Chapter 228: Eternal Birdcage

***Arc 10 One Who Doesn't Acknowledge, Chapter 228 Eternal Birdcage***

Far north from Vesalius Fang.

Deep in the depths of the Great Mountains Dougalaz, the demonic dragon, Kushenaras, who destroyed the once prosperous empire of Rusheran in three days, was sleeping.

Even today, this land was still managed by the descendants of Rusheran――the Futaria's Holy Spirit Nation, as a forbidden land, and uncertain legends had been passed down for a thousand years. And as legend has it, there was indeed a large cavern where a dragon slept.

A huge crystal cave covered one side with magic crystals, and at the edge of it was a huge body that looked like a small mountain.

As if sensing something, the dragon reared its sickle neck and turned its reddish-purple eyes toward the entrance to the large hole that opened above his head.

A girl came down, illuminated by the sun.

Her silver hair shimmers and the blue light surrounding her body.

Her delicate body――The dense magical power from her back, like wings, slowed her fall, and the girl landed softly.

"Um, nice to meet――"

Then she smiled, and the moment the girl was about to say hello, dozens of bullets of light floated around the dragon and were fired towards the girl.

A flash of light filled the crystal cave, dozens of roaring sounds echoed, and the magic crystals on the walls collapsed.

*"What do you need, Regalave? Isn't it quite a greeting to bring a human into my bed? It's not like you, is it so boring that you want to start a fight?"

"It's not a mere Small One. Since she is a friend with whom I have allowed my True Name (Mana), I granted her request."

"...Friend?"*

The waves of magical power swayed as if laughing.

"Does age even make dragons go mad? Of all things, I never expected such words to come out of that Dragon Hunter."

Shaking the magic power, They spun words.

The Dragon――Kushenaras' eyes narrowed as They saw the pile of rubble containing the remains of her little girl begin to move.

"Geez, doing that so suddenly."

The rubble was blown away, and what emerged was the figure of a girl.

She was a girl wrapped in a ball of light, with no scratches on her body, and her purple eyes calmly looked up at the dragon.

Then, from the entrance of the cavern, another dragon descended, wrapped in a storm.

Just landing on the ground caused a tremor, and the rubble turned into blue dust and flew into the sky.

The girl, floating as if carried by the wind, sat on Regalave's head――around the area between the eyebrows, and repeated her greeting.

"Krische heard that even among the dragons you are one that competed for the 1st and 2nd , so Krische came to greet you. Krische also has a request..."

Kushenaras, as if displeased, shook Their magic mower, and again released dozens of light bullets.

However, before it was released, it dispersed and disappeared on the spot.

The girl held up her hand and said, "It's no use", while smiling.

"Krische is much stronger than you."

Countless bands of blue light wrapped around Kushenaras' gigantic body, and a gigantic three-dimensional magic circle was woven in front of its face.

Contrary to the huge size, the magic formula was intricately engraved in every detail――it was assembled in a single instant, and was so advanced that even Kushenaras, who was skilled at magic even among the dragons, could not understand it with just a glance.

――What they could understand was that magic with deadly power similar to a dragon's roar was directed at them.

And their body, which was like a small mountain, was blocked from all movement.

The girl possessed a magical power unimaginable for a human.

Somehow, all the magic power of this large cavity was already in the girl's hands.

In this short amount of time, the girl had taken control of this space.

Kushenaras looked up at the sky from the large hole in the ceiling.

They narrowed their eyes as they felt a dense magical energy floating in the air far above.

*"Interesting. A human changing even the world"*

"Ehehe"

The girl who was staring at Kushenaras laughed again.

She then waved her hand, causing the magic formula to disappear and all of her magical power that had captured Kushenaras to dissipate.

*"You slept too long, Kushenaras. Even I can't win against this Small One. No matter how one they are with the earth a Dragon may be, They would never be able to defeat this one."

"Hou"*

The girl sitting on top of Regalave's head opened her mouth.

"Krische is Krische Christand. Krische heard that there is a very easy-to-understand system where dragons become friends when they introduce themselves to each other..."

Kushenaras shook Their magic.

It was very similar to people laughing.

*"...What reason is there for me to allow you my True Name (Mana)?"*

"Krische heard that dragons are simple, the stronger one is the better one. So Krische's sure you'll allow Krische."

The girl――Krische smiled and answered as if it were only natural.

Kushenaras looked at Krische with Their red-purple eyes, and then They turned to Regalave, who placed her on Their head.

*"You appeared for the first time in hundreds of years, and you brought with you a troublesome-looking one. ...This favor is on you okay, Regalave."

"But isn't it interesting? Don't just sleep forever, it's good to take a look at the outside once in a while. There are some interesting discoveries."

"It was the worst way to wake up though――well whatever."*

Kushenaras turned to Krische.

*"What's your business, Krische?"*

"Um, uh..."

Krische looked at Kushenaras troublingly.

"Before that, let's introduce ourselves so we can become friends..."

Krische stared at Kushenaras, and Kushenaras looked back at her.

After a while, the magic power shook.

*"...Kushenaras of Dougalaz. Tell me your business quickly."*

"Ehehe, yes. Now we're friends, Kushenaras-san."

Krische nodded with satisfaction and touched her magic crystal earrings, saying, 'Please wait a moment'.

"Krische, is not good at explaining things, so Krische will leave it to Krische's little sister to tell the story properly...Kreschenta."

Krische then called out and waited for a while for a response.

But there was no reply, and Krische frowned and said again.

"Kreschenta, sleeping? So you're sleeping. Kreschenta, if you don't wake up before Krische count to ten, Krische'll get angry. Ten, nine, eight――"

Kushenaras narrowed Their eyes and looked at Regalave.

Regalave shook waves of magic intermittently and said nothing.

"Oonne, Zeerrro...muu, what a hopeless child..."

Krische waved her hand and disintegrated the large crystal on the wall into magical power.

She held the enormous amount of magical power in her hands and projected it into the sky, emitting numerous lines of blue light――she instantly assembled a formula that could fill this large cavern, and launched a pillar of magical power above the clouds.

Then she looked back at Kushenaras and asked Them to wait a moment.

*"..."*

Kushenaras said nothing.

――It must have been a kind of a divine sight.

A pillar of light appeared from the heavens, and the sun began to rise in the royal capital of Albeneria, pouring down on the bedroom of the royal mansion, and connecting it to a deep cavern in the mountains in the far east.

It only took a moment for the capital's pillar of light to disappear.

After a while, a sphere floated above the heads of Krische and the others in a large hollow pillar of light, and a beautiful girl appeared.

She has golden hair that sparkles with red――a pale pink nightgown, and bare feet.

Her sleeping beauty was like a fairy.

The girl was holding a pillow in her arms as if it were a treasure.

Slowly inside the pillar of light――the girl enveloped in a ball of light descended from the sky, in front of the exasperated Krische.

What was she dreaming about?

Her lips moved happily as she slept talking, 'Ehehe, Onee-sama'.

Krische sighed as she held her little sister in her arms.

"Ehehe, Onee-sama, not."

"Unyi!?"

She pinched Kreschenta's cheek as she slept happily.

――Above Regalave's head.

The Demon Lord of Alberan (Just Woke Up) puffed out her cheeks and raised her voice while holding her cheek and blaming her sister.

"No matter what, it's cruel, too cruel to pinch my cheek!"

"Kreschenta is the one who is cruel. While Krische was having a hard time on the long journey in the air, Kreschenta was fast asleep."

"Unlike here, it's still night over there! I stayed up late because a call will come from Onee-sama, and I was already trying to get up very early."

"All lies. It must have been morning over there already. Krische knew it okay, that Kreschenta took a bath and breakfast as usual, then immediately fell asleep in bed, and in the morning she slept soundly, sleeping twice and then thrice."

"Uu..."

"Not, uu"

Krische sighed 'Really, geez' as she tugged at her sister's cheek, who didn't let go of her pillow.

"Kreschenta is always a spoiled child. Even though Kreschenta already noticed it the moment Kreschenta was Pyon-Pyon to her, Kreschenta stayed asleep because Krische would wake you up, right? Krische can see right through it."

"...Because I wanted to sleep. Also, Onee-sama, please say teleportation instead of Pyon-Pyon――"

"Don't change the subject."

Again, Krische pulled at her sister's cheeks.

Feeling the gentleness in how she was being pinched, Kreschenta said, 'Please forgive me', and placed a pillow on top of Regalave's head, turned towards her sister, hugged her, and kissed her.

'Really what a hopeless child', Krische said, pulling the cheek once again and then letting go of her hand.

"...Ehehe"

"Kreschenta. Krische, is angry, okay?"

"Of course I'm reflecting on it properly."

As she said this, she gave a small yawn and changed her position so that she was leaning on Krische again, staring at the silent dragon in front of her.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting, it's nice to meet you. I'm Kreschenta, the king of Alberan, who currently ruled the continent... or rather, the world."

Kreschenta spoke without any remorse, and Kushenaras stared at the girl.

*"Your business"*

However, They didn't show any signs of anger and just said that.

Kreschenta smiled and nodded.

"My request is simple. I would like you to build a tower here――a well that can draw up magical power."

*"...Magic well?"*

"Yes, it's good to pull up the magical power from the source and fill the atmosphere with magical power. A place where a dragon like you sleeps is especially close to the source. Isn't it just right to make a well?"

then pointed above her head.

"Right now, we're only on my second magic well. However, you do realize that the sky is filled with more magic than when you were flying, right? I'm sure it will be easier for you to live in."

Kushenaras didn't say anything, and Kreschenta continued without worrying.

Kreschenta had no hobby of reading the expressions of 'Long Live Lizard'.

"According to Regalae-sama, there are five dragons on this continent, so first we will visit those dragons one by one, and then we will have the same negotiations with the dragons sleeping on other continents and islands."

*"...So this is a negotiation you say?"*

"Fufu, I heard that this is normal in the dragon world."

Kreschenta laughed, and Kushenaras also shook their magic power intermittently.

"As you can see, unlike you, we only have a small amount of magical power. Even if we want to do various things, we have to do something about out magical power, ...but after thinking about it, I've come to the conclusion that it would be quicker to just change the world.''

While saying this, she grabbed her sister's hands, letting it rest on her hips, and smiled.

"A world revolution. I think it's not a bad idea for those of you who are bored and have too much time on your hands."

*"That's an unnecessary concern, one named Kreschenta. Most probably feel that way because they don't have any interests outside, and that they don't lack anything."*

"Is that so?"

Tracing her lips with her fingertips,

"Isn't it because you are looking for change that you are not dying?"

Kreschenta narrowed her eyes.

"I heard you destroyed a human country a long time ago, but did you enjoy it? Didn't you think there would be no competition by killing someone who had no resistance?"

*"...It was an eyesore so I just burned it down. I didn't think of it as entertainment in the first place."*

"Fufu, even though there are some humans who enjoy killing each other and hunting beasts, it's rare to find people who enjoy killing insects unilaterally."

'That's what I think too', she said, turning her purple eyes towards Kushenaras.

"I think the reason you all stopped fighting dragons is because if you destroyed all the dragons, your 'only entertainment' would disappear. ...I think it's because they're all afraid of losing their equals.''

There was no response, but she continued anyway.

"Everyone who lives needs something unknown, Kushenaras-sama. If the atmosphere were filled with magic, great changes would occur in the world. Strong beasts will be born, humans will advance...Maybe something will be born that will shake up a life where there is no entertainment other than fighting dragons.''

Amusedly, as if she could see right through.

"... I'm sure the reason you're still listening to me like this is because you're enjoying the moment. If you have no expectations or interest in the future, you'll probably choose death without exchanging words."

The beautiful queen smiled, shaking her golden hair that sparkled with red.

"I'll tell you something... You're enjoying the situation where people you've never paid attention to and thought of as dust threaten you with their power and make you listen to their stories."

'Dragons are perverts', Kreschenta continued with a laugh, looking down at Kushenaras.

Kushenaras didn't say anything for a while, and silence filled the cavern.

And it was magic power that broke the silence.

The hard sound of the surrounding magic crystals resonating with the intermittent waves of magical power echoed quietly.

*"So you're saying you can estimate Me by human scale?"*

"Unfortunately, I only have my own measuring stick. Well, putting aside if you're an unintelligent lizard, but you're a lizard with some wisdom after all. If there is a speck of logic and reason, then I don't think you are that different from us."

'Your answer is two', she said, holding up her index and middle fingers.

"Would you like to fight us here and get killed, or will you cooperate with us and look forward to changes in the future?"

'I don't mind either way', she smiled.

"We're going through all this trouble because we want to resolve it through discussion as much as possible. If you're not interested in what's going to happen and say it's all pointless, we'll kill you right now."

'It's a bit violent though' she continued and as if to say that she was no longer interested in Kushenaras, Kreschenta turned around again and hugged her sister, rubbing her body against hers, while Krische stroked her sister's head.

Kushenaras looked at them for a while, then turned to Regalave.

*"What an arrogant creature. Maybe I should have gotten rid of them without leaving any behind. ...But you accepted this, right?"

"...There are some reasons and obligations, but it's trivial."*

Regalave answered.

*"I lost my sense of worthiness and pride a long time ago, as well as my attachment to power. Even the arrogance of this seems amusing now. ...I said it to you in the past right? That I intend to enjoy the changes of the world. These ones's suggestions are not bad for me."*

They turned Their attention to the two who were hugging each other above Their heads, and intermittently shook Their magical power.

*"What keeps Us alive so much that We even lose sight of the boundary between death and life, Kushenaras? There should be no big difference between Me and you. ...You too have expectations somewhere in you."*

'Death can come at any time', Regalave continued, narrowing Their eyes.

*"Let's look at it together, as Our whim take Us."*

Magic power shook.

The magic crystal vibrates and resonates with a hard sound.

It was the laughter of the two Dragons.

*"...You've changed, Regalave. It's unlike you, who liked killing each other more than anyone else."

"It's because I'm tired of killing each other. Doesn't it pique your interest?"*

Not bad, Kushenaras replied, Their gaze turned to Krische.

*"One called Krische. What do you wish for at the end of it?"*

"At the end..."

*"Isn't filling the atmosphere with magic just a process? What do you seek beyond that?"*

Kreschenta pouted her lips slightly, and Krische traced her lips in a slightly troubled manner.

She was silent for a moment, thinking, and groaned.

"...It's difficult to say, when you say the end. Krische feel like Krische's purpose should be called the process...and Krische've never thought about the end."

*"I don't care."*

"Hmm...it might be hard for Kushenaras-san, who has lived a long life, to understand."

She paused for a moment and smiled.

"Krische, wanted an eternity."

*"...Eternity?"*

"Yes. Without any bad people, without war or death, and where one can live in peace and happiness with the people they love...that kind of eternity."

She took out a small magic crystal tied to a string from her chest and stroked it affectionately.

"Krische is going to create another small world with Krische's magic and move. To put it in Kreschenta terms..."

The magic crystal was engraved with so many magical techniques that it seemed like it would suck one in just by looking at it, and inside it――in the center was a small, beautiful light.

"Krische guessed it could be called, Eternal birdcage."

――There was a soul named Lipus.