Winter has arrived. White snowflakes have begun to fall from the sky.
The elderly village chief shivering from the cold despite his thick woolen clothing, walked with a royal soldier assigned to guard the village.
Three days ago the king's secretary, Devan met with the village chief and conveyed the king's orders. In that private meeting, the village chief was filled with doubt.
If he acted recklessly, the black dragon might kill him immediately. But if he refused the king's order, he might also be banished for knowing the king's secret.
After careful consideration, the village chief made a decision. He would carry out the king's orders.
Amidst the cold air, the village chief arrived at the cave where the dragon resided. The village chief knelt before the black dragon and spoke as carefully as possible so as not to offend the dragon.
"I knew it. It's impossible for someone, let alone a king, to only think about the safety of his people and his kingdom." The black dragon spoke as if he had expected this to happen.
"You obeyed your king's orders and ventured here. Your king doesn't even care about your life." The dragon chuckled.
"You must have a wish too, right? Tell me, and I might grant it." The dragon said.
Hearing this, the village chief unconsciously widened his eyes.
"May I ask for something too?"
"Of course."
"Then... C-can I also attain immortality like the king desires?"
"Is that what you want?"
"Yes." The village chief nodded solemnly.
The black dragon grinned at this.
"Bring me food, twice a week."
"F-food?"
"Yes."
"Please excuse me, but what kind of food do you want?"
"That's up to you. The important thing is that it's a living creature."
"And tell your king to keep doing what he's been doing."
After finishing, the village chief excused himself and returned to the village. After returning, the village chief pondered what to give the black dragon. He decided to give him his livestock.
After a month had passed, the village chief's son began to notice something strange. His livestock had dwindled significantly. Yet none of the animals died or ran away. Could they have been stolen?
Then one day the man accidentally discovered that his father, the village chief, had brought two animals to the black dragon's cave.
Knowing that his son had seen it, he had no choice but to tell him what had happened.
At first, the man was annoyed and angry. But after thinking for a moment, the offer didn't sound bad. The village chief and his son cooperated. But who knows what happened, rumors could spread throughout the village. If neither of them said anything, it meant someone was eavesdropping. A debate ensued in the peaceful village.
A month passed. Some residents joined the village chief, while others opposed him.
A year passed. The black dragon living in the cave was extremely bored. He could have destroyed the continent, but that wouldn't have been fun. Then the dragon came up with an idea that might ease his boredom a little.
On that calm day, the ground shook violently. The sky, which had been clear, darkened. The black dragon flying high in the sky descended upon the village offering it. The gathered villagers were shocked.
The dragon roared so loudly that the wind from its roar knocked down a large tree and several buildings.
"You foolish humans seem to look down on me!" The dragon spoke in an angry tone.
"N-no, my lord. We never do that." The village chief spoke fearfully.
"Then, you will continue to feed me this disgusting food, huh?!"
"Please, please forgive us." The villagers prostrated themselves in fear.
"Give me a live human every two weeks. Or I will eat all of you alive!" The black dragon returned to the cave.
Its terrifying angry voice and terrifying gaze rendered everyone immobile for a moment.
"W-what... What should we do?!"
"What should we do?"
"Run... I have to get out of here." All the villagers began to clamor in fear.
The news reached King Erwin Von Serenith. He could not allow the villagers to escape and further anger the dragon. King Erwin ordered his troops to prevent the villagers from leaving. King Erwin arrived at the village and ordered them to obey the dragon's demands. Hearing this, the villagers had no choice but to do so.
But it wasn't that easy. They glanced at each other and pointed to someone else to be offered as an offering. Not accepting the choice, one villager raised his sickle. The angry villager swung his sickle and injured another.
A fight ensued. Perhaps before they could offer someone, they would already be dead. Villagers fought and intended to kill each other. Some hid. And some chose to flee.
But all of that was stopped by the king's troops on guard.
And so the tradition of offering humans to the black dragon began.
Four years later, the villagers were no longer able to cope. Even though they had sacrificed many people, they didn't want to die either. Some of them began to make plans to secretly escape with their families, including the village chief.
One month later, only the orphaned children and the elderly were left there. Hearing this, the king panicked and ordered his troops to return and protect the kingdom.
What would happen to the people left there? No one cared.
After two months without receiving any offerings, the black dragon approached the village again. He roared terrifyingly. The children who were hiding cried in fear. The elderly, frail and sickly, gathered the courage to speak to the dragon.
However, the black dragon upon learning of this only became even more furious. Under the creature's terrifying fury, they could only close their eyes and pray that whoever or whatever it was would save them.
"Stop that. Your roar is too loud." Came the calm voice of a young man.
With calm steps, the young man approached the black dragon.
"How dare you stare at me, human!" The dragon was irritated by the young man's gaze.
A man with black hair and eyes as black as the night sky.