Book Eater

Chapter 201: Sand Dragon Desertio (1)

Unfortunately, that was the only thing he learned from Paracelsus. Despite Theo having digested the Fairy’s Book, Paracelsus didn’t recognize Theo’s qualifications. As a famous alchemist from the Age of Mythology, a 7th Circle magician didn’t even appear in his eyes.

However, Theo let the conversation end without pressing. He’d only wanted to know what was happening to MItra. Knowledge from the Age of Mythology was like a pearl necklace worn around a pig’s throat. There would be another chance to talk to Paracelsus.

... It’s already morning, huh?

Sun was shining through the window, and Theo flopped back on the bed with a weary expression. His reaction was natural. He had spent all night reading the Fairy’s Book, and his encounter with Paracelsus had only contributed to his fatigue.

Theo wanted to fall asleep, but he needed to have breakfast with his party.

“Let’s go.”

Even if he was tired, Theo had to move. He got up to grab the doorknob, and the door opened easily. It was made of a mysterious metal, just like everything else. As the door opened, Theo stumbled across William, who was just leaving his room.

“Good morning, William.”

“Oh, Captain! Good morning...” William’s voice petered out as he took a closer look at Theo.

The dark circles under his eyes weren’t present the previous night. William looked at him in concern. “Excuse me, was your bed okay?”

Theo blinked. “It was fine. Why do you ask?”

“Somehow, it seems like you couldn’t sleep.”

Theo laughed bitterly. It seems his condition was worse than he thought if he looked this bad.

“I had to do something last night. It wasn’t a matter of not sleeping.”

“I see. I won’t say anything...”

The two men talked as they made their way to the dining room, where the other party members were already seated.

Veronica, who was chewing bread, raised one hand and greeted Theo, “You woke up, kid? You look tired. If you’re lacking sleep, then you can rest some more.”

“It’s okay. Besides, I’m very hungry.”

“Well, if you say so.”

The two men sat down and started eating.

「Activated the restaurant. Please name the dish you want, or select from the catalog. 」

Paragranum must’ve done something as the voice had switched to the language of the continent. The catalog also had the correct pronunciation written inside. Theo had tried dinner the previous night, but it was still strange. The party was surprised as they chose their dishes. There were many unfamiliar dishes, but they were up for the challenge.

“Fried chicken? Ah, this is fried chicken.”

“Curry rice. It is hard to guess what it is from the name, but the rich flavor is quite good.”

“Raw fish and... rice? It is a strange combination, but the taste is okay.”

“Ack! Why is this noodle dish so spicy?”

However, some failed the challenge. William had to drink a few cups of water to cool his swollen lips.

Theo picked a safe choice and ate pork cutlet. He’d had the fried pork covered in breadcrumbs often in his childhood, but the taste was like heaven and earth.

Even the most expensive restaurants in the capital would taste bad compared to this. Is there a way to transfer this cooking facility to the magic tower?

Theo thought about it. Delicious food would pop out as soon as a person made a choice. This kind of convenience was nowhere to be found, even in Meltor, the center of magical civilization. No, if this cooking facility became popular, then the chefs of Meltor might lose their jobs.

Theo cocked his head.

If I look at it in this way, it might not be good to take it..?

After all, he wouldn’t want to increase the unemployment rate. Theo smiled slightly as he set down an empty plate. A relic from the Age of Mythology was certainly excellent, but it could cause trouble if civilization wasn’t ready for it.

At that moment...

Biiiik! Biiiik!

There was a sharp sound, and the lights in the restaurant started flashing red. It clearly wasn’t anything good.

Unsurprisingly, the lab’s urgent voice sounded in Theo’s head.

「Warning! Confirmed the approach of an existence which can threaten the laboratory. Transferring the entire group, including the sub-master, to the situation control room. You will be guided from area D-8 to area S-1.」

Simultaneously, the investigation team disappeared from the dining room. They didn’t even have the chance to speculate about the existence that could threaten the lab, which even sword masters couldn’t damage.

***

As always, the space movement was instant.

“Eh? What, where’s all my food?” William was hungry after only drinking water for breakfast, but he couldn’t return to the dining room in this situation.

They had been transported to the situation control room. This was the first time they had stepped foot in this place, so naturally they started looking around. However, before they could say anything, Paragranum moved forward.

She shouted urgently, “「Identification code PRGRN3681214! Open the omnidirectional monitor!」”

Lights lit up on all the black walls, revealing the desert outside. The view was incomparable to windows. The view wasn’t filtered by opaque glass, but the situation was obvious.

A tremendous sandstorm was swirling in front of them.

“Ack!” William took a few steps back in surprise, but the storm didn’t scratch his skin. Perfect illusion magic was showing off its grandeur.

Mujak saw the scale of the sandstorm and murmured with dry lips, “Khamsin...!”

As everyone turned to look at him, he explained, “Sometimes, a freak storm appears in the desert. Typical storms grow until they hit their limit and then disappear, but Khamsin doesn’t have a limit. The nomads of the desert fear Khamshins as the wrath of god, and Austen has a record of them once destroying a castle.”

“So?” Veronica didn’t listen to him and stepped forward to ask Para, “This sandstorm can threaten the facility that even a sword master couldn’t damage?”

It didn’t make sense. Theo remembered something Paragranum had said. The outer walls of the ruin wouldn’t fall in one or two blows, even if it was hit by a dragon’s breath. This was a fortress built by Paracelsus, the peak alchemist from the Age of Mythology.

However, Paragranum raised a finger instead of answering. “That isn’t a Khamsin. Take a look beyond it.”

They couldn’t see clearly thanks to the storm; however, Mujak’s eyes were accustomed to it, so he saw it without much difficulty. “... The Andras’ excavation team?”

“Yes, watch closely. You will soon find out.”

“What are you tal-” Mujak’s mouth snapped shut as he saw the phenomenon.

The members of the investigation team could now see it as well. The barracks left behind by the Andras excavation team were destroyed without a trace. The sight of solid metal scattering like sand obviously wasn’t natural. It was something more transcendent than mere destruction.

“The power of weathering.” Paragranum murmured with a rare serious expression, “Why did Desertio come to the outskirts of the desert? That old man should be staying in the center...”

Veronica said, “Yellow Tower kid, don’t be serious alone and explain.”

“Ah, that's right. You don't know yet,” Paragranum belatedly replied. “The Meuse Desert isn’t a natural desert. It’s something made by a sand dragon.”

“Sand dragon?”

.

“Yes, his name is Desertio. He’s a dragon who’s lived for many years and whose death is close. Nobody in this era can survive a battle with him... Ah, that reminds me.”

Paragranum might not be supposed to know anything, but she could give as much information as possible, using her alter ego of the Yellow Tower Master as a shield. The Yellow Tower Master was, after all, the most mysterious person in Meltor.

However, Para added a few words that stirred Mujak up, “The disaster of the Central Continent, the cause of the drought.”

“What?!” Mujak shouted as his thick mustache shook. “Young girl from Meltor, can you take responsibility for those words? Swear that it’s true!”

The overpowering influence of a sword master... Mujak’s overwhelming presence made the others step back, but Para just nodded calmly.

“Yes, I will swear by my name, as well as my master’s name.”

“... Dammit! For the great sun! The disaster Austen has been struggling with for centuries is because of a dragon lizard!’

Mujak’s anger was natural. The Janissaries valued patriotism and loyalty more than their own lives. How many people had died directly and indirectly from the drought? A hundred thousand? A million? It had lasted for centuries, so the death toll might be in the tens of millions. He wouldn’t be angry if it was just the tyranny of Mother Nature, but now he learned its true cause.

Mujak’s eyes filled with fury as he growled, “I swear to the Sultan and the Sun God, I will cut out his heart, even if I have to sacrifice my life!”

He didn’t care about any injuries! The sword master’s roar burst out with all the sincerity he could muster. If the sand dragon were in front of him, he would’ve run forward without any hesitation. However, one person tossed some cold water on his rage.

“Stop. It will be a useless death,” Veronica said.

Unfortunately, the calm advice was counterproductive.

“How can you say that, Veronica?!”

She snorted. “I’m a dragon slayer, desert man. And dragons only get stronger over time, so imagine how strong a million year old dragon is. The only way that dragon dies is if all the masters on the continent face him at once... and we get lucky.”

“T-That...” Mujak could tell that she was serious. They had never fought properly, but it was clear that Veronica was more powerful than most masters. She also had personal combat experience against a dragon, so there was no logical reason to dispute her words.

Veronica turned to Para, “Does this ruin have any defense mechanisms?”

“It does, but it won’t last long if the dragon attacks seriously.”

“Tch, I thought so. He’s an ancient dragon in this day and age. It looks like we are caught in a checkmate, but... what does that old lizard want?”

At that moment, a majestic voice rang out.

[Aren’t those some harsh words?]

It was like an echo in a deep valley... Or thunder which burst from the far heavens. Theo’s blood started to boil.

[Oh, there you are.]

Who is he referring to?

Theo gulped involuntarily as the atmosphere sharpened. This was an ancient dragon from the Age of Mythology, the source of the Meuse Desert.

The sand dragon spoke to Theo.

[Magician with the blood of a sea dragon, I have found you.]