Chapter 44: The Fifth Year in the Dragon’s Nest

Kei used a pen to draw another line on the notebook that was already filled with ink marks.

After that, he sat down and counted from the beginning again.

One line... two lines... three lines...

Only when he was sure he hadn’t miscounted did Kei put down his pen and let out a soft sigh. Today marked the fifth year since he had been trapped in the dragon’s nest.

In this place, no clock could move its timekeeping mechanism, and even hourglasses wouldn’t let their sand flow. Therefore, aside from noting down each passing day in his notebook, Kei had no other way to keep track of time.

Five years.

If it were the outside world, perhaps Kei would have changed a great deal. A bigger body, a more mature face, and thoughts that might have become completely different. Perhaps five years would have been enough for his party to successfully defeat the Demon King.

But here, Kei didn’t feel like he had grown even a single day.

The time magic circle had halted his aging. Kei’s mind and body still functioned as before, and the months and years were only recorded by the ink lines on this notebook.

It’s true that a period of five years could be considered very long.

But if every day is exactly the same as the one before, it becomes so short that one can’t even notice when time has passed.

Only the little dragon kept growing day by day, and every morning when Kei opened his eyes, he could see its changes.

Kei looked up and gazed out the window.

A small dark silhouette was flying around inside the dragon’s nest. Its wings weren’t truly powerful yet, and each flap seemed a bit clumsy, but it persistently flew lap after lap.

That was the little dragon’s daily flight training, as requested by Kei.

Over the past five years, it had surpassed the hatchling stage. Its body had grown much larger, its claws had become sharp, and its wings were now strong enough to carry it high into the sky. It could even use dragon breath now, though the first time it tried, it only spat out a small flame and then coughed violently from the smoke.

Kei had worried for a long time.

The little dragon had never seen the outside world, had never known what hunting was, and had never met any living creature other than him.

If one day the magic circle disappeared, would it be able to survive?

Kei didn’t know.

But there was nothing else he could do other than teach it the things he knew. Dragons were great and powerful creatures, so Kei had some confidence that it would be able to take care of itself in the future.

"Kei! Kei!"

A call rang out from outside.

Before Kei could even stand up, the dark silhouette had already shot straight toward the window. A pair of large wings hurriedly folded in, and then the dragon’s whole body slammed into his chest like a loosed arrow.

"Ugh...!"

Kei stumbled back a few steps, but still managed to hold it tightly so the two of them wouldn’t fall.

"Little dragon, how are you flying? Don’t suddenly lunge at a human like that. Ordinary humans are very fragile."

Kei rubbed its head.

The little dragon nuzzled its head against his chest, its golden-yellow eyes shining brightly with joy. It still couldn’t speak in the human language, but it could already read draconic and call Kei’s name.

"Kei."

It called his name again, its voice young but full of affection. Kei had long grown used to it, yet every time he heard it, he couldn’t help but smile.

A dragon would name itself when it came of age. So Kei had never taken it upon himself to give it a name.

From the very first day until now, he still only called it little dragon.

"Hungry, little dragon?"

The dragon immediately nodded.

Kei held up one finger in front of it. It happily took his finger into its mouth, its eyes closing in bliss as it waited for mana to flow into its body. This had been the little dragon’s main food for the past several years.

A stream of mana slowly flowed out from Kei’s fingertip.

The little dragon began to eat with great relish.

Every time he saw this sight, Kei felt like he was raising a greedy child rather than a dragon that could blow an entire room away with its breath.

Kei looked out at the sky.

There was no day or night here. The falling leaf outside still hung frozen in midair, and the clouds remained motionless.And the scenery within the dragon’s nest remains forever frozen at the moment the magic circle was activated.

There are no other living beings besides Kei and the little dragon.

An ordinary person would probably have gone mad by now, yet he doesn’t feel that life like this is all that bad.

Over the past five years, Kei has spent most of his time researching magic, testing various materials in the dragon’s nest, and gradually overcoming the trials set by the gods.

From a somewhat talented rank A mage, he has become a rank S mage.

This dragon’s nest is nothing less than a priceless treasure to a mage-anything at all can keep Kei happily researching for weeks on end.

Here, there is endless time, an abundant source of magical power, and countless mysteries to study. If it weren’t for the fact that he cannot leave this place, Kei might have wanted to stay here even longer.

It’s just that sometimes...

Kei still misses his companions a little.

Daniel, Luna, and Aliya.

He wonders where they are now.

He wonders if they still remember him.

"Kei?"

The little dragon suddenly stops eating, tilting its head to look at him.

"It’s nothing."

Kei smiles, reaching out to stroke the black scales on its forehead.

"I was just thinking about some old friends."

The little dragon blinks, clearly not fully understanding his words. It simply lowers its head and continues to nibble on Kei’s finger, as if trying to say that no matter who he might be thinking of, it is still here right now.

Kei looks into those golden eyes, and his heart suddenly grows calm.

That’s right.

At least for now, he is not alone.