How to Live as a Half-Dragon

064. (2).

The northern forest at sunset.

An uninvited guest arrives.

Drake, a guest who came with a bottle of wine at a leisurely pace, smiled at the entrance of the forest in the north.

“Alas… It’s something to live for a long time.”

He couldn’t have imagined that he would stop by here for such a trivial reason.

Drake’s steps into the woods were still leisurely.

Even though he was aware of the owners of the northern forest, he knew that they were no threat at all.

The owners of the forest are only wary of Drake.

There was no sign of any one of them running away.

would find out

overwhelming power.

“The scenery is nice.”

Drake’s view at the end of the forest boasted a good view.

A small wooden house built on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea.

Looking at the small light leaking from the treehouse, it seemed fortunate that we would be able to meet.

It wasn’t long before Drake started striding towards the treehouse.

profit.

As Drake approached the house, the door opened and an old man walked out.

The old man looked a little older than Drake.

At least 10 years old, and at most 20 years old, the difference was obvious.

The gray-haired old man looked at Drake and said.

“This is a shabby guest. Heh heh heh.”

“What could be more shabby than this shack?”

Even though we haven’t seen each other in a long time, fortunately, there was a connection so that there was no need to greet each other.

Drake said, waving the bottle he had brought with him.

“I’d like to have a drink with you. Please give me some time.”

“It’s alcohol… Are you expensive?”

“He must have been a very nice guy since he got it from Lugrant’s brewery.”

The old man was big.

“Then, isn’t it like I’m serving you?”

“I never said I was serving you.”

The old man smiled and went inside.

“Come in.”

Drake soon followed the old man into the cabin.

There was someone who said hello.

“You are here again.”

“I said I couldn’t see you at the entrance, but were you here?”

it was grack

Well, maybe it’s natural.

Because he was the attendant of the former head of Alteon.

“Now, shall we taste the alcohol you stole from your son?”

Drake sat across from the old man and filled his glass.

The thirsty old man, no, Harnis Alteon, the former head of Alteon, said.

“So, what is the family head of Ferreira doing here?”

“I told you, I came for a drink.”

“You really didn’t come here to have a drink, did you?”

We know each other too well.

It has been 20 years since Harnis gave up his position as head of the household and lived in this forest.

If Drake was the one to come for a drink, he should have come at least once.

But even so, Harnis didn’t say he was heartless or upset.

Because he was that kind of guy.

So, he was only curious about Drake’s true self.

This is the reason why I stepped into such a shabby hut in a corner.

“I want you to do just one favor.”

A flash flashed in Harnis’ eyes.

Drake is someone

He was never one to lend a hand to others, even for his pride.

“By the way, is that guy asking for a favor?”

“… … .”

First of all, I wanted to listen to the story to the end, even if it was interesting.

I think about whether or not to reject it after that.

“What is that request?”

“Do you remember the guy who came into this forest not too long ago?”

Harnis never took a single step outside the tree house.

But even so, he knew of the boy’s existence.

His monstrous senses had long since transcended human limits.

“Ohh… That lump of blood.”

Naturally, he could roughly grasp not only this forest, but also the mansion beyond the castle wall, so he seemed to know Xian, whom he had recently visited.

“I didn’t know that the Drake my body knew would be taking care of a child. Did you doubt your eyes or something?”

“I want you to help him.”

“What are you helping? Are you asking me to become your disciple?”

“no.”

Drake, who spoke firmly, threw a question right away.

“How do you see it? that child.”

“… … .”

Harnis, thinking that it would lead to an answer to the question even if he didn’t know what it was, matched the rhythm.

He retraced his memory about a month ago and evaluated it as it was.

“sponge… It seemed like He is very good at learning and absorbing things.”

Drake chuckled.

In fact, it was an evaluation that matched the appearance of holding water with all one’s might.

“That child, your blood flows.”

“hmm… ?”

“It’s Sarah’s child.”

“Hoo… .”

Harnis reacted greatly to the welcome name.

It has been 10 years since Sarah left Alteon.

Well, I thought that if the child who left at that time gave birth to a child, it would be about that age.

“Hongbok logo in Alteon… .”

“Yes, it is a big slope. But now, that kid from Lugrant is trying to kick it out.”

“hmm… .”

“Do you think the child is good enough to pass the ordeal of the northern forest?”

“… … .”

“I even protested against him, and this time he put the kid on Stain.”

The meaning of the ordeal in the northern forest is, in fact, the key to meeting and stamping your face with Harnis, the most senior member of the family.

Because of this, there was no way that Harnis didn’t know about Stein, who had already passed through the northern forest.

Of course, at the level of Xi’an, it was a wall that could never be crossed.

said Harnis, rubbing his mustache.

“I know what is going on. I heard that the mansion is particularly noisy these days… It was such a fun thing.”

“I want you to return Lugrant’s heart.”

“… … .”

Harnis, who quietly poured himself a drink and drank another glass, spoke.

“I’m sorry. Such a request is beyond my authority.”

“Isn’t it just to break the son’s stubbornness?”

Harnis shook his head and said.

“He’s the family head, and he’s shouldered everything in Alteon. What would my vassals think if I stepped in and crushed his decision?”

So far, he has lived in the forest for 20 years, away from family affairs.

Thanks to that, Alteon rolled as Lugrant intended.

It means that the meaning went back to his decision whether it was right or wrong.

However, if the previous head of the family stepped forward and put a stop to the decision of the current head of the family, it would be like pretending that the supreme power of Alteon was not Lugrant, but Harnis.

I didn’t want to step out and hold my son’s ankle, who had been doing well.

“Only once.”

“I’m sure you know that once is an exception after all.”

Drake is also the head of the family.

And it’s also a position where I gave up the position of head of household a while ago.

It was clear that he fully understood what he was talking about.

So even though he knew he would give up at this point, he persisted.

“Just giving it one chance is enough.”

“Wouldn’t that be enough for that child to win?”

right.

As Harnis said, if Xian wins, everything will be fine.

In fact, he himself had said that to Xian a few hours ago.

However, it was safe to say that the odds of winning were almost non-existent.

I had to be prepared just in case.

He might not admit it, but he claimed to be his teacher.

“I will make sure that child can conquer the northern forest within three years.”

“hmm… .”

Drake’s proposal surprised even Harnis in his heart.

I know the child’s talent at first glance, but conquering the northern forest in three years is a different track.

“You mean that much?”

“That’s about it.”

If Drake was to say that, it was clear that it would be good to somehow connect with Alteon.

‘Are you right… !’

Harnis, who thought of a way to honor Drake’s request while keeping the head of the household, slightly raised the corner of his mouth.

By his standards, his younger brother, Drake, who was about 10 years younger, was also a genius.

A genius who was a younger brother much younger than himself, but also a member of the same generation.

If I recall the days when I was young and discouraged by his talent, I wanted to tease him rather than just listen.

“It’s difficult with bare mouth.”

“What do you want?”

“Call me brother.”

“this… .”

Drake slammed the prize.

The word older brother was a word he had never used even when he was young.

“Now what… .”

“If you don’t like it even if you listen, I have no choice.”

Drake’s mouth trembled and opened with difficulty.

* * *

Even though it was late at night, Xian could hardly fall asleep.

A month, no, in a way, the effort from the moment I left the village was for tomorrow, so I was nervous.

As much as I prepared hard, my head was complicated.

“… … .”

While Xian was tossing and turning on the bed with a tired body, the balcony opened.

It was Cecily who came in.

It’s a third-floor accommodation, but I can come in quietly every time.

“A nightmare today too?”

Cecily, who had been halfway in, stiffened.

The boy looked up and nodded cautiously.

I have to find another way, even for the sake of the future…

Xian gave me the seat next to me, saying he wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway.

“Then, talk to me by my side before I go to sleep.”

“huh.”

Xian, who was looking at the ceiling just like before Cecily came, said,

“Can I win?”

“no.”

It was a very firm and sober answer.

But it must be an honest answer… ?

To be honest, I couldn’t even guarantee victory myself, but it was overbearing to think that good things would come back from other people’s mouths.

It was when Xian was thinking the same thing.

Cecily raised a corner of her mouth quietly and said,

“But losing doesn’t change anything.”

“… huh?”

“Even if Xi’an is destroyed by losing to Dalian, I will be by your side. Maybe Hughes is like that too? So don’t worry too much. young master.”

Even though it wasn’t anything special, it was a little touching.

If you think about it, you may have given too much meaning to this place because it was Alteon that you recklessly left your house for.

‘okay. Let’s think comfortably.’

Nothing changes.

Apparently, there was no difference other than whether it was Alteon or not, as Cecily had said.

There is also an alternative called Pereira.

“I’ve calmed down a bit.”

“I’m glad.”

“If you lose one in ten thousand… .”

Shall we go to the real Pereira?

* * *

It was well past lunchtime when Xi’an, who fell asleep during the early hours of the morning, woke up.

“Looks like you woke up.”

There were three people in the room.

It was Cecily, Leah, and Drake.

“Now is the time… .”

As I lost consciousness at dawn, I felt like I had slept too long…

Sure enough, when I checked the clock, it was past 2pm.

I couldn’t help but be very surprised.

Xian stared at Cecily involuntarily.

It was because he was sleeping next to him.

In fact, I felt that I had accumulated a lot of fatigue these days, so I asked to wake up if I didn’t wake up when the time came.

If Cecily hadn’t said yes, she wouldn’t have let go of her tension like usual…

“why… Didn’t you wake up?”

Instead of Cecily, it was Drake who answered Xian’s words.

“I told you not to wake me.”

“… Why?”

Thanks to that, I only had about 3 hours left.

It was strange that none other than Drake would not know how precious every minute and every second was to him.

“Even if you woke up anyway, what would you have grabbed?”

“That’s right, but… .”

I was the one who couldn’t sleep because of the tension.

Even if I woke up, I couldn’t guarantee that I could concentrate on training as usual.

“I’d rather sleep than that, since it’s just as important to stay in top condition.”

Drake’s words left Xian at a loss for words.

He is right, but at the same time, blaming someone for what has already happened is pointless.

‘Actually, even though I’m a light sleeper, the reason I didn’t wake up was because I was tired.’

I must have been working hard on my body for about a month.

I didn’t wake up even though there were three people in the room.

“Anyway, it looks like you woke up just in time, so get ready soon.”

“Are you ready?”

“Three hours left, now rather than trying to learn something more. It would be more beneficial to look back on the way you have passed. It means to anticipate in your head the aspect of the sparring you will have with him.”

If you are aware of the rolling aspect, you can respond as quickly as that.

Just as Drake said, based on his experience of sparring, he imagined the composition of the day in his head.

Of course, the picture of himself losing often unfolded in his head, but he blocked it in advance to prevent such a situation from occurring, which gradually led to good results.

‘But this is the end.’

Dalian led to several situations, but in the end it only led to the next step, but the result did not change.

own defeat.

Drake said that he must have confirmed his hardened face at the result that did not change no matter how many times he rolled.

“Tell me why you keep losing.”

Indeed, Drake seemed to know what situation he was in.

“Are you saying I can never win?”

It was a time when I wondered if the difference was so overwhelming that I couldn’t win even in my imagination.

“no. That’s not why.”

“sure?”

I wondered why I ran into a wall of defeat that never changed no matter how I twisted it.

“That’s because you’ve never beaten him before.”

Drake’s words were very surprising.

“What is that… .”

“It’s simple, you’ve never defeated him, so you just don’t know how to win or what situations to put him into to win.”

“… … .”

That was right.

A series of numbers that guided him to the result of defeat every time.

It was only natural that he would be defeated after recombining those memories dozens of times.

Kwak…

Xian clenched his fists tightly.

‘For a moment, I wondered if the current virtual sparring was meaningless… .’

It wasn’t.

As a result of now, the mistakes that have been defeated in the meantime must have been reduced.

said Drake, watching the sunset outside.

“Go soon.”