◈ Chapter 252. Black Dark Dragon (1)
Let us retrace the flow of events.
They were dragons that neither the Magic Tower, nor the rankers, nor the Crusade Alliance could do anything about. And that was not all. Even mankind’s science, which had swiftly dealt with monsters that burst out of collapsed rifts, was no exception.
-I heard even fighter jets worth hundreds of billions couldn’t get close ㄷㄷ-Yeah, apparently they almost crashed just from a flap of their wings
-They’re faster than supersonic missiles, so how are you supposed to hit them;;The king of all things.
Before dragons, it was useless.
It was, quite literally, despair.
But the situation was resolved with the appearance of a single person.
As if he had foreseen even this situation.
Even though he had shown himself for the first time in fifteen days.
It was Hoyeol, no different from usual.
It was a spectacular sight.
The roaring dragons gathered before Hoyeol.
The sight of them bowing their heads.
And then, as if nothing had happened.
The sight of them disappearing once more through the portal.
Hoyeol had always shown sights beyond imagination.
But to think he would send dragons back with just a single word.
It was something no one could have predicted.
At the same time, it was an enormous question.
All sorts of speculation were bound to follow.
-What the hell happened during those fifteen days??-For real, what happened
-I don’t know what it was, but…….
It was not any other player.
It was Hoyeol.
Hoyeol had unexpectedly been absent for fifteen days?
What that meant was simple.
It meant something even Hoyeol could not have predicted had occurred.
The arrow could only point toward “one word.”
-If it’s on that kind of scale, isn’t there only the Black Dark Dragon?
-You’re that sure right away?
-No, doesn’t the name alone just give you that feeling???
As expected, the Black Dark Dragon.
The name the dragons had cried out in unison.
There was nothing else but the Black Dark Dragon.
-I think Hoyeol-nim found a clue about the Black Dark Dragon ㅇㅇ-For real lol, otherwise why would the dragons have gone back so quietly
-For a brain-fart theory, it sounds plausible ㄷㄷ-If it’s the Black Dark Dragon, it’s worth Hoyeol-nim spending fifteen days on itThat was the most plausible speculation at present.
Of course, every now and then.
There were posts presenting different opinions.[Title: But about that thing called the Black Dark Dragon][Writer: ㅇㅇ][Content: Doesn’t that somehow seem like Hoyeol-nim……?]
Still, there was such a thing as common sense.
No matter how many feats beyond common sense Hoyeol had shown.
Wasn’t the opponent a dragon?
-Come on, even if it’s Hoyeol-nim, that’s a bit…….
-First of all, how can a human be called a dragon? That’s not it lololol-That’s physically impossible too, seriouslyFine, even if one conceded a hundred times over.
Let us say Hoyeol had grown.
In just fifteen days.
To the point where he could be called a dragon.
Even so, it made no sense.
-The dragons cried tears, you know???
-A dragon crying because of a human? No way lolol-Above all, there’s no reason for them to cry lolol-Exactly, our Hoyeol-nim looked perfectly fine like usual, didn’t he?
Dragons had lived for a span of time close to eternity.
The fact that they shed tears for the Black Dark Dragon.
Meant that the Black Dark Dragon was an existence that had exerted an enormous influence on them…….
No matter how great Hoyeol was.
-Still, could something like that be possible in fifteen days?
Fifteen days was far too short a time.
No rebuttal comments were posted.
It could not be helped.
Because, from the standpoint of common sense, it was a flawless conjecture.
However, they simply could not let go of their lingering attachment.……
After all, did it not sound strangely plausible?
-An endlessly deep darkness, and the Black Dark Dragon…….
-Still, doesn’t it feel like there’s some kind of connection?
-Now that I hear it, it kind of does……?
Both of them seemed to share the common trait of being pitch-black.
But that could not be evidence.
Yes, from there on, it was merely a matter of faith.
And so, they could only hope.
-I believe you will also unravel the foreshadowing about the Black Dark Dragon.
Just Homen…….*……
What, just Homen?!
Regrettably, that will absolutely never happen……!
I knew this would happen.
Of all the aliases they could have attached, why did it have to be the Black Dark Dragon…….
Its image subtly overlaps with the endlessly deep darkness, damn it!‘It’s a good thing I desperately kept him silent.’If Kudhanax had said even a single word.
I would have been unable to refute it.
And would have ended up acknowledging that dreadful alias, Black Dark Dragon.
Moreover, with Grandfel’s pride, which hides nothing.
The reason the alias Black Dark Dragon came to be.
And even matters concerning the Claudi family.
There was more than enough possibility that he would speak of them without concealment.
That could have been the day of my funeral, Hoyeol…….
The office of the Yusra Kingdom.
After sending Elsidore out, I was in the midst of checking the work that had piled up.
I survived because the king, Hakuna, had done more than his share.
If not, I would have had to be stuck here for days without rest.
“Did I not say it? One day would be enough.”
He really does speak shamelessly, honestly.
In any case, thanks to turning over documents without rest.
The rough organization was nearing its end.
In that sense, shall I take a look at myself?
Because the dragons had held such a grand return ceremony for me.
There were still a few things I had not yet checked.[Name: Grandfel Claudi Arpheus Romeo][Title: Last Adventurer, Noble, Transcendent, Black Dark Dragon][Class: Demon Hunter][Level: 681][Stats]
Strength: 159 / Agility: 155 / Magic Power: 577 / Luck: 12 / Aesthetic Sense: High / Tenacity: 2[Available Points: 0]
The status window I opened after a long while.
What bothered me more than anything was the “Black Dark Dragon” among my titles.
However, it was not something I could detach by whining.
Let us abandon lingering attachment.
And there is something more important than that.‘The experience penalty is……?’For now, I feel relieved just by the fact that it is not noticeable.
Perhaps because the required experience increased as my level rose.
Even though my experience had decreased, it did not show much.
The absolute amount of experience lost was the same, so it was no different from a sleight of hand.
But it is fortunate enough that my level did not fall.‘Nineteen levels to go, then.’Until I can slip my arms into this fluttering jacket.
Naturally, I should also be able to check the effects of the Epic-grade item, the Dawn Set. Nineteen levels. If one thought of the required amount of experience, it could seem like a distant matter.
But who am I?
The sole survivor of Akshan.
Thanks to that, there was an inheritance I had received from Akshan.
Yes, the savings account I had treasured and treasured.[Quirnberg Machine Tower]
I have that.
Even at this moment.
The machine tower must be hunting demons and accumulating experience and fame.‘If I find and retrieve just one of them.’Would level 700 not be plenty possible?
In that sense, let us hurry, Hoyeol.
Tomorrow, the [Last Adventurer] penalty will disappear as well.
Once I take care of the work that was pushed back in reality, I can immediately reenter the Arcana Continent. Of course, even on the Arcana Continent, I will have to follow the proper order.‘Actually, until just now.’The top priority.
The most urgent objective had been visiting the Claudi mansion.
Had I not said why?
Before the damned legend of the Black Dark Dragon spread widely across the Arcana Continent.
While I could still at least walk around with my head up.
It seemed it would be easier in various ways if I witnessed it.
However.
“Before the dawn, darkness is nothing but a hollow shell.”
I learned, did I not?
“Exposing darkness is something that can be done at any time.”
What kind of misunderstanding surrounded the Fruit of Good and Evil.
And judging from the fact that the class quest appeared, it was certain that the culprit was either a demon or related to demons.
Grandfel, who could not overlook demons, would have no choice but to set his feet toward Sisley.
Of course.『Though he was the heir of a great family, that family fell to a demon. Grandfel Claudi Arpheus Romeo, hereafter Grandfel, the sole survivor of the family, walked the path of a Demon Hunter in order to take revenge on that demon.』The Claudi family had likewise fallen to a demon.
But as Grandfel said.
I had not yet witnessed Claudi with my own eyes.
Moreover, Grandfel’s noble pride.
Would never prioritize household matters over the greater cause.
“The timing of education is also important.”
Honestly…….
Ever since you started preaching the wonders at the Magic Tower, you have become quite the capable educator, have you not, Grandfel-nim? The moment I grumbled inwardly and took up the feather pen again.
Knock, knock─“?”
All of a sudden, someone knocked on the office door.*The swarm of dragons that quietly withdrew with Hoyeol’s appearance.
The moment mankind escaped the crisis of extinction.
The emotions mankind felt were largely similar.
Surprise, relief, joy…….
However, one person out of several billion.
Was immersed in sentiments far removed from mankind’s.
Likewise.
For over a decade, he had been called one out of several billion.
Arcana’s official Rank 1, Skal.
“……
Alexander, I’m not dreaming, am I?”
Dragons had appeared all over the Earth!
At that fact, Skal finally thought his dream had come true. He did not know specifically what had happened or how, but first, he offered Hoyeol his deepest gratitude.
“I am grateful, Sir Hoyeol……!”
It could not be helped.
Because Skal had his own guess as to why Hoyeol had vanished for fifteen days. Yes. It was thanks to the world quest that had appeared after the class quest, [Gathering of All Dragons].
[World Quest: The Old Dragon’s Final Flight]
The dying old dragon made a decision.
He would burn his end for the future of his kin.
At the rebuke of the old dragon, the continent shall tremble.─Witness the old dragon’s end. (Failed)
The quest objective had failed.
But he could not know exactly what that meant.
Whether the old dragon had truly met his end, or whether it had failed because he had not.
Skal had no way of knowing.
However, now that dragons had appeared in reality.
And more than ten of them, at that.
Whether a quest succeeded or failed no longer mattered.
“They existed. They really did!”
Proof that his goal was not an illusion.
Thinking that he might someday reach that goal made his heart swell. Beyond that, when he thought of flying atop such a gigantic dragon…….
“……
Alexander, pretend you didn’t see this.”
To the point that his eyes reddened.
Skal was moved.
Was that why?
Skal could not let even the dragons’ cries.
Not even a single Fear, pass him by.
“Ugh.”
Even as his legs trembled from the intense Fear.
He endured it and viewed the situation from the perspective of a Dragon Knight.
And found a clue.
“……
It’s the Black Dark Dragon.”
From the class quest to the world quest.
And finally, the Black Dark Dragon.
There was undoubtedly a connected storyline.
If so.
If he helped the dragons.
Find that thing called the Black Dark Dragon……?
“Maybe I can build affinity with them.”
Just as Skal, thinking so, was about to take action.
All of a sudden, Hoyeol appeared.
He instantly resolved a situation that no one had dared touch.
Skal froze.
“Could it be that this time as well, Sir……?”
Do you know something about the Black Dark Dragon as well?
“I have no face to ask, but……!”
Skal wanted to set aside all shame and run to Hoyeol at once to ask him.
From what had happened to the dying old dragon.
To information regarding the Black Dark Dragon.
He had mountains of questions.
But at the same time, he knew.
“Procedure. Procedure. I must not forget procedure.”
And so he waited.
In front of the Golden Palace.
For Hoyeol to return.
“I beg you. Sir Enoch!”
And then, to the knight of Lionheart.
Enoch, with whom he was now fully acquainted.
He conveyed his circumstances.
He wished to meet Sir Hoyeol because he had such business.
The answer to that returned before long.
Skal asked Enoch with an anxious gaze.
“……
How did it go?”...
The one who knocked on the door was Enoch.
To be precise, it was Enoch, who had brought news of Skal.
Yes, Skal the Dragon Knight.‘I feel sorry for you, Skal.’I knew just how sincere Skal was about dragons.
To the point that tears had welled in his eyes.
And to think that I ended up climbing atop a dragon before such a Skal.‘It is not as though the quiet cat climbed onto the stove first, but still…….’It was something even I had not expected.‘Sometimes ignorance is medicine, Skal.’Well, there is no need to go out of my way to say that.
I do not know about Grandfel.
But I, Lee Hoyeol, am a member of society who knows what consideration is, am I not?
Moreover, if not for Skal.
I would not have known the news about Yunaxus.‘The Hidden Piece and the quest entangled with him would have simply passed me by.’Since I had gained results thanks to Skal’s cooperation.
I should cooperate with Skal as well.
As always, I recited.
“Is it give and take?”
I was wondering why you had not said that yet.
Give and take was give and take.
But I knew.
No matter how outstanding one was.
Alone, one would be inadequate.‘Skal is a special-grade force.’A hidden class, Dragon Knight.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that his potential was greater than that of the archmage Jesse Heinness.
Perhaps helping Skal and dragons form a good relationship.
Was also part of the weight borne by the commander-in-chief of the Crusade Alliance.
In that sense.
Though it was an unscheduled meeting, I opened my ears.
I had thought I would meet him if he had a proper purpose.……
But what?
“Sir Skal has conveyed that he wishes to ask about the Black Dark Dragon.”
Why, of all the many, many dragons, did it have to be the Black Dark Dragon?!...
Slip─“……
Y-Yes?!”
The strength left Skal’s hand as he held the teacup.
A bolt from the blue.
Because Hoyeol had declared more coldly than ever before.
“I guarantee it.”
“No matter what happens from now on.”
“You will never reach the Black Dark Dragon.”