Chapter 93

“Th-the Fairy Queen... was in Thorn Bach...”

Zion Muren was so flustered that he began to stammer.

-It has been a long time, Bensina.

[Grrrr...]

The Black Dragon looked displeased by the queen’s arrival.

[I had no idea that man had ties to you.]

-It was chance. Still, chance or not, he did find his way to me.

The Fairy Queen smiled at the indifferent Bensina.

-He found the fairies’ forest, which no one had found for ages. He is an extraordinary man. Surely you can set aside your anger now, Black Dragon.

RATTLE!

At her words, the Black Dragon shook his neck violently, making the knights holding his restraints stagger.

[Set aside my anger? What nonsense. Toward someone who dares to rule over dragons?]

-Of course, it may be premature now. But... if he develops the character to match, perhaps he could become a good lord.

CLANG!

He shook his head from side to side once more, snapping his restraints.

“Aaaargh!”

“Gah!”

The knights holding the chains were dragged along and pitched to the ground.

[A good lord? Utter nonsense.]

CRASH!

He stomped down, shattering the fallen restraints.

[I have no intention of serving anyone.]

-But every race needs a head. Has that position not stood vacant for ages since the death of Skaja, the Dragon Emperor?

The Fairy Queen looked at Bensina.

-Neither Damune nor Belian has any interest in it, to say nothing of you, Skaja’s disciple.

[My master was the only leader dragons ever needed. That position is beyond any human’s capacity.]

-No one can know that.

[I do not understand. After all you have suffered at human hands, you still place your hopes in them?]

Bensina gave her an exasperated look.

-Who can say?

Bensina remained displeased by her enigmatic answer, but said nothing more.

-Zion Muren. I, too, know your house well. A major force in the War of Corruption. I am sure it is true that you hunt demons.

Zion Muren flinched, his expression stiffening as the Fairy Queen turned her attention to him.

-Nissen is not mistaken. Demonic power, what you call demons’ mana, permeates this battlefield.

“I did not conceal the truth. Humans have a blind aversion to demons. I was merely worried that my use of demonic power would cause misunderstandings,” Zion Muren cried hastily.

“That dragon is the one who appeared out of nowhere and destroyed Thorn Bach indiscriminately. I used that power to protect it. Was that so wrong?!”

[It was not wrong.]

Zion’s face brightened at her answer.

-However... I wonder whether your father and family truly know you used demonic power.

The Fairy Queen had identified the final blind spot they had overlooked.

‘Right. As she says, House Muren really might be a house of demon hunters.’

If so, there was nothing strange about a demon being in their cellar.

‘But while they really are researching demons, Zion Muren could be secretly using demonic power without their knowledge.’

Deceiving even his own house.

Come to think of it, when he explained the demon’s presence, he had spoken only about his house, not his own actions.

“Th-that...!”

Zion Muren tried to object, but stammered as though he could not find the words.

-Since demons remaining on the continent is not a matter we can take lightly... we fairies intend to make a formal request to the king of Bolton for an investigation.

[Grrk... grrk...]

The demon’s body writhed.

-And we will take this demon with us.

“Absolutely not! That demon is House Muren’s property. Queen or not, surely this oversteps your authority!”

-Bring me the king’s decision concerning your treatment. Depending on that decision, we may return the demon.

“... Ghh!”

Zion Muren looked aggrieved, but could no longer object.

-I am already showing you considerable respect. You undeniably used demonic power, even if it was for a righteous cause.

The Fairy Queen approached him and whispered.

-There is suspicion, but no hard evidence.

“...”

-You would do well to remember. The fairies will be watching you from now on.

It was her own warning.

Biting his trembling lip, Zion Muren turned his head.

“... Promise that you will do no further damage to Thorn Bach. Then I will withdraw.”

[Very well. The sight of something filthy has spoiled my mood.]

Zion Muren clenched his fists tight at Bensina’s words.

“We are leaving.”

“What? B-but...”

“You defended the continent and upheld your honor. The fault is mine alone. So hold your heads high.”

The knights’ shoulders trembled at his words.

There even seemed to be sniffles from some of them, as though they were close to tears.

“... Understood.”

The knights followed him.

‘Truly impressive... He’s a traitor who used demonic power, yet everyone is defending him.’

Woojin had to acknowledge his eloquence.

‘This won’t be easy.’

Watching Zion pass him, he sensed what a formidable enemy he was.

“An unusually large number of Blue Knights survived.”

Zion’s steps faltered at Woojin’s remark.

“Of course. They are exceptional.”

But he brushed off Woojin’s final provocation without a care.

“Do look carefully for the stake. It must be somewhere... Surely you would not pocket it, so be sure to deliver it to the Holy See. Be sure.”

He deliberately emphasized “be sure,” as if to stress that he himself was blameless.

‘... Damn it.’

TCH.

Woojin brushed a hand across his forehead.

That had been petty of him.

He regretted making that last remark.

[A fine attempt... but lacking in finesse.]

Bensina spoke quietly, as though he had read Woojin’s mind.

“... I admit it.”

Easy as it was to say in hindsight, he had acted rashly, just as Bensina said.

But Thorn Bach had been falling apart, and knowing that Zion Muren would become a villain in the future, Woojin had had no choice.

[... And thank you.]

“... What?”

[Had you not brought the demon out of the cellar, that power would have remained in effect. Demonic power is the bane of dragons. I might... have lost my life.]

Caught off guard by Bensina’s thanks, Woojin scratched his head awkwardly.

[But those are merely my personal feelings. Dragons still have no intention of submitting to anyone.]

“What would it take for you dragons to lend me your strength?”

[Why are you so determined to obtain our strength?]

“Because once the world has ended, it’ll be too late.”

[The world will end? You are deeply delusional.]

Bensina gave a disbelieving laugh as he answered.

He did not seem to believe Woojin, but that did not matter.

Even Woojin thought, after saying it, that he would not have believed it in Bensina’s place.

-But I hope you will not forget. He protected Thorn Bach, which your anger nearly wiped out. And beyond that, he saved your life.

At the Fairy Queen’s words, Bensina looked at Woojin.

[... I acknowledge that. But dragons and humans clearly place different weight on lives.]

“Bensina. Are you saying you bear no guilt for the people who died because of your anger?”

[Do you humans not kill and die merely to divide up land? I consider my actions for my race’s independence worthier than that, at least.]

WHOOOOSH...!

Bensina’s body glowed, then slowly shrank.

The enormous Black Dragon vanished, and a handsome man with long black hair stood before Woojin.

[Nevertheless, I am grateful for your help.]

He took a small key from inside his clothes.

[There is a small tomb not far from here. It belongs to Karl, who was once my Dragon Knight.]

Woojin accepted the black key.

[Take what you need from the tomb. It may be old, but it will serve you better than what you have.]

He spoke casually, but his words struck Woojin quite differently.

‘He had a Dragon Knight too.’

A Dragon Knight could exist only through a bond between a human and a dragon.

That also meant Bensina was not a dragon who simply hated humans indiscriminately.

[You have obtained the Tomb Key.]

“A Dragon Knight’s equipment... More good fortune than I deserve.”

There was no reason to refuse.

Woojin answered as he tucked the key into his clothes.

[The Revla Mountains.]

Bensina addressed Woojin, his black eyes so deep they seemed to draw him in.

[Come there.]

WHOOOOSH!

The mist of the Dark Zone enveloped Bensina.

As he vanished in black smoke, clear skies appeared, as though nothing had happened.

DING.

[The quest has been updated.]

[Continuing as a chain quest.]

[Quest Name: Dragon Lord → Trial of the Dragon]

▶ Go to the Revla Mountains and pass the trial.

“Master...!”

With Bensina gone, the tension seemed to leave Woojin, and he sank to the ground. Ruen hurried to support him.

“Getting a class is damn hard...”

Woojin gave a wry smile at the quest window.

“Still... what matters is that no one died.”

Ruen nodded at his words.

There seemed to be a few tears gathering in her eyes.

“Sniff...”

Ruen wrapped her arms around Woojin’s waist and buried her face against him. He gently stroked her head.

“Ahem.”

Peron cleared his throat.

“Sorry to spoil the moment... but Weden died.”

“Haha!”

Woojin burst out laughing despite himself.

The heavy mood lifted.

[All monsters that attacked the continent have disappeared.]

[The 12th Monster Wave has ended.]

[Survival EXP will now be awarded.]

[Congratulations.]

[You have leveled up.]

▶ 50 → 51

“Oh... so this is a thing.”

Like Woojin, Peron was experiencing his first Monster Wave, and he spoke with wonder.

“Whoa...?!”

Apparently the rewards applied to NPCs as well. Ruen cried out in surprise at the particles of light swirling around her entire body.

“Master! I’m level 49 now!”

She shouted joyfully.

[Peace has returned to the continent.]

[The gods’ blessing will be bestowed for 3 days.]

[EXP earned from quests increases by 5%.]

[Hunting EXP increases by 5%.]

[Crafting success rate increases by 10%.]

As sunlight swept across the continent, an inexplicable sense of fullness washed over him.

[You have been selected as the MVP of the 12th Monster Wave.]

▶ Special Event: Black Dragon Appearance is in effect. A Special Reward Box will be awarded for this wave only.

[You gain additional EXP.]

[Congratulations.]

[You have leveled up.]

▶ 51 → 53

▶ You have obtained a Special Reward Box.

“... Hmm?”

A box appeared in his inventory.

▶ High-Grade Potion x10

▶ Lowest-Grade Rune (Strength) x1

▶ Lowest-Grade Rune (Agility) x1

▶ 1,000 gold

▶ You have obtained the War Hero’s Flag.

“...!!!”

Woojin’s eyes widened as he opened the reward box.