And I Became a Dragonkin - 03

Chapter 03: Beyond Forgetfulness

The strongest beings on this planet are the Dragons and the Dragonkin. 

Yes, those so-called “true dragons.”

In addition to these, there are other humanoid races on this planet, including the Guardians, Beastmen (including Birdmen), Humans, and Phantomkin (Keiron).

Dragonkin are an evolved species of the ancient Sacred Guardians. It is said that in ancient times, there were those who possessed the power to command even the Dragons. 

This is the origin of the name “Dragonkin.”

Dragonkin are not half-beasts like Lizardmen or Dragonewts; they belong to the Human genus. Their appearance is very similar to the Guardians.

Guardians, in an earthly image, are similar to the Forest Spirits (Elves).

They are very slim, with long arms and legs and beautiful features. 

They also have distinctive long ears. 

Unlike earthly elves, they are also tall.

The physique of the Dragonkin is also similar to that of the Guardians. 

Despite their slender bodies, they possess superhuman physical abilities and wield Dragonkin arts.

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At the bottom of the Krem Sacred Spring, located in the depths of a cave, lay the body of Ars.

His full name is Ars Gui Reet. 

He is a Dragonkin, male.

He was a heroic knight of the fallen nation of the Langell Principality about two centuries ago. 

He had a superhuman physique typical of the high-ranking Dragonkin, wielded Dragonkin armor, and used powerful lightning and flame magic. 

He was sealed in the Krem Holy Spring due to the schemes of the Kingdom of Rigelbert and the Remilorezon Dragon God Nation. 

This is all according to his own account.

The former Japanese man’s name was “?” 

So, Ars called him “Ace.”

The origin of the name Ace is laughably simple.

The former Earthling couldn’t remember his own name.

However, he could recall the initials of his name from his memories—”AS.”

Hearing this, Ars started calling him Ace. 

The second ‘I’ was omitted, making it Ace. 

It was simply easier to say than “Aies.”

[TLN – It could also be Eis, but we’ll be going with Ace for simplicity.]

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Even though their time was limited to two years, they were able to exchange a lot of information.

Though, Ace had no memories. 

Most of the information came from Ars.

For the first few months, he spent time learning the language. 

But once they could communicate, Ars didn’t hold back and kept talking to Ace, even if it was one-sided. And he did this in three languages!

Whenever Ace didn’t understand something, he would ask questions or look at pictures and videos while Ars kept talking. 

Ace patiently listened to him. 

Since Ars mixed in other languages while speaking, they eventually conversed in three languages.

Both of them were spiritual beings.

They could talk without needing sleep or food and never got tired.

Ars and Ace might have had a good human-like compatibility. 

They just kept talking endlessly. 

However, it was Ars who loved to talk. 

He spoke about 80% of the time.

Sometimes they clashed, but it was more like entertainment.

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In the town of Confiol in the Belt District of the Mikrium Holy Nation, there is a shrine in the Krem Cave.

Ars was defeated in the final battle between the Langell Principality and the Kingdom of Rigelbert. 

Although Rigelbert managed to defeat Ars, they couldn’t kill him because he was protected by the Sacred Dragon Bracelet. 

The bracelet’s powerful automatic defense mechanism prevented his death.

Therefore, the Kingdom of Rigelbert paid a large sum to the Remilorezon Dragon God Nation to take care of Ars. 

The Dragon God Nation had a Dragonkin sorcerer named Rister. 

Chancellor Rister Enbar of the Dragon God Nation transported the unconscious Ars to Confiol. Many tried to rescue the heroic Ars during this time, but they all fell before Rister’s cunning strategies.

Using the power of the holy spring deep in the cave, Rister sealed Ars at the bottom of the spring. It was the strongest sealing technique that could never be undone.

That was about two centuries ago. 

Nearly two centuries have passed since Ars was sealed. 

At the time, he was severely injured and was submerged at the bottom of the spring.

The holy spring originally held cobalt-blue water, but due to the forbidden art used by Rister, the water turned dark blue and became murky. 

This water not only had the power to restrain Ars Gui Reet but also penetrated the defenses of the Sacred Dragon Bracelet, gradually corroding Ars’s spirit.

While his body was slowly healing, Ars’s spirit was destined to eventually disappear. 

That moment of disappearance was approaching rapidly and would not last another ten years.

Rister’s forbidden art targeted Ars’s spirit. 

Since he couldn’t kill Ars’s body, he aimed to make his spirit disappear. 

Moreover, this ancient art was so powerful that even Rister, who cast it, couldn’t undo it.

After two centuries, Ars made a final gamble. 

He decided to purify his spirit and transfer a part of his body, abilities, and memories to another person.

By allowing himself to disappear, he aimed to break the secret art’s seal on the holy spring.

Using his remaining strength, Ars, in his spiritual form, activated a soul-summoning technique. 

From many stars beyond this one, he gathered around six hundred strong spirits. 

This meant that these spirits had already died by that time.

Even without Ars doing anything specific, many of the gathered spirits couldn’t withstand the darkness of the void and self-destructed. 

While observing these spirits, Ars ultimately selected three spirits. 

Over nearly five years, he closely interacted with these three spirits. 

As a Dragonkin, Ars could use parallel thinking (more precisely, fully parallel simultaneous thinking) to always converse with all three spirits at the same time.

Ace was one of those three. He wasn’t the only one chosen.

Ace was the last of the three selected spirits. 

This is why his time was just under three years.

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Ars told the truth to all three of them. 

After that, he expressed his true intentions.

He would transfer his body, power, and part of his memories.

In return, he presented a single condition.

It was the death of Rister Enbar, the chancellor of the Remilorezon Dragon God Nation. 

Rister was a traitor to the Dragonkin.

Dragonkin are born with the Sacred Dragon Bracelet on their wrist. 

Rister was born without it, making him a (half) Dragonkin (Raphil). 

Unlike Dragonkin, half-Dragonkin (Raphil) can be killed. 

To exact his revenge on Rister, Ars decided to make himself disappear and break the seal on the spring. 

This was the deal.

Hearing this, Ace thought for about ten seconds. 

He already knew he was dead.

“Ars, sorry, but… I decline. I can’t promise anything.”

Ars felt a slight stir of unease at this response.

“…Can you tell me why?”

“Yeah… sure. Let me explain.”

Ace hadn’t expected to be asked for his reason for declining.

“I’ve learned a lot from you about the Remilorezon Dragon God Nation and Chancellor Rister Enbar. Well, among other things… But I’ve never seen that country, nor have I met him. I understand your resentment, but I can’t take it on. I don’t want to live, even if it means gaining your body. Besides… I’m already dead. If I disappear, so be it.”

There was a brief silence before Ars’s voice came through.

“Are you sure about that? You’ll never have this chance again. If your spirit disappears, it returns to nothingness. Only one in billions gets to reincarnate. And even then, there’s no guarantee it’ll be as a human.”

Ace replied in a carefree voice.

“Yeah, that’s fine. I enjoyed talking with you. It feels like I gained a friend before I died. That’s enough for me.”

It was the voice of someone who had already accepted everything and made peace with it.

Ars began to speak, filled with emotion.

“I see… understood. The other two seem willing to go along. It’s unfortunate, but I’ll have to exclude you…”

Ars continued speaking.

“But are you really such an altruist? I don’t think so…”

“No, no, I’m far from an altruist. There are plenty of ugly-hearted people out there. I’ve felt like kicking them aside more than once.”

“Then why…?”

“Taking on someone else’s burdens… it’s not something a person should do. I want to act according to my own beliefs, and I will. If I had made that decision myself, it would be different, but to take on someone else’s task… Do you want me to be a killer?”

Ars was at a loss for words when asked about being a “killer.”

“That’s not my intention, but it would end up that way… It’s not my true intention, but there’s still something I can’t give up on.”

“I understand. That’s your feeling, and it’s your decision to make. But I have my own way of living. Or rather, my way of dying might be more accurate. If I get to live again, I’d want to live freely and enjoy this world. If not, that’s fine too.”

There was a long silence from Ars.

“I see. I understand your thinking. …I’ve enjoyed all our talks. It was really fun! Thank you.”

“No, thank you! I enjoyed talking with you in the end.”

After his final conversation with Ars, Ace felt relieved.

(I can hardly remember my time on Earth. I don’t feel any regrets… I had a special experience in the end, and I think I enjoyed the bonus round of life.)

Ace had already accepted his impending disappearance and reached a state of enlightenment.