Nothing Happened (3)

The sunlight streaming through the window was blinding.

...To the point where I couldn't even lift my head.

I forced myself to look around.

In times like these, the Mage Tower's unreal structure was annoyingly helpful. The Crystal Hall, expanded to fit a dragon's massive frame. And even those glaring at the dragon. There was plenty of room even with everyone seated together.

...No way I can just gloss over it.

Pretending nothing happened? My plan to play it cool was thoroughly ruined by the dragons' fuss...

At this very moment, Earth was still reeling from the aftermath of the dragons' tearful outburst.

At least there's no hostility. That's a relief.

The dragons' dragon fear? At worst, it was the Black Dark Dragon. All they did was chant my epithet, right? That's why everyone only staggered a bit.

Why, I knew full well the power of dragon fear laced with killing intent—from disciplining Proznax.

Imagining them unleashing that for real is terrifying.

Players might handle it, but ordinary people could have been in mortal danger. It might have escalated into a real crisis if things went wrong.

"The reason I summoned you all is simple."

This pride of mine, flawless anywhere. How could it stay silent?

That's why we'd gathered in the Crystal Hall.

"I deemed an explanation necessary for you all."

Even as I spoke, a bitter taste lingered.

I kept getting distracted. For good reason.

Of all the dozens of dragons, why him?

Why the Earth Dragon with a prior record, Kud Hanas...!

"As you know, I entered the Arcana Continent via portal."

Explaining the whole story wasn't hard. Skip the details, hit the big points. Like Grandfell usually does.

"Mimicking the principles of the access device."

Just lay out the facts.

"The purpose was to rescue the elder dragon, Yunak Seus. And further, to honor my prior agreement with him."

I heard dry swallows echoing through the hall.

A prior agreement with a dragon. It sounded grandiose, but it was just my one-sided promise.

Anyway, everyone already looked stunned. And the real story was just beginning.

I continued calmly.

"And in that process, I provided guidance and education to the dragons."

A summary worthy of the supreme Grandfell.

Guidance and education. No better one-liner existed.

Clearing misunderstandings between the mother World Tree and her dragon children, reconciling Yunak Seus with the dragons, awakening their pride...

Guidance and education it was.

The problem? I skipped the brutal process!

Brawling to near-death with the Ice Dragon, discovering the Dragon Temple piece, shattering a teacup there and dying...

Grandfell glossed over it spectacularly.

Business as usual.

Still...

Should I be grateful?

The difference? One listener knew my ordeal.

Yes, Kud Hanas. He'd witnessed it all and was nodding solemnly.

And I was glaring at him.

Just keep quiet like that, please.

Lee Hoyeol Claudi. Or calling me Black Dark Dragon.

I was genuinely scared.

Yunak Seus, sharp as he was, would have caught my implication. Unfortunately, he was on the Arcana Continent.

The dragon lord hadn't manifested in reality.

The twenty-one dragons must have split into two groups, soaring through reality and Arcana searching for me.

Thinking that made me dizzy.

Not just reality, but Arcana too...!

Black Dark Dragon.

My cursed epithet must have echoed everywhere.

But steel yourself, Hoyeol.

As long as it doesn't leak.

Just keep Kud Hanas from blabbing.

In that sense, this commotion was a godsend.

"...Did I hear that wrong?"

"He clearly said he provided guidance and education to the dragons."

"So that's why he was gone for a fortnight."

"...You actually believe that?"

"Your pride is lacking, Leoni. Believe it. Just do."

Nam Taemin, Leoni, Hisagi Kazuma, Shreyg.

Yes, keep whispering like that.

I shifted my gaze to the Arcana audience.

"Once again, he's done something utterly unbelievable, sir!"

"This calls for rewriting the history of the Dragon-Mage War. Don't you agree, Tower Master?"

"Beyond imagination, as always. Our esteemed chief."

Harcon Kingsguard, Yugweed, Marcelo, Tower Master...

Keep murmuring. Today, I permit all the chatter.

More important than gossip: denying Kud Hanas any chance to speak.

Fortunately, he just kept nodding, listening intently.

Made me wonder why, but...

Only after everyone dispersed did Kud Hanas speak.

"Huhu. I believe a Claudi would know well. That even 'legends' hold power. And the power in a legend depends on how widely it's circulated."

Kud Hanas, the ancient dragon who lived in Yunak Seus's era.

He knew much, especially about legends.

Legends truly hold power.

Not abstract, given how he phrased it.

Like Gui-cheol's [Legend] grade item, there might be a [Legend] system I didn't know.

New ways to survive are always welcome.

I didn't know the effects, but I couldn't be picky.

As I pondered, Kud Hanas smiled contentedly.

"Thus, I observed. Whether in this world, utterly different from Arcana... the legend of Claudi and the Black Dark Dragon echoed sufficiently."

Chills ran down my spine.

...So he'd been watching, biding his time?!

In crude terms: if my fangirling fell short, he'd have spread tales of Claudi and Black Dark Dragon's fame himself...!

No wonder!

I'd wondered why I nodded so much.

One slip, and not just Black Dark Dragon—Claudi secrets too.

A deep sigh of relief escaped from my chest.

"Unnecessary worry."

"Huhu. An old dragon's fussiness."

Of course, I didn't say it aloud.

"Then, by your command, I return."

...Speaking of command.

Makes it sound like I bossed a dragon around without knowing my place, Kud Hanas.

I'd spoken out of pure concern, not orders.

They'd eaten the World Tree's fruit, pure malice incarnate. Evil Fruit.

Didn't the ominous aura scream "bad for you"?

So I urged them to spit it out ASAP.

"I hope you find a way."

But evidently, they couldn't regurgitate it easily.

Dragon digestion limits? Or the fruit's effect? Beyond me.

Well, we'd try here too.

Don't worry, Kud Hanas.

"I'll prepare a method as well."

I brazenly said "I," but...

Actually, leave it to the experts.

In truth, senior healing mages like Bellie Yusia and Cley Odia would suffer.

All I could do: stamp approvals on tower exit requests without disrupting their research.

"Kud Hanas, I know not where to place my gratitude."

With that burdensome farewell, Kud Hanas tore through dimensions back to the Dragon Temple.

Finally, the commotion settled.

Why is every day so long?

Time to breathe, but this workaholic brain.

Relentlessly recalls the next task.

I intoned meaningfully.

"Now is the time to unearth the shrouded darkness."

Shrouded darkness—in Grandfell-speak, the Claudy mansion Diend found.

Me, vowing to exploit even the shameful Claudy halo.

Positive thinking.

Yeah. Instead of futile denial, better get used to it.

Damn Romeo...

Whether effort helps, who knows...!

But no choice, Hoyeol.

Time to show adult pride: owning your past.

"Yet even that must follow procedure."

Better rip the bandage off early.

Deep down, I wanted to see the Claudy mansion now.

Why? Dragons' wails spread Black Dark Dragon legend across Arcana.

Before I can't show my face there either...!

Scout the mansion, note usable lore.

But [Last Adventurer] penalty held me back.

Back when Arcana was just a game, [Last Adventurer] mirrored death penalties.

No portals or access devices for a day—no re-entry to Arcana.

Plus, mountains of work piled up.

A fortnight away...

As chief mage, alliance commander, authority figure—tasks galore.

Recalling salaryman days.

Two weeks AWOL? Even cleanup takes a week.

But who am I?

[First World Tree's Blessing] owner.

Endless vitality lets me grind daily class quests, then deskwork like nothing happened. A freak.

Confident declaration.

"One day suffices."

Can't forget Grandfell flair.

"To me, even flowing time is but numbers."

Yes, yes, splendid, Grandfell.

Showboating never fails.

Only harsh reality will humble you...

But after dragons wailing because of me, such thoughts vanish.

Beyond that, fear creeps in.

This is why puberty matters.

Pampered like this, won't pride balloon? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠And how long can I endure the shame...!

However.

Worry later.

Upcoming foes might overwhelm even all my power.

Yes, turn this arrogance into fuel. Advance.

Constant vigilance.

Thus, next task surfaced.

Quest goal and destination: Sisli.

Can't neglect intel gathering.

I recalled Marcelo's words.

-"In your absence, Tower Master covered for you, sir."

Lazy cat handling work to Grandfell standards? Doubtful.

Less piled in Mage Tower than Yusra.

By priority, I manifested a portal.

Target: Yusra Kingdom, Golden Palace.

…

Golden Palace.

『Garden of Dignity』

If the owner knew that name for the elixir herb patch...

Elcidoir named it.

"Finally ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠worthy of a look."

Simple reason: his tended elixirs treated as mere flowers? Elf pride wouldn't allow it.

Of course.

"What does a mere lizard know?"

Even amid dragons' wails, Elcidoir tended unmoved.

But wait...?

What're those? Oversized petals? Lumpy fruits?

Elcidoir's hands trembled.

...Overgrown from no harvest?

Spot on.

Hoyeol absent a fortnight from elixir patch... no, Garden of Dignity.

Blessings overflowed; hypergrowth.

Elcidoir recalled.

That human values aesthetics above all.

His aesthetic sense rivaled elves'.

See hideous blooms and fruits? What would he say?

-"Seems you were comfortable without me."

Chills at the thought.

-"Was feeling pride in you my mistake?"

Still don't get his pride, but...

Clear: no pride, no mother's blessing back.

Elcidoir decided.

"...I'll uproot it."

One flower gone among many? Unnoticed.

As resolute Elcidoir reached—

A freezing voice echoed.

Click—

"Garden of Dignity."

"...?"

"What are you doing, Elcidoir."

"!!!"

…

Elcidoir, what did you do while I was gone?

Elixir patch with such a flashy title...?

Black Dark Dragon already bars me from showing my face!

Now gilding the garden? Siblings double-teaming the youngest?

Dragons and elves starting to smell like my family's nemeses.

Miserable as the baby...

Lament brief.

I approached fidgeting Elcidoir.

So what. Hiding behind your back.

Desperate, but futile.

"Step aside."

No matter how I bully, Mom sides with the baby.