Chapter 40
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: A New Beginning
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At Lee Ru-ri's command, the Drayger rose its massive body and flapped its wings.
For a brief moment, a blinding light poured from the Drayger's body, and it soon transformed into an entirely new form.
Before, it had resembled a Red Drake.
Now, its entire body was covered in black scales like Keres's, but a blue aura swirled around the tightly packed scales.
"Your appearance has changed."
―Thanks to that, the name given to me has changed as well.
Ru-ri raised both hands to check the Drayger's name at its words.
[S ― Drayger of Blue Will: Target's favor can no longer be increased.]
"Drayger, your rank has gone up."
―It's because the curse has been lifted.
"Right, who put that curse on you anyway?"
―Too much time has passed for me to remember that.
"Keres did tell me... that a contract means complete subjugation to me. But honestly, I still don't fully get it."
―As long as you live and breathe, those contracted to you cannot defy your commands. That's what Keres wanted you to know.
"Was it because of Keres that you were so terrified of me when we first met?"
―Yes. You weren't aware of it yourself, so I couldn't speak of it aloud, but the aura of Keres emanating from you back then was overwhelming. It felt like she was right there in front of me.
"Actually, Keres... said she'd serve me as her master... then left after dropping that itchy line."
―If that's Keres's choice, it seems she saw in you the potential to twist a predestined future.
"Ha, you all only speak in riddles I can't understand."
―But I'm curious. What meaning did you hide in the command that allowed me to change like this?
"I nagged it out of Keres with great difficulty. She said if I didn't infuse it with proper meaning, I might end up with something like a loach. She told me to deliberate carefully. Since the contract spell connects directly to the summoning spell, I had to be truly cautious—she nagged me the whole way here through Remnant's back-and-forth relays, of course."
The Drayger quietly gazed at Ru-ri as she leaned against it and sat down.
"I agonized until I settled on 'Manifest.' You all seem to know everything, but like when you first called me a lowly creature, the gate's inner world is still too alien and difficult for someone as frail as me. So, I wished for words that would let me see what you see—a bit more clearly, unmistakably, enough to understand, even if not perfectly."
The Drayger, listening intently to Ru-ri's words, stroked her head with its tail.
―It stings my pride to be bound to such a small creature, but the moment my will reached you, I felt an inexpressible certainty. You undervalue yourself too much. That a great being like me now moves at your command means you are equally great.
Ru-ri jumped to her feet at the Drayger's words.
"Compared to before, I have gotten pretty great."
―Hahahahahahaha.
The Drayger laughed heartily at her renewed swagger.
"So, what happens to the Drayger contracted to me now?"
―I'll guard this place until your call summons me to your side.
"But it was pitch black here until I arrived..."
―We are beings meant to slumber by nature.
"Ah, so you're not bored or anything?"
―No need to worry about that. To have such a tender-hearted master...
The Drayger let out a deep sigh, sending a gust of hot wind rushing in.
"Human lives break so easily. That's why they're all the more precious. I want to protect you with all my power. But unlike this side where I can meet you all, there's another entrance I can't even enter. Do you know anything about it?"
―It must have been born from another purpose.
"Hmm, no clue at all."
―We are mere subordinates with only will. Ask Keres directly about purposes.
"Keres... only says what she wants to say..."
―Have other humans like you entered that new entrance?
"Yeah, I heard they went in but haven't come out."
―You should hurry there.
"Me?"
―I'm curious too. About the new purpose that created it. This place we occupy was born from a purpose as well.
"Then can I summon you there?"
―Of course.
"Got it. Then rest well."
Ru-ri bid the Drayger farewell and entered the door it guarded.
Whoosh.
A desolate plaza.
"As expected, this is where Vasilahan is. Vasilahan!"
Ru-ri called out loudly for Vasilahan.
The silent, barren plaza instantly transformed into a bustling square.
Creeeak.
At the far end of the vast plaza, Vasilahan slowly rose from its massive jade throne.
―A welcome face.
"Let's make a contract."
―I've been waiting.
Ru-ri filled Vasilahan's favor with Aura of Submission while recounting events as she had with the Drayger.
[Grief-Stricken Vasilahan's favor has increased by 10,000,000.]
[Cumulative target's favor so far: 10,000,000.]
[Summoning contract limit has been lifted.]
"Done."
―It's been ages since I felt this exhilarated.
"Vasilahan, ready?"
―Begin.
Ru-ri extended one hand and commanded Vasilahan.
"Manifest."
At her command, Vasilahan too emitted light from its entire body, just like the Drayger.
As the scattered light faded, Vasilahan's head, floating like will-o'-the-wisps in the air, stably connected to its neck.
Now she could finally meet Vasilahan's green eyes properly.
Vasilahan's armor had turned black, and its tattered cloak, which looked ready to crumble, now fluttered while emitting a blue glow.
The biggest change was the long hair.
Black, long hair swayed faintly alongside the cloak.
"Vasilahan, you had long hair."
―It's been truly long indeed.
Vasilahan slowly brushed back its flowing hair with a finger.
"By the way... those anacondas on your head... where did they go...?"
At Ru-ri's question, Vasilahan quietly chanted a spell, and the form of the will-o'-the-wisps that had been its head floated in its hand.
―They're resting here.
"Good. I was worried I'd stolen their home."
―Hahahahaha.
Vasilahan laughed heartily. It seemed in high spirits.
Ru-ri slowly raised both hands to check if Vasilahan's name had changed too.
[S ― Vasilahan of Blue Justice: Target's favor can no longer be increased.]
"Vasilahan, you look happy."
―My time, frozen for so long, finally feels like it's moving again. I even feel like there's nothing I can't do now.
"You're brimming with energy, and it's rubbing off on me too."
―You're planning to try something.
"Huh? How'd you know?"
―I can hear it, see it. I'll await your call.
"Yeah, it won't take long, and I'll probably summon you a ton. That's okay, right?"
―Anytime.
Having successfully completed both contracts, Ru-ri returned to the Hidden Gate waiting room and called for Remnant.
―You called?
"The new gate... humans decided to call it the Inex Gate. Could you ask Keres if there's a way to enter it?"
―Understood.
Understanding Ru-ri's request, Remnant vanished in an instant, then reappeared just as quickly.
―She said that since the little master has begun her journey in earnest, free entry and exit should now be possible. But keep in mind you may face trials too hard to bear.
"I see... Thanks, you can go back for today. And keep helping out like this from now on."
―Understood.
Remnant vanished again.
She absentmindedly checked her inventory and purchase list alternately while organizing her thoughts.
"So that's how Han Guild people could enter the Inex Gate. The 'trials too hard to bear' probably means sacrifices I can't prevent. Keres seems to know me better than I thought. Anyway, I need to check it myself. That's the only way to stop greater sacrifices."
Ru-ri, firmly resolved, converted her accumulated loot into Sion.
She hurriedly finished the gate clear certification and headed to Yang Jeong-hyun's lab.
Choi Si-jin greeted Ru-ri first as she entered the lab.
"Ru-ri, good work out there!"
"No big deal!"
Yang Jeong-hyun emerged from the storage room, where she'd been searching for something.
"Ru-ri, no issues in the gate?"
"Huh? Issues?"
"A D-rank clear in 5 minutes. Thought it might be a glitch."
Ru-ri hesitated for a moment.
It didn't seem like the right time to reveal her status to anyone besides Han Seung-woo.
'I can talk it over with Han Seung-woo first, right?'
Ru-ri gathered her thoughts and laid out a natural lie.
"W-well, it was a gate full of just skeletons."
"Those are a real headache. One hit and your HP plummets!"
"Th-they're the easiest for me!"
"Easiest?"
"With one of my skills, I can take out about thirty at once..."
Yang Jeong-hyun and Choi Si-jin stared at her blankly, mouths agape.
"Is that possible? Really? We need to re-test Ru-ri first. Si-jin, when's Seung-woo coming?"
"Within 30 minutes."
"I'll adjust the schedule to prioritize Ru-ri's re-test."
Ru-ri tensed a bit at Yang Jeong-hyun's words.
Since each skill had different attack power, she wasn't sure which to use for the re-test.
'Definitely can't use Hidden skills or Remnant. They might faint from shock. Maybe the new Flower Rain? Black mana boosted the damage a lot... To avoid attention, sticking to mana ball levels and keeping my rank the same could work.'
As she pondered, Han Seung-woo entered the lab.
"We can't delay tackling the Inex Gate any longer."
"Why?"
"Chairman Han and Gyeol just safely exited the gate."
"Really? Wow, I was pretty worried despite what I said. Glad they're okay."
Ru-ri breathed a silent sigh of relief hearing Han Seung-woo and Yang Jeong-hyun.
"Chairman Han's fine, but Gyeol seems badly injured."
"How bad?"
"Lost... one arm."
Everyone froze, speechless at the grim news Han Seung-woo uttered like a sigh.