Not Arrogance—It's Humility. I Won't Forget: Know Your Place.

Before entering the Arcana Continent, I had made every possible preparation. From doping with elixirs to renting magic tools. I even considered the possibility of encountering dragons like Yunak Seus. If you know your enemy and know yourself, you won't meet your end in a hundred battles, or so the saying goes—I racked my brain over it.

I even pored over the books left in the Mage Tower about the Dragon-Mage War to gather intel.

'If the opponent had been a demon, that would've been enough.'

Be it a great evil or an upper demon king, it didn't matter. Before demons, Grandfell's pride didn't just hold firm—it soared even higher. Plus, as a demon hunter, I could've milked my one trump card: the unique skill Predator-Prey Relationship.

Even if that hadn't been enough, well...

'I've got my Akshan seniors.'

The Hell Torch I'd borrowed from Fabian, leader of the Explorers' Federation, was still safely tucked in my inventory. If the foe had been a demon, I would've been confident in my preparations.

'But the odds of that were low.'

Think about the timeline. Yunak Seus's death shadowed him right after the All-Dragon Summoning. The most likely scenario? An attack from his own kind once it ended.

So I reached for my final resort.

...That possibility I'd desperately wanted to ignore!

Yes. It was Claudy.

The Claudy family.

'If ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it exists, I can't ignore it forever.'

I realized that after contact with Raymon Sean. I still knew next to nothing about Arcana. Even setting aside the suspicious Raymon Sean, demons like upper demon kings and great evils aside. Transcendents like Urs or the woman on the broomstick, each harboring their own schemes. And forces with the power to shake the continent, like dragons or elves.

Thanks to my specialty in knowing my place, I'd made up my mind.

'...I have to face it and use it.'

Thanks to Grandfell's realized setting, I'd come this far. So if the Claudy family had truly manifested too... I'd have no choice but to leverage that setting to push forward...!

'Whether I freeze to death or die of shame...'

Dying was dying either way.

With that resolve, after entering the Arcana Continent, I gave missions to High El and Diend. As you know, High El was to track Yunak Seus's presence. Diend's orders were:

"Find the darkest place on the Arcana Continent."

In Grandfell's style, of course.

"That will be Claudy."

And now.

Zzjjjjjjjeok—

Diend's voice pierced my mind. I released the manifestation of Absolute Zero.

In the bone-chilling cold that froze even the flow of time, I couldn't tell exactly how long had passed. But I could swear it wasn't long enough for all the fuss.

Just look at me and Proznax's states.

Challang-challang—

I hadn't even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠finished my cup of green tea. Maybe because iced green tea wasn't my taste. Or Grandfell's finicky palate, tilting the cup so slowly. But Proznax's eyes, still brimming with defiance, told the tale too.

"In the end, as it was fated. A futile struggle, you vermin."

Look at him, gearing up for a counterattack already.

Someone might ask why I released Absolute Zero so abruptly. My answer is simple.

Diend's single report. That one line about finding the Claudy family mansion.

It revived my memories.

The vast black history I'd forgotten over a decade...!

『The symbol of the Claudy family is silvery hair that shines brilliantly. That silver was more radiant than even the precious platinum mana on the Arcana Continent. Someone once said: 'Isn't the Claudy family's great power born from that silvery hair?'...』

...Now I get it. Why Yunak Seus freaked out so much at the sight of me.

'It wasn't reading my status window.'

The Claudy symbol: silver hair. Dazzling, eye-searing silver locks—he must've recognized it.

Damn, past me was something else.

'What the hell, slapping all these settings onto just silver hair...!'

But the hair was just the start. The Claudy settings flooding my mind were vast, like a full family chronicle.

'No wonder my middle school grades were trash, Hoyeol.'

I'm shocked at myself. No shame, no fatigue—just scribbling hyper-specific details.

'I'd hide in a rat hole if I could, for real.'

But as I said, I'd resolved myself, knowing my place.

'...Yeah, freezing or dying of shame—death's death.'

And even if it killed me with shame, before those I'd face ahead, I'd admit it: I'm the Claudy heir. I'd milk that horrific backstory.

No hesitation.

『Dragons. On the Arcana Continent, their existence was legendary. Until they howled from the peak of the Zero Mountains to announce themselves. But there was a hidden truth to that event.』

When did I even tack this on? More importantly... past me had consistent tastes. Starting as a great family even emperors revered. Shadowy real powers. The true rulers behind the veil...

Heavy chuuni vibes, Hoyeol.

The moment I realized it, shame surged—but I didn't show it. I declared proudly.

"I, the heir of Claudy, have returned."

I proclaimed the return of Claudy's heir.

Someone listening might ask, "So what?" Or, "Didn't the dragons already know?" Since Yunak Seus would've told them.

But don't underestimate Claudy. Past me called it great...!

『...Dragons were saved by Claudy. The howls echoing across the continent that day—the day the legend returned—were acts of awe toward Claudy. That truth passed only between Claudy and dragons. An eternal pact, valid even after eons.』

Yes. That's why I released Absolute Zero.

What was it...? After ages, you forgot. I forgot too. But seems we had a pact.

"...!"

No sooner had I spoken than Proznax's head began to bow. Like yielding to me. Confused, yet desperately resisting.

Kwaduk—

Frost Dragon Proznax. Still a hatchling, slow on the uptake. But thrashing till your bones crunch won't help.

A pact isn't some casual promise. Even at the cost of your life, it must be upheld.

And you—save Yunak Seus—broke it.

No more mercy, then.

I said coldly.

"My understanding of your ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠youthful folly ends here, hatchling."

"...?"

"Do not bar my path."

"...!!"

Kkujil! Proznax's massive body twitched.

I gazed steadily at him. But our eyes never met.

'What's with him.'

Proznax averted his gaze. A familiar reaction—like demons terrified before me.

Finally, Proznax fully bowed. And with that, the snowy mountain vista scattered into the air.

I hadn't expected such a clean clear on entry.

Anyway, black history or not... my preparations paid off.

I said to Diend.

"Diend."

"Speak, my lord."

"Mission details later. Procedure demands I prioritize something first."

"Diend shall obey your command."

Next goal on Arcana set.

Having vowed to use it, I'd milk it best by grasping its reality.

'Gotta go. To the Claudy territory.'

Fallen or not, the sprouting settings promised exploitable bits.

But as I told Diend, everything has order.

I glanced at Yunak Seus—and flinched.

'Why's he bowing again?'

Getting burdensome for real. I continued quickly.

"Raise your head, Yunak Seus."

"As you command, Claudy."

"Might I ask you to guide me to the Dragon Temple?"

"The greatest honor."

Paat—!

Yunak Seus spread his white outer wings and approached. Dismounting and remounting looked awkward, but...

No choice. I mounted his back rigidly again.

'Damn size difference.'

Holding Proznax in Absolute Zero drained ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my mana massively.

With the Dragon Temple ahead, unknowns loomed. Needed max recovery. Even flight mana must be saved.

'Anyway...'

I eyed Proznax behind. Cowed by Claudy fear now, but who knows later.

So, etch it deep. 'Even more brazenly.'

I spoke with maximum dignity.

"I shall not hold your sin against you, hatchling."

"...?"

"But mark this well."

And true to form, Grandfell's speech exceeded expectations.

I declared arrogantly.

"Even the fiercest hounds do not bite their master."

"...!"

...You had to invite the rod with your mouth, Grandfell?

Comparing dragons to hounds was iffy enough. This implied worse than dogs.

Now I'm worried.

'Even unseen, it's this bad.'

Once I see Claudy mansion Diend found...

How high would Grandfell's arrogance soar...!

Whether sensing my turmoil or not, Yunak Seus said.

"You are endlessly humble."

Humble? Me? Sarcasm?

"Even when in no position to show mercy... "

An aura turning even this arrogance into humility.

Poor commoner me, Lee Hoyeol, suffering Claudy's halo ahead...

My head already spun...

.

.

.

Dragon Temple.

The All-Dragon bowed heads, gazing at each other.

Like Frost Dragon Proznax, young ones couldn't grasp it. Umjil! Bodies writhed, heads pinned—denying unprecedented powerlessness as lords of all.

But dragons knowing Claudy and the pact were different.

As he approached, distance closing, they knew their place.

A pact isn't defied by mere will.

And time to pay for breaking it had come.

"Heh..."

Earth Dragon Kud Hanas chuckled softly.

In dire straits, the laugh enraged them. Sharp words flew at Kud Hanas.

"What's so funny, old dragon?"

Kud Hanas, a contemporary of Yunak Seus, merely stayed silent. Not opposing him—but doubting rash trust. Claudy's return was too unbelievable.

But he'd realized late.

Hence the laugh.

"Still clueless on your place, dragons?"

Frost. Thunder. Wind. Flame. Even himself.

Arrogantly forgotten.

"Who dares claim king of all before them?"

Dare compare? Claudy: like unfathomable dark thunder dragons, observing and orchestrating from shadows.

Kud Hanas unleashed majestic pressure.

"All-Dragon, pay respects to the dark thunder dragon's entry!"

.

.

......W-what did he just say?!

D-dark thunder dragon's entry...?!

That dark thunder dragon—he means me?!