
It was ridiculous, but it hadn’t died even though its neck was severed, and he understood that well.
"Oh dear… you’re a troublesome superfluous existence. This is out of common sense in many ways. If your neck has been cut off, just die." (Man)
[Are you saying especially when I am killed by the hand of a human? Instead of me, you are the one with lack of common sense. Normally, it would be impossible to reach me with that blade as well as killing me.] (Dragon)
"Well, that’s because I challenged you. To know whether my sword has reached the degree that I expected." (Man)
Right, although a dragon is an existence that brought calamity to human, the man didn’t challenge him for that particular reason.
It was the worst among the worsts.
A dragon among dragons.
It was call the Dragon King among human and the reason he went there was simply to fight him. He just wanted to test.
Testing
He was called the world strongest, so there was a self confidence but was he testing as expected?
Had he arrive at the top of the swordsmans.h.i.+p?
To answer that question, that was the reason why he fought the dragon.
[And the outcome has come out. Your sword has reached even my degree. With that body, you have been trained well.] (Dragon)
"…Is that so? Did I finally arrive at the top of the swordsmans.h.i.+p?] (Man)
[Hmm… I recognized that. No doubt that you have arrived. That’s why you could kill me.] (Dragon)
He felt that everything was rewarded by that words.
It was a life that he spent on nothing else but that.
Only thinking about sword, he spent times to polish his ability.
There was no regret.
There was no reason.
He did all he wanted and had accomplished them all.
There was no regret of not trying.
"And because of that, let me say once again. You are splendid.] (Dragon)
"…To be honest, I didn’t really care about killing you." (Man)
[Hmmm… you’re killing me for the sake of proving it, huh? Again, you already reached there… and that is it, and I am also satisfied. –…] (Dragon)
When it said until that point, the dragon suddenly changed the mood.
As if it embodied the mystery of dragons, if it was said to be a G.o.d, it was something that could be agreed upon.
And it was said among them.
[Although you are satisfied, it has nothing to do with my pride. With that, let me ask you a question. Do you have any desire?] (Dragon)
"…I am not sure what are you talking about? You are asking the opponent who killed you, are you m.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.t? Nevertheless, while asking that, are you just asking or is there an ill-natured meaning?" (Man)
"Just say it, or my pride will be affected. Even if it so, I am still called a G.o.d. You may be satisfied, but I am not satisfied if I don’t do anything.] (Dragon)
"…For you to even say such a thing. I have no desire after reaching the top of swordsmans.h.i.+p… but let alone hoping, it is impossible. Whatever it is, I am dying soon." (Man)
It was a definite future.
In other words, he couldn’t move his arms.
In a literal sense, everything was overthrown.
It was reasonable when the life was running out, but even with that, the man didn’t regret anything.
[If you wish, it is possible to breathe life again into that body, you know? Well, you may not want it.] (Dragon)
"Ooh, there is such a thing. The thing that I want is beyond hope–" (Man)
At the moment, there was one thing pa.s.sed through his mind.
Although it was a lingering affection, the man was thinking of one thing, and that was it.
Moreover, the man had no family, and he never made friends or lovers.
That was why it wasn’t about people… once he remembered it, he was jealous, and he longed for it.
— Magic.
It was said that it had been already lost in this work, and I wanted to use it.
For that man, it was the only regret.
However, he didn’t say it because it was meaningless.
Although it was a lingering affection, the man had chosen the way of the sword.
Even if he lived a long life here, there was no way to find that road.
Well, alternatively, if it was possible to be reborn again, but then… even if he opened his mouth, it would be meaningless.
That was why he didn’t need anything.
Just be satisfied, and quietly let this life ended here.
He tried to reply, but he noticed that he couldn’t do it already.
The body of the man was indeed beyond limit.
It wasn’t unusual for the light of his life to end at any time… and when that time finally came, that was it.
But even the dragon could understand when it looked at the face of the satisfying man.
He was thinking that—…
[…Hmm, is that your wish? Understood. With me as a G.o.d, I will surely make it come true.] (Dragon)
He felt that he was told something at the end, but it didn’t reach his consciousness.
And the curtain was lowered down for his life as it was.