Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Dragon's Gift
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'How?'
Why did a yokai exist inside the Forbidden Book?
Even Byunghyeong, a stagnant pond of knowledge, couldn't find an answer to that question.
'Is it the same type as Eoduk?'
No. Eoduk was so insignificant he could be mistaken for a mere monster.
Eoduk might feel a bit hurt if he heard that, but it was an undeniable fact.
But the dragon before his eyes was different.
'...This is giving me chills.'
Just looking at it made his body and soul tremble uncontrollably.
His half-demon blood kept whispering, You can't handle it. Someone like you can't possibly stand against this.
How could anyone dismiss such a being as a mere daytime monster and seal it in a book like the Forbidden Book?
It was absurd.
'Then what the hell is it?'
As Byunghyeong pondered this,
—Thud!
Such a sound echoed.
He turned his head and saw Mina had fainted and collapsed.
The moment Byunghyeong's gaze reflexively shifted back to the dragon,
The dragon saw the ghostly pallor on her face.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Hmm. Such resilience. Thou art no ordinary child. However, that was not mine doing.] "...Could you explain?"
His teeth ground together in frustration,
but he held back.
Because he was calmly assessing the current situation.
'A being like that. If it wanted to kill us, it could have done so instantly.'
Mina had merely fainted.
He could confirm it from the rise and fall of her chest.
'Above all, there's no hostility in its voice.'
Goblins were a race that treated combat like play.
Perhaps thanks to inheriting half that blood, Byunghyeong could clearly distinguish whether the yokai's emotion toward him was killing intent or goodwill.
Even so, the fact that it had harmed Mina kept stimulating the 'goblin' blood within him.
The dragon let out a hearty laugh, seemingly pleased by his reaction.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Heh heh heh. Thou cherishest thy companion dearly. Indeed. As a yokai who hath lived through long ages, that attitude is truly proper.] But—he continued,
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [If things continue thus, misunderstandings about me shall pile up. I shall explain. The reason that child fainted was not my doing.] "Then what?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [She fainted because she could not endure my presence.] The dragon added that even after sensing the child's immature power, he had adjusted accordingly.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [There is a discrepancy between thine inherent rank and the power thou feelest. Thus, thou wert momentarily confused. I apologize to her.] "...Then why didn't I faint?"
If Mina had fainted from that, then surely he should have as well.
Look at him now—his legs were trembling uncontrollably.
But the dragon seemed to find the question itself ridiculous, as if it were foolish.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Thou possessest such a presence thyself. Of course thou canst withstand mine.] ...Ah.
He had forgotten while gazing at the mighty yokai before him, but his own rank was EX.
'Is my body trembling simply because I glimpsed a fragment of the power this being holds?'
The dragon's presence had faded, but in its place, he had caught a glimpse of its power's fragment.
That was why his flesh refused to obey.
'Calm down.'
The moment he recognized it, Byunghyeong immediately commanded his body.
Don't tremble. The opponent has no intent to harm you.
And just like that, incredibly, the shaking stopped.
The dragon smiled at the sight.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Well done. A talent with limitless potential, as expected.] Heh heh heh.
The dragon chuckled and grinned widely.
Uh... that ferocious true form doesn't look any less scary when smiling?
"More importantly, how are you here?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [As for me... I was sealed and ended up in this state. Then, drawn by the yokai energy of a kin I felt after so long, I forced my descent.] The dragon stared intently at Byunghyeong.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Yes, child. What manner of 'dragon' art thou?] "...Pardon?"
What did I just say?
＊＊＊
A brief silence.
A misalignment in conversation.
Byunghyeong introduced himself to correct it,
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Th-that cannot be! I thought thee a dragon with the qualities of the Responsive Dragon! How can a goblin possess such potential!?] "Even if you ask me..."
He didn't say it was due to his game perk lifting his limits, resulting in his current state.
He probably wouldn't believe it anyway.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Moreover, not even an ordinary yokai, but a half-demon... A freak of monstrous strength and divine chaos!] "Is it that unusual?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Unusual? Such a word cannot describe it.] Unusual, huh...
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Child. Thou art not merely unusual. 'Special' would be the proper term.] Certified as 'special' by such a grand dragon.
But... thinking about it, doesn't that mean special as a yokai?
'Is it okay to be happy about this?'
As Byunghyeong harbored such doubts,
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [In an eon-like seal, the first child I meet bearing a legend turns out to be a half-demon... Fate is truly wondrous.] The dragon rambled on like that.
'What is he talking about?'
Don't you know even modern novels get boring if the author spouts insider knowledge only they understand?
'Legend? What's that? Does it mean certain victory?'
Of course, Byunghyeong had no idea.
His interlocutor was a shut-in dragon whose lifespan defied estimation.
No wonder his social skills were lacking after holing up in his lair.
The dragon just kept talking endlessly about whatever he pleased.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [I am glad. To witness such qualities again after so long. I shall spend the next few centuries reminiscing joyfully about this day.] "...By the way, I've had one question since earlier."
Byunghyeong tilted his head and asked.
"Why were you sealed?"
The moment he asked,
the air grew chillingly cold.
'Ah, mistake.'
He had forgotten because the other had seemed so approachable.
The being before him was a dragon.
'...Being sealed can't be a good memory. I stepped on a landmine.'
Danger!
'Can... I survive?'
As Byunghyeong hurriedly reached for his Goblin Cap to escape,
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Why I was sealed, eh... That was mine own error, due to my lack of virtue.] The dragon spoke with a bitter smile.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [I cannot tell thee more. To hear it would require thee to resolve to share my burden.] "...Am I getting sealed in this space too?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Worse than such punishment—something so dire thou wouldst prefer death.] Then I don't want to hear it.
'Curiosity isn't worth my life.'
Seeing Byunghyeong give up immediately, the dragon let out a short chuckle before asking,
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Child. How didst thou come to enter this place?] "I entered the Forbidden Book looking for a cultivation method and ended up here?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Forbidden Book? What is that?] The dragon, from a mismatched era, didn't understand the Forbidden Book.
But when Byunghyeong clearly explained about monsters, exorcists, and the Forbidden Book,
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [...Hah. Have I been cohabiting with such vermin?] His expression turned openly displeased.
Soon after, a sound like the heavens and earth collapsing rumbled from above.
Rumble—!!
'Just how insane is its power?'
Byunghyeong stared at the dragon in shock for a moment,
and it smiled with a relieved expression.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Now that book hath no reason to be called Forbidden. I have slain all the vermin.] "Ah, my proficiency..."
Byunghyeong, who hadn't slain even a single monster, felt his stomach twist.
'Why'd you kill them all... Damn it.'
He couldn't even complain.
The original tenant of this book seemed to be this dragon, and the monsters were essentially illegal squatters.
...Definitely not because he was scared.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [To think cultivation methods can be forged thus. Truly wondrous.] The dragon showed interest in the monsters.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [What cultivation method wert thou seeking with such efforts?] "There's one. A cultivation method where I can set abilities as desired and keep growing indefinitely."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Hmm?] The dragon's eyes widened as if beholding something marvelous.
Soon, a gasp of admiration escaped his lips.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Hah. Wondrous indeed. Remnants of antiquity persist thus?] "Remnants?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The traits of the cultivation method thou describest resemble those crafted by ancients.] It was the origin. Or the beginning.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [All cultivation methods began from nothingness. Like a blank slate devoid of all.] They filled that blank slate, infused it with intent, and shaped it.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Thus were born what we call abilities.] The dragon fell deep into thought as he spoke.
And his conclusion was singular.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The cultivation method thou seekest was likely born under mine influence.] "Pardon?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Even if forged by lowly monsters, this is the domain where I am sealed. It can be seen as a derivative from the world's coalesced memories.] "Then isn't that bad?"
But it wasn't?
In the game, it was a hidden piece guaranteeing up to 9th Hierarchy Rank.
'What the hell happened?'
Byunghyeong couldn't hide his confusion.
Seeing this, the dragon laughed heartily and gave a straightforward answer.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Nay. Derivatives are not inherently inferior. Sometimes, they surpass the original.] The dragon's eyes reflected Byunghyeong.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The monsters' method differs from the origin, full of holes no doubt. However.] Filling those holes is the practitioner's task.
The dragon laughed again as he said this.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Child. With thy talent, thou wilt not only fill them but expand to greater realms. Worry not.] You made me worry, and now you say not to.
He had plenty he wanted to say, but Byunghyeong swallowed it down.
Yet the ancient dragon's mystic gaze seemed to pierce right through him.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Since we met thus by fate, I shall give thee a gift.] At those words, the spatial rift began closing rapidly.
The dragon did not move despite seeing it.
Well, his 'body' did not.
Crack!
The moment his aura surged, the closing rift shattered instead, halting the repair.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Where goest thou? I accepted the seal to punish mine own failings. Do not interfere with mine actions.] No one under heaven could infringe on his actions.
His demeanor proclaimed this loftily, as if it were only natural.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [I give thee this.] The dragon shaped his aura into two orbs of light and dropped them into Byunghyeong's hand.
They were dragon scales.
Byunghyeong instinctively knew their name.
"Reverse Scale..."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Indeed. My reverse scale.] "But why this...?"
The reverse scale was a dragon's vital point.
He couldn't fathom why it would give him such a thing.
The dragon chuckled and explained what a reverse scale was.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [From serpent to imugis, then to dragon. The reverse scale is the scale borne from serpentine days, symbolizing imperfection and cultivation.] Thus, it becomes the dragon's weakness.
Damaging it could unravel all cultivation as a dragon.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [But to me, it holds no further great meaning.] He had reached the pinnacle as a dragon and resolved his imperfections.
Thus, to him, the reverse scale was merely a relic of the past.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [To thee, however, it shall be of great aid. Merely possessing it will benefit thy cultivation.] What humans call Hierarchy Rank.
What the dragon calls inherent rank.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [It will greatly aid in ascending it.] Byunghyeong's eyes widened at the explanation.
'In short, it's a buff for raising my Hierarchy Rank?'
No such item existed in the game.
'I don't know the efficiency, but it's worlds apart from having nothing.'
Chills ran up his spine.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Give one to that girl. Though unintentional, I feel remorse for fainting her.] The dragon squinted his eyes tightly as he said this.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The other is a gift for thee alone. Cherish it well.] When the dragon opened his eyes again, moisture gathered in them.
Dewy pupils.
A droplet trickling within solidified into a crystal and fell.
Byunghyeong gazed at the crystal orb that landed in his palm.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [This is the Cintamani.] '......'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The true Cintamani can create aught, but this is but a derivative from not my 'true' self. Even so, it can restore any damaged item.] The dragon's smile turned toward Byunghyeong.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [May thy path be filled with blessings, world's most special half-demon.] With those words, the dragon moved to vanish beyond the rift.
Byunghyeong urgently called out to him.
"If I enter here again, can we meet once more?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Why ask such?] I've received so much from you.
Yet I have nothing to give in return.
'My instincts whisper.'
Don't let this being go like this.
Parting now will leave it as a lifelong regret.
Beyond his half-demon blood's urging, Byunghyeong wanted to repay the gifts in kind.
"Someday. No matter how long it takes, I want to find a way to break your seal. So please answer. Can we meet again?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [......] The dragon inwardly smiled at the young half-demon.
'What a fine child.'
Not yet fully grown, an ant crawling compared to him.
Even at an age when he should prioritize his own safety, he worried for others.
The dragon found this most pleasing.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [We can meet. But this descent consumed much energy, so our next appointment shall be at least two years hence.] With that, the dragon vanished beyond the rift.
The cracked void repaired itself flawlessly to its original state.
"......"
Byunghyeong silently watched, then gripped the treasures in his hand tightly.
Truly,
a priceless gift.