The Recorder of Type-Moon History

Showered in the blood of the slain dragon, Siegfried's once pale and slender body was now stained a deep, ruddy brown, save for a small patch of flesh on his back where the lime leaf had stuck. This small patch, left untouched by the dragon's blood, was the one vulnerable spot on his otherwise invulnerable body.

To be honest, Kevin couldn't help but feel a tinge of envy as he watched the transformation unfold. He knew that, from this day forward, Siegfried would officially become the legendary dragon-slayer whose name would be remembered for generations.

Apart from the cursed vulnerability left by the lime leaf, no weapon in the world could pierce Siegfried's now-reinforced body.

Even more impressive, the greatsword in Siegfried's hands—already a formidable weapon—had been sublimated by the magic of the dragon's blood. It had now officially become a magic sword.

As the last drops of the dragon's blood finished seeping into Siegfried's body, Kevin crouched beside the unconscious warrior and muttered to himself, "You lucky bastard. He's the kind of protagonist people write stories about... so enviable!"

Despite his grumbles, Kevin couldn't help but smirk. He reached out and gave Siegfried a small, playful poke in the arm.

"You're so annoyingly perfect even when you're unconscious," Kevin grumbled before letting out a sigh. He shifted and lifted the warrior's body onto his shoulders, grunting slightly under the weight. "Come on, you big lump. Let's get you out of here."

Nearby, Slude was already hard at work. Standing at the base of Fafnir's enormous corpse, she drew runes in the air with precision, her fingers glowing faintly with golden magic. The pseudo-divine spear she carried glimmered in the dim light as she used it to carve a wide circle into the earth around the dragon's body.

As Slude completed the ritual, a faint golden light enveloped the massive circle. Moments later, flames erupted from the ground within the boundaries she had set, engulfing the dragon's corpse in a roaring inferno.

These sacred flames, empowered by runes, would burn for three days and three nights, ensuring that nothing of Fafnir's cursed body would remain.

Kevin watched the flames rise, a wistful expression crossing his face. "What a waste," he muttered. "If Fafnir hadn't regained his consciousness at the end, I would've really liked to taste what dragon meat is like."

Slude, still focused on the burning ritual, glanced at Kevin with a mixture of exasperation and amusement. "Even if Fafnir hadn't regained his mind, you wouldn't have been able to eat it. Who knows what kind of curses and toxins are in that flesh? What if you ended up turning into a dragon yourself?"

"Then I'd fly around eating all the bandits who try to rob me," Kevin quipped, grinning.

Slude rolled her eyes, shaking her head as she finished her ritual. "You should spend less time thinking about food and more time worrying about the tasks ahead of us. Don't forget—you still have to complete two more trials and obtain the blood of Fenrir."

Kevin groaned at the reminder, muttering, "Yeah, yeah. Stupid tests."

But as he watched the dragon's body burn, Kevin felt a pang of respect for the dwarf-turned-dragon who had regained his mind in his final moments.

"Rest in peace, Fafnir," Kevin murmured softly.

After leaving the burning pyre behind, Kevin and Slude made their way to Fafnir's lair.

The moment they stepped inside, a wave of stale, musty air hit them, carrying with it the metallic tang of gold. The faint glow of the treasure illuminated the otherwise dark cavern, casting eerie, flickering reflections onto the walls.

When they reached the treasure chamber, both Kevin and Slude stopped in their tracks, momentarily stunned by the sight before them.

Piles of gold, glittering jewels, and ornate artifacts filled the cavern, forming literal mountains of wealth. Cups and crowns, necklaces and armor—everything glimmered with a radiance that made it clear these treasures were no ordinary riches.

Even Slude, who was usually unimpressed by material wealth, couldn't hide her astonishment.

Kevin, however, quickly recovered. After all, he was no stranger to impressive sights. He set Siegfried down carefully and surveyed the treasure with a calculating eye.

"This guy was hoarding enough to bankrupt an entire kingdom," Kevin said, whistling in admiration.

Without hesitation, he pulled out the small silver bag he carried and began stuffing it with gold coins, gemstones, and other valuables.

Slude stared at him, dumbfounded. "Didn't you say you only wanted the Rhinegold?"

"I did," Kevin replied, grinning. "But that doesn't mean I can't take a little extra for... travel expenses. Siegfried won't mind."

"Travel expenses?" Slude repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Is that what you're calling looting now?"

Kevin shrugged. "I'm not greedy. I'll only take a small share. I'm not filling the whole bag."

Despite herself, Slude couldn't help but laugh. She leaned down to help him pick through the treasure.

As the two of them worked, Kevin glanced at Slude and said, "You know, this isn't about the money. It's just... knowing that all this treasure will belong to Siegfried from now on makes me feel kind of jealous. Can't I take a little to soothe my wounded pride?"

Slude paused, looking at him with a mix of amusement and exasperation. "You're ridiculous," she said, shaking her head. "Fine. Take your 'travel expenses.'"

When Kevin finally decided he had taken enough, he straightened up and stretched. "Alright, let's get out of here," he said.

Slude blinked, surprised. "You're leaving already? You barely took anything compared to what's here."

"I don't need to take more," Kevin replied. "I've already got something more valuable than all of this."

Slude tilted her head, confused. "You mean the gold ring?"

Kevin chuckled but didn't respond. Instead, he turned and walked toward the exit, leaving Slude to follow him with a puzzled expression.

The next morning, Siegfried finally stirred, his body having fully absorbed the dragon's blood.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself surrounded by piles of treasure. The glittering gold and jewels reflected the dim light, creating a dazzling spectacle.

For a moment, Siegfried wondered if he was dreaming.

Then, as his hand moved, he felt something hard and rough beneath his fingers. Looking down, he realized he was holding a stone with runes carved into it.

Before he could wonder what it was, the stone began to glow faintly, and Kevin's familiar voice echoed from it.

"Siegfried, it looks like you're awake. How does it feel to be the star of the show, huh?"

Siegfried sat up, blinking in confusion as the message continued.

"Anyway, congrats on becoming the legendary dragon-slayer. All this treasure? It's yours now. You earned it. Oh, and don't worry—I only took a little bit as travel expenses. You're welcome."

Kevin's voice paused briefly, then continued in a more serious tone.

"Listen, Siegfried. I know you're a guy who always puts others before himself, but... you've gotta start living for yourself, too. Don't just do what others tell you to do. Follow your own heart. Do what you truly want."

Siegfried stared at the stone, his expression unreadable.

"I mean it," Kevin's voice said. "If we're friends—and I'd like to think we are—then promise me you'll think about it, okay?"

With that, the stone fell silent, its glow fading.

Siegfried sat there for a long moment, holding the stone in his hand. Finally, a small smile crept across his face.

"Follow my heart, huh?" he murmured. "Alright, Kevin. I'll give it a try."

Three days later, Kevin and Slude stood on the banks of the Rhine River.

Slude, dressed in her white cloak and free of her Valkyrie armor, glanced at Kevin. "Ready?" she asked.

Kevin looked down at the red-stained gold ring in his hand, feeling its faint pulse of malevolent energy.

"Yeah," he said. "Let's finish this."

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