Everyone in the room, including me, couldn"t open our eyes due to the white light that leaked from the egg. It was just for an instant. My body shuddered as I felt something like a warm breeze blowing.
[The sleeping egg of Aiolos is waking up.]
...What? The egg was cracking? I used my hand to block out the light and confirmed the sound coming from the egg. I couldn"t believe it but the egg was really cracking. Was it hatching? The egg, scattering a pale light, was starting to hatch. It seemed like it was going to explode soon but the cracks kept appearing. At this time, a green light started to flow out from the cracks. The egg in front of me wasn"t brown or rough any longer.
Flora couldn"t help exclaiming at the sight of the lively egg, "Ahh."
[The first apostle, "Prometheus," is looking surprised.]
The pale green light coming from the egg was taking a familiar form. Perhaps the most shocked one right now was Flora. She must be feeling doubts. "Don"t tell me...?"
Flora started to walk toward the egg. Love, longing, and surprise. All of these emotions filled her complicated expression. Every step she took was toward the person she had been longing for her whole life. Finally, the green light took a familiar form. The light opened his mouth, "My love, Flora..."
[A great existence has been encountered for the first time!]
[Your reputation has risen by 1,000.]
[All stats have increased by 5 points.]
"Ahh..."
"I"m sorry. Flora, due to my choices, you lived in pain all your life." Aiolos was watching Flora. Time had pa.s.sed and there wasn"t the previous beauty, but he could immediately tell that the old woman in front of him was Flora. "Flora, I have never forgotten you, even in the moment when I died saving Alexus. In the past, present, and future, you are always my flower."
Flora continued to shed tears.
"Thank you for forgiving me. Now I think I can relieve my heavy burden and wait for you."
The green light that was Aiolos started to disappear starting from his feet.
"Ahh, Aiolos! No!" Flora struggled to grab Aiolos. However, the light just scattered through her fingers, separating her and Aiolos.
"Don"t be sad. I"ll see you soon."
"Not yet... I still have something to say!"
"Flora, I know what you"re going to say. I don"t blame you. Aren"t you the same...?"
The light had disappeared up to his waist. It was regretful. It was a very pitiful love. I wanted to catch him if I could but I didn"t have the strength.
[The first apostle, "Prometheus," has possessed Solar"s body.]
"Aiolos."
"You are... Prometheus."
"It has been a long time yet we already have to part."
"Don"t be sorry, my friend. In any case, I"ll be going to the cradle of the stars. We will meet again someday."
"Yes, I guess so."
What? These guys knew each other...?
Aiolos wondered, "This must be the new successor."
"Yes, isn"t there a resemblance?"
"...Yes. Really."
They were smiling as they looked at my face. Something was strange but Aiolos walked over and I quickly forgot about it. "Future generation."
"...?"
"My soul will return to the cradle of the stars but my new child will be with you."
...What?
"Go with my egg to the Temple of the Wind. I"d like to tell you more but I don"t have much time."
Aiolos had disappeared up to his chest. He stretched out his arms and placed a hand on Flora"s shoulder. Then he left a small parting kiss on her forehead. I unknowingly cried when I saw it. It was like my actions to my dying wife.
"I"ll wait first from above. At that time, let"s talk about what we can"t say now. I love you. Flora... I love you... love you..." Aiolos scattered.
Flora stood with her eyes closed and tears flowing down. The breeze scattered and there was a shaky voice.
[The qualification of Monarch of Poor Love has blossomed.]
* * *
Ttiring~
[Dinner for Flora has been completed.]
"Thank you. It was great that I could meet Aiolos."
"No. I just did what I had to."
"If it is Jackson, you will be a great chef who goes beyond Alexus."
"You"re overpraising me."
At this time, Kerenos came out from behind Flora with a small, wooden box. Flora said, "Please accept this. It is my small sincerity."
[100 Aiolia Seed have been acquired.]
[Secret Skillbook - Secret Magic Germination has been acquired.]
"This...?"
"Alexus was inspired by the seed that I gave Aiolos. Perhaps Jackson needs it as well."
I looked inside the leather pouch. Small, fine seeds were packed into the pockets. By the way, what was this book...?
"This book contains the secret method for growing seeds with magic that has been pa.s.sed down in my family for generations."
"Why are you giving this to..."
"In fact, I thought it would be more helpful to share this than to just give the seeds. Won"t it take too long to raise the Aiolia?"
Ah. That"s right. Flora"s meticulous attention to detail made me smile a bit.
"In fact, my family had been in charge of the royal garden for generations. It is because we have the technique to grow seeds in an instant using magic. This book is the secret of my family."
"It is precious. Thank you very much."
The last thing she gave me was Aiolos" egg. The reason for her life was s.h.i.+ning a brilliant green. Now it had come to me and weighed more heavily on my life.
"Please look after his child."
[Aiolos" Egg has been acquired.]
* * *
A lush forest nestled between Mulan and the Windy Hill. There were people hiding in the trees and watching those pa.s.sing by.
"Hey, One Fire. Are you sure that the old man went this way?"
"Yes, Brother. Four Fires and Six Fires are at the entrance of Mulan. I"m certain he hasn"t entered the town yet."
"Aish. Then why hasn"t he been seen all day? Did he quit the game or something?"
"It can"t be. Just wait a bit longer. He will definitely come soon."
"Sigh, yes, that guy! We must punish the old man in the name of the Fire Dragons. Understood?!"
"Yes!"
Dozens of men hiding behind the trees answered simultaneously. The name of the man directing them was Supreme Fire Dragon. [1] He was the big brother of Four Fires and Six Fires and the boss of the Fire Dragons.
"Stupid fools. How can they be bullied by an old man... tsk."
He had been drinking at a bar in Mulan yesterday. He had a favorite female NPC there and was drinking with her when Four Fires and Six Fires came in, wearing only underwear as they knelt in front of him. The female NPC thought they were perverts and fled out of fright, causing him to never see her again.
"d.a.m.n. It was going great... but I"m their big brother. I can"t show my anger... kuuong. I don"t know what type of old man he is but I"ll..."
"Big Brother, I just saw him."
"Really? Where?"
"That way."
A white-haired old man holding a dagger was in the distance. At first glance, the old man was consistent with Four Fires and Six Fires" description. Supreme Fire Dragon clutched the greatsword he was holding.
"I think it is correct."
He beckoned and his men emerged from behind the trees. Of course, he was the same.
"Hey. Hey! Come out! You fu*kers! Why are the big people blocking the road? s.h.i.+t."
He grumbled as he hit the back of his little brothers. Supreme Fire Dragon gave a rotten smile when he saw the old man flinch slightly.
"Huhu, the old man seems scared."
"Cough. Are you the one who touched my little brothers?"
"Brothers?"
"Yes. I heard about it from Four Fires and Six Fires."
Supreme Fire Dragon"s lips curved up. However, the old man"s response was unexpected. "Uhuh, follow me."
"What? Puhahaha." Supreme Fire Dragon was dumbfounded. He was so dumbfounded that he burst out laughing. This person was making such a provocation when he should be begging for mercy. He wanted to applaud the old man.
"Yes, it should be this much to give the taste of robbing someone. I"ll take everything away for my little brothers."
In any case, there was no place for the old man to escape. Thus, Supreme Fire Dragon decided to obediently follow along with his brothers. They arrived at a stream. There was just one question that continued to be raised—"Where have I seen this old man before...?"
The question was quickly resolved.
The old man questioned, "Are you the emergency room dragon?"
"The emergency room dragon...?"
At this moment, a scene appeared in his mind. He thought of the elderly man who subdued him with a spoon in the emergency room. Supreme Fire Dragon"s eyes widened. "Ah! The d.a.m.n old man from that time!"
"Tsk tsk, so rude. Is the dragon hit at that time doing well?"
"Kuock..."
The humiliation of the day when Supreme Fire Dragon"s dragon tattoo swelled from the hits came to mind. Since that day, the handsome dragon had become an ugly dragon. He wanted to erase it and do a new one, but it was expensive to remove a tattoo. In the end, he left it alone but Supreme Fire Dragon was humiliated every time he saw the tattoo. Since that day, he had to wash at home and couldn"t go to the bathhouse. Was Heaven helping him? This was the opportunity to get revenge.
"Old man, do you have a last will? I was beaten in the past but this place is virtual reality."
Supreme Fire Dragon could see that the old man was less than level 20 based on the clothes he was wearing. On the other hand, his little brothers had an average level of 15. They also had superior numbers.
"It is a great opportunity to try out the items I bought using the loan."
"Kuhaha! Kids, let"s go!!"
"Yes, Brother!"
He gestured and saw his little brothers charging at the same time. It was quite spectacular. Then the old man said, "I told you to respect the elderly yet you are now attacking the elderly."
At the same time, the old man started dancing.
"...Huh?"
Supreme Fire Dragon was bewildered when the old man suddenly stepped into the air. It was the same for his younger brothers.
"What?"
"Why is he dancing?"
"Is this a new suicide method?"
They had question marks on their heads as they ran. They were caught by the old man"s dazzling footsteps.
"Flying Weather Dance."
"...?"
"Rising Sun."
[The party member "Seven Fires" has died.]
"?????"
[1] Supreme Fire Dragon = The meaning of his real name Choi Bulryong. I used the translation since it fits the meaning of the other members names better and will use Choi Bulryong when he appears in reality.