Chapter 467
Chapter 467
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 467
Chapter Title: Ramyu (2)
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"Here, your cocoa."
"...Thank you."
Hoon handed a warm cup of cocoa to Ramyu, who was fidgeting nonstop on the sofa, then sat down in the seat across from her.
He quietly sipped his own freshly brewed coffee, waiting for her to calm down.
'The person most shocked is probably the one it happened to.'
Until just before coming to Earth, she had been a child barely scraping by day by day in a doomed world alongside her brother.
Thanks to treatment with Heinrich's holy power, she was much better now, but she was still on the frail side compared to kids her age.
'She hasn't even adapted to Earth yet, and suddenly she gets flung to another world...'
On top of that, a complete stranger—a Black Dragon, no less—had bared hostility and unleashed a terrifying aura. It wouldn't be strange if she developed trauma from it.
Thank goodness Hwiryong had stuck close and protected her; otherwise, she surely would have suffered a blow that would be hard to recover from mentally and physically.
'...Or maybe not entirely?'
Hoon glanced sideways.
Ramyu had been peeking at them nervously until now, but she was finally gripping the warm mug carefully and starting to sip the cocoa.
No matter how you looked at her, she just seemed like a pitiful little kid. But unlike her harmless appearance, this girl was no ordinary being.
'The final savior prepared by the main god of a perishing world.'
Though the world had collapsed before that potential could fully bloom, making it all for naught, the world's karma bestowed upon her didn't just vanish.
If only there had been a little more time, she surely would have become a foundation for saving the world in some way.
'Like a child preordained to be a hero.'
He had no idea how freely traversing dimensions related to world salvation.
But a main god with near-omniscient power must have had some intent.
Perhaps, having lost her original purpose, the direction of developing her seed-like ability had twisted a bit.
"Hot, hot!"
...Though right now, she just looked like any other kid.
Hoon let out a small sigh at the sight of Ramyu sticking out her tongue and making a pained face.
Then, with a serious expression, he looked at her and got to the main point.
"Ramyu, there's something I need to tell you first."
"Yes?"
"I was planning to give it more time before talking... but."
The situation had changed.
The ominous future he'd witnessed, the dreams, and Ramyu's sudden awakening of her ability.
In this uncertain future, he had no luxury to half-heartedly coddle a valuable asset who could become a key force, all in the name of consideration.
"It's about the world you lived in... the destruction of the Kosias Dimension."
It was also the story of her parents' and brother's deaths.
All those tragedies stemmed from one single cause.
"Why that world had to perish. And what I've been fighting against all this time."
At those words, Ramyu's expression stiffened.
Her hand gripping the mug turned bone-white, as if unconsciously tightening.
Feeling pity for her but not stopping, Hoon continued.
She had to know the full story.
She had the right and duty to.
"I'll tell you everything."
...Except for his own secrets.
***
The long tale continued.
Ramyu listened attentively, occasionally asking questions.
Despite the sensitive topic for her, she somehow maintained a calm demeanor throughout.
Probably thanks to Hwiryong, who appeared midway and coiled up on her lap.
She stroked its sleek body nonstop with her hands, never losing focus for a moment.
"...So I need your help. We've held our own so far by striking when those guys slip up, but I'm not sure how long that tactic will last."
Finishing his story, Hoon let out a small breath and downed his now-cold coffee in one go.
The Pantheon Society, lurking in the world's shadows for decades, had already swallowed several nations.
Despite smashing numerous branches and advancing triumphantly, their power remained immeasurably vast.
'If I hadn't hidden my identity thoroughly, the fight might not have even been possible from the start.'
The reason they'd only been on the defensive was their failure to grasp the avatars'... his true identity.
Bound by certain constraints that prevented public action, eliminating enemies undetected was the surest method—yet they couldn't pinpoint the target. How frustrating it must be.
Traps had limits, and after he'd crushed several in turn, they were surely seething with rage.
'If their leader, the Pantheon Lord, steps in personally...'
He needed to drive in the wedge before that happened.
First priority: dismantle the Pantheon Society, their foundation.
And to confront them, who'd entrenched themselves deeply, he'd need as much talent cooperating as possible.
As Hoon fell silent in thought after explaining,
"...Actually."
A faint whisper escaped Ramyu, who hugged Hwiryong close and bowed her head.
"When I realized earlier that my new ability lets me go to desired places... to people I want to see."
Stroking the head of the baby imperial dragon dozing off as if uninterested in the heavy talk, she smiled faintly and met Hoon's eyes.
"I tried to go to my brother."
"...That."
Hoon shut his mouth mid-reply.
Her expression told him how that attempt had gone.
"But it didn't work..."
As expected, she confirmed it with a strained smile.
It was only natural.
Her ability ignored spatial constraints to cross dimensions, but it was far from confronting the dead.
'Plus, given the state of the Kosias Dimension...'
Doubtful if whatever handled the afterlife there remained intact.
Most likely, it had quietly vanished with the world's collapse.
Ramyu hugged Hwiryong tighter.
-"No matter what anyone says, you're my little sister."
She still didn't know what those words truly meant.
But she could feel bone-deep the affection filling them.
[Kkyuing.]
Then, uncomfortable in her arms, its sleek body wriggled a few times like sleep-talking—but she held on, determined not to let go of the warmth.
The brief tussle ended only when Hwiryong gave up, fully entrusting itself and going limp.
Soon finding the perfect position, the baby imperial dragon started snoring softly.
Watching it quietly, Ramyu gave a soft smile, then turned to Hoon with a resolute expression.
Drip.
A single water drop falling.
But she didn't show it, and he didn't point it out.
They simply exchanged what needed to be said.
"So, what should I do?"
"Well, your ability is clearly extraordinary, but its full potential isn't revealed yet. For now, let's figure out exactly what you can do."
All abilities developed based on training.
Her power had just awakened, so its direction wasn't fully set.
Instead of fixating on known facts, they needed to test various possibilities.
"Then first..."
Hoon trailed off with a grin.
"To save time, how about hopping to another world?"
The time difference between Earth and the otherworld was about 10:1.
For training or whatever, the otherworld was far more efficient.
'Was wondering how to bring her along, but this works out.'
And the destination was already decided.
***
"...I see. So those people are connected to Horus's world?"
"Ehehe."
Horus stuck out his tongue sheepishly and laughed.
The Azure Dragon, watching him with a troubled look, glanced back.
"Mmph! Mmmph—! Mrrrgh!"
"Tch—stay still, Black Dragon. We're talking."
"Mmmph!"
"Yeah, yeah. I get how you feel, so quiet down. Or you'll get another smack?"
"......"
The Black Dragon, completely subdued—not just immobilized but mouth sealed—and the Crimson Dragon gripping her, threatening with a fierce glare.
And the White Dragon, ignoring them entirely, focused only on Hwiryong and the outsiders.
The commotion's cause was simple.
The human girl who had once turned the Dragon Shrine upside down and vanished had reappeared.
Not alone this time, but with an extra man, making three.
"...Letting them stay on Golden Turtle Island isn't a big issue. With the friendly atmosphere toward humans lately, plenty already come and go. But letting them freely enter and exit the Dragon Shrine from now on... that's a bit much."
The Azure Dragon placed a hand on her cheek and shook her head with a short sigh.
The Dragon Shrine was a holy site for dragons only.
Not even other top yokai could enter, let alone humans.
From another world, at that?
"Hmm, is it still tricky? Hwiryong follows them so well, I just wanted to let them hang out together."
Horus gave an awkward smile.
Precedent was already set, and they weren't asking to stay permanently—just visit as able. Shouldn't that be fine?
Apparently not, from their perspective.
'This makes it hard for Ramyu and Hwiryong to meet. That's a problem.'
Not just for mental care.
Hwiryong's presence substantially aided her ability's growth.
'Her initial awakening was triggered by wanting to meet Hwiryong, after all.'
Being a famously auspicious imperial dragon, being together had an effect like bestowing blessings.
Weighing those factors, he'd chosen the Kanghwan Realm as first stop...
'Can't drag out the beloved Hwiryong outside either. What now?'
But Horus's dilemma didn't last.
As if knowing his worry, the person in question instantly provided a solution.
[Kyuing?]
Horus met eyes with Hwiryong, staring at him with round eyes and a puzzled look.
The Azure Dragon reacted the same.
'No presence until it appeared. When did it get here?'
They both turned to where Hwiryong had been moments ago.
'This is...?'
Sure enough, it was there.
An identical baby imperial dragon, curled up and sleeping soundly.
A familiar sight by now.
'Projecting an avatar here?'
He thought that ability only worked for sending to Earth.
Looks like Hwiryong hadn't been slacking.
'...It's grown.'
Perhaps easier within the same dimension.
Either way, no more worries.
Like on Earth: main body stays, avatar goes out.
"My goodness, Hwiryong truly is a genius! Such advanced sorcery without any lessons!"
"Ho? Excellent. Time to learn real combat arts."
"Mmph—! Paha! Let go now, Crimson Dragon! I'll behave!"
"Promising future. Smart too—when to start formal education? Early might work well..."
The other dragons fussed over the new ability, but that was routine, nothing major.
Thanks to that, Ramyu quickly adapted to the Kanghwan Realm... precisely, Golden Turtle Island.
With Hwiryong nearly always present, she who had stayed cooped up staring at the sky on Earth now actively explored, taking in the new world.
Honing her awakened ability, growing mentally through interactions—full, enriching time.
The over tenfold time granted let her change rapidly.
'She seems familiar with using her ability now.'
Hoon, her dedicated manager who came along to the Kanghwan Realm for her care, stroked his chin seriously.
'Time to use that, then?'
Delayed a bit by her special authority awakening, but this was his planned option from the start.
He'd waited to avoid half-assing two things; there was a surefire growth method guaranteed.
'To use it, back to Earth first? Wonder what it'll do to Ramyu.'
Hoon's eyes sparkled.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 『Karma Shop Ver.3』 opened, with 'VIP Market' added. An item confirmed added to the VIP Market but unused since: 『Invitation (1,000,000)』
A very special product that forcibly awakens non-awakeners.
Now was the time to try it.