Ch.16Golden Dragon, Black Wolf – (1)

# 1.

When did it begin?

Nahan acquired a mysterious talent that others didn’t have.

That talent was <Acting>.

Whether watching movies,

Reading books,

Or looking at comics.

When Nahan encountered a <character>, he could perfectly imitate that <character>.

“Wow, your acting is amazing! Among all the volunteers, you were the only one who seemed like a real actor.”

“Tsk. Stop flattering me. Anyway, are we done? Don’t ask me to do this kind of thing again.”

“No! I’ve changed my mind. Have you ever thought about attending an acting academy? I’ll pay for it, so why not quit being a gangster and give it a try?”

“…What?”

Thanks to a precious connection, he discovered his talent.

“If you promise to work hard, I’ll ask my father to drop the charges. But you really have to commit to it. I’ll even find you a separate room so you can stop living in that dangerous dormitory.”

“I’m not a gangster yet, you know? And about the dormitory, it’s because I don’t have a home… Forget it. Why am I explaining myself to a kid? Anyway, I’ll ask the boss about it.”

“Yes! So you’re accepting?!”

“…Don’t get your hopes up too much.”

For the first time in his life rushing toward the abyss, light entered his existence.

Anyway,

A month later.

Nahan seriously delved into the field of <acting> for the first time in his life, and after about another month had passed.

“Brother Han!! I got a call from the acting academy director, and he says you’re a real genius!!”

“…I haven’t fought there yet.”

“No, not fighting!! Acting, I mean acting!! The director says you could go straight to work!! He says he believes in you and you should try it!!”

Nahan had grown to the point of being recognized by the director, a legendary former actor.

“…He becomes the character itself.”

“…How is such acting possible? Will I ever be able to act like that?”

“…Contact the agency immediately. Tell them we’ve found an actor we must recruit.”

Everyone praised him highly,

“Ha, one month?!”

“You’ve only been learning for a month?!”

“What’s your secret, seriously?”

When asked about the secret to his <acting>, Nahan couldn’t easily answer.

To those who asked with sparkling eyes and serious expressions,

I just could do it?

I just do it, that’s all?

Can’t you do this?

He couldn’t say such things.

And in truth,

“…I don’t know.”

Nahan didn’t know the answer either.

Though he had some guesses, to put it simply, it just worked when he did it.

It might sound like the excuse of a damn genius that would be incredibly annoying to some.

But really, it just…

.

.

.

【Stage 2 – <Immersion> has been completed.】

【You are reproducing the form of <Yellow Dragon> that you understand without any error.】

.

.

.

worked when he did it.

‘<Yellow Dragon>.’

One of the 10 strongest on the continent.

Usually a man of few words, but once you start talking to him, he’s magnanimous, cheerful, and kind.

However.

If by any chance you turn him into an enemy, there’s one side of him you’ll face too late.

“Damn it…!! What exactly are you…?!”

“…I am the <Yellow Dragon>.”

That was the aspect of a hegemon.

【<Blessing of the Sun (Ex)> activates!】

Clank, clank, clank.

The brilliantly shining golden man approached while gripping his greatsword and warned:

“This is your last chance. If you flee with them now, I won’t pursue you today.”

Nahan was no longer afraid.

Because that’s exactly what the <Yellow Dragon> would do.

# 2.

The opponent’s demeanor changed.

-Smile brightly, that’s how you survive.

-That’s right, smile a little more.

-More brightly, smile until your mouth tears.

-That’s how you survive.

A nightmare flashed through her mind.

“This is your last chance. If you flee with them now, I won’t pursue you today.”

The brilliant pressure weighs down on her body.

-Don’t tremble, that’s how you survive.

-When it gets too hard, put on a mask and cry.

-Try hard, and try again.

-So that someday you can smile even with the mask on.

Behind the mask, a pale face struggled to form a feeble smile.

The fourth member of the <Black Wolf>.

Luna – Persona looked at the approaching <Yellow Dragon> and thought:

‘…I want to live.’

How could she die now when her life had just been saved, when there was still so much to do?

She had endured her whole life just to survive.

Not just to barely cling to life, performing tricks to avoid death, but to live happily, achieving the things she wanted one by one.

And she had only been living such a life for 5 years out of her 23 years.

Only 5 years of happiness by the Captain’s side, every day.

To compensate for the 18 years of suffering, she needed at least 13 more years of happiness.

‘I have to die like this?’

Crunch.

A savage sound escaped her mouth as her small white teeth clenched together.

“Didn’t you hear? These people are all criminals. We just cleaned things up.”

“That is for the Sun to judge.”

“And people die in the meantime? They suffer until they choose death themselves?”

“…That is for the Sun to judge.”

The hypocrisy of brilliance.

‘<Yellow Dragon>… Surely a knight.’

Judging by his pleasant scent, he wasn’t an evil person, but his empty words showed he hadn’t yet realized the true nature of the Empire.

That’s why he couldn’t understand our—the Captain’s—grand vision.

-Think carefully, Luna. The role of the <Black Wolf> is to clean. Even if the Empire stands righteous after our actions, we who are covered in blood cannot reach that place. We must live in the night forever.

-That’s fine. I’ve grown more comfortable with night than day now. And above all…

…I’m with the Captain in that night, aren’t I?

As she recalled the past, the corners of her mouth that had been forcibly raised now relaxed naturally.

Her trembling fingertips,

Her wavering pupils,

Her hunched shoulders.

All returned to the appearance of a vicious thug as if they had never changed.

“…For the Captain, anything.”

Even if that meant,

Risking my own life.

Tap tap.

As Luna, now back to her senses, tapped the mask she was wearing with her finger, a bluish system window appeared before her eyes.

【Warning!】

【The fourth member of <Black Wolf>, <Luna – Persona>, is attempting to break the <Restriction>!】

At the same time, Nahan’s body grew heavier.

‘This is a familiar sensation.’

A sensation he had felt from <Idler – Mask> during the previous battle with the Emperor.

【Passive. <Black Wolf (Ex)>.】

◆ Effect

: Designate a target to contract with, placing a <Soul Restriction>. Accept the restricted target as a member of <Black Wolf>. Your power grows stronger as the number of members increases.

*However, if a member dies, <You> will also die.

◆ Number of members

: So far… (8/10)

Gulp.

【Time remaining until <Restriction Break>】

: 00:00:29.

Luna’s mask began to change like black liquid, enveloping her entire body.

Instinctively, he understood.

In 29 seconds, if Luna forcibly broke the Black Wolf’s restriction, it wouldn’t harm him, but it would cause great damage to Luna.

And that ‘damage’ meant,

‘In the worst case, Luna could die.’

But that couldn’t happen.

Not for sentimental reasons like how precious she had become in just a month, or because <Black Wolf> wanted it, but for a very practical reason.

‘In the original <Babylonia>, the main story begins when the hero returns.’

Based on the content of the <original>, the sixth bad ending would likely begin when <Luna> and <Hero> meet.

If Luna died today and the story diverged too much from the <original>?

The bad ending would approach in an unpredictable form, and most of the information from the <original> and <setting book> would become useless.

In other words, the situation I need to create now as <Yellow Dragon> is:

‘To resolve this quickly and send Luna and Black Wolf away without killing them.’

Having finished his thought, Nahan stepped toward Luna without hesitation.

Hissss…!!

Just touching the flowing energy caused his armor and the skin underneath to melt.

Noticing the Yellow Dragon’s approach from the gradually intensifying fragrance, Luna raised her head and warned:

“You’ll die if you keep that up.”

Her words were true.

Whether it was Luna’s skill or a side effect of releasing the restriction, the thick black energy was melting everything it touched, regardless of target.

If he touched that body, he would instantly dissolve, armor and all.

‘But I must touch her.’

Right now, I’m just acting as <Yellow Dragon>, with only a fraction of his abilities.

If the cost of subduing Luna and sending the rest of the members back without using any of <Black Wolf>’s abilities is just my left arm,

“Sorry, but I’m not merciful enough to wait for your transformation time.”

Well,

I’ll lend it for a while.

Thump.

The moment the golden armor landed on Luna’s shoulder, which was gradually turning black.

Splash!

“…!!!”

The armor that had touched her instantly melted away, leaving his bare hand gripping her shoulder.

【Transcendent Artifact – <Ring of Iasos (SS+)> activates!】

【<“Remember, no pain can kill you.”>】

An endless cycle of melting and recovery.

Since all he was doing was holding on despite the pain, with 10 seconds left until the restriction break, Luna frowned and asked:

“…? What are you doing? Are you crazy?”

“I’ve… urgh, heard that… a lot…!!”

“…What?”

She couldn’t understand.

Luna had expected that if she became defenseless, the Yellow Dragon would strike with that initial golden blow.

She had planned to somehow endure it and then sacrifice herself for mutual destruction.

Crack!

But the Yellow Dragon had simply approached her with his bare body, enduring terrible pain.

‘Why?’

No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t understand the reason.

But since frightened humans often behave unpredictably,

“If you want to die on your own, I appreciate it.”

She grinned, certain of victory.

But a moment later.

【Condition met – <Physical contact>.】

【Legendary Artifact – <Necklace of the Sword Demon (A+)> activates.】

【<“Covet, and it shall be mine.”>】

With 1 second left until the restriction release, a maddened voice briefly brushed past Luna’s ear.

【Greed – Steals all <Mana> from target <Luna-Persona (S-)> in the form of <Aura> for 5 seconds.】

【Mana exhaustion!】

【<Restriction Break> fails!】

A faint dizziness came over her, her body grew heavy, and extreme weakness washed over her.

“Didn’t you say you’d appreciate it if I died on my own?”

“What…?”

“Sorry, but I think I’d appreciate it if no one died.”

“What are you saying…!!”

She shouted at the Yellow Dragon while barely holding onto her fading consciousness, but he was already smiling again, gripping his greatsword.

“So, don’t try to die so easily.”

“Huh…?”

What?

‘Why does the Captain…?’

Just as Luna was reminded of someone most reliable in the Yellow Dragon’s back view.

【Skill – <Sun Annihilation (EX)> activates!】

【Flash──!】

The golden strike that had targeted her earlier now flew toward Han Ryang and Lactea, hitting them directly.