Confession

“This is really the end.”

Beneath the swirling dark clouds, a black spire pierced the sky. It was the Demon King’s castle.

I’d seen this scenery dozens of times in the game, but facing it in reality left me breathless. It wasn’t just simple pixels; a living terror wrapped around my entire body.

‘Hero-nim, please save the world!’

A bitter smile crept across my face at the sudden memory.

Five years ago, the moment I fell into this world with that sudden voice was still vivid.

Me, a normal college student, becoming the Hero. At first, it was just absurd. The fantasy world I’d seen in games had become reality.

“Are you alright? It might be good to take a break.”

I turned around at the voice from behind.

Aris, the Golden Dragon, the mage of our party known as the Sage of the Dragonkin.

“Hehe, you seem nervous, unlike you.”

Aris took another step closer. A sweet fragrance brushed past my nose. The dignity of a dragon who had lived for thousands of years was ingrained in all her movements.

“The closer we get to the Demon King’s castle, the more ominous the energy feels. The spirits are also uneasy…”

A cold voice cut in. It was Sylvia, the Elf Queen. Her cold green eyes were fixed on the Demon King’s castle.

“Hero-nim. If you’re tired, shall I offer a blessing prayer?”

Saint Seraphin asked with a worried voice. Her pure white hair sparkled in the moonlight, and her violet eyes were filled with concern.

“No, I’m okay.”

I shook my head. I didn’t want to waste her magic power at this point, right before the final battle with the Demon King.

“Harunyang! I see a village, nyang!”

The cat-person Nia suddenly shouted and jumped up. Her black cat ears twitched adorably.

It seemed she had discovered the village with her unique, sharp senses.

“Where?”

“Over there, nya! I see lights, nya!”

At Nia’s shout, everyone’s gaze converged on one spot. A small village was visible at the foot of the Demon King’s castle. In the game, it was the last save point and the place to buy the final equipment.

“Alright, let’s make our final preparations there.”

A dragon sage who has lived for thousands of years, an Elf Queen and gardener of the World Tree, a saint blessed by God, and a legendary cat burglar.

Looking back now, I think I was really lucky. In the game, hundreds of save-loads were basic, and even flipping through a strategy guide, it was a difficult combination to succeed with. But with one chance, I succeeded in creating the strongest Hero party.

As soon as we entered the village, we scattered to our respective places.

Aris to the magic shop, Sylvia to replenish spirit stones, Seraphin to the church to pray.

Nia… I looked around, but she had already disappeared. A thief-like move. She probably went to gather information. Or maybe she went to swipe something again.

I headed to the inn first with tired steps.

“Haa…”

Looking at the black spire visible from the window, a deep sigh escaped me.

I’ve finally come to the front of the Demon King’s castle. If I just defeat the Demon King, everything will be over. If I just defeat the Demon King, I can return to my original world. And……

I shook my head. It’s something I don’t want to think about yet. The word ‘return’ weighed heavily on a corner of my heart.

Knock knock-

I heard a knock on the door. For some reason, I had an ominous feeling. In the game, scenes like this were always dangerous flags.

“Come in.”

The door opened and Aris entered. Her expression was tense, unlike her usual elegant smile.

“Could you… spare some time?”

Moonlight seeped into the room. Aris’s golden eyes shone more clearly than usual.

It was the first time I’d seen her so hesitant.

I had a feeling that something very dangerous was about to begin.

“Would you like to go outside? There’s something I want to show you.”

She took me to an empty space on the outskirts of the village.

A golden magic circle spread out from under Aris’s feet. Complex patterns were engraved on the earth, and gradually the air vibrated.

“I want to show you… my true form for a moment.”

A brilliant light flashed. When I opened my eyes, a giant golden dragon was standing in front of me. Golden scales reaching 25 meters sparkled like jewels under the moonlight.

The dragon’s eyes stared at me. They were a familiar golden color. Despite her huge size, her elegance remained.

“Every time I see you, you’re really pretty…”

Admiration flowed out of me without me realizing it. At that moment, the golden dragon’s scales turned red.

[T-That… Haru, what are you saying all of a sudden…]

The dragon’s voice echoed in my head. A trembling voice. Could it be… is she embarrassed?

The giant golden dragon lowered her head. It was a gesture to get on her back.

[You know, right? This is only allowed to you in the world.]

I carefully climbed onto her back.

Swish-

Giant wings unfolded. They were so large they seemed to cover the sky.

[Are you ready?]

Aris’s voice echoed in my head again. I nodded.

In an instant, the ground moved away. With the sound of powerful flapping wings, we soared into the sky.

Higher and higher.

The cold night air brushed against my face, but the warm heat emanating from Aris’s scales enveloped me. It was a temperature that was too soft to be a dragon’s body temperature.

When we rose above the clouds, the world was dyed entirely in silver.

Endless white clouds spread out beneath my feet, and the moon filled my vision above my head. It was so close it felt like I could reach out and touch it. A sight I could never see in the game.

[How is it? You are the only human in the world who can see such a sight.]

Aris’s voice echoed softly. The golden dragon’s long neck bent gracefully, turning to look at me. Her eyes shone warmly.

Slowly, very slowly, we lowered our altitude and descended. We glided down towards the highest hill near the village.

In an instant, a brilliant light flashed, and Aris, who had transformed back into her human form, was standing there.

Her golden hair, reaching down to her knees, fluttered in the evening breeze, and the horns on either side of her forehead sparkled like jewels. The way she looked at me with her golden eyes was as beautiful as if the goddess of the moon had descended into the human world.

“Haru, no… Aris has something serious to say.”

Aris’s serious voice. Could this be….

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

Should I just pretend I don’t know?

“Let’s walk a little. It’s hard for even me to say it right away.”

Aris took the first step. I followed her.

“Hehe… do you remember the day we first met in the Dragonkin Library?”

Aris opened her mouth first. The memory of that day came back to me vividly. The ancient library I visited to strengthen the Holy Sword. The manager of that place was Aris.

“I was really rude back then… I dared to put up a trial, asserting the pride of the Dragonkin, saying that humans had dared to enter the library.”

At the time, I laughed inwardly. In the game, countless users had lost their lives in the maze. It was a fatal trap where walls moved, space twisted, and time was distorted.

“A normal human would have tried to break through with force. But you…”

“The pride of the dragon doesn’t come from simple arrogance, but from a love of wisdom… was it?”

“Hehe, yes. You remember well.”

“The trial isn’t about testing strength, but about testing wisdom. The answer to the maze is ‘not to run away’. If you acknowledge the pride of the dragon and don’t avoid it, the maze will open the way itself.”

This line was the hidden keyword for the Golden Dragon event. But facing it in reality, it came with a deeper meaning.

“Do you know what my expression was like then? It’s the most surprised I’ve ever been in thousands of years.”

Aris’s eyes softened.

“A human who solved the Dragonkin’s riddle… from then on, you seemed special.”

Aris’s eyes became as soft as moonlight.

“I can’t forget what happened in the canyon either. When the Dragon Lords tried to take me away….”

At her words, I also recalled that day. The day the ancient dragons tried to take Aris away, saying that ‘the Dragonkin should not interfere in the human world’.

“You protected me without hesitation. You said, ‘Aris is my companion.’ That one word resonated in my heart.”

Aris stopped walking and looked at me.

“You were the first human to protect me from the oppression of the Dragonkin. After that day, I realized. You… are special. Since then, my golden eyes have only seen you.”

Aris’s hand touched my cheek. It was neither cold nor hot, just the right warmth. Just like between us.

“I’ve lived for thousands of years and seen countless humans. But there was no one like you. Strong but never arrogant, wise but never conceited…”

Aris’s voice trembled.

“I can’t hide it anymore. I…”

The raw emotion that had lost the pride of the dragon and the coldness of the sage was revealed.

“I love you.”

The golden eyes looking at me shone brighter than the moonlight.

“I thought human life was fleeting. But the five years I spent with you… were more meaningful than my thousands of years of life. Haru… will you spend eternity with me?”

It was an expected word. But hearing it in person, my heart ached.

“I’m sorry, Aris.”

Her expression hardened.

“I’m… human, and you’re a dragon. And a great golden dragon, the sage of the Dragonkin.”

“Are you talking about the difference in lifespan?”

Aris cut me off.

“Don’t worry about that. I’m researching magic that I can solve…”

A chill ran down my spine. In the game, she was infamous as a ‘Yandere Dragon’. She was the culprit of the bad ending where you were trapped in her nest forever if you touched her even a little bit wrong.

“That’s not all. I’m… honestly afraid of the Dragonkin’s possessiveness.”

I regretted it as soon as I said it. Aris’s expression changed scarily at the word ‘possessiveness’.

“What are you saying right now?”

Her laughter echoed coldly. The magic power around her swirled.

“I always said, didn’t I? That I’m not such a bothersome woman….”

Aris’s pupils narrowed vertically like a snake.

“The Dragonkin’s possessiveness… you misunderstand dragons.”

“N-No, that’s…”

“I know what you’re worried about. But…”

This is bad. I think I touched the dragon’s pride.

Cold sweat flowed. I had to change the atmosphere quickly.

“Dragons never force a choice. They just… watch over you forever.”

Her eyes shone coldly.

“Don’t worry. I am very patient. I can wait as long as it takes for your heart to open.”