Chapter 168: 35th Floor. Raising a Dragon (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 168: 35th Floor. Raising a Dragon (4)
For a heartbeat, Kang Jun-hyeok’s pulse faltered.
How?
His mind raced at lightning speed, and he realized the truth almost instantly.
Though his acting had been flawless, his physical reactions had remained unnervingly calm. To a dragon’s heightened senses, such a discrepancy was a glaring red flag.
Triggering a physical reaction now would be simple, but doubt had already taken root. If he tried to force it now, she would only become more certain that he was playing a trick.
In that case, he had to go bigger.
He had to make it so she couldn't possibly doubt him—so that being deceived was the only natural conclusion. Kang Jun-hyeok’s eyes bled into a deep crimson.
[True Ancestor Awakening.]
“Get back!”
Blood surged violently, erupting to shroud their surroundings. It swirled around them like a protective cocoon. Kang Jun-hyeok pulled Anthonia into his arms once more.
[Reset. Sixth Sense Exclusion.]
He severed Anthonia’s senses and detonated the blood.
Kwah-aaaaang!
An explosion of power, bordering on self-destruction, slammed directly into Kang Jun-hyeok. His body was sent tumbling mercilessly as agony flared through him. Anthonia, held tight in his embrace, did not escape unscathed; small cuts and grazes appeared on her skin.
“D-Daddy!”
“Ugh.”
Kang Jun-hyeok let out a low, ragged groan.
Unlike before, this was a self-destructive blast at nearly his full power. His health plummeted to the brink of death in an instant. His body swayed precariously before he finally collapsed.
“Daddy! Daddy!”
Anthonia’s expression turned frantic. Though there wasn't a single visible wound on Kang Jun-hyeok’s body, she could instinctively feel that he had taken catastrophic damage. Just before he lost consciousness, Kang Jun-hyeok whispered hoarsely.
“Run away… Anthonia…”
I wonder. What will things look like when I wake up?
Kang Jun-hyeok closed his eyes and let the darkness take him.
* * *
Consciousness slowly returned. He realized he was lying atop the nest.
Feeling a weight on his arm, he turned his head to see Anthonia sleeping while leaning against him.
Fortunately, everything went according to plan.
“Nngh.”
“……Daddy?”
Anthonia opened her eyes and hurriedly clung to him.
“Are you okay? Is your body okay?”
“More or less. Anthonia, what about you?”
“I’m fine, of course…”
Anthonia spoke with eyes brimming with tears. Seeing her like that made him feel a slight twinge of guilt. However, that feeling vanished the moment he thought back to his past life.
Kang Jun-hyeok summoned his strength and pushed himself up. Anthonia, supporting him, asked, “What on earth happened?”
“I’m not entirely sure myself. Something was targeting me.”
“Huh?”
Anthonia’s eyes widened.
“Not me, but you, Daddy?”
“Yes. It was me.”
“……The demons’ target wasn't me?”
“Originally, it probably was. But Anthonia, you hatched as a Red Dragon. Their goal was to turn you into a Dark Dragon, but they failed.”
“So they targeted you as a backup plan?”
“It seems so. They probably judged my power and decided I had value.”
“Your power is definitely strange. How can you have no wounds after being in that state?”
Anthonia spoke with a hint of disbelief. She was a child who had only just entered the world, but her essence was that of a dragon. She possessed fundamental knowledge of the world. Even to her, Kang Jun-hyeok’s body was bizarre beyond measure.
Kang Jun-hyeok observed her for a moment.
There was no longer any doubt in her eyes.
The power he had detonated at the end had not only nearly killed him but had also injured her. In her inexperience, she couldn't possibly imagine that someone would risk their life just to put on an act. Kang Jun-hyeok let out a silent sigh of relief.
It worked.
“Who is the enemy targeting you? To attack like that, they must be incredibly strong.”
“I don’t know. I only reacted instinctively. Have there been any more attacks since I passed out?”
“No. Nothing happened.”
“That’s a relief.”
Kang Jun-hyeok, who had been sighing in relief, suddenly paused.
“No. Actually, it’s not a relief at all.”
“Eh? Why?”
“……Anthonia.”
Kang Jun-hyeok looked at Anthonia with a heavy, serious gaze. Anthonia’s expression stiffened.
“What is it?”
“I have something to tell you.”
“W-what? Why are you looking at me so scarily?”
“I think we need to stay apart for a while.”
Anthonia’s eyes went wide.
* * *
“What does that mean?”
The atmosphere shifted. The air grew heavy in an instant, and heat began to simmer. A dark energy started to flicker within her crimson pupils.
But Kang Jun-hyeok did not back down. He spoke calmly.
“The demons’ target has shifted from you to me. Why do you think they backed off after that last attack, even though they could have killed me?”
“……A warning?”
“Correct. Their goal isn't to kill me. It’s to draw me in. And if I refuse them, who do you think they’ll target next?”
The answer was simple.
“It’s you, Anthonia.”
The only being in this place Kang Jun-hyeok was obsessed with. That was Anthonia.
“I have to stay away from you. That’s the only way I can protect you.”
“I don’t care if I die with you! Don’t throw me away!”
“Listen to me!”
Kang Jun-hyeok shouted, his face twisting. Anthonia, who never expected him to raise his voice at her, flinched and took a step back. Kang Jun-hyeok continued with an expression of pure agony.
“I can’t protect you. Eventually, they will kill you. This is the best choice.”
He gently touched her shoulder.
“Go find your parents.”
“……My daddy is you.”
“I’m not your parent. I’m a coward who has neither the qualification nor the resolve for that. Your real parents must be somewhere in this world. Find them and stay with them.”
“……When everything is over, will you come find me?”
“Of course.”
Kang Jun-hyeok spoke with absolute conviction.
It was all a plausible lie.
A promise that would never be kept.
But Anthonia, her face contorted with emotion, finally nodded her head.
* * *
Kang Jun-hyeok stepped outside and waited for Anthonia to gather her thoughts.
The Master of All Weapons spoke up.
[You certainly managed to deceive that sensitive child.]
“It’s all thanks to the power of the Persuasion and Acting skills.”
The power of a skill that could even deceive one's own emotions was formidable. If he set his mind to it, he could even fool a dragon.
In the end, Anthonia had become capable of standing on her own without him.
Once they shared their final farewells, he would achieve a Perfect Clear.
[You made a promise to that child that you cannot keep. In this world, she will live on missing you, waiting for the day you come for her. Do you feel no pangs of conscience?]
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
Kang Jun-hyeok gave a short, cold laugh.
If he felt guilty over something like this, his soul would have rotted away in his past life.
Wait.
Maybe it was already rotted.
It didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was the Perfect Clear. A moment later, Anthonia emerged with a somber face.
“I’m ready, Kang Jun-hyeok.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No. It’s an unavoidable choice.”
Anthonia opened her arms. Kang Jun-hyeok quietly pulled her into an embrace. Anthonia whispered softly.
“……Kang Jun-hyeok. You’ll definitely come find me, right?”
“Of course. Even if I’m not your parent, you are still precious to me.”
“Really? I knew it.”
Anthonia’s arms tightened around Kang Jun-hyeok.
“That’s enough then, Kang Jun-hyeok. Like you said, you aren't my parent. But you are still a precious person to me. Perhaps a relationship closer than a parent. You are family.”
“Yes.”
Kang Jun-hyeok affirmed.
Anthonia smiled brightly.
“That’s all I need.”
Kiiiing.
A light erupted between Kang Jun-hyeok and Anthonia. Kang Jun-hyeok’s expression shifted.
“Anthonia?”
“This is a contract, Kang Jun-hyeok. A Soul Oath between you and me. I will find you. So you must find me too.”
“Wait—”
There was no time to stop her. Anthonia made the vow, staking her very soul.
“I offer my life to you. May you also offer your life to me. I shall forge this pact with you. My soul belongs to you.”
It was the one and only oath a dragon could make.
A promise of the soul, staking one's entire life, made only to one who would become family.
Kang Jun-hyeok’s face went pale.
“Anthoni—”
“I’ll be waiting, Kang Jun-hyeok.”
With her smile, his vision distorted.
[Proficiency in the Persuasion skill has increased significantly.]
• Proficiency in the Acting skill has increased significantly.
• 35th Floor Quest Cleared.
• Rewards will be determined based on your performance.
• Checking achievement rate…
• Verification complete.
• Achievement Rate: 100%
• Perfect Clear. Congratulations! Additional rewards will be granted.
• 3,114 Gold has been rewarded.
• Perfect Clear Reward: You have obtained ‘Broken Dragon Heart’.
• Perfect Clear Reward: You have obtained the ‘Title: Dragon Lover’.
• Players who have Perfect Cleared the 35th Floor: 1.
• You are the only one!
• Universe Announcement.
• Please offer your congratulations! Everyone in the universe! A Perfect Player of the 35th Floor has appeared. This is a feat that no one has ever achieved before!
• Feat +5
Kang Jun-hyeok returned to Earth.
“……Wait.”
He immediately opened his title window.
[Title: Dragon Lover]
• A dragon chooses only one partner in their lifetime. The two form a Soul Oath, and that promise shall be fulfilled.
• The promise of the Red Dragon, Anthonia, dwells within you.
“Are you kidding me?”
Kang Jun-hyeok spat out a curse.
* * *
[A Soul Oath. Dragon Lover.]
The Master of All Weapons murmured with interest.
[It is the vow a dragon makes to their one and only partner. You told her you weren't her parent. You aren't her child or her sibling either. That leaves only one thing.]
[……Even so, I didn't expect her to actually form the oath.]
Eldiria spoke in a flustered tone.
Dragons lived their entire lives as monogamous beings.
By forming a marital pact, they promised their souls to one another.
It could only be cast once in a dragon’s life. It was something to be used with extreme caution, yet she had cast it so suddenly. It was unexpected for all of them. Kang Jun-hyeok slowly calmed his panic.
“……It’s not particularly a problem.”
Anthonia had imposed the oath unilaterally without his consent.
In such a case, it had no actual effect on him. Anthonia alone would bear the weight of the promise.
That was why it was even more baffling. It was essentially an act of madness. The Master of All Weapons spoke gleefully.
[She certainly isn't an ordinary dragon. This has become interesting.]
“It’s a world that’s already ended. It has no influence here.”
It was a vow in name only.
However, the Master of All Weapons let out a chuckle.
[I wonder if that’s true?]
“What do you mean?”
[I don’t know much about dragons myself. But I do know about the structure of the Tower.]
The Master of All Weapons began to explain in a jovial tone.
[What Anthonia formed is a unique Soul Oath. A soul is something that cannot exist in multiples. And from what I’ve gathered, Anthonia exists in this world as well. And she is someone you know.]
The Dark Dragon Anthonia, who had lived her life alone without anyone’s care, and whom he had eventually buried with his own hands.
She was certainly alive and breathing in this world.
Kang Jun-hyeok’s face soured.
“Wait a minute.”
[Anthonia’s oath. She exists in this world too. I wonder, will that oath affect the version of her here? Or will it not?]
The Master of All Weapons murmured, sounding full of anticipation.