Chapter 18: End of the Age of Dragons (2)

"Creation God Dragon... What on earth is this..."

A dragon hiding behind my back spoke.

The end of the other dragons. It seemed quite shocked by that miserable sight.

"It's the end of fools who mistakenly thought they could become like their parents because they received scales from their parents."

If I had persuaded them a bit more, could this end have been avoided?

But how could I break the stubbornness as tough as a dragon's tendons?

They were the kind who would choose death themselves rather than be broken.

My persuasion would have been meaningless.

"W-will we also become like that?"

"If you give up your body and life."

"H-how could this be..."

I let out a small sigh.

"Do you know how special your ancestors... my children... the seven children were?"

At my words, the children shook their heads.

"How many natural phenomena are there in this world? Don't you know how special it is that only those seven awakened to self-awareness among them?"

"Was that so special?"

"Special indeed."

I nodded slightly as I spoke.

"Natural objects, natural phenomena are inherently beings that cannot have self-awareness. But those children gained self-awareness through the miracle of magic. They were more special than any natural phenomenon in this land."

In fact, the proof of this is that no natural phenomenon has gained clear self-awareness since those children gained self-awareness.

"Then... their form..."

"Conversely, you could say it's the end of beings who had self-awareness becoming natural phenomena."

It's probably because they had self-awareness that they could maintain even that small form.

Though that appearance is all the more pitiful.

"C-Creation God Dragon... Then what will happen to us?"

I looked at the twelve children gathered together, trembling slightly.

Young children who had just emerged from being hatchlings.

Young dragons not tainted by hatred and anger.

Perhaps, if we take good care of them... couldn't they go a different path from the foolish dragons?

"I've gathered the young hatchlings and unhatched eggs in another place, so let's go there."

As I slightly extend my arm, the young children flinch.

Fear was settled in the children's eyes.

That's right. It can't be helped.

How frightening must the things I've shown be? Showing the destruction of the world, annihilating that destruction, and taking life from the bodies of numerous dragons.

If this isn't frightening, what would be?

"Don't worry. If you don't commit the same sins as them, I won't do such things again."

Only after such reassurance did the children feel a faint sense of relief.

I was so angry, so upset that I took excessive action... but I won't do this anymore.

Now there's no need to stay here anymore, shall we leave?

But before leaving.

I looked at the bodies of many dragons remaining on the plain after their minds and souls had left their bodies.

Corpses with their breath cut off. I can't leave so many dragon corpses like this.

I use magic to extract a large amount of soil from under the plain to create a huge cavity.

Then I give a shock to the ground surface to make the entire plain disappear into the ground, dropping the dragon corpses into the huge pit.

Finally, I finish by sprinkling the soil extracted when creating the cavity over the pit. Should I call this a dragon grave for now?

It wouldn't matter if I just left them, but as a parent, I can't abandon their last moments.

I felt a bit sad... but this would be their end.

All other matters were wrapped up, but one anxiety still remained in my heart.

Where did the disappeared Erebos go?

What method did he use to not respond to my summons?

I looked at the empty space where Erebos had disappeared.

Seeing the empty space, sadness and emptiness wash over me as the child I cherished more than anyone turned his back on me and fled.

Should I turn back time instead? If I do, how far back?

Even if I turn back to before taking the scale, could I look at Erebos with the same eyes as before?

I could catch the child trying to run away because he didn't want his scale taken, but could I capture his heart?

If I rewind more time, I might be able to change that child's mind... but I was too mentally exhausted for that.

I want to rest a bit after it's all over... I want to give up on everything, but I can't do that.

So.

I ignored the small anxiety crouched in a corner of my heart and moved space together with the twelve children.

Now I will open a new world with these young children.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The Dragon's Grave is one of the World's 7 Forbidden Areas and is an area estimated to have been used as a burial ground for dragons in the ancient Age of Dragons.

This area, which is estimated to have originally been a vast plain, has numerous dragon corpses buried, and depending on the situation, dragon corpses with bones and skin still intact are sometimes excavated even now.

However, this area is one of the 7 most dangerous forbidden areas in the world, so those who set foot here cannot guarantee their lives.

The energy of death emanating from the corpses of numerous dragons invades the bodies of living creatures and takes their lives, and corpses invaded by the energy of death soon become undead and move, craving life.

Fortunately, the temples of the Life Order surrounding this area are preventing the energy of death from escaping, and thus one cannot enter the Dragon's Grave without their permission.

If you reading this are confident in your abilities, why not take the Life Order's test and challenge this forbidden area?

Even obtaining a small bone fragment or piece of skin could bring you a fortune.

Of course, there's also the possibility of becoming undead without being able to escape.

- From the Guide for Adventurers Exploring the World.

Chapter on the World's 7 Forbidden Areas.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

After that, well, I spent peaceful time teaching the young children.

Since they were children not yet tainted by hatred and anger, it was a very positive result that I could instill at least minimal morals anew.

Plus the hatchlings, and newly born dragons too... Hmm...

The numbers are only in the dozens, but at least they don't try to kill each other, so it's much more positive.

While spending time teaching the young dragons various things...

"Waaaaaah!!! Mom!!!!!!"

Sylphid came crying.

"You've awakened."

"This isn't about 'You've awakened'!!! How could you do such a cruel thing!!! All the children have turned into small pieces of wind!!!"

"That's what those children wanted."

If they hadn't wanted it, I wouldn't have done that much.

"Or did you want those children to be completely annihilated?"

"H-how could that be?! It's just, I feel sorry for the children..."

"I did do something a bit too harsh to those children, but I have no intention of undoing it."

If I had any intention of undoing it, I would have rewound time first.

Of course, even if I rewound time, it probably wouldn't have led to a different result.

"Hiiing..."

"I won't return your scale to you either."

"What?! Why?! I think I've been punished enough by now!"

"How could it be punishment with just a few years? I have no intention of returning it unless something special happens."

"Hiiing... Mom, you're too cruel..."

"The cruel ones are you all. How many times you betrayed my expectations... Tsk."

I said, pushing away the whining Sylphid with a flap of my wings.

"If you truly want to regain your scale, find Erebos. If you find that child, I'll give you back your scale."

Where on earth has that guy hidden... Even if I summon him, he's not being summoned properly.

"Erebos?! If I find that guy, you'll return my scale?! You promise?!"

"Yes. I promise."

I said, scratching the place under my jaw where the scale was not seated.

The empty space the size of one scale... I had a feeling it would never be filled again.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Grrrk! C-Creation God Dragon... sir...!"

"Hm? Oh, you all. You were alive. And now you can even speak."

Not long after Sylphid came, a Lizardman holding a spear I remember seeing came.

The land must have been devastated by the war of foolish dragons, but you managed to survive.

Even though dinosaurs are almost extinct, you guys managed to survive. Did you dig holes in the ground and survive?

"Th-thank you for... ending the Age of Dragons...!"

Hmm, I didn't end it because I wanted to... Hmm, did I want to end it? It feels more like I ended it by chance.

"It's nothing. I just did it because those fools crossed the line."

"W-we saw... everything. The destruction of the world... We don't want to... see such things anymore... So we will... offer sacrifices!"

"Sacrifices?"

Other Lizardmen appeared from behind the Lizardman.

Lizardmen carrying chunks of dinosaur meat, which are now scarce, and a small Lizardman bringing a bouquet made of pure white flowers.

"It has been passed down... for a long time... The fact of offering sacrifices to the Creation God Dragon and holding rituals... It was difficult until now, but we won't miss it from now on..."

Hmm. Quite admirable.

But there's no need to hold rituals to that extent.

"Thank you. But I'll just accept your intentions for the meat."

I said that, and received the white flower bouquet.

It was the same flower I received when I fixed the Lizardman's spear before.

"This flower is enough for me to offer. Take the meat with you and eat your fill."

I could eat it too, but it's not something I necessarily have to eat.

It would be better to yield it to the Lizardmen whose lives are at risk if they don't eat.

"How, how gracious!! Thank you! Creation God Dragon!!!"

In a situation where even dinosaurs are scarce, such large chunks of meat must be of great value.

Perhaps, for them, today is a big festival day.

"Today is a day to eat our fill!"

See, it's a festival, right?

The Lizardmen began to go down with the meat with very excited steps.

Watching those Lizardmen, I brought the bouquet of white flowers to my face, and a slightly sweet scent tickled my nose.

Seeing such simple-hearted fellows, I felt I could have some hope for the future.