Chapter 121
Chapter 121
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: Greedy Dragon Aranbalon (2)
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Challenge spirit.
But before that.
About five minutes earlier.
Let me start from the conversation I had with Eldrin.
“Master, did you call for me?”
Creaking through the cheering team members, Eldrin approached.
She looked pleased.
It must have been the satisfaction of her guess about Aranbalon being spot on.
“As expected, wasn’t I right? Dragons are all like that by nature. Incredibly powerful. And just as greedy. Honestly, I suspected it from the moment it built a massive castle in a huge world and hoarded all sorts of treasures.”
“Similar personality to the Giant Dragon?”
“Exactly.”
Eldrin slowly waved her right arm and opened her hand.
Black energy slowly gathered above it.
“The Giant Dragon sealed in my hand here was the same. For hundreds of years, it ruled over the forest and rock tribes, forcing them to pay tribute with treasures...”
Eldrin gazed down at the black orb with distant eyes.
Everyone has something meaningful in their life.
A music box that plays a clear melody when opened, a cherished piece of jewelry, or a letter written by someone dear.
To Eldrin, that orb seemed to hold such meaning.
Well.
She’d suffered for over 500 years because of it, so it made sense.
“So here’s the thing.”
I grinned.
“......?”
My grin must have looked terribly ominous, because Eldrin unconsciously hid the orb behind her back.
“Why do you look like that, Master...?”
I don’t know why.
Just.
Right after Theme 2 ended so anticlimactically, a certain thought struck me.
‘Is it really okay to end it like this?’
Back with Theme 1.
I’d overcome the trial in a way different from others.
As a result, I received rewards several grades higher than everyone else.
‘Which means.’
For Theme 2 as well.
The same approach might work.
I can’t do it like everyone else.
Otherwise, I’d just get the standard rewards.
To advance further?
I need to show something different.
More precisely, I need to create a plausible reason for the system to acknowledge superior rewards.
‘What if, on top of upholding loyalty, I also take down the dragon?’
Wouldn’t that create a sensation on par with devouring the Poison Fog?
I’m not sure if it’s possible, but I wanted to give it a shot.
The problem is.
How to take down that dragon?
“No way, you don’t mean...”
Eldrin shook her head vigorously.
“......You’re not thinking what I think you are, right?”
“What if, that Giant Dragon. That creepy orb with the seal.”
Probably.
“Can you release that guy right here?”
Exactly what you’re thinking, Eldrin.
* * *
- Kuhahaha, indeed. A perfect defeat.
- But you can’t seal me completely. Wait and see. One day, I’ll return and lead you all to ruin!
On the day the dragon was sealed.
It had roared those words.
Someday, at some point, it would return and drag us to ruin, it warned.
‘The meaning of that “someday”...’
Probably the day the forest and rock tribes’ harmony broke.
That was the condition of the seal.
But I thought differently.
If that dragon’s power is bound to the orb...
And if it can be released...
Then just release it right here?
No more future worries.
‘And besides.’
There can’t be two suns in the sky.
Two predators in one cave would surely fight.
Couldn’t I fish in troubled waters?
“......”
Eldrin’s expression hardened.
“Master.”
“Why? Isn’t it a good idea?”
“I’ve always thought this, but you’re too reckless. What if the two predators don’t fight?”
“......”
“And what if all that rage turns fully toward us?”
“Valid points, but.”
I grinned even wider.
“We’ve already found Aranbalon’s national treasure. If it gets really dangerous, we just head to Theme 3, right? It’s actually a gain. We’d be leaving behind that thorn in your side, the Giant Dragon.”
Accordingly.
A message appeared.
[By finding the ‘national treasure,’ the clear condition is met!]
[Trial ‘Theme 2’ ends.]
[In 30 minutes, you will move to the location of ‘Theme 3.’]
[Caution! Caution! Caution!]
[Do not touch the ‘treasures’ from now on.]
[You may suffer great ‘harm.’]
Just like Theme 1.
After clearing, we had 30 minutes.
I had to choose.
Play it safe.
Or clash head-on with the seemingly impossible ‘dragon.’
“Even if there’s no extra reward, I don’t care at all. What matters is trying it. Just attempting to take down a dragon would be a valuable experience, and if that’s the path to getting stronger... I want to choose to fight.”
“......”
Silence.
Eldrin looked stunned.
Her bony face was expressionless, but the atmosphere conveyed it.
“Sigh, Master. You’re really... unstoppable. Because of that passion for strength...”
“That’s the personality that sealed the Giant Dragon, isn’t it?”
“Heh, yes. It was thanks to you, Master. Yes.”
Eldrin nodded.
“This orb. The seal will break whenever I wish. The only concern is...”
“Whether we’ll all be in danger within these 30 minutes?”
“Yes... Exactly.”
“Then let’s do this.”
Aranbalon isn’t here.
It only appears after entering through that white door.
“Eldrin, you take the orb and jump in there.”
“......Ah?”
She let out a surprised sigh.
“We create a buffer zone. You go in there and sow discord, tease the Giant Dragon, whatever. Even if it comes here, there’s a second buffer.”
“A second buffer?”
“Yeah, the examiners.”
The senior examiner Luca, plus Flora and other high-rankers.
“They’re here.”
Why?
Just like Theme 1, the reason for the full 30 minutes.
It’s so passers can use the shop.
“That’s more than enough to go for it, right? And not just sealing the dragon, but truly obliterating it. That’s what you wanted too, Eldrin.”
“Y...Yes?”
Eldrin trembled faintly.
She felt instinctive fear, but also exhilaration.
The long-suppressed rage against the dragon was stirring again.
“And if you’re worried about the other comrades, no need. I plan to tell them everything and get permission.”
“Got it.”
Soon.
Eldrin opened her mouth with a resolute expression.
“Let’s do it, Master.”
* * *
Back to five minutes later.
“Crazy! Hey, Team Leader?”
Vladimir in front of me was aghast.
“You’re not thinking what I think you are, right? Going after that horrific monster? That dragon?”
“......”
I nodded slightly.
“Gah, insane! Got hit by a crossbow bolt and lost your mind? You barely saved your life, and now you wanna throw it away raw? Brain shaken too hard? Hey, guys! Stop the Team Leader! He’s trying to commit suicide!”
Honestly, I could’ve ignored him and gone.
But that wouldn’t do.
Even with safety measures.
Everyone could be at risk.
This was still Theme 2.
And I was their Team Leader.
‘Though that’s what I told Eldrin.’
That was just to confirm if the orb’s seal could be broken.
If even one person refused to try against the dragon, I wouldn’t do it.
No matter how much I crave strength.
Even if it’s what I want.
I can’t be selfish at others’ expense.
“What? What’s going on!”
“Lodigin, what happened?”
“Hoon’s trying to commit suicide?”
At Vladimir’s fussing, team members gathered around me one by one.
I summarized the situation for them.
From the past experience sealing a similar dragon.
To everything I planned to do now.
“I want to try taking down the dragon. Like jumping into the Poison Fog during Theme 1, I want to give it another shot. But no one can live exactly as they please. I want to hear what you all think.”
“......”
The team members stared up at me in bewilderment.
Some with [What the hell is this guy saying?], others clutching their foreheads in dizziness.
Either way was fine.
Time was short, but I didn’t rush them.
Lives were on the line.
“So... you mean... going after that horrific dragon Kapu broadcasted on video...?”
After a long pause, Olena mumbled.
“Good lord. If my master Silverstone knew, he’d demand to dissect your head on the spot. What kind of mind comes up with something like that?”
“Hmm, I think it’s fine.”
That’s when Kapu stepped up.
“Hm?”
“Huh?”
Team members’ gazes turned to him.
Kapu spoke calmly.
“Truth is, when that bitch Olivia got torn apart, it felt refreshing. But not James.”
“What are you talking about! James betrayed the Team Leader!”
Olena snapped.
“Right.”
Kapu nodded.
“But that’s it. James was just a coward. He didn’t commit sins warranting being torn apart like that. Honestly, I want to avenge that James.”
“Hmm.”
Fair point.
Right or wrong.
I supported Kapu.
I desperately wanted to fight the dragon too.
“I’ll fight alongside the King.”
Then Judgespear stepped forward.
Whoosh!
Twirling his spear coolly.
“No matter the opponent. The King is my friend.”
No idea when we became friends.
I smiled and nodded.
Fine, whatever.
Friends starting today! Snap!
“Well, I think it’s okay too.”
The third was Miao Hana.
“The Team Leader already proved it in Theme 1. I think there’s real potential?”
She stood slyly and joined Judgespear’s side.
Now, three left.
Olena, the middle-aged man.
And Vladimir Lodigin.
“What is this.”
The middle-aged man’s shoulders trembled.
“......I don’t know. Everyone’s amazing. First time in my life meeting people like this. No precedent.”
“Tch, to become a ranker, you gotta be a lunatic, huh.”
Lodigin shook his head.
Then, as if resigned, stood beside Miao Hana.
“Everyone’s suiciding, what can I do alone. Can’t stop these crazies. If dying, die together.”
“Me too. As always, I’ll just follow.”
The middle-aged man nodded.
“I agree the Team Leader’s crazy. But he delivers results to match.”
“U, uwaaa!”
Finally, Olena screamed.
“W-what is this! Everyone’s really going? To fight that horrific dragon?”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“If Olena doesn’t want to, we won’t go. Honestly, suggesting to take down the dragon is just my greed.”
“What’s that! You’ve already set up the situation like this! Now refusing feels awkward!”
As she shouted.
I grinned and stepped closer to her.
“But one thing I can say.”
“What?”
“I’ve faced situations at least three times harder than this. Overcame them spectacularly and survived each time. And got that much stronger.”
“......”
“Trust me and let’s take it down together.”
Olena flinched.
“If you’re gonna be a ranker anyway, don’t you want to be a stronger one?”
“Of course, but if you lose your life, it’s over...”
“Is that really it?”
“......”
“Your life’s been on the line so far, and it will be from now on. That’s the fate of us hunters.”
“.......”
“Olena.”
I looked straight into her eyes.
“If my guess is right, we’ll come out as comrades. Closer and tighter than anyone. I want that comrade to be the strongest hunter out there.”
“Strongest hunter...”
“And I’m confident I can stand beside that Olena as the strongest hunter too.”
Olena’s lips quivered.
This was my true feeling.
Getting stronger.
Originally, becoming a ranker was the dream.
But if you’re doing it, might as well aim for the top tier among rankers, right?
“Damn it.”
Finally, Olena bit her lip.
“Hoon.”
“Yes.”
“Everything’s fine, just don’t talk with your face so close. That’s cheating.”
“Yes?”
My eyes widened.
“We’re going to take down the dragon. Let’s go!”
“Ah.”
I smiled.
All six besides me had agreed.
That moment.
“Hey, you bastards! What bullshit is that?”
Pazzzzt!
Electricity flashed before my eyes.