"I will pass on everything I have."

Any normal Dragon would find this to be annoying and decline. They did not want to carry on another Dragon's legacy. However, Eruhaben asked, thinking that this Dragon would be different.

'But he may still decline, since this little kid was a Dragon after all.' Eruhaben was worried that Raon would decline. "Of course, you can decline if you don't want it. I am a generous Dragon, so I will not seek to get revenge like other Dragons might. So, feel free to say what is on-."

Eruhaben stopped talking after looking toward Cale and Raon.

Cale had an odd expression on his face.

Raon also had an odd expression on his face. They both seemed to be excited.

'Excited?'

Raon was talking in Cale's mind while Eruhaben was being confused by their expression of excitement.

– Human, it is free! He said he will give me everything!

Raon was starting to smile the same way Cale smiled every time he sold something to the crown prince.

'Ah, he will teach Raon everything? That will be great.' Cale smiled happily.

"Golden Dragon!"

"What is it? You can decline if you'd like, but I think you will be able to learn everything in about three months-"

"Is lodging and food free as well?"

Eruhaben blinked a few times, wondering if he had heard correctly. Raon was smiling.

Eruhaben finally managed to speak after a while. "...What?"

"If you are going to teach me for free, do I get to stay here for free as well?"

"...Yes?"

Raon pointed to Cale and the rest before asking once more. "Is it free for all of us?"

"...I guess so?"

Bang! Raon slammed down on the golden table with excitement and quickly shouted. "Then I'll do it! I'll do it!"

Raon started to shout in Cale's mind.

– Then I can become even stronger! If I get everything that belongs to this Golden Dragon, I will be at least twice as strong! And it is all for free!

Cale smiled turned awkward after seeing that Eruhaben, who was unable to understand Raon's energetic response, looking toward him instead.

"H-Hahaha-."

Yes, this was good. Cale petted Raon's head one more time. He felt oddly proud and satisfied. He had taught Raon well.

Compared to the excited Black Dragon, the Gold Dragon was feeling iffy even though he got the response that he had wanted.

"Teach me everything! Teach me everything that you know!"

Eruhaben looked at how excited Raon was and quietly mumbled back. "...I plan to do that."

"Great idea! Don't you agree, Human?"

"Yes, yes."

Eruhaben had lived for close to 1,000 years, but had never seen such a combination like this human who was nodding his head and the Dragon that was flapping his wings.

'Am I making the right decision?' He questioned it for a moment, but quickly stopped doubting himself as he did not have much time left.

This was fate as well. He happened to meet a young Dragon while in his twilight years, and that Dragon was one that was not like normal Dragons. What else could this be if it was not fate?

He started to laugh, thinking about how he had never expected such an odd situation. "Might as well pass everything on since I am going to die soon."

Although Eruhaben was laughing as he said that, silence quickly filled the area. However, Eruhaben could feel the gazes that were focused on him.

"What? Goldie, what did you just say?"

"Why are you talking about dying again?"

"Excuse me? Dragon-nim, what are you talking about?"

Raon flew in front of Eruhaben's face and started to shout, while Cale frowned a little and Pendrick was shaking, as if he had heard the declaration for the destruction of the world.

Raon flew around and looked over Eruhaben's body as he asked. "Are you poisoned? Did someone curse you? Did you get hurt while fighting?"

Eruhaben felt odd hearing the shocked and concerned voice of this little Dragon. However, he pushed Raon away with his hand. "Little kid, does it make sense for a Dragon to suffer from such things?"

"Not at all!" Eruhaben then flinched at Raon's continued words. "Then why are you dying? Don't die! You're the only other Dragon I know!"

The Gold Dragon's expression became difficult to read. He seemed like he was about to laugh, but also like he was in disbelief.

Eruhaben avoided Raon's passionate gaze only to end up making eye contact with Cale's concerned gaze.

"May I ask why did you say you are dying?"

"I've just become weak with age." Eruhaben waved it off.

'Since he's going to passed his legacy to Raon, then I...' Cale started to think back to see if there was an Ancient Power that could help.

• Cale. The artifact I've stolen might help. But I left it with my friend. I don't know if it's still there...

Cale heard the sound of Thief. So he quickly asked for details.

Eruhaben petted Pendrick, who seemed to be in a chaotic state from the sudden news, on the head. He recalled when Chief Canaria had brought this Elf who could not see Elementals with her to the lair.

He was curious about Pendrick's unique disposition that he had saved this dying Elf in order to satisfy his curiosity. This child had started to follow Eruhaben around after that.

Feeling Pendrick's sincerity, Eruhaben started to treat Pendrick with gentleness rather than curiosity. "Pendrick, all things of the world are bound to get old and die. Nothing can overcome death. Well, there are ways of controlling death."

"H-How?"

Eruhaben was calm while Pendrick was anxious.

"You need to follow the darkness. Like the Lich."

"Ah." Pendrick let out a gasp.

Eruhaben quickly added on. "Of course, I have no plans to do that."

However, there were some Dragons in the past who ended up doing that. Eruhaben understood why they had done it, but he still did not agree with their decisions.

Necromancers would eventually die, and Dark Elves would die as well. However, a Lich did not feel any pain or die from old age. The difference between the two was quite significant.

"But it is still a while away, so there is no need to worry about it now."

"...I understand."

Eruhaben could see the teary Pendrick nodding his head.

At that moment, Eruhaben could hear Raon's voice once again.

"Hey, Golden Dragon."

"What?" Eruhaben turned to look at Raon after hearing Raon's serious voice.

Raon then shared what was on his mind.

"I will be able to find a way for you to live for a very long time because I am great and mighty. Just wait."

Eruhaben just stared at Raon and ignored what Raon had just said. However, he had to use his fingers to prevent himself from smiling as he looked toward Cale.

"Can all of you stay here for about three months? Cale Henituse, I heard that you were a noble."

"Ah! Oh, mm, it should be fine for us to stay here for a bit." Cale snapped out of his chat with Thief as he answered.

He then thought about his promise with Litana after hearing Eruhaben's question.

Litana, the Queen of the Jungle, had said she wanted to meet with Cale in order to pay him back for his help.

"Human."

"Hmm?" Cale turned his gaze over to Raon after hearing Raon's voice. He then flinched, as Raon's eyes looked vicious.

(Tsuki: every picture is not mine.)

"...Human, I do not wish to be here alone." Raon did not even wait for Cale's reaction as he turned toward Eruhaben.

The Dragon-like glare made Eruhaben let out an interested gasp as he made eye contact with Raon.

Raon then started to speak. "This weak human only sleeps on the most luxurious and soft beds. He likes fruits and only eats the highest quality meat."

Cale thought absentmindedly. 'Isn't it because you children always eat and sleep with me?'

"...You want me to prepare it?"

"Aren't you the owner of this place? Didn't you say that everything would be free? A great and mighty Dragon just requires a flick of their hand to prepare all of those things."

"...That is true." At that moment, Eruhaben wondered why he had to do all of this, even in his old age. 'I've grown too old.'

He had become too nice. How did he, someone who used to beat up those arrogant Dragons so that they would be stuck to their beds licking their wounds for at least a month, end up like this?

However, Raon didn't care about what Eruhaben was thinking about as he turned back toward Cale, who was too shocked that he was currently speechless.

"Human, don't you need to go meet with the Queen of the Jungle?"

"...Huh? Yes?"

"Hurry, hurry back. I will give you one week."

"...Okay."

Raon snickered after hearing Cale's response and returned to the couch next to Cale to lay down on the fluffy couch.

That made Cale let out a sigh. "Haaaaaa. Raon, don't cause trouble for Eruhaben-nim, okay?"

"Ho." Eruhaben let out a gasp as well.

At that moment, Cale and Eruhaben made eye contact again. Although they were almost a thousand years apart, they felt a sense of connection with each other.

Cale then started to speak. "Then I will be back, Eruhaben-nim. You don't have to prepare anything for us like Raon had said."

"Sure." Eruhaben let out a sigh and responded back, before casually adding on to Cale, who was getting up from the couch, as well as the rest of the group who were getting ready to follow behind him.

"It doesn't matter whether you go in and out, but be quiet while you are here. I am a bit sensitive. I accepted all of you because the little kid demanded it, but be careful."

The Gold Dragon could see that both Cale and Raon were giving him the same odd expression. "What are you looking at?"

Cale slowly shook his head and answered back. "No, nothing at all. I'll keep your words in mind."

At that moment, Raon started to speak into Cale's mind.

– That Golden Dragon doesn't seem that sensitive though?

Cale felt the same way. Eruhaben did not seem sensitive at all. Eruhaben, like Raon, did not seem like a normal Dragon.

Eruhaben must have been feeling iffy about Cale's gaze, as he quickly added on.

"Also, I am only going to teach the little kid. I will not teach anybody else anything, no matter how much you beg and plead. Well, I am a bit curious about the Beast children, but no."

Cale clearly understood. 'He'll teach us if we beg and plead.'

Cale's gaze moved toward his group to see Rosalyn and the Beast children. Rosalyn looked toward him and started to smile.

Rosalyn, as expected, had understood as well. Cale had a sly smirk on his face.

"...Why are you smiling like that?"

"This is my way of agreeing with you, Eruhaben-nim."

Eruhaben found this to be suspicious. He didn't know what was going through Cale's mind.

Cale was thinking about how Raon, as well as everybody else in his group, would take whatever they could from this Dragon for the next three months.

He had thought that this Dragon would be scary, but it just ended up being a nice old man who continued to help them out, even as he grumbled.

So he would definitely find a way to get the artifact that Thief just told him about. He couldn't go right now, but he definitely do it.

"Human, I do not know why you are smiling like that again, but you need to hurry back."

"I got it. I'll only take a few people and come back soon." Cale responded back to Raon's repeated question, but suddenly felt nervous after thinking about the group that would go to the Jungle with him.

**************************************

The next day, Cale figured out the source of that nervousness.

"Enjoy your trip, Human! Don't step in to take action and get hurt again!"

They were standing in front of Eruhaben's lair.

Cale was not paying attention to any of Raon's concerned statements, as he was currently deep in thought. 'I knew that something was weird.'

Cale's gaze turned toward the group that would be going with him.

First of all, in order to go through the, 'Path of No Return,' one of the Five Forbidden Regions, he needed On with him. On was currently saying goodbye to Hong.

Cale walked past On and toward the others. Choi Han, Beacrox, and Ron.

"Mm." It was a combination that he couldn't help but groan about. 'They are the people that stayed with me the longest. I guess I'm in for a long period of nagging. I miss Hans.'

Cale thought about Hans, whom he had left back in the Ubarr territory. An unknown coldness made Cale get the chills and start to shiver.

"Young master, are you okay?" Ron approached him with a nice benign smile.

"...Yes, I'm okay."

"I'm glad that you are . Please let me know if you start to feel . In a way, it's nice to travel with only a few people like this. It has been a while since we have done so."

'It should be nice but not now in this situation. Why are emphasizing those words?' Cale looked at Beacrox, who was putting on a pair of white gloves as usual, and started to contemplate about this member makeup. 'But we seem like the perfect team to go do some bad things though.'

Beacrox must have noticed Cale's look of uncertainty, as he brushed his hands off and approached Cale. "Young master, we should be able to head out now."

"Alright, let's go."

Raon and the others said goodbye as Cale and the group headed toward Hoik Village, which was located at the southern end of the Whipper Kingdom. This was the location of the entrance of the, 'Path of No Return.'

Cale was listening to the nagging about him not telling them something as big as gathering Ancient Power might cause him his life, the whole way.

Cale could only smiled helplessly while trying to appease them.

***********************************

And it just had to be raining, on top of all the nagging Cale had endured. Luckily, they decided that it was good that they knew about it now, so they could at least monitor him closely.

"It is similar to last time!" The silver kitten On, who was in Cale's arms, started to hum as she controlled the fog.

Cale's group was currently walking inside the 'Path of No Return'. Even the rain could not get rid of this odd fog.

Shaaaaaa- The rain was so loud that Cale couldn't even hear On's humming.

Drip. Drip. Drip. Cale was starting to get annoyed by the rain falling on his raincoat.

Beacrox slowly walked up next to Cale. "It is getting late and the rain is strong. Young master, I think it would be best to spend the night in the forest."

Cale nodded his head. "On, let's head back to that cave from last time."

"It's nearby."

Cale saw that On was controlling the fog again, and so he told the others to follow.

Ron, Choi Han, and Beacrox all clutched at the raincoats and followed behind Cale.

Choi Han walked up next to Cale and asked. "Are you heading to the cave where you met Queen Litana-nim?"

"Yes, that one."

It was a memorable location where Cale had pretended to be a good and benevolent person. It was a place where he had acted like all sorts of things that he was not.

"I have some good memories in that place."

On must have recalled that memory as well, as she shook her head and continued to control the fog. Maybe it was because everybody was walking quickly, but they soon saw the cave up ahead.

"It's over there! Hmm?" On, who was pointing toward the cave, suddenly stopped.

Ron came up to Cale. "There seems to be someone in there."

A faint light was coming out of the cave. Someone seemed to already be inside of the cave.

Cale debated it for a moment before starting to speak. "It seems like it is too late to go elsewhere. Let's head there for now."

It was annoying to go look for another location. It was raining, it was dark, he was hungry, and he didn't want to walk anymore.

After starving and fainting last time, he didn't want to experience that feeling again. He had already been spoiled by this group of people who always making sure he was never left alone.

Since there really wasn't anywhere else to go, they might as well spend a night with some strangers.

"As you wish, Cale-nim. Thankfully, I do not feel any strong auras in there." Choi Han commented to assure Cale.

Cale quickly answered after hearing Choi Han's comment. "Let's go then."

They didn't have anything to lose.

Drip. Drip. The rain started to pummel their raincoats harder as they quickly headed to the cave.

The faint light started to get stronger and they could see the entrance of the cave.

'I can finally rest.' Cale was about to walk even faster with that thought in mind when he heard Choi Han's voice.

"...It's a familiar aura."

'What?' Cale could see the entrance of the cave as he heard Choi Han's comment.

He could see a small fire that lit up the inside of the cave. There were two people inside.

'Son of a...' Cale rubbed his eyes.

"Who...who are you?" One of the people inside asked in a shaking voice.

A weak and innocent looking man was looking at Cale and the others. Not only were the man's eyes pure, but they seemed to be teary as well, making him look very pitiful.

But that was not the problem.

'Why is she over here?' There was a blonde woman lying on the ground next to the innocent-looking blonde man.

He had seen her before. The blonde sword master. The person from the secret organization who had killed the blood-crazy mage, Redika.

That woman was dyed black in multiple spots on her body and was lying there unconscious.

Clang- A very quiet noise reached Cale's ear.

Choi Han had started to take his sword out of the scabbard.

Cale felt like someone had thrown a punch at him. 'What the hell is going on?'

At that moment, he made eye contact with Ron.

'What's wrong?' That was what Ron's gaze seemed to be asked.

At that moment, Cale's mind became clear. 'Oh, right. That woman does not know my face.'

The blonde sword master did not know Cale's face, or anybody else's face for that matter. She had only seen them with their masks on.

'Perfect.' Cale put a hand on Choi Han's shoulder. "Choi Han, put your sword away."

"Excuse me? But!"

Cale whispered to Choi Han who asked with confusion. "Hide your aura."

The woman may feel Choi Han's aura if she woke up later. Choi Han immediately followed that order albeit confused.

Cale looked toward the unconscious sword master and the blonde, innocent-looking man next to her. Cale gently smiled at the man as On meowed in Cale's arms.

Meeeeow. She seemed to be saying that this was a repeat of what had happened last time.

However, Cale just patted her a little to quiet her down.

Choi Han definitely said that he did not feel any strong aura inside of the cave.

That meant that, unlike the blonde sword master, this man was weak.

Cale took off the hood of his raincoat and started to speak to the blonde man. "I'm sorry. Did we scare you?"