Chapter 243 – Like a Dragon (5)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Antique glasses perched on the bridge of his nose.

His back reverently straightened.

What he held in his hand was an ornate fountain pen.

Scratch

Skal, who had been writing something down for a long time, opened his mouth.

“No…”

Soon, a scream that could fill the Rothschild family mansion followed.

“This isn’t it!!”

What was he writing down?

Even seeing it, no one would ask.

At this moment, players were writing down lines of text with a single purpose.

The only path to enter the Arcana Continent. In order to receive permission to use the access device from Ho-yeol.

That declaration was announced at the Mage Tower’s round-table conference, but its target was not limited to the mages of the Mage Tower. The important thing was a legitimate purpose, not affiliations or such.

Thanks to that, not only players.

But even Arcana-ins.

Everyone was suffering the untimely throes of creation.

After tearing his hair out for a moment.

Skal grabbed his fountain pen correctly again.

Even at this moment.

“…Let’s endure it, Skal.”

His competitors must not be stopping their hands.

However, Skal could guarantee it.

That there was no one with a more desperate purpose than himself.

──────
To Sir Ho-yeol, who deserves to be respected, beloved, and worshipped.
──────

It was a greeting that would make the person concerned faint if he read it.

Skal typed a period with a serious expression.

Then he moved his gaze to the quest window.

[Class Quest: All Dragon Convocation (全龍召集)]

The Old Dragon cried out.

That a ‘Great Family’ had returned to the Arcana Continent.

All dragons desire to grasp the truth of an incident.

-Witness the dragons gathering on the continent. (Failed)

-Encounter the dying Old Dragon. (In Progress)

Of all things, a dragon is dying…!

Although it’s not like there was only one old dragon in Arcana.

Skal also had some tact.

Which meant the story of the class quest was drawn in his head.

‘I rescue the old dragon in danger, and thanks to that, my affinity rises, and I get to ride a dragon for the first time… Just looking at it, it’s exactly that kind of quest progression, this…!’

Of course, he didn’t know any method to revive a dying dragon.

However, his immediate goal was merely to encounter the old dragon.

If he could just enter the Arcana Continent through the access device.

There would also be massive progress in the class quest.

Because he would be able to step one step closer to becoming a Dragon Knight.

“There really won’t be any player more desperate than me, Sir Ho-yeol…!”

He wasn’t wrong.

At the same time, there was one man writing down an access device use permission application with a more frantic momentum than Skal. But he was a senior mage of the Mage Tower, not a player.

An agony that doesn’t end easily.

This isn’t it.

This isn’t it either.

This too…!

Skal tore up several more sheets of parchment before he changed his mind.

“A plausibly packaged purpose.”

Sir Ho-yeol would see through everything anyway.

He felt it would rather be better to reveal his purpose clearly.

Why, didn’t Sir Ho-yeol also know something about the Old Dragon?

‘Because he even knew the name Eunaxus.’

Perhaps I might.

Be needed for Sir Ho-yeol’s actions.

Embracing inflated expectations, Skal carefully scribbled with his fountain pen.

It was then.

“…?”

What flickered before his eyes.

Skal flinched.

Because he was merely scribbling with his fountain pen, it wasn’t a notification that his experience or level went up. There’s no way his skill proficiency went up either. There was only one thing that could flash, a quest.

Goosebumps rose on his back.

“…D- don’t tell me?!”

Did the dying old dragon pass away?

In an instant, dark clouds cast over Skal’s face.

Skal forced himself to gather his mind and checked the quest.

Then he let out a short exclamation.

“…Eh?”

-Encounter the dying Old Dragon. (Failed)

First of all, it was a failure.

However, if you ask why he spat out a question instead of a scream.

It was because he realized it from the message that popped up consecutively.

That it didn’t fail because the old dragon died.

[World Quest: The Old Dragon’s Last Flight]

The dying old dragon made a resolution.

To burn up his final moments for the future of his kin.

The continent shall tremble at the old dragon’s scolding.

-Witness the old dragon’s end. (In Progress)

“Wh- What is this!”

He couldn’t help but be flustered.

Wasn’t it a dying old dragon just a moment ago?

During the time I was scribbling with my fountain pen.

What on earth happened…?

“For the future of his kin? The continent shall tremble at the scolding…?”

Does that mean a new quest popped up!

Wondering if there was anyone who knew about this.

Skal accessed the community.

“There’s none.”

But there was nothing different.

Everyone was just throwing out baits about the access device and the greatness of Sir Ho-yeol.

There was no story regarding the old dragon even if he washed his eyes and searched.

‘…It’s a quest that only popped up for me.’

Dragon Knight.

Because it was himself who possessed a class related to dragons.

Even if he didn’t know the reason.

Or even if he was in reality, a completely different world.

It was certain that a world quest had popped up.

In that sense, Skal burned with motivation even more.

“This is not the time to be discouraged.”

If you failed the class quest.

You just need to succeed in the new world quest.

Skal glared with his eyes wide open and wrote down his application for the access device.

Sometimes ignorance was bliss…

*

Regrettable, Skal.

It just happened to turn out this way…!

I checked the message popping up before my eyes.

[Achievement: King of All Creation, Ride a Dragon.]

Mount.

Since the days when Arcana was merely a game.

It was one of the incredibly important elements for players.

The Arcana Continent was vast.

Mounts were unnecessary in cities where portals were always active, but once out of the city, mounts like carriages or horses were essential.

Because neither time nor stamina was enough to travel long distances by running.

‘Back in my day, the price of a carriage was no joke either.’

That was the reason why the Knight class was in the spotlight for no-capital players. Because if you changed your class to a Knight and joined any knighthood order, you could acquire an expensive horse for free.

Of course, it’s an obvious story that doesn’t even need to be told.

But Demon Hunter and mounts had zero relation between them.

Can’t you guess just by looking at Akshan’s daily routine?

A Demon Hunter who only trains his physical strength day in and day out.

Having two sturdy legs, what nonsense is a mount.

No, without having to explain at length, you can tell just by looking at the skill window.

Merely [Natural Enemy Relationship], [Exorcism Ritual], [Silver Mastery].

‘Is there any way there’d be riding-related skills or anything.’

So when Eunaxus made the offer, I was slightly worried.

If I got on for no reason and fell off the horse…

No, fell off the dragon and wasted my precious single life. But it seemed there was a reason Skal was obsessed with riding a dragon.

[Effect: Proficiency regarding all mounts increases to the maximum.]

[Duration: Permanent]

Is this really an effect from achieving a simple achievement?!

Even if it’s the first time.

Proficiency regarding all mounts increasing to the maximum, and permanently at that. It was an effect that wasn’t just eye-widening, but enough to make eyes pop out.

As expected, I showed no signs of it.

“This view is not bad either.”

I was the same as always.

As if it wasn’t because of the achievement’s effect.

As if I was familiar with mounts from the beginning.

It meant standing upright on Eunaxus’s back.

“I thought I’d never be able to fly again.”

Is the emotion of gliding again causing new feelings?

Eunaxus spoke with a somewhat overwhelmed voice.

I’m not showing it, but I feel the same, Eunaxus.

‘Because I didn’t know it would be like this either.’

According to Skal’s words.

Riding a dragon could safely be considered the final goal of the Dragon Knight class.

In a word, the scenery that could only be witnessed after carrying out the Dragon Knight class quest to the end.

Is the scenery I am witnessing right now on Eunaxus’s back.

In that sense…

…Just how many intermediate steps did I skip?

The reason I could skip them was nothing else.

‘…Claudi.’

Eunaxus’s stubbornness is extraordinary.

Without having to go far, you can tell just by looking at ‘that day’ when heavenly luck followed.

Even when the youngest, Hiel, tried to dissuade him.

He just left the words telling her not to worry.

It meant Eunaxus was truly intending to see things to the end.

In that sense.

‘Does it mean Claudi’s halo is bigger than the World Tree’s genealogy…?’

…I’m genuinely afraid of the Claudi family!

While I was lamenting inwardly.

Speak of the tiger, no, dragon, and he shall appear.

Eunaxus asked me politely.

“May this lowly Old Dragon ask for Claudi’s name?”

My name.

Well, giving my name isn’t too difficult.

I answered without hesitation.

“Lee Ho-yeol. That is my name.”

If you thought I would answer with my terrible full name, you miscalculated.

By the way…

You’re not going to tell me to get off now saying you got the wrong person, right?

‘That’s complicated to say, but anyway both of them are me.’

Fortunately.

It was merely a groundless concern.

Because Eunaxus continued to speak with a satisfied voice.

“I will not forget this grace, O Lee Ho-yeol Claudi.”

…Wait a minute. W- what did you say just now?!

What is that bizarre fusion-style name that rivals Granfel Claudi Arpheus Romeo?! That means it’s not Lee Ho-yeol of the Claudi family, but Ho-yeol of the Lee family…!

In the world over there.

In South Korea, the surname comes first and the given name comes last, you see.

So please, something like Lee Ho-yeol Claudi.

Could you not call me by such a terrible name?!

‘But when am I going to explain this…?’

If it were up to my feelings. I completely wanted to kindly explain what a real family tree is, what an ancestral seat is, and what generation names are, instead of a broken family-like World Tree genealogy.

But there was no luxury to do so.

Suddenly.

My vision flashed.

It was an appearance message.

[The Ice Dragon, Froznax appears.]

The moment.

Wheeeeeeng!

An uncontrollable chill swept through the dimensional rift where nothing existed but darkness. No, it wasn’t just an aura. Because frost was truly fluttering before my eyes.

[Froznax’s chill alters the area.]

Indeed, the King of All Creation, a dragon.

To change even the dimensional rift like its own living room.

An ice world revealing itself amidst the clearing darkness.

At the peak of the towering iceberg that had suddenly sprouted.

An Ice Dragon with its wings spread like an ice sculpture was seen.

[You have entered the ‘Snowy Mountain of the Ice Dragon, Peace’.]

Peace.

I should have rejoiced.

But similarly, there was no time to rejoice.

Because Eunaxus immediately roared ferociously.

“Froznax!!”

Still, since they are acquaintances and of the same kin.

Wouldn’t it be better for Eunaxus to step in first rather than me.

I hereby completely withdraw my complacency of having thought so.

“Hypocrite, do not bring up my name, Eunaxus!!”

You guys really have no blood or tears!

Thanks to riding on Eunaxus’s back, I could feel it.

The uncontrollably roughening heartbeat.

That the two dragons were truly intending to see things to the end.

Sshhaaaaaak!

The blowing snow is freezing cold.

If it weren’t for the effect of the elixir, the Ever-Snow Flower, that I consumed to open my circle. I would have long been frozen stiff by the chill. I said to Hiel, who was trying hard to hide it.

“Step back from here, Hiel.”

“I apologize for being of no help, Lord.”

“There is nothing to apologize for. You worked hard.”

To think it’s a chill that even a Unique Spirit, Hiel, couldn’t endure.

To project such a monstrous place purely on his own.

Indeed, it deserves the grand modifier ‘Ice Dragon’.

However, was it thanks to the freezing air.

I could observe the situation with a cool head.

First off, there was no demonic presence felt in the dimensional rift.

For that reason, [Natural Enemy Relationship] was currently not activated.

‘I must consider my combat power slashed into half of a half.’

In such a state, it’s a situation where I’m properly caught up in a family feud between the Old Dragon and the Ice Dragon. Anyone could tell this is a situation where Lee Ho-yeol’s back bursts in a dragon fight (adaptation of a Korean proverb: shrimp’s back bursts in a whale fight).

However.

“Rather than chilly, it’s endlessly refreshing.”

I spouted nonchalantly.

Unyielding in any circumstance.

Thanks to Granfel’s noble pride?

Of course, pride cannot be ignored either.

“Is the welcoming greeting over with this, O Ice Dragon.”

However, do not underestimate me, O King of All Creation.

“If so, this time is my turn, the Mage Tower’s turn.”

When it comes to holding grudges.

The lingering resentment of the Mage Tower’s mages, who would be sad to be second…!

You say dragons are a race unfamiliar with defeat and humiliation?

That’s the same for the mages of the Mage Tower too.

What do you think the Mage Tower did taking the defeat of the Great Dragon-Demon War as a lesson? Would they have only trembled in fear forever, thinking dragons are existences that should not be touched?

As if that could be!

Especially ‘he’ whom I know was extremely fanatic in this aspect.

To such a man, an Ice Dragon?

Perhaps, it might have felt like looking into a mirror.

In that sense.

Ice Dragon, he must have grasped your weaknesses the best.

A single magic tome left in the Mage Tower’s archives.

──────
Thirty Ways to Shoot Down an Ice Dragon
──────

The author’s name is Seninos of Perpetual Snow.

I gazed at the Ice Dragon.

Froznax, and recited.

“From the Great Dragon-Demon War which you considered mere amusement, the Mage Tower gained a lesson. As imperfect humans, we agonized, struggled, and crawled on the floor to move forward. And once again we have arrived before you.”

Soon, I pulled out the first method to shoot down an ice dragon.

“?!”

Then a message popped up.

[Thaw] occurs on the Ice Dragon, Froznax.

“Does it still feel like a laughable amusement?”