Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Meeting Lumacas
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He descended as if performing a high-altitude drop, spotting a protruding tree branch below.
'There.'
Arthur grabbed the branch like snatching it mid-air while agilely launching his body toward a landing spot.
Thud.
He landed lightly.
Before gaining his powers, he never would have attempted something so reckless.
But his duel with Skevin had made it clear.
His physical abilities had grown strong enough to surpass human limits.
Still, jumping off a cliff without protective gear was tantamount to suicide—but he knew roughly where his destination was, and above all, he had thousands of hours of high-altitude drop training and real combat experience.
That was why he could trust himself and leap.
Arthur stood facing the wall and gazed at the dragon emblem.
As expected, the necklace reacted.
It glowed, the wall vanished, and an entrance allowing passage inside appeared.
Arthur tensed up as he stepped in.
Last time, his head had felt like it was splitting the moment he entered.
But nothing happened as he walked to the center of the cavern.
"What is this?"
He wore a puzzled expression when—
*Who are you?*
A majestic voice echoed.
Arthur answered as prepared for the expected question.
"Arthur Julius! Successor to Teheran Julius's legacy."
*Bold one, aren't you.*
"Are you Lumacas?"
*Letting a fledgling hear my name.*
"Fledgling?"
Arthur tilted his head.
"Are you referring to Teheran Julius, by any chance?"
*Yes, the one you all hail as a hero.*
The voice carried a clear tone of ridicule.
"Hmm..."
Arthur's face hardened.
To call the empire's hero—who transcended even the Julius Count Family—an upstart meant this was no ordinary being.
On the other hand, as the Julius Count Family's guardian deity, it made sense.
*An intriguing one has come. How can the master of the soul and body be different?*
"H-How..."
Arthur jolted in surprise.
It had seen through something even Millerph hadn't noticed.
His face stiff, he scanned the surroundings and shouted.
"Stop hiding and show yourself!"
Then, a pure white light appeared from somewhere and halted before Arthur.
It resembled floating fluff, shimmering in mid-air.
"What is this?"
*Follow me.*
The white light slowly floated ahead like a guide.
Arthur followed warily, checking his surroundings.
The cave was far larger than expected.
After about thirty minutes, a massive door like a castle gate appeared.
*Place your hand on the door.*
Arthur approached as Lumacas instructed and pressed his palm against what looked like a handprint indentation.
Clunk.
The firmly shut door cracked open just enough for one person to pass.
Bright light leaked through the gap.
"Hm."
Curiosity about what lay inside mixed with tension and a hint of fear in Arthur.
The moment he stepped in, his body froze like stone.
A dinosaur the size of a building—no, a golden dragon—glared at him with bulging eyes.
"N-No way..."
The white light that had guided him flew to the dragon's head and vanished.
Overwhelmed by its enormous body, Arthur's mind went blank, unable to form words.
He could only look up at it like a stunned mouse.
*Truly an amusing one.*
Once his shock subsided somewhat, Arthur cautiously spoke.
"Are you Lumacas?"
*You aren't afraid of me?*
"Why wouldn't I be? But if you're the Julius Count Family's guardian deity, you have no reason to harm me."
*Better than that fledgling. He fainted the moment he saw me.*
"Surprising. To think the one called the Reaper of the Battlefield would show such a disgrace."
*You're the odd one. How many could stand tall before me?*
"Is that so?"
Arthur grinned and glanced at the piles of gold and treasures stacked beside it.
*Want them?*
"Not really. I'm just curious why Teheran told me to meet you."
*First, satisfy my curiosity.*
"Do I have to?"
*Cheeky brat. Think you can face the Demon King without my help?*
"We'll see when we clash."
As Arthur turned away without hesitation, the door slammed shut.
Boom.
*You can't leave without my permission.*
"What?"
Arthur's eyes sharpened.
Staring fixedly at the dragon, a sudden doubt arose.
Was it even alive?
Only its voice echoed in his mind; the creature hadn't moved an inch.
Perhaps what he saw was some illusion.
He decided to test it.
"I hate being coerced, you know."
Arthur drew up his mana, unleashing a fierce aura.
*A mere human insect dares flare your aura before me?*
"Human insect? You're just a lizard trying to lord over humans!"
Arthur kicked off the ground and charged Lumacas, pouring all his power into his right fist.
Whoosh!
Just as he struck at the dragon's leg amid the sound of slicing wind—
Something unexpected happened.
His power vanished completely.
Thud!
With his mana gone, excruciating pain shot through his fist.
"Urgh!"
Arthur grimaced and glared at Lumacas.
*Forgot I'm the Julius Count Family's guardian deity? Where do you think your power comes from?*
"No way..."
*Would a Dragon Lord create a family weaker than human ones? I arranged it so you could use a fraction of my power.*
"So Teheran's mana cultivation method has side effects because of you..."
*Of course. Humans have astonishing potential. I allowed you to use my power, but I don't want you growing strong enough to threaten my kin.*
"Bastards everywhere are the same."
Arthur scowled, recalling his former superior, General McLager.
On the way back from their final mission, they were attacked by allies.
Impossible without his orders.
Even after becoming Arthur Julius, he had pondered the reason many times.
The same answer always came.
As Lumacas said, they judged eliminating him before he became a threat was right.
Such thoughts always filled him with rage.
To think a similar mind existed here.
What stunned him more was that it was the creator of the Julius Count Family—rage gave way to deeper bitterness.
*Hm, betrayed by a comrade once, eh.*
"!"
Arthur's eyes flashed.
*Compared to my greatness, it's nothing.*
Arrogance filled the voice.
"What do you want from me?"
*Unlike the fledgling, you're sharp—straight to the point. First, explain how you entered someone else's body.*
"Hmm..."
Arthur's expression soured.
But Teheran sending him here meant there was reason.
Teheran's mana cultivation had severe side effects.
He also didn't know how to wield absolute power.
Lumacas's help was essential to resolve both.
In such cases, wise judgment was key.
After a moment's thought, Arthur nodded as if decided.
"But I have conditions."
*Amusing—trying to bargain with me.*
"I'll give you answers, so fix the mana cultivation side effects."
*Didn't the fledgling tell you?*
"Aside from controlling mana rampage at nine stars, I want another way."
*There is no other. Humans using dragon power is impossible from the start.*
"Then saying nine stars makes it possible was a lie?"
*At nine stars, you'd rival dragon power—maybe surpass us.*
"What does that mean?"
*Achieving nine stars as a human is impossible. Even the fledgling, with his genius, topped at eight.*
"You gave us power knowing we could never surpass your kind."
Arthur eyed Lumacas with contempt.
But it showed no reaction.
It remained as first seen, voice only in his mind.
Suddenly, he wondered if this was magical like Teheran or Kanmurasas.
To confirm, better follow its wishes.
"Fine. One more: Teheran said he gave me absolute power, but I don't know how to use it."
*Simple. Satisfy my curiosity, and I'll solve it.*
"How can I trust you?"
*I swear by the Dragon's Oath. Bound by the primordial pact, dragons keep any promise. Breaking it shatters the dragon word, collapsing the self into oblivion—a dragon's ultimate shame.*
"That's true, I suppose?"
Arthur looked skeptical.
Then, a solemn, powerful voice rang out, playfulness gone.
*I, Lumacas, swear by the Dragon's Oath to Arthur Julius.*
The hushed atmosphere suggested no lie.
"Alright. My name is Kang Tae-su. I came from Earth."
Arthur calmly explained his existence and told of Earth.
Time passed.
Having learned Arthur's secret, Lumacas fell silent, shocked that Earth's invaders were this world's Demon King.
Arthur waited quietly for its voice.
Minutes later.
A grave voice came.
*So you killed that Demon King?*
"In my eyes, yes."
*Then it dimension-shifted here like to the fledgling before dying.*
"You knew the Demon King appeared?"
*I awoke sensing its aura.*
"Same as Kanmurasas."
*Comparing me to my former servant...*
Rage tinged the voice.
But Arthur didn't flinch.
"A grand magus reduced to your servant."
*Serving a Dragon Lord is the highest honor for human mages—you're clueless.*
Pride overflowed.
"Is that so?"
Arthur smirked and continued.
"Now keep your promise."
*I wondered what one from another dimension wants. Let's see.*
A moment passed.
Lumacas's angry voice followed.
*Damn it! What is this crap?*
"Break the promise, and your self collapses into oblivion, right?"
*Dragons never break promises. I'll fulfill it now—endure the pain and follow my instructions. Then the power unlocks.*
"Just do it."
Arthur tensed, bracing for pain.
The vanished white light reappeared before him.
This time, it sank into his mind.
Simultaneously, a massive explosion erupted inside him.
Boom! Kwang!
Kwaaang!
Arthur felt his body obliterated without trace.
"Damn it!"
He gritted his teeth against the agony.
After seconds, the pain faded.
*Look at your right hand.*
Arthur slowly opened his eyes and gazed at his right hand.
Nothing.
*Recall what you thought when telling the fledgling.*
"Recall it?"
Arthur tilted his head, picturing his guns.
Dozens of firearms panoramic in his mind—then intense energy surged in his right hand.
"What?"
Golden liquid flowed from his hand, shaping into form.
As it solidified, Arthur's eyes widened.
A golden pistol.
His constant companion alongside Chetak: SIG P226, Sig Sauer.
Amazement and joy crossed his face as he examined it.
"!"
Not just appearance—it was real.
Checking the magazine skeptically, golden aura filled it instead of bullets.
"Aura instead of bullets?"
*Let's see how impressive.*
"Very promising."
Arthur smiled meaningfully and aimed at the dragon.
*What are you doing?*
Lumacas's voice chilled.
"I want to test something too."
Arthur pulled the trigger without mercy.
Bang!