Dragonslayer’s Class Regression Chapter 100

Chapter 100

WHOOSH!

The sandstorm subsided.

The two figures were revealed, and surprisingly, Zeke had Bahamut pointed at the Ishtar warrior’s neck.

Zeke spoke to the warrior.

“It seems the God of Earth has made their judgment.”

The Ishtar warrior quietly nodded at Zeke’s words.

When he withdrew his sword, the warrior slowly got up.

As the two emerged from the pit, another Ishtar warrior came running with a surprised voice.

“Miss!”

The tall Ishtar warrior who fought Zeke made some hand gestures to communicate something.

The running warrior showed a shocked expression.

“W-what? The Miss lost?”

They seemed quite shocked.

Zeke sheathed his sword and said.

“The God of Earth has made their judgment. You can no longer charge us with violating the expulsion order, so open the path. We need to get to the Central Continent as soon as possible.”

The tall warrior made more hand gestures to communicate something to the other warrior.

The short warrior was surprised again.

“Y-you’re inviting them to the household?”

Even Zeke standing nearby was surprised at those words.

‘The last time the Ishtar household invited guests was 150 years ago, wasn’t it?’

That’s how closed off the Ishtar household was.

Then the short warrior spoke to Zeke.

“…The Miss says she will open a portal for quick travel to the Central Continent, so follow us.”

Zeke was surprised again at those words.

“A portal? Does the Ishtar household have their own portal?”

The short warrior didn’t respond to Zeke’s question.

Then the tall warrior gestured for Zeke to follow.

After contemplating, Zeke said to Simon and Boris.

“They don’t seem hostile, so let’s follow for now.”

The Ishtar household he knew from his past life was a place that followed the law and the God of Earth’s judgments like their lives depended on it.

Zeke put the severely injured Boris on a horse and followed behind the Ishtar warriors on foot with Simon and Carus.

Carus was flushed with strange excitement.

“Zeke, we get to see the Ishtar household ourselves. We’re really lucky.”

“…I’m glad you think so.”

Carus was quite relaxed considering they almost died.

Breaking through the rough sandstorm and going deeper inside, they had entered the desert area rather than wasteland.

The white star sand spreading across the vast desert created a mysterious atmosphere.

The Ishtar warriors went into the desert.

Zeke had his map open and was recording the Ishtar warriors’ route.

Strangely, while it felt like they were just walking straight ahead, the route marked on the map was going in random directions.

‘The mystery of the desert.’

It seemed there was a path only known to the Ishtar household.

That’s when it happened.

Though nothing was visible in the desert just moments ago, something could now be seen in the distance.

“Ohhh.”

Carus let out an exclamation beside him.

He was excited about being able to see the Ishtar household’s main residence that he had only heard about.

Then the short warrior snapped.

“Outsiders can never enter this place no matter what, so don’t waste time wandering the desert trying to find it again.”

As Zeke expected, there seemed to be a special way to enter the main residence.

Zeke’s group gradually entered the Ishtar city built in the middle of the desert.

* * *

“Good heavens, to think there was such a large city in the middle of the desert!”

As soon as they entered the city, Carus kept expressing amazement.

The Ishtar city had a completely different atmosphere from the Central Continent and looked more similar to Eastern Empire style.

Most people wore clothes made of cotton and covered their faces with chadors, while only those who looked like Central Continent people had their faces uncovered.

‘The Ishtar household are all fierce believers of the God of Earth. I guess only non-believers show their faces.’

Though it was a closed city, it was surprisingly no different from any other city, contrary to expectations of an extremely solemn and quiet atmosphere.

The market was rich with goods and lively.

Zeke wondered how such goods entered this isolated closed city.

‘They probably won’t tell me even if I ask.’

Zeke’s group looked around various parts of the market while following the Ishtar warriors toward the main palace at the center of the city.

When they reached the front of the main palace, the guards watching the gate were wary of Zeke’s group who were outsiders.

Then the short warrior spoke to the guards.

“They are the Miss’s guests. I will report inside personally.”

The guards bowed their heads formally before returning to their original positions.

Unlike the city, the inside of the palace was very quiet and solemn as expected.

The people walking around made no footsteps, and there were hardly any traces of people in the palace to begin with.

It felt like looking at a monastery.

The short warrior said to Zeke’s group.

“I will guide you to a room, so rest there for a while. We will decide what to do after reporting to the household elders.”

It seemed they couldn’t use the portal right away.

Zeke’s group entered a room guided by another guide.

As soon as they entered the room, Zeke laid Boris down and checked his condition.

Thanks to the potion he took, he had passed the dangerous state.

Zeke took out an ancient potion from his inventory.

It was much more effective than regular potions.

He sprayed the potion on Boris’s wounds and fed him the rest.

Though Healing would cure him quickly, he used potions instead since he was reluctant to show his Healing talent in front of others.

“Ughhhh.”

“Boris, how are you feeling?”

“Boss… I’m dying.”

“Stop exaggerating, you’re not dead yet.”

Boris slowly sat up.

“Ugh. But where are we?”

“The Ishtar main palace.”

“What?”

Boris was startled and looked around warily.

Zeke reassured him.

“It’s fine. We’re invited as guests of the Ishtar household, so you can relax.”

Despite Zeke’s words, Boris remained cautious about being in the headquarters of the Ishtar household, full of assassination art specialists.

At that moment, servants entered and prepared food.

Though modest like monastery food, it was simple and preserved the natural flavors of the ingredients.

After finishing the meal, Zeke drank the tea brought by a servant.

“…Hmm? This is a flavor I’ve never tasted before. Does the Ishtar household grow their own tea as well?”

The servant nodded at Zeke’s words.

“You have good knowledge of tea. This tea can only be tasted here, made from breeds cultivated in the desert region.”

Zeke nodded and savored the tea’s aroma.

It felt like several times the concentrated aroma of precious Eastern tea, yet it subtly permeated without being overwhelming, giving great satisfaction.

‘I wonder if they sell this as a specialty in the market. I’d like to buy some.’

Zeke was savoring every sip of this new tea.

As Zeke regained composure and looked around at his companions, Carus had taken out a small sketchbook and was drawing the Ishtar city scenery he had seen.

Watching Carus, Zeke said.

“If you carelessly leak that, Ishtar’s assassination artists might come after you, Carus.”

Startled by those words, Carus hiccupped, then quietly closed his sketchbook.

Then he closed his eyes, trying to engrave the city’s scenery in his mind.

That’s when it happened.

Someone entered the room.

It was the two warriors who had brought Zeke’s group to the palace.

The short warrior discarded their earlier domineering attitude and politely greeted them, saying.

“The household elders have formally invited you as guests. There will be a banquet for the guests this evening, so please make sure to attend.”

Zeke stood up and bowed to the warriors, saying.

“We gladly accept the Ishtar household’s invitation. May the God of Earth’s blessing be with the desert guardians.”

The short warrior replied.

“May the God of Earth’s blessing be with the desert travelers. Please forgive my earlier rudeness. My name is Ezgi Ishtar. And this is Lady Yelin Ishtar.”

Zeke looked at Yelin and said.

“I see Lady Yelin Ishtar is observing a vow of silence.”

Yelin lightly nodded at those words.

Zeke spoke to the two.

“My name is Zeke Draker.”

Yelin and Ezgi were startled at those words.

“D-Draker…? Goodness.”

Yelin and Ezgi looked at Zeke curiously.

“…Why do you look at me like that?”

Ezgi spoke with a dubious voice.

“Well, we heard all Drakers have horns on their heads, sharp teeth, and always laugh like demons going kekeke…”

Zeke responded with an incredulous expression.

“Well, in the Central Continent they say Ishtar household members drink poison like water with every meal.”

Ezgi burst out angrily.

“How could we drink poison every meal?! Do you know how expensive that is?! We drink it once a day at most. But, the Miss takes it with every meal though.”

So they did drink it after all. Zeke let out a small laugh at the unexpected response.

Having finished their conversation, Ezgi kept checking if Zeke had horns on his head until being dragged out by Yelin.

Simon, who had been watching, snickered.

“I thought the Ishtar household was a place without blood or tears, but I guess people live here too.”

Zeke nodded.

“Yeah. But why did rumors spread about Draker people having horns…? And laughing ‘kekeke.’ Does anyone laugh like that?”

Carus beside him chimed in.

“Zeke, that’s a metaphor. It’s figuratively expressing how the Draker family is like demons. The Draker family has made many enemies and has many harsh aspects after all.”

“…Right. Thanks for the kind explanation, Carus.”

Carus looked satisfied at Zeke’s words.

When evening came, guides brought cotton clothes to Zeke’s group.

Boris, still not recovered from his injuries, would stay in the room with Simon remaining to guard him.

Only Carus and Zeke, excited about being invited to the Ishtar household banquet, changed into cotton clothes and followed the guide to the banquet hall.

In the banquet hall, a huge round table was prepared with people in cotton clothes seated all around.

Yelin and Ezgi who had invited Zeke greeted them from the front and guided them to the round table.

Zeke and Carus awkwardly sat at the round table.

Then one of those seated at the table slowly stood up.

Though their face was covered and unrecognizable, a clear, pure voice rang out.

“It has been 150 years since we’ve had guests in our household. As the head of the household, I wish to convey this joy to the God of Earth.”

At that, everyone else joined hands and offered thanks to the God of Earth.

The household head spoke to Zeke.

“Sir Zeke Draker, who found our household through the God of Earth’s guidance. We welcome you as Ishtar’s guest. Please stand and offer words of blessing for this miraculous meeting.”

Zeke slowly stood up.

Then he spoke in ancient Eastern language.

“The God of Earth who oversees mystery and wonder has arranged this meeting. I offer thanks for their wisdom and divine power, and wish to engrave the order of law which is most important above all else.”

The Ishtar household members were moved by Zeke’s fluent ancient Eastern language and formal blessing.

They nodded with satisfied faces as they looked at Zeke.

After Zeke finished speaking and sat down, the household head said.

“As this is a joyous day, let us all remove our chadors to welcome our guest.”

Then all the Ishtar household members excitedly removed their chadors.

Zeke and Carus were shocked to see the revealed faces of the Ishtar people.

‘They’re all incredibly beautiful…!’

Though the Graham family was famous for their beauty in the Central Continent, even they couldn’t compare to the Ishtar household members.

With various hair colors, some had white skin while others had dark skin.

But they were all commonly beautiful men and women with fine features.

Just looking at their appearances, it was hard to imagine them as the Ishtar household famous for assassination arts.

Zeke turned his head to look at Yelin who had fought with him.

Mysterious emerald hair flowed like waves, and her face was like a perfect statue carved from marble.

Carus also gaped at Yelin.

But Zeke was shocked for a different reason.

Because he discovered Yelin’s long, pointed ears.

‘An elf?’