Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Dreams Come True
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Dreams Com, True (Later Half Content Added)
Finally, the moment to achieve my dream had arrived. The dream I'd harbored since childhood...!
Kuooooo!
The creature with vivid red scales let out a bold roar, just as I'd envisioned with my magic power. As I slowly stroked its back, I felt a hardness like steel.
A dragon. A majestic dragon.
Of course, it wasn't monstrously huge. Its body filled the rooftop exactly, and its wings poked out just a bit over the edges.
It was about the size of a decent mid-sized dragon.
"Good. Good. Such a good boy."
There was no need to summon anything bigger. This size seemed perfect for snow removal.
I hadn't referenced a guidebook like usual. I'd succeeded in summoning it based roughly on my imagination.
To be precise, it wasn't like I had nothing to reference at all.
"Looking at you makes me nostalgic somehow."
My final memory from when I was a man.
The protagonist that had pierced my abdomen in the Black Night Gate where I'd gone to grind rice.
Unconsciously, my hand went to my lower belly. Beneath the soft sensation, a faint phantom pain brushed by for no reason.
Kuooooo!
"Do you remember that time too?"
Right before dying, I'd hated the thing so much, but now I even felt some gratitude.
Thanks to it, I'd built countless connections, and in a simplistic way, I'd become rich.
Anyway.
My brief reminiscence ended there. I didn't have time to dawdle.
"Alright then, let's go, Seolbaek!"
Kiiing!
Seolbaek, who had been riding on my head, spun once in midair.
Seolbaek, transformed as always with a spray of mist. It had taken the form of a baby dragon.
"You still can't transform into an adult yet, huh."
Kiiing!
It wasn't exact, but this dragon had at least reached the threshold of S-rank. Most dragons did.
So with Seolbaek's three tails, baby dragon seemed to be the limit. Well, that might actually be better?
A baby dragon wasn't that small either. It was about the size of four giant pudding slimes combined.
"Alright, let's go!"
I put on the goggles I'd bought for times like this. Molrangtex wasn't the one White Night gave me; I'd swapped it for my personal one. I didn't want my identity getting exposed.
Flap!
The dragon swung its massive wings a few times, and its heavy body lifted into the sky in an instant.
"Ugh, whoa!"
I nearly lost my balance for a second, but I managed to stick Molrangtex to the spike on its back and hold on somehow.
Soon, the dragon reached a suitable altitude and ripped its mouth open wide.
Kwaaaaa!
A white beam erupted from its mouth, enveloping the factory area.
Dragon breath. And a pretty unique one at that. It was white like snow, but its nature was completely opposite.
The snow piled up across the world didn't just melt—it evaporated completely. Even the mountain-like heaps had no chance against the intense heat.
The breath was precise, targeting only the snow, but tiny fragments splashing elsewhere weren't entirely avoidable.
Tok!
Pebble-sized fragments tried to deform the steel railing using their own heat.
Kii!
That's where Seolbaek's role was crucial. It flew quickly to any problem spots, using its magic to neatly suppress the heat.
"This is what a dragon's like."
In just a few minutes, the snow removal around the factory was complete.
Of course, that wasn't the end of it.
Someone flying high in the sky like this—a dragon clearing snow only around my factory? It was suspicious enough on its own.
"Here we go...!"
Flap!
So we started flying toward Seoul. Might as well melt all the snow in the city while we're at it.
We advanced swiftly, spewing breath. Everywhere we passed regained its pre-winter scenery.
Even after entering the city proper, we didn't slow down. No need to hesitate.
With mana-infused snow piled high, all outdoor activity was strictly prohibited anyway.
However.
I could feel gazes peering curiously at me from inside building windows.
'...Thrilling!'
What a fantastic sensation. Just the high-speed flight was exciting enough, but with the attention added, dopamine was flooding my system like crazy.
I waved to everyone watching me, then ascended to the highest point in Seoul.
Right in the middle of the five skyscrapers. The very spot where I'd one day build my own building.
Kwaaaaa!
The dragon unleashed a brilliant breath. Snow itself was completely erased from Seoul.
But it wasn't over yet. The unstable gate was still sprinkling snow.
As I pondered how to handle that—
Kuooooo!
"...You think you can do it?"
The dragon nodded, urging me to trust it. Well, that should be fine then.
The gate wasn't officially mine yet, but there was no one inside it right now.
I'd win ownership at the auction tomorrow anyway, so the dragon going in shouldn't be a big issue.
"Alright, I leave it to you?"
Kuooooo!
With its confidence on full display, as its owner, I had no choice but to believe.
"...This is freaking scary."
But when it came time to jump off, my whole body was trembling. I'd completely forgotten about it amid the flight dopamine.
The fact that this was the high, high sky.
The situation was like being on a plane. Flying in one isn't scary, but deciding to jump out?
...Gulp.
I couldn't bring myself to do it.
But what could I do? Nah Sae-byeok. When it's time, she gets it done.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
I threw myself under the clouds. Tears welled up, and my mind was on the verge of leaving my body.
Thud!
Kii!
I landed on Seolbaek's back.
"Ah... uh..."
The terror beyond comprehension had shut down my language functions, but luckily Seolbaek was a smart familiar.
It safely carried me all the way back to the rooftop room.
And the dragon, in the meantime, slipped right into the gate.
That's when the snow that had been falling nonstop over Seoul and Gyeonggi Province for three days finally stopped.
**
Click!
Ziiiiiing!
I pressed the remote, and the rolled-up display began to unfurl.
"Ooh...!"
The display White Night had gifted me. Same model as the one that played the filming behind-the-scenes.
Technology had advanced so much. How could such a thin display roll up like that?
I loaded a video onto the display that now filled one wall of the rooftop room.
Ding!
[White Night: You logged in, right?]
[WantToRaiseADragon: Yeah. I'm connected.]
It was the gate auction site. I'd joined online, but plenty of people were attending offline too.
Camera was off, voice modulator tested— no worries about my identity leaking.
Ding!
[White Night: Once the current item ends, it's the gate's turn.]
[White Night: You sure you don't want any help?]
[WantToRaiseADragon: Yeah.]
[WantToRaiseADragon: I've got enough with what I have.]
Help would be nice, of course, but in the end, I turned down White Night's offer.
'White Night has places to spend money too.'
They'd taken a huge hit from the gate explosion incident. Sure, they'd made some cash from Molrangmol packaging and merch, but it was still negligible.
In that situation, the 20 billion White Night offered was better invested in themselves than me.
And right on cue, a new investor had reached out.
Ding!
[JH Hunter Love Future Account (4213) Deposit 20,000,000,000 KRW - (JH Bank)]
Not a loan—an investment.
JH Bank had provided a whopping 20 billion. In return, they wanted 10% of the gate's shares.
No interference in operations, just 10% of future profits. That was the deal.
'Not sure if it'll be a profit model yet, but...'
No other conditions attached. Like the membership contract before, they were investing purely in my potential.
So the total I could use was 40 billion. If I tightened my belt a bit, even 50 billion. Enough to aim for a decent C-rank gate.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
[Alright, moving on to the next item. We'll start the auction for the gate that recently appeared in the skies over Gyeonggi Province... T-4 sector.]
With the auctioneer's words, gate info popped up behind him.
[Item: T-4 Gate (Provisional)]
[Rank: D]
[Features]
[A gate with no monsters appearing.]
[Mixed ore deposits in large quantities. (500kg / Estimated value: 2.5 billion)]
Even looking again, it was unremarkable—just floating in the sky.
Maybe I could snag it cheaper than expected?
[We'll start the auction. Starting bid: 6 billion. All proceeds go to the Hunter Association.]
For reference, the Hunter Association was a government agency. Meaning all gate sale money went straight to taxes.
That's why they set the starting bid higher than market value.
'They take way too much in taxes, seriously...'
[6.5 billion.]
The auction kicked off, and Terra Guild's proxy bid first.
They made their living off gate tourism, right? Not one of the top five guilds, but decently sized, I remembered.
[Yes, 6.5 billion. Anyone higher?]
Maybe I should step in.
"Ahem. 9 billion."
[Yes, 9 billion from Molrangmol.]
Ding!
[White Night: Aren't you bidding kinda high...?]
[WantToRaiseADragon: Just wanna end it quick.]
As expected, Terra balked.
9 billion on a D-rank gate? One with awful accessibility to boot?
'If it's too much, back off then.'
Sure enough, Terra's proxy gave up cleanly. They must've sensed I'd go higher.
I thought that was it, but another competitor appeared.
[13 billion.]
[Yes, 13 billion! Hwayeon bids 13 billion!]
These crazy bastards? Hwayeon again.
The ones who didn't even consider gates below B-rank, eyeing a D-rank?
Hwayeon's proxy smirked arrogantly. Clearly intentional. They saw my bid and got curious, deciding to snipe.
"15 billion."
[Yes, 15 billion! Molrangmol bids 15 billion!]
I absolutely couldn't lose.
Good. Let's see how far this goes.
[16 billion.]
"18 billion."
[19 billion.]
"20 billion."
[20.5 billion.]
"22 billion."
[22.1 billion.]
"23 billion."
[23.1 billion.]
Ding!
[White Night: You sure you're okay? If you're short, we can help...]
[WantToRaiseADragon: I'm good. I'll message later. Busy now.]
"25 billion."
[25.1 billion.]
These fuckers were insane. Just adding 100 million each time I bid...
What, they think they're Bruce Wayne?
The intent was obvious. No real intention to win—just inflating the price to screw me over.
No separate bids during the auction, so they had plenty of funds.
The auctioneer's lips wouldn't stop curling up. He was subtly urging me with glances to bid higher.
Okay, okay. Time to show 'em what money-printing looks like. Let the auction viewers feel Molrangmol's capital a bit. On the surface, it'd look like beating Hwayeon.
"30 billion."
50 billion jump in one go. Changed the first digit.
Even for a top-five guild like Hwayeon, that was starting to weigh on them.
The gate's estimated value was 3 billion at best—10 times that was burdensome.
[...30.1 billion.]
This could drag on forever. Better smash their noses with a huge bid. Plus, a potential profit method for the gate had occurred to me.
"40 billion."
[Yes, 40 billion! Molrangmol jumps 10 billion instantly! Come on, Hwayeon Guild! Your move?]
Murmurs started among the participants.
The actual amount I'd pay wasn't 40 billion, but 44 billion—10% extra like VAT.
Enough for a C-rank gate... You guys really gonna spend that?
[Come on, Hwayeon Guild. Any more bids? Final decision, please.]
Hwayeon's proxy bowed his head. Hands busy—probably consulting the higher-ups.
The auctioneer waited a bit, but the proxy didn't look up.
[Any higher? Good. No more bids, we'll countdown and close. Final bid: Molrangmol's 40 billion.]
Bang!
[40 billion, first.]
Bang!
[40 billion, second.]
Bang!
[Anyone else? Last call. 40 billion!]
Bang!
[T-4 Gate, final price 40 billion! Sold to Molrangmol! Congratulations!]
Auctions were easy. So easy.
Ding!
[White Night: Still think you didn't overspend?]
[WantToRaiseADragon: Nah. Thought of a way to make money off the gate too...]
[WantToRaiseADragon: Wanted to show off Molrangmol's funds a little.]
[White Night: Even so, ending it like this...]
[WantToRaiseADragon: Not over yet lol]
[White Night: You're really gonna do that...?]
[WantToRaiseADragon: Should I not??]
[White Night: Well... once wouldn't hurt. Sticking it to Hwayeon sounds good lol...]
[WantToRaiseADragon: (Nice emoticon)]
Bang bang!
[Alright, next item! The final auction of the day—another gate, the new B-rank that appeared in the waters off Incheon a month ago!]
Probably what Hwayeon was after. The one over the sea. They'd lost the previous seabed gate to Jenesys, so they were probably grinding their teeth.
They'd even started road construction nearby, like they'd reserved it.
[130 billion.]
So as soon as the starting bid was mentioned—no, even before—Hwayeon's proxy shouted boldly.
Might as well stir the pot a little. Got White Night's okay. Sure, there was a tiny risk I'd win it...
Gate wins could be canceled by paying 5% of the bid. With a 9-month auction ban penalty.
But that penalty didn't matter much to me... And they'd already started construction—would they back out?
Most guilds wouldn't dare cross Hwayeon, but unfortunately, I was already their enemy.
"130.1 billion."
The proxy's face twisted at my sudden entry.
[...160 billion.]
"160.1 billion!"
[230 billion.]
"230.1 billion."
[260 billion.]
They're coming in strong? Estimated value around 150 billion—I figured 200 billion max... Must've brought deep pockets.
"260.2 billion!"
[...320 billion.]
So Hwayeon copied my strategy. Just bid big.
They probably weren't sure if I'd buy. From their side, with investments already sunk in, they couldn't quit. Turning sea to land cost a fortune.
Eh, 300 billion should do it. That'd be a big bleed for Hwayeon.
The auctioneer yapping at me... probably egging on my bid.
Beep.
I just shut down the computer.