Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Dragon Blood Society (2)
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The gazes that had persistently lingered over the past week.
Even after realizing I'd noticed them, the dragons kept watching me from the shadows.
I'd deliberately gone to deserted places and spent time alone, but they showed no sign of coming out.
What was the reason they revealed their presence without showing themselves? Were they trying to bait me into a trap? Or make me so tense I couldn't sleep and drive me mad?
I'd agonized over it for a week, but there was only one conclusion.
......They were waiting for me to call them out.
As if confirming my thought, they sprang out from all directions.
"Dragon of the North. You made the game quite enjoyable."
The one wearing an eagle mask spoke.
All three wore masks: eagle, wild boar, and frog.
The kind you could easily buy in the capital.
Dragon of the North? Game?
'They think I'm the Dragon of the North.'
Over the past week, I'd acted relaxed. Knowing they were watching, I'd gone about my daily life as usual.
It'seemed to have worked.
The Dragon of the North trapped in the holy site. They mistook me for it. After hearing Balmun's thoughts and examining me closely, they'd concluded I was the Dragon of the North.
"Annoying. Why have you been circling me?"
I responded flatly, then turned the question back on them. At least in this moment, I had to be the Dragon of the North. Otherwise, I'd die.
'They're strong.'
Up close, it was clear.
Strong. Not just strong—the strongest I'd ever encountered, top among all the powerhouses I'd met.
The elites who emerged after the war fully broke out.
Even among those who far surpassed previous power levels, few gave this much pressure.
It felt just like facing Malfiel for the first time.
【Lv. 155】
Based on the scan nearby, Zero quantified their power levels.
The number was 155.
Insane. 155? All three of them?
[Adjusting heart rate.]
[Alleviating tension.]
As my heartbeat quickened, Zero suppressed it.
The dragons before me caught every tiny movement.
I couldn't show even a hint of tension. The Dragon of the North wouldn't flinch at other dragons appearing.
The eagle mask spoke.
"If it was annoying, I apologize. But you know the unwritten rule: don't approach a dragon in the midst of their game."
Dragons had rules they followed.
Not interfering with a dragon at play was one of them.
But I had no idea what "game" even meant.
If I didn't know that, I'd be exposed.
These were monsters even Croft couldn't handle—three of them.
Then Zero provided the relevant information.
[Extracting data on 'game' from 'Dragons of the Holy Site.']
['Game' refers to dragons taking over the bodies of epicized humans or beasts, living as non-dragons—a form of dragon entertainment.]
[Unlike regular 'epics,' those taken by dragons inherit the dragon's authority and power. However, this leaves their true body vulnerable, making it a pastime for only a few dragons.]
[Dragons in the midst of a game pretend not to know each other while hiding their true forms— that's the unwritten rule among them.]
It was what Daemon did.
Seizing control of the body from the one whose eyes met his and wielding it.
The difference was that dragons could bestow their innate authority and power on the host.
A game where dragons fully lived the target's life.
......So, they thought the Dragon of the North had taken over my body—Reinhardt's life—and was living it.
They couldn't approach a dragon at play first, so they'd waited for me to call them.
Should I praise them for being such rule-abiding, diligent dragons?
They'd even apologized.
It'suggested the Dragon of the North held no small status among them.
'If we fight, I can't even touch them.'
Unlike Balmun. No comparison.
With Balmun, I'd induced carelessness and let my nanos seep in through my sword.
If I could touch them somehow and inject Zero's nanos, I'might win—but if I couldn't even touch them, no chance.
And if it came to a fight, I'd fail 100% right now.
At least in my current state.
However, these dragons didn't seem eager to fight either.
More importantly.
[Scan confirms 99.99% match in nano properties among the three.]
[A.I. is split into three, but they share a common frequency band.]
Zero's scan revealed more than just levels.
Their nature.
These three "dragons" were actually a single entity pretending to be three.
I played dumb and kept up the act.
"So why did three of you come? No, that's wrong. You're pretending to be three, but really just one."
"......"
The eagle mask fell silent.
I'd hit the nail on the head; of course he had nothing to say.
"Impressive."
He soon spoke, sounding slightly admiring.
"You're the first to see through our connection at a glance, Dragon of the North."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"......Dragon of the North, won't you join our 'Dragon Blood Society'?"
Dragon Blood Society?
What the hell was that?
[No matching term found.]
Even Zero didn't know. Meaning the dragons of the holy site didn't either.
I grew even more cautious.
They were trying to recruit me using a term even the Dragon of the North didn't know.
Testing me? Or did dragons have secret societies too?
Best thing in this situation: shut up. As I stayed silent, he continued.
"I understand. It's sudden. But the 'Dragon Blood Society' is a special organization for dragons who qualify."
"And I qualify?"
"Dragon of the North, you've qualified for a thousand years. You achieved ten feats and even killed an 'Ancient Dragon,' didn't you?"
That's why they'd come personally.
Was the Dragon of the North that impressive?
Well, it endured a thousand years while constantly emitting that massive radiation. It had just weakened over time.
In its prime, beating it would've been a pipe dream.
And Gaph had fought that Dragon of the North to a draw. In many ways, Gaph might be humanity's pinnacle.
Anyway.
"Why should I join?"
I got that it was a dragon organization, but that didn't mean I'd risk my neck for it.
The eagle mask answered my question.
"Half of the Twelve Gods came from the Dragon Blood Society."
......Oh ho.
Now that was interesting.
It meant the Dragon Blood Society was deeply involved every time the world ended.
And this guy seemed to want me— the Dragon of the North— to join.
Entering the Dragon Blood Society would let me learn more about dragons.
Maybe even Eden and the World Tree's locations.
The problem: I wasn't the real Dragon of the North.
If they found out I was fake, I'd die.
"You'll also learn when the twelfth feat will activate."
But...... it was tempting. Very tempting.
If I knew the timing of the final feat, I could prepare accordingly.
If I could track dragon movements and inject Zero's nanos into the group, I'might wipe out powerful dragons instead.
'To catch a dragon, enter the dragon's den......'
If I kept my wits, I could take them down.
But I couldn't just rush in on a recruitment pitch.
"What's in it for you if I join? Aren't we all rivals anyway?"
"Natural to think that way. We were designed to see each other as enemies. But following programmed instincts is for hatchlings like Balmun."
Dragons had classifications.
Young and weak ones were hatchlings; older, stronger ones were adult dragons or ancient dragons.
Now I understood why Balmun's transformation looked different from what I'd seen.
'Balmun was a hatchling.'
Bipedal with a lazy dragon face.
That explained it.
Yet it was still strong. Without Zero hacking its real-time action calculations, I couldn't have handled it.
"You know the god-birth cycle is shortening, Dragon of the North."
I didn't.
How would I?
"The Dragon Blood Society exists to enable more god births. Even without fighting each other, the shortening cycle means opportunities will come."
"A club for cowards who hate fighting?"
"Dragon of the North, we rule the world. Better to prepare for the future than waste time on pointless brawls, no?"
A valid point.
Limited number of dragons, even fewer becoming ancient dragons.
If they fought each other, the world would turn upside down.
They'd fight if goals clashed, but no need if they aligned.
Opportunities would come with the shortening god-birth cycle anyway.
I was also curious why they aimed for more god births.
'Dragons and gods have factions too, huh.'
His tone suggested it.
He was sincerely trying to convince me.
Lots of questions, but I asked the key one.
"Are those the only entry conditions?"
"Dragon Lord's permission, or agreement from three registered Dragon Blood Society members. As the Dragon of the North, you'd qualify easily."
What if I wasn't?
Couldn't ask that.
"Dragon of the North, will you join the Dragon Blood Society?"
Pretty direct.
He was convinced I was the Dragon of the North.
But what if others saw through it?
Weighing the risks, refusal made sense. Unless I had ten lives.
"......I'll join."
But it was too alluring a temptation.
An opportunity like this might never come again.
As I agreed, the eagle mask nodded.
"Then let's depart immediately. Where's your true body? Not this game host."
Depart immediately?
I had mountains of work.
It'd only been a week since I took the Investigation Captain title. I'd probed over ten nobles and executed three.
But as a dragon, this "game" was far less important.
To me, this life mattered most.
To the Dragon of the North, connecting with the Dragon Blood Society was a hundred, a thousand times more vital than living as Reinhardt.
So I had to play it straight. Asking for time or saying I'd finish some work might raise suspicions.
"Must I use my true body?"
"Not strictly necessary...... but why?"
"My true body's not in good shape."
"Ah. Recently freed from the seal, right? Understood."
Lucky. He assumed on his own.
But.
"I've prepared a flying mount outside the capital. Follow me."
......Talk about fast-tracking.
[Dragon Blood Society (2)] End