< 150. There Are No Evil Dragons in This World (22) >
My name is 'Ager-Fishko-Cois-Halecia-Ryuubrai-Azel-Azel-Seknat-Cois-Ager.'
These days, dragons consider such names very old-fashioned and outdated. By the time I was born, such naming conventions were already rare.
My parents' names followed the same pattern, and they had no hesitation in naming me similarly. They seemed to view names as grand ornaments, believing that the longer they were, the better they showcased our specialness.
Yes, that's right. My parents thought of themselves and me as special dragons with noble blood. While our kind was notoriously proud in that regard, they were exceptional even among us. They were convinced that even other dragons were inferior compared to the three of us. They believed we were fundamentally different from ordinary dragonkind.
Although other dragons might be offended by such stories, my parents were serious. I remember their repeated warnings clearly.
'Don't forget. We are special dragons. You must not mix that blood with the inferior, hybrid dragons. We must maintain our noble blood. It is our duty to preserve our pure lineage.'
Unfortunately, I couldn't maintain it.
By the time my parents gave birth to me, times had already changed significantly. Dragons no longer obsessed over scale colors; they mingled and produced offspring through love. Even their appearances and affiliations transcended. Winged dragons mated with earth-digging dragons, and sea-swimming dragons combined with fire-breathing dragons. My parents disparaged this as 'base and disgusting acts no different from beasts,' but it was an unstoppable trend.
Moreover, there was an even bigger problem. We could no longer find dragons like us.
The blood had mixed completely.
'Not all dragons are the same just because their scales are golden. Look closely. Do you feel it? There is something different.'
My father was right. I could see the difference even among similar dragons classified as Gold Dragons of the Fire Dragon type. We were indeed different.
In the end, I couldn't find a mate before my parents passed away.
I couldn't believe the news that my parents had died in the same battlefield.
This war wasn't supposed to drag on like this. Moreover, it was unthinkable for two dragons, who were among the oldest in the dimension, to perish in such a war.
The so-called ancient species, who boasted so much, were certainly inferior to us. Even by the standard of a special dragon like me, it was clear. Even by the standard of ordinary dragons, it was so.
I remember that moment vividly. When they had disappeared for a long time and then reappeared, insisting that 'this is our land' and demanding the transfer of control from the dragons, everyone laughed.
The evidence they presented to claim historical rights was nothing more than legends or myths to us. The ancient species themselves were treated like stories of ancient mythical beasts until their return, so it was expected.
Their attitude was like someone claiming ownership of land based on ancient myth, despite not having occupied it practically or paying the appropriate price. It sounded like nonsense to our ears.
Moreover, they were not as powerful as described in the legends. Perhaps dragons had become too strong during that time.
The first war ended in a decisive victory for the dragons.
However, after their defeat, they disappeared once more and suddenly returned with absurd weapons and overwhelming technology. To everyone's surprise, the dragons were being pushed back on all fronts. The territory they demanded to be returned, now referred to as the 'Central Dimension,' was on the brink of falling. This was the period when my parents passed away.
Fueled by anger upon hearing the news, I joined the front lines. Until then, I had been fighting in the rear due to my parents' objections, but I had no reason to stay there any longer. My fellow dragons naturally welcomed me. They must have thought it was a waste to leave a powerful dragon like me idle.
But the situation on the battlefield had already turned dire.
'We can no longer be picky about methods!'
Dragons, after much deliberation, abandoned their pride and even used their blood as weapons. Most species, especially the ancient species like the Kavait, showed severe aversion to using dragon blood, which became evident during the war. So, we made weapons out of blood.
I remember the Kavait general showing symptoms of poisoning, half-mad and screaming.
'I curse you, monsters with poison in your blood! We are only trying to reclaim what was originally ours. Look at what you have done to this world in our absence! Dragons are using that poison to taint other species. Dragons are not meant to live this way. You, filthy beasts, have a better way of life. It is...'
The general couldn't finish his sentence. When the term 'beasts' was mentioned, a furious high dragon of the Fire Dragon type unleashed a breath attack just short of exploding his chest. The Kavait was obliterated, leaving no trace.
However, while the ancient species lost a general, we lost countless high dragons in return. The situation worsened over time. The species previously under dragon control betrayed us and sided with the ancient species.
The way dragons handled other species was described as 'abuse,' 'exploitation,' and 'squeezing blood dry.' It seemed we were deeply despised. And rightly so.
In the end, the war resulted in a victory for the ancient species.
The humiliating agreement, a mere facade of a truce that in reality resembled a surrender, led us to live within the framework they designed.
After the war, I fell into deep contemplation.
The period of torment and wandering was not long. I am a dragon who does not like to waste time.
The question that dominated my mind was this.
Why did we lose?
So, I analyzed the reasons for our defeat. The ancient species returning with astonishing technology was indeed the primary reason. However, our collapse without a proper counterattack was greatly contributed to by internal breakdowns within the dimensions and the activities of spies.
In short, if the species we had ruled had supported us, we would not have lost so easily.
But most dragons regarded caring for and empathizing with the subjugated species as a task as difficult as reaching for the stars. While it was extremely difficult to achieve, they saw no need to spend time on it.
Unlike the ancient species, who were adept at pretending to care for others or exploiting them without them realizing it.
But I have known for a long time. I am different from other dragons.
I'm not referring to the teachings my parents repeated until their scales fell off.
I could empathize.
With species other than dragons.
I thought this was a crucial factor that would determine the future of the dragon species. I also noted that my late parents seemed to have a similar disposition, and I speculated that this might be an inherent trait. It felt like something fundamentally different, not just an effect of upbringing.
So, I began researching my own blood. Since it was breaking a taboo in dragon society, I did it secretly. My goal was to uncover the reason why I was different from others.
However, during my research, I came to an entirely unexpected realization.
'Dragon blood is... strange.'
I might have been the first dragon to study dragon blood seriously.
Dragons are renowned for their formidable bodies and immense vitality. To some, it's infamous. Boiling and overflowing vitality. It's a defining characteristic of dragons.
Overflowing.
Yes, overflowing.
'The vitality a dragon emits over its lifetime is so abundant that even using it until death would not be enough.'
Dragons indeed live long lives.
But are they immortal?
No, definitely not.
'At this rate, my 10th great-granddragon should still be alive. But no dragon lives that long.'
It was strange.
Truly, strange.
This surplus vitality seemed to refuse to be absorbed by its owner. It merely remained in the blood and faded away when the dragon died.
The Dragon Heart, which extends the lifespan of other dragons, paradoxically does not prolong the owner's life. It's a paradox.
'What is the reason for evolving this way?'
'What is the reason for evolving this way?'
I couldn't understand. The purpose of this overflowing vitality seemed only to remain within the blood.
But as I continued my research, I couldn't keep focusing on that aspect.
Because I discovered something even more shocking.
'What is this?!'
It aligned with the purpose of starting this research. It was a discovery that proved my uniqueness.
However, it revealed itself in a subtly different form than expected.
'This is not a natural pattern. Someone... has deliberately implanted it.'
I was conducting an experiment to stimulate my own dragon blood using magical waves. I used all six of my brains to create a pattern close to infinity and observed its effects.
During this process, a pattern I accidentally created caused a reaction in the dragon blood. It was a reaction clearly marked by artificial traces.
'Let's dig deeper.'
I continued creating various magical patterns. How long did it take? It's hard to estimate now. After such extensive effort, I learned of many more patterns that the blood responded to. The first one I discovered was relatively simple. The patterns became increasingly complex.
The experiments were tedious. The work was akin to creating a dictionary in a completely unknown language. It could be described as organic chemical paleography experiments. As the magical patterns became more complex, not only text but also images emerged, which helped with the research.
Thus, having acquired some knowledge of an unknown language previously unknown in any dimension, I could only be astonished.
The simplest string I initially discovered.
It carried the following meaning:
Livestock Tracking System Information Access
As a dragon, I do not, of course, believe in gods.
Thus, I did not think that what I found in my blood was the work of a god.
That made it even more terrifying. In shock, I abstained from food and drink, tormented by the realization. Those who left this in our blood... in the dragon genes, were not gods but possessed god-like technological prowess.
And they had treated dragons as 'livestock.'
Fighting the urge to stop thinking, I combined the two new facts I had learned.
'One. Dragons are born with such abundant vitality that they cannot use it up in their lifetime.'
And.
'Two. There were ancient beings who raised dragons as livestock.'
The conclusion derived from this was simple.
'We were originally beasts raised as livestock. Those unknown beings... lived by consuming us.'
The surplus vitality in our blood was not meant for ourselves.
It was clearly an arrangement for someone else to consume it.
Just as the ancient species were not myths, the livestock-like beings were also not fictional entities.
However, those who consumed dragons as food had now disappeared. I could not believe they had been annihilated. A significant portion of the information in their genes suggested otherwise. They seemed to have disappeared by their own choice, leaving us... dragons abandoned.
But will they never return?
Or will they?
I could not be sure.
But, if they do return?
I recalled what dragons do first upon waking from hibernation. Even if they eat nothing and just sleep, energy is consumed. It is only natural. Therefore, dragons first fill their bellies after awakening.
They fill them very well.
I could find no reason to believe that something similar would not happen.
I cannot leave all of this in a letter. I am hesitating now.
The message I wish to convey is simple. It is a declaration, a plea, and a request.
We are not beasts.
Perhaps it was different back then, but now we are sentient beings with thoughts and emotions.
Even so, I am afraid of how you, upon your return, will treat our kind.
In modern society, there is some consensus on the grounds for recognizing a species as one that should not be consumed and how to assign dignity to others. However, I fear that you may not agree with this.
We think. We think freely and have the will to choose for ourselves. We feel joy and sorrow. We have always progressed and will continue to do so. We deserve respect for our very existence.
You must not consume us.
The more I study the traces left in our blood, the more I realize. You possess a civilization far beyond the ancient species. You are beings worthy of being revered as 'gods.'
If you return, I do not know whether it will be in the near future or far distant future.
If we are still around at that time, you will be able to see with your own eyes the civilization the dragons have built.
If so, will you judge us as sentient beings and refrain from consuming us?
Or will it be no different from the orcs looking down on an ant nest?
I do not know.
I decided not to share this with my kin. I cannot handle the repercussions and confusion it would cause.
I hope you read this and reconsider. I hope you confront the emotions contained in this letter written in your language. I hope that as beings comparable to gods, you understand us. I hope you empathize with me.
You must not consume us.
And I am truly curious. So, I wish to end this letter with a question.
Who are you, really?
< 150. There Are No Evil Dragons in This World (22) > End