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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“How do you know about… Him?”
The King, seemingly shocked that I knew his master, the Dragon, stared at me with a face contorted in disbelief, his mouth opening and closing like a fish, unable to speak properly.
But even without him finishing his sentence, I could guess what he was going to say.
‘…know about Him,’ right?
The situation, his expression, and the words he uttered.
Everything pointed to that question, so there was no other possible continuation.
Of course, I didn’t care.
Whether the King’s mind was in turmoil or not, it was none of my concern.
“I’ll ask again.”
Click.
“Where is the Dragon’s lair?”
I applied a little more pressure to my finger on the trigger.
This was the last chance.
If he didn’t answer this time, I would fire immediately, regardless of gathering information.
If he refused to divulge information he possessed, it meant he was prepared to have a hole blown through his head.
‘Well… from what I see, he seems to be speechless from shock.’
But did I need to care about that?
Whether he was speechless from shock or unwilling to speak due to loyalty to his master, the result was the same, no answer.
Perhaps sensing my thoughts, or rather, my killing intent…
“I-I’ll tell you!”
The King, who had been opening and closing his mouth without speaking, finally managed to utter a proper sentence.
“S-so, lower that weapon.”
“…Lower it?”
Huh? That’s strange.
My gun was clearly pointed at his head.
So why was he still speaking in a commanding tone?
I felt annoyed.
Accordingly, click, I gradually applied more pressure to my finger.
And then.
“N-no! I misspoke! I meant to say, please lower it, please lower your weapon!”
Perhaps his hearing had improved after the death of the mage he had relied on.
The King, reacting to the subtle sound of the trigger being pulled, hurriedly corrected himself.
As expected of a gun.
It was a truly excellent means of conversation.
It even made that arrogant King retract his words.
‘Hmm, although he’s not completely polite… I’ll let it slide this time.’
He was still a King, despite his pathetic appearance.
So, I had to leave him with at least a shred of dignity.
‘Although I doubt he has any dignity left.’
With a body as obese as the massive throne he sat on…
His flesh jiggling with every breath… The King’s appearance showed no dignity, let alone gravitas.
I couldn’t understand why such a person was sitting on the throne.
But although I didn’t understand it, I knew how he became King.
‘It’s obvious.’
Hereditary succession.
What else could it be?
I recalled the system that existed in the outside world, reality, and released the pressure on my finger.
Of course, I only released the pressure on the trigger.
I didn’t lower the gun, which was still pointed at the King’s head.
To prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, and to maintain the threat, to gain an advantage in the conversation.
“…Ahem.”
The King, sensing my intention, cleared his throat.
He showed discomfort at the continued threat, the gun still pointed at him.
But I didn’t care.
I scoffed, lightly dismissing the King’s displeasure.
The King made a sour face at my attitude.
And not long after, he sighed briefly, adjusted his posture, and…
“…My master is not here.”
He finally began to divulge information about his master, the Dragon.
“My master resides in the most perilous place in this world.”
But.
“A place where humans must risk their lives, no, a place where even risking their lives wouldn’t grant them access.”
The information was vague.
He could have simply said where it was, but he was being evasive, like a grandparent reading a fairytale to their grandchild.
Of course, although the information the King provided was ambiguous, it wasn’t completely useless.
The most perilous place.
A place inaccessible to humans.
It was practically a riddle.
So much so that others wouldn’t understand it.
But I had already grasped the geography of this alternate world with Clairvoyance.
So, even though the King’s words were unclear and vague, I understood. And as soon as I heard those two descriptions, one region came to mind.
And that region was…
‘…the North’
The place covered in dark purple fog, where I was half-convinced the target of my assigned role, the Demon King, resided.
‘Now I can be certain.’
The location of the Demon King, which I had been half-convinced about.
By combining it with the King’s information, I was now certain he was in the North.
But what I wanted wasn’t this kind of riddle-like, speculative information.
What I wanted was the exact location of the Dragon’s lair.
A compass that would guide me, so I wouldn’t have to rack my brains piecing together clues.
So.
Click.
“It’s good that you’re providing information, but I’m not in the mood for riddles right now.”
I wanted him to speak plainly and clearly.
So that I wouldn’t accidentally pull the trigger in frustration.
At my implied threat, the King closed his mouth.
“……”
Silence fell.
Cold sweat trickled down the King’s forehead.
His face was already covered in grease and sweat, but beads of sweat were visible rolling down his cheeks and hanging from his chin.
And not long after…
Drip…
A drop of sweat fell.
The sound of a water droplet echoed through the silent audience chamber.
“…Frankly, I don’t understand.”
The King voiced his question. And he picked up a napkin from his lap.
“You are foreigners. People from another world, not this one.”
The King, wiping the grease and sweat from his face, tossed the dirty napkin onto the table and continued.
“So why do you want to know where my master resides? What benefit could it possibly bring you?”
Benefit…
‘Well.’
From the King’s perspective, my question was indeed nonsensical.
It was like a mere prey, a human, wanting to find the predator, a Dragon, when they should be trying their best to avoid its notice.
But the King didn’t know.
That the apex predator was currently weakened due to a Transcendent. That it was possible to confront it.
Of course, that only applied to me and the main characters.
The seemingly weak people of this world, and my classmates who had entered this world with me, had no chance.
And who said there was no benefit in meeting a Dragon?
As I thought that, I glanced at As, whom Terra was holding in her arms.
“…Aha.”
The King let out a sound as if realizing something.
“It’s because of the Hero. That’s why you foreigners want to meet my master.”
…Perhaps because he was a King, after all.
He figured it out just from my brief glance at As.
“Are you planning to break the shackles of the rules binding the Hero? If so, I’d say it’s an excellent idea. My great master would be more than capable of breaking such shackles.”
No, that wasn’t it.
Perhaps temporarily, but even a Dragon, the strongest species, couldn’t completely break the rules of a world.
And that applied to Transcendents, who had transcended fate, as well.
But the King, unaware of this…
“But will my master truly bestow his grace upon you?”
…was chuckling darkly, his expression full of confidence.
‘…He’s not wrong.’
Although I didn’t want to admit it… the King was right.
The strongest creatures, born with immense power.
But also the most arrogant and greedy race, proportional to their power.
So, I wasn’t hopeful.
That the Dragon would readily listen to us.
That’s why I was seriously considering using force, one of the means of conversation.
But… now that I thought about it…
‘…there’s no guarantee that would work.’
After all, Dragons were creatures of arrogance, greed, and pride.
Although it had been beaten and chased away by the Martial God, Baek Yoo-hwa, those traits wouldn’t have disappeared. So, it might not bend, even if it broke.
No, perhaps precisely because of that, it might be even less likely to listen.
Its pride would have been deeply wounded, having been forced to flee from Earth, which it considered its colony, with both its body and soul injured.
So, it was highly likely it wouldn’t tolerate any further provocations.
With that thought, I wondered if I should devise a method other than force.
For example, receiving help from the King, the Dragon’s servant…
“Yes, as you suspect, my master will never bestow his grace upon you. So, beg. Kneel before me and bow your head. And commit suicide. Then, I will graciously forgive your rudeness and implore my master to bestow his grace upon the Hero.”
…No, rejected. Rejected.
I didn’t need the King’s help.
I frowned and erased the option that had appeared in my mind.
‘The King’s help, my foot.’
Since when did I beg for help from an enemy?
Moreover, I could never accept help from an enemy who wanted me and my friends dead. So, I wouldn’t ask for, nor accept, the King’s help.
‘And besides the King, there are plenty of people who can help me.’
For example, the Chairman or the Principal.
I could borrow the power of Transcendents from the outside world.
‘Not all Transcendents can interfere with other worlds like the Chairman, but they could tell me how to bring someone from another world to this one.’
Or perhaps a way to temporarily sever the rules of this world.
So.
“I don’t need it.”
I wouldn’t be swayed.
By the King’s words, who mistakenly believed he had the upper hand.
Who was getting cocky.
Click.
In my own way.
“Your help.”
I would carry out the method I had devised.
Rumble, Crash—!
“……”
The King’s eyes widened.
He hadn’t expected me to pull the trigger, his yellow pupils shaking like an earthquake within his narrow eyes.
Rumble…
The thunderous sound that had echoed through the audience chamber faded.
Accordingly, the shock on the King’s face gradually subsided, and a new question arose.
“A-am I… alive?”
The King groped his body. And confirming that there was nothing wrong, he sighed in relief.
But only for a moment.
“…G-gasp!”
A shocked cry escaped the King’s lips.
“S-Sir Rice!”
Ah, so he had a name.
I looked down at the foot of the throne with an indifferent expression.
A headless corpse, just like the mage who had dared to try to brainwash us.
I stared coldly at the corpse of the gear-dependent captain who had escorted us to the audience chamber.
‘Why didn’t you just stay prostrated on the floor like before?’
The reason I suddenly pulled the trigger.
It was because the gear-dependent captain, not only exuded killing intent, but also drew his sword halfway.
It seemed he mistook the King’s renewed confidence for regaining the upper hand.
So, I fired.
Before he could point his blade at us.
“……”
The King looked at me with trembling eyes.
‘Tremble, tremble, tremble.’
The King’s obese body, his flesh, was trembling like waves.
A reaction he hadn’t shown when the mage died.
Seeing that reaction, it seemed he finally grasped the situation.
That he had never had the upper hand from the beginning. And that I wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger.
“It’s over.”
Arthur, who had been watching the situation, said, recalling Excalibur.
Lee Seo-yeon, next to her, also recalled Dainsleif, as if agreeing with Arthur’s words.
“These people who have collapsed won’t be getting up, will they?”
Asuka poked a nearby knight lying on the floor with her scabbard.
But since the mage, the source of their control, was dead and they were unconscious, there was no reaction.
“No.”
Arthur shook her head.
“Mental shock has a significant impact on the body. Moreover, they’ve received the shock of their original consciousness returning as the brainwashing was lifted. So, unless a high-level priest like Noah treats them, they won’t be getting up easily.”
“How… unfortunate.”
Asuka, looking at the collapsed knights with pity, placed the scabbards she was holding in both hands on the floor. And then, she looked at the King with cold eyes.
“You trash.”
Arthur and Lee Seo-yeon nodded at Asuka’s chilling words.
“I pity the people of this world. To have such a person as their King.”
“…Disgusting.”
Tremble, tremble.
The King trembled at Asuka and the others’ contemptuous gazes. This time, not from fear, but from anger at the insult.
So what?
What were you going to do if you were angry?
‘What can you do with that body buried in the throne?’
I glared coldly at the King, his face red with rage, his hands gripping the armrests as if about to break them.
And click, I pointed my gun at the King again.
“You better speak clearly this time.”
Click.
I pulled the trigger to the brink.
To the point where it would fire the moment I applied even the slightest pressure to my finger.
“The moment the information you provide displeases me,”
I said, glancing at the corpses of the mage and the gear-dependent captain.
“You’ll be joining your two beloved companions.”
I turned my gaze back to the King.
And then.
“…I will.”
This time, the King, his face pale, nodded heavily.
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We returned to the “Passing Wind” inn.
And there…
“You’ve arrived.”
“Oh, Noah. You came quickly.”
“Yes, fortunately, there were no attacks, so I was able to arrive quickly.”
“That’s a relief. I thought it would take at least two or three more hours.”
“Haha, it’s all thanks to God’s grace.”
We were greeted by Noah, who had arrived at the inn earlier than expected.
“Ah, now that I think about it, I haven’t greeted everyone yet.”
Noah said, as if he had almost forgotten, and turned his head.
“Good afternoon. Lee Seo-yeon-nim, Asuka-nim, Arthur-nim, and…”
Ah, right.
I hadn’t introduced them yet.
Realizing my mistake, I hurriedly introduced Terra and As to Noah.
“Ah, so this is the cute Hero Lee Yu-jin-nim mentioned in the messenger.”
Noah smiled and knelt on one knee.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Aster. I am Noah, Lee Yu-jin-nim’s friend.”
Perhaps As’s wariness had lessened significantly due to Noah’s kind gesture of kneeling and meeting her eye level.
As, who had been hiding slightly behind Terra, cautiously walked out. And after a moment of hesitation, her lips moving slightly…
“…Hello.”
She bowed and greeted him.
And then, just as she had done with Asuka and the others yesterday, she spoke with a shy expression.
“I’m… Aster.”
As, revealing her name, blushed and lowered her head.
It seemed she was embarrassed by the attention she was receiving.
Noah chuckled brightly at her adorable appearance.
“Haha, just as Lee Yu-jin-nim said, you’re very cute.”
Noah said, stroking As’s hair. And then, standing up, he spoke to the maid, Terra, who was standing quietly next to As.
“Terra-nim, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Yes, nice to meet you.”
…A brief greeting.
That was the end of his exchange with Terra.
‘Well, it can’t be helped.’
Noah, the Saint, who was kind to everyone but difficult to become close to.
Terra, the artificial intelligence, who was awkward at expressing emotions because she was derived from the System…
‘…is she really awkward, though?’
Lately, she seemed to be as emotionally expressive as a human.
Anyway.
Terra, the cold AI who was only warm towards As and me.
Since two people who had difficulty forming close relationships met, it was only natural for them to be awkward.
‘Well, they’ll become closer eventually.’
Terra, who would continue to be with me.
Noah, who, as a classmate and a main character, would share life and death experiences with me.
Since they would be seeing each other often, they would naturally become closer.
With that thought, I cleared my throat, ahem, to break the awkward silence.
“Now that the introductions are over, I’ll tell you what we need to do.”
Now that everyone was gathered, I had to tell them the plan.
Just as I was about to explain the plan I had formulated…
Growl.
A cute sound came from somewhere.
I turned my head towards the sound.
“…Mumble, mumble.”
As was seen lowering her head shyly, embarrassed.
Ah, right.
Because of Infinite Stamina, I wasn’t hungry, so I had forgotten it was time to eat.
“Shall we eat first?”
At my suggestion, everyone, who had been looking at As with warm smiles, nodded.
With everyone’s agreement, I immediately opened my inventory.
And I took out the lunch boxes the Academy chef had specially prepared and handed one to each person.
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The audience chamber, where Lee Yu-jin and his companions had departed.
“……”
The King, left alone in the silent audience chamber, gripped the armrests tightly and looked around.
First, he saw two corpses.
The mage and the captain of the knights.
His close aides.
The vassals who had been most loyal to him.
But they were gone now.
Killed by foreigners from another world.
“Damn it.”
Without the mage, he could no longer enlighten the foolish masses.
“…Damn it.”
Without the captain of the knights, he could no longer plunder livestock from the villages.
Everything had gone wrong.
The opportunity to enjoy delicacies from all over the land, brought to him by those willing to sacrifice their lives for him… had diminished.
“…Damn it!!”
Rage surged within him.
Why was such a humiliating thing happening to him?!
The King vented his anger.
He hurled vulgar curses he had never uttered before. And he swept the dishes on the table to the floor.
Crash!
Empty plates and plates filled with food fell to the floor below the throne, shattering with a loud noise.
“Damn foreigners! How dare you humiliate me like this? I’ll never forgive you! Never!”
Killing intent burned within him.
Especially…
“…That bastard, Lee Yu-jin, was it?”
…towards Lee Yu-jin.
“Insolent bastard… I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you for sure, using all my forces.”
No, no.
Just killing him wouldn’t be enough.
“Ah… right.”
I should kill him last.
He seemed to care about the women who were with him.
“Starting with those women… cruelly…”
He was about to say, “…I’ll kill them,” when…
“Stop right there.”
A chilling voice pierced the King’s ears.
At the same time, he felt something cold touch his neck.
The King, his face filled with terror, said,
“S-spare me… p-please spare me, whoever you are.”
“Begging for your life as soon as a blade touches your neck? How pathetic. Unbefitting of a King.”
A sharp rebuke, as sharp as a blade.
But the King didn’t care. Or rather, since he was in a situation where he could lose his life at any moment, he didn’t have the time to care whether his behavior was pathetic or not.
“T-treasures! I’ll give you enough treasure to live comfortably for the rest of your life if you spare me!”
“……”
No response.
“P-power! I’ll give you the power to control my vassals as you please!”
“……”
No response again.
“Men! I’ll give you the most handsome man in the world as a slave!”
Could it be that even this wasn’t enough?
As the King thought that…
“That…”
…he finally heard a response.
At the same time…
Slide.
“Y-you…!”
The identity of the assassin was revealed. And that identity was none other than…
“The maid who was with that man…!”
The woman who had been with Lee Yu-jin.
But how?
He had clearly seen her leave with him.
But before he could voice his question…
“…That is a truly unpleasant offer.”
The blade, which had only been touching his neck, dug in.
A burning sensation and pain followed, but the King couldn’t scream.
“I’m warning you.”
Because emotionless, and thus even colder, eyes were staring at him.
“Don’t do anything.”
The blade dug a little deeper into the King’s neck.
Blood trickled down, staining the King’s clothes red.
“Don’t touch my Master, the women who were with him, or any of the foreigners who have entered this world.”
His neck hurt.
But he couldn’t scream.
He felt like his head would fall off the moment he made a sound.
So, the King just trembled with every word the maid uttered.
“Blink once if you understand.”
At the maid’s words, the King hurriedly blinked.
And then, he felt the cold sensation digging into his neck disappear. At the same time, he realized the maid’s figure beside him had also vanished.
But he could still hear her voice.
“I’ll be watching. Don’t break your promise.”
Words without killing intent, but a death threat that resonated more strongly than any other.
At those words, the King silently nodded.
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‘Ah, right. Terra.’
[Yes, Master.]
‘What’s that guy doing now?’
[He’s sitting quietly on his throne.]
‘…Sitting? He’s not throwing a fit?’
[No, Master.]
‘That’s strange. I thought he would definitely throw a fit.’
[That just means the conversation with Master went well.]
‘…Really?’
[Yes, really.]
That was really strange.
Considering his personality, there was no way he would stay quiet.
I expressed my doubts about the King’s incomprehensible behavior.
‘…Just in case, keep an eye on him. Report immediately if he does anything suspicious.’
[Yes, I understand. Although I doubt he will do anything suspicious, I will report immediately if he does.]
‘…? Okay, please?’
…What was that?
Why did she add “although I doubt” before “suspicious actions”?
‘It’s like she’s implying the King won’t be able to do anything foolish.’
Did she threaten the King or something?
As I thought that, I looked at Terra.
Terra, who had been handing out lunch boxes to everyone with me, momentarily smiled.
‘She did, didn’t she?’
Of course she did.
There was no way the King would stay quiet.
I chuckled and shook my head.
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[Your Text Here]
Terra is amazing.