Chapter 206
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 206
Chapter Title: The Faulty Angel
Everything in the world has a pinnacle. Humans, by nature, need a goal to climb toward in order to ignite their will.
It's designed that way from the start, so it's only natural that it seeps into novels.
For vampires, it's the Progenitor. For demons, the Lords. For mages, the Archmage. For heroes, the Ice Knight.
There are countless paths to ascend.
So, what is the pinnacle for dragons? That would be—
[Dragon King, huh? It's been ages since I last heard that title.]
The Dragon King.
Dragons, beings closest to gods. Those who reign at the very top.
Beings worthy of the title 'King,' on a whole different level from ordinary dragons.
Fitting her majesty, she rested her chin on her hand, crossed her legs, and gazed down from her throne.
[Hmm. I'll overlook the fact that you know my name. But even after you spoke it aloud, nothing happened.]
Hmm. Ignisia let out a sinister hum. The killing intent in her downward gaze had softened a bit, but it hadn't vanished.
I carefully set down Michael, whom I'd been carrying, and scooped up the rushing Levatein into my arms.
The atmosphere was deadly serious, yet this one was grinning innocently all by herself. It felt so off.
I stroked Levatein's smiling head and kept staring straight ahead.
[Benia's alive, then. No... she is alive.]
"Yeah. She's alive. Now we're getting somewhere. That's what I've been saying all along."
Now you'll listen, right? I even swore on Dragon Tongue? Come on? I'm talking? I'm saying stuff?
Now's when my bullshit skills shine?
[However.]
Contrary to my hopes, the mood didn't shift. Her relaxed expression sharpened again, and Michael, whom I'd set down, stepped forward to shield me.
"Stay back."
"You're weaker than me."
"Just for now. If I have to fight that woman, I can smash this space apart."
"You were holding back on purpose?!"
"W-what do you mean, on purpose?! Don't make it sound like I didn't break free just to stay on your back!! Don't flirt with me!!"
No, I never said it that harshly. Why's she getting all flustered?
You're not that kind of character.
Regardless of our bickering, Ignisia, eyes wide, pressed on with her own words.
Consistent, at least. Oh right, she's a dragon, not human.
[As long as she's alive. There've been cases where humans turned into dragonkin by constantly bathing in dragon blood. Your movements wouldn't make sense without dragon power.]
"No. I adapted—"
[Nonsense.]
It's true, though. What am I supposed to do? This is frustrating as hell.
[And I took a liking to that child. Can't be helped. Dragons are possessive. I'll just kill you and scramble your brain with magic.]
This is insane. Dragons live so long their brains fossilize, and they won't listen.
[Good thing she's alive.]
With those words, she extended her hand. As expected of a dragon.
Even just reaching out from her chin-propped pose looked elegant.
Her downward gaze, propped chin, extended hand. It all combined into an arrogant king.
From her hand erupted a massive fireball. I instinctively knew touching it meant instant death.
Magic too big for even [Spell Eater] to handle halfway. The heat was so intense the scythe would melt before I could slash it.
Even Michael gulped dryly. It was that powerful.
How do I dodge this? Even if I do, what's next? Dragon Tongue won't work since she ignores it. Only one option left?
As I racked my brain relentlessly, footsteps echoed.
No, clearer than footsteps.
Click—
Heels.
[That's enough, Ignisia.]
Turning around, there she was.
[Benia's right here.]
My last resort stood proudly. Seeing her, I—
"What the hell are you doing posing all cool?! I almost died because of you!! I told you to come after it was over!! I said don't show up!!"
"L-let's calm down!! We have to endure!!"
"Let go!! Let me go!! Benia!! You wanna die!!!"
[........]
I was glad to see her, but way angrier.
—Be, Benia?!
—Yeah, it's me. This kid just saved me. Let him go.
—......?
—And being too possessive isn't good. Stealing someone else's stuff is even worse.
—You go back first. I need to talk things out before I return.
With words like those, we were sent back to where we started. Benia said, 'I'll take responsibility and make her apologize.'
She'll come groveling, no doubt.
Still, I really thought I was done for. That fireball still lingered in my vision.
"Felt like it shaved ten years off my life."
"Tell me about it. She ignored everything we said—even when we were dying—yet she's all meek in front of Benia. Why?"
"Oh. Dragons have a hierarchy. Not all dragons are equal."
"Is that so? Similar to angels, then."
Of course. The title Dragon King implies rank to begin with.
Like Progenitors or Archmages, Dragon Kings are limited in number.
Five Progenitors and Archmages. Seven Lords. One Ice Knight. Six Dragon Kings.
It's a number set by the world. A balancing force? No more can be born beyond that.
And thank god Ignisia talked them down before all the Dragon Kings conspired to wipe out humanity.
"Benia could've come from the start."
"Yeah. Even Raphael wouldn't... "
Do this, right? Michael trailed off, and I nodded in understanding.
"Raphael would've done it for sure. If it was Raphael instead of Benia? I'd be holding back a rampaging dragon right now to save humanity."
"Benia's way better. At least she cleans up the mess."
Raphael wouldn't. We locked eyes and nodded.
After that, we just walked in silence. Toward home via warp gate, patting Levatein's back as she leaned tiredly against me.
Slowly. Just slowly.
"You worked hard."
"You too."
Such exchanges happened occasionally, but didn't last. Michael had clammed up, probably embarrassed about the lair incident.
Before long, our usual pizza joint came into view.
"Then I'll head off here. Gotta go home and unwind."
"Huh? Where to."
"Pardon?"
"You like Hawaiian pizza. My treat. Eat and go."
"No, I said I don't like—"
Michael's words cut off. Not by physical force or interruption.
By something very natural.
That being.
Grrrrumble—
Her stomach growling. Hearing it for the second time today, she clutched her belly.
"Th-this is... it's not...!! I'm not some pig like Raphael who gets hungry after cake!!"
"I know. You ran around so much, you're hungry. Eat before you go."
".....Just this once."
Caught? Flirting? Thanks a bunch. I grinned, entered the shop, ordered various pizzas, and sat at a nearby table.
As I patted Levatein's back, white hair sat beside me.
"Erase today's events from your memory."
"What events?"
"All of them."
"All? Like acting dumb in the lair and your stomach alarm going off twice?"
Kiiiing—!!
A sharp screech rang out, so I reset my brain.
[Mommy!! I went somewhere weird?! This red auntie showed me cool stuff~~]
"Really?"
[Yeah!! It was fun!!]
"Good if it was fun. Right, Seong-hoon?"
"Uh, yeah...."
Scary. Too scary. What's scary? The blonde right in front of me.
She's smiling kindly while talking to Levatein, but it chills when she looks at me.
Flowers bloom behind her with Levatein; blizzards hit when she eyes me.
What is this? You're not that character.
"Seong-hoon."
"Y-yes....?"
"You just sounded exactly like Isia. But didn't you say you were going to work?"
"Yeah.....?"
"Said you weren't meeting any girls?"
"....."
"Insisted it was real work, so you left Lachesis behind?"
"That was because you—"
"You did, right?"
"..........Yes."
Scary. Too scary. Why am I being interrogated?
"Then what's that next to you? That white-haired girl isn't a woman? She's an angel?! Then what am I?! Just an angel too?!"
"Sudden identity crisis?!"
"What crisis?! It's because you're talking nonsense!!"
"The nonsense is coming from you, Raphael. Calm down first. By her logic, 'family members don't count as people.'"
"Butt out!!"
Michael whipped her head around and spouted something like, 'Long time no see, Sion. What'd I do?'
She that desperate to be called auntie?
"I bought pizza, at least. Forgive me."
"Pizza won't cut it. You almost lost Levatein."
"Force majeure. But I got her back. Dad's strong."
"Against my violence too?"
Pathetic as ever. I bowed my head and endured Raphael's nagging.
Seong-hoon always does this. Lying again. Promise you won't next time.
Stuff like that. As I listened for a while, Levatein, pitying me, patted my head.
[Daddy okay?]
"Levatein, don't pity this guy."
[Okay. But Daddy, I got a question.]
What? I looked up, and Levatein beamed innocently.
[Why were you hugging the auntie earlier?]
The air froze instantly.
Raphael's sapphire eyes iced over, her neck creaked as it turned, and she stared piercingly at me.
"Seong-hoon...?"
"Hug? No hugging!! Michael's leg was hurt!!"
But it's fine. Michael our ironclad wall will cover for me.
She'll say something like, 'Calm down, Raphael. Am I crazy?' or—
She should.
Glancing for rescue, our white-hair was.
"........."
Fork in mouth, averting her eyes.
Why? Don't do this.
"Why?! Why look away?! Now it really seems like it!!"
"Lee Seong-hoon...."
"Don't come closer!! Stay back!! I can explain!! I swear!! Michael, say something!!"
Michael's broken.
Damn it.
"Oppa is a real bad guy."
Even Sion too?