- The Being Called a Dragon
We had only been away for about half a day, but it seemed a great many things had happened in the real world in the meantime.
When we entered the Administration Bureau, the atmosphere was in utter disorder.
Words like terrorism and protests buzzed through the air.
“Looks like everyone’s busy here too.”
“Surely there hasn’t been another terrorist attack already?”
“For now, let’s go to the conference room and discuss our next measures.”
Yu Jaeseon led the investigation team to the conference room.
We had withdrawn as soon as we came out of the Magic Tower and had just returned to the Administration Bureau.
The sight of the Leviathan we had seen up close just before crossing the portal had been so shocking that on the ride back, everyone had talked of nothing else.
We had gone over it again and again, as if doing so might dull the impact.
It had been only this morning that we entered the Magic Tower, but it felt as though several days had passed since then.
Because of that, everyone had completely forgotten about the lizardmen’s terrorist attack in the Bundang area.
Even Yu Jaeseon.
Only after returning to the Administration Bureau did I remember the alarm from earlier. Now that we were here, all we could hear from every direction was talk about the lizardmen.
“Right! I sent Mage Oudin’s team members to the scene in Bundang earlier. I wonder if the operation ended well. I’ll go find out.”
When we reached the front of the conference room, Yu Jaeseon said that and left. The rest of us went inside.
Once only the investigation team members remained, the scenes we had witnessed inside the Magic Tower began playing through our minds again on their own.
Now that we knew what Samir was plotting, we had to hurry and prepare countermeasures.
If the Leviathan emerged from the Magic Tower, a situation like war would erupt immediately. We had to be ready to respond at once.
We would have to issue a general mobilization order to all mages nationwide, and arrange cooperation with the police and military as well.
I was pondering how we could deal with the Leviathan, which would not be affected by most magic.
“The Leviathan is one thing, but even if only the goat demons come pouring out, it won’t be easy. They’re incredibly fast, and there are so many of them.”
Heimdall spoke up.
Perhaps because we had talked about the Leviathan to the point of exhaustion on the way here, he now brought up the goat demons instead.
Since the topic had come up, I figured I should tell them about the red-horned goat demon.
“Among them, you need to be especially careful of the red-horned goat demon. I think it was a mage of their race. Its magic detection and magical ability seemed superior to most black mages.”
I shared the information I had gathered earlier.
I would report it in the meeting as well, but rather than making idle chatter while we waited, sharing information in advance would save time.
“Red horns… I see. So that must be the mark of a mage.”
“I had no idea there were mages among those goat demon bastards.”
“That’s my first time hearing it too. Then again, we didn’t know much about goat demons to begin with. We only knew they were incredibly fast.”
“You’re saying their magic is impressive too? Then we’ll have to be especially careful. But no matter how impressive a red-horned one is, could it compare to the Leviathan? Just thinking about that thing’s face still makes my knees go weak.”
Yantu steered the conversation back to the Leviathan.
Just as I was about to discuss what countermeasures we could prepare against that enormous monster, Yu Jaeseon entered the conference room and gestured for me to come.
“Mage, just a moment…”
“What is it?”
I asked as I followed Yu Jaeseon out.
“Your team members are in the conference room over there. I think you should come with me briefly and hear what they have to say.”
“Is there a problem? Everyone is safe, right?”
“Yes, of course. Everyone is safe. They say the operation was completed successfully. But they insisted on giving their report with you present.”
My head tilted of its own accord.
They wanted to give the operation report with me there? It seemed there was some kind of issue after all.
I hurried my steps.
After walking a short way down the corridor and entering the conference room on the opposite side, I saw my team members and Director Park Hongguk.
“Oh, you’re here?”
“Mage! Did everything go well?”
“Did the operation end well?”
“Yes! We caught every last lizardman.”
We first exchanged greetings and checked on each other.
Even though we had only been apart for half a day, it felt as if several days had passed.
I moved to sit beside Gil and looked around the room.
There were traces of various foods and drinks having been consumed on the table. Quite a bit of food still remained.
The Director of the Administration Bureau himself had provided food for my team members and was sitting with them?
At the very least, I could be sure the operation had gone well.
Even without that, I could tell just by looking at my team members.
All of their faces were glowing. Their expressions were bright, and they did not look tired at all. If anything, they looked overflowing with energy.
A soft white light surrounded them.
‘They’re all surrounded by holy light? Has their mana improved even further? But then why did they wait for me before giving the operation report?’
I was extremely curious, but I could not be the first to ask what had happened.
I looked at Director Park Hongguk.
“I heard you safely completed the investigation of the Magic Tower. You worked hard. We’ll hear the detailed report in the meeting shortly. First, let’s hear your team’s operation report.”
The Director opened the conversation.
He did not mention why the report had not yet been given.
Nor was there any trace of reproach. As always, he wore a good-natured smile.
This time, when I raised my head and looked at Cheon Danbi, she finally opened her mouth.
“You’re wondering why we still haven’t given the operation report and were just eating and hanging around, right?”
“Yeah. Tell me already. Why exactly?”
“We asked the Director to wait until Oudin arrived. It’s… because it concerns Ren’s ability, so we wanted to be careful.”
As Cheon Danbi said this, she glanced at the Director’s expression.
She seemed worried that it might sound as though she had not spoken because she did not trust him.
“It’s all right. You are not affiliated with the Administration Bureau, nor with the Hall. I understand that you wanted to report with your representative mage present. Especially when sensitive matters are involved.”
The Director replied generously.
I felt I understood why my team had done that.
It seemed Ren’s ability had been used during the operation. In other words, the polymorph ability that we had not yet even informed the Administration Bureau about.
It was only natural to be cautious. That ability was so special that once it became known, it would draw the attention of many people. There was also the risk that she would become a target.
Of course, Vanaheim already knew about it and had targeted her because of it.
“It’s fine to tell the Director and Mage Yu Jaeseon. They’re allies who will protect our backs from now on.”
I said, looking around at my team members.
Director Park Hongguk, Yu Jaeseon, and the mages of the investigation team who had gone to the Magic Tower today were definite allies.
They were people who had fought alongside us until now, and people who had taken the lead when we drove out the enemies within the Administration Bureau and the Hall.
When I nodded, Cheon Danbi opened her mouth again.
“Then I’ll tell you what happened during today’s operation.”
Cheon Danbi handled most of the operation report, while Gil and Ren occasionally filled in the parts she left out.
As we listened, the eyes of the Director, Yu Jaeseon, and I widened of their own accord.
We did not openly exclaim in admiration or show astonished reactions, but inwardly, we were both shocked and impressed.
It was an astonishing story. Ren had transformed into a dragon and completely subdued the lizardmen.
It was every bit as shocking as the investigation team entering the Magic Tower and coming face to face with the Leviathan.
“So that’s why the lizardmen submitted completely.”
The Director nodded.
They said the lizardmen had not merely been subdued; they had also been freed from the black magic controlling them and had returned to their original selves.
The lizardmen arrested at the scene numbered in the hundreds, nearly reaching a thousand. They had all been brought to the Administration Bureau and confined in holding rooms, where they remained quietly silent—until my team members passed nearby, at which point they prostrated themselves in a posture of complete submission.
“That’s right. They’re submitting to Ren.”
“I see. We thought they were submitting to Mage Gil.”
Apparently, both the people at the scene and the mages from the Administration Bureau who went to handle the aftermath all believed Gil had been the one to complete the operation.
Their memories of meeting the dragon at the scene had been erased.
“We could have glossed over the operation report that way too, but we felt we should tell the truth, so we waited for you to come. In truth, it wasn’t me—Ren was the one who completed the whole operation.”
Gil said with a bright smile.
At that, Ren, who was beside him, waved both hands in denial.
“No. I didn’t do it alone. Gil, Danbi, all of us did it together.”
“Both of you are right. Ren’s role was immense, but it was also something the team accomplished together.”
The Director said, bringing their words together.
The remarks that followed the report, like a refrain, merely brushed past my ears.
The fact that Ren had transformed into a dragon carried tremendous weight. My mind was busy trying to measure that weight.
‘This is something I never imagined. To think Ren’s polymorph ability was that outstanding. I heard her ability improved even further through Vanaheim’s experiments, but I didn’t know it would be to this extent. Ah—Bruno’s influence must have played a part too.’
Judging by how she had actually subjugated the lizardmen, it likely meant she did not merely manifest the form of a dragon, but became a dragon itself.
If so, she was an incredible fighting force.
Until now, perhaps Ren had been using her ability passively because she feared Vanaheim would discover her. But now, she had personally stepped forward in an operation.
If Ren continued to take part in operations in earnest, she would become an enormous strength in the fight against the Magic Tower.
I had no intention of pushing her. I planned to ask carefully how firm her resolve was, and follow her will.
‘This is my fight. I’ll have to gather everyone’s strength, but if they don’t want it, I can’t put them in danger.’
Even as I thought that, I could not deny that my heart was pounding at the thought that a dragon might perhaps possess power comparable to the Leviathan.
The power of a dragon itself was one thing, but beyond that, a dragon likely possessed the strength to make other races submit and move according to its will, as with the lizardmen. The resulting military force would be far from negligible as well.
“Then shall we wrap up the operation report here? We still have to give the Magic Tower investigation team’s report, and then proceed immediately into an urgent strategy meeting.”
Yu Jaeseon’s words snapped me back to my senses.
As he looked around at the gathered people and said this, Cheon Danbi answered right away.
“Yes. Our report is finished.”
At that, Director Park Hongguk looked at each of my team members’ faces one by one and asked.
“You aren’t too tired, are you? Since you’ve had some rest?”
“Yes. We’re fine.”
“I’m not tired at all. My mana has been fully recharged too.”
At Cheon Danbi and Gil’s answers, the Director smiled broadly and continued.
“Then all of you should join the Magic Tower investigation team’s report and the strategy meeting as well. You’re all people who will fight together from now on, after all. Isn’t that right? Let’s go together.”
The Director sprang up from his seat and took the lead.
Only now did I see that Yu Jaeseon’s and the Director’s faces were shining. They must have seen hope.
Their minds, too, were surely filled to the brim with the being called a dragon.
But could they possibly be as proud and happy as I was?
I was remembering the first time I met Ren. The frightened girl in Chinatown.
Now, she had become something entirely different from back then. A weighty being called a dragon.