#641 Opening Mt. Eternity

And so, the world crisis that appeared out of nowhere abruptly ended without incident.

“Huh...? What do you mean...?”

The Proto-Geyser Dragon, beaten up by the Sage and Veil, calmed down and listened to our story.

“Today’s world isn’t overrun by gods, and there’s no problem in particular...? Then why was I awakened? The pattern goes that nothing like this should happen in times of peace, you know?”

“I’m responsible for all that... I sincerely apologize for the trouble I’ve caused!” I earnestly say.

After all, it was undoubtedly the Hand of Supremacy that unnecessarily brought this dragon back to life.

“Your resurrection is nothing but an honest mistake! I’m sorry for the fuss I’ve caused, but there’s nothing good about letting you out in the world, so could you please return to your perpetual slumber?”

“Eternal sweeeep.”

This dragon, whose mere existence seems to cause nothing but uproar, should be sealed up again ASAP.

So we all did our best to push him back into the crater immediately.

“My answer is... NO!”

“But why?!”

“Let me ask you this: can you easily fall asleep after being awakened for the first time in centuries, but then be told it was a false alarm?”

N-Now that you mention it...!

Does our argument sound strange and unreasonable...?!

No, I don’t think it’s strange per se...

“It has been tens and thousands of years since I was created... The fact that this world has not fallen into the tragic state that my mother feared is fortunate, but that doesn’t mean I have no thoughts about being awakened for no reason.”

“I’m so sorry...”

I can only apologize earnestly.

“Pwease have mercy...”

Junior joined me in apologizing.

What a good boy he is.

“...Tsk. At the very least, I know the current state of the world.”

“For a dragon, you’re very understanding.”

“Shut up!!! ...But the world has certainly changed a lot over tens of thousands of years. I never imagined someone could restrain me, the ultimate, supreme, and only Primordial Dragon Emperor and Proto Geyser Dragon Typhon. Even if you used underhanded means and...had the help of my copy...”

“You’re just making yourself appear more and more like a sore loser.”

“I said shut up! Besides! You’re also a dragon like me! A dragon who can fight me on equal grounds, even with my power weakened, cannot be a normal replica!”

“Oh?”

The first dragon, despite its impenetrable strength and unfathomable might, continues to search for reasons to justify its loss, all in the name of upholding the pride of being the mightiest creature of them all.

“It is only through the possession of the Dragon Ball, imbued with much of my own power, that one may contend with the ultimate and unparalleled being, the original Dragon Emperor Proto Geyser Dragon Typhon. In other words, it is indisputable that you are the Geyser Dragon of this era!”

“Nnnnope, I’m not.”

“Whaaaaaaaaaat?!”

Typhon likely intended to steer the conversation towards the notion that losing to the Dragon Emperor—the Geyser Dragon—who stood at the pinnacle of all dragons, is understandable.

However, Typhon was off the mark.

“I am a noble and distinguished Grinzel Dragon! If you’re wondering who the Geyser Dragon is, it’s Ardheg, my brother who just became one!”

“T-Then, isn’t this weird? If a new Geyser Dragon is chosen, shouldn’t all other dragons be destroyed and become its sustenance...?!”

There was a recent revision in that system, you see.

Now, the dragons no longer engage in meaningless battles and live in a state of peaceful coexistence.

“My word...! Dragons have lost their role as the overseers of the gods...? And now there are even mysterious people with the power to tame dragons in this world...?! The world has changed too much in just a few thousand years...!”

“Few thousand years? An ancient dragon’s sense of time surprises even a Lifeless King, meow.”

“Time and tide wait for no man, youth, fleeting, and wisdom hard-won.”

The ancient dragon experiences culture shock.

Is this also considered the Urashima effect?

“Nowadays, there are dragons much stronger than the Geyser Dragon. Even the gods are afraid of Alexander and can’t misbehave.” 

“What?! He didn’t even inherit the Dragon Ball, yet a dragon that strong exists?!”

“Alexander is the strongest in the universe. The dimension you were stuck in, gasping air for dear life? He could’ve destroyed that with his power. Righttt?” and Veil turns to the Sage, the person behind the secret art.

“Jiuqu Yellow River Formation—null. Ten-Severing Formation—null. Myriad Adepti Formation—null.”

“No matter what dimensional magic the Sage has in his possession, he won’t be able to seal Lord Alexander, meow.”

Upon hearing this, the ancient dragon trembles.

I wonder if it’ll go back to the crater now?

“All right. Lead me to him.”

“Huh?”

“I can’t accept that a lowly dragon who doesn’t even have the Dragon Ball possesses power far beyond mine! To exceed the ultimate, supreme, and unparalleled existence, the primordial Dragon Emperor Proto Geyser Dragon Typhon? I won’t believe it until I see it with my own eyes! I must meet this dragon and confirm his true power! If it turns out to be a dragon that only boasts reputation, I will twist and kill him as punishment for his arrogance!”

“Don’t come to us if it turns out you’re the only arrogant one, okay?”

It appears that the primordial dragon still refuses to return to Mt. Eternity’s crater.

I looked around and couldn’t help but notice something rather troublesome within my field of vision. 

The legendary adventurer Golden Bat, known to be of S-class status, stands frozen with mouth agape as though his very soul is about to escape his body.

“I never would’ve imagined such an experience would await me at the revered peak of Mt. Eternity, the place I’ve long admired...!”

“I know. Shocking, right? Like boom.”

I grabbed Golden Bat’s soul protruding from his mouth and crammed it back inside.

Look, Sensei! I also know how to revive the dead now!

“I’m begging you, don’t die of shock. I’ve had enough of that with the dwarves.”

“I climbed Mt. Eternity to write about it in my life’s work, One Hundred Otherworldly Famous Mountains, but so much happened that I don’t know what to write anymore...! If I write this stuff down as it happened, people might think I’ve gone nuts!”

Isn’t that fine as it is?

They say facts are stranger than fiction, you know.

“If I write the truth, people will think I’m lying and say the book is just a bunch of lies...! The One Hundred Otherworldly Famous Mountains, the culmination of my life...!”

“Oookay, calm down.”

Unexpectedly, his plan was on the verge of collapse from an unforeseen circumstance.

At this rate, Golden Bat will die in a fit of rage after his dreams get crushed. Is there any way to prevent this from happening?!

“How about this then, meow?”

The Professor comes to our side, tail swaying in the air. 

“I’ve just discussed this with the Sage, and he’s going to cancel the barriers at the foot of Mt. Eternity, meow.”

“What? Why?”

“The Sage acted as a guardian to prevent outsiders from approaching the sealed ancient dragon in the first place. If the sealed being breaks free, the only thing that will remain is this miraculous sacred mountain. So, it’s better people get to climb it and receive blessings, meow.”

Seriously?!

I look at the guardian himself, the Sage, and he says...

“The goodness in virtue is virtue itself.”

“I don’t know what that means, but yay!”

Golden Bat, the mountain lover, jumps for joy.

As a mountaineer, he’s overjoyed to be able to climb Mt. Eternity as much as he wants.

“Write about it in your book, and if it’s the truth, people will believe it. They will also recognize that the other things written in it are factual, meow.”

“Yesssssssss! Even more good newssss!”

Golden Bat jumps even higher.

I hope he doesn’t jump too high up and ascend into heaven.

“But isn’t this too much? Is it really okay for the fearsome Lifeless King to help us without asking for anything in return?”  

“What are you saying? The Sage has always wished for people to climb this mountain. It’s the mountain where he became an Adeptus, after all. He seeks promising proteges who will train similarly, meow.”

From the Bodhisattva-like expression on the Sage, you could feel a tinge of excitement.

Are all Lifeless Kings this eager to guide others?

Sage the Lifeless King, freed from his mission to watch over the sealed monster, intends to develop Mt. Eternity into a spiritual place to help future disciples who are following in his footsteps to become Adepti.

“Allll right! In that case, we need to get off this mountain pronto so I can get to writing! This marks the beginning of S-class Adventurer Golden Bat’s work of a lifetimeeeee!!!” 

“I think you have other pressing matters to attend to.”

The other S-class adventurers... For example, Silver Wolf, who has officially been appointed the Adventurer’s Guild’s leader, has his hands full preparing for the upcoming release of adventurers in the Demon Kingdom’s dungeons.

Black Cat, another S-class adventurer, supports Silver Wolf as his wife.

Meanwhile, Pink Tonton and Katou are in the middle of a tour, trying to get the adventurers accepted by the people of Demon Kingdom through pro wrestling...

Only this guy is running around to satisfy his own desires!

Are you sure about that?!

“It’s best to do only what you love!!!”

“To strive is but to desire, to desire is but to enjoy.”

Don’t sound like you’re condoning this idiot’s behavior, Sage!

Thus, after enjoying the sights, we went down the mountain because we had to return home before sunset.

We managed to get down instantly, thanks to the Sage’s Skyrend Technique, though.

Golden Bat was upset that he couldn’t take the return trip himself, but I heard he would go back up again to write a more in-depth introduction for his One Hundred Otherworldly Famous Mountains.

“Picnic! So fun!”

“Really, Junior? Then let’s come back with Mommy next time, okay?”

* * *

This part is more of a little side story.

Typhon, the revived Proto Geyser Dragon, could not believe the rumors of Alexander’s strength and went to challenge him, but as expected, he instantly lost.

After months of meticulous editing, Golden Bat published One Hundred Otherworldly Famous Mountains.

The book became a bestseller, promoting tourism between the Human and Demon Kingdoms by introducing each other’s scenic spots. The general public, intrigued by these destinations, crossed the border to enjoy the scenery.

This movement sparked a lively exchange between the two nations, ultimately becoming the most effective policy of reconciliation within the Adventurer’s Guild.

But as for Silver Wolf, Black Cat, Pink Tonton, and Katou...

“Purr“Preposterous!!!”” they grumbled.