Chapter 160 : Chapter 160

Chapter 160

After ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍parting ways with Yun Jeongseop, I moved toward the summit.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍closer I drew to the top, the more an intense heat pressed against me.

And ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍with the rain pouring down, the air was thick with steam like dense fog. If I had been an ordinary person, I would have already passed out from how hostile the environment was.

“Damn ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it, what kind of resort is this?”

Grumbling ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍as I climbed, I reached the summit before I realized it.

A ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍vantage point overlooking the lava.

Even for an active volcano, it was rare to find a place where one could see the lava so plainly.

It was absurd to run a resort business around a location like this.

“Well, it is an island ruled by magic. I suppose I should not be surprised if something even stranger appears.”

I opened the Demonic Eye at once.

And as expected, I saw it.

A section of the vast lava lake where an unusually alien light of mana shimmered.

“After all I have lived through…”

I was too dumbfounded to even muster the energy to complain.

Because to meet Rachel, I would have to jump into that lava.

Only a member of “that species” would devise something this preposterous.

After a deep breath, I sprang forward with all my strength.

There was no chance I would miscalculate the landing.

Thanks to the Shackles of the Swamp Giant, my physical strength was more than sufficient.

As I neared the surface of the lava, only then did it truly sink in that I was about to dive into it.

“This is insane!”

WHOOOOSH—!

My body sank into the lava, but I did not feel heat.

Instead, it felt as though I had been swallowed by the wind.

More precisely, it was spatial transfer.

High-level magic that humanity at this point could not perform.

I landed on stone without losing my balance.

The surroundings had the atmosphere of a cave, but the ceiling was high.

A red glow poured down as if we truly were beneath the lava.

If I had to describe it, it felt like standing inside a gigantic oven.

It was terrain that seemed acutely conscious of shadows.

“You are rather late. I did not expect Hyun Yuyeol’s bloodline to be this pathetic.”

As I had guessed, Rachel was waiting for me.

And there was Do Minyeong, unconscious, pierced by a large claw.

I had not considered from the start that Do Minyeong might be a hostage.

I had only realized after meeting Yun Jeongseop that her mana could not be found.

She must have noticed that Do Minyeong carried a magical tool and abducted her…

Judging by how she was unconscious, at least she had not wasted time on pointless conversation.

With arrogance showing on her face, Rachel continued.

“How was my gift?”

“A gift. It was so childish that I was left speechless.”

“Childish?”

“Yes. It was childish for a dragon that once reigned at the pinnacle of monsters beyond the rift.”

Rachel’s species was a dragon.

Her current appearance was what people commonly called Polymorph.

A spell through which a dragon reshaped its body into a human form.

Of course, my Demonic Eye made it blatantly obvious that she was not human.

“Hm. So you already knew what I am.”

“It would be strange if I did not. You scattered far too many clues around the island.”

A creature—meaning a dragon—swimming through lava, for instance, or monsters being unable to approach the island.

And especially the rumor of tourists returning as idiots was proof that something troublesome lurked on this mountain.

More precisely, they had stepped into the dragon’s territory and been exposed to a high-level barrier that erased their memories.

If it was severe, it even cost them their lives.

Ideally, one would adjust the barrier with precision and erase only the memories of the territory, but Rachel could not yet cast magic at that level.

Because that thing was a hatchling that barely deserved to be called a dragon.

Perhaps around three hundred years old?

It had not appeared in the original work, so I could not say for certain, but at the very least, the ancient dragons in the original work had all been exterminated by Demonic Beings.

“Hmph. I still dislike that look in your eyes. That arrogance, as if you know everything…”

“I will take it as a compliment.”

“You insolent human.”

“Unfortunately, I did not come here to exchange personal remarks. Return the people to normal.”

“I cannot do that. This situation was arranged entirely for you.”

Arranged for me?

“We dragons have always questioned human behavior. We could never understand why you cling to desires so incomprehensible. It is as if the standards by which we judge value are fundamentally different.”

“……”

“That is why it interests me. It is also the reason I remain in this world.”

One of the settings given to dragons: the pursuit of knowledge.

In other words, she was playing for her own amusement.

“You know what sort of existence the girl who fainted here while waiting for you is, correct?”

“Of course.”

“Then you also know the situation is quite urgent. As you can see, her life is in danger from excessive blood loss.”

What was she trying to say?

A truly vile intent seeped through her words.

“So, if you wish, you may take this girl and treat her.”

“What is your scheme?”

“A scheme? It is a simple condition. If you take this girl, I will kill all the humans on this island who are under mental domination.”

“……”

“Conversely, if you abandon this girl’s life, I will return everyone on the island to normal. Their lives will be guaranteed as well.”

She was asking me to weigh Do Minyeong’s life against the lives of every human on the island.

Even setting morality aside, the fact that she was forcing a choice on me felt suspicious.

As if she wanted me to make the wrong decision.

“You do not have time to hesitate. If she dies like this, you will save no one.”

I looked at Do Minyeong, still unconscious.

As Rachel had said, the person most precious to me was her.

Beyond friendship, she was likely the most precious person to humanity itself.

Therefore, if I had to choose, saving Do Minyeong came first.

As much as I regretted it, humanity’s survival was tied to her.

“……”

Then a thought flashed through my mind.

The statement that this island had risen thirteen years ago.

At last, the contexts I could not connect began to assemble into a complete puzzle.

This would not end neatly.

I lifted my gaze again and spoke.

“I refuse.”

“…Hm?”

“I will not accept those ridiculous conditions. I intend to save everyone, without a single exception.”

“Heh! I like your confidence. But you do understand what your words mean, correct?”

In an instant, Rachel’s voice began to deepen.

Deep and grand, as though she might spit out Dragon Speech at any moment.

“It means a future you cannot achieve unless you face me!”

The space trembled violently.

A wave of mana that agitated the environmental mana around us.

True to being at the pinnacle of monsters, she radiated an overwhelming presence.

I drew the Brichalcon sword.

“I had prepared myself for that from the beginning. If you were the sort who could be reasoned with, you would not have done this in the first place.”

“You insignificant human…”

“I would rather not hear you call anyone insignificant.”

“What?”

I let out a cold, mocking smile.

“Because you ran away.”

“…!”

Rachel’s eyes sharpened.

Unlike the arrogance from moments ago, it was now unmistakable wariness.

“When I first stepped onto Crystal, one thing troubled me. The claim that this island rose thirteen years ago.”

“……”

“It was not when the Great Rift opened like eighty years ago, and yet something that science cannot explain happened in the middle of the Pacific Ocean? It is not reasonable to assume Demonic Beings would set foot in the Pacific, so it must have been another higher species. In this case, dragons.”

I took a step forward.

With the ceiling overflowing with lava, this was not a place where I could use shadows.

I could choose to summon a large number of golems to secure shadows, but trying to outplay a dragon with magic was a gamble.

A gamble with very poor odds.

“Then why is that dragon in this world? That dragon, said to have been exterminated by Demonic Beings. Are you not curious? How could I infer you were a dragon?”

“It must be because of your eye.”

“No. I heard it from a dwarf. That a non-human race that fought Demonic Beings during the Great Rift still lives in this world.”

“That bastard!”

“And I also learned about what happened in Gangneung thirteen years ago. He was drowning in regret. He mourned, guilty that he had failed to keep a promise to a precious friend.”

I stepped forward again.

“In that time, the non-human race that owed Hyun Yuyeol did not sacrifice themselves for him. They scattered—some beneath the mountains, some across the ocean… Who would have thought that a great dragon would cross the sea out of fear of Demonic Beings?”

“You…”

“You wanted, no matter what choice I made, for someone to be sacrificed. You forced a choice upon me—Hyun Yuyeol’s descendant—in order to rationalize the fact that you betrayed your promise to him. You wanted comfort in believing that even I, a mere human, was a coward no different from you, a dragon.”

As I spoke, scales began to rise across Rachel’s skin.

She was trying to manifest her original form.

In other words, I had struck the core.

“The dwarf hammered at his anvil for a long time to atone. But you, a dragon, have fallen to the same level as an insignificant human.”

“How dare you, human!”

A roar like thunder.

Dragon Fear, the ability to crush an opponent’s will by sound alone.

The Demonic Eye resisted the status abnormality once again.

From Rachel—no, from the dragon—there was no longer any trace of human skin.

Her entire body was covered in scales, and enormous wings burst from her shoulders.

The first and last dragon I would ever face in this world.

Yet, as expected, she had not become a full adult. Her size was relatively small.

Roughly the size of a large passenger van.

A perfect size to cleave apart with a sword strike.

“Insolent human! I will make you understand what a difference in realm truly is!”

The dragon drew in a breath.

Then a searing flame erupted from her maw.

I watched calmly, then leapt in place and avoided it with ease.

“Too slow.”

“…!”

It was slow.

No matter how she claimed to be the pinnacle of monsters, she was still only a character recorded in a setting book.

With an Agility of twenty, did she think I could not dodge a single blast of fire?

As if she had accounted for that, the dragon continued her assault.

Not by releasing magic, but by reinforcing her body and engaging in close combat.

She must have been mindful of Do Minyeong.

Reading her movement with the Demonic Eye, I delivered sword strikes at precise moments.

WHIIING—!

It was the strike that had severed the Basilisk in one blow, so I had expected something, but the dragon snapped her wings and knocked the blade aside as if it were nothing.

“Earth attribute? You were hiding your strength!”

Only now did she notice.

As she said, I was wearing the Ring of Illusions.

Because I had no intention of fighting at full strength in this battle.

It was reckless to engage a dragon head-on with stamina not even reaching four, and I had not yet secured Do Minyeong’s safety. I had no intention of rampaging beneath a volcano.

Therefore, from the beginning, my plan was to stall for time.

“Are you truly going to do nothing but run!”

“If you cannot keep up with my speed, does that not mean it is beyond your ability?”

“Grrr!”

The dragon beat her wings and rose into the air.

Then she began drawing in breath again, preparing to unleash her breath.

But at that moment—

“Hngh!”

Black smoke rose from the maw that had been about to spew flame, and the dragon crashed helplessly to the ground.

BOOOOM!

Dust billowed thickly across the stone.

Gasping, she shouted,

“You! You… do not tell me!”

I had begun to worry the fight would drag on.

Fortunately, Yun Jeongseop had completed his task at the right moment.

I immediately ran to Do Minyeong, destroyed the claw, and used a healing potion.

Then I hoisted her onto my back, and as I looked at the dragon, I split my lips into a grin.

“What is it? Did your heart suddenly start hurting?”