Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Dragon Taming (2)
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Thinking about it, it's pretty funny.
In Novel Online, there were various ways to acquire pets, and among them—excluding boss monsters—were wild monsters that could occasionally be captured with a low probability.
Especially the capturable monsters like the dragonkin were popular with players, but they had an extremely rare spawn rate, and since they flew through the skies, they were hard to find.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 《 ~Neutral Stage~ Asral City Shopping District 》
-Step. Step.
Anyway, dragons were stronger than other monsters, and with their prideful nature reflected in the settings, even their taming success rate was lower than others...
'They were supposed to devote absolute loyalty to anyone they truly acknowledged as stronger than themselves.'
But looking at this one clinging tightly to my arm as it follows me, that doesn't seem to hold true unconditionally.
Maybe it's because it lost its parents to humans when it was young and had to survive alone.
Plus, this dragon is the only surviving 'pureblood' red dragon at the moment, so compared to others, it should be more flexible and intelligent.
Pureblood dragons here refer to those carrying the blood of 'ancient dragons.'
In other words, purely in terms of destructive power, this one inherits the blood of those insane monsters on par with the transcendents.
But that doesn't make it particularly strong.
Sure, there might be some influence, but just because your ancestor was a brilliant scholar doesn't guarantee you'll be a genius too. It's like that.
Anyway.
"How long are you going to cling like that?"
"......"
I felt like it was time for some measures.
"To travel with me, you need to get used to human eyes on you. I told you not to use transparency, and not to recklessly revert to your true form."
"But the humans keep staring."
I looked around after hearing Louis's words.
-Murmur murmur.
Sure enough, the street's attention was focused here.
—Look over there, that kid with the horns...
—Horns? No way, is that a dragonkin?!
—Dragonkin are rare even among the beastkin, and judging by the clothes, that one's a slave, right?
Thanks to my enchanted robe, I didn't stand out much.
This robe's effect is like a presence suppression skill, lowering your aggro priority from monsters in the game, so rear-line players often used it.
Of course, my regular gear is way better, but being a high elf draws too much attention, so no choice.
I should get one for this one too.
'Dragonkin, huh.'
Dragonkin.
If my memory serves, that's one of the beastkin races—beastkin in general.
They're 'half-dragons' between dragons and humans, ranking high among beastkin and quite rare.
People seem to be mistaking Louis for dragonkin.
It makes sense—with human features but dragon horns, plus a tail. I'm passing as a high elf because I resemble one, after all.
'They don't know about Transform, do they.'
Truth is, while I call Transform magic, it's not really magic—it's just categorized that way.
It's more like a skill us demons can use, and Louis is the same.
Even now, this isn't Cyan's true form.
Demons have an innate ability called 'true demon form,' but it's not practical, so whatever.
"Are humans scary?"
"No, not scary... at all."
I asked Louis if humans frightened it.
It denied it, but given its backstory of losing its family to humans, fear would be natural—
"It's just, I might accidentally kill them all. I'm holding back from wanting to kill them..."
At the same time, a red aura leaked from behind Louis.
Ah, so that's it.
[Human, you again! How dare you bring this body to such a place!]
Thinking about its personality, rather than fear, it probably wants to rip apart every human here right now.
Its family's killers and its enslavers are everywhere—how could it hold back?
Even if not the exact same people, to a dragon, they're all just Human A or B.
It's probably endured by sneaking around until now, but with all this attention, holding back must be tough.
"Can I kill just a few...?"
"No. Don't kill. That's an order."
Hmm, I need to handle this quickly.
One wrong move, and we'd have a level 150 dragon rampaging in the city—a sudden raid event.
There are decent adventurers here, so it might not be one-sided, but this whole area would be obliterated for sure.
Never forget.
This one's a dragon.
It looks human, but without me, it'd have gone berserk here long ago.
"Anyway."
I looked around.
Lots of people milling about. Shops selling trinkets and general stores everywhere, but no clothing stores in sight, no matter how I search.
'...Does this city have no clothing stores?'
I've walked about 10 minutes already, but no decent shop turns up.
'Where the hell do I go?'
Or am I just missing them?
In the game, it auto-paths, so manually searching feels awkward.
Unlike little Pione Village, this commercial city is huge by comparison.
At this rate, will I even make the library today...?
"Cyan, why have we been looping the same spot since earlier?"
After walking who knows how long, exhausted Louis asked me that.
"Why are we looping? Obviously to buy you clothes..."
"Clothes?"
I was about to say we were doing this to buy clothes for it, but paused at its follow-up.
Something important hit me.
-"Same spot looping?"-
I carefully scanned the surroundings after Louis's words.
People's stares still on us.
But the faces—no new street wanderers, all merchants I'd seen, and their shops too.
The only change was their conversations.
And those went like...
—That kid's been circling the same spot over and over.
—Lost? The robed one next to 'em the owner?
—Who gets lost here? Even my house pup finds the way from the main gate.
—True, unless you're a total dimwit—with signs everywhere.
I turned toward the fountain.
There was a huge city map sign, and by the way, I'd swear I'd seen that fountain 8 times now.
Or maybe 9.
"No way."
The market layout was a round oval—keep going one way, and you loop forever.
Even a small note: (Hoping no idiots get lost.)
So that's why no new shops—I'd been circling.
And why people stared—not just Louis's looks.
We'd been looping like morons.
And if I had to pinpoint the cause...
"Ha, hahaha!!! Moron, idiot, dimwit, huh..."
-Rumble rumble rumble!!!
—Gah?! Earthquake!
—E-everyone run! Why an earthquake now?!
—Stay calm! Head to shelters slowly! Protect your heads, keep order!
To hide my burning face, I unwittingly released all my mana.
And tried to kill those chatty bastards too.
Started spamming random spells, and honestly, the rest is a blur.
I vaguely recall...
Uh, opened my eyes, fountain and sign smashed to bits?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 2.
"Phew, that was a close call. The sudden earthquake scared off all the customers. It stopped quick, but..."
"Sorry—er, that must've been rough."
While Louis picked clothes in the shop, I sipped the clerk's coffee and chatted.
Usually, folks gawk at my looks, but this elf clerk was different.
Unlike our old party elf, no wariness—friendlier, even.
And pretty enough for a woman to admire. Sadly, to me now, just pretty.
"But all's well—no injuries, even if the shopping district's landmark fountain got smashed."
"...Y-yeah."
I averted my eyes, peering out the window.
Outside, folks who'd fled my uncontrolled graviton rampage returned one by one.
Sorry, Asral City citizens.
Got a bit pissed and messed up...
If Louis hadn't stopped me, I might've leveled the city.
Lucky it was graviton in my rage—not some other AoE, or this block would've been toast.
That would've been bad.
Unlike the game, destroyed villages don't respawn here, nor do dead people.
Maybe not such a big deal, then.
"Something bothering you? You look pale."
"Don't worry. Just in a bad mood."
"Good, then. If a customer in our clothes looks sour, I worry they hate the fit."
"...First time here today?"
"Oh, I mean—look at this."
Told the elf clerk it was my first, and she showed me a garment.
Up close, familiar emblem.
Like the brand on my current outfit...
"Same emblem."
"Yes. We sell elf-country imports to the outside world. Brand's 'Tris (Trees).' "
"Tris, huh... Never heard."
"No Tris? Ah, a high elf might not know."
Brands exist here too.
Tris—rings a bell, but fuzzy.
Maybe from some Novel Online story quest long ago; details faded.
Clerk knows—ask her.
"Sounds familiar, but can't recall. Mind telling me?"
"Sure. Tris is—"
-Thud.
Footsteps as she started explaining.
"Um, Cyan? Does this... suit me?"
Turned—Louis, changed into clothes.
Not just a presence-hiding coat like mine, but proper garb over rags.
Thrilled anyway.
No real defense, but fine.
"Wow! Perfect on the little customer!"
"Yeah, finally presentable."
"Hehe... Good."
Dragons via Transform keep most power in human form.
Just normal-people clothes—so I don't look like a creep.
Swords or spears won't pierce bare skin anyway.
That knot's botched—never wore clothes as a dragon, so obvious. Guess I have to—
"Little customer, this knot goes like..."
"Hey, wait!"
Clerk approached to fix it; I jumped up.
Still wary of humans.
Stares or talk fine, but touch? Who knows.
Worried it'd snap, set coffee down to intervene...
"Ah, like this?"
"There—better? Did you call?"
Surprisingly, Louis calmly let her adjust.
Earlier on street, it'd transform at approach—total opposite.
(...Elves are fine. Not human.)
Telepathy in my head.
Telepathy: mind-link via our contract—private chat.
Game was just commands.
'Non-humans okay?'
(Yeah, you said no killing... And I can endure humans. Not some rigid ancient dragon.)
Even more surprising.
Dragons usually dumb and arrogant image—but not this one.
Game dragons and ancients were twisted; maybe young hatchling.
Or adapted to human culture alone.
(But high elves like you, or demons like you? Maybe not.)
Won't pry why demons/high elves no—guessing.
Still sore from first meeting beatdown.
Went easy then; should've pulped like Stran...
...Wait, demons?
-Thud!
"Eek, customer?"
"Excuse me—paying with this. Keep change."
Dragged Louis out.
To a quiet alley.
"C-Cyan? What'd I do?"
"...Shut up and follow."
No presences nearby.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Space Separation – Wide-Area Magic ※ Attribute: Physical / Range: 1~10m / Max Targets: x
▶ A magic that separates a narrow area from the existing world, blocking all physical interference.
Just in case, barrier up—no eavesdropping or peeking.
Good—now safely drop Transform.
-Shh.
Released my Transform, revealing demon horns.
It already 'knows' what I am—no need hiding.
"Your true form, Cyan?"
"Not the point."
Louis stared piercingly.
"...Ah, I messed up earlier."
Finally realized its slip.
Telepathy sends raw thoughts—filter fails sometimes.
Hard to control freely.
But good for me.
"Louis, answer carefully."
"Yeah, all truth..."
Chance to learn how it figured my demon side.
If it knows, others might.
Demon revealed? Beyond annoying—dangerous for me.
Word spreads, heresy inquisitors swarm...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 📰 Breaking News Today's Revealed Cyan Icon! 💬 Comments — Author *Cyan is the supreme worst navigator in the story, certified by me. — ??? That's right! A beating-worthy truth! My favorite saying is...