< Traditional Play (4) >

-Keuahhhhh!

The giant black dragon howled. At the roar filled with heavy intimidation, several A-Ranks unconsciously stepped back. The fear resistance message popped up and disappeared in front of my eyes, too. My ears hurt.

-There, now.

Riette raised her long neck and looked down at the humans. If you excluded the background that was like a sunny spring day in the Alps, it was a plausible Dragon VS Humans scene. Although I was left out of that VS. It wasnt that I wasnt involved, but I would probably be something like the prize?

I was clenched in the dragons front foot under the bright blue sky, so it sure felt great.

-I will kidnap the princess! If you have the confidence to go against me, beat back my subordinates and come to the top of that tower!

What was Yoohyun doing right now? The kids would probably be playing well without fighting.

-Darling, you should scream, Save me, prince! in these situations.

I dont want to.

And why was Sung Hyunjae, that person, just watching? Of course, if Riette left like this, it would be convenient. Still, it was too much to just watch with an expression like he was opening a bag of popcorn.

Geugeugeugeuk

Riettes back legs scratched the ground. The well laid leg muscles under the rough scales twitched.

-Grab on tight, honey~.

What grabbing, fuck. Wait.

Koo-oong!

Three feet powerfully kicked the hill. Ooreureung, along with a sound similar to thunder, the ground trembled and split, as the soil poured down. Trampling on and breaking the small hill like a sand castle, the giant pitch black body shot up into the air.

After briefly feeling enough pressure to block my ears, I heard another boom of the surroundings collapsing down. It was the castle walls. Of course the castle walls that had been intact comparatively, but also the surrounding buildings and even one comparatively smaller tower. Under Riettes steps, at one swipe of her tail, they collapsed.

In the meantime, the Teacher skills connection had cut off, and I didnt see anything properly other than dirt and black scales. I was tempted to try using the Teacher skill on Riette, but if I happened to pass out now, then it really wouldnt be manageable. I was certain I wouldnt be surprised if it turned out that I would open my eyes to being in a loose dress, tied to the top of a tower. In the surroundings, lightning would strike down, and the dragon would run wild, and the miasma would be thick, and Noah would be crying wouldnt it be something like that?

If you asked if a different result would come out if I stayed in my right mind, then, um. I wouldnt need to wear a dress. It was a big difference.

-Han Yoojin-ssi!

Just then, I heard Noahs voice. I was thankful he chased after us, but when I thought of the fearful eyes, I felt worried first. I didnt want Noah to overexert himself because of me.

Noah-ssi, by yourself, you cannot, ugh!

The foot gripping me shook strongly, as Riette raised her body and stood on just her back legs. One of her front feet grasped the base of the giant tower. Past the jolting black scales, I briefly saw Noah. The white gold dragon also wasnt small compared to humans, but right now, he seemed like a chick in front of an eagle.

-Keureureu!

Letting out a fierce growl, Noah stuck to the black dragons head. He let out his claws and scratched the scales with his teeth, but with one rough shake of Riettes head, he fell off. Riette also had poison resistance and curse resistance, so Noah only had hand-to-hand combat left It was obvious he couldnt match up.

Really, how were they twins in any way?

I am fine, so please come with Sung Hyunjae!

Noah, who was circling the surroundings, turned around as if he had no choice. Riette, who was crawling up the tower, looked down at me with sparking eyes.

-Darling, you really have a talent for raising kids, huh? Do you know how long its been since he lunged at me?

At the tone of voice sounding like she was having fun, I became dumbfounded automatically. Exactly what was this persons caregiving criteria?

Even while a giant dragon dug her claws in and crawled up, the middle tower was luckily holding up well. Riette lightly tossed me toward the inside of the round balcony at the top of the tower.

As the tower was big, the inside room was also really large. Looking at the faintly left traces of sculptures or the decorations of the round and high ceiling, the original wouldve been considerably fancy. And the cracked table and chair, the cabinet with its door missing, etc. all looked high class. The decorations had all fallen off and only the frame and the surface was left, but just looking at the size of the bed, it wasnt a common thing.

Darling~.

I had thoughtlessly walked inside the room and was looking around the surroundings, when I heard the voice of Riette turned back into a human. Was it okay to turn around? When I lowered my gaze and turned to glance at just her feet, she was wearing normal shoes and clothes.

You transformed your entire body, but your clothes are fine.

I applied a curse skill. Though I can only use it on A-Rank equipment for now.

Could you use it like that, too? Her abilities really were great. Having strode in, Riette put down a picnic basket on the table. When did she take care to bring that?

When I was five, what I wanted to be when I grew up was a wicked dragon from a storybook~.

I would like to extend congratulations for realizing your dream.

Its all good, but not having wings that one thing was a regret. Normally, I should have majestically spread my wings there and flown over, for it to be perfect! Next time I should exit more perfectly and awesomely. Should I try looking for a flight skill?

What next time. Lets end it with once.

Now what should I do? Do I gobble you up?

Riette said, tilting her head.

Why would you gobble up a hostage? You should nicely store me away until people come to rescue. If youre hungry, eat a sandwich from the basket or something.

Though I didnt know if there were sandwiches in the basket. Suddenly I was curious exactly what Sung Hyunjae wouldve brought. He probably wouldnt have packed it himself, and either his secretary or surrounding people wouldve prepared it, so it might be surprisingly normal.

Riette took the one chair, so I perched on the bed. Sung Hyunjae would do well on his own, and while I had the free time, lets organize things.

Originally, it was Sung Hyunjae who collaborated with the cult, and he betrayed them later, but while I regressed, it was exposed.

It seemed like it was certain that the cult also knew about before the regression. So they had dragged in MKC and Soodam and even Riette to kill Sung Hyunjae. Though I didnt know why they were interested in me. Did they know I regressed?

Then, Sung Hyunjae is on the systems side should I say?

I couldnt be sure yet. Instead of taking one side, wouldnt he have been thinking of taking the benefits and then throwing them away? Or raising his hand whichever way he wants.

What are you thinking so hard about, darling?

Riette, who had approached without a sound, stopped in front of me. When I lifted my head, I saw gold eyes that were emitting a strange light. In the slightly dark indoors without any lighting, they had light like a cats.

Riette, how did you get caught in the curse or brainwashing?

This was also important. To think that an S-Rank, and the born S-Rank Riette at that, had followed someones order. Wouldnt that mean that the same method could work on other S-Ranks, too?

At my question, Riette pouted as if her mood had gone bad.

I dont really know well either, but there were horrible guys wandering around since before. The first time I got to know them was about 3 years ago? It wasnt much after I Awakened. They approached, saying they would let me become stronger faster than others, so I didnt like it and kicked them out. After that they made a pass asking if I wasnt curious why the world had changed like this, and said that they would give me information about items or skills.

If it was 3 years ago, then it was completely in the beginning. Riette and Sung Hyunjae, and even Yoohyun. Did they only approach born S-Ranks first?

You sure rejected them well.

If it were me, I think I wouldve been taken in.

Its boring. If I was like instead, Im taking the side of fighting and winning! they might have accepted it? Of course, with a condition of possible revenge. Anyways, I kept on rejecting, so they even tried to bother my brother, so every time I saw them, I beat all of them up. For about over 2 years?

At the words that they even tried to bother her brother, I automatically frowned. Wouldnt Yoohyun have been in a similar situation, and so that was why he became more distant from me? There wouldve been enemies like Yoon Kyeongsoo, too. But I wondered if the main problem wasnt the cult or whatever it was.

And it seemed like his mouth was shut for him so he couldnt properly say either.

But then, they suddenly appeared a while ago, and gave an order. To the curse and poison dragon Dio Valshesis eldest.

Riettes voice became very low. Her two eyes gleamed with slight bloodthirst.

Thats right, that guy. That guy also felt a little similar to darling. A curse and poison dragon type thats higher rank than me.

Curse and poison dragon type?

And if it was high rank, then would Riette being released from the order, be because of the Dragon Slayer title? Or it couldve been the combination of Lauchtas Natural Enemy and the curse resistance. Since, if what had bound Riette was a curse and poison dragon types curse, my curse resistance skill could show a doubled effect.

Whichever it was, it was a really lucky coincidence

Was it a coincidence?

Curse and poison dragon type. Not any other dragon type, but solely this dragon type kept on popping up. Continuing from the Lauchtas before the regression to the Dio Valshesis that originally shouldnt have been, and even the cult side. Though Blackie was probably really a coincidence.

If, just if. If the curse and poison dragon type Lauchtas appearing in the dungeon I went into, wasnt a coincidence.

Darling!

Hm?

Riette bent down and rubbed my cheek with one hand.

Darling really is unusual.

Ah, well, Im not normal.

But unlike before, you became soft?

The tips of Riettes mouth slid up. An ominous hunch hit me. Though it was expected that my state would quickly be exposed if we met again.

Even though everyone said you were stat F-Rank, I thought it wasnt so. But you cant move against me? A while ago, you could say it was because there were other peoples eyes on us, but you seem soft now, too. What do you think?

What do you mean what.

Fiddling with the necklaces bead, I opened my mouth.

I fooled you the first time we met.

Really? Thats fascinating. Right now, youre stat F-Rank, right?

Yeah.

And then she pushed me back. Hey, wait.

What are you trying to do!

What I was going to do last time and didnt~.

I had wondered if she would be mad that I fooled her, but this was too different from my expectations. Fuck, let go. Dont rip my shirt.

Turn back into a dragon and hang onto the tower! You said its what you wanted to be when you grew up!

What? You like the beast transformation state? Your tastes are unique. I like it.

Crazy, why wasnt Sung Hyunjae coming? It had been more than enough time for him to have already swept them all away. He wouldnt be playing around with those poor people again and wasting time, right?

Just then, with good timing, I heard Noahs wings flapping. Then, Sung Hyunjae jumped down into the balcony. I didnt know how he lifted the attribute sealing item, but the chains wrapped around his forearm were flashing with electricity again.

He was later than expected, but he came at the right time.

I have come to rescue you, princess!

The damned person shouted excitedly. My position of not being able to tell him to get lost again, was sad. Change your role at least, this ahjussi. Did you want to play the role of a prince at that age? Change with Noah.

-Han Yoojin-ssi! Are you oka

Noah, who was pushing his head inside the balcony, was taken aback and flew away again. Shit, Riette. The kid was taken aback. In Noahs eyes, his noona and his noona were lets end the thought with this.

Sung Hyunjae also stared at us as if surprised.

Was it adult material that was pretending to be a fairytale?

Do not say nonsense, and follow your role and exterminate the dragon.

Do you want to join in?

Riette! Riette, who had tossed a crazy joke, burst into laughter and raised her body as if bouncing up. The long sword that she was suddenly holding cut the air and Sung Hyunjaes appearance disappeared from where he was in an instant.

Suguk

I heard a sound like paper was being cut. But what collapsed was a piece of rock. The balcony that was cut slantedly, fell, and continuing, the walls and ceiling were cut.

There, now should we dance for the ending? Sorry, princess. Your dance partner was stolen away!

Take him away anytime. You dont have to return him.

Just leave the skill and go.

Riette jumped up between the collapsing tower. Her body disappeared to below in an instant. Then, Sung Hyunjae took me in one hand, and the picnic basket in the other, and jumped up.

Kwareureureu!

Whatever Riette did at the bottom, not just the top part of the giant middle tower, but the entire thing crumbled down. Sung Hyunjae, who stepped on the collapsing wall and shot his body up into the air, landed on the back of Noah, who was flying around the surroundings.

Ill leave our lunch to you.

Sung Hyunjae placed a shirt he took out from his inventory on top of the picnic basket and put them in my arms, before turning his body and falling down.

I will be troubling you, Noah-ssi.

I used the Teacher skill on Noah and checked the situation. The middle tower had completely collapsed, and dust had risen up like fog.

Chareureuk!

The Seekers Chains extended without an end as they embedded into the buildings and between the buildings, crisscrossing the air. Above that, Sung Hyunjae turned his upside down body upright and landed. As soon as the tips of his feet touched the chains, he ran as if sliding, and right away in that empty place.

Kwagwagwa!

A sword attack[1] that was wound around with dust like a hurricane covered that place. The chains were cut and the ground was overturned. The buildings that had been fine, were all sliced up like pieces of paper. Everything in the surrounding radius of over a hundred meters showily fell over in pieces.

Noah-ssi, you really must have suffered a lot.

Noah silently, but clearly, nodded his head. Choi Sukwons attack was also considerably powerful, but that was it was about the level of being one rank different.

Even borrowing Noahs sight, I couldnt see into the inside of the part that was full of dust. But Sung Hyunjae also wasnt just quietly accepting the attack. The cut chains had disappeared when I wasnt looking and light raged fiercely.

Kooreureureung!

The air trembled as if it was pierced with fear first, and what followed was a tempest of electric shocks. The wreckage of the collapsing tower bounced up like corn for popcorn, and going past darkening, it burned black and crumbled into pieces. At the intense light that seemed like it would burn our op