The background of Kalina's birth
The background of Kalina's birth
The beach of 「Busanosk」, where I had returned, was already after sunset.
'It wasn't even noon when I was in the 「Raigen」 Kingdom.'
Because of the time difference, it was still early morning here.
Mid-January, a midwinter sea breeze blew across the beach.
'I'm stark naked, but I can't feel a thing.'
It should be freezing, but I couldn't feel it at all. 'Mist Transformation' even neutralized the cold.
Just this 'Mist Transformation' alone was overpowered. I especially love that I'm not constrained by time when moving.
Compared to the ultimate powerhouses of my Transcendent [Wish] like 'Blood is also water' or 'Oh Sea' from my original world, I think 'Mist Transformation' is actually the best.
No matter how far the distance, within a few seconds, or instantly if it's within my line of sight.
The only problem is that for long-distance travel, I can only take my own body with me.
Aside from that, it perfectly fits what everyone imagines at least once:
'I want to reduce travel time.'
Because travel time is practically deleted.
If I could have used this in my original world, it would have been so great!
It took a whole hour to take the subway from home to university. I found this time extremely boring.
'If I could have used 'Mist Transformation' to cover that distance back then...'
Come to think of it, this was the reason I got into web novels.
I had nothing to do during that time. Others would stare at their phones all day.
'What's so fun for everyone? What are they looking at on their screens?'
I was looking for something to do, and I got hooked on web novels.
I liked overpowered protagonists. My timid heart didn't want to see adversity. At first, I read anything with an overpowered protagonist.
Then, I saw a guy who, like me, rode the subway for a long time, giggling and chatting with someone on ChocolateTalk for the entire hour.
'His typing speed is no joke.'
I was slow at ChocolateTalk. What would guys talk about for so long? It was lucky if I even got a reply. There was no way my speed would increase.
But that person didn't stop for a whole hour, typing at an incredible speed. He kept smiling, wondering what was so fun.
'He's definitely not talking to a guy. It must be his girlfriend.'
A girlfriend, honestly, I'm envious.
But as someone who has never dated, I didn't have the courage to approach a woman first. I finished my freshman year of college without ever holding a girl's hand in my life.
It's only natural that I ended up searching for harem tags in web novels.
'Still, I have hugging experience now.'
I skipped the hand-holding stage and went straight to getting hugged.
Yes, I received it.
And from a cold beauty prettier than any celebrity I'd seen on TV!
Sometimes that sensation comes to mind. The warmth of Katerina's ears touching my cheek when she hugged me at the Koopong Camp.
It turned out she was treating me like a nephew, but since I'm not her real nephew, only my heart was pounding. Because Katerina is so pretty.
If I reveal the truth, she probably won't treat me as well anymore.
'Ah~ I want to date!'
Maybe it's because I was on the beach feeling sentimental in the early morning, but a lot of random thoughts came to mind.
I should get home quickly.
The height of the magnificent Drevo Palace was visible even from here. I moved in an instant to that place, which had now become my home.
Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep-beep-beep~
I only released the 'Mist Transformation' on my hand and entered the password to get in.
Since it was fine to be naked now, I released the 'Mist Transformation' state, and my body was reflected in the full-length mirror in the living room.
Even looking at it again, it's a sculpture itself. I also notice my face, which became much more handsome than my original self after manifesting my ability.
Princess Marina was pretty, too.
A slender figure and a playful face. I thought of Princess Marina before leaving. Are all High Elves that pretty?
All the royals I've seen so far were pretty. The red hair and red eyes felt scary at first, but,
'Since everyone treats me well.'
The initial feeling quickly disappeared.
Marina was a bit unique, too.
Recalling her repeatedly answering "Yes!" at the end, something of mine is starting to stir.
"Hmm!"
I quickly grabbed the clothes that were lying around.
Maybe it's because I'm naked, but I'm starting to feel weird.
It's too late, so I'll have to call Katerina to report later. The users of the <Water Ability Gallery> must have all gone to sleep, too.
I lay in bed and thought about what had happened so far.
So many things have happened in the meantime. Surprisingly, it hasn't even been a month since I transferred here.
Normally, this would be the time when I'd be fully enjoying my vacation.
I wasn't going to be like someone who says "nothing happened" about the things that occurred here.
"I've had too many things happen to me."
Anyway, haven't most of the big events passed by now?
I only heard the settings for this world, so I don't know what kind of incidents will happen in the future.
Well, what big trouble could there be? Even if there is, it probably won't be a big deal, just like now. Haha.
For now, should I ask Serin to go drinking with me tomorrow?
Since I came here suddenly while drinking with a friend, I haven't really had a proper drink.
Ugh~ I'm nervous. Serin is super cute, too. Me, asking a girl like that to go drinking first?
Maybe it's because she's the first person I had a proper conversation with after coming here, or maybe it's because she always listens to me well,
she was the first girl in my life I could treat comfortably.
Now that we're not both Viscounts, and I've become an Archduke, I should tease her a bit about that.
I wonder if Shed arrived safely? I should make you the Vice-Manager and promote Serin to the Manager.
But, honestly, when I first heard I had to do package loading and unloading for 40 years, I was in despair, but to think that I, of all people, became an Archduke of the Empire in an instant.
And just how strong am I? I've fought two Seongwi ability users, of whom there are fewer than 10 in the world, and they weren't a threat at all.
The gap with Lauritz, a high-level reinforcement ability user, is even greater than the two above, so, sorry to him, but honestly, even if there were hundreds of him, it wouldn't be any threat.
I haven't even used the [Wish] 'Oh Sea' yet. This power would make my body explode because it can't withstand it, but I would be able to return to my original body as if nothing happened.
Since the Emperor is also a Transcendent, would this be possible? Tomorrow, I should visit the <Imdang Gallery> before the <Water Ability Gallery>.
I became a Transcendent in an otherworld where martial power is important, I'll build wealth with Koopong, and I've grasped things that the me from my original world couldn't even imagine—King Emeritus, Archduke.
No matter how I look at it, it's all good things. I miss my original world sometimes, but I'll be able to return someday.
For some reason, I buried my body in the sweet-smelling bed and fell into a deep sleep for the first time in a while.
Golden pupils, split vertically, were shining in the pitch-black deep sea.
Varla-jin Ariun.
Princess of Dragonia.
With her massive wings folded, she was cutting through the water pressure of the deep sea, swinging her tail, which was as long as her height.
Some orcas, the predators of the sea, spotted her but avoided her, as she was only a bite-sized snack.
But there was a blind predator, too. Something was rushing, cutting through the water at full speed.
It was a great white shark. It lunged with its massive jaws wide open, but,
Doom—!!!
Her long, thick tail struck the great white shark's side. That single blow was the end of it.
It had pierced through the shark's thick muscles in an instant, breaking its spine, and blood was flowing out from its crushed internal organs.
It had died instantly.
'I must hurry and report this fact!'
Even the attack of a great white shark reaching several meters was nothing to her, a Seongwi ability user. She hurried on her way again.
She was a dragon beastkin. A phantom beast race guaranteed a lifespan of 2,000 years just by being born.
The strongest race, possessing massive wings that cut through the sky, and physical abilities rivaling reinforcement ability users, while also being fire ability users.
Just over 2,000 years ago, they were the masters of this world.
It should have been eternal. Because it was a desperate gap that could never be overcome.
But the majesty of these incredible dragon beastkin, which seemed like it would last forever, collapsed. And by the elves, a weak race.
At the time, the elves were just living closed off among themselves under the World Tree. It was before the concept of a Transcendent even existed.
But the first Transcendent.
With the birth of Kalina, everything changed.
The reason she was born as a Transcendent.
It was because the Emperor of 「Dragonia」 was a pervert.
'Ah~ I want to make the elves pregnant.'
'I want to build my own harem palace of three thousand elves, filled only with elves.'
'Since they are born from the eggs of the World Tree, these things don't want to get pregnant. I should burn the World Tree.'
One day, that perversion led to a crazy idea.
The Emperor of 「Dragonia」, whose lifespan was coming to an end, carried out that crazy idea as his last amusement before dying.
Anyone in this otherworld would look at the World Tree and be in awe of its overwhelming majesty.
But to the old Emperor who had gone mad with desire as he approached death, the World Tree was just a very big tree.
In the end, the World Tree burned. That became what was 'offered'.
The elf born last from the egg of the World Tree at that time was Kalina.
Unlike her kin who only had water abilities, she was born with fire abilities.
The first thing she desperately wished for after waking up from the egg.
'I will burn these guys completely, just as we were.'
A [Wish] with unbelievable destructive power, which only a fire Transcendent can manifest.
It was the first manifestation of 'So-taeyang'.