Chapter 150
Suhyeok arrived at the Great Council through the portal.
A magnificent temple stood atop a steep stone mountain.
It almost felt like looking at Olympus from mythology.
"This is the Great Council Hall."
Bellian spoke with obvious pride.
"It stands at the very highest point of the Sanctuary, the place closest to the heavens."
Celine and Mael looked just as proud.
For dragons, a race overflowing with pride, this place was practically a symbol of their dignity.
Then...
Light suddenly flashed in the air.
[LEE SUHYEOK, YOU BASTAAAAARD!!! HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO ME, NYA!! DIE!! JUST DIE ALREADY, NYA...!!]
Leon appeared with a furious expression, apparently having suffered for quite a while.
He immediately started smacking Suhyeok.
Then he glanced at Seong-a hanging at Suhyeok's waist.
[AND YOU TOO, NYA...!!]
[HOW... HOW COULD YOU ABANDON ME AND LEAVE LIKE THAT, NYA?!]
[YOU SAID WE WOULDN'T GET SEPARATED AGAIN! I'M MAD, NYA!!]
Leon even burst into tears as he complained.
Seong-a hurriedly manifested and tried to calm him down.
[No, kitty! That's not what happened. Just listen to me first, okay?]
[I DON'T NEED TO HEAR IT, NYA!!]
[YOU TWO CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT AND LIVE HAPPILY WITHOUT ME, NYA!]
[Kitty, seriously, just listen for a second....]
[I SAID I DON'T NEED IT, NYA! Sniff... If you knew what I went through, you wouldn't be saying that, nya!]
[Look at my fur! Can't you see it, nya?! It's completely tangled and all dried out, nya!]
Honestly...
His fur didn't look any different.
But Suhyeok knew saying that would only make things worse, so he stayed quiet.
Still...
He needed to deal with this.
Otherwise, Leon would keep whining all day.
Take this.
[You think giving me something like this is going to make me forgive... f-forgive you...? Huh?]
Leon froze.
His eyes immediately began sparkling.
[I-Is this a new Ch-Churu, nya...?]
I made it while you were away.
It tastes better, there's more of it than before, and it even has ingredients that are good for your fur.
Leon couldn't take his eyes off the new Churu.
Just looking at it seemed enough to make his mouth water.
He repeatedly swallowed his saliva.
Then awkwardly cleared his throat.
[A-Ahem!]
[I-I'll specially let it slide this time, nya...!]
[Don't do that again, okay, nyaaa? Hehe.]
[I almost got really mad, nyaaa.]
His voice had suddenly become much softer and more drawn out.
The corners of his mouth were practically touching his cheeks at the thought of tasting the new Churu.
Seeing that, Seong-a finally relaxed and returned.
Leon really did make people worry about him in all kinds of ways.
Still... I guess it would feel a little empty without him.
Maybe that's his charm, like Taesu.
Just as they were about to enter the Great Council Hall...
Several groups of dragons flew in from the opposite direction and landed.
Each group had a different hair color.
"Hah."
"I was wondering where that foul smell was coming from."
"So it was you lot."
A huge, rugged-looking man spoke first.
His entire body was packed with muscle.
Long blue hair flowed all the way to his waist.
He had clearly come looking for a fight.
Naturally...
Celine and Mael immediately responded.
"Still making those low-class jokes, I see."
Celine replied calmly.
Mael, on the other hand, walked directly up to him and began hurling insults that were difficult to even repeat.
"Look at you, walking around half-naked just because you're a man."
"I told you six hundred years ago to get rid of that disgusting hobby, didn't I?"
The man's face twisted.
"How absurd."
"I'm generously allowing everyone to admire this perfect body."
"You should be bowing in gratitude."
"You're just as ill-mannered as ever!"
"You bastard...."
Two enormous killing intents collided.
The entire temple surroundings shook violently.
At that moment...
Celine and Bellian hurriedly separated them.
"Mael!"
"Enough."
"There are too many eyes watching."
"Keugh...."
Bellian also warned the man.
"Both of you, stop."
"What kind of disgrace is this in front of the Great Council Hall?"
"If you refuse to stop, you'll have to consider House Valkheim your enemy as well."
"...Tch."
"Fine, fine."
"It's not like we were actually fighting."
"You're making a big deal out of a little argument."
He turned and strode into the Great Council Hall.
Then suddenly...
"AAAAAAAAAARGH!! FUCK, THIS IS PISSING ME OFF!!"
His roar was loud enough to shake the entire Sanctuary.
Everyone covered their ears.
[Ugh!]
[That counts as a little argument, nya...?]
Suhyeok alternated his gaze between the man and Mael.
This hasn't changed at all.
Dragons were fundamentally self-centered.
Even when they formed clans around their bloodlines...
That loyalty extended only to their own family.
Relations between different dragon clans were rarely good.
The Black Dragons and Red Dragons weren't outright enemies, but they certainly weren't close.
Kaiden was the unusual one.
After marrying his wife, he continued exchanging with House Kyren quite often.
Naturally...
That was an exception.
The Blue Dragon and Red Dragon clans were especially hostile toward one another.
They practically considered each other sworn enemies.
The White Dragons, meanwhile...
Tended to remain neutral.
They didn't ally with any faction.
Nor did they grow particularly close to one.
Part of that was for the sake of maintaining balance.
But it was also because of their personalities.
"Yaaawn."
"What a pain."
"I don't wanna gooo...."
A group of white-haired dragons walked past.
Every single one of them had slumped shoulders and sleepy expressions.
"Same."
"This is annoying."
"Can't we just leave?"
"I'm so sleepy...."
"Annoying."
"Annoying."
Their conversation ended almost immediately.
Every step looked heavy.
They didn't even glance toward Suhyeok's group.
As though even doing that would be too much effort.
"...Each dragon clan really has a completely different personality."
Seong Hosu spoke quietly.
"They're almost like water and oil."
Wayne nodded beside him.
"Sir Hosu is right."
