Chapter 286
Chapter 286
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 286
Chapter Title: Vinasa's Gift (2)
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Vinasa had actually known for a long time.
Her living territory.
In other words, she knew there was another dragonkin's seed in this world besides herself.
- Grrr...
Dragons are.
A solitary race that prefers to stand alone, with usually only one per world.
So, if they see a dragon sprout in their territory, normal dragons kill everything except their own offspring.
But the Destruction Dragon was different.
Vinasa hated being lumped in with the temperaments of all other dragons.
Why?
Because she was the strongest among dragonkin, the Destruction Dragon.
So she left it alone.
Honestly, even if it hatched, it would just be a hatchling.
Normal dragons take at least thousands to tens of thousands of years to grow from adult to ancient.
No matter what, it wouldn't be a threat to her.
What if it took that long and became an ancient dragon?
She didn't mind.
She could just let it grow to adulthood by then.
In fact, that was even better.
After all, isn't the tastiest prey the one you raise yourself?
- Kiru, kiruru!
So Vinasa returned here again.
Truthfully, she had planned to just ignore it...
But that human had gotten under her skin.
A member of the same race as its mother.
A pathetically weak race compared to dragonkin, but those eyes were sincere.
Like how a cat finds the one rubbing against it in front of them cuter.
Vinasa found the dragon knight adorable.
And pitiable too.
Every time he came, those eyes full of respectful admiration.
And offering soft, delicious flesh she'd never tasted before.
How endearing that was.
As repayment, Vinasa had revealed the location of this egg.
“...Vinasa!”
Yeah, yeah.
Vinasa nodded proudly as she gazed at the dragon knight.
If you know gratitude, keep bringing tasty food from now on.
Ahem.
* * *
[Using ‘Delaila’s Dungeon Artifact’ (SS-grade).]
[Using 100 stamina.]
As explained before, returning to Murung Do-won is simple.
1. Call Demir.
2. Borrow the necklace briefly.
3. Spend 100 stamina to create a portal.
Wooong!
A golden oval door appeared before my eyes.
[A ‘portal’ is created here.]
[Enter the ‘portal’ to move to the ‘empty world.’]
[Caution! This ‘portal’ will disappear after 24 hours.]
The portal installed on the stone platform in the Drel Workshop is the first portal that Demir keeps running.
This one here is a different portal.
Also, it generates in a different location inside Murung Do-won.
Even so, it's still much closer than crossing the Pacific again from here.
“Wow, this is so convenient.”
The dragon knight said in amazement.
Chaak!
Landing on the ground, he carefully set down the egg with gentle hands.
“To think they'd use space like this. I've been in guilds before, but... this is the first guild that feels like another world.”
He had been briefly surprised when I mentioned confirming ownership, but he quickly regained his composure.
- That's right. This egg was found by Vinasa, and Vinasa belongs to the guild master, so naturally the ownership is the guild master's.
That was what he immediately said after hearing me.
Truthfully, I didn't mind giving it to him.
Why would I steal a gift from Vinasa?
Apparently only those with dragon taming skills can tame it anyway.
I just wanted to make it official.
“Matt.”
“Yes, Guild Master.”
He replied politely.
He seemed even more disciplined than before.
His eyes showed no agitation, but I could read it.
The desperation hidden within.
I opened my mouth.
“There’s a condition.”
“Please speak.”
As Matt Gerald said, ownership of that egg is mine.
He acknowledged it.
So, I can attach any conditions I want.
“Nothing complicated. Just... stay in Star Heaven permanently, and it's yours.”
The condition here is.
To use that dragon for me.
In a way, it's a win-win.
I get a dragon breeder for free.
The dragon knight gets to tame the hatchling he's dreamed of his whole life.
“Huh! That's it? I didn't expect that...!”
Matt Gerald stared at me with wide eyes.
I tilted my head with a question mark floating above it.
“Hm, is the condition not to your liking?”
Well.
No matter which guild a ranker joins, they're the top dog.
Guilds usually offer anything to keep them, begging them to stay.
If unsatisfied, rankers hop around.
Especially a high ranker like the dragon knight having his feet tied.
It must feel inconvenient.
“No way!”
But Matt's reaction was unexpected.
He waved his hands excitedly.
“The condition is so good I didn't expect it! Are you an angel, Guild Master?”
“Pardon?”
What’s with this guy.
He might be a bit of an odd character?
“It's a pledge of lifelong loyalty to Star Heaven! That's what I wanted to beg for! Ahh, to see Vinasa forever... and they even provide an egg? How blessed is that?”
“......”
“Let’s sign the contract right now! As long as I can sign! Basic salary is fine! You have to give basic salary! Gotta buy dragon food.”
This guy.
He's seriously dragon-crazy?
“Should I talk to the vice guild master right now?”
“Ah, yes.”
A 72nd-ranked ranker who'd sign a lifetime slave contract just to see a dragon.
That was Matt Gerald.
‘Hm.’
It'll take quite a while for the egg to hatch.
But if he successfully tames the hatchling?
It'll be a huge asset to Star Heaven.
What if the dragon knight betrays us?
Well then.
Won't I get precious materials for ‘Bon Dragon Skeleton’ (S-grade)?
* * *
“Wow, Guild Master! You scored big time.”
Kim Jin-ah grinned widely upon hearing the news.
“A lifetime exclusive contract... Hehe, guess we should bump up the performance bonus too? Dragon Knight! Basic pay and performance bonus raise! Check!”
Vice Guild Master Kim Jin-ah wasn't the type to be stingy over a single contract.
On the contrary, a lifetime exclusive?
She gives extra on top of what wasn't even asked.
Exclusives are special.
I liked that too.
Might as well make sure there's no regret in choosing Star Heaven.
To those approaching the realm of trust, repay with trust.
“Raise the vice guild master's performance bonus big time too. You've worked hard.”
I said with a smile.
For me, running the Drel Workshop and a massive guild.
Money worries are a thing of the past.
Worries my ass.
Honestly, I hadn't even counted it.
While others scramble for one property, I already have Murung Do-won.
And that's not all?
Monthly book translation fees from the Magic Tower.
Demir's finished goods sales revenue.
Plus, all rewards from dungeons rankers run are officially Star Heaven's.
“Eh, why raise mine?”
“......?”
“I can just use the company card for whatever I want. Hehe, I'll take care of mine. Guild Master.”
Somehow...
It felt strange.
Like how it feels when spouses share resources?
“......Do as you like.”
Whatever, it doesn't matter.
Truthfully, without Kim Jin-ah, the money-making system would've been half-baked.
Beyond that.
I had no greed for money anymore.
My only interest was getting stronger.
And.
Kaaang! The sound of hammering echoed in my ears like an afterimage.
‘Ah, I wanna hammer away hard.’
I already missed the scent of metal.
* * *
After rising to SS-grade.
Old Man of Ten Thousand Arts intensified the training even more.
“You brat, now that your body and qi can keep up, it's time to maximize the training volume.”
The old man, who used to occasionally allow dungeon runs.
Suddenly expanded personal time relentlessly.
Planning to use all 12 available hours for training.
“Your true essence is ten thousand arts above all. How long do you plan to poke with spears, punch, and that's it?”
“......I use shields, bows, swords sometimes? And sorcery.”
“Ha, look at this brat talking back! So, a total of six like that? Is that ten thousand arts? It's six arts!”
“......”
I have a club too.
Anyway.
My bones ached, so he must not be wrong.
Feels even more bone-chilling than during massages?
Truthfully.
I had felt it too.
That my usable weapons were somewhat limited.
But what can I do...
In emergencies, people reach for the familiar.
Spears were comfortable for me.
Unfurling Martial Advance with fists was comfortable.
“From now on, increase training volume. Not digging deep into one, but first spread wide and shallow. Since you've already mastered those six to high levels, the rest will come easier.”
But I followed the old man.
I trusted the elder.
Without him, I'd still be tutoring skeletons on the local back mountain.
Maybe scraping by as B-grade hunter at best from dungeon grinding?
“Yes, I'll work hard.”
And so, back to life of training.
The new rankers I'd gotten acquainted with formed teams and scattered to dungeons.
Kim Jin-ah handled all their management.
Of course, some bypassed her and came straight to me.
A few impressive ones among them.
Let me talk about the Medicine Sovereign first.
* * *
World Ranking 99th.
Medicine Sovereign, Ji Do-ik.
He's Korean.
Was 107th when he applied, jumped 8 spots from this raid.
“Ahem.”
He visited while I was practicing whip techniques.
Chwaak, chwaaak!
The whip coiled elastically; embarrassed for some reason, I hid it behind my back without thinking.
“What brings you here?”
I asked politely.
Ji Do-ik is over 70.
No matter that I'm guild master.
I couldn't take a high attitude toward such a white-haired, bearded elder.
Especially a ranker.
“I... have a favor to ask.”
Truthfully, Ji Do-ik initially used utmost honorifics with me.
But after a few meetings, I told him to speak comfortably.
“A favor? Tell me, Elder.”
I said, wiping sweat.
Medicine Sovereign's unique ability is elixir crafting.
Elixirs made from various materials buff or boost stamina.
Thanks to that, Kim Jin-ah set up a dedicated building in the city for him.
A 5-story building co-made by Demir and Eldrin.
1st floor was Medicine Sovereign's room.
Floors 2-5 filled entirely with herbs, a unique setup.
The building itself, touched by Demir, was ultra-luxurious and beautiful.
Eldrin even cast spells on it.
Say a herb's name, and it descends from storage to 1st floor automatically.
Place leftovers on the altar, and it floats back up for storage...
Named 「Herb Auto-Storage & Sorter」!
And that's not all?
Storage packed with herbs and fruits Eldrin gathered here.
The moment he saw it.
“My whole life, no guild has treated me this impossibly well. Take me now! I could live here making elixirs forever without regrets!”
Medicine Sovereign immediately signed a lifetime exclusive contract.
So why did this elixir-crafting fanatic come to me?
“Could you take a look at this?”
Medicine Sovereign handed me some medicine.
A fist-sized lump of something.
“......This is.”
Opening the info window after receiving it, I.
“Huh?”
Couldn't help but widen my eyes.
[Item: Elixir for ‘Destruction Dragon Vinasa’]
[Grade: S]
[Type: Elixir]
[Description: An elixir made by a high-level elixir craftsman while observing the subject lifeform.]
[Effect 1: Upon consumption, Destruction EXP gain increases by 200% for 24 hours.]
“......What is this?”
An elixir of a type I'd never seen before.