◈ Episode 258. Leave It to Me
The newly unlocked system, [Legend].
Its effect is materializing the legends one has acquired.
Materializing doesn’t mean I transform into a real Black Abyss Dragon.
Grangfel-style rhetoric may omit the subject as easily as eating, but I am looking straight at the subject.
That’s right.
It is not me who materializes into a Black Abyss Dragon.
It is the ‘Legend’ that originates from me.
Perhaps because it is a legend materialized by my will.
Even if I don’t bother turning around to check.
I can feel it clearly.
‘Even if that weren’t the case.’
Argentres’s pupils reflect my figure like a mirror.
My Dawn Jacket fluttering gently.
Behind it, a gigantic black form writhes.
That is precisely my materialized legend, the Black Abyss Dragon.
‘No wonder it couldn’t be expressed in words.’
Even if I explained it a hundred times, would you understand?
Showing it once would be faster.
But even I, who had materialized the legend, was startled to the point of flinching.
That thing being called a Black Abyss Dragon was huge beyond belief…!
‘…
What?’
I’ll be honest.
When I saw the message that I had acquired the legend, ‘Black Abyss Dragon I Hoyeol,’ I wasn’t happy. Setting aside the shame of that legend, doubt took precedence over whether I could properly utilize it.
‘Because I thought it would just be all show again.’
As I always say, my specialty is reading the room.
Furthermore, in the Hidden Piece [Snowy Mountain of the Ice Dragon], while fighting… no, while disciplining Prozenax, I had vividly felt the difference in weight class between a dragon and a human.
‘Even if [Natural Enemy] had activated, I probably would have lost.’
Even though it wasn’t in perfect condition, I was someone who couldn’t inflict much damage on Prozenax even with Yunaxus’s help. If it hadn’t been for Senios’s strategy guide…
I might have crossed the afterlife in just a few exchanges.
‘It’s not just about combat power.’
From another perspective, the situation is no different.
Unlike dragons, who come and go between the Arcana Continent and reality as if it were their own home.
I have to pour out such vast mana to manifest a portal that it brings me to the brink of mana exhaustion.
If I hadn’t even mimicked the connector’s structure, even that would have been impossible.
So I had given up my expectations early on.
That I was just a pretty shell.
Even if I materialized the Black Abyss Dragon legend.
I thought it would just become an even flashier façade.
But.
‘…
This is a bit different from what I expected.’
First, let’s get one thing straight.
The part about it being all show wasn’t wrong.
As I said, the materialized Black Abyss Dragon was enormous.
Bigger than Yunaxus, of course, and Prozenax.
No, even compared to all dragons.
Their sizes were smaller than the Black Abyss Dragon materialized behind me right now.
So even Argentres, who calls Yunaxus a lizard, must have been surprised.
Of course.
With such a huge body, its gaze must be extremely high.
As expected, befitting a Black Abyss Dragon that looks down upon everything.
‘Really…’
The legend of Black Abyss Dragon I Hoyeol, it is truly living up to its name.
“I have never seen or heard of such a lizard!!”
Somehow, it seems he no longer has the leisure to scheme anymore.
To the point that his obedience until now becomes meaningless.
Argentres speaks with blatant hostility.
The answer isn’t difficult, but I don’t particularly want to say it.
‘No matter what, with my own mouth…’
That is my legend.
The Black Abyss Dragon.
Saying it proudly is a bit…!
So I borrowed Grangfel-style syntax.
And blurted it out nonchalantly.
“You are looking at it.”
“…!”
“It is precisely what you are looking at.”
As if responding to my words.
The materialized Black Abyss Dragon moves.
It flaps its disproportionately enormous wings once.
Just that creates an immense wind pressure.
‘…
That surprised me.’
Let me say it again: I have not become the Black Abyss Dragon.
The legend that originated from me has become the Black Abyss Dragon.
While I have control over such a Black Abyss Dragon.
It means I can’t pay attention to its every single movement.
If I were to make an easy analogy…
‘It’s like having one more loyal avatar.’
Unlike Hael, Diend, and Gwicheol.
Now that it has been materialized.
Anyone can notice it.
There’s no excusing it to anyone.
A gigantic avatar.
“I will confirm one last time.”
Since I’ve shown you so kindly, swallowing my shame.
Argentres, you must understand now, right?
You are forced to take responsibility for the words you spat out.
“With this, I shall believe that your relationship has been restored.”
“….”
Was it because of the words he himself had uttered?
Or was it because he was surprised by the Black Abyss Dragon?
Argentres closed his mouth without retorting, looking frustrated.
‘Forced reconciliation between dragon and elf, is it a success?’
For some reason, on Argentres’s expression, I see my childhood.
The sworn enemy with whom I used to trade blows overlaps with it.
I too was forced to hug and reconcile back then.
‘Thanks to that, I understand that feeling, but.’
It can’t be helped.
It’s an emotional rift that has persisted for thousands of years.
I don’t have the confidence to slowly recover such a deep rift.
This means this is my best.
And later on, won’t all of this be just memories too?
Just like how I remember fighting with my sworn enemy.
‘Even if Argentres doesn’t understand, Yunaxus will be pleased.’
In that sense.
From now on, what I need to worry about is the Black Abyss Dragon behind my back.
First, let’s check my remaining mana.
Perhaps because it’s a completely newly unlocked unique system.
‘For now, there’s no mana consumption.’
Since I’ve materialized it anyway.
I need to find out the limits of the effect.
More than anything, finding the reason is important.
Why it is not just for show.
Not inferior to a real dragon.
No, surpassing a real dragon.
It means I need to know why a Black Abyss Dragon popped out.
…
Actually, I do have a guess.
‘A legend doesn’t proportionate to my strength.’
I had said that the more widely a legend is spread, the stronger it becomes….
Let’s look at it from that perspective.
Where the legend of Black Abyss Dragon I Hoyeol has spread from and to.
Thinking about it like that, I’m starting to understand.
‘The beginning was a dragon’s snout…’
And not just any dragon’s snout.
The Earth Dragon who lived in the same era as Yunaxus.
It started from Kudahnax’s Dragon Fear.
Thanks to that resounding voice.
The byname “Black Abyss Dragon” became known among all dragons.
That reached the dwarves through Hael.
Through the dwarves to the Emperor.
Through the Emperor to the Empire, and it must have spread across the Arcana Continent.
A sufficiently terrible thing, but it doesn’t end there.
A completely different world.
The world of adventurers, and my hometown.
Stories about the Black Abyss Dragon never ceased in reality either.
If you think about it, isn’t it more so than on the Arcana Continent?
Compared to the Arcana Continent, which has been turned into a wasteland by demons, reality is safe.
Not only that, but doesn’t reality have science that can transmit any news to the world in an instant?
For example, like breaking news or SNS…!
Thanks to that, rumors about the Black Abyss Dragon circulate at least hundreds of millions, if not billions, of times.
So at the point when the [Legend] system was unlocked.
The Black Abyss Dragon in real-time.
It wouldn’t be strange if it grew stronger without limit.
Lastly.
A legend talked about in two completely different worlds.
Yes, the legend of ‘Black Abyss Dragon I Hoyeol.’
Has become a legend as [『Bizarre』] as its name…!
‘I understand perfectly.’
To summarize in one line.
The Black Abyss Dragon was the materialization of the various overestimations and rumors surrounding me; of course it wouldn’t lose even when compared to a real dragon.
I realize this anew.
‘I’ve really unlocked something incredible.’
The [Legend] system is no joke, right?
Of course, as much as the effect is significant.
The duration couldn’t be long.
[‘Black Abyss Dragon I Hoyeol’ scatters back into legend.]
It was merely because the duration had ended.
Really, that guy just can’t stop flapping his gums.
I spat out an impression in Grangfel-style expression.
“A legend is only a legend when it wanders the world.”
Granfel, do you break out in hives if you don’t put on airs for even a single day?
Anyway, now I know for sure.
[Legend]
is an ability with infinite potential for development.
‘I can’t be satisfied with just one thing I’ve unlocked.’
For now, only ‘Black Abyss Dragon I Hoyeol’ exists.
But you never know, I might acquire another legend later, right?
In short, it’s an ability with many uses.
Let’s see.
The assessment of the new ability is over too…
Having organized my thoughts, I looked at Argentres.
Then shall we depart for our destination, Sisley?
*Sisley.
Goooo—
Argentres reveals himself from the portal.
And behind him, Hoyeol steps forward.
Clearly, it was as planned.
He had brought an impertinent human to Sisley.
Argentres was neither happy nor relieved.
He was too busy suppressing his surging emotions.
The reason was simple.
‘I could endure it.’
Claudi.
And Mother’s blessing.
I could endure up to two humiliations.
‘But why is it a lizard…?’
But the third humiliation.
To think a dragon appeared behind him.
Even now, Argentres couldn’t understand.
That dragon was neither an illusion made of mana.
Nor was it a real dragon.
If you ask how he could be sure.
‘…
I have never seen such a black and gigantic lizard.’
Especially those excessively large wings; they left such a strong impression that one could never forget them after seeing them even once.
But one thing bothered him.
That gaze looking down on all things was clearly similar to that of a dragon.
*Grind—*
That gaze which had tormented him with feelings of inferiority.
Argentres glared at Hoyeol.
From the moment news of Claudi’s return had been delivered until now.
What had happened between this man and the lizards?
And.
‘While such things were happening…’
What in the world were I and my kin doing?
Argentres was on the verge of exploding.
What drove him even crazier was the reaction of his kin.
‘To be happy, how foolish.’
Weak.
They are all incomparably weak.
How can they be happy in this situation?
His kin were satisfied simply with returning to Sisley.
Without even noticing Mother’s blessing right before their eyes.
They were depending on him for everything.
*Chomp—*
Argentres bit his lip.
‘…
Does this mean it’s my fault too?’
Did staying in overly perfect Sisley become poison to his kin instead?
It was a time when Argentres could hardly calm his agitation.
Hoyeol opened his mouth.
“Indeed, it’s as expected.”
Argentres answered inwardly.
‘You would know.’
How perfect a land Sisley is.
Sisley is so perfect that it cannot be compared to the insignificant Arcana Continent.
Because it is the land chosen by Mother, the World Tree.
No matter how high the expectations were, Sisley is more than…….
“It is exactly as I did not expect.”
…
Flared up!
“!”
Argentres’s mind spoke.
Even if he reveals his hostility at this moment.
As long as Mother’s blessing exists.
He and his kin cannot go against him.
‘…
It is an unnecessary act that raises wariness.’
But his heart was screaming.
Even if he could endure insults toward himself.
It was Sisley that they had chosen, and where Mother had put down roots.
That he could never endure insulting such a Sisley.
In the end, Argentres couldn’t hold back.
“Do not insult Sisley with that impertinent tongue.”
Even if they had failed to meet Mother’s expectations.
Mother had put down roots in Sisley.
And was buried there; that fact remained unchanged.
“You know nothing about Sisley.”
The moment Argentres glared at Hoyeol fiercely.
Hoyeol’s gaze.
Shifted from the scenery of Sisley to Argentres.
Soon, calm words continued.
“It is not I who am ignorant.”
“…
What?”
“Can you not hear it?”
What in the world is he saying he hears?
“The demons’ laughter.”
“…!”
Laughter?
More than that, demons in Sisley?
He couldn’t understand what he was talking about.
Sisley is an unknown hidden land.
Only he and his kin know of its existence.
And the lizards.
How could an inferior demon set foot in Sisley?
It was the moment he looked at Hoyeol with such feelings that Hoyeol continued.
“I was mistaken.”
“Mistaken? What do you mean?”
“Sisley is not your land.”
Words of the utmost shock.
“It was a land of demons from the very beginning.”
…[Hidden Piece, you have entered Sisley.]
A message rose at the same time.
[Skill, ‘Natural Enemy’ activates.]
The presence of demons that reaches his entire body.
Because he is a demon hunter.
He could be certain.
The demon of Sisley is no ordinary one.
The evidence arose as a message.
[Class Quest: Fruit of Good and Evil]
The World Tree bore fruit to sow seeds in the crisis of extinction. However, contrary to the World Tree’s will, the fruit did not co-exist good and evil, but split apart. O, last demon hunter. Only you can find the sinner who separated good and evil.
—Train your weakened body. (Repeatable)
—Enter the land of the elves, Sisley. (Success)
—Confront the primordial evil rooted in Sisley. (In Progress)
That’s right.
The Fruit of Good and Evil wasn’t the beginning.
The primordial existence, the World Tree, had been tainted by evil from the start.
‘Primordial evil, huh. The name itself is flashy.’
But it doesn’t matter.
If the root is wrong.
You just have to correct it from the root.
‘Who do you think I am.’
That’s right.
The last demon hunter.
The possessor of knowledge about all plants of the Arcana Continent, including the World Tree.
Lastly, the master of the [Hidden Piece, Garden of Grace].
I am the perfect expert for this complicated situation.