Ch.11Sugar Cube

1.

The moment I heard the word <Yellow Dragon黃龍>.

【Condition satisfied.】

【Accessing part of <Black Wolf黑狼>’s memories!】

With a bright blue system window, <Black Wolf>’s memories emerged vividly as if they were my own.

This place where my opponent and I sat side by side was the center of a forest that had become a complete mess.

“So, what are you planning to do now? No, what are you planning to do, Captain?”

I calmly spoke while looking at the shabby hut that had been reduced to fragments.

“Your mercenary name was <■■>, right?”

“Yes, but why?”

After a moment’s contemplation, I answered the muscular, white-haired middle-aged man.

“Then I’ll go with <Yellow Dragon>.”

“Pfft! Aren’t you copying too much?”

“<Yellow Dragon> will protect the sun, and <Black Wolf> will protect the moon.”

“Wow, really just saying whatever you want, huh?”

From that day on, I began mercenary work with ■■, whom I had accepted as the fifth member.

Starting as an F-rank mercenary, I solved major incidents one after another until becoming an S-rank mercenary.

That period was just one month.

“C-congratulations.”

I received my mercenary badge while the guild branch director congratulated me with a bewildered expression.

And that very same day.

“So you’re the lowest ranked among the top ten?”

“Damn, take it easy on me.”

“I’ll try.”

I defeated ■■, ranked 10th out of the top 10, in a duel and proudly entered the world’s top 10.

“I thought you said you’d take it easy, but you’re breaking my bones?”

“Who’s next?”

“Hey, still just saying whatever you want, huh?”

Afterward, I challenged the remaining top 10 fighters to duels, provoked them into fights, or tracked down those in seclusion, defeating them one by one.

As a result.

In just another month, I seized the number one position, setting an unprecedented record.

And that night.

“I’ve heard the rumors. So, I was thinking of giving you a rather difficult request.”

“The number one Yellow Dragon serves the will of the sun.”

That was how <Black Wolf>, also known as <Yellow Dragon>, began to button up the first step toward protecting the sun.

“…This bastard really lived quite a colorful life.”

“Eh? C-Captain?”

Ignoring the bewildered Ruby, I suppressed the anger that had surged up after a long time.

As much as I wanted to grab anything and start swinging my fists,

“Han hyung?! Did you get into another fight?”

“No.”

“Sigh. We promised not to lie, remember?”

“Yeah, sorry. I did fight. But that fucking bastard started it by calling me an orphan, so I just beat his shins with an aluminum bat.”

“Ah! So that’s why you didn’t have enough for my hospital bills this month?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine! I’ll just die a little earlier!”

“No, no, I’ll somehow…!!”

Since things never ended well when I acted on impulse, I managed to calm my anger.

Only then did I notice the blue status window flickering before my eyes.

【You are given a <7-day> grace period until the next bad ending <6.???> setting!】

Stay calm,

There’s still plenty of time.

‘One step at a time.’

Having regained my composure, I shifted my gaze toward the dumbfounded Ruby.

“Ruby.”

“Yes, Captain!”

I needed to understand the power I currently possessed, grasp the content of the <original work> and <setting collection>, and figure out the events that would unfold.

Beyond that, I needed to plan how to respond as <Black Wolf> and <Yellow Dragon>, and how to utilize <Black Wolf’s Pack>.

With tasks piled up like mountains before me, what I needed most right now was:

“I’ll be going for a walk starting now.”

“Ah! Will I be joining you this time too…?!”

“No. Alone.”

Time to myself.

<Walk> was a code word I used with Ruby, meaning time spent acting as <Yellow Dragon>, and understanding this, Ruby furrowed her brow and asked:

“What?! For how long?”

“A week should be sufficient.”

“Whaaaat?!”

No sooner had I finished speaking than Ruby stepped forward and grabbed my hand.

“<Black Wolf’s Pack> without the Captain!! Do you know how dangerous mad dogs are when their leash is off?!”

“It’s fine. It’s just a week.”

“Don’t you remember when you were away for two days for <Yellow Dragon> activities, the vice-captain took three members and annihilated an entire kingdom?!”

Oh boy, of course I don’t remember that.

“And when you were away for half a day, didn’t Ruby bewitch an entire city? Oh, and once Pedro even founded a cult! Do you know how hard it was for me to clean up after that?!”

Oh boy, that must have been tough.

‘Wait, how did you clean that up anyway?’

Ruby,

You might be more useful than I thought.

‘Anyway.’

Thanks to Ruby’s whining, I learned one thing for certain.

‘I should give them something to do before I leave.’

Originally, I had planned to leave under the pretext of secluded training, roaming the system to assess my strength and gather information, and formulate future plans.

“We had to sell the mansion and move to this shabby place because of all those cleanups!!”

It seemed that <Black Wolf’s Pack> without the control of Black Wolf was truly a pack of mad dogs.

So here’s the new problem.

‘What should I assign them?’

If I just tell them to stay put, would they listen since it’s an order?

“Then I’ll give you an order. Just stay put.”

“And what about when you ordered us to stay put? Don’t you remember when Ruby, who was staying put at the hideout, sent the kids to raid the Mercenary Union?”

“…But you are Ruby.”

“Hehe. Correct.”

Ruby, please.

‘What am I supposed to do then?’

Should I just stay holed up in the <hideout>, gathering information and planning while waiting?

No?

What if I arouse suspicion?

If my identity is exposed, they’ll come at me with blazing eyes like Ruby here, won’t they?

Moreover, I need to act not only as <Black Wolf> but also as <Yellow Dragon>.

As I rubbed my throbbing temples and stared blankly at the dim dawn, Ruby, with a smirk, flipped her long red hair and leaned in.

“Anyway, Captain.”

Tap.

Her slender white fingers pressed against my chest, slowly pushing me toward the stairs.

“You know, right? All of us in <Black Wolf’s Pack> would be dead if it weren’t for you.”

Thud.

My exhausted body leaned against the stairs, and weariness spread throughout my body.

Inside the still-dark hideout,

The wind blowing through the cracked walls,

The thick scent of roses that followed.

Unconsciously following the scent, I lifted my head to find the woman in red standing there, leaning toward me with a smile and whispering:

“So please, don’t leave our side.”

Even if it’s,

“For even a moment.”

“……”

“……”

Deep affection.

Hidden madness.

As I stared blankly into those deep eyes, like the center of a crimson, withered rose,

“Oof.”

Ruby, who had stepped away from me and stood on the ground again, laughed, shaking off her madness.

“Anyway, think about it. As you said, it’s just a week. Would we cause trouble because we can’t endure? No matter how long you’re away from us, you’ll always come back and embrace us as always.”

…Right, Captain?

Is it just my imagination?

I nodded in response to the question that seemed tinged with a hint of anxiety, and stood up.

‘Anyway, the most important things right now are assessing my power, organizing information, and fulfilling the request given to <Yellow Dragon>.’

Assessing my power and organizing information wouldn’t take more than half a day if done quickly, so the request given to <Yellow Dragon> was the main issue.

But even this,

‘If I perform it with the fifth member of <Black Wolf’s Pack>, ■■, it shouldn’t take more than a day.’

I told Ruby the reduced period, adding a day of rest to the minimized timeframe.

“I’ll reduce my absence to three days.”

“That’s definitely shorter, but… still three days?”

“Enough. I won’t accept any further objections.”

“…Yes, Captain.”

Ruby bowed her head, accepting that this was the final decision.

“And don’t worry about the members. I’ll give them a directive that will keep them behaved for at least three days before I go for my walk.”

“…!”

Ruby’s eyes, which had been drooping, began to sparkle red again.

I looked straight into those eyes and shared the directive I had decided upon after much consideration.

“Cleaning and repairs.”

Let’s live in a cleaner house for once.

Following my words, Ruby looked around the hideout and nodded with a serious expression.

“Indeed, it’s about time for cleaning. I’m sorry, Captain. I should have taken the initiative and paid attention to this… Oh, so that was also you recently, Captain?”

Is she talking about recycling?

I immediately nodded.

“Yes. I endured it for a while before giving the order. Yet it’s still dirty.”

“You’re right, Captain. Cleaning and repairs should be done regularly. This is the members’ fault.”

Damn, Ruby…

I was moved to find a member who finally understood the importance of cleanliness.

“I’ll relay this to the members. Don’t worry and be careful on your walk.”

“I will. I trust you.”

“……!!”

I take back calling her a bitch. Anyway, just as I was about to leave the hideout,

“Ah.”

Remembering the sugar cube I had taken for a sugar boost before sleep, I turned back.

In my previous world, snacks were abundant, but in this world, even this small sugar cube was a luxury that required significant expense.

Having met someone who finally understood cleanliness, I was pleased and handed it over.

“…What’s this?”

Ruby received the square piece like a squirrel and asked with sparkling eyes.

I smiled and answered:

“Dissolve it slowly, take your time.”

“Could it be…? …Yes. I understand clearly.”

“…?”

Is “dissolve it slowly” such a difficult instruction that it requires deep thought to understand?

‘Anyway, I think I covered it well…’

【Skill List – <Yellow Dragon黃龍>】

-Passive: Sun’s Blessing(Ex).

-Skill 1: Sun’s Annihilation日光殲(EX). (New!)

-Skill 2: (Access Restricted).

-Ultimate: (Access Restricted).

Shall I go check how much stronger I’ve become?

2.

A few hours after Na-han left the <Black Wolf’s Pack> mercenary group’s hideout.

“Ugh… It’s meal time.”

“Sis, I really can’t move…”

“Don’t exaggerate, Luna. I’ve been lenient enough.”

As always, the members of <Black Wolf’s Pack> gathered for breakfast.

However, what greeted them was not the usual warm morning but a woman of blood-red.

“You’re all late.”

“Where’s the Captain?”

“Please sit down first.”

Lactea ignored Ruby, who was suppressing her rising madness while offering seats, and asked again.

“Where’s the Captain?”

“Sigh… First of all—”

Swish.

Before she could finish, a sword was drawn, grazing Ruby’s cheek.

“—!”

“…Hiccup. So you were really being lenient.”

Han-ryang and Luna’s eyes widened in surprise.

Lactea asked again.

“Where’s the Captain?”

Drip.

Blood from the thin cut flowed down Ruby’s cheek.

She licked it off, her eyes gradually deepening and fluctuating, but,

-I trust you.

Recalling that voice, her anger dissipated, and she smiled again as she answered.

“He went out.”

“For how long?”

“Three days.”

That was all the information needed.

Lactea rose.

‘I’ll find him.’

Unlike yesterday, she wouldn’t lose track of him midway but follow him to the end, sharing every moment.

“He said he’d go alone.”

Annoying and irritating, but she endured.

-Protect <Black Wolf’s Pack>.

This was such a promise.

Click.

Just as she was about to leave the dilapidated hideout wearing the mask gifted by the Captain,

“He ordered cleaning and repairs.”

Once again, an irritating voice.

“He said he had endured it for a while before giving the order, and despite that, he ordered it again because it’s still dirty.”

Content that couldn’t be ignored.

“…Han-ryang. Luna. Didn’t I tell you last time?”

Lactea’s cold golden eyes slowly moved toward Han-ryang and Luna.

“If the Captain is disappointed again, I’ll kill all of you and then myself.”

It wasn’t a joke.

A chilling flood of death’s terror.

“W-wait, calm down!”

“No, I absolutely refuse to die.”

“Ahaha… This is why I told you, Captain. Even three days is too long.”

All members except Lactea instinctively stood up and backed away.

Gulp.

Ruby swallowed and thought:

‘Ah, look at that expression. I want to provoke more, but I might really die if I do.’

Swish.

Ruby took something out from her bosom and slowly placed it on the table.

“The Captain must have been quite frustrated too, as he left us a hint before departing.”

A sugar cube.

A white, sweet square with slightly melted edges where it had been touched, and once sharp corners now rounded.

The scattered gazes of the members sharpened and focused on it, and Ruby, picking it up again, grinned and added:

“Dissolve it slowly, take your time.”

On Han-ryang’s face, which had shown confusion,

On Luna’s face, which had turned pale,

On Lactea’s face, which had always been expressionless.

“””…Slowly, take your time.”””

A chilling smile appeared.