How to Survive as a terminally-ill Dragon

Chapter 11. The Flowing Sands of Time (3)

Whether aware of Finn’s intense gaze or not, Lois brushed off his shoulders as if dusting away dirt.

“…I knew it would be like this.”

This damned, improbable death flag, once raised, meant one could not afford to be careless.

And it had been triggered more than just once or twice.

Thus, Lois had first focused on learning a spell to protect himself.

‘It seems it was the right choice to start with spells.’

The world into which Lois had been reincarnated was a bit unique.

Unlike typical novels where everything was resolved with mana, here one could only learn techniques related to their innate attributes.

For example, if one was born with fire attributes, they could only learn fire-based spells or martial techniques.

Therefore, the only spells Lois could learn were related to four attributes: time, space, strength, and mind.

Among them, spatial distortion was exactly the kind of technique needed for Lois’s current situation.

A technique that twists away all impacts from the outside world within a certain range, rather than simply blocking them.

In essence, the crux of spatial distortion was to deflect, not to stop.

If his mastery deepened and he had enough attribute power, Lois could potentially remain unharmed from any attack.

‘Well, for now it’s just enough to stop these lightning strikes… but later on, even if a nuclear bomb detonated right in front of me, I’d be fine.’

Lois was satisfied with his choice to focus on spatial attributes.

“Phew… It’s impossible to study now.”

Lois closed his book as his concentration was shattered by the lightning and he closed his eyes.

He contemplated his own body.

The sound of his fiercely beating heart resonated loudly in his ears.

He could feel the energy transmitted along with the heart’s rhythm in fine detail.

Inside Lois’s heart, the four distinct energies clamored for attention like spoilt children.

‘It seems my spatial attribute will enter 2nd tier soon.’

It was just ten years since Lois had begun harnessing his attributes, and he was already approaching the boundary of the 3rd tier.

To others, the rate was astonishing, but Lois himself was not satisfied.

‘Time and strength are in the 4th tier, and mind is still in the 5th tier?’

Focusing on spatial attributes for survival had slowed progress in time and strength attributes.

More than anything, Lois was stymied by the complexity of the mind attribute.

‘I can somehow fill in the gaps for physical laws with basic knowledge… but how am I supposed to study the mental state of a living being?’

The mind attribute was unknown territory for Lois.

However, he was not in a hurry.

‘Now, trivial death flags can be blocked by spatial distortion, and having regained human form, I should make good use of it.’

After completing his first sleep period, which was also his growth phase, Lois had experienced another privilege granted to dragons.

Transformation.

An exclusive dragon power that allowed one to transform into a completely different species while retaining their innate characteristics.

It was the antithesis of returning to a dragon’s true form.

Although a dragon’s physical advantages were limited when transformed, many dragons still chose to live as other species.

Their bodies might be smaller, but they were more useful than the inconveniently large dragon form for everyday life.

Moreover, aside from a few elements, the difference in strength between transformation and true dragon form wasn’t significant.

And having lived as a human for 29 years, Lois found the human body more comfortable than the dragon’s.

Though it was still the body of a young child.

‘But even that’s better than nothing.’

Lois had no complaints about his transformed human body.

‘A human mage swordsman is far more aesthetically pleasing than a lizard wielding a sword.’

What Lois sought was the efficiency of a peerless mage swordsman in duels and wars.

‘Here, it’s called a Holy Knight, right?’

A Holy Knight adept in both spells and martial techniques.

Lois chuckled at the simple naming convention.

‘Alright! Let’s start anew!’

Every day, the dragon, Lois, worked hard for his survival and his dreams.

As time passed just as fast as his efforts and growth,

* * *

“Dimensional Year 3205, January 13th”

Fifteen years since I began training.

My proficiency in spatial attribute spells has reached the 2nd tier.

It took a full fifteen years to elevate just one attribute to the 2nd tier.

Father was overjoyed, claiming my progress was unprecedentedly fast since it’s difficult to advance in the non-natural attributes.

But I am not content with just this.

My life is still as precarious as a lamp before the wind.

To survive, more safeguards are needed.

“Dimensional Year 3220, August 22nd”

Thirty years into training.

My spatial attribute spells have reached the 1st tier.

Finn’s advice, as a practitioner of spatial attributes, has been greatly helpful.

But my time and strength attributes have only just reached the 3rd tier, and my mind attribute still shows no progress from the 5th tier.

In frustration, I came across an interesting tale while scouring various books.

Legends say that ancient dragons who surpassed the zero tier in time attributes could reverse time, while those with mind attributes could control tens of thousands of creatures.

Upon reading about time reversal, ‘he’ came to mind.

When will ‘he’ appear?

Preferably… the later, the better.

“Dimensional Year 3225, August 23rd”

Feeling the limits of self-study, I asked Father for a tutor… and he brought Grandfather.

Grandfather has reached the zero tier with the non-natural strength attribute.

He’s definitely a superb tutor… but for some reason, I can’t bring myself to trust him.

“Dimensional Year 3227, February 17th”

Spell training is back on track.

And it’s climbing rapidly.

Despite his frivolous personality, Grandfather turned out to be an excellent teacher.

…I apologize for misjudging you.

“Dimensional Year 3250, November 1st”

Sixty years into training.

I set aside the somewhat successful spell training to learn martial techniques.

But I ran into a problem.

My limbs are still too short.

10 cm.

That’s how much I’ve grown in the last sixty years…

Worried about my slow growth, I asked Father, and he said I was severely lacking in nutrition.

My body, born with four attributes, required more nutrients and energy than other hatchlings.

The nourishments I’ve been snacking on, even though they’re twice as much as what other hatchlings consume, are still insufficient, according to Father.

…I have no intention of being picky about food any longer.

“Dimensional Year 3260, December 15th”

I’m feeling down…

My height hasn’t increased.

“Dimensional Year 3260, December 16th”

To lift my spirits, Father introduced me to friends.

Twins living on the neighboring peak, a pair of twins born only once in ten millennia.

The twins, who were born a month before me, had silver hair and teal eyes.

Their soft cheeks were quite cute.

But… could it be my imagination, or do they seem to have a very young mental age?

“Dimensional Year 3261, September 10th”

Lately, the twins from the neighboring peak visit often.

I realized it’s not that they have a low mental age but rather that I am exceptionally mature.

The twins’ father calls me an old child…

I’ve played with the visiting twins a few times since they’re cute.

But that was my mistake…

After kindly answering their questions, they now treat me like a complete ‘Neighbor Knowledgeable’.

As if asking me will yield answers!

Go study, you rascals!

“Dimensional Year 3261, September 12th”

Damn, they’re here again today!

Those cursed twins.

“Dimensional Year 3261, September 13th”

Would someone please rid me of these two troublesome dragon brats…

“Dimensional Year 3340, February 15th”

I’ve been too busy dealing with the nuisance twins to write in my diary.

I’m now 250 years old.

Tormented by the twins during the day and training at night – it’s been nearly 90 years.

After completing the first sleep period, I’ve done nothing but train for a total of 150 years.

I feel like I’ve finally gained enough power to not be beaten everywhere I go.

I have no intention of misusing this power…

…However!

There’s an exception to every rule.

I swear to the gods, I will use this power I’ve cultivated to protect myself for the first and last time for my selfish desires.

Please forgive me…

Alright, prayers are done.

Nuisance twins. Wash your necks and wait.

I’ll snap that neck nice and clean!

You brats are done for!

* * *

It was a sunny day.

Having woken up early, Lois was reluctantly filling his stomach with foods known to help with growth.

As he bit into a mysterious meat said to turn dwarves into giants, his eyes widened slightly as he asked,

“Where are you going?”

“I must pay a visit to Silver Star City.”

“Why?”

Clearing the empty plate of his son, Genelocer responded,

“Lord Kurdarker, one of the elders, is retiring.”

“Oh? That grandfather?”

“Yes… And what’s with calling him grandfather? He’s one of the elders.”

“All my father’s friends are grandfathers to me.”

“That may be, but…”

Lois was referencing one of the thirteen elder dragons who had been present when his attributes were determined.

He was one of Phamus’s close friends.

Finding nothing to say to his son’s comment, Genelocer shook his head.

“But why are you going to Silver Star City if that grandfather is retiring?”

Dodging his son’s question, Genelocer’s eyes roamed uneasily.

“Um…”

“What is it?”

Feeling his son’s piercing gaze, Genelocer cautiously broached the subject.

“Well…”

Pressed by Lois, Genelocer began to explain,

“The thing is… with Lord Kurdarker retiring, they’re looking for a dragon to fill the vacant position…”

“Oh? Could it be?”

“Yes… Your father has been recommended for that position.”

“Wow! Congratulations!”

Lois lifted his arms high in celebration upon hearing that Genelocer was considered for the position of an elder.

Pleased by his son’s reaction, Genelocer couldn’t help but crack a smile.

“Celebrations are premature. It’s not confirmed, and even if it is, it’s a position that means working every day.”

“But there’s never been a dragon who became an elder at Father’s age, has there?”

“Hmm, that’s true.”

Encouraged by his son’s enthusiastic response, Genelocer displayed a bashful expression for the first time in a while.

“Wow! My father’s a real talent! I must brag to the twins!”

“Oh, um… Lord Dodrian is also retiring… and the twins’ father has been recommended for his position.”

“Tch… That’s ruined the mood.”

“Hem-hem.”

Genelocer cleared his throat awkwardly, facing his son’s sulky expression.

Still, Lois soon smiled again.

“I’m still proud of you, Father!”

“Hem! Of course! Who do you think your father is!”

Genelocer puffed up with pride, trying to act nonchalant, but his lips twitched awkwardly.

He was struggling to hold back a laugh.

Over the past 150 years,

Lois wasn’t the only one who had grown through relentless training.

Genelocer, who had long dwelled at the top tier, had finally stepped into the realm of zero.

Breaking through to the zero tier was a formidable barrier even for dragons.

Yet Genelocer had achieved it at a relatively young age for a dragon of 4,000 years.

‘Well, he would need to be this powerful to be the final villain of the first part.’

In the original work, Genelocer, the Mad Dragon who had laid waste to the continent, had zero tier in two attributes: darkness and demon.

Holy and demon.

These were attributes with completely different properties from mana and were categorized accordingly.

With his body cloaked in darkness and demon attributes, Genelocer was fittingly called the reincarnation of the Demon King.

‘But this time, there should be no chance of that happening.’

Although minor death flags still occurred from time to time, they posed no real threat to Lois.

‘No more absurd deaths for me now.’

Pride swelled within Lois as he recalled the 150 years of training.

Father and son shared a quiet smile, basking in each other’s achievements.

But the moment was brief; Genelocer’s face darkened as he spoke in a dying voice.

“So, Lois…”

“Yes?”

“Hem-hem…”

“What is it?”

With narrowed eyes asking what was on his mind, Lois watched as Genelocer began to speak.

“Well…”