Chapter 23 : The Dragon God Descends

Early in the morning, Estel Village was in a small uproar. All the villagers, regardless of age, were gathered together.

Everyone knew the reason for the gathering, but it was inevitable that there would be talk.

The reason the village chief mentioned yesterday…

He said he would let us meet a god called the Dragon God…

What if it’s actually a lie…

But then again, the rain that fell the other day…

Various stories spread among the residents. But soon, as the village chief appeared, the sounds stopped as if by agreement.

The village chief stood in front of a temporarily constructed platform and looked around at the villagers. He had made great efforts to create favorable public opinion, but it was inevitable that some noise would be heard.

‘If the Dragon God appears, everyone will understand.’

Dren and the farmers were typical examples. They were currently busy acting as cheerleaders among the residents. It was unclear whether it was because of Dren’s flamboyant eloquence or his powerful muscles, but the residents near him seemed to be somewhat assimilated.

Public opinion would change soon. Rachel delivered the Dragon God’s will yesterday, so it was clear that He would come to the village in the morning. Before the Dragon God descended, the village chief had the hunters catch a cow to prepare an offering.

“Chief, it’s ready.”

When I looked to the side, several hunters were holding a cleanly trimmed cow whole. The village chief nodded to them and then knocked on the door of the hall behind him.

Due to the sound of the hinges, the residents’ attention naturally focused on the back of the village chief.

Opening the door was Jonan and his daughter, Rachel.

Isn’t that Rachel?

Why is that little girl there?

The residents looked at Rachel and talked louder than before. It would have been fine if it was a normal outfit, but Rachel’s outfit was too luxurious now.

The white silk was sparkling in the morning sun, and the finish of the clothes was so neat that it surprised even the skilled housewives of the village.

In addition, Rachel, who was wearing that outfit, was also decorated in many ways, making her look more lovely than usual.

Jonan also wore the cleanest of his clothes, making him look less like a hunter.

“Everyone, focus.”

The village chief understood the gaze of the residents looking at him a hundred times. They seemed to want to know why Rachel and Jonan were dressed like that.

‘I didn’t talk about Jonan and Rachel…’

He hadn’t mentioned their names in case the residents might become envious or jealous. However, it was impossible to leave them among the residents when the Dragon God visited, so he had them prepare thoroughly.

The village chief was aware of his position.

It is much better for a girl who is loved by God and her father to greet God than for an old man to greet God.

So he sold several expensive items in the house to prepare Rachel’s clothes and put Sophie and his wife together to decorate her.

Rachel liked the soft feel of the silk very much, and she rubbed it with her hands and giggled.

It is common to cry when receiving the attention of so many people, but Rachel rather enjoyed that attention.

‘…That’s probably why she could act like that in front of the Dragon God.’

“Many of you may be wondering why Rachel and Jonan are dressed like this. The answer is simple. It’s because they are loved by the Dragon God.”

The audience buzzed. The village chief did not give the residents time to open their mouths to capture the atmosphere.

“The two helped to quell the Dragon God’s wrath last time and made it rain on our village. So if you’re thinking of treating them carelessly, stop. Unless you want to receive God’s wrath.”

Jonan gently held his daughter’s hand as he listened to the village chief’s words. Rachel felt the rough knuckles and looked up at Jonan.

“Hehe.”

Rachel smiled as if she was enjoying something and hugged Jonan’s leg. Jonan naturally hugged Rachel and looked up at the sky. The clear blue sky without a single cloud was sending the morning sunlight without filtration.

‘Actually, I want to correct the village chief’s words… sigh.’

Last night, the village chief secretly called Jonan. The content was that he would announce that Rachel and Jonan were also loved by the Dragon God.

Of course, Jonan tried to oppose the village chief’s words. But he had to shut his mouth at the village chief’s subsequent words.

Rachel could be in danger.

If the rumor about the Dragon God spread outside the village and it became known that a young child alone was loved by God, Rachel would surely become a target for everyone.

To prevent that as much as possible, he was trying to make Jonan share the burden.

In the end, Jonan, who only wanted to help his daughter greet the Dragon God, had no choice but to step forward.

“Get ready.”

At the village chief’s words, the hunters holding the cow moved. They moved to an altar made of stone, several times larger than the one installed on the cliff.

Hundreds of residents also followed them, creating a huge procession.

The altar was made to face the cliff where the Dragon God was. In addition, since it was the first time the Dragon God visited Estel Village, the craftsman’s efforts to make it look as neat as possible were evident.

Since there were no religious people in Estel Village, the village chief referred to the method of offering he had seen in the temple of the Rehel Church in the past.

“Put it here. And you guys, light the poles.”

The village chief gave orders to the farmers and hunters and prepared diligently to greet God.

“Daddy! What are we doing?”

“Rachel. The Dragon will come to our village soon!”

“Dragon!”

“Yes, so we are preparing to greet the Dragon. Rachel, when you bring a friend to your house later, you have to do that, okay?”

“I don’t have any friends!”

“……The, the village chief is calling. Let’s go.”

Jonan approached the village chief who was beckoning to him.

“Get ready.”

“Yes.”

“There’s no need to overdo it. The Dragon God doesn’t seem to want that. Just greet him sincerely.”

“I understand.”

“Then if anything happens, tell me anytime. You, give Jonan a torch.”

The village chief finished his last request and went down to the bottom of the altar with the rest of the people. Now his work was over. The rest had to be done by the couple.

Jonan held the torch with Rachel and approached the altar where the cow was placed.

When he brought the torch to the oiled cow, the fire demon instantly swallowed the cow. The smoke signal that had been promised in advance rose into the sky.

The Dragon God would see this signal and come to the village.

“Daddy, it stings my eyes…”

“Just bear it for a moment.”

“Ugh…”

Jonan tried to soothe his daughter, but Rachel kept whining. Rachel hated the pungent smoke that much.

Then, the fire that was burning fiercely, fueled by the cow, went out.

Buzz.

Not only that, but the torches installed next to the altar also began to go out one by one. Jonan was embarrassed by the sudden situation and turned around.

But the village chief was bowing his head as if he had felt something.

‘Ah, could it be…’

Jonan’s heart calmed down in an instant. It was the will of the One to put out this fire.

“My eyes don’t hurt anymore…”

It was for his daughter, who was suffering from the smoke.

“Wait, what is that…?”

“Mist…?”

And while people were buzzing, the forest behind the altar began to gradually turn hazy. Fog sometimes occurs in the early morning, but there was no reason for fog to occur now.

Except for one.

“Daddy!”

Rachel rubbed her eyes and suddenly called Jonan in an excited voice. Jonan naturally bowed his head to match her.

He didn’t bother to stop or restrain Rachel, who was excited. Rather, if he did that, He would be displeased.

“The Dragon God is coming!!”

Jonan bent the waists of all the residents with a voice that he had never made before. Everyone except Rachel held their breath and accepted the fog that engulfed the village.

In an instant, the village was trapped in a cloud of fog. Jonan held his daughter’s hand tightly in the thick fog that made it difficult to distinguish even Rachel next to him.

…

A time of silence continued. Jonan kept silent and felt a strange feeling.

He seemed to have heard a wind sound like a bird’s song somewhere. For some reason, he felt that the fog was friendly to him.

The forest was gradually getting out of sight. The stones that made up the altar seemed to be wriggling and moving.

It seemed like he could hear the sound of lightning striking from the top of the sky. He seemed to be able to sense every single air he breathed.

Finally, He appeared.

Jonan raised his head.

In the thick fog, two blue starlights were looking down at him and Rachel. At the same time, the fog that surrounded the village began to gradually thin.

One by one, the residents began to recognize Him. Fortunately, there were no residents who were frightened or ran away at the sight of Him. They all unconsciously accepted His existence through the fog.

The residents bowed their waists to the point of lying on the ground.

“Dragon God…”

Jonan also lay down and greeted the dragon. Now the only one standing in this village was Rachel. Even though all the residents suddenly lay down on the ground, young Rachel did not care.

Rather, she held the soft sleeve of her clothes and held it out towards the dragon, showing off her clothes.

“……Dragon.”

Then suddenly, Rachel reached out to the dragon. It was not an action she wanted to do herself, but an unconscious action.

At this, the dragon reached out to her. Finally, the two hands touched.

This was the first contact between the Dragon God and humans.