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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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There was a Dragon in this world.
A truly unexpected stroke of luck.
But I was probably the only one who thought so.
After all, Dragons were the strongest species, possessing a body and abilities more powerful than any other race.
Although most of them had perished by the Martial God’s blade, and the rest had fled to the alternate world…
They were still apex predators who had once reigned over an era with terror, not to be taken lightly.
Even if the Dragon was in a weakened, recovering state, it was still a disaster for my classmates, excluding me and the main characters.
Of course, even with the difficulty of this alternate world drastically increased, there was no immediate danger.
The probability of encountering it was extremely low, as it would be hiding somewhere to recover.
‘Still, just in case, I should warn them.’
There was no reason not to reduce the number of possible scenarios with a single warning.
With that thought, I spoke to Terra, who was walking ahead, holding As’s hand, and connected to me mentally.
‘Terra, listen without looking back.’
[Speak, Master.]
‘As you know, I’m not in a position to use my smartwatch right now, right? So, could you post a message in the group chat for me?’
[Yes, I understand. What message should I send?]
‘Tell them I’ve confirmed the presence of a Dragon in this alternate world, so everyone should be careful. Oh, and tell them to focus on completing their roles, but if the situation becomes unfavorable, to return to the real world without hesitation.’
[Message sent. Is there anything else you would like to convey?]
‘No, that’s enough. So, what’s their reaction?’
[I haven’t checked everyone yet, but those who have read it are all shocked.]
That was only natural.
Who wouldn’t be surprised to hear that there was a Dragon in the alternate world they entered for Academy training?
[And they all say they will do as you instructed.]
‘That’s a relief.’
I sighed inwardly in relief.
During the Duel Season in the first semester…
A few students from Class A had been replaced with students from Class B through an event where class members were switched based on the results.
So, I had thought the newly promoted Class A students might have some resistance to my words…
Fortunately, everyone said they would heed my warning, so I felt relieved.
‘By the way… where is Noah? Why hasn’t he joined us yet?’
He had said he boarded a carriage to the royal capital yesterday.
I felt puzzled by Noah’s absence, still unable to see him even after arriving in the royal capital, and asked Terra,
‘Terra, have you received any messages or calls from Noah?’
[No, Master.]
‘Then send him a message asking where he is.’
[Message sent.]
And not long after.
[Master, a message has arrived.]
Noah’s reply arrived.
[Displaying it in your field of vision.]
‘Okay.’
Terra’s messages disappeared. And in their place, a message appeared, similar to the smartwatch’s hologram chat window.
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[Noah]
– Lee Yu-jin-nim, I apologize for making you worry.
– I was going to contact you yesterday, but it was late, so I thought everyone would be asleep.
– So, today, and just as I was about to contact you, I received your message, so I’m replying right away.
– I’m currently heading to the royal capital. My estimated time of arrival is about three hours.
– Ah, you must be wondering why I’m still on my way, even though I said I boarded a carriage yesterday.
– The reason is this. Yesterday, I boarded a carriage to the royal capital with the help of a kind person. But…
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…Wow, really.
I read the message with a weary expression.
‘Seriously, Noah…’
Wasn’t the message too long?
And that wasn’t all.
It was still getting longer in real time.
It meant Noah was still sending messages.
‘I shouldn’t think this way, but… Noah… he’s a really tiresome person.’
Of course, Noah wasn’t like this with everyone.
Sending long messages or talking at length, like a talkative person, only applied to me and the main characters.
With other people, even if he initiated a conversation, he only spoke what was necessary. He didn’t include unnecessary details, like the message I was currently reading.
In terms of game stats, his affection level had to be above 50% for Noah to become more talkative and engage in friendly conversations.
‘It’s funny how he’s so reticent with the Saintess.’
Since she was his mother, his affection level should be above 90%.
‘Well, I guess he feels awkward chatting with his mother, since she’s not a friend.’
But did Noah know?
That Gloria, who doted on her son, actually wanted that?
I pictured Gloria, filled with divine dignity and benevolence, smiling brightly every time she saw Noah, and skimmed through his message, which was still being updated in real time.
‘So… to summarize…’
He boarded a carriage to the royal capital yesterday.
But the carriage headed not to the royal capital, but to a bandits’ hideout.
It turned out the carriage he was riding was a trap set by bandits to rob travelers.
Of course, even with his power halved, subduing the bandits was no problem.
But there was another problem, he discovered people who appeared to have been kidnapped in the basement of the hideout.
And since their condition was very poor, he gave up on going to the royal capital that day and treated them.
After confirming that everyone’s condition had improved, he resumed his journey to the royal capital.
‘And this time, he’s heading to the royal capital in a carriage with the help of a kind person… right?’
As expected of a Saint.
Whether in reality or here.
He couldn’t just ignore injured and sick people.
I inwardly admired Noah’s actions, his legitimate reason for not joining us that day, and his good deeds even in this place, and asked Terra to reply.
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[Lee Yu-jin]
– You’ve already had such an eventful experience, you must be tired.
– Noah, send me a message, not a call, when you arrive in the royal capital.
– We’re being dragged to the royal palace right now, so I can’t answer calls.
[Noah]
– Yes, I understand.
– I’ll send you a message when I arrive.
[Lee Yu-jin]
– Oh, and you don’t have to look for a place to stay.
– Asuka rented the entire inn where Lee Seo-yeon was staying.
– You’ll see it about three minutes after entering the royal capital. It’s a high-class building with a wind-shaped sign, so you won’t miss it even if there are many buildings around.
[Noah]
– Oh… okay.
– I’ll go straight to the inn when I arrive.
[Lee Yu-jin]
– Okay, see you later.
[Noah]
– Yes, see you later.
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The chat window disappeared.
Terra, confirming that the conversation was over, had erased it.
I sighed briefly.
‘Now that I’ve told him the meeting point, he shouldn’t get lost.’
Of course, the same thing could happen again.
I had encountered bandits and thieves several times on my way to the royal capital, so I couldn’t guarantee it wouldn’t happen to Noah.
Still, since we had a designated meeting point, we would definitely meet.
Whether Noah was late or we were.
There was only one designated meeting point.
With that thought, I looked around.
And I started to listen to the voices I had been ignoring.
“…Look over there. It’s the Hero.”
“The mark on her forehead… that little girl must be the newly designated Hero.”
“Tsk… she looks barely ten years old, I wonder if she can even catch the Demon King.”
“I know, right? She looks so frail, I doubt she could even handle a single soldier, let alone the Demon King.”
“The goddess must be heartless, designating such a young child as the Hero… is she trying to kill us all?”
“At this rate… I’d rather die quickly. So that someone stronger can become the Hero.”
…Crazy bastards.
Were those things to say to a child who had been forced to become the Hero?
I frowned at the disgusting words that made my ears want to rot.
Asuka and Arthur, walking beside me, also frowned.
And Lee Seo-yeon…
“……”
…was staring at the people with a cold, expressionless face, gripping the hilt of her sword.
“Lee Seo-yeon, calm down.”
I patted Lee Seo-yeon’s hand, as she emitted a murderous aura, as if she was about to draw her sword and swing it at any moment.
At my touch, Lee Seo-yeon’s murderous aura gradually subsided.
Accordingly, the knights and soldiers who had been surrounding us, staring at Lee Seo-yeon with tense expressions, relaxed their faces and released their grips on their swords.
“Lee Seo-yeon.”
“…Okay.”
Only after I called her name again did Lee Seo-yeon release her hand from her sword.
But her gaze was still fixed on the people who were spewing garbage about As.
‘…It’s a good thing Lee Seo-yeon can’t fully control Dainsleif yet.’
If the seal on Dainsleif had been released and she could use all of its abilities… everyone here would be dead, drained of all their blood.
I sighed inwardly in relief and patted Lee Seo-yeon’s hand once more. And as if waiting for it, she intertwined her fingers with mine. I intertwined my fingers with hers as well.
Lee Seo-yeon’s aura, which had still been slightly murderous, calmed down like a gentle spring breeze.
‘I should hold her hand until we reach the palace.’
Although Lee Seo-yeon had calmed down, the insults directed at As were still ringing in my ears.
As I was having that thought, another hand intertwined its fingers with mine.
Asuka, seeing me holding hands with Lee Seo-yeon, had done the same.
I felt a soft and warm sensation on my back.
Arthur, who had been walking next to Asuka, had started walking close behind me.
[I envy you. I also want to hold Master’s hand. I want to press my chest against your back. But because of As, I can’t… how unfortunate.]
…Don’t you do that too.
I’m in a very awkward situation right now.
‘Seriously, am I supposed to walk like this all the way to the palace?’
Holding hands was one thing, but what Arthur was doing behind me was very uncomfortable…
Walking wasn’t a problem.
Even with our strength restricted, matching our pace was easy.
But the ample sensation I felt on my back… that was a real… problem.
“…Arthur, I’m having a little trouble walking right now… could you move away from my back?”
“……”
“Arthur…?”
No response.
It seemed she had no intention of listening to me.
‘Sigh, this is driving me crazy.’
I sighed deeply and inwardly…
‘Along the East Sea and Mount Baekdu…’
To calm my troubled mind.
The men’s method of mental management.
I started reciting the national anthem.
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“…You will soon be in the presence of His Majesty. So… I would appreciate it if you would cease your undignified behavior.”
The man, the leader of the knights and soldiers who had escorted us to the royal palace and the audience chamber, said with a frown, as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have.
At his words, Asuka and Lee Seo-yeon, who were holding my hands, and Arthur, who was pressing her chest against my back, sighed briefly and separated from me.
And finally…
‘…I’m saved.’
I could finally stop reciting the national anthem, which I had been repeating from the first to the fourth verse.
“Phew.”
Relieved that I had avoided a social death on the streets, I let out a long sigh and looked at the door to the audience chamber.
A massive door, covered in gold and adorned with jewels, no less grand than the gate.
‘…Crazy.’
It was an extravagant display that made me frown.
Even if it was a display of wealth for the King’s prestige, it was too much.
‘Even Greed wouldn’t go this far.’
But thanks to this, I could be certain.
The King of this world.
The King who covered his doors in gold.
He was also a dragon’s underling, just like the man before us.
Of course, since I hadn’t confirmed the scales, I couldn’t be entirely sure.
But the reason I was so certain was because of the golden door I was currently looking at.
‘Like master, like servant, overflowing with desire.’
Dragons’ arrogance and greed were greater than any other race.
Perhaps because of that, the desires of those who became their servants were also amplified to the extreme.
As proof, the man who had dragged us here.
Although he seemed ordinary, unlike a typical dragon’s underling…
The sword at his waist and the armor he wore.
Neither of those were ordinary items.
According to Terra…
The sword, which looked like a jeweled sword at first glance, was made of mithril, the material with the highest mana conductivity.
And the armor, so polished it gleamed, was made of adamantium.
They were items too precious for someone who wasn’t particularly strong.
But the man was openly wearing them.
As if to make others envious, as if demanding they admire him for possessing such a sword and armor.
The desire for power.
The desire for attention.
Those two desires were amplified within the man.
So, seeing the extravagant door, I assumed the King was also a dragon’s servant.
With that thought, I looked at the slowly opening door. I took in the gradually revealing interior.
And.
“Whoa.”
I was awestruck.
‘Can he even move?’
At the sight of the King, sitting on a massive throne adorned with gold and jewels, his body incredibly obese, filled with flesh and fat.
“You’ve finally arrived.”
The King, who had been gnawing on a pig’s leg like a drumstick, opened his grease-covered mouth.
And he spoke, making loud smacking sounds that made my stomach churn, and spitting out bits of food.
“Welcome to my castle, Hero. And,”
The King’s murky yellow eyes turned towards us.
“Foreigners who have entered this world.”
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