Chapter 620: The Goddess of Water, Plesia.

The elegant Abyssal Warden of Caedhul was a tall woman. Her webbed fins, tentacle-like whiskers, and glossy blue-green scales made her pretty mesmerizing to look at, especially compared to the bulkier dragonewts I was used to. She had a sleek body with smooth scales like a fish, but some carapace was visible around her arms and shins, a constant reminder that she was a descendant of a true dragonkin.

“It is an honor to have you visit my subspace, Your Holiness.” I curtsied. “I hope our last meeting didn’t leave too bad an impression of me. I understand from my Father, His Majesty, that Caedhul had accepted to join the Shakaie-Narn Alliance. Can I presume—”

She raised a hand to stop me. “Caedhul is allied with Kargryx, despite the difficult circumstances with our leviathans. We have agreed to bring Kargryx supplies to allow you to fight, but we cannot join in unless we support one of the leviathans. Some of us will not participate in the Event Quest, but others will. The reason why I have requested Kargryx for your presence is that I need to know why the Depth Goddess is allowing this. Why must this Event Quest exist?”

I gulped a bit as I saw her face break, looking worried like a believer losing her faith.

“That is why I need you, Princess Hestia. I have heard you have a soul strong enough to hear the voices of the gods. The alliance leaders knew this well, and as a member of it, I request you for aid,” she stated, almost like she was pleading. The imposing religious leader I had met at her cathedral seemed to be breaking down. “They say I can hear the Depth Goddess’s words, but if blessed cannot hear her properly, how could I? I am a pontiff. The spiritual leader of a religion, yes, but all know a pontiff is bound to the mortal realm, while a blessed is not. I am closer to the sea than a newly-born Saintess, despite my many years of service in HER name.”

Envy. I could tell immediately. Her sharp tongue aimed at me like a knife. Maybe our last meeting didn’t sit too well with her, but this treatment was more similar to how the Aurena priests treated me in Aureolis. She and they all saw me as an upstart. That I was too young to be given this responsibility or honor.

Yet, her hostility was mild at best. Still annoying, but we were here for business. That was all.

“If I am allowed to speak with her, what do you wish me to ask?” I spoke carefully, trying not to antagonize her after her small slip-up.

“Why? That is all. Why accept this Event Quest? The Depth Goddess knows me enough, so she will understand even now.”

In other words, she was presenting the question before me, so I could receive it from Plesia. The gods could see through their faithful’s eyes, so I was just a simple translator.

Father asked me to listen to her as a member of the alliance, so trying to get something from her felt too shameless… still, that didn’t mean I wouldn’t. This was a chance, after all.

“Then I have a favor of my own to ask,” I urged, prompting the Abyssal Warden to give me a look to question my audacity. Ignoring her, since she didn’t speak up, I continued. “Did you know that Kiedaceus is harboring a demonic mana item in one of his lairs?”

Hearing this, the Warden’s eyes widened. “From whom did you hear this?”

“The elf we came to Lecullius for: Ilevenus. He was an astronomer.”

“Right, the star-seeker. The seeker of the wider universe, and also a pursuer of the divine knowledge of the gods. I must ask if this information is truly credible, and not just the rambling of a madman. May I ask where he is?”

“Dead.”

“Nongramos?”

“… Good guess.”

“I’ve met him plenty enough. Your fourth brother always boasted about becoming worthy of Kargryxmor’s title, and even if the Black Tyrant rejects him, that ruthlessness of his has only grown since he returned from his pilgrimage. Never mind me. Go. I presume you’re not here actually to ask me. You deserve to use your time with the Depth Goddess wisely.”

Holier-than-thou, seriously?

I nodded, ignoring her attitude issues. As Father said, prioritizing diplomatic relations was mature. Kids didn’t belong here. Besides, I came here for my own reasons, and I would ask Plesia about that “demonic arm.”

Goddess Aurena.

<I cannot attend with you. As you remember, two divine beings in the same realm are still too much for you to endure. However, do know that I will be ready to intervene. Mind your manners. Elder Plesia is quite strict when it comes to social decorum, so do not be rude.>

That emphasis was only making me even more nervous…

In any case, as the Warden placed the statue of Plesia onto the table, I sat down and clapped my hands together into a prayer pose. Filling my mind with Plesia’s image, I began reciting her name as I requested an audience with her. The moment I did, I could hear the sounds of waves crashing against a sandy beach. I knew I could open my eyes.

Just as magical as it was to visit Aurena’s and Crustacia’s divine realm, the world my soul had entered felt like a whiplash, seeing how I had been just inside my living room a moment ago. Now, though, I was in the middle of an ocean on a tiny island. Palm trees decorated the edge of this beach, with shells dug deep in the sand and small crabs wandering around.

So grainy, but nice. I pressed my feet along the ground, feeling the rough grains pressing against my scales.

“You’re seriously getting distracted by a beach when you know we’re in Goddess Plesia's realm? Seriously?”

“Oi, give me a moment. If she wanted an immediate meeting, she would have just teleported me right in front of her, just like Goddess Aurena and Goddess Crustacia.” I sighed as I turned around, seeing Hikari standing there. Just like with our meeting with the Wind and Water Elemental Emperors, she was here, as if we were one and the same.

However, unlike the last time, Hikari’s soul looked different. Aside from the fact that even more draconic features were covering her soul, she had also turned slightly whitish, or maybe light blue was a more apt description.

Crimson and cyan were a pretty interesting color combination, with how they contrasted with each other. One was warm, and the other cold, and color was known to affect people’s emotions and mood. Though in our case, it was more a representation of our entwined elemental affinities. I was fire, and she was ice—a true fusion of our dragon parents’ lineages.

“We look like twins, but also not, at this point,” Hikari said, and I agreed.

“Twins who dress differently to make it easy for others to differentiate them. Honestly, it fits our current body-switching process, right?” I shrugged before both of us turned towards a stone road at the edge of the beach. It was obvious it was inviting us like a red carpet.

Indulging in the sun and sea breeze, we walked along it in silence until we finally reached a pavilion. A woman with a fish tail—a mermaid—sat at the only table there, drinking some tea while she picked up sashimi and sushi from a plate to gently dip them in black, glossy soy sauce. Seeing us, she elegantly gestured for us to approach her, finishing her tea in the process.

“Sushi? I made them myself.”

… What’s the most polite way to address this? I thought, prompting Plesia to let out a small giggle.

“Your emotions are written on your faces, children. It is fine. I know Aurena must have warned you about me, but this is simply my offer to host you. Sushi. It won’t do anything to your soul, I swear. You must have already tasted some tea when you met Aurena, and this is the same. Simply an enjoyment for the soul,” she explained, although it didn’t dispel Hikari’s or my wariness.

This woman… the way she sat, the way she drank, the way she ate, all of these actions were befitting a high-ranking noble. Every move was deliberate and smooth, telling me that she was showing off. That she had no issue with anything about me. Or, maybe her poker face was just that good.

However, good manners were not restricted to the gods, or even to ancient dragonkin, such as my empress-mothers. “Simple” nobles from Artorias could show such masterful execution as well, so what separated the mortal humanoids, the mortal dragonkin, and the gods when it came to social decorum? Appearances, naturally. Intimidation, authority, and prestige could be easily shown to others before words or titles came into play.

And for Plesia, the most striking part was most definitely her eyes. Her azure-blue gaze, like the ocean, as she watched me sit, felt suffocating to look at. Those black “pupils” of hers were part of her iris. It was like watching a lagoon from above, with a shallow outer area and a middle that dropped into the deep, to the point you couldn’t even see the bottom. Plesia’s eyes drew my focus like a whirlpool dragging me along.

A bit of thalassophobia made me gulp. I could feel my soul shiver as I remembered my diving trip with Uncle Kary. The fear of something beyond my comprehension rising from the deep, deep abyss made me instinctively fear Plesia.

For she was the ocean. She was the deepest depth. She was the unknown we shouldn’t even try to fathom.

Uuurgh, I can already feel the tentacles and barnacles growing on me.

“How long do you wish to remain here? You may speak frankly.”

Was that a trick question, or was she telling me to hurry up and dip? Regardless of what her intention was, the fact that she was being so blunt about it only made it harder for me to say anything. I felt like a peasant being forced to speak with an empress who could kill me on the spot. Like, I should mind my manners, so what was I allowed to say, and how should I say it?

Forget about worrying. It’s clear she’s in a hurry, so let’s speak. First, let's talk about business, then we can go into the personal stuff.

“Then—”

“Goddess Plesia, is our existence an issue?”

However, before I finished my question, Hikari finished hers first.

Hearing this, Plesia turned to Hikari and placed a finger on her lips. She leaned back, resting her back on her chair. “The personal question first, I see? That can derail the conversation before we even reach the important point.”

“I understand, Goddess Plesia, but I believe it would help us to resolve our current… ignorance of how you perceive somebody as small, but who has caused you an annoyance,” Hikari replied, trying to stay as humble as possible. “Hestia held a similar trepidation when she first met Goddess Aurena, and Goddess Crustacia made her opinion known immediately. Please, excuse us.”

“Hmm, how polite. You present it as a personal issue, and not as how I’ve been testing the strength of your soul,” Plesia responded as she tapped her eyes, causing them to transform into normal blue-colored eyes. “You were right in stating that you are small, Hikari. That is what is important in how I perceive you. Let me ask you two a question in return: how old am I?”

I raised my hand. “Older than Peolynca?”

“Older than Earth. Old enough to have seen planets form from small gas particles. Old enough to understand how space and time are twisted in the universe. Old enough to have overseen a few planets’ growth as their creation goddess. Plainly speaking, I am in my silver vixen age.”

As if!

“And with long age comes indifference. As a god, you must learn how to feel indifferent towards mortals, even if some interest you. You two— Hestia, Hikari—are mortal, still. Even with Gel’Glariri’s interference, you haven’t personally harmed this world. You usurping our authorities and divine powers is not taboo. You did not play around with a taboo. Gel’Glariri did, and as a god, he needed to take some responsibilities.” She placed some sashimi in her mouth before continuing after swallowing it. “As the chief goddess of Peolynca’s pantheon, your circumstance is as important as the demonkin’s little rebellion against Peolynca. You are stepping on our authority as gods, but you have not caused any massive harm yet.”

“… They summoned an Edjurian god, though,” I interjected, and she nodded.

“The moment those gods were summoned to kill you, I intervened, because we were being invaded. However, their calling for the help of a god to summon those Earthlings to Earth is as problematic as Aurena and Kargryxmor using Gel’Glariri’s powers to summon you. It is annoying, yes, but not worth being angry at,” Plesia asserted. “So, no, I do not mind you, Hestia. Hikari. Just make sure you do not break a divine taboo, and you may do whatever you wish as a mortal. My rage is reserved for those who harm my planet, like my brother, who did not respect our individual rights as gods… Do visit him when you have the time, though, Hestia! He probably would enjoy meeting his newest Saintess for the first time.”

… Can I reject this? No? Shi—Father’s horns.

Yes, she styled it as a suggestion, but Hikari and I both knew this wasn’t even close to the truth. It was a polite, “Go and solve the Carmaniate Event Quest, Dearie. Tata!” Was I being hired by another goddess to do her stuff? The life of a divine translator seemed quite difficult, but maybe that was just the life of every blessed.

Stolen story; please report.

“With that out of the way, I presume you must understand my stance on Ashana’s question, yes? The reason why I accepted the Event Quest’s creation is due to my pantheon—two of my subordinate gods have expressed their displeasure at being unable to be allowed to compete for a role I never created—the chief subordinate god. Even now, they cannot give up their competitive streak.” Plesia’s mouth curved into a sadistic smile, almost as if she were mocking her own subordinates. “Boundless ambition, even with the power to turn this world into stone. Hehe, watching young gods try to swim in their nebula is quite fun. Sometimes, you have to allow the fledglings to move, even if it goes against what is right.”

… That is a god’s indifference, all right.

“Do you know why, Hikari? Hestia?” Plesia looked at us, prompting both of us to shake our heads. “Think it through. The Edjurians. They attacked us. That warranted a warning, and that means ‘divinity had to be exchanged.’ Even gods will bleed if you know how to harm them… and it seems my subordinates wish to partake in it if we were to be invaded. The first step, to them, is to decide on a leader who can manage Peolynca if I were ever to leave.”

Leave?

“Hehe, my pantheon is similar to the womb of a shark—the children like to rip each other apart, just like when they were mortals. Then again, that is the culture I fostered within mine. Good manners, ruler-adherers, but competitive, to the point that it spread to their followers and blessed.”

At this point, it’s obvious, no? You stick to the rules, and you’re good in her book. She’s not blind like true justice.

“Are you thinking of… leaving Peolynca forever?” I asked, feeling like that was how the discussion was going.

Hearing this, Plesia smiled warmly. “Perhaps. I do not know what will happen in the future. I am not a space-time specialist, after all. Some day, Peolynca might not need ‘Plesia’ any longer, and that is when I shall hand over the divine authority to the denizens of Peolynca. To their gods.”

“So you are preparing your pantheon for this?” Hikari added, prompting her to nod.

“All of us are, in our own ways. The culture of a pantheon dictates its role in the future. You might not believe it, but Peolynca is still far too young a world. There is still so much they must learn and adapt, and I am not speaking about technological advancements,” she explained, leaving both of us a little befuddled at what to say. “Crustacia’s pantheon is quite peaceful, but they are made mostly of artisans, and that leads to technological advancements. Zephira’s objective is agricultural advancements and the preservation of history and mortal cultures. Aurena focuses on religious adherence and the pursuit of magic to ensure a ‘feeding pot’ for the future gods, while Marsven advocates the opposite—individuality. A world grows the most if mortals defy gods and authority, as gods and rulers will always enforce laws and stagnation for ‘peace.’”

She then raised her teacup, indulging in its aroma. When did she manage to pour herself a new one? Well, the question didn’t need to be answered since she was a goddess.

“My brother’s… has its issues. He was being a bit of a copycat, but he probably didn’t expect to see how much of a force my pantheon would grow into. He wanted to be our ‘war,’ our military backbone, but had to accept that in this world, fire didn’t hold the same meaning as the world where we came from. He didn’t manage to teach his followers that fire was more than just conflict. That it is change and renewal. He believed it was obvious to anybody, but what we got was his current religion. A shame.”

“… If that is your verdict, then why punish him by sending him to the mortal realm?” I finally decided to ask. “In fact, I heard the news about Carmaniate and that a certain someone was the leader of a new fire cult and that they resemble me. Did Da—God Danterno place somebody in place with my appearance as some… joke?”

“Oh, that one… that’s my brother.”

“… Beg your pardon?” Hikari and I said simultaneously.

“My brother. The leader of the ‘dissenter’ faction is my brother. Danterno is ‘leading’ a cult against the ‘established’ religion of fire in Carmaniate. I saw Tasianna looking at a drawing of him. He looks just like a male version of you, right? Hahaha!” Plesia tried to suppress her laugh, but seeing me aghast probably made it impossible for her.

“Y-your brother looks just like me?” I stammered.

Sh—Dan-Dan-Dammit!

“It’s your fault, Hestia.” Plesia grinned teasingly. As I let out a confused “Huh?” she pointed at me. “The Origin Gods take the appearance our followers perceive as the ‘real’ us. I think you saw a glimpse of how we looked when we first came to this world, right? That wasn’t the real us, either, but it was one of the forms people from Edjurl perceived us in. It is the same as now. This isn’t my real body, merely an avatar. It is the same case as when you met Aurena and Crustacia. Avatars. Mannequins made to talk with mortals, to prevent any accidental problems that could be caused by gazing at our real selves. And in my brother’s case, you made enough of an impression that a few grimgarians believed you were Danterno’s incarnation.”

What?

Giggling at my reaction, Plesia continued, “Your battle in Yeos. The grimgarians who saw you believed you were Danterno descending to the world, and that information has spread in the grimgarian colony. Which, normally, wouldn’t do anything, but my brother hasn’t been able to have a set appearance despite over 2500 years of Peolyncian godhood. How people perceive his appearance was so splintered that a simple grimgarian colony was enough to overtake all of them. Fortunately for him, people still believe he must be male; otherwise, my brother might have become my sister. Hahahaha! I had not imagined such a punishment.”

“T-that wouldn’t have been possible, even then, right?” Hikari asked in horror. I didn’t know what she was thinking right now, but I was imagining a female Danterno in my head right now, and it disgusted me!

“Edjurian gods do not have a set gender as you mortals perceive it. We take forms that make it easy for our followers to understand. It is more accurate to call us with ‘THEY’ than ‘HER’ or ‘HIM.’ Though I must admit that we’ve become used to our perceived gender. Danterno probably wouldn’t mind being perceived as female as long as he gains a proper form. That alone would mend the schism in his religion.”

A fog was starting to shroud my mind, and it wasn’t ‘cause of a prolonged stay in the divine realm. This wasn’t the information I had come from, but it probably left me the most baffled.

“So, visit him, yes? He would appreciate it,” Plesia requested once again, and it was now all too obvious what she wanted me to do. This felt like blackmail. “That’s my request.”

“Is that why you allowed three impactful Event Quests to happen at the same time?” I asked, remembering Taim’s question.

Plesia, surprisingly, wiggled her head around as if to say I was half-right. “Coincidences may happen even in a god’s plan. That is simply the way the world functions when a god may not take direct control of the world’s events. Event Quests are supposed to be impactful moments to resolve urgent matters, while rewarding our followers, similar to a divine Quest. A tidbit of order and guidance, in a way. It just so happens that Danterno’s involvement in Carmaniate started a religious civil war that must be resolved just as the two leviathans are preparing for war against Kargryx.”

“So it’s just a coincidence?”

“Yes, and no.” She repeated the same head movement. This was where I was half-right. “I was planning on only having two Event Quests, until Kargryxmor and Aurena pointed out how the leviathans will influence the Kargryxian succession. With your Father introducing the democratic process, similar conditions to those of the first Event Quests emerged, and I approved the idea of a triple Event Quest announcement. I say a tidbit of ‘guidance,’ but it doesn’t have to come from us. It may also come from you, Hestia. Hikari.”

I see… ‘guiding’ also means making the various nests do what we want on the condition that they get their unique Job earlier.

Nodding as if she read my thoughts, Plesia continued, “I am of the opinion that mortals must influence the mortal realm’s progression, not the gods. It isn’t perfect, yes, and we have had issues like with the Edjurians, but that is why Event Quests are your opportunities to mold the world and its history in your favor. That is my tip to you, for listening to me for this long. Your soul is quite intriguing, you two. I have spoken so much, looked at you for so long, yet you don’t seem to show any… fragility.”

I wasn’t exactly sure if that was a compliment or not, considering Hikari and I were only like this ‘cause of Aurena and Kramps. Maybe she was simply marveling at their handiwork, like an art studio patron witnessing an artist’s latest work.

“Enough about this. Now to your favors. I have no preference on who will survive the divine Quest, nor do Caedhul and Asahana need to listen to the leviathans. Have her choose what she believes is best for Lecullius. As long as the aquapolis remains intact, Lucullantis will not complain. I do not mind her supporting Kargryx in full, as long as one candidate remains alive.”

“So you wouldn’t like it if both died at the same time?”

Plesia chortled, leaning forward as she entwined her fingers. Smiling as if she was intrigued, she said, “Can you manage that? Yes, you have two rank SS, but they will be preoccupied with the other rank S joining Quasdrakeen and Kiedaceus. Their temporary truce will last until one of them shows enough weakness for the other to strike, but before then, they will both cajole their followers to attack Kargryx. Both want to see the dragons and drakes bleed. If you can kill both at the same time before the divine Quest is fulfilled, then I will protect you from my subordinates, Hestia. Be interesting.”

I gulped. Her eyes were starting to transform into the same ones she showed at the start of this meeting.

“Which brings me to the last topic of this meeting, and also the reason why Kiedaceus is so confident in his attack. The elven astronomer did not see the arm, and Kiedaceus did it for a reason, as it isn’t an arm—it was simply the best lie to use on a fool like him. However, the item indeed came from the demon war, and it belonged to one of the seven archdemons. That is all I may tell you, so as not to influence the urgency. Is it just a mere ‘arm’ of an archdemon, or a morsel of their flesh? Find it out yourself, dear.” She raised her hand and snapped. “Go and solve it. Tata!”

She read my mind— Before I could finish that thought, my mind blanked out as I opened my eyes, feeling a slight shiver run down my spine as I realized I was back in my subspace. That was a really rude exit. It felt like somebody picked me up by the scruff and kicked me out, literally.

Seems like I really got lucky with Aurena.

Aurena didn’t say anything after my meeting, nor when I called for her, but since she didn’t come and chastise me for it, it seemed I passed the etiquette requirement. So, why did Plesia kick me out in the first place? That was far too rushed.

“Princess Hestia?”

In any case, with my perception back in the mortal realm, I explained to the Abyssal Warden everything I heard from Plesia, including the part with Danterno, earning me a short cough as I could see her holding back a laugh. Shiterno… making my life hell wasn’t enough for him; now he had to steal my appearance!

“Understood.” After composing herself, the Abyssal Warden stood up and picked up the Plesia shrine. “Those are the Depth Goddess’s words. Thank you very much, Princess Hestia.”

“I’m a bit surprised you took it so eagerly. You aren’t even doubting me,” I said.

“Because it is known to all blessed that the Depth Goddess is quite ruthless despite her benevolent image. When it comes to managing us mortals, she is a graceful watcher who will guide us on the correct path if needed, but if it comes to war, then all will understand that a little war on the surface can never be compared to what is done in the seas.” She then closed her eyes and raised the shrine slightly into the air. “And with that, Lecullius path has been decided. Though I will say that it will not be easy; we will do our best, but only against one candidate. May the Depth Goddess guide your sails.”

“Yeah… though, I probably have to say that my Mom doesn’t look too fondly on what happened. Difficult as it might have been for you, I think I’d prefer it if you helped us with both leviathans.”

Hearing this, the Abyssal Warden’s face hardened, showing none of the gratitude just shown a moment ago. All just a mask.

“I apologize if it might seem that I am breaking the aquapolis’s laws, but Quasdrakeen has been ousted from Lecullius. That is all I can do for a candidate on a divine Quest. They are deemed worthy, and that means I am not able to retaliate. This is how politics, even in the sea, works, Princess Hestia.”

“I am aware of that. But here I was hoping you would at least fight Quasdrakeen without the need for you to demand that we choose whom you will attack. I understand that my visit to Lecullius caused a lot of issues, but if Quasdrakeen had killed me there, Lecullius would not even exist at this point. Quasdrakeen would have simply laughed and been on her way, while your people died. That is not how a true dragonkin should treat their nation.”

Hearing this, the Warden closed her eyes. “The land, the sky, and seas… we are all different. To compare Kargryx to Caedhul is a fool’s errand. I say this out of respect. Do not be greedy. Do not let Princess Wendriosa be greedy. Do only what you must, lest you lose people you care for on the way. That is the way of the oceans.”

And with that, she left the subspace, leaving me exhausted after what happened. I decided to have my maids prepare my bath to clean myself before going to bed without informing Taim or Father. That could wait until tomorrow.

After a surprisingly refreshing sleep, I had breakfast with my maids, Priscilla, Yorshka, and Farron! Priscilla was usually around, but Yorshka and Farron have rarely come by recently, as have Saori and Ellaine. All of them seem to be busy with their own lives, which was a bit disheartening. So, seeing them around felt a bit special.

“The empire has taken over all dungeons created with the demonic energy, outside of the one close to Aleistunum,” Yorshka said to explain why she hadn’t been able to come. “The kids and we have been on the run after some Lycerepth members found us. Seeing how the news about their ‘betrayal’ has spread around the empire, we are officially enemies of Folschreck, Hestia. As such, we’re on our way back to Artorias. We’re currently in Elyonda, ready to be smuggled to Estralia with a boat Gael prepared for us. We’ll be able to meet more often now. Most likely, I will have the time to help out with the war.”

“I will take care of Saori’s students,” Farron stated. “They’ve gotten stronger, but not enough to compete against a proper rank A knight. Definitely not against one of the Hands. I don’t believe they are ready for a full-on war between dragonkin.”

“Feels a bit bad about thanking you, but thank you, Yorshka! I’ll make sure to get a feast ready for you, okay?”

“Food? I think you can treat me by training well and staying alive! I’ll be there with you, and that’s another spear that will help you out in the name of Clan Nordor!” Yorshka slammed the table, earning her a quick lecture from her daughter for nearly ruining the meal. Though I guess this was more due to how her mother would be jumping into another conflict this soon.

I get what you’re going with, Priscilla.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to take care of her,” I told Priscilla, earning me a thank you before I left the room for the family to have their moment.

While stretching, I left the subspace and prepared myself for today’s training, only to see nobody inside the dungeon. During the whole week, Father had always waited just outside the subspace whenever I slept inside, but he was… not even hunting.

Did I miss something?

Since Father wasn’t around, I decided to leave the dungeon, activating its automatic exit by demanding it. As I strolled out, I noticed that the entrance to the dungeon was quite empty, which only furthered my unease.

“Raaaaaghhhhhh!”

… Yes, also that loud roar. That probably would make anybody feel a bit nervous about the current situation, right? The worst part about that was that I recognized that voice. It was Kahalameet, and it didn’t seem like he was very happy.

Biting my lips, I rushed out, only for my heart to drop when I saw all my elder siblings standing and flying outside the dungeon entrance. Normally, I would cheer, but the gazes some of them gave each other in their full draconic form made me skin crawl.

“‘Demand?’ To demand from me when you aren’t even close to max level is something else, Nongramos.”

“Then take it as a favor for your younger brother. The leviathans have spat in our faces, colluding with Maustoovaka, and you seem to accept it like a fool! Move, Kahalameet! You are Kargryxmor, so act as one!”

Maybe… this was another therapy session.