Chapter 11
Chapter 11
The Third District, the Sacred Area.
We all walked toward the place where the Silver Cross Knight Order had its headquarters.
I wanted to ask about how the city was divided into districts, or what kind of place the Sacred Area was. But…
Evelyn’s aura was terrifying as she dragged Hans, who had a disposable magic gag on.
“⋯.”
So, I just followed quietly, occasionally whispering to Yeriel.
After walking for an hour or two, the atmosphere clearly changed.
It felt quiet, reverent—like a place where disturbances wouldn’t easily occur.
Looking around, it seemed most of the buildings were pure white.
‘Wow, this is massive. And fancy, to match the size. That must be the cathedral.’
As I wandered while admiring the view, a building that clearly looked like a cathedral came into sight.
The pure white tone exuded nobility, and the contrasting, colorful stained glass was breathtaking.
“Yeah. It’s huge, right?”
I asked Yeriel just in case, and as expected, she confirmed it.
“Let’s go in.”
After leaving the cathedral behind and walking a bit further, the Silver Cross Knight Order headquarters came into view.
It gave off a sense of being as solid as well-tempered steel.
Clang! Clang─!
One! Two!
The sound of swords clashing and coordinated training could be heard from the entrance. Their enthusiasm was palpable.
Indeed, they were a combat group worthy of being called a knight order.
We entered and explored the route to the commander’s office. Evelyn shouted as soon as we arrived.
“Lieutenant! Get to my office immediately!”
Soon, hurried footsteps approached, and the door swung open.
Bam!
The man who appeared had neatly combed hair, glasses, and an extremely stern look.
“Commander, you summoned me! Have you finished your business with Yeriel?”
Evelyn replied coldly to his words.
“Yes. We reunited safely and came together. But a minor issue arose—this one here.”
She gestured to Hans, who was restrained.
“Isn’t he a slave? Did you take him out of the guild?”
“No, I received the rights from Aren over there.”
I bowed slightly to the man as he looked at me.
“Then there should be no issues of abuse of authority. How would you like him handled?”
Evelyn flexed her hands, then spoke.
“Not ‘handled.’ Lock him in the interrogation room. Let the interrogators deal with him for three days, then I’ll see him myself.”
Was she showing the authority expected of a commander? It felt different from the Evelyn I’d spoken with or the one I’d seen at the guild.
“Remember this. Break him thoroughly, but don’t kill him. He dared to touch Yeriel. Start with his fingers and toes.”
The man’s expression changed, and he nodded, taking Hans away.
Sighing, Evelyn turned to me.
“Now, Aren, let’s go to your quarters.”
I felt the weight of being personally attended by the commander as I arrived at my room. Evelyn handed me the key she received from the caretaker.
“Here. It’s a private room, so no issues. I have things to catch up on. Rest well, Aren. See you tomorrow.”
After she left, I went to the room marked with the number on the key.
‘306.’
Click.
Inside, it was spacious enough for a single person.
The bed and furniture were neat, clearly well-maintained. Thanks to magic, the bathroom doubled as a shower.
“Alright. At least I have a place to stay for now. Problem solved.”
My residence and identity issues had been handled, and it had been less than a week since arriving in this world. Thinking of everything that had already happened, I was just exhausted.
I washed up quickly and threw myself onto the bed.
Sleep overtook me almost immediately.
‘Where… am I? I definitely fell asleep on the bed.’
When I came to, I was standing in a completely white space.
I had been asleep, that much was certain. Was this a dream? A lucid dream, maybe?
At least I could move… but there was nothing around me.
I walked slowly, inspecting my surroundings. Nothing existed in this white space except me.
“Why… what is this? There’s nothing to touch, and it’s just me. What am I supposed to do here?”
If it’s a dream, maybe time will pass and I’ll wake up?
I wandered around, mumbling to myself, but boredom soon set in.
I stopped and considered testing if I could sleep here too.
As I bent my legs to lie down—
Boom!
A loud sound erupted from behind.
‘What the…? I’m not alone?’
I spun around and saw black smoke swirling.
Squinting, I could make out something inside it.
I tensed, keeping my eyes fixed, and suddenly it lunged at me.
“Shit!”
An ambush?! Even in a dream, there are monsters?!
I tried to dodge, but something was wrong.
…Why isn’t it slowing down?
The creature reached me in an instant. Black smoke spread across its body, and it let out a terrifying scream.
“Kraang!”
Wait—correction. That wasn’t a scream; it was feminine.
“Puhaha! Cute little thing. Surprised, are we?”
The figure before me wasn’t a monster—it looked human. She had black horns on her head, a fur cloak, and a scandalously revealing outfit, but she was undeniably beautiful.
I unconsciously unclenched my fists.
‘Are you insane? She’s a beauty coming at you in real combat. Don’t just give her yourself, idiot!’
I smacked my cheeks to clear my head. She just smiled, watching silently.
“Hmm. Do you like my human-form polymorph? Quite a face you have there, fully entranced!”
She smiled broadly.
Who was this? Why so familiar yet friendly on first meeting?
A polymorph was supposedly a dragon magic used for amusement.
Her horns, her familiar aura…
—Chaos is controlled and applied by the master, but the blood within is proud to be its own.
—So this being I’m communicating with is a dragon? Makes sense, if she calls the goddess her master.
“Chaos?”
She clapped with delight at my words.
Clap clap clap!
“You’ve got sharp instincts. Yes, I’m the Chaos you’ve always talked to through the system!”
“…Huh.”
No wonder Chaos didn’t react when it tried to attack. I wasn’t taking damage, of course.
“Chaos, how is this possible? I thought I could only see you through the system.”
She was clearly thrilled.
Since arriving in this world, Chaos was the only thing I could truly rely on. Even laughing with party members left a sense of loneliness, but talking with Chaos erased that feeling.
Plus, the goddess forced me here, and Chaos was only her servant—so I didn’t even feel resentment.
“Haha! Aren, since you escaped the labyrinth safely and grew stronger, I thought I’d forcefully visit your dream to give you a bit of fun!”
She laughed and said:
“You had me worried, but you managed well and reached the city. Come here!”
I approached as instructed, and she patted my head.
“Well done~ Shouldn’t a good child be praised? More, more pats!”
The pats gave me a strange feeling, like a child again.
“Ma—ma…”
Crazy. I nearly lost my mind from the head pats.
Also, her childlike speech, the dragon-like species… how old is she?
I smacked her again.
“Ugh, stop these thoughts immediately!”
She held my head while patting me.
“Hmph. Serves you right.”
I decided not to dwell on her age. She hardened her expression as if ending the playful talk.
“Aren, I have a few things to tell you. Listen carefully⋯”
Boom!
Suddenly, an explosion interrupted her words. Smoke spread in front of me, and I coughed. I could hear her voice.
“Oh, even in dreams, my power is restricted.”
“What…?”
Gradually, I saw her again, but she was different—smaller, very small. Her clothes were normal.
“Stop staring!”
“You suddenly became cute.”
“Eeek! What humiliation is this!”
She scowled but quickly returned to her calm voice.
“My current form is because I’m too powerful to intervene in reality, and at the same time—”
At the same time?
“Our souls are connected. That’s why I can show this form in your dream, partially successfully.”
Powerful, but… soul connection?
“Simply put, from the moment you transferred to this world and were imbued with her power, you and I became like family, connected by strength instead of blood.”
Family, huh.
“I am Chaos, the dragon who consumed the goddess’ power as her servant. You are her only apostle, receiving most of the causality she stored. That’s why our existences are intertwined.”
“…Oh.”
“Especially since you’ve become like this, our souls are half-connected through the system. Otherwise, how could we communicate heart-to-heart?”
She pointed alternately at herself and me.
“You and I are now inseparable under the goddess of Chaos’ domain. Understand?”
Hearing this, I thought, ‘I got something like family in this world too?’ Odd feeling.
“If you die, half of my soul will be corrupted. I might descend to the lower world and be called a calamity. But…”
She relaxed and smiled.
“In your world, couples are said to be one in heart. Then we’re half a couple!”
She winked.
“Come here again. I’ll encourage you to live strongly and safely! Quick!”
I approached slowly.
“Oh, height mismatch now! Bend down a bit!”
Ignoring her, I seated her on my lap.
“Eh?”
“Now it’s my turn.”
I patted her vigorously.
“Mm….”
I stopped, thinking it was enough, but she said:
“A little more… feels good…”
Pat pat pat.
“Eek!”
Her form began to fade.
“You’re waking from the dream! Listen carefully. Just because you passed the third floor doesn’t mean you can take the first and second lightly. Focus on your core for now.”
Definitely no room for arrogance. I nodded.
“And—”
She didn’t finish and vanished.
“Gasp.”
I opened my eyes in reality. Morning.
[Did Chaos sleep well?]
“Yes. It was quite exciting. One thing’s certain—I’ll work harder thanks to Chaos.”
[Chaos giggles.]
I cleaned up, got ready, and stepped outside.
‘Where do I eat? Can outsiders eat at the Knight Order’s dining hall?’
I pondered when Evelyn’s aide from yesterday approached.
“Good morning, Aren. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, I slept very soundly. By the way, your name?”
“I failed to introduce myself. I’m the commander’s personal aide, Kane.”
Personal aide Kane. Must remember.
“Now isn’t the time for introductions. The commander ordered me to bring you to her private training hall. Let’s go.”
Urgent? I followed Kane to Evelyn’s private training hall.
‘Wow. This really is a private hall. It’s huge.’
Evelyn stood in the center. She saw me and Kane.
“Kane, good work. You may leave.”
“Yes, sir.”
Kane bowed and left.
“Now, Aren. Sorry to bother you early, but I want to test you.”
Suddenly?
“Test…?”
She nodded.
“Yes. I had an honest talk with Yeriel last night. My sister wants to continue adventuring with you, if it’s okay. But…”
Of course it’s okay. More than okay.
“Still, I don’t really know your true strength, so I can’t blindly trust her to you.”
Fair enough. Better to have Yeriel, skilled and loyal, than go alone.
“Would you show me your skill through sparring?”
I nodded.
“Good! I’ll attack with the physical ability of a first-floor average adventurer, grade E. Give it your all.”
She tossed a wooden sword at me.
“It’s solid ironwood, so don’t worry about it breaking.”
“Grab the sword, Aren. Let’s see your skill.”
Alright. Impress her, secure Yeriel’s trust, and gain benefits.
“Then, let’s go all out.”
[Strong Body activated]
[All physical grades increase by one step.]
“Oh, you can use Strong Body? Interesting. I’ll let you attack first!”
[Chaos warns you not to be reckless in the sparring.]
‘Don’t worry. It’s sparring; I won’t die.’
I started with a diagonal slash while charging.
Clang!
Evelyn narrowed her eyes, slightly deflected my strike while stepping back.
‘As expected, her experience and technique are on another level.’
“My stats seem above the first-floor average. Fun. Now I’ll go!”
She charged, and due to Chaos’ magic, my vision seemed to slow.
?!
Even though her speed and movements were adjusted to E-grade stats, I could see everything clearly.
Yet…
Not a single trajectory was visible.