Sybel's Reaction
Sybel watched the magic circle's reaction and nodded.
“The magic circle is responding.”
“Can we call that a positive sign?”
“Plenty. Considering the energy inside you, you could reach 8 circles even if you had to.”
“Feels kinda disappointing.”
“Disappointing? It must be because you know nothing about magic. 8 circles is no small achievement.”
“Yeah, but that guy is at the same level as me, right?”
Jin Chen jerked his chin toward the tall guy standing off to the side.
Sybel shook his head. “That human somehow gained an unbelievable enlightenment and rose to 8 circles at an unbelievable speed. Normally only a handful of geniuses in the whole continent are allowed that level. And once you reach it, the continent calls you a great mage and treats you almost like royalty.”
“That’s this world’s rules. Not mine. That guy swallowed some kind of thing and still only hit 8 circles? Hah! Even 10 circles might not be enough.”
Sybel’s eyes lit up, taking the chance. “I’ve been wanting to ask. How exactly did you do it to pile up that kind of energy in that human’s body? It’s so dense.”
“It’s there. Ten-thousand-year spiritual fruit.”
“Ten-thousand-year spiritual fruit? What’s that?”
“If I have to compare it to—”
Jin Chen’s gaze locked onto Sybel’s heart.
That bastard again!
Sybel’s eyebrows twitched as Jin Chen kept talking. “A vessel that holds incredible energy like a dragon heart?”
“Why would that energy gather in his body? Someone your level—”
“I thought the same. I figured I could control it just fine. Turns out the world doesn’t always follow your plans.”
Sybel stayed quiet; Jin Chen clicked his tongue once.
He was a little irritated, and the last thing he needed was more questions that might spark a fight.
Sybel shook his head. “We’re among dwarves. We have to be careful.”
The dwarves brought to build the fortress. One of the clans that had settled inside the Dragon Mountain Range.
They had a connection with him from way back.
So he had to stay extra cautious. For the dragon’s pride and reputation.
Just as he thought that, chaotic sounds erupted from the magic circle.
Ziiiiiing!
Jin Chen narrowed his eyes at the sound. “Is that okay?”
“I’m the lord of the gold dragon. The magic circle I made is perfect.”
Sybel’s confident words were cut short as the circle flickered uneasily, then lost its glow and fell silent.
Jin Chen frowned. “What? It’s already done?”
“Ah, no, what’s wrong with it?”
“What? That panicked tone?”
“Heh, it seems it failed.”
“Failed? How?”
“It seems the human lacks the aptitude for magic…”
“You tell me that now?!”
Jin Chen jabbed a finger at him.
Sybel cried out in a wounded voice, “I can’t know everything!”
“You’re a dragon! Then you should know exactly! You were bragging about being the lord of the gold dragon like you owned the place!”
“My magic circle was perfect. It’s just that human’s talent is lacking.”
“You said earlier you could reach 8 circles! You brat!”
Sybel looked startled. “Th-that’s just based on the energy I see.”
“This guy isn’t even a real dragon! If that’s how it is, I should’ve just asked the tall guy!”
“You’re comparing me to some human mage right now?!”
“The result is the same! Result! You, you threw together that circle because you were lazy!”
“I am the lord of the gold dragon!”
“Again with that! I should just bury you in the dirt!”
Jin Chen got fired up and charged, making Sybel leap back in shock.
“Come here! I’ll rip out every tooth and claw!”
“I really poured my soul into it! If you’re going to complain, do it to that human!”
“First I’ll start with the teeth! I’ll stop that mouth from running wild!”
Jin Chen kicked the ground, and Sybel vanished in an instant.
“That bastard just dodged with teleportation. He didn’t fail because of some shortage of talent?”
Jin Chen grumbled and glanced at the circle.
Jeombaki stood with arms spread wide, head tilted back, eyes closed.
Looking full of hope for the power he was about to gain.
A pitiful yet ridiculous sight made Jin Chen click his tongue.
Geunyuk-i stepped over. “Want me to pull it out?”
“No. Let him enjoy it a little.”
“Poor Jeombaki. You’ll behave from now on.”
“Just like always. He’s a bit prideful.”
“Then I’ll handle it secretly.”
“That’s up to you. By the way, where did you hide that lizard guy?”
Jin Chen disappeared as if the words had never been spoken.
“Chaeju Hyung got a new friend. Nice.”
Geunyuk-i said it without a care, the kind of line that would make Jin Chen and Sybel jump in fright.
“I want a friend like that too. A really special one.”
Geunyuk-i, muttering enviously, suddenly lit up and started walking somewhere with a weird smile.
The moment he vanished, the gathered crowd’s eyes scattered away.
“A huge power! Come! I’ll absorb it all for you!”
Only Jeombaki remained alone over the circle, arms still spread wide, standing for a long time.
***
At that exact moment, the dwarves building the fortress were in chaos.
A great being had suddenly appeared above their clan.
He had teleported here instantly to get to work.
And the orders were simple. “Build a house.”
It was ridiculous, but they couldn’t protest.
If they angered the dragon, the whole clan would be in danger.
So they worked while keeping an eye on the dragon—until they saw something they shouldn’t have.
They heard something they shouldn’t have.
The sight of a black-haired human getting beaten and the dragon running away.
Unbelievable.
The dwarves were stunned by this impossible reality.
The clan leader snapped out of it first. “Everyone, pull yourselves together!”
“C-clan leader, did you hear that?”
“T-the great being fled!”
“Who exactly is that human that the lord of the gold dragon—”
“He’s human?! That’s not what I thought!”
The dwarves whispered low, so the clan leader quickly shushed them. “Shh! Quiet! We saw and heard nothing. Understood?!”
“Yes, clan leader!”
“Stop talking and focus on building the house. The great being said he would send you back once you finish just one.”
“Understood, clan leader!”
The dwarves shut their mouths and went back to work.
“The dragon was that scary?”
A voice suddenly cut in. The dwarves froze.
They started working as if nothing had happened.
“Is this broken?”
The owner of the voice.
Geunyuk-i tapped his translation bracelet and looked back at the dwarves. “Huh? You can’t understand my words?”
“……”
“It really is broken. I’ll have to tell Chaeju Hyung. The dragon broke it.”
The dwarves shivered at the mention of the dragon and all looked at their leader.
What do we do?
The clan leader sighed at the stares and turned to Geunyuk-i. “We only came to build a house on the orders of Lord Sybel. We have no interest in who you are and don’t want to get involved. Let’s stop talking here.”
“You know what we are, don’t you? Mountain bandits?”
“Not interested… mountain bandits?”
“Yeah! We ate up the Dragon Mountain Range.”
Geunyuk-i smiled brightly. The clan leader looked dumbfounded. “H-here… you’re saying this is inside the Dragon Mountain Range?”
“Didn’t know?”
Of course not. They had only been teleported here by the great being.
The clan leader looked troubled. Why did the great being tell them to help these people?
And that dazed look on his face—what was that?
Geunyuk-i didn’t seem to notice and thrust his massive axe forward. “Look at this. It’s my axe.”
“Hmm.”
“You dwarves are really good at making weapons, right? My axe is super well-made. Want to see it?”
“Never mind. Just go home. We have work to do—”
The clan leader trailed off.
His instinctive gaze toward the axe made Geunyuk-i smile. “May I take a look?”
“Sure. Here.”
Geunyuk-i willingly handed over his axe. The clan leader gasped in delight. “What perfect weight and balance! Amazing!”
“Clan leader! Look at the blade! Sharpness and keenness at master level!”
“The grip is incredible. It feels like it could split anything!”
“It looks a bit bulky but has a heavy, cool charm! Truly incredible!”
The other dwarves, now gathered, were speechless too, so Geunyuk-i puffed out his chest. “Cool? That’s my grandpa’s handiwork.”
“Humans… hmm, you are human, right?”
“We are human.”
“Then how come the great being—”
Geunyuk-i’s intelligence was at a child’s level, but he wasn’t blind. “I’m curious why Chaeju Hyung is so flustered! Right?”
“Ah, not really… just wondering.”
“We got beaten by Chaeju Hyung.”
“W-what does that mean?”
“We fought and lost to Chaeju Hyung.”
Geunyuk-i answered with a bright smile. The dwarves once again stood speechless.
“Ah! And if I swing this axe, it gets way stronger!”
The axe in the clan leader’s hand moved in the blink of an eye to Geunyuk-i’s grip.
The dwarves stared blankly. Geunyuk-i poured inner energy into the axe.
Ziiiiiing!
A clear power line formed on the blade. Surprise flashed across the dwarves’ faces.
They thought he was just some human, but he was actually a sword master!
“See? Cool? With this I can destroy anything!”
As Geunyuk-i boasted, Jin Chen appeared beside him.
“You, what are you doing?”
“Making a new friend!”
“Friend my ass. You look much older than me.”
“Chaeju Hyung is friends with a dragon too.”
“What kind of guy is that? I wouldn’t be friends with some lizard!”
“I am!”
Geunyuk-i looked so pure and innocent it was almost scary.
Jin Chen sighed and shook his head. “Enough. Sybel isn’t here, is he?”
“Yeah, I didn’t see him.”
“He probably teleported to Cologne. Tch.”
Jin Chen clicked his tongue and gestured at the power line on the axe. “What are you showing that off for? It’s useless.”
“Hmm, yeah, it is.”
“It won’t even work on dragons, it won’t work on jiangshi.”
“So go practice.”
“Okay! Then I’ll come play again!”
Geunyuk-i waved cheerfully at the dwarves and rushed toward the magic circles.
Jin Chen clicked his tongue and followed. “Ah! You Sybel bastard! Just wait until I catch you! This time I won’t stop at teeth and claws!”
Jin Chen vanished again.
Only then did the dwarves swallow dryly and slowly open their mouths. “C-clan leader, what are those monster humans?”
“We never imagined humans could talk to dragons like that.”
“W-we should build good relations with those humans, right?”
“A-are all black-haired humans that strong?”
The dwarves’ words made the clan leader sigh. He was silent for a moment before speaking slowly. “First, finish the house. That comes first.”
“Yes, clan leader!”
“We have to make it perfect. Chaeju’s personality isn’t normal.”
“We’ll do our best! Clan leader!”
“Let them see! Show them what an amazing race we dwarves are!”
“Uaaaaaah!”
Now the dwarves cared more about the human called Chaeju than the great being.