And then, the shadow after that looks female… Isn’t that a Dwarf as well? It’s not a Dark Elf, and neither is it an Elder Lich. Then… an Elf? Or a human? I don’t get it. Still, she looks like she’s wearing very expensive clothing too…Hm, is my nose not sensitive any more? But if that’s not the case…
Finally, he saw the Dwarf at the rear of the group, and Hejinmal was relieved.
Just a regular Dwarf, and he’s not wearing anything valuable.
Then, Hejinmal shook his head.
That’s being too naive, right? The three people in front of him are anything but normal. Maybe this Dwarf is something special too. Carelessness is dangerous.
After that, the Dark Elf pointed towards him, as though to tell everyone that he was there.
Although he thought he might be suddenly attacked ─ by a [Fireball], in particular ─ the opposition merely paused to confer, and soon they were headed towards Hejinmal again.
…Should I prepare myself for the worst?
If they had attacked immediately, he would have gone on his guard. But that was not the case. What should he do now?
Nggg ─ my stomach aches. I hope that’s just a kind-hearted undead being who’s come to negotiate!
He could be killed. To Hejinmal ─ who had lived in safety all his life ─ the time until the group stopped was interminable torment.
The group finally reached Hejinmal’s vicinity.
Hejinmal took a deep breath, and then ─ careful not to seem too imposing ─ he spoke.
They were a group who had approached Hejinmal, a Dragon, without any hesitation. Therefore, Hejinmal sensed that trying to appear threatening would be very dangerous.
“The area from this place on belongs to the Quagoa and we Dragons. Why ─ ahem ─ may I ask you fine folks your reasons for coming here?”
The Dark Elf standing at the head of the group changed places with the Elder Lich. In that moment, he realised who was the leader of the group.
“Hm? We’re about to launch an attack and there’s only one Dragon here? The Dragons I know of grow stronger with age ─ in other words, their bodies get larger and more powerful. Given your size, you don’t seem particularly strong… What’s the meaning of this?”
What did he mean by “what’s the meaning of this”? Hejinmal had no idea. However, it would seem this Elder Lich was not at all wary of a Dragon like himself.
Ah, this… this is really bad. It’s so bad I can’t even describe it.
“In any case, I doubt they’d send just one Dragon to collect information on us… Is this a strategy on the enemy’s part, or am I being paranoid? Given the information we got from the Quagoa we captured, probably the latter.”
He had no idea what the Elder Lich was talking about from the beginning. It did not look like the Elder Lich wanted to enlighten Hejinmal either. In other words, he was probably talking to himself, but why did he feel so afraid, then?
“…Thinking too much about this is annoying. Let’s see what kind of Dragon you are.”
A thrill of terror shot through Hejinmal’s body.
He was far too relaxed. He was talking as though he had picked up a stone from the ground. It was a tone which demonstrated his confidence in being able to do what he spoke of.
And then, in the moment when he saw the Elder Lich raise his hand─
“[Grasp─”
“WAIT!!”
After his thunderous roar, Hejinmal pressed his head to the ground.
This was the greatest degree of respect a Dragon could show ─ the posture of servitude.
“─Heart], hang on, what?”
Hejinmal desperately pleaded with the Elder Lich, whose hand had stopped moving.
“Please wait! My name is Hejinmal! May I please inquire about your mighty name?”
Looking around, he saw the Dwarf’s jaw drop in shock. However, the Dark Elf and the Elf-like person did not seem surprised. In other words, this was a natural occurrence for them.
Hejinmal was certain his judgment was correct.
“…My name is Ainz Ooal Gown… what is the meaning of that pose of yours?”
“Yes!! I believe this is the proper form of address for when humans know each other’s names, Gown-sama! This posture is is the greatest sign of respect we Dragons can show!”
“Er… Then, why are you doing this?”
“Naturally, it is because I immediately realized that you are an extraordinary person, Gown-sama. Could I possibly take any other position before a mighty being like yourself? No, I could not!”
This was a huge gamble. He had bet everything on it.
The Dwarves used “heated steel” to describe the burning sensation when gambling, but what Hejinmal felt now was a chill that froze him to the core.
Time seemed to freeze over for several seconds, but finally, the Elder Lich said, “Umu… So, you intend to submit to me, then?”
“Yes! If you allow it, Gown-sama!”
He peeked again, and as expected, the Dark Elf and the Elf appeared to think all this was normal.
“…There are many uses for Dragon flesh, hide, teeth, scales and the like. Hm? You… raise your head.”
The Elder Lich’s attitude was one that was used to giving orders, so he must have found it natural that even someone like Hejinmal had submitted so readily to him. Clearly, the Elder Lich did not consider Hejinmal worthy of mention.
Dragons were the strongest species, but they were not an invincible species. Many beings could kill a Dragon. Frost Giants were a good example of that.
However, if one compared the two species, in the end, Dragons were probably still stronger.
The reason for that was their growth. Dragons continued growing as time passed, and they would someday grow into the strongest entities of all. They were a very long-lived species, and the fact that they could keep growing throughout it all was a form of strength in itself.
From that point of view, the undead might be even stronger than Dragons. High-level undead did not grow in bodily might, but they could accumulate knowledge and experience.
In addition, Hejinmal had read about legendary undead from his books.
Soul Eaters, which devoured the souls of the living. Wriggle Pestilences, which spread disease. Mage cabals which gathered many undead around a core of Elder Liches. Guphandera=Argoros, the undead dragon that lurked in a mountain of the dead and used psychic-type magic. Astral Rippers, masses of shadows which stalked the Valley of Shadows, and so on.
This Elder Lich must surely be a legendary undead creature whose name had gone down in the history books. However, it would seem the Dwarven libraries had not recorded it.
Hejinmal slowly rose.
He felt like the Elder Lich was appraising his body. He was ashamed by his decidedly un-Draconic frame.
“I see. So Dragons that live in these frigid environments store fat under their skin. Although, I thought Frost Dragons were immune to the cold… Or could it be that you were storing up nourishment in case you couldn’t obtain food?”
“No, it’s not like that. I’m the only one who’s like this…”
“Hooh… That is to say, you’re a rare specimen, then? Is that what you mean?”
Hejinmal was not sure if he had any value for being rare, but there was nobody else in his family like him. Therefore, it was a correct statement.
“That might be so, Gown-sama.”
“Really now,” the Elder Lich said. Then he continued in a quieter tone.
“Killing you would be a waste, then.”
Hejinmal’s keen Draconic hearing picked up those words.
He struggled desperately to keep his breathing under control. It would seem he had made another correct choice, which would permit him to live.
“Are they any other Dragons?”