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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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Empty glasses were filled.
The celebration of Regita’s completed greatsword manifested, ultimately, as a drinking party.
There were many ways to celebrate, but Sariel’s fondness for alcohol dictated the course of the evening.
“Everyone, have a drink! You’ve all worked hard!”
Sariel declared, his voice booming with cheer.
Demeri and Ruin quietly accepted their glasses, sharing a silent thought.
‘We didn’t do anything…’
If waiting counted as work, then that was the extent of their contribution.
Glug, glug, glug.
As soon as a glass emptied, Sariel promptly refilled it.
Initially, everyone eagerly accepted the refills, but Sariel’s pace proved overwhelming, and they eventually resorted to simply holding their full glasses.
Jekkiel sipped his drink at his own pace.
Sariel approached him.
“You’re staying the night, right?”
“That’s the plan.”
It would be rude to abandon someone so isolated immediately after their business concluded.
This boisterous atmosphere was likely a rare treat for Sariel.
It seemed appropriate to spend a leisurely day together before departing.
Pleased by the agreement to stay, Sariel smiled warmly.
“I used to avoid having visitors, but having a drinking buddy once in a while isn’t so bad.”
“A drinking buddy? I don’t think I can match your pace.”
“What’s so difficult? Just drink it down like you would blood.”
“That is difficult.”
After a brief exchange of banter, Sariel’s expression softened.
“Thank you.”
A sincere expression of gratitude.
Jekkiel instinctively bowed his head slightly.
He, too, felt a deep sense of gratitude.
“I don’t just say those words lightly.”
Sariel continued, emptying another glass.
“That’s thanks for saving Ruin, and also a request to continue helping us in the future. Demeri told me you already saved Christine once.”
“I was helping with the coronation… it just happened that way.”
“I’m rooting for you. Come to me if you need anything.”
“That’s reassuring.”
Sariel’s support was truly invaluable.
Jekkiel finally chuckled.
The drinking party continued.
Sariel, suddenly engrossed in something, grabbed a few bottles and wandered off.
Everything felt right.
The atmosphere, the weather, the way things were unfolding.
Everything.
Moments later, someone approached and quietly refilled Jekkiel’s glass.
He looked up, his eyes widening slightly at the unexpected visitor.
An unexpected person performing an unexpected act.
“Regita?”
“Yes. It’s me.”
Silence.
Surprise overshadowed any immediate sense of relief at her restored sanity.
He had anticipated this.
He knew Regita would return to her senses once the weapon was complete.
Yet, the shock remained.
The arrogance, the impertinence, the fighting spirit… the aura that once seemed to invite conflict with a mere breath was gone.
The change felt incredibly strange.
“I thought your original personality would return once your horn was restored.”
“If you think I’ve changed, you’re mistaken. This is my original personality.”
“Mistaken?”
“Yes. Mistaken.”
Regita nodded.
Jekkiel placed his glass on the table and studied her intently, holding his breath, trying to discern what had shifted.
‘Indeed…’
She had changed.
The difference in her demeanor was so striking that he hadn’t noticed the most significant change: a palpable increase in her power.
This wasn’t simply due to the greatsword Sariel had crafted.
Regita herself had grown stronger.
Regita smiled faintly.
“You seem confused by my words and actions, but that’s not because my personality has changed. It’s because of the difference in our strength.”
“I just noticed that energy.”
“Then that simplifies things. I feel like I’ve reached a level where I no longer need to compete with anyone. I don’t even feel the need to prove my strength anymore… I’ve become calmer. So…”
Regita extended her hand, as if offering a handshake.
“I wanted to thank you. You didn’t just create a greatsword. You created the me of now. Don’t you agree?”
Silence.
“I guess my current state is quite strange to you.”
Jekkiel slowly nodded, taking her hand.
“You have to understand. It’s incredibly strange.”
“Of course, I understand. I sometimes find myself strange as well.”
Perhaps it was her tone, but Regita’s hand felt surprisingly soft.
It was hard to believe this hand could wield a greatsword with such power.
As he was absorbing the unexpected softness, Regita quickly withdrew her hand.
He assumed their conversation was over, but she raised her glass.
“Shall we have a drink? To celebrate this happy occasion.”
“Sure.”
Their glasses clinked together.
Under the moonlight, the reflection in their glasses shimmered, then settled.
He thought they would share a single drink, but Regita continued to clink glasses with him, as if challenging him to a drinking duel.
…Though, judging by her flushed cheeks, that didn’t seem to be the case.
“I have a question.”
“Is that why you kept drinking?”
“What are you talking about? No. Absolutely not.”
“Is that so? The alcohol isn’t bad. So, what did you want to ask?”
Regita hesitated.
Jekkiel finally broke the silence.
“Now that I think about it… it’s surprising how friendly you’ve become, even considering the favor I’ve done you.”
“The reason I’m friendly? Well…” Regita nodded slowly.
“I’m a dragon obsessed with treasure.”
“Treasure? Do I possess such a thing?”
“It doesn’t have to be an actual treasure, or even the possession of one. For example… you now have Sariel’s complete support, right?”
“That’s true.”
“Things like that are treasures. Receiving benefits others can only dream of.”
“What are you trying to say? That you’ll steal those benefits from me?”
“Of course not.” Regita shook her head.
“There are treasures that gain value only through possession, and there are treasures so rare that simply witnessing them brings joy. Sariel’s recognition falls into the latter category.”
“Hmm.”
“Being by your side allowed me to witness such a thing… and I received the greatsword because I was by your side… A thought naturally occurred to me.”
Regita chuckled.
“I thought, ‘If I stay by his side, I’ll probably encounter many more treasures.’ So, I plan to follow you around for a while. And I can’t very well follow you around and cause trouble, can I? We have to be friendly.”
“Follow me around? Who said you could?”
“I did. I decided. Don’t worry too much. I won’t cause trouble.”
He had simply hoped she would return to the other dragons and only assist in times of crisis.
Things seemed to have escalated.
…But challenging Regita’s stubbornness was, as always, next to impossible.
At least Sariel had set conditions for his assistance.
Regita simply did as she pleased.
That was Regita.
He assumed their conversation was finally over.
Jekkiel turned to leave, but Regita quickly moved to block his path.
“What is it now?”
“I haven’t asked my question yet.”
“You should have asked when you had the chance. I can’t wait forever.”
He tried to leave again, but she blocked him once more.
“Alright, alright. It’s about the fragmented memories I had before I regained my senses. Memories from when the greatsword was being made.”
“What memories?”
He had expected some distant memory to surface, but it was a surprisingly recent event.
Though, it wasn’t entirely unusual.
The breaking and restoration of her horn was a significant event.
In a way, it was more surprising that she retained any memories from that period.
Another dragon would have likely lost all memory of the event.
“What are you curious about?”
“Well, you touched my body to infuse me with mana, and you touched me again to cut the Ermetellen.”
“That’s… true. It was unavoidable.”
“About that…”
Regita trailed off, looking up at the night sky.
A full moon illuminated the darkness.
She took a few breaths, then scratched her cheek.
Her claws were incredibly sharp, yet they left no mark.
“That… it keeps bothering me. I wondered if there was some meaning behind it.”
He instinctively took a drink.
He couldn’t get used to this side of her.
It was incredibly disconcerting.
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[Damn i want to clap some dragon CHEEKS regita finna be calling me papi]
