Chapter 73 – Lord of the Vala Forest
“Oh…ohhh…”
Mr. Wal groaned sadly after passing through the shortcut.
The center of the Vala forest, which was supposed to be endless, had turned into a dark wasteland of dead trees.
The dragon’s voice echoed through the wilderness. But there was one great tree that stood in the middle.
“That is my home… Born with me. And it will be there until the day that I die…”
As if being sucked towards it, the Mr. Wal moved towards the great tree. Menew and the others followed silently.
Mofusen looked grave as well. This was supposed to be a land of green. He could not be at ease, when something like this had happened so close to where he lived.
“This…is very troublesome indeed.”
“Aye. And I doubt that the golden dragon will withdraw calmly.”
According to Mofusen and Mr. Wal, this did not happen that long ago. It was recent.
“When did the change happen?”
“Indeed. About twenty-three years…”
“Twenty-three years!?”
“Mmm. But there was nothing that I could do…”
“Twenty-three years…”
Menew was not listening to Mofusen now.
Twenty-three years ago. That was when Apep appeared in the world.
When Menew’s information was dropped in here. What if Apep was affecting this world somehow?
(This is related to me after all.)
After all, Menew’s body was an important thing to him.
If this world was affected by Apep, then Menew might be affected as well. In fact, he had been returned to his old world once already.
What if the scarab had not been there? How long would it have taken him to return to the field of reeds. And what would have happened to everything he gained in this world. He felt a chill, just thinking about it.
As they continued to walk through the dark wilderness, a shadow fell over them, and Menew raised his head. They had arrived at the great tree.
“So my life was saved… But the gold energy is thick. Be careful, master.”
Said Mr. Wal. And then Menew sensed the danger, and enlarged Stan. Stan then carried Totto, Mofusen and Kanon on his back and flew high into the air.
Menew quickly picked up Ralph and jumped far to the back
The next instant. In the spot where they had all been standing, something like golden icicles sprouted out from the ground with a thunderous roar.
Had they stayed, they would have been skewered. Menew then landed on top of one of the icicles and let go of Ralph.
Menew looked up and confirmed that Stan and the others were fine. And Mr. Wal quickly flew down towards him.
“Oh? You can dodge it so easily? How boring.”
Came the seductive voice. It had all the sweetness of melted sugar.
And then from behind the tree emerged a woman with golden hair and golden eyes. She was wearing a black cocktail dress over a curvaceous figure.
She was adorned with extravagant jewelry. But it was obvious that she was responsible for the magic attack just now.
“That is the golden dragon, master.”
“Huh? Tha? But she’s so pretty!?”
“Dragons are phenomena. They can take countless forms.”
Mr. Wall said bitterly as he descended to the ground.
“Gold Dragon. It cannot be helped that you drove me out. I had done you wrong. I apologize. However…what have you done with this place?”
Mr. Wal said as he pointed at the dark land. The gold dragon widened her eyes in mock surprise.
“Oh, oh! Wood Dragon. How small you are. I did not recognize you in this adorable form.”
She was playing. Like this was a puppet show. Menew thought.
“But it is too late for an apology. This is now an important ore deposit for me. You know, don’t you? What lies below these grounds.”
She laughed with red lips and pointed to the ground.
“You…did you kill the ground!”
“No, no. You can say that it was reborn to suit my tastes.”
Stan came down to where Menew was.
Mofusen spoke with a serious expression.
“Menew. Below us, it is likely mostly lava now.”
“So that’s why the ground is burnt and the plants are dead…?”
“Aye. And if you are going to make an ore deposit, then the gas will have to be extracted later. The volcanic eruptions will ruin this entire area.”
Said Mofusen, and then Menew turned to Mr. Wal.
His summoned beast was consumed by sadness. And Menew felt rage rising within him.
“WALDUNG!!”
He shouted and raised his staff.
“You are the lord of this land! So make up your mind, and let’s take it back!”
“Master…”
Mr. Wal raised his head at this.
“I don’t know what you mean to do, but what can a human and his pet dragon do against a natural phenomenon?”
Menew laughed confidently.
“We mean to beat you and take this place back! Let’s go, Waldung!”
Menew held his staff and drew Waldung in the air, and the lines glowed green.
“I summon you!”
Menew shouted, and then Mr. Wal fell to the ground.
And then Waldung, in his original size, began to take shape.
Kanon howled like a wolf, and the tree energy gathered together, helping to shape Waldung.
“Wha…t!?”
Ralph smiled when Waldung was fully summoned. And then Menew climbed onto the dragon’s back.
“Tree dragon, Waldung. You have been summoned!”
Menew shouted with an expression full of anger.