Chapter 31
Toji continued to pretend to be passed out on the floor. Naoya was busy getting all the information that he could, however he found the conversation kept going back to the barkeep.
So much so, those who were within the bar began to leave.
Naoya picked up on the tone and peered at him. "So, you were a summons for one, weren't you?"
The barkeep nodded. "Back in the day… to be honest most recently. I had a contract with an elemental user. The grandson of the current head of the dragon slayers, however… the boy wasn't meant to hunt dragons." He said bluntly.
Naoya took a seat. "Indulge me," he said. "Tell me about it and keep the booze coming."
The barkeep was a gruff looking man, yet in the right light on an angle. Naoya had assumed he was a minotaur of some sort, yet, upon a closer inspection, that wild hair he has… it's more of a mane. Perhaps some sort of lion type creature.
"I was the familiar of the current head of the slayers. I shared in the notion that the dragons hogged everything for themselves. It's why we have had it rough as divine creatures for ages. From what I was told, there was still a dragon out there, and yet, that beast never helped any of the divine. It was always the mortals!" he stated bitterly. "I resented that dragon… so many were suffering and yet it did nothing to help…"
Naoya forced a nod as he took a drink. "The dragon was named Ryujin, right?"
The barkeep nodded. "The master told me that it resided in Japan out of fear of the outside world. It refused to leave that small land for the sake of the mortals who lived there. And yet, we the divine are to suffer? Do they not know the significant of their power! That one dragon hogged all the divine energy!"
Oddly enough, news of this pissed off Naoya. After all, he was created by Suiryu, and as such, some knowledge had leaked into him about the Tooru clan and their connection to Ryujin.
"You say that, but…"
"I learned the truth in my later years…" he said bitterly.
Naoya paused. Just as he was about to give this guy a verbal lashing, he speaks. "Oh?" he asked curiously.
"It was shortly after I met my new contract. The grandchild of the dragon slayers clan leader, it was him that made me realize the error of my ways…"
"How so?"
He forced a smile. "When he was young, he was fascinated with dragons, he learned everything the slayers had to offer, and yet, the knowledge he gained, he felt was insignificant to what is really out there. So, he began to explore outside of the clan's lesson plan. He began to ask the elementals, they speak highly of the dragons and I over heard something… Ryujin… never had a physical form."
"That matters…." Naoya asked curiously.
"Indeed, for when a dragon has a physical body, they absorb and release energy constantly to keep the world in balance. They will absorb curse energy and release divine to counter the surplus in the world. Ryujin never did such a thing, I thought the dragon was lazy… when in reality, it didn't have the body to do so. In fact, he merely survived thanks to the vessels he obtained from one clan. But it always came at a price. I wondered why those mortals would sacrifice so many of themselves for one beast… then that's when the culling games occurred…"
"I'm more than aware…" Naoya said in an annoyed tone.
The barkeep forced a smile. "And yet, those events, the terrible things that happened in Japan… some of them were reset and scaled back. It may have merely delayed the death of others for a short while or even reversed it. However, if those who were meant to die, are to die. They will do so even after the time rollback. But the fact remains… Ryujin did that in order to bring out a better outcome, as well… to attempt and save those who still could be saved."
"So, what happened to your summoner?"
His face soured.
"He released me," he said bluntly. "But… I understood his reasoning for it. I no longer shared the views of the slayers after learning the truth. I tried to bring him along with me, but, he refused. My young summoner explained he knows his time is going to end at the slayer's clan for he didn't share their views. But they would never let him leave. He was forced to be a prisoner in his own clan, I fear that he has been used for someone else's purpose…"
He nodded to the notion.
"Has the name… Kenjaku come up?"
The barkeep froze.
In fact, he looked startled.
"How do you know such a name?"
"He's a curse user, I use to be one so of course I would know!"
In reality, Naoya only recently learned of Kenjaku through the students. They explained that he's the sorcerer causing all sorts of troubles at the moment, in fact, he was the one pulling the strings for the culling games as well. However, his hand has been in everything that happens in Japan when it comes to sorcerers.
The barkeep shuttered. "I know of that name, for he made an agreement years and years ago, well over a thousand. He wanted the slayers to enter Japan to eliminate the dragon Ryujin. At the time Slayers could only enter a territory outside of their own if invited from a resident of that land. It makes you think though, despite the modern era, how did a sorcerer over a thousand years ago know of them and where to find the dragon slayers?"
It was a good question to ask, but not one he cares to knew the answer for. "It doesn't matter, that was a thousand years ago…"
"True…" the barkeep said. "But Kenjaku held them to a binding vow. The old master was aware of it, and he dread the day he would come for his… severance deal."
"Which would be?"
"What is this sorcerer known for?"
Naoya went silent.
To the barkeep it came across as the obvious, Naoya knew what he was referring too… in reality… he had NO IDEA what Kenjaku's technique was.
"So, do we take these slayers seriously?"
The barkeep sighed. "How to explain this… they haven't slayed any dragons in well over… 4,000 years give or take. The only one left in the world was in Japan, they knew it was there and yet… never finished the job. I doubt they have the skill and means to do so now. But I wouldn't underestimate them either way. I already heard they try and take out the sons of Tiamat… that was a mistake on their part…"
Naoya forced a laugh. No shit, he dealt with Suiryu before, he hates it when that guy calls him for stupid shit!
"Thanks for your time…"
He turned and went to grab Toji's feet to drag him out, the barkeep however snickered. "Did you not think I wouldn't know the mate of Lady Tiamat? I do admit, he has the best 'knocked out drunk' looks I've seen someone fake in a long time."
Naoya paused as Toji sat up. "It was good wasn't it?" He picked himself off the floor. "If you knew that, can we believe what you said is true?"
The barkeep smirked. "I assure you it is, besides, I was still connected to the young summoner. My connection has been severed recently, meaning, he is dead… at the same time, I still sense his energy… this Kenjaku guy… look for him having a… blond look."
There are not that many blonds in Japan, not to mention one that would have stitches over their brows…
"Thanks for your time," Toji walked out along with Naoya.
"So, what's next?" Naoya was excited, he was on an adventure of sorts with Toji, however…
"Nothing," Toji said. "We don't want that asshole to know we are on to him. BUT, if anything… I think you could fish out more information for me… tell you what Naoya, I'm gonna let you have your freedom, for a short while!"
"My freedom?" Naoya asked, but then nodded. "What do you want me to find out?"
"Anything and everything, but no one can know…"
"Yeah, I got it." He said and waved off the warning. "I'll get you plenty of information… trust me"
Toji peered him over. Naoya smiled with great confidence to his abilities, as such, he got a nod to continue from Toji. "Give me results, and I'll see about letting you leave the clan estate more often."
His smile grew. "I won't let you down."
