Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: The Dragon's Submission
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If this weren't another world, Kang Jin-hyuk would have believed without a doubt that this was some hidden camera prank.
A dragon voluntarily bowing its head was that unbelievable.
"What kind of trick is this?"
Kang Jin-hyuk didn't take the dragon's words at face value.
It could be a vicious ploy to offer hope only to plunge him into despair again.
『A trick? Perish the thought.』
The dragon shook its head in horror.
As its massive head swung rapidly side to side, a gust like a fan swept through.
Thanks to that, Kang Jin-hyuk's bangs were blown back, exposing his forehead once more.
The dragon immediately bowed its head again.
『See? You truly are the messenger of the gods.』
"No, what the hell are you seeing to spout that nonsense?"
『You bear the mark on your forehead. It must be from Father.』
"Father?"
Dragons had always been distant from faith.
Not because they were realists like dwarves, but purely due to their immense pride.
Nothing in the world was superior to them.
Dragons were a race bound together by arrogance bordering on hubris.
Even gods weren't all that impressive.
That was the common belief among dragons.
But there was one exception.
Dragons revered only the god who created them—the one they called "Father."
『The even greater being who created great ones like us. That is Father.』
To dragons, the "father" that hatched them was merely a guardian until they reached adulthood.
The only true sire they followed was their creator.
Thus, for a dragon, bowing to Kang Jin-hyuk—marked directly by the creator—was perfectly natural.
There was no blow to their pride.
『I should have escorted you with utmost respect, yet in my ignorance, I failed to recognize your nobility.』
Kang Jin-hyuk was at a loss, unsure how to handle the dragon's complete 180 in attitude.
When Kang Jin-hyuk said nothing, the dragon's expression hardened.
It assumed he was hurt by its own rudeness, leaving him speechless.
『I will obey any command. Please, forgive my offense.』
"......Anything?"
『Yes.』
Kang Jin-hyuk doubted his ears but saw this as a golden opportunity.
To test if the dragon was sincere, he made a simple demand.
"For starters, you're hard to talk to like this, so shrink down a bit."
『Understood.』
The dragon nodded, and its entire body glowed brightly.
When the dazzling light faded, the dragon's size had shrunk to match Kang Jin-hyuk's height.
Of course, only its size had changed—its appearance was identical.
Seeing this, Kang Jin-hyuk was greatly disappointed.
"What? You really just got smaller."
『I merely followed your command. Is there something unsatisfactory?』
"No, usually in these situations, you'd transform into a human form, right? That's the trope."
Hearing Kang Jin-hyuk, the dragon made a face of utter disgust.
Even on a dragon's face, Kang Jin-hyuk could read all the revulsion.
『I respect you as Father's messenger, not because I hold any fondness for humans as a species.』
"Not just no fondness—you seem to absolutely loathe them."
『To be frank, yes. Why on earth would I take the form of such a lowly creature?』
"Isn't it rude to say that in front of a human?"
『You transcend humanity as Father's chosen. It matters not.』
There must be a reason Father marked a human.
The dragon wouldn't dare question that choice.
Harboring such doubt would be an insult to Father.
"Then, for my sake, couldn't you change into something else?"
『Is there a compelling reason?』
"Others might freak out seeing you like this."
『Then I'll use invisibility magic.』
The dragon answered firmly, showing no willingness to take another form.
It wasn't the development Kang Jin-hyuk wanted, but he tried to understand.
'I'd refuse too if told to turn into an animal I hate.'
What irked him was comparing humans to mere animals.
How sky-high was a dragon's pride to view humans that way?
As these stray thoughts swirled in his mind, a rustling came from behind him.
Hidden by bushes, he couldn't see who it was.
『Please wait a moment.』
The dragon noticed first and prepared to cast a spell right there.
Kang Jin-hyuk stepped forward hastily, sensing he couldn't let that happen.
"Hold on!"
As Kang Jin-hyuk blocked the way, Lucia burst from the bushes.
Blocking the dragon's magic had been the right call.
"Finally found you!"
Spotting Kang Jin-hyuk, Lucia rushed to him.
"A dragon vanished into thin air all of a sudden—what the hell happened?"
Rather than answer verbally, Kang Jin-hyuk pointed toward the dragon.
Following his finger, Lucia spotted the shrunken dragon and jumped in shock.
"Wh-what is this?!"
『This? You dare call me with such insolence?』
"No way... you're that dragon we were just fighting?"
『Must I spell it out?』
His haughty tone and lofty demeanor confirmed it for Lucia.
But she couldn't fathom why it had shrunk.
"Did you lose your power or something?"
Hearing Lucia's question to Kang Jin-hyuk, the dragon burst into laughter.
『Lose my power? This body?』
Kang Jin-hyuk saw a small orb of fire gathering on the dragon's forepaw.
『If you're curious, feel it for yourself.』
With that, the dragon launched the fireball at Lucia.
Don't underestimate it just because it was small.
The compressed beam of intense heat could incinerate her entire body on direct hit.
Caught off guard by the sudden spell, Lucia froze for a split second.
Kang Jin-hyuk moved his feet to shield her.
He hoped blocking it might make the dragon stop.
But the beam didn't vanish—it struck Kang Jin-hyuk's face head-on.
"No!"
Seeing the explosion on Kang Jin-hyuk's face, Lucia cried out.
"You damn lizard, how dare you...!"
As she reached for her bow to retaliate, someone grabbed her arm.
Realizing it was Kang Jin-hyuk, Lucia's eyes widened.
He had taken the spell straight on moments ago.
Yet Kang Jin-hyuk stood unscathed.
"You okay?"
"Seems like it for now."
Even he didn't know why he was fine.
He hadn't used any special skill, so surviving magic unscathed was bizarre.
Kang Jin-hyuk figured the dragon was the key.
"Did you stop the spell or something?"
『No. I held full power to the end.』
"Then why am I standing here fine?"
『Dragon magic doesn't affect Father's messenger—you.』
"What? No way!"
Kang Jin-hyuk couldn't believe it.
Just moments ago in battle, he'd dodged with all his might.
Magic not working now? Zero credibility.
『No lie. You just experienced it yourself.』
"But when we fought..."
『Did my magic even graze you then?』
Recalling the fight at the dragon's words, Kang Jin-hyuk confirmed it.
Indeed, as the dragon said, he'd never been hit.
He'd dodged everything swiftly—no way to know if it'd hurt.
"But I personally shattered that boulder you dropped."
『Even direct impact would deal no damage.』
"So I've been doing pointless crap this whole time?"
『Regrettably, yes.』
Long ago, the first dragons revered their creator not just for making them.
That earned respect and awe, but not lifelong devotion.
Dragons followed the creator absolutely because all their powers were useless against him.
Before the creator, dragons were mere oversized lizards.
Prideful dragons masked this humiliation with worship and praise.
We don't challenge the creator because we can't presume to face such greatness.
Not because we're powerless, they told themselves.
Over time, this self-justification evolved into genuine faith.
『Even if unintentional, I tried to harm Father's messenger. I accept any punishment.』
The dragon prostrated itself, begging Kang Jin-hyuk's forgiveness.
'Punishment? What am I supposed to do with that?'
Flustered, Kang Jin-hyuk's eyes met Lucia's.
In that moment, a good idea struck him.
"Then never harm Lucia, ever."
『Lucia? That half-elf's name?』
"Yeah. Think you can manage?"
『Of course. If that's the price, I obey gladly.』
With safety guaranteed from the dragon's own mouth, Lucia breathed in relief.
"Wait, why is this dragon obeying you?"
Suddenly recalling what she'd overlooked, Lucia grilled Kang Jin-hyuk.
A prideful ancient dragon obeying a human? Unbelievable even seeing it.
"It says I got a mark from their god."
"Mark? Where?"
"On my forehead, apparently—but I don't see it."
Kang Jin-hyuk touched the spot on his forehead where the old man in the dragon temple had pointed.
A mirror showed nothing.
But the dragon sensed something special.
"When did you get that?"
"Probably the dragon temple."
"So it wasn't just some random name..."
A temple truly built for the dragons' god.
"You somehow passed the trial there."
Lucia was newly impressed by Kang Jin-hyuk.
The dragons' god held immense prestige.
Gaining its approval was impossible for ordinary folk.
"Anyway, story time later—let's handle the request first."
『Request? You came here on someone's behalf, Messenger?』
"Yeah. To find out why you froze this whole area."
『What? What do you mean?』
The dragon tilted its head 45 degrees, utterly baffled.
『I've never altered this land's environment.』
The completely unexpected answer left Kang Jin-hyuk and Lucia speechless for a moment.