The Dragon King Is Just A Big Lizard, Right?

“What on earth am I supposed to pick here...”

Honestly, the Sage’s Prayer Beads were the most tempting. After all, having them would allow me to explore the Forest of the Missing even when it wasn't during an event period. It would also let me revisit places that were previously one-time-only, like the upper or lower floors of the Black Market, or even that world I saw in my dreams.

The Iron Man’s Beads, which reset the status window, were also quite appealing. It meant I could allocate my stats exactly how I wanted and re-select my skills. In truth, I barely used skills like Corrupted Breath or Impure Hand Blade, so I wouldn't mind swapping them out for something else.

‘And maybe... if I hit 1000 in other stats, I’ll get rewards for those too...’

For now, stats other than Magic didn't trigger any special achievements even after passing 100. It seemed like only the Magic stat had its own unique achievements... but surely, if I pushed other stats toward 1000, I’d trigger something. Of course, since it was an item I could only use twice, I’d have to be careful, but it was an incredible object nonetheless.

‘However...’

In the end, I decided to choose the Saint’s Rosary.

‘You never know when someone might die... It’s best to stock up on spare lives while the opportunity exists.’

Resurrecting an Awakened—especially one who significantly influences the flow of events—consumes a massive amount of causality. But the Saint’s Rosary could bring someone back as long as their soul existed, without that heavy cost. In short, as long as they hadn't been swallowed by an Evil God or snatched up by the Pantheon, I could call them back.

‘Moreover... I almost lost three people during this Narak raid...’

Aram, Juha, and Sora. All three almost died while I was away. Because of Nick and his bastard cohorts.

‘If Juha hadn't held them back, if the Dragon-Blooded Knight Aran hadn't insisted on fighting alone, if Aram hadn't managed to block one of Aran’s attacks, if Sora had been even a second late with the report, and if Cheshire and Aila had arrived any later...’

They would be dead. Literally evaporated. With Killian, Dantae, the priest Caesar, and even the Dragon-Blooded Knight Aran—who was among the strongest of NPCs—the three of them had faced a Hero Party with four NPCs. Honestly, it was a miracle they survived at all.

‘Even fighting just Nick, Michael, and Anna would have likely resulted in total annihilation...’

The fact that they survived without a single missing limb while facing four NPCs was a miracle born from a chain of coincidences.

“I’ll go with the Saint’s Rosary...”

Clink...

A silver bracelet fell to the floor. It was a bracelet with a cross attached. It didn't quite suit an Apostle of an Evil God, but I put it on my wrist anyway.

“Not bad.”

Wearing it alongside the Black Snake Bracelet Aila had gifted me, it looked quite stylish and atmospheric. Even the simple-looking rosary seemed like a luxury item when paired with Aila’s gift.

‘Next...’

This time, I decided to select the reward for the ‘Enemy of the Dragon King’ achievement.

“What the hell is this... this isn't a reward...”

Isn't it a problem to threaten someone with an achievement? And I wondered if it had some special effect, but it was literally a dagger given to make me kill myself. The item description... it felt like the Dragon King himself wrote it, not an administrator.

‘Is this even allowed...’

But looking closely, the phrase at the end was bothering me. ‘This dagger will unconditionally take your life...?’ Could this be an instant-death weapon? It implies it can kill anyone, regardless of who they are...

‘Having obtained various items, there’s no way such a balance-breaking tool could be used multiple times...’

Given it’s called a ‘Suicide Dagger,’ it seems like a one-time instant-death attack weapon. This... is a reward. Even if it was given to make me die, I don't have to use it as instructed.

‘With this... could I even one-shot the Lord of the Afterlife crawling out of the Ghost Gate... maybe even a god...’

I think I could even kill Ziegfried in one hit if I could land it. Of course, at Ziegfried’s level, landing it is nearly impossible, but if I handed it to Hilde, she might be able to slit his throat.

‘Is today some kind of day? A one-time resurrection item, and now a one-time instant-death item... Is it okay to give out things like this? Or is this a reasonable reward? I don't know.’

Then again, I wonder if there’s anyone else capable of achieving the ‘Enemy of the Dragon King’ achievement. The condition is killing or eating the Dragon King’s offspring. In reality, this achievement is nearly impossible to attain. Unless you’re like me, with a glitched luck stat forced into hardcore difficulty, a normal survivor would have no way to find the Dragon King’s offspring. No, they probably wouldn't even know the Dragon King exists.

‘Hmm, let’s check the other rewards...’

‘If I could get the Suicide Dagger separately... I could one-shot the Dragon King...’

This was an item that could be used as bait for the Dragon King. Since it says he’ll come as quickly as possible if I pick this, I might be able to hunt the Dragon King if I prepare well. The problem is how strong the Dragon King is...

‘Wait... if I unseal Spenta Mainyu in the Forest of Corruption, and call everyone I can—Sataniel, Kysiria, and Einax—can’t I just subjugate him?’

I know the Dragon King is considered a Dragon God. He’s probably one of the three pillars of the Pantheon. I heard the World Tree, the King of Giants, and the Dragon God were the three main gods of the Pantheon. So this might ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be a chance to subjugate one of them.

I’m not sure if the Dragon King is the same entity as the Dragon God, though...

[They are the same.]

Kashnakas’s voice echoed. Why was she reading my thoughts and answering my questions for once? She’d given me encouragement earlier, too... She must be bored today.

‘Aha... thank you.’

[If you’re thankful... no... I should restrain myself... chuckle chuckle...]

“...Yes?”

What? Why stop after making me curious? But I couldn't complain. Maybe it’s better for my health to just pretend I don't know. In fact, Kashnakas has been getting increasingly devious lately, trying to kidnap and imprison me in her domain whenever she gets the chance. I can’t even imagine how happy I’d be if I were dragged off, but... I have too much to do to enjoy such unearned pleasure yet.

Anyway, if I prepare thoroughly to kill a god... I might be able to eat Dragon King meat.

“Hmm... this is totally...”

The first reward was a one-time instant-death attack. The second was a Dragon King subjugation pass. The third was a reward that triggers intermittent Dragon Waves. The Dragon King—or whatever that bastard is—is threatening me with all three, but honestly, I’m more worried about how to use these items than I am afraid of his threats.

‘Dragon Wave... if I could just block it, Hellas would be so happy she’d faint...’

Dragon corpses are great for making various elixirs. I made a lot of medicine with the head of the Black Horned Dragon that Ziegfried discarded like trash. I even made an elixir that boosted my Magic by 100.

‘For now, I’ll hold off... other than the Suicide Dagger, the risk of picking them early is too high...’

It didn't seem like the right time to choose. I checked the last remaining reward. This time, it was the ‘Golden Dragon Predator’ achievement.

“It’s basically deer antler velvet...”

The armor and sword were basically an invitation to taunt them. Armor and a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sword glittering in gold. Doesn't that openly mean I killed the Dragon King’s offspring and looted the corpse to make weapons and armor? Of course, I don't mind being at odds with the Pantheon’s dragons. I don't need to stay on their good side.

‘I don't have to eat the nutrient myself; I can just feed it to someone else...’

Like Aram or Yewon... or I could give it to Sora. All three are still just ordinary humans. If I, a half-human, half-serpent, got greedy for Dragon-Blooded Human status, my body might actually explode.

“I’ll hold off on this, too.”

I can pick it later. There’s no law saying I have to choose right now.

“Then...”

I stood up. It was finally time to go get Mer.

“Mer!!!”

“Ah, Master. You’ve come?”

I had managed to reach New York Stewart Airport in three hours by riding the Dullahan’s skeletal horse. I didn't know the way well, but Becky said she knew the route and led us, riding her bike at the front. As a result, we arrived quickly without wandering off.

“You waited a long time. I’m sorry, Mer.”

“It is fine... But Master... there is blood on your clothes...”

“Ah, that... I got a little hurt.”

“Oh dear... Master...”

In reality, it was just blood I’d ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spilled after getting sick from eating something delicious by myself, but in life, the truth isn't always important. Moments like this are exactly that.

‘Yeah, rather than saying I completely forgot and just got here now... it’s better to just pass it off as if I had some circumstances.’

Anyway, Merhere hugged me tightly for a long time, worrying about me. As expected, Mer’s embrace is warm and benevolent... A pang of guilt tried to rear its head, but I suppressed it firmly.

“You worked hard, Master.”

“No, Mer, you worked the hardest. Waiting alone in the cold...”

“Hehe... I was not alone. Look, I have captured the prisoners, so you may inspect them at your leisure.”

“Oh..! Really? Let’s see.”

As I approached the private jet, a man and a woman with their limbs tied up were trembling. First, two men who looked like pilots. Then two women in stewardess uniforms. Finally, an Asian man with a perm.

“Oh, that bastard...”

I approached the Asian man with the perm. I was sure he was one of Meiling’s group... When he saw me, his eyes widened and he started shivering violently. Anyone would think he’d eaten a person.

“Hey, who are you?”

I asked, roughly ripping the tape off the perm-haired man’s mouth. He started spitting and babbling something.

“You fucking bastard... are you Chinese? Are you Chinese?”

“What!? No!! Uh... Wa, watashi wa Nihonjin desu!”

“This bastard... his accent sounds totally like a Chinaman... You fucking bastard. If you lie, you die. You speak lie, you die. Okay? I am very, very hate liar. Okay?”

I summoned an Abyss Maw and made it click its teeth to threaten him as if I’d chew him to death if he lied, and the perm-haired Asian man shook his head like a madman, tears streaming down his face. He seemed completely terrified.

“Yes, yes!! Okay!!! I’m so sorry... I’m... Taiwanese... Please, don't kill me... I’m Alchemist class... Very unique class... Please...”

Ryujin slammed his head into the floor and screamed for his life. He was even wailing that he was Taiwanese, not Chinese. He probably thought I was one of those ignorant bastards who considers Taiwan part of China, so he’d lied and said he was Japanese, a country he had no relation to in the first place.

Actually, I don't... really hate Taiwanese people. To be honest, I don't know much about Taiwan and I don't have much interest in it. Before deciding whether I like or dislike them, I don't really have any feelings toward them at all. It would have been smoother if I’d brought a communication potion.

Just then, he submitted to me. I immediately stamped my seal on his forehead. With this, the perm-haired man became my slave. His name was Ryujin. And his class was Alchemist. It wasn't a lie; he was a real Alchemist. Hellas would be really happy. She’d looked so heartbroken when I said I was taking Yoon Hajun away. He’d be the perfect gift.

“Mer, ask these people if the plane can be used.”

“Understood.”

Mer asked the pilots a few questions. After hearing their answers, she nodded and relayed the information to me.

“They say there is enough fuel. We can depart at any time.”

“Hehehe... really? Good. You two are hired. As for the stewardess ladies... Erickson will give them new jobs. Becky! Search for a car!”

“Yes...”

Now, I could just take one of the cars lying around here and head back. Of course, it would be faster to just fly in Mer’s arms... but I couldn't make Mer, who’d waited for me for over eight hours, suffer any more.

Soon, Becky, who had hot-wired a car, called us over. She said she was a Sword Dancer... she was a woman completely specialized in car theft.