The Lich's Bargain
Inside a massive test tube filled with green liquid.
Bubble, bubble.
The foam surged violently, and soon the entire test tube began to shake with ferocious intensity.
“Kuaaaaaah! Jin Cheeeeen! I’ll kill you!”
“Inject the demonic energy immediately!”
“We are injecting it, but there are no signs of stabilization.”
“Inject the sedative drug! Use Black Sleep magic alongside it!”
“Yes, Grand Elder!”
At the command of the dark elf Grand Elder, whose pupils were a dull gray, the surrounding dark elves began moving in a frantic rush.
While the dark elves scrambled about in that tense atmosphere, someone entered the laboratory.
It was a figure wearing a pitch-black robe pulled deep over their head.
“What happened?”
“It seems there are more beings who crossed over from another world.”
“More?”
“Yes. Roughly two hundred of them. They’ve settled in the Dragon Mountain Range.”
“Are those bastards as strong as that one?”
The Grand Elder nodded with a hardened expression.
“They are strong. They annihilated fifty-nine test subjects in a single strike.”
“Hmm. It looks like they combined their strength.”
“No. It was just one. The one who appears to be their leader turned the test subjects into dust with a single move. Not only the human test subjects, but the monster test subjects as well.”
“Is there a possibility it’s a dragon?”
“The Lord of the Gold Dragons is with them.”
“Then the chance of it being a dragon is even higher, isn’t it?”
“No. Among the dragons, only an ancient dragon could annihilate test subjects with a single strike like that. But as you know, the only ancient dragon still remaining is the Lord of the Gold Dragons.”
The figure in the black robe slowly nodded.
“Then it really is a human. Seeing how that guy is rampaging around, they must know each other.”
“The moment he heard their identities, he went into a frenzy and strongly demanded it. He said he had to go kill that man. If we stopped him, he would consider our contract null and void.”
“So you sent the test subjects?”
“Yes. Along with one Demon Knight connected to his mind.”
“You sent a Demon Knight and they were still wiped out in one move?”
The Grand Elder nodded instead of answering.
“He’s not someone to take lightly.”
“He may become an even bigger variable than the dragons.”
“So what do you suggest? Are we going to hide again? We’ve already been hiding for a thousand years.”
“That was my initial plan. At least when I first heard about the black-haired humans. But the situation has changed. Now that we know the dragons and the black-haired humans are working together, simply hiding is no longer a solution.”
“That’s the first welcome news I’ve heard in a while. If you had suggested waiting again, I was planning to stop cooperating with you.”
At the black-robed figure’s words, the Grand Elder’s face chilled into a cold mask.
“Don’t misunderstand, Nox. I have no desire to work with you either. I’m only enduring it because the God of Corruption and Death has chosen both you and me.”
“I hope that patience of yours reaches its end soon. You know very well that our god doesn’t particularly enjoy long waits either.”
“The end is not far off. Once that human is completed, and once the test subjects are completed, the patience I’ve endured for a thousand years will turn into pure rage.”
“Kuk. So in the end, it just means it’ll take more time?”
“If you want to move independently, I won’t stop you. But keep this in mind. The death you have transcended does not work in the face of a dragon’s Dragon Speech. And the same goes for the newly appeared human called Jin Chen.”
At the Grand Elder’s words, the black-robed figure—Nox—slowly pulled back the hood covering his face. A skull with not a single scrap of flesh appeared.
“You had better remember this as well. You are not the only one who has endured and been patient. I gave up everything to make the descent of the God of Corruption and Death into this world a reality.”
Nox and the Grand Elder glared coldly at each other.
It was then.
“Kuuuuh! Jin Chen! I don’t care what you bastards do. Jin Chen—that bastard, I will kill him myself. So fulfill the promise you made right now. Hurry uuuup!”
At the voice exploding from the test tube, both the Grand Elder and Nox turned their gazes toward it.
“We have no interest in this Jin Chen. However, we will be the ones to kill the dragon. A Dragon Heart! Obtaining that has been my long-held dream!”
“I don’t care. As long as I get to kill Jin Chen, that’s enough for me!”
“There is one thing still needed to complete you. We have found it. Once we obtain that, you will gain a body and power stronger than anyone else.”
“Then hurry up and get it! Hu… rry…”
The voice flowing from inside the test tube gradually lost strength.
As if the drugs and magic that had been forcibly holding it together had finally taken effect.
The Grand Elder nodded and looked at Nox.
“We need the blood of living high elves and other races.”
“Didn’t you say it was just one thing?”
“The high elf is for him. The other races are…”
“For the test subjects, I suppose.”
“Correct. Since the dragons have noticed our presence, it will be easier for you to move. Your minions would not be easily detected by dragons.”
“Fine. I will move personally.”
As Nox turned to leave, the Grand Elder stopped him.
“One more thing.”
“What is it?”
“It seems we need to plant eyes to monitor the movements of those black-haired humans.”
“You want me to plant eyes even though they’re with a dragon?”
“They are bandits. If we take that into consideration, planting eyes shouldn’t be difficult.”
“Bandits, huh. Keke. And they’re that strong? I’m getting more and more curious about what kind of world they came from.”
With those final words, Nox left the laboratory.
The Grand Elder, who had been quietly watching him go, slowly approached the test tube.
“Just wait a little longer. No matter what it takes, I will complete you.”
As if answering those words, fierce bubbles surged violently from the green liquid.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Over fifty figures were rebuilding the fortress master’s quarters at incredible speed.
They were only about half the height of an adult male.
Thick muscles bulging out from beneath their clothes.
Beards of every shape and color.
They absolutely did not look like ordinary humans.
Naturally, the people of the mountain fortress gathered to watch.
“Wow, they’re tiny but their strength is no joke.”
“And their hands are so skilled. They’re working like lightning.”
“They’re the other race called dwarves, right?”
“They’re short, but other than that they don’t look all that different.”
The mountain fortress people chatted among themselves.
Among them was one person silently watching the dwarves without a word.
It was Jang Old Man, the head blacksmith of the mountain fortress forge.
They really are fast and precise.
He had heard from the claw-marks and the mercenaries.
The dwarves were the greatest artisans on the continent.
There was nothing they couldn’t make, and whatever they created sold for astronomical prices.
I’m curious. Just how amazing are the things they create?
Although age had robbed him of much of his former strength and stamina, his heart was no different from the day he first picked up a hammer.
That was why the boiling competitive spirit kept his eyes glued to the dwarves.
Jin Chen, who had been quietly watching Jang Old Man, let out a small smirk.
“Looks like the sound of hammering won’t stop for a while again.”
Muttering to himself, he turned to Geunyuk-i beside him.
“When Sybel sends those guys back, secretly steal some coordinates. Find out where they live so we can go rob them later.”
“Sir Sybel uses Dragon Speech for his magic, so it is impossible to extract coordinates.”
“Tsk. What’s the point of making him stronger if he’s useless?”
“Isn’t that exactly why you’re trying to find a use for him from Sir Sybel?”
“What? You picking a fight?”
“Absolutely not! How could I dare!”
Geunyuk-i shook his head so hard it looked like it might fall off and even waved his hands in denial.
Jin Chen clicked his tongue in disappointment and looked at the dwarves.
“Too bad, but it can’t be helped. Since those guys are off the table, teach the kids some magic instead.”
“M-magic, you say?”
“Why, you don’t like that either?”
“I-it’s not that, but I’m so busy I’m not sure I’ll have time.”
“You’re just standing around right now, aren’t you?”
“I only came out for a very brief moment.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
Jin Chen nodded and continued.
“Then there’s no choice. I’ll have to ask Sybel.”
“Pardon?”
“What do you mean, pardon? The only ones here who know magic are you and Sybel. Since you say you can’t do it, of course I have to make Sybel do it.”
“N-no, even so, asking Sir Sybel to teach magic is a bit…”
“If I tell you to do it, just do it. What’s he gonna do about it?”
At Jin Chen’s words, Geunyuk-i trembled all over.
You’re dumping your own work on me? You must be crazy and begging to die!
The image of a massive dragon glaring down at him as if ready to chew him up filled his mind.
“I-I’ll reduce my sleeping time and teach them!”
“I said it’s fine, why are you like this?”
“N-no, I can do it. I really want to do it.”
“Well, if you’re that insistent, I guess there’s no helping it. Go ahead and try.”
“Th-thank you!”
Geunyuk-i even bowed his head, though it was unclear what exactly he was thanking him for.
Jin Chen chuckled and said,
“I’m not telling you to teach them everything. Just pick out the kids who look like they have some talent and raise them. You can’t keep suffering alone forever, right?”
“Ah! I didn’t realize you had such a deep meaning behind it.”
“I do tend to think pretty deeply.”
“Ha, ha, ha.”
While Geunyuk-i forced an awkward smile, Jin Chen turned his gaze toward the lake.
“Why is it taking so long? Is he really a dragon?”
As if offended by those words, a bright light began pouring out from the clearing in front of the lake.
Fwaaaaaah!
Blue light burst forth from the magic circle drawn on the ground.
The mystical sight instantly captured the attention of everyone who had been watching the dwarves.
Sybel turned his head and looked at Jin Chen.
“It’s all set up.”
“Someone go bring Jeombaki.”
“I brought him!”
Geunyuk-i’s answer came as if he had been waiting for the cue.
And then a massive tree suddenly appeared right in front of them.
At the very top, a scrawny Jeombaki was dangling helplessly.
He ripped it out by the roots.
“Did I do good?”
Geunyuk-i beamed like an innocent child.
“Yeah, you did well.”
“Hehe. Then can Jeombaki become as strong as us now?”
“More like as strong as Geunyuk-i. Well, whether it works or not, we’ll have to see.”
“I hope it works. Jeombaki’s been really envious for a long time.”
The only person in the entire mountain fortress who hadn’t learned anything.
That was Jeombaki.
There wasn’t a single person who didn’t know how desperately he wanted to become stronger.
For Jeombaki, magic was a new opportunity. A new hope.
Instead of a dantian hardened like diamond by the energy of the Ten-Thousand-Year Spiritual Fruit, he would create something called circles around his heart.
If it’s him, he should be able to do it.
Just as Jin Chen was thinking that, the limp Jeombaki lifted his head and spoke.
“I can do it.”
“Who asked you?”
“Weren’t you looking at me with those eyes?”
“You should read the room a little better on a regular basis.”
“I’m doing it on purpose. I’m afraid I’ll look too perfect.”
“I guarantee it. Even if you fall into water, you won’t drown. Your mouth will keep you floating.”
With those words, he cut the rope binding Jeombaki, and the man immediately collapsed onto the ground.
“Aigoo, I’m dying. This is exactly why I try not to look too perfect. Even when I hold back like this, I still get jealousy thrown at me.”
“Stop talking nonsense and get inside already. If you want to do your best with a clear mind.”
“Ahem. I was just about to go in.”
Jeombaki stood up and headed toward the magic circle.
“Huuuuuuuuuu.”
Jeombaki let out a long breath with a tense expression.
After calming his anxious heart, he slowly stepped into the magic circle.
Ziiiiiiing!
As if welcoming him, the magic circle began to shine even more brilliantly.