Chapter 13 – The Activities of an F-Grade Troublemaker 6

As the earth opened a giant mouth, we entered inside.

The musty smell of dirt and falling crumbs surrounded and tickled us.

A cave made not of stone, but of dirt.

It was a cave that one could imagine but rarely see in reality.

Despite the absence of light inside the cave, our vision was not hindered.

An experience I had never had in South Korea.

Following this surreal phenomenon, we walked deeper inside.

“But Abraxas… how did you know this?”

As it all unfolded as I had predicted, Sylvia Renen asked me for details.

“Ha-ha. I can’t just divulge trade secrets.”

There was no need to tell the truth, so I kept it a secret.

Luckily, it seemed Sylvia Renen was only asking in case I might reveal it.

She didn’t say anything more.

We slowly descended the earthen stairs prepared by the dragon.

The deeper we went, the higher the temperature rose.

Suddenly, Elia asked me a question.

“Wait…! Abraxas? What if the dragon collapses this cave to bury us?”

“Dragons are intelligent. Of course, due to constraints, it only allowed our approach after such a ruckus. But it won’t underestimate us, especially after we uncovered truths hidden for thousands of years.”

“Underestimate?”

“If we disappear here without a trace, it would be reasonable to think that we prepared for that. After all, it’s been a long time since humans were unable to hunt dragons.”

Of course, even if it hadn’t made such an assessment, the ancient dragon would have left us alone.

That’s just the way of the ancient dragon.

“Dragons have strong pride. They might be seen as arrogant, but they show due respect to those they acknowledge. It’s not easy to earn their recognition, but once you do, they never underestimate you. So, we are safe.”

We had earned something, albeit small.

The dragon’s recognition.

So, we are safe.

At least for now.

As we continued downward, the bottom of the cave became visible.

Where the cave floor began, it was no longer made of dirt but of stone.

We continued through a real cavern made of rock, not the earthen one.

“So, how do you plan to obtain the Dragon Heart, Abraxas? You said we’re not here to hunt, right?”

Theseus whispered secretly in my ear.

He was the only one who knew that I came to talk, not to hunt the dragon.

“Dragons have strong pride. Just remember that.”

I whispered back a hint to him.

WFS is an open-world game, and because of that, some parts boast tremendous freedom.

Some bosses, like the final boss of Autumn Outing 1, can be captured without fighting at all.

Now that I think about it, it’s amazing that an MMORPG game has been blended with an open world and allows bosses to be tackled in such unorthodox ways.

It’s because of such gameplay that, despite its balance issues, many people still cling to the game.

Like me.

What greeted us as we descended was a gigantic gate.

The edges were made of an unknown metal.

The middle of the door was old wood.

And in the center, a massive dragon figure made of pure gold.

On it were inscribed characters: The great ancient dragon, Horntail.

A name forgotten even by humans due to its age was written there.

“Let’s go in.”

After all, no one but me knows the truth behind that name.

Forgotten by humans, elves, dwarves, demons, forgotten by all.

Even by other dragons.

Creaking—

As soon as we expressed our intention to enter, the door to the dragon’s lair began to open.

Inside, what we saw was a multitude of gold and treasures.

Even with little light, the numerous reflections made the space dazzlingly bright.

Sylvia and Elia couldn’t help but marvel.

“Wow, is this a dragon’s lair?”

“It seems so. I can’t completely trust Abraxas, but seeing this… there must really be a dragon…”

“A lair of an old dragon is indeed full of gold and treasures, but there’s not much that’s actually useful.”

“Well, we didn’t come here for that.”

It would be great if we could sell all these gold and treasures, but sadly, that’s not possible.

The world has progressed too quickly.

Due to the alchemical revolution several centuries ago, the value of many precious metals became meaningless.

Market was flooded with imitations that looked exactly like the real thing, and determining the authenticity of such items cost more than the actual value of the genuine articles.

Eventually, the market collapsed under the weight of these dazzling fakes, and now it is strictly currency-based.

Utilizing unique magical artifacts that can’t be replicated, the empire is truly remarkable in its own way.

As we explored the lair, we looked for anything useful.

Most items had decayed or rotted away, unable to withstand the test of time.

Those that were intact were disappointingly subpar in performance.

There wasn’t much in the lair.

It was a lair from before such things were made.

As we wandered around the lair, we soon came upon a scene that was both imposing and pitiable.

In a corner of the lair lay the dragon.

A dragon unlike any we had imagined.

Its once-gleaming scales were dried and brittle.

Its body was so emaciated that bones were visible.

The dragon, which should have been dozens of times our size, was barely ten times larger.

The most striking feature was its color.

Unlike the uniform color of younger dragons, its body was mottled.

Black dragons never mix with white, but the majority of its body was covered in white, with occasional black scales scattered about.

“Even dragons… age…”

As the reality-shattering existence of the dragon appeared before us, everyone was at a loss for words.

Realizing that we had arrived before it, the dragon opened its eyes and looked at us.

[So you have come. Intruders who have stepped into my lair.]

Everyone, except for me, prepared for battle upon seeing this.

Although the dragon hadn’t used its Dragon Fear, a common attack in battle, the mere presence of a dragon triggered an automatic defensive response.

Realizing that its actions had alarmed the humans, the dragon sought to clarify the misunderstanding.

[There is no need for hostility. Judging by your leader’s demeanor, it seems he has no intention of fighting me.]

The ancient dragon showed us respect, probably because we were the first visitors in a long time.

The last visitor might have come even before the birth of humanity.

Putting those thoughts aside, I got straight to the point.

“Ancient dragon, Horntail. Once the mightiest dragon, now the weakest. How does it feel to be visited by intruders for the first time since you were known as the strongest?”

[Hoh. You seem to know a lot about me. Even more than my kin. You must be an exceptional man, even by dragon or human standards. If you continue to grow, you might change the continent.]

“Thank you for that. But we are here for a simple reason. To make a proposal that will benefit you as well.”

[What is it? As my first guests in a long time, I might even offer most of what’s in my lair. I only ask that you spread the word of my generosity once you leave the Magic Realm.]

The ancient dragon boasted of its generosity, offering us most of the treasures in its lair.

But this was not true.

Horntail was neither a benevolent nor a merciful dragon.

It was just a dragon with strong pride.

“What we want is…”

I stood in front of the dragon, expressing our wish.

Theseus Winterfield, Elia Adonis, and Sylvia Renen watched from behind.

The dragon was ready to hear what we desired.

And then I made our request known to everyone.

“We want your Dragon Heart.”

A request that would astonish everyone.

—
Raei  Translations
—

Astonishment was evident on the faces of everyone, except for me, who had made the statement.

Despite seeing the dragon in the flesh for the first time, it was clear that the ancient dragon was doubting its ears.

[What did you just say…?]

“We asked for your Dragon Heart.”

[Are you asking for my life?]

“No. Nowadays, heart transplant surgeries are so advanced that asking for a heart doesn’t necessarily mean asking for your life. How about we get you another heart in exchange for yours?”

The others were stunned into silence by the shock, unable to offer any excuses.

[How rude. Even if you are a long-awaited guest, there are manners to be observed. If you continue to be disrespectful, I will not tolerate it.]

Then, a slowly rising sense of oppression began to emanate.

It was a feeling I had never experienced before, but instinctively, I knew what it was.

Dragon Fear, the overwhelming presence emitted by a dragon.

It threatens all beings below a certain level.

And its use indicated a slight anger.

“Then, I just have one genuine question.”

[If it can be exchanged for your request.]

“Alright. Then I’ll ask. Ancient dragon, Horntail, once the mightiest and now the weakest dragon. Have you never once questioned your actions?”

[What do you mean?]

“Why did you just stay here? Even though you are a counterexample, why do dragons still firmly believe they are immortal?

It might have been understandable when there was no counterexample, but with your existence, it doesn’t make sense for dragons to be unaware.”

[It’s because I did not reveal myself. They don’t know about my existence, that’s why.]

“Even so, being the mightiest meant you were the strongest of all dragons. But eventually, you weakened with age. Why does no one know about this? You didn’t know that you would age, did you?”

“Hey! Abraxas! What are you saying?”

“Is this, too, part of the strategy, Abraxas?”

I wasn’t swept away by emotions.

I was being completely rational.

I was simply pointing out to the aged dragon what it had done wrong.

The dragon slowly intensified the pressure of its Dragon Fear.

The others seemed to be suffocating under this pressure.

However, as an Aura Master, I refuse to submit to such intimidation.

To further my strategy, I prodded it a bit more.

“Shall I tell you the truth? You are merely a ghost of the past. Every living being has its time to shine. But what about that? In the end, you don’t shine at all anymore. Isn’t it insulting even to the many dragons who died by your hand to ask for recognition now for past glory?”

A clear provocation.

This was somewhat planned.

It’s not in my character, but the dragon doesn’t know me.

It would think this is how I am.

Impudence, a weapon fashioned to verbally scratch at the dragon’s nerves.

[Shut your mouth. It’s an undeniable fact that I was the mightiest dragon.]

“That’s true. But are you still the mightiest dragon now? You were the mightiest dragon in your time, but what about you versus the current mightiest dragon? Who would be stronger?

You might have the title of the mightiest dragon of all time, but from a third party’s perspective, you just seem like a dragon who was lucky enough to maintain the strongest position among weaker dragons.”

[There is no other dragon who has experienced aging like me! Do you think any other can be called the mightiest but me?]

“Then why didn’t you come out? When you started feeling the effects of aging, you were no longer the mightiest, were you? If you were truly overwhelmingly the mightiest, you would still be the strongest even as you aged.

But the fact that current dragons don’t even know they age implies you didn’t meet your kin as you aged. In the end, you avoided it because you weren’t the strongest! Or you were too scared of dying, so you hid here as you aged!”

[You try to deceive me with empty words! I shall show you my true power!]

“Go ahead! If you truly were the mightiest once, you should be able to subdue us!”

The once mightiest dragon, now weakened by time and reduced to the weakest.

Being the strongest, it was never hunted by anyone.

The dragon eventually faded into history, forgotten by all.

A dragon forgotten by everyone due to its ancient existence.

Its lair, not considered as such by anyone, eventually came to be known as a Magic Realm.

And the only human who knew this fact.

Everything was ready.

[Even if I have weakened… am I so feeble as to be defeated by the likes of you!!! I will personally judge and annihilate you from this world!!!]

“If that’s what you truly want, then so be it.”

[Do you think my pride would allow me not to attack you, just because you provoke me!!! You are millennia too early to face me!!!]

The Dragon Fear echoed even more powerfully throughout the lair.

Our bodies, refusing to follow our own will under the influence of Dragon Fear.

Our hearts pounded furiously, trembling more than our trembling bodies.

The others sensed the danger and expressed their resentment towards me.

“Damn it— I’ll never follow your plan again, you bastard Abraxas!”

“We weren’t supposed to be in any life-threatening danger, but…”

“Focus on surviving right now, Sylvia!”

The dragon, entering a combat stance, supported its body on its hind legs like a bear and lifted its front paws.

Its wings, stretched behind its emaciated body, made the ancient dragon appear larger.

Simultaneously, numerous magic circles began to form and activate around the dragon’s front paws.

“Be careful!!!”

“Abraxas, get out of the way!!!”

Clang—

Chang—

Elia Adonis, utilizing her quick reflexes, scooped me up and took cover.

Sylvia Renen tried to dispel some of the already activated spells.

However, the dragon’s magic was too powerful for Sylvia Renen to handle.

“Ugh…”

The dragon’s physical form may have weakened, but the power of its immortal Dragon Heart remained strong.

Sylvia, still not fully grown, couldn’t handle it.

“Cough—”

Sylvia Renen’s brain, overwhelmed, finally gave in, and she collapsed, vomiting blood.

“Sylvia! Abraxas, we need to get out of here— Aaagh—”

Seeing her friend collapse, Elia Adonis also hurried to escape, but she was powerless against the dragon’s strength.

The weakest dragon, but even the weakest dragon is still a dragon.

The lowest among them is the highest in this world.

In the presence of such a being, an unripe human is merely trampled.

“Ugh—”

Elia struggled to rise and faced the dragon again.

It was meaningless.

To the dragon, it was merely an ant that had fallen from its grasp.

From the ant’s perspective, it might have thought it had survived, but from a human perspective, it was something that could be caught again at any time.

Whoosh—

And like catching a fallen ant again, the ancient dragon directed its massive front paw towards Elia once more.

With a speed faster than Elia Adonis, despite its massive size.

Naturally, Elia couldn’t handle the speed.

“Aaaagh—”

Ultimately, even Elia couldn’t avoid the attack and fell.

Theseus had already collapsed, unable to withstand the Dragon Fear.

I was the only one left.

In a seemingly hopeless situation, the ancient dragon spoke to me.

[Now, see. All your companions have knelt before me. Calculate with your smart head. Do you still think you can defeat me?]

We can’t hunt the dragon.

But every intelligent being sometimes sacrifices their life for their beliefs.

[The eyes of a dragon see through everything. The abilities, thoughts, hidden secrets of the opponent, even the future. You never had the power to resist my gaze; you were destined to lose.]

“You can’t see someone’s memories or predict an unchangeable future with the dragon’s eyes, can you?”

[That’s irrelevant. You never reached the level to use the dragon’s eyes anyway. Now, leave my domain.]

The dragon, not wanting to converse any further, launched an attack at me.

What I said might have inaccuracies when scrutinized, but it wasn’t fundamentally wrong.

But true happiness comes with its share of loss.

Come at me.

Even if the body has aged, come with the heart of your prime.

That’s the conversation I’ve prepared.

The dragon raised its front paw, preparing to strike down.

It’s inescapable.

Even in its old age, a dragon is still a dragon.

I might dodge once or twice, but eventually, I would be hit.

But if I was going to die like this, I wouldn’t have started in the first place.

A death leaving nothing behind is not what I desire.

So, I muttered something to myself, waiting for the dragon’s attack to begin.

“Die.”

Smiling, I simply accepted the attack of the ancient dragon.

—