Barbarian's Adventure in a Fantasy World-Chapter 225: Ignisia the Elder Dragon (4)

Ignisia granted Ketal full freedom within her dragon’s lair, a gesture that was anything but casual. There was a reason behind her decision, one rooted in curiosity and calculation. She had already uncovered the fundamentals of Ketal’s existence: what he was, where he had come from, and the scale of his power.

Yet, for all that, she remained in the dark about Ketal as a person. She did not know what drove him, what his values and philosophies were, or what he truly desired. Ketal had introduced himself as an ally to the world, but the true meaning behind those words remained unclear.

Ignisia’s memories drifted to a recent conversation with the Tower Master, back when she had visited to discuss Nano from the Forest of Nothingness.

Even the monsters of those empty woods had once claimed to be allies, at least in their own warped logic. She recalled the tales of Nano: beings who, under the purest intentions, sought to help the world by replacing it entirely. Its actions were monstrous, even if the motives were oddly innocent.

Of course, Ketal had met the gods themselves, so such misunderstandings were less likely in his case. Still, Ignisia felt she needed to see the truth with her own eyes. It was part personal curiosity, part pragmatic investigation. Her earlier attempt to seduce Ketal had been as much a test as it was an indulgence.

Now, as she busied herself crafting the catalyst, she whispered a spell beneath her breath. “I want to understand his actions.”

Her words carried the weight of Dragon Tongue. With a subtle pulse of magic, Ignisia’s senses opened up to Ketal’s every move within her lair.

She watched intently and discreetly, eager to see what choices he would make when left alone. And what she found was nothing like she had expected.

He isn’t touching anything? she mused.

This was a dragon’s lair—an elder dragon’s, at that. Gold, silver, and gems glittered in careless piles. Masterworks of art and enchanted artifacts, some thousands of years old, were scattered about as if they were mere trinkets. Ancient wines, priceless even to a king, collected dust on forgotten shelves.

Anyone would have been tempted. Even the most ascetic monk would have felt their resolve waver. Ignisia had explicitly told Ketal to take anything he liked, hoping to gauge the measure of his desire.

However, Ketal’s reaction was underwhelming. He expressed polite interest, wandering and examining things with open curiosity. He admired certain treasures and occasionally picked up a particularly strange artifact or a rare item, turning it over in his hands with childlike fascination.

Yet that was the extent of it. There was no greed in his eyes, no hunger or possessiveness in his actions.

What’s going on? Ignisia thought, perplexed.

Ketal was not someone who scorned material rewards. After all, he had accepted the Wandering Merchant’s quest in the hopes of acquiring Myst. He was no self-denying ascetic. Yet, when it came to the treasures of the dragon’s lair, he seemed utterly unmoved.

Ignisia, watching through her spell, grew increasingly baffled. If anything, Ketal’s interest gravitated not toward treasure, but toward the old books that lined a far wall. He picked up one, then another, leafing through ancient tomes with care.

“Is it all right if I read this one?” he called out to her, even now pausing for her permission.

“Oh... Sure, go ahead,” Ignisia replied, surprised by his courtesy.

Ketal settled into the sofa, book in hand, and soon lost himself in its pages. He moved only occasionally, returning a volume or seeking another, always careful not to disturb her work or make unnecessary noise.

What am I supposed to make of this? Ignisia wondered, watching the scene unfold.

The Ketal she saw was almost impossibly well-mannered, more like a learned nobleman or scholar than a barbarian from the White Snowfield. The contrast with his origins was striking, and it left her deeply confused.

She couldn’t help herself; curiosity demanded she break the silence.

“What are you reading?” she asked him.

“This is a history of a kingdom that vanished a thousand years ago,” he replied as he glanced up from his book, his tone almost cheerful. “It fell into a tragic web of love and betrayal.”

“Oh... I think I tossed that one into storage ages ago,” Ignisia said, vaguely recalling the book. “Is it interesting?”

“It is,” Ketal said, nodding. A quiet smile spread across his face, the kind that comes only from true enjoyment.

Ignisia stared at him for a moment longer. Here was a being of the Demon Realm, yet he acted with the composure and manners of a perfect guest. She couldn’t decide if this was a carefully constructed mask, or simply who he was.

Unable to unravel his nature, she decided to take another approach. She set down her tools and asked, “You never told me your real goal. You want Myst, right? What do you intend to do with it? Just grow stronger?”

There isn’t really a deeper reason,” he said easily, not looking up from his book. “I just want to be able to use Myst.”

Ignisia paused, thrown off by his nonchalance.

She had assumed, naturally, that Ketal’s desire for Myst was rooted in the drive for power, a hunger as old as life itself. It was the obvious, logical conclusion. However, Ketal’s answer upended all of that.

“Is that really all?” she asked him, incredulous. “You just want to possess Myst for its own sake?”

“More or less. Well... no, not quite all,” Ketal amended.

“So it is about strength after all?” Ignisia pressed.

However, Ketal shook his head. “That’s not it. I want to experience swordsmanship. Magic. I want to wield the great powers of this world with my own hands.”

He spoke with a quiet, genuine excitement, as if he were a child about to embark on the greatest adventure of his life. In that instant, Ignisia understood that he was telling the truth.

“And what will you gain from it?” she asked him, still trying to grasp the root of his desire.

“I’m still thinking about that,” Ketal admitted. “But I suppose, to begin with, I’d like to master Aura.”

Swordmasters were the masters of the blade. For someone like Ketal, who had always fought with raw physical force, learning the sword was a natural first step.

“But I’d also love to try magic. They say you have to specialize in one or the other, which is a shame. Still, it’s all right. I’ve found an artifact that might let me try magic, too. I think it’ll work.”

Ketal found himself growing more animated, his words tumbling out faster. He began to muse aloud, excitement sparkling in his eyes.

“What I’m struggling with now is which style of swordsmanship to learn first. Kain’s style was incredibly appealing. I’m not interested in just physical reinforcement; there must be other Swordmasters with fascinating techniques. Tracking them down, learning from each, that would be the real adventure.”

Ignisia realized, with sudden clarity, what she was dealing with. Ketal’s only true desire was for his own enjoyment. That was the one constant that defined him.

After a brief silence, Ignisia ventured, “You’ve met demons, haven’t you?”

“More than a few. Each has a unique power,” Ketal replied, as if reminiscing about old friends.

“Do you want to learn their authorities as well?” she asked him.

“Of course,” Ketal said with a nod. “Every authority is unique, and every one of them is powerful. I’d love to learn their secrets, but since each one is bound to a specific demon, it’s not something I can just take for myself. It’s a shame.”

He clicked his tongue softly, genuinely disappointed.

“Oh, that reminds me, I was interested in the magic you used during our fight. What do you call it?” Ketal asked her.

“Dragon Tongue,” Ignisia answered.

“Dragon Tongue! What a wonderful name. I’d love to master it, but... I suppose it’s impossible. For now, I’ll focus on swordsmanship.” Ketal beamed as he spoke, his delight plain for all to see.

Ignisia watched him, wordless, her thoughts in a tangle.

***

That night, Ignisia found herself unable to sleep. She lay awake, turning over everything she had learned about Ketal. He claimed to be their ally, but in truth, he did not belong to any one group. He was simply open and friendly to all—the world itself, including humans, elves, spirits, dragons, and even the demons from Hell.

Ketal seemed to harbor goodwill toward everyone, regardless of who or what they were. Good and evil were meaningless distinctions to him. His own curiosity and enjoyment were all that truly mattered.

How can there be a being like this among the Demon Realm’s beings? She could hardly make sense of it. A creature who was the world’s greatest enemy and yet was fond of the entire world was an irreconcilable paradox.

He’s... dangerous, she thought, her brow furrowing.

Right now, Ketal stood in opposition to the demons, and so, by default, with her and her world. However, that was only circumstantial. If the demons ever approached him as friends, if they offered him something intriguing, he would likely accept them without hesitation.

For Ketal, enemy meant only those who interfered with his desires. That made him dangerous, unpredictable, and uncontrollable. At any moment, he might switch allegiances, if something else caught his interest.

Ignisia’s gaze darkened as she pondered this.

***

The next morning, Ignisia found Ketal right where she expected: seated comfortably with a book in his hands.

“Ketal,” she called.

He looked up and said, “Yes?”

“You said you were interested in Dragon Tongue, right?”

“That’s right,” Ketal replied, looking at her curiously.

Ignisia met his gaze. “In that case, would you like me to teach you?”

Ketal’s eyes widened, stunned. “Wait, you mean the magic you used during our battle?”

“Exactly.”

She was talking about the spells with mysterious words, the magic that had conjured crimson light and turned space itself into chains.

“If you’re genuinely interested, and if you’re willing, I’ll teach you,” Ignisia said quietly.

“Is... is that really all right?” Ketal’s voice shook. The opportunity was so incredible that his excitement nearly overwhelmed him.

Ignisia saw the sincerity in his reaction and nodded, satisfied.

“It’s all right,” she said.

“W-wait...” Ketal took a deep breath, steadying himself. It was almost too good to be true. “But... am I even capable of learning it? I still can’t use Myst. And isn’t it Dragon Tongue meant only for dragons? Aren’t there restrictions?”

“There are, yes,” Ignisia admitted. “But you’ll soon gain Myst, once the catalyst is complete. That will be enough. As for your potential... well, if you can break my spells with pure strength, I think you’ll be fine.”

“Oh... Oh!”

“So, are you interested?” she asked him.

“Absolutely!” Ketal replied, his voice ringing with certainty.

Dragon Tongue was both mysterious and beautiful, its power overwhelming. Learning such a spell was the stuff of dreams, and Ketal felt his spirits soar.

“Thank you! Please! I’d be honored to learn,” Ketal said, overwhelmed with joy.

Ignisia smiled, as if she had expected nothing less. “Good. Then wait for me. I’ll explain everything once I finish here.”

“Thank you. But why? Why offer this all of a sudden?”

Ignisia met his gaze, her expression unreadable.

“Let’s call it a further apology,” she said lightly. “But... there’s more to it. I have something to ask in return.”

“Ah. I see.” Ketal accepted this answer without question.

However, the true reason, Ignisia kept to herself.

The Demon Realm’s beings are emerging into the world. With them, chaos is growing. Even now, the balance is tipping against us, and the demons are on the attack. The world is suffering loss after loss, she thought.

She feared that, if things continued this way, the Mortal Realm world would lose.

However, then, this barbarian had appeared. He was a being who, without a shred of Myst, had shattered her most powerful magic with brute force alone. If Ketal learned to wield Myst, his strength would reach new heights.

He was a variable—a powerful one, and, at least for now, he was friendly to her world. He could fight against the enemies of the Mortal Realm. However, there was always the risk that he might turn, chasing a new curiosity. If that happened, disaster would follow.

Ignisia resolved, in that moment, to do everything she could to win Ketal over for good. She would make him care about the world and the dragons, and she would offer him all the kindness she could muster. It was the only way she could see to keep the balance from breaking forever.

And that was the decision she made after a long, sleepless night—to make the barbarian an ally, whatever it took.