Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Easy Big Sis
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Before I became the Flame Man Yi Young-jin, there was a phase in my childhood when I was a total neighborhood loser.
Well, not a full-blown loser, more like someone who was overly aware of others' gazes. Anyway, that's how I lived back then.
Anyway, definitely not a loser. For real.
Whatever. Back when I was like that, my specialty was reading the room. The director never made me feel out of place, but I still learned to pick up on cues on my own.
And next up was people-watching. That's another one of my talents—I'm incredibly sensitive to others' emotions. You could call it a natural gift.
Especially when it comes to sensing how people feel about me, no one in the world is sharper than I am. I'm that confident in my analytical skills.
So, with my expertise in relationships and psychology, analyzing the mind of a game character I've sunk 20,000 hours into? This has to be the easiest in the world.
My analysis? Aila Trista has a crystal-clear line between enemies and allies.
To be precise, she shows endless wariness toward "enemies" and boundless kindness to those she deems "allies."
Which means, to her, I'm in the position of a reliable "ally" she can lean on.
I love this body. Back in school, I didn't have any friends!
Anyway, I don't know exactly what criteria she uses to divide enemies from allies.
It's a ridiculous guess, but maybe one factor is how "rebellious" they are? Nah, no way anyone judges like that.
So, what am I getting at?
"I see. You must have had it tough too, Lady Filtia."
"...Uh, ahem. It wasn't that tough, dear?"
"But three hundred years of solitude... I can't even imagine it."
"...You get it?"
Aila had already shifted to seeing Filtia as an "ally."
Once that happened, Aila became incredibly approachable, empathizing deeply with others' pain—the shining Aila.
And Filtia, who had spent three hundred years alone just watching over Jefrin, started soaking up that kindness faster than expected.
"I could never fully understand your loneliness, Lady Filtia."
"...Uh, ahem. You can drop the 'Lady,' dear?"
"What should I call you then?"
"Um, how about 'sis'?"
"Sure thing, Filtia sis. Hehe, the day I call a dragon 'sis'—talk about rebellious."
"Come to think of it, you say 'rebellious' a lot. What's that mean?"
"Well, it's like..."
The two started giggling and whispering away, while I, utterly unable to vibe with that kind of talk, sank into thought and watched the scene unfold.
Filtia Bluebreeze. Aila Trista. And me.
The Dragon's Trial. Its contents. The method. And this situation now.
I had the rough outline figured out.
It pricked my conscience just a tiny bit, but hey, it'll work out somehow.
"I... probably won't even live a hundred years."
"...Then after a hundred years, I'll be alone again."
"So how about we get super close for those hundred years!"
"...Huh?"
Hmm.
Aila's boundless positivity really is something to learn from.
How the heck did a girl like this go so off the rails in the original story?
"R-Right. Hehe. Looks like this sis just gained another little sibling today?"
"You bet!"
Anyway, the mood seemed ripe, so time to get to the main point.
"Aila. Filtia sis. It's great that you've gotten close, but we came here today for another purpose."
"...Oh. Right. Sorry, Wolfram."
"Little sib... purpose? What?"
Uh... well.
When starting the Dragon's Trial, there was definitely a line we had to say.
You know, that one...
Ah.
"Filtia Bluebreeze, bearer of blue among the seven colors. I, Wolfram von Loengrin, descendant of Hark von Loengrin, request the Dragon's Trial."
Filtia's expression hardened instantly.
Dragons wield magic called "Dragon Words," so their speech carries power.
That's why they can't spout nonsense easily.
Especially when full names are invoked—the weight shifts dramatically for their kind.
"Understood. Filtia Bluebreeze of the blue, foster daughter of Hark von Loengrin. Crossing three hundred years alone to challenge the trial, I praise your courage. Challenger: Wolfram von Loengrin, one person..."
"No. I'll challenge too, sis."
I gave Aila a look, and she jumped right in.
"...Uh, huh? But this trial must be done solo?"
Originally, the Dragon's Trial is a one-person ordeal.
But hey... we could make it two.
We're family, after all.
"I know. To earn the dragon's recognition, you must pass both 'martial prowess' and 'intellect.'"
"Y-Yeah. My little sib knows her stuff... But you're saying you'll challenge as two?"
"That's right."
Normally it'd be solo, but no way could I solo the 'martial prowess' part no matter what. So the plan was to team up with Aila as a duo.
"No can do. Even for you two, dragon rules are..."
"Really no way, sis?"
"...N-No... can do?"
"I see. Won't grant your little sib's request, huh."
"...Ugh."
She leaned back in her chair, letting out a deep sigh. Filtia's eyes wavered endlessly.
"...Sis, I wanna do it too. Can't I?"
"...Ugh."
"Sis. Is it truly impossible?"
"...Uwu. Really... no..."
"Sis..."
"Sis."
"............O-Okay. J-Just this once, got it?"
"Thanks, sis!"
"We offer our thanks, sis."
Filtia sniffled while muttering things like "A dragon's promise..." and "But it's my little sibs' request..." as she went off to prepare the trial. Aila and I exchanged glances and shared the same thought.
'Easy.'
'Super easy.'
Truly an easy dragon.
"【Complete Transfer】"
Filtia placed her hands on our shoulders and chanted the spell.
In an instant, the sunset-tinted library shifted to a crystal cave.
Red and blue crystals jutted everywhere around us, sharp enough to slice you if you brushed against them.
And they did slice, in fact. Those were field traps.
It wasn't dark. A single glowing crystal hung from the ceiling, its light reflecting off the masses of crystals on the floor and walls, illuminating the entire cave.
...Man, it's been ages since I was last here.
"So beautiful..."
"Hm. Not a bad spot."
Screenshot spot #7.
The Trial Cave.
"Uh, ahem. Now, I'll explain the trial. Listen up?"
"Yes, yes!"
Aila nodded tensely, and I gave a casual nod in response.
"As I said, the trial tests martial prowess and intellect."
"Got it. I'll handle martial prowess."
"Little sib's on intellect, right?"
"Correct."
Perfect role split.
I'm confident I'd get shredded fifteen ways in one second flat if I stepped into the martial arena.
Originally, I planned to solo both and head to the desert once I could, but this way, I snagged trial eligibility a few beats faster.
"For martial prowess... I'll show illusions of monsters. Just defeat them."
"...Yes!"
"For intellect... questions about this world's secrets. Answer correctly."
"Understood."
Filtia gazed at us with a seriousness I'd never seen before.
Eyes filled with resolve.
That's right.
The Dragon's Trial holds immense meaning for dragons.
Passing it earns you recognition as the dragon's partner, granting their blessing.
That blessing is the real honey buff in the game.
But it burdens the dragon too, so it's not given lightly.
A soul buddy resonating with the dragon's spirit—that's what a trial passer is.
"That's why... the trial will be conducted with utmost rigor and difficulty. Especially since you're doing it as two, okay? I trust you'll understand."
Yeah.
To Filtia, us passing means two passers—unprecedented.
So the trial demands even more gravity and seriousness.
Of course.
After hearing the full rundown on the Dragon's Trial, Aila and I locked eyes and nodded.
"Does it have to be that way?"
"Isn't that a bit too harsh on us?"
"...Uh, huh? But... everyone's done it like this?"
Aila spoke, I followed up, and Filtia faltered.
"The Dragon's Trial was designed to turn strangers into dragon friends."
"But we're not strangers anymore, right?"
"True, but..."
I said it, Aila picked up, Filtia murmured softly.
"We're family, right?"
"We're family, aren't we?"
"...U-Uh..."
We spoke in unison, and Filtia started sniffling for real.
"If I pass the trial, won't our bond grow even tighter, sis?"
"If I pass, we'll be so close we'll look like real sisters anywhere, don't you think, sis?"
"Uwu... O-Okay, okay... I'll make it easy..."
With that, Filtia teared up as she headed off to set up the trial.
Aila and I exchanged glances and nodded.
'Easy.'
'Super easy.'
You good, dragon?
"So, when the monster wave hits, don't waste mana on weak ones—punch 'em instead..."
"Wrap black crystal only around your fist's impact point for precise strikes."
"Got it. How far should I go?"
"You can trade blows with trolls. After that, mix in magic. Drag it out to kill as many as possible—that's key."
"...Okay. Wolfram. Anything I can help with?"
Before diving in, we shared max info and held a strategy session.
Well, mostly me briefing the trial details and monsters, then tailoring Aila's tactics.
"You coming out safe."
"...A-Again with that... that kinda talk..."
What?
Why's her face suddenly red?
"You gotta come out safe if we're both gonna pass."
"...Y-Yeah. 【Black Crystal】"
"...Hm? Why load black crystal? And why smile at me while doing it?"
"No reason. Just testing if it'll work right."
Gotcha. Good to know.
That killing intent? Save it for the incoming monsters. The prickling on my skin feels just like the real deal—nice.
"...Just a bit more time, sis."
"Give us a little more time."
Alright, trial's about to start.
I'll probably get a mock classroom exam hall.
Aila fights illusion monsters here.
But since Filtia went off sniffling, it won't be too brutal.
More importantly, something to ask Aila first.
"Aila."
"Yes? What is it, Wolfram?"
"Honestly, didn't expect you'd follow along this well. Thanks for reading my intent without me spelling it out and playing along."
"Hehe. Do we really need thanks between us?"
"...Fair point. But you okay with this?"
"What do you mean?"
"The old you would've insisted on tackling Filtia's trial fair and square, max difficulty—rebellious honor and all."
Yeah.
That's the Aila Trista I know.
"Not feeling it right now."
"What do you mean?"
"Passing the trial means... becoming 【friends】 Filtia sis recognizes, right?"
Friends.
So Aila sees trial passers that way.
Not wrong.
"Exactly."
"That's why. I wanna be that dragon's friend."
"...I see."
Not prioritizing her own honor or pride,
but wanting to be real friends with the poor dragon cooped up alone in her lair for three hundred years, just guarding a door.
"I don't fully get the loneliness of three hundred solitary years... but I can't just leave her be."
"I see."
"Of course, once I'm strong enough, I'd love to solo it later? Rebellious Wings: Aila Trista, solo Dragon's Trial conqueror. Cool, right?"
Aila beamed, flashing a V-sign with her right hand.
Yeah. That's the Aila Trista I know.
"We've kept Filtia waiting too long. Let's go."
"Yeah. Wolfram. Let's both give it our all."
With a light fist bump as our farewell, we headed to our respective trial grounds.