Chapter 3
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Chapter 3
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Awakener Ability Test - 2
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"Is this supposed to be this easy?"
With a slight pang of reality setting in, I gripped the magic stone in my hand.
The path that had seemed endlessly distant turned out to be nothing special.
What was the point of all the hardship I'd endured until now?
"As expected of Master."
"No. We got here so fast because Eli's strong."
Eli's performance had truly been remarkable.
She followed my every command to the letter, acting with perfect precision.
As if she were transplanting the exact image from my mind.
And she was so powerful that combat presented no strain at all.
But Eli shook her head at my words.
"No. It would have been impossible for me alone."
"Impossible?"
"Yes."
Eli pointed toward the rear.
"If it were just me, I would have gotten carried away killing them all and forgotten the objective."
"Uh, yeah. It does look that way."
"So this is Master's achievement. A weapon like me is sharpest when gripped by Master."
I'd had to work hard to rein in Eli after she declared she'd exterminate every monster that had harmed Master and tried to burn down the entire forest.
"Then now it's the second stage?"
"Yes, Master. Let's head out."
As per the rules, I split the magic stone in half, and a portal appeared before us.
We stepped through, there was a brief flash of light, and suddenly we were back at the starting point.
"You've worked hard. Please submit the magic stone here."
"Ah, yes."
"And sorry about this, but could you wait just a moment? You finished too quickly—the others are still..."
"Yes. I'll wait."
Of course. No one could keep up with a dragon's speed.
"At least here, I'm the strongest, huh."
"Not just here."
"Huh?"
"In this dimension."
That confident?
"Then—"
"Ah, Seo Gi-hyeon! Please come to the second exam room! The next participant just finished!"
I couldn't get the words out thanks to the proctor's interruption.
That line about being the strongest in this dimension was surely...
No.
I'll be seeing plenty more of her from now on.
"Let's go."
"Yes, Master."
I figured we'd learn more gradually.
"What, isn't that the dumb part-timer?"
But it looks like I'll be seeing him sooner than expected.
"Master. Do you know him?"
"If you ask whether I know him, it's... complicated."
"Then may I kill him?"
"Don't kill him."
The opponent before us was that same punk from yesterday.
Come to think of it, they said passing the test was all that mattered.
Looks like this guy was a Summoner too.
Standing beside him was a C-Rank Greyhound.
Was this the guy who summoned the Greyhound?
It's strong, but it wouldn't stand a chance against Eli by my side.
"Why not just forfeit now?"
"Sorry. I don't want to waste this rare chance."
"Hah. Fine. Good~ luck. Hey, sis."
"Me?"
The punk thug was now hitting on Eli.
He might actually die at this rate.
"How about ditching a loser like him and coming to me instead?"
"..."
"I'll treat you way better. I'm better, right?"
"You're ugly, so no."
"What?"
"My Master is kind, handsome, and strong. Nothing like a third-rate trash bug like you."
"You little—!"
"And above all, there's no way trash like you could compete with our Master's 20cm club—"
Hold on.
"How do you know that?"
"..."
Eli blushed and averted her gaze.
What the hell happened?
"A-anyway. I have no reason to follow trash like you."
"Hah. Fine. At least I can embarrass you a bit."
What a filthy personality.
Even if it's only filthy by human standards.
"Are you our next opponent?"
"Yeah. I'm gonna beat your master's ass."
"I see. Then I'll have to protect him."
"You? Get real!"
He's got a real talent for pissing people off.
Eli turned away as if there was no point wasting more words on him and headed into the exam area.
Even then, the thug kept throwing pick-up lines.
I whispered to Eli.
"Don't kill him."
"What about scaring him half to death?"
"That's fine."
"Understood."
I'd done all I could.
From here on, whatever happens to him is natural causes.
"Now that you're both here, we'll begin the sparring match. There's no rule that only the winner advances, but your score depends on your performance."
A 1v1 duel.
First time in a place like this, but I get the gist.
Just take down the guy in front of me.
"Freak bastard. Why don't you just stick to your shitty job and live like that?"
"Master. What has that guy been babbling about?"
"Ah, you wouldn't know."
I gave Eli a quick rundown of my bad history with the thug.
Eli didn't grasp everything, but she got that he was the guy who'd come to my workplace, started shit, and been a total nuisance.
"Go Grey, take him down. What's your summoned beast? Not some worthless mutt, I hope?"
"Hm, go ahead for now, Eli."
"Yes, Master. And sorry, but I'll have to give that guy a taste of something spicy."
Eli muttered as she stepped forward.
The thug's eyes bulged.
"Using your girlfriend as a shield? Cowardly bas—"
"Shut your mouth, vermin."
"Hah?"
"I was holding back for Master's sake. But a pest like you just keeps crawling up."
Boom.
Eli took one step forward.
In that instant, the air in the exam hall shifted.
It grew heavy enough to choke on.
The world seemed to lag a beat behind.
Faint cracks spiderwebbed across the floor beneath Eli's feet.
As if it could no longer bear the strain.
"Master."
Eli glanced back.
She was still in human form. Petite frame, cute girl's face.
But.
"For a moment, I'll revert to my true form."
Her eyes changed.
Her pupils slit vertically, light boiling up from within.
The grinding of bones began.
As if something long dormant inside was breaking free.
Eli's shadow writhed across the floor.
It lost its human shape.
Stretching longer and wider, swelling unnaturally.
Her fluttering hair turned to scales.
Spreading across her skin, tile by tile, perfectly natural.
"Huu..."
Eli drew in a deep breath.
With that single inhalation, nearby objects floated into the air.
And then—
A roar.
An explosive cry beyond words, impossible from any beast of this world.
The earth-shaking howl erupted from Eli's maw as she fully transformed into a dragon.
Korean Dimensional Response Association.
The association was in full emergency lockdown.
"Number 7 detected! Number 7 detected! Disaster Grade 7!"
"Is the end of the world finally here?!"
The staff monitoring the screens screamed.
"Grade 7...?"
Someone gulped.
Another frantically messaged their parents: I love you.
"The world... is it really ending? We even survived the dimensional war..."
"No, it's too early to—"
"Kiyaaaaack!!!"
Screams broke out everywhere.
Panic and terror spread like contagion in seconds.
"Elite assembly! All S-Ranks assemble! Right now!!"
"Right now! Assemble! ASSEMBLEEE!!"
Post-war, alerts were divided into seven levels.
Until now, level 6 had been the max. Now it hit 7.
Level 7.
Humanity's extinction-level disaster.
An foe that might not fall even if every Awakener on Earth mobilized.
"Contact the UN immediately!"
"Y-yes! What about Japan and China—"
"Who gives a damn about national pride!? We might all die!"
Communications flew back and forth, coffee spilled everywhere.
That day, the association descended into chaos at a mad pace.
No one could have imagined.
All this uproar.
Was just the doing of one girl who roared loudly to earn her Master's favor.
The thug staggered.
No wonder. Who wouldn't freak out with a massive dragon crashing down right in front of them?
In that sense, my own reaction was weird too.
I should have been shocked. So why did I feel glad?
"Ugh... uwaaa..."
The skyscraper-sized Eli muttered.
"Since Master spoke up, I'll let it slide this time."
"Ah... ah!"
"But if you ever pull that crap again."
Boom!
A foot slammed down right beside the thug.
"I'll flatten you."
"Y-yes!!"
Did she enjoy the sight of him pissing his pants?
"I'm back, Master."
Eli, reverted to normal, looked immensely proud.
"Good work."
"You're not surprised."
"Yeah."
"Because you're used to it."
"Is that so."
"Now are you starting to believe me?"
Hmm... Honestly, it still lacked realism.
"There must be something to it. A dragon pops up in my face and I'm not fazed."
"You overcame it with love."
"Now I can't even casually argue back."
As we chatted, a staff member hunched low and crawled over slowly.
"Um, excuuuse meee..."
"Yes."
"I'll pass you the exam, so please don't kill us...!"
I'd gone and done something unforgivable.
Looking around, the exam hall was trashed, people trembling and hiding.
The next examinees would take a while to calm down.
Sorry.
"Looks like we caused a scene. My apologies."
"Hah, pass notice by text, license by mail, g-good w-work!!!"
I see.
I really passed.
"Doesn't feel real."
I wondered if it was too easy thanks to the summoned beast's power.
"Master."
"What's up?"
"We achieved the goal, so I request my reward."
Maintaining the bond with a summoned beast is a summoner's true skill.
Eli wanted praise.
"You wanted praise, right?"
"Yes."
"How should I give it?"
"Master knows best."
I know best?
Hmm, let's see. Will my body move on its own like before?
I closed my eyes and surrendered to instinct.
'Oh, it's moving.'
My body moved automatically, stroking Eli's head.
"Sorry. My body moved on its own. Want me to stop if you hate it?"
"N-no. This is it. This is what I wanted."
This must be the answer.
"Huh... hu-hu... hehe..."
A strange laugh bubbled from Eli's lips.
Weird sight, but it didn't feel bad at all.
"Hehe... hehe... hng..."
Hng?
My eyes flew open at the moan.
My hand was now fiddling with Eli's earlobe.
"Y-yes, as expected of Master. Even with amnesia, you remember my weak spot."
"Um, Eli."
"Yes, Master."
I hesitated to ask who she was or what our relationship was.
No.
For something like this, I need to drink that magic potion first.
I'll need some mental prep after all.
"Let's head home first. Anything you want to eat?"
"Anything Master eats."
"Fried food okay?"
"Don't underestimate a dragon who lives with fire in her belly."
Then chicken and beer it is, after so long.
I opened the delivery app and checked my bank account.
A few cans of beer at home, so just pay for the chicken.
"Good work today, Eli."
"Yes, you too, Master."
"I'm hungry. Let's hurry back."
"We should. I have something to give you too."
"Give me? What's that?"
Eli, who had tightly gripped my hand and was ready to leave, nodded.
"It's a letter Master asked me to deliver if you lost your memories before returning to this world."
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