Chapter 253. Black Dark Dragon (2)
Skal had roamed the Arcana Continent alone for one simple reason. They were all so utterly boring. Shining, Cheonha Tongil, Bohemian... The goals of those who had reached out to him.
"If we join hands, we can surpass Shining."
"Don't you think solo play is impossible from now on?"
"Please, give us a chance too...!"
A world utterly different from reality. To think all they pursued in Arcana was mere domination over others. Skal had done plenty of that in reality already—savored it to his heart's content.
But Hoyeol was different. He was strong, yet never flaunted it. He could command, yet never issued orders. He always led from the front lines, moving hearts before anything else.
That alone sparked mere curiosity.
"Lee Hoyeol."
Just another oddball like me, he'd thought. That's why he hadn't spat out his usual arrogance. Why, in front of reporters from around the world...
"No need to tremble. Lee Hoyeol, I wish to speak with you. Great dragon hunter."
Looking back now, he wanted to crawl into a rat hole and hide. But he couldn't help it.
Dragons. The kings of all creation. The one person who hadn't mocked his absurd dream of conquering and surpassing them.
That was Hoyeol.
No metaphor. Skal remembered Hoyeol's expression clearly.
No trace of a smirk.
His usual solemn demeanor and posture. Even a goal Skal himself sometimes deemed impossible—Hoyeol had simply nodded.
That first encounter became the trigger for Skal joining the Holy War Alliance.
So.
"I assure thee. No matter what befalls us henceforth, thou shalt not reach the Black Dark Dragon."
Even thunderous words like that. Skal didn't drop his teacup.
Hoyeol must have good reason for saying so.
Instead, he nodded.
"In truth, I had surmised as much. The Black Dark Dragon... A name that made all dragons wail. It must be a dragon of unparalleled greatness. Perhaps the paramount among them."
From his dragon knight class quest, he'd gleaned fragments of knowledge. Tales from ancient times, like the war between the Mage Tower and dragons. Most unverified.
Yet that alone revealed dragons' nature.
"I trust thou knowest well. Among dragons, called kings of all, no clear hierarchy exists. Yet if all kings wept in sorrow..."
Skal voiced his earnest sentiment.
"I comprehend why thou speakest so resolutely."
His grand dream of true dragon knightdom. He'd charged toward it blindly. Yet before the Black Dark Dragon's majesty, he yielded a step.
"My thanks for thy precious counsel, Sir Hoyeol."
As they say, one sees as one knows. Thanks to Hoyeol's advice.
But Skal wasn't disheartened. Hadn't he witnessed it? The vast Arcana Continent teeming with dragons!
Excluding the Black Dark Dragon, plenty remained as worthy goals.
Soon, color returned to Skal's face.
Skal asked Hoyeol,
"More importantly, Old Dragon Yunak Seus—is it safe?"
...
I inwardly stuck out my tongue.
Is that really Skal, who's lived mysteriously for over a decade?
Whenever dragons come up, he won't shut up...
After Skal left, I belatedly checked the time.
"Oh dear."
How much he'd chattered for Grandfell to utter "oh dear."
Count yourself lucky, Skal. In that sense.
'Twas an exchange of value that let it pass.'
Considering Grandfell's usual lingering grudges... Thrice wasn't enough; a hundred pleas might not suffice next time.
Yet at this moment, I, Lee Hoyeol, swallowed a quiet sigh of relief.
'...Somehow, we've muddled through, Black Dark Dragon.'
I want to ride the Black Dark Dragon!
When I heard that, I seriously pondered.
...Does he want a piggyback ride or something?
Of course not. Grandfell's decorum forbids giving anyone a piggyback.
He recoils at a disheveled collar, let alone that.
'Unless it's my one and only niece, Arang.'
Thus, the icy retort was inevitable. No matter what, it shan't happen!
Only afterward did I realize: Skal doesn't know I'm the Black Dark Dragon.
That's why they say guilt makes life uneasy. Not for nothing.
I panicked alone, overreacted.
So I had to watch my step. Grandfell's tone was so firm.
What if Skal despaired? I worried.
Of course.
'Who knew dragon obsession would help like this.'
Skal swiftly shifted to other dragons.
'Wise, Skal.'
Plenty of rideable dragons besides the Black Dark Dragon.
Of course, my first-ever dragon mount achievement... I acquired unwittingly.
"To gain that power, thou too must strive."
Bear that trial, Skal...!
Mounting a dragon sans achievement effect? No easy feat.
I know from experience.
Skipping steps isn't all gain.
'I've dug so many pits myself; unavoidable.'
Indeed. With my myriad self-made wells and pitfalls.
Whenever lacking intermediates, I patch on the fly—my unavoidable plight.
So don't envy my achievements.
'...No one would, seeing this mess.'
Swoosh—
Without tiring, he picked up the quill again. No time for tea, considering time lost to Skal's chatter.
And that's not all. Mage Tower duties as chief remain.
'...Even if the cat handled tower exit requests.'
Didn't I invite heavy new tasks?
Access device permit reviews. Not limited to Mage Tower mages.
Far more than exit requests piled on my desk.
Process those, and it's over? Hardly.
Freshly updated class quest. Inevitably inscribed there.
That tiresome objective.
Temper Thy Weakened Flesh
📍 (Repeatable)
'My vision blurs already.'
Freezing in Arcana, overwork death upon return. Such is my fateful lot...
*
Arcana Continent.
An alert rang through the Iron Castle Ho.
Leader, Chainwalker. Blacksmith, Walls Whale. Pilot, Gunner.
Forgetting duties, every dwarf hammered relentlessly.
Clangs echoed through every corner.
Clang clang!
Thick fingers numb. No respite.
Gunner wiped sweat, bellowed.
"If I'd known, I'd never have become a pilot!"
Each flight risked life, but pilots got perks: exemption from miscellaneous Iron Castle Ho chores.
Just this crisis wasn't miscellaneous.
Gunner continued incredulously.
"Dragons suddenly, in a flock! As if dwarves' legs doubled in length!"
Iron Castle Ho's sole weakness: foul weather.
Even with advanced tech, nature slashed efficiency.
"Not crashing is fortune enough, Gunner."
"True, but..."
"Hammer one more nail instead of whining?"
"Sigh."
Thus, dragons' emergence and wailing was dwarven nightmare.
Clang clang!
Chainwalker hammered, muttered.
"What sorrow poured such rain...?"
Unprecedented downpour. So fierce, water seeped into Iron Castle Ho.
Not dragon- or elf-long-lived, yet they'd seen ages. Still, this baffled.
Walls Whale gruffly spoke.
"Didn't I say? The Black Dark Dragon."
"Black Dark Dragon..."
"Dunno what, but ominous."
"Why so?"
"Unprecedented, Chainwalker."
One dragon appearing? Astonishing. But a dozen or so?
Exerting such influence on dragons...
"Surely, change sweeps the continent."
Certain. Dragons vanishing like lies. Clear skies meant simple: they'd found that Black Dark Dragon.
"...Frankly terrifying."
"Who wouldn't be?"
Clang!
Walls Whale set down his hammer, gazed continent-ward.
Fierce rain washed dust; horizon crystal clear.
Yet no motion spotted.
"Empire, demons trembling too."
Kings wailed; all creation heard.
Chainwalker, Walls Whale fretted that.
"New legend inevitable."
That name: Black Dark Dragon legend.
Chainwalker slyly asked Walls Whale.
"Not miffed, our legendary blacksmith?"
Legends hold power. Having inscribed one, Walls Whale knew.
"Miffed?"
Vast Arcana, few legends.
Hence the question. Black Dark Dragon legend would echo long, fading Iron Whale's birth.
But Walls Whale shook head.
"Thou still unknowing, Chainwalker."
"What mean?"
"Legends have hierarchy."
Iron Whale birth legend. Per Hoyeol's feats, might later resound more.
But against current Black Dark Dragon legend?
The latter echoed continent-wide.
Further.
"Mere mention quakes world, sans reveal."
Entity unseen. No cause for ire. No comparison.
Merely concern lingered.
"Hope new legend doesn't rampage."
Thus, Chainwalker and Walls Whale fell silent.
Silent, no words exchanged. Yet both dwarves shared thought.
'...Doth Sir know this?'
But thought fleeting.
Suddenly. Something skyward.
Rifting void. Emergent colossal form.
Dragon.
"!!!"
Mid-repairs. Iron Castle Ho couldn't advance or retreat.
Facing dragon inevitable.
Chainwalker low-voiced.
"Damn, do kings of all hear even whispers?"
"How should I know."
"Cursed, I forgo such end."
Dragon's body blotted portholes.
Yet that form... oddly familiar?
"Hm?"
Walls Whale's eyes twitched.
Storm obscured? Nay. Once-seen dragon felt familiar.
No. Only the brilliantly shining wings familiar.
Size aside.
"...That, what?"
Walls Whale. Top blacksmith's eye discerned.
Afterimage overlaying wings.
Certain: those radiant dragon wings matched...
Hoyeol's worn magic tool!
"...How?!"
Myriad possibilities swirled.
But idle thoughts brief.
Swoosh—
Iron Castle Ho's noble sentinel spirit, High El, stirred.
Approached dragon, calmly spoke.
"At last, I comprehend my lord's will, Yunak Seus."
Dragon replied.
"Doubting the Black Dark Dragon—my clear oversight."
That brief exchange meant simple.
Chainwalker, Walls Whale, Gunner... All dwarves' faces: shock.
"N-No way... Sir Hoyeol is the Black Dark Dragon...?!"