Chapter 220: New Green Swamp Town

The Phantom's song was incredibly piercing, allowing Ron and his companions to follow it from a great distance and stay on the correct path.

Just as they had been told, after navigating several forks in the path, crude, simple buildings began to appear. Soon after, small creatures with lattice-patterned, reddish-brown scales came into view.

Kobolds. They were once kept as pets by the Red Copper Dragon, but now they were subjects of the Black Dragon, Aiksuuri.

"Has… has the old master returned?"

A Kobold with a tattered red cloth tied around its head, leaning on a wooden staff, approached Ron's party. It looked at Ron cautiously, its voice trembling slightly.

Its name was Morlo; Ron had met it once before.

"No," Ron replied, shaking his head slightly as the Phantom's music faded into silence. 'It seems she has no more attachments to this world.' "Just... an echo of what once was."

"We didn't mean to trespass on your territory. Could you show us the way out?"

The Kobolds had little to discuss with Ron's group. Once they confirmed their old master had not returned, they escorted the visitors out. In the canyon beyond, a Kobold with a single golden scale on its forehead looked up, its fiery gaze fixed on Ron and his companions.

"I heard her song. What happened in there?"

This "Kobold" was clearly different from the others of his "kind." He stood with his back perfectly straight, and his eyes held a faint, wise golden glint. His identity was self-evident.

"Here to give Aiksuuri another lesson?" Ron asked with a nod. He waited until the other Kobolds had scurried back into their caves before recounting what he had witnessed inside. "It was a Phantom she left behind, fulfilling her final duty."

"Demons…" the Gold Dragon sighed. "So that's what it was. She was never willing to discuss this matter with me in detail. Now I see why."

"So, you're planning to piece that queen back together, are you? I must warn you, a deal with a devil is only marginally better than a deal with a demon. If you don't tread carefully, it could lead to a great disaster."

"We can't afford to provoke either the Demon Lords or the Devil Dukes, but as it happens, they're like fire and water," Ron said. "The demons will never stand by and watch Gracia resurrect a 'traitor.' They're bound to come into conflict."

"That will buy you some time," the Gold Dragon agreed with a nod. "They certainly won't choose the Material Plane as their primary battlefield, since they can't unleash their full power here."

"Then how many more fragments do you need to collect? I believe I can be of assistance."

"Three left," Ron said, showing the Gold Dragon the map drawn by the Red Copper Dragon Phantom. "Are you sure you want to get involved? I recall you being terrified of corruption."

As the group walked out of the canyon, the Gold Dragon transformed from a Kobold into the form of a golden Dragon Descendant. "I am indeed afraid of corruption, but it has nothing to do with the Abyss. Besides, based on her information, there are no other powerful demons aside from the Pollution Worm Demon you've already encountered."

"I'm more than capable of handling that level of danger."

"In that case, we'd appreciate the help." Seeing the Gold Dragon's enthusiasm, Ron no longer demurred. Judging by the two sealed locations they had already visited, the guardians were all powerful beings. If the Gold Dragon was willing to help, they could avoid risking their own necks.

"Oh, right. I think you should go check on Aiksuuri," the Gold Dragon said, suddenly remembering something. He chuckled. "That Traveling Mage you hired has been up to some big things lately!"

"Mazarino?" Ron paused, surprised. He knew Mazarino had been near the Black Dragon's Nest recently, but he hadn't been paying close attention to what he was actually doing.

'He didn't end up dissecting the Young Black Dragon for research, did he?'

When Ron and his party arrived at Aiksuuri's nest, Ron found that things had not developed in the way he'd imagined. Quite the opposite, in fact. Aiksuuri was trailing behind Mazarino, acting as his assistant, for all the world like a little follower.

The Traveling Mage was currently Casting on the ruins of Green Swamp Town. Swaths of earth and stone structures came to life with his gestures, assembling themselves into brand-new buildings. By the time Ron arrived, the area was already taking shape, clearly the result of Mazarino's hard work over the past few weeks.

"Ah, Lord, you're here!" Seeing Ron, the Traveling Mage set a section of roofing into its proper place before wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. This variant of Arcane Magic, based on Earthquake Magic, placed extremely high demands on a Caster's skill. Even an experienced Mage like Mazarino couldn't command it with ease.

"Come and see for yourself! I integrated the original materials to construct new buildings. Now this place can serve as our new base of operations!"

There's a world of difference between one Caster and another. What Annie hadn't been able to accomplish in all this time, Mazarino had done in just a few weeks: raising a new town from the ruins of Green Swamp Town.

Ron was a bit curious, though. 'Would a Black Dragon really like a new town built right next to its nest?'

"This old man helped me renovate my nest!" Aiksuuri declared proudly, craning his neck. "And he promised that after New Green Swamp Town is finished, he'll build me a tower that overlooks the whole town!"

"Most Black Dragons are accustomed to living in dark, gloomy ruins, but he seems to be an exception," Mazarino said with a nod. "I have no intention of going against his nature, though. I plan to build him a small chapel with a tower rising behind it. If he's willing, I can even design a few Magic Traps for him. Very few Young Dragons get to have a nest with such amenities!"

"He said I might be one of a kind among all the Young Dragons in the multiverse!" Aiksuuri said proudly. At a gesture from Mazarino, he dragged a thick tree trunk over to the Traveling Mage. "Lots of dragons my age are still crammed into a single nest with their parents!"

"Take me, for example," the Gold Dragon said with a shrug. "I remember I once found an amber necklace, but my dad said, 'I'll keep this safe for you. You can have it when you're an adult,' and then he took it."

"Er... so, Teacher, did your dad ever give it back to you?"

"He claims he gave it back, and I do have a memory of it," the Gold Dragon snorted. "But no matter how many times I've searched my nest, I've never found that necklace. In the end, I was forced to accept a very sad truth:"

"To keep it for himself, my dad used Magic to alter my memories."