Chapter 204
Chapter 204
Chapter 204: The Spirit and the Dragonkin (3)
Translation: godtl
Her rage was considerable indeed.
"How dare they!"
Even after venting her fury once, the Second Dragon Emperor continued to exhale rough breaths, unable to compose her emotions. Considering her status as the Second Dragon Emperor and the matriarch of the dragonkin, this reaction was rather uncharacteristic.
'Ha. It's no wonder she's this furious.'
Defina, who knew exactly where the Second Dragon Emperor's anger stemmed from, found this reaction entirely understandable. And for good reason.
'Who would have thought Kim Si-mun would succeed in creating the new dragon species even the Matriarch had been anxiously pursuing?'
The secret experiment conducted in the Spirit King's Cradle had been none other than one led by the Second Dragon Emperor, Echidna, herself.
Moreover—
'Despite centuries of research, all we achieved was implanting spirit energy into a hatchling's body...'
Yet Kim Si-mun not only shattered that effort in a single Arena battle but went so far as to complete the experiment himself. This was a significant loss, both externally in terms of invested resources and—
"How dare a mere human accomplish what even I, Echidna, could not?!"
—internally, in terms of the Second Dragon Emperor's pride. Particularly for her, who possessed Authority over life and nature among the Dragon Emperors, this was an especially devastating blow.
"If only... if only I'd had a little more time! That achievement should have been mine—the Mother of Life!"
However—
"Your words are most justified, Matriarch. But at the moment, shouldn't resolving the current situation take precedence over that insignificant human?"
This was merely a matter of Echidna's pride—utterly irrelevant to the crisis at hand.
Because—
"We just received word from the Naga. The Giant Race is absolutely furious..."
The experiments and research conducted in the Spirit King's Cradle had fundamentally originated from a commission by the Giant Race. In other words—
"They're demanding we hand over all research materials immediately, furious that we've been conducting studies completely unrelated to their requests."
This meant that the resources provided by the Giant Race—research, facilities, knowledge of human transmutation—had been used solely for the Second Dragon Emperor Echidna's personal research.
And the Giant Race was no low or mid-tier species. Weren't they a supreme race standing shoulder-to-shoulder with their own dragonkin? Precisely because they were the Giant Race—also known as the Demigod Race—the Second Dragon Emperor Echidna, unlike her usual dismissive sneer, responded with a more serious expression.
"...Can't we just send them the prepared materials we set aside for this scenario?"
Yet despite Echidna's uncharacteristically solemn attitude, Defina's expression remained grim. The reason was simple.
The materials prepared for this very situation—the commissioned research documents for the Giant Race—
"We do have materials, but... they're far too insufficient to represent centuries of research."
They were woefully inadequate to prove centuries' worth of research results. Naturally so. After all, weren't they just superficial, shallow documents fabricated as a mere smokescreen from the beginning?
Watching the Second Dragon Emperor's reaction carefully, Defina cautiously continued,"No matter how foolish they might be, I doubt they'd be deceived by materials of that level."
—Grind.
The sound of teeth grinding came through the Communication Orb. Indeed, the grayish-green eyes floating above the orb shimmered with palpable irritation and—
"Useless fools!"
—a faint undercurrent of anxiety.
"I told them repeatedly to always maintain contingency plans!"
The Second Dragon Emperor cursed the now-deceased Naga, but that hardly served as a solution to the current predicament. Falling into deep contemplation, she remained silent for a long while.
How much time passed?
"Inform the Naga."
A voice finally echoed from the previously silent Communication Orb.
"Tell them we'll send all our research materials."
"You mean the research materials we've compiled...?"
"Naturally, the research on containing the Spirit King's power within our dragonkin bodies. What else would I mean?"
At the Second Dragon Emperor's following command, Defina couldn't hide her bewilderment.
"But Matriarch! Those materials—!"
"They may be ignorant by our standards, but they're still a supreme race. They must have already realized what we've been researching with their resources."
The grayish-green eyes narrowed slightly.
But it was only for a brief moment.
"Even knowing that, if they're this furious, it means they're demanding we hand over all our research results. The knowledge on human transmutation, everything. After all, they're the ones holding the Spirit Kings hostage."
Soon, the Second Dragon Emperor's reopened eyes revealed an intellect befitting the matriarch of the dragonkin.
Defina, her face still etched with incomprehension, asked:
"Matriarch. But that research is specialized for our dragonkin, isn't it? It would be useless to the Giant Race."
"The Naga will modify it before sending it. Though I imagine they'll just replace 'dragonkin' with 'Giant Race' in the documents."
The Second Dragon Emperor blinked indifferently.
At her words, Defina unconsciously gulped.
"...With that level of tampering, wouldn't all the Giant Race test subjects die?"
"Hoho! Wouldn't that be all the better?"
The Second Dragon Emperor let out a soft chuckle.
"If those ignorant creatures die off like that, we'd only have reason to rejoice."
And crucially—
"They must already know that when they demand the data. They're well aware we'll send them falsified documents."
Even knowing the Giant Race would receive manipulated data, they still demanded it.
Hearing this, Defina thought:
'Indeed... Those who sit upon the throne have a mindset entirely different from the rest.'
She couldn't help but shiver slightly.
Though Defina herself had been born a Dragon, the highest among dragonkin—
The way those seated upon the throne weighed the future of their race...
'Even if it's for the prosperity of our kind, to treat the lives of their own people so lightly...'
It was cruel and cold-blooded enough to shatter her common sense.
"By the way."
The Second Dragon Emperor's lowered voice snapped Defina out of her thoughts.
"It seems we must reconsider that human—Kim Si-mun."
A faint trace of killing intent lingered in her voice.
Not missing it, Defina asked with uneasy eyes:
"When you say reconsider...?"
"How unlike you to ask something so obvious. I mean we must eliminate Kim Si-mun ourselves."
The answer she least wanted to hear.
Defina hurriedly replied:
"But Matriarch! After the incident at the Black Smeltery... didn't you personally inform the other Dragon Emperors as well? That Kim Si-mun must be dealt with within the Arena."
The Black Smeltery incident, recorded as one of the greatest humiliations in dragonkin history.
Not only had a mere human destroyed one of their key facilities—
But in the aftermath, hadn't the Matriarch even issued an order forbidding direct harm against that very human?
Though it hadn't become widely known,
Whether for better or worse,
Every faction close to the dragonkin was aware of it.
Yet now—
"If you suddenly reverse course and decide to eliminate Kim Si-mun..."
A sudden reversal?
More importantly—
'The First Dragon Emperor explicitly forbade any direct action against Kim Si-mun.'
Though the Second Dragon Emperor, as Matriarch, had announced it,
There wasn't a single dragonkin unaware that the order originated from the First.
'This goes against the First's will. If I get entangled further, I'll be in danger.'
Defina quickly continued,
Though she avoided directly stating it contradicted the First's command—
"The surrounding factions would surely mock our dragonkin—and your prestige, Matriarch."
Defina invoked the Dragon Emperor's dignity.
But—
"Defina. You truly are a clever child."
Was this truly the matriarch of the dragonkin?
"That's why I favor you. But this time, you should restrain that cleverness."
Gently,
Yet unmistakably,
She delivered a warning.
Even as a Dragon, Defina was no Dragon Emperor.
"...My apologies."
She could only bow her head.
The Second Dragon Emperor watched her with satisfied eyes.
"Hehe, good girl. By the way, isn't there a Guild War soon in that dimension?"
"Yes, in this dimension, they're held every summer and autumn."
"Hmm..."
The Second Dragon Emperor let out a small hum.
"I've heard that the faction allied with Cruach is considered one of the strongest in that dimension?"
"That's true, but..."
Defina's brow furrowed slightly—
Not out of resentment toward the Second Dragon Emperor, who had just pressured her,
But because—
"Given the recent incident that cost them international influence... it's unlikely they'll be able to make a move during the Guild War."
It was all because of the recent incident involving the World Tree Simdrasil's Growth Buff.
The Second Dragon Emperor seemed aware of it as well.
Judging by your expression, something utterly foolish must have occurred.
She let out an enigmatic smile as she spoke.
Nevertheless. I must intervene in this Guild War without fail.
"Matriarch. Wouldn't this be an act unauthorized by the First Dragon Emperor? If you force your hand recklessly..."
That is for me to handle. You need only move according to my command.
"...Understood."
Defina, who had expressed concern by invoking the First Dragon Emperor, bowed her head.
No matter what she said,
she dared not oppose the will of a Dragon Emperor.
The Second Dragon Emperor's eyes curved gently.
Do not fret so. If we eliminate that nuisance thoroughly enough, even Cruach won't be able to reprimand us without cause.
Has he not always been one to prioritize results above all?
At these murmured words from the Second Dragon Emperor,
"May I inquire what 'thoroughly enough' entails?"
Defina seized upon the crucial point in her liege's statement.
To which—
Why ever not? To ensure this matter is settled conclusively, I shall dispatch my second messenger—Etra.
"E-Etra, my lady?!"
Defina's eyes widened into perfect circles.
And rightly so.
"Isn't Lady Etra an Ancient Dragon? The risks would be too great for her to descend upon this place—it's not even a formal Arena yet!"
Was she not among the most formidable dragons at the peak of their power?
Yet despite Defina's astonishment—
Hmph. Were it my preference, I'd send a Legion Commander or even an Apostle. It's only due to the risks you mentioned that I'm settling for a mere messenger.
The Second Dragon Emperor merely scoffed,
while Defina's eyes grew even wider.
'She mentioned both Legion Commanders and Apostles!'
Both were under the Dragon Emperor's command—
and counted among the most elite warriors of the Dragonkin, were they not?
Simultaneously—
'She's absolutely determined to see this through.'
A faint relief washed over her.
'With Lady Etra's arrival, there's nothing left to worry about. Kim Si-mun will die without question.'
Thanks to this not being a formal Arena,
wasn't Earth still under Status Window penalties in reality?
Even if they gathered every Ranker on Earth, they'd barely stand a chance against an Ancient Dragon.
No matter how much of a rising star Kim Si-mun might be,
this time, survival would be impossible.
Flooded by this wave of relief, Defina swiftly regained her usual composure.
"What would you have me do, my lady?"
She gazed at the Second Dragon Emperor with gleaming eyes.
Clink.
Clank.
Familiar sounds of work echoed through the lab.
Though one thing had changed.
"Kkyu-ung! Fetch the water!"
Kkyuuuuung~
Like a seasonal flowerpot placed in the middle of a sterile factory,
the multicolored Dragonkin let out a clear, adorable cry.
The Fairy Dragon—no larger than a small puppy—raced playfully around the lab with Si-yeon,
while the Philosopher's Stone inside a flask floated after them, scolding:
You rascals! Didn't I tell you not to run in the lab? There's a garden outside—go play there!
Watching this scene,
"Adorable,"
Si-mun chuckled as he observed Kkyu-ung.
'Who knew he could shrink his size too?'
Kkyu-ung, who had once stood three meters tall,
was now perfectly puppy-sized.
Kkyuu~
But Si-mun's smile wasn't just due to the creature's endearing appearance.
'Being able to conceal his true form proves he's high-tier Dragonkin.'
At best, upper-level—
but usually, only the highest-tier Dragonkin could achieve Manifestation, wasn't that right?
Kkyu-ung's transformation meant the little one's rank was precisely that high.
'Since he's already under my care, it'd be perfect if he turns out to be top-tier Dragonkin.'
Kkyuung~
Si-mun watched Kkyu-ung frolic with Si-yeon, eyes brimming with anticipation—
before shaking his head slightly.
"Right, now's not the time."
He promptly opened the Quest Window.
'This was definitely a Hidden Quest, wasn't it?'
The Hidden Quest he'd received after connecting the Spirit Realm to the World Tree—
'The Tree That Connects Dimensions.'
[The Tree That Connects Dimensions] - Hidden Update Quest
Currently Connected Dimension: Spirit Realm
Reward:?
Then—
"A Hidden Update Quest?"
Si-mun tilted his head in thought.
And rightfully so.
'A Hidden Update Quest? I've never seen anything like this in my life.'
Even for Si-mun, who was living his second life.
This was the first time he had encountered something called a Hidden Update Quest.
Of course, his confusion didn't last long.
'Given the "Currently Connected Dimension" entry, it's likely that each time I connect to a new dimension, the quest updates and rewards me accordingly.'
And to expand the number of connected dimensions.
The growth of the World Tree was an absolute necessity.
In the end, the term "Hidden Update" might be unfamiliar.
But from Si-mun's perspective, it wasn't a particularly complicated or difficult quest.
If anything.
'Calling it "Hidden" is a stretch. It's practically no different from a chain quest.'
If he just kept doing what he'd been doing.
It would clear itself naturally.
"Well, that settles the Hidden Quest."
Nodding to himself, Si-mun tapped his chin lightly.
'Ernen said she'd request another quest once she sorted out her thoughts, right?'
Ernen, who had been utterly shocked upon seeing Kkyu-ung.
Of course, she adored Kkyu-ung almost as much as Si-yeon did.
But for a High Elf, the combination of dragonkin and spirit energy must have been too much to process.
She had immediately refrained from requesting a follow-up quest, asking instead for some time to herself.
Which meant the only thing left from this incident was—
"That incomplete title I got from the Bond, I suppose."
Si-mun promptly opened the title window.
[? Deity] - Incomplete Growth-Type Title
You have earned the qualification to sit upon a currently vacant seat.
However, due to deficiencies in all aspects except qualification, the title itself remains incomplete.
- Bonded Dragonkin: Fairy Dragon
"Hmm...."
Si-mun let out a soft hum.
Once again, an unfamiliar title—this "Incomplete Growth-Type Title"—was boldly displayed before him.
But what truly caught his attention was something else entirely.
'A currently vacant seat? What's that about?'
The phrase "currently vacant seat" and the statement that he had "earned the qualification to sit upon it" lingered in his mind.
'The fact that the Stigmata reacted suggests a high likelihood of it being related to a Constellation... Could it be—?!'
An ominous—
No, was "ominous" even the right word?
Whatever the case, a possibility that made his brow furrow instinctively flashed through his mind.
'Are they telling me to become a Constellation for the dragonkin or something?'
Between being a Dragonoid.
And possessing both Dragon Power and the Death Eye, if he were judged purely by status alone.
He wouldn't be far behind even the Dragon Emperors.
Which meant, if they wanted to tie him into this, they easily could.
Si-mun's frown deepened.
'Back when I first obtained the Death Eye... It was the same in Tiamat's memories.'
When the Dragon God Tiamat was slain, Cruach, the First Dragon Emperor, had explicitly said it himself.
'Even if you annihilate her and become the Dragon God, in the end, you'll just be one of us. Wouldn't that be a waste?'
'Our Dragon Realm will revert to the era before the Dragon God was born. And then...'
'We will seize the rightful "seat" that should have been ours.'
If he combined those words with the current situation—
'Could it be that the first Bond is the condition to sit upon that vacant seat?'
If he assumed that, then the pieces of this incident roughly fell into place.
'Then it makes sense why the Second Dragon Emperor allied with the Giant Race and conducted those absurd experiments—it must have been for this qualification.'
If they could birth a new Dragon Species.
Then they could attempt the first Bond.
'And if all five Dragon Emperors were to do it, they'd need to create at least five new Dragon Species.'
Which meant—
'It wouldn't be strange to assume similar experiments are happening in more places right now.'
So, does that mean he'd have to find and stop those too?
"Ha!"
Si-mun let out a hollow laugh.
And for good reason.
'Even if it wasn't intentional, I thought I'd really screwed them over this time...'
But now, he'd stumbled upon something even more unexpected, making everything even more complicated.
His brows furrowed all the way to the bridge of his nose, and—
"Ugh! I don't get it!!"
He roughly tousled his hair with both hands before burying himself deep into the sofa.
'For now, just focus on the current situation.'
No matter what.
'I was the one who screwed them over. I hijacked their achievement and even made it a success.'
So while the Dragon Emperors might be far stronger in terms of raw power.
When it came to the qualification for this seat, he was a step ahead.
'Right. That's what matters now.'
Just as he nodded to himself, Si-mun's head abruptly froze.
The reason was simple.
"But if this is such a big deal... There's no way they'd just take this lying down, right?"
Especially since the Second Dragon Emperor was involved in this.
Just like with the incident at the Black Smeltery.
With this incident piled on top, there was no way the Dragon Emperors would let it slide.
Knock knock.
"Si-mun, sir. It's Park Jin-uk. I have urgent news."
"Come in."
As expected.
"You're aware that the Guild War season is coming up, right?"
"Of course. It's summer, after all."
"But this time, Russia, the host country for the Guild War... has designated our Simdrasil, not the Seongsam Guild, as South Korea's representative."
Si-mun's expectations had not been wrong.