Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: The Eve of the Storm on the Floating Island
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"Hurry up and work, Seok-il."
"I'm working..."
"Tsk! You wanna talk back?"
What the hell was her problem today?
Her boss. Yoon Hye-mi was chewing out the bespectacled guy who was secretly wiping away tears. Yoon Seok-il.
"Seok-il. You're sure this setup will let us stream to the community—only to the people we want, right?"
"Yes."
"Hmmm~"
Yoon Hye-mi was extremely pleased.
What she'd asked Seok-il to do was modify the broadcaster he'd made before so it could show to more than just one person.
Unlike the old broadcasters that broke down easily against high-level power, this one stayed intact even against considerable force. That alone made it valuable.
And if you wanted, it could stream to multiple people at once anytime. That was revolutionary tech right now.
It might not seem like much, but there were always people willing to pay top dollar to safely watch the dangers—the adventures of adventurers and outsiders—from afar.
Elryunar already had streaming tech, but nothing like this portable magic tool with constant streaming. If they pulled it off, Yoon Hye-mi was brimming with expectations that they'd monopolize the field.
And that wasn't all.
Not just the rich—even powerful outsiders wanted quest and monster info.
'Heh heh heh. Being able to see hard-to-get info in real-time? Subscribers will flock. Even those high-and-mighty top players will bite.'
And this broadcaster would go only to 'Headquarters Federation' members.
The huge perks plus the exclusivity for Headquarters folks would skyrocket their satisfaction and unity beyond imagination.
With all those potential customers locked in, she'd rack up major points with 'Headquarters' too.
And restore her reputation, which had tanked lately thanks to Kang Geom-il running wild.
"By the way, President."
The casual 'President' title, as if it were natural.
The other employees called her Guildmaster or just her name and slacked off, but Yoon Seok-il was a gem in every way.
Yoon Hye-mi gazed at her star employee with satisfaction.
"What? If it's a break you want, I said I'd give you vacation plus a fat bonus once this is done, right?"
"Not expecting it anyway. But... no, that's not it."
At Yoon Seok-il's defeated tone, Yoon Hye-mi glared murderously. He waved his hands frantically and continued.
"That Yedre I mentioned before. Don't you wanna check him out?"
"Ah, that guy."
The name had popped into her head somehow, and she'd asked about it once.
And his answer had been ridiculous.
"The supreme gaming shut-in? What the hell do you do with that?"
"What do you mean 'do with it'? Top outsiders are masters in some field, right?"
"Isn't that true for all outsiders, not just the top ones?"
Yeah. She didn't know the selection criteria for outsiders.
But she could guess: people excelling in some area.
"Still, gaming experience? Mental stuff? Controls? Even robot pilots don't rank high. With gaming?"
"Umm..."
"The Yedre you mean isn't this Yedre. The one Kang Geom-il contacted is a swordsman, right?"
"Well... the Yedre I mean did play swordsman a lot in games..."
"Oh yeah? Swordsman in games means real sword skills?"
She cut him off mid-sentence, and he shut his mouth.
Really, there was a limit to absurd stories.
Yoon Hye-mi looked out the window at the starry night sky like jewels embedded in black velvet.
Seok-il was brilliant, but he overhyped whatever caught his interest. That was his flaw.
All his tales about this gaming shut-in Yedre were too outlandish to trust.
Like, he'd played every game in existence and crushed online mode #1 ranks. Every time.
Apparently possible because of insane playtime.
"If he set records like that, why didn't he brag?"
"He's a casual gamer who just enjoys it. No need to brag..."
"Shut up. Not interested."
The bespectacled guy finally shut up and focused on work.
Lips pursed—he was sulking.
She felt a bit sorry, but once this was done, she'd make it up properly. Yoon Hye-mi apologized inwardly.
"But why'd you ask about Yedre? Name's not common. Shouldn't you check?"
His tone said he wasn't sulking that bad.
Or maybe Seok-il, who hated arguments and clammed up easily, really thought Yedre was special enough to ask twice.
"Once your broadcaster gets to Geom-il soon, we'll confirm whether we like it or not. No need to go ourselves?"
"You said you were curious..."
"I am. But we don't even know if he crushed Prostia. Move carelessly, info leaks to rivals—you wanna take responsibility?"
"Fair point."
Yoon Hye-mi naturally wanted to ID the mystery newbie outsider.
But not if it tipped off competitors.
For her, if contacting Yedre first seemed profitable, offer a deal. Otherwise, some measure.
"Originally, I'd keep it to myself till this wraps, then investigate. Asked you 'cause the name rang a bell. You sang his praises every overtime shift."
"I told you, he's fundamentally good—never a dirty play..."
"Yeah. Not interested."
"....."
"Did you just curse me?"
"I didn't?"
She giggled at his deflated reply, stress easing a bit.
"But Yedre... I think I heard from someone else too."
"Not me?"
"Yeah, not you. Honestly, I barely remember yours."
"......"
This okay to curse? Seok-il pondered seriously as Yoon Hye-mi racked her brain.
"It was... some super important meeting, mentioned in passing... Headquarters? Anyway, that story and yours don't match, so lower expectations."
"You don't remember mine but swear that meeting one's crystal clear?"
"Tsk."
"......Sigh."
Yoon Seok-il sighed and got back to work.
Even without her order, he'd give his all for the historic debut stream.
He had plans: first big broadcast needed fitting footage.
Floating Island.
Per Kang Geom-il's intel, where Murderers were acting suspicious and Almiraz lurked. He'd drag 'em out and kill 'em.
Top outsider Kang Geom-il, envy of all, taking down the most hated, terrifying outsider killer!
Even sidekicks Murderers were loathed by every player. Perfect show.
Excited, Seok-il worked fast but thought of Yedre.
'If that Yedre's the one I know...'
His mind flashed: grand mage, assassin master, sword master... none of that.
Endless jobs and titles, but to the bespectacled man, one sufficed.
'Hero.'
That man truly deserved it, he believed from the heart.
If he was somewhere in this world, he'd be doing hero stuff now.
Like... facing a world-ending being solo, protagonist-style.
'Too far-fetched.'
Chucking, Seok-il focused.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Lady Prostia. Why are you here?"
[......]
No answer.
This was ridiculous for real.
Didn't we swear to recover that causality thing and you'd go home?
[W-Wait. Why'd you draw your sword?]
"Huh? Oh..."
For real.
Sword was somehow in my hand.
"Unconsciously."
[Sheathe it then.]
"......"
[Hey?]
Why the orders?
I raised it higher; the smoky dragon panicked.
[Hey?!]
Why was I so bold?
I'd beaten Prostia only thanks to Know Thyself and Know Thy Enemy.
Body was falling apart from it; provoking her here gained nothing.
But why?
Nothing scared me.
Felt like staking my life would win.
"Answer my question first. Why are you here? Didn't you promise to leave?"
[I said no meddling in the world! Never to leave! I said I'd stay in the mortal realm and handle causality! Kept promise—no harm to humans, sent back all low monsters drawn by my aura! No reason to hear it from you!!]
Was that it...?
Thinking back, yeah, no 'leave' promise.
But normally you'd assume that, right?
"Fine, different question. What's with the form, and why here?"
[This is...]
She trailed off, glancing at me. I tsked; she flinched.
[Handling causality forced me back to where my power was sealed! Just maintaining efficient form to save strength!]
Scared look—seemed true.
[...But you're off too?]
"Me?"
[Unstable... clinging?]
"......"
Sharp lizard.
Clinging? What?
Wondering, her mocking voice came.
[...Heh heh heh! Of course! Surviving my—ancient dragon of ruin!—attacks unscathed is the anomaly! Aftereffects hit!! Haha!]
"Yes. Body's wrecked."
My admission lit her eyes.
[Oh? Can't guarantee win against me now?]
"Yes. Beating you would cost my life. Got the resolve. Wanna fight?]
[......?]
Her 'this ain't right?' face was kinda fun.
"Right now, staking life feels like it'd work even on that form back then. Of course, full power no, but you're not full now, right?"
[......]
"Wanna try?"
Felt like I'd be fine either way.
Stepped closer; her voice shrank.
[...Oath blocks us fighting anyway...]
"......"
[......]
"Haaa."
[......!]
My sigh; she peeked nervously.
Ancient dragon? More coward-kid every look.
Couldn't hate her.
Sheathed sword ostentatiously; she sighed in relief.
"So why here? Third question."
[You. Sent by them?]
Why dodge?
"Them? Some plot?"
[N-No! Just... stuff to say since meeting you again!]
Pause screamed ad-libbed end.
No malice, so drop it.
"So why here? Fourth question."
Whatever count. Forgot.
Why'd this damn dragon ignore questions?
[Coincidence.]
"Coincidence?"
[That genderless weirdo human wanted investigate something, dragged me here. Kyogeum or something...]
".....?"
What?
Both unfamiliar.
...Ah.
Academy spot clicked word.
"Dean, maybe?"
[Ooh! Yes! That!]
Dean Jigeora?
Why drag Prostia?
Recall: dragged something, wrecked academy defenses. Makes sense if Prostia-level.
"Heard you're under Ten Great Families."
[Ah, lightning, light, ice?]
"Wondered: lightning, light what?"
[What else? Their essences. You don't know?]
"......"
Pitying tone nearly pissed me.
Essences though.
Not that Gold or El made of elements. Dragon sees different?
[Human looks blur. I distinguish by essence.]
"I see. What's mine?"
[...? Dunno. Huge something... fire-ish?]
"......!!"
Sudden mood boost.
That's it! I'm fire incarnate!
[Why happy? Weirdo.]
"Yeah. Anyway, Dean sealed you here?"
Smoky Prostia blinked.
Then exploded.
[Don't make me laugh! Me sealed by human?! Retract it!!]
"......."
[...No, just... retract please.]
Glared; she shriveled again.
Yeah. My bad.
"Sorry. Retracting."
Didn't expect apology?
She blinked, then boasted.
[Yes! Your words too harsh! I'm just staying—abundant Ryunar restores causality and power!]
"Oh... Floating Island's Ryunar-rich, huh?"
As I felt—something special here.
[Makes sense. Ten heroes fought true Demon King here; gods blessed it.]
???
Heard of Ten Heroes vs. true Demon King, but gods' blessing? New.
"Huh? Poison for you then?"
[Poison? Why?]
"Well..."
Monster.
Gods opposites?
Wanted to say, but she'd sulk.
Prostia unaffected by gods?
Decided not to ask.
Affected or not, her leaving ends my issue.
Gone, no more ties.
"Then, Prostia."
[Hm? What?]
"Leave please."
[...?]
"...?"
[......]
".....?"
Silence, eyes rolling audible.
Nervous Prostia spoke.
[Uh... gotta leave...?]
"Yeah. People scared."
[Their fault for freaking? I stay quiet...]
Drew sword; words stuck.
But soon, indignant yell.
[You fiend! No mercy for a dragon's plight?!]
"Then polymorph human and live on surface?"
Eh? Wait.
Human form?
One mystery nagged.
EXP gain on sight worked only on people.
Women only.
Before me: world-ending ancient dragon.
30% power alone unbeatable sans cheat.
Nightmare.
No EXP from her means theory half-right... maybe, just maybe...
Human form triggers EXP...?
Probably not.
People limit likely 'bangable' ones.
But try no harm.
No—honestly, wanna see.
Prostia's human form...!!
[Human form? Can, but human world full annoying procedures. Faking IDs tedious...]
"Prostia."
[Don't interrupt. What.]
"If insult, sorry advance. I'll handle smooth life if you polymorph?"
[Hm?]
Good!
That 'maybe' reaction—no insult.
Plus, thinking back: incongruity.
System called her 'she'.
Ignored then, but likely female.
Dragons genderless maybe, but human form beauty odds high!
Prostia eyed me, then grinned.
[Hmmm. Fine.]
"Yes. Oath then..."
[No need. You're not pathetic liar type.]
"Ooh...!"
Nice words, lizard.
Truly touching: incoming EXP.
...No.
Honest desire: dragon's human beauty all along.
Saw in games, meh.
Pretty.
But no noble awe, overwhelming beauty.
Game limits.
This world real!!
Dragon polymorph: ultimate fantasy.
I crave satisfaction.
Heart pounded with anticipation for real dragon human beauty.
[Here goes.]
"Yes!"
Voice higher than usual unwittingly.
Grinning Prostia began changing.
Kukukukuku.
Smoke converged to a point.
Midair smoke shaped human, emitting dark and light.
Dreamy scene end; smoke cleared from Prostia.
Worried naked—clothed fine.
True magic master handles details.
Revealed Prostia: staggeringly beautiful.
Straight nose, slim waist, long limbs, charming fangs, long red hair.
Above all: untouchable noble aura inhuman.
Yes. Pinnacle of beauty.
If not so masculine body...
...Masculine?
Look again.
Chest.
.....
Firm. Muscled.
...Not bishoujo—bishounen? Young hunk?
.....
.....
.....
Thud. Knees hit floor, palms down.
"Hahaha! How's this? Granted your wish!"
"...Uwaaaaaah!!"
Yes.
Prostia's human form: man.