Death Ascension - Chapter 83

“If it was a living person then you should’ve heard it as well.” Mikael pointed out.

“Right…” Deon said in contemplation.

However, the young prince knew by instinct that whatever the creature was, it meant no harm. In fact, Deon felt drawn into the abyss as if something inside him was telling him to go inside the inky blackness.

‘How… peculiar…’ Dazed, Deon got down on his knees and inspected the hole.

Contrary to how small it appeared, the hole was actually quite large. It could have probably fit an adult killer ant and still have extra space.

“Sir Mikael, can you go and check? Since you’re a spirit, it wouldn’t be dangerous for you even if there is a monster inside.”

“Oh, wow. Thanks for reminding me that I’m already dead.” Mikael rolled his eyes, thinking of how obnoxiousness seems to run in the royal family.

Still, Mikael heeded Deon’s request and passed through the tunnel walls.

What greeted him inside was not a wicked monster but thousands of luminous eggs. As it turns out, Mikael and Deon had found the colony’s hatchery.

“Sir Mikael! how is it? Is it safe?” Deon called out from outside.

Mikael’s eyes swept the chamber but found no monster—well, except for the thousands of unborn monsters.

“Yeah! The coast is clear! You can go down now!” he shouted back.

A moment later, Deon arrived, skidding down the hole.

“Woah! So many eggs!” Deon gawked at his surroundings, “I bet Sir Finn would’ve jumped for joy if he was here.”

“Not just him. The other participants would also be delighted since these things could probably fetch a high price if sold to gourmets.”

The nursery was half the size of the Queen’s chamber, which meant it took a considerably long time before Mikael and Deon arrived at its center.

“Umm… Sir? W-what’s that?” Deon’s voice suddenly squeaked.

The frightened prince pointed at a large shadow the size of a minibus. The black thing starkly contrasted against the white ant eggs which were only as big as ostrich eggs.

Mikael swooped close to the mystery object and was utterly surprised when a translucent window popped in his view.

Ping!

<System Notification: Player Mikael has found a dragon egg.>

Ping!

<System Notification: The Apostle of Justice, Mikael Lee, has received a request.>

< Request Title: Adopt my child

Request Type: Single request

Request Details:

The Divine-grade spirit, Skaldr, requests that you adopt her baby to prevent their extinction.

Skaldr says that her baby is the last of their kind and out of her goodwill, she will grant you the greatest honor of raising her precious child.

The legendary dragon expresses her gratitude for accepting her request.

Request reward: A dragon’s gratitude.>

“What the F*CK?! Who the f*ck needs your gratitude?” Mikael cursed at his client, “Oh, I know your kind, Lady! It’s always the wealthy and powerful who take advantage of the poor, asking them to do labor without even paying!” Mikael scoffed as he crossed his arms, “Hah! Just so you know, I’m not a pushover like Deon. System, I will decline this request.>

Ping!

<Are you sure you want to decline the request: Adopt my child?>

<Yes/No>

Mikael was livid.

He hated that such powerful beings could afford to be so cheeky. He was suddenly reminded of the god of the underworld who considered his court judgment as nothing but an annoying task and dismissed his unfair ruling to run back to his wife.

The dead dragon’s arrogance unearthed Mikael’s deepest wounds.

‘Hmph! I didn’t even get a girlfriend when I was alive and now it wants me to mother her child? The greatest honor, you say?! No f*cking way! Plus, how does one even raise a f*cking dragon?!’

After a moment, Mikael answered the system, “Yes.”

Just as he was about to turn his back to the minibus-sized egg, another window appeared.

Ping!

<System Notification: The Apostle of Justice, Mikael Lee, has received an updated request.>

< Updated request Title: PLEASE adopt my child

Request Type: Single request

Request Details:

The dead Dragon, Skaldr, implores you to accept her request.

She explains that to safely hatch her offspring, Skaldr decided to come and nestle in the Wesnar mountain. However, a wicked human has corrupted her, and she was slowly poisoned by her own mana.

In fear of the human finding her baby, Skaldr hid the egg away until the moment she perished.

Skaldr’s only regret was not being able to protect her child and see it grow.

Now, the legendary dragon places her trust in you, the Apostle of Justice, to care for her child.

Updated request reward: Damaged dragon heart + 100 Karma points.>

‘Oho?… this dragon sure knows how to scratch someone’s back*.’ Mikael’s lips curved slightly at the updated reward, ‘So, it turns out I can negotiate for the price…’

Thinking that he gained an unexpected profit, Mikael’s mind reeled with how best to milk his dead clients.

“Sir Mikael?… what are you doing?” Deon nervously called out when his partner suddenly became quiet. As he could not see Mikael, Deon felt the hatchery’s silence to be suffocating.

Instead of answering, Mikael asked the system to share the request panel with Deon.

“Adopt?” Deon’s eyes widened in surprise. he never knew anyone could just adopt a mythical dragon as if it was a common pet. Heck! He never even knew anyone who saw a living dragon and lived to tell the tale.

“Well, that’s how it is so, can you possibly fit this thing in your space ring?” Mikael said, deciding to accept the request this time.

“I-It can but… are you sure about this, sir?”

“Hmm… why? Are you against this? I thought you’d be happy to adopt a dragon though…”

“SIR!! IT’S A DRAGON!” Deon’s face crumpled into an expression that clearly said the egg being a dragon’s was enough reason not to adopt it, “if anyone from the neighboring kingdoms knew, they would take it as if the Heinken royal family seeks war!”

Indeed, a kingdom raising a catastrophe-level pet would surely be seen as a threat.

But…

“I already accepted the request. Also, there’s another human who is targeting dragons.”

Mikael could feel it.

Somewhere in this fantasy world, a greedy person was going around corrupting dragons for who knows what reason, “We can raise it in secret. Otherwise, this baby could fall into the wrong hands and be used for mass destruction. So… Deon, let’s adopt it.”

Despite his selfish intentions, Mikael’s voice was full of certainty. So much that the young prince inadvertently envisioned a terrible future where he failed to protect those he held dear from a dragon he abandoned.

Deon sighed, “I understand, Sir Mikael.”

–Chapter end–

*Scratch someone’s back: helping someone but expecting something in return. (basically, give and take attitude)

**When Skaldr says her baby is the last of its kind, she meant it as species. There are other dragons besides Skaldr but they are different.. Just like how toothless from ‘how to train your dragon’ was thought to be the last of the night fury species.