Chapter 628

A sure-win combo was employed, consisting of 'Elemental Disassembly'-'The Foremost Flag'-'Gaze of Command'-'Become Mine!'.

To use 'Gaze of Command', one had to make eye contact, which was accomplished through Violet's illusion magic.

Even a member of the Black Dragon Legion could not resist this sure-win combo.

Underneath Parekian's featureless head, a collar-shaped control orb appeared around its neck, tightly constricting it.

"Yes!"

The operation was a success!

Thus, a new legend was captured... Ah, no, anyway, a named monster was successfully captured. I clenched my fist. You're mine now!

['Black Dragon's Claw Parekian (SSR)' has been incorporated into your ranks!]

- Current Loyalty: 30(+15)/100

- Absolute Command: 1 time

'Huh?'

I was puzzled by the loyalty score, which was much higher than I had expected.

I understood the additional adjustment from 'The Foremost Flag', but why was the base loyalty as high as 30? Normally, a boss monster like this should start with a loyalty of 0.

"...Not exactly a pleasant thing, but it seems it considers you a kind of... kin."

Dusk Bringar, who was observing from the side, explained. Being of the same dragon species, it seems she could somewhat understand Parekian's feelings.

I tilted my head.

"Kin? Me?"

"That thing you picked up and ate before. It seems because of that..."

"Ah."

Dusk Bringar said, shaking her shoulders as if she found it unpleasant to even mention, but I understood immediately.

Dragon Heart.

Nameless had fed it to me when I was collapsed from magical exhaustion, and thanks to that, I've been fighting vigorously without experiencing such symptoms ever since.

It felt like a warm heating pad had settled inside my body.

Anyway, the Dragon Heart I ate back then belonged to a Black Dragon - having the heart of its kin inside me, Parekian somewhat recognized (acknowledged) me.

Thanks to that, the loyalty adjustment occurred.

After storing Parekian in a subspace, I clapped my hands and shouted to the surrounding heroes.

"The battle is over! The situation has concluded! Great work everyone, let's regroup!"

The heroes scattered around promptly started to regroup, responding with a resounding yes.

It had been a violent operation, and even though it ended in the first phase, it was still a dragon raid, so many of the vanguard heroes were injured.

The accompanying priests began casting healing spells and bandaging the injured. Watching this, I gestured to Nameless.

"Nameless, a moment."

"Hmm."

Nameless, who had been lost in thought, quickly ran over when I called. I asked her.

"A while back, you fed me a Dragon Heart, remember?"

"Of course, I remember."

"That heart you fed me belonged to a Black Dragon... Was there another reason you gave it to me?"

Was there a specific intention behind it? I had been curious about it.

Dusk Bringar, standing behind me, also perked up her ears to listen in.

Nameless readily answered.

"The main reason was that your condition was quite serious at the time, and you needed to consume a powerful source of magic power."

"Yes, that was the case."

"The next reason is... that heart was originally your spoils."

"Huh?"

My spoils? That heart?

"You killed the youngest daughter of the Black Dragon... Kilitian, didn't you?"

"Ah. Yes. That's right."

Blood of the Black Dragon. The youngest of the Black Dragon Legion. Kilitian.

It feels so distant now, but back in the early first year, I had obliterated that dragon with the Colosseum rule adjustment.

"The Dragon Heart you ate came from that dragon."

"Ah..."

So it was the heart of that creature I killed.

Certainly, at that time, due to the Colosseum's adjustments, my shot with 'Black Queen' had split its upper body in half, killing it instantly.

I hadn't had the chance to collect the spoils, so I forgot about it, but it seems the Dragon Heart was extracted from that dragon.

"It came around and ended up in my hands. Being a merchant here."

"I see..."

"Knowing you were the one who killed its owner, it was a burden (karma) tied to you. Therefore, I thought it was inevitable to give it to you."

"So that's how it was."

At the time, I was puzzled about why I was given a Dragon Heart. It turns out it was all connected like this.

"And, if you were ever to clash with the Black Dragon Legion."

Nameless looked straight at me.

"Having eaten their hearts might be of help."

"...Why?"

Confused, I tilted my head, and Nameless explained.

"You've met the Night Bringer, haven't you?"

"Yes. I have."

I recalled the last battle. That bastard dragged you all the way to Crossroad.

"He is a being who has far transcended the Mortal Coil. And to oppose a transcender, one must possess the corresponding status."

To deal damage to a transcender, one must possess an equivalent qualification.

That's why, in the game, preparing Dragon Slayer gear was such a hassle - for the same reason.

If you were equipped with bones and skin of the Black Dragon Legion and a magic core, you could match the Night Bringer's status and thus deal damage.

"Although she was the least of them, Kilitian was undoubtedly a daughter of the Black Dragon. You killed that dragon and took its life - its heart. Now, you have earned the qualifications equal to a dragon."

The heart of a dragon from the mythological era.

I had hunted and consumed it myself, and just through this process, magical effects were manifested, granting me qualifications I wasn't even aware of.

"Now you can choose. To become a 'Slayer' who kills dragons, or..."

Nameless glanced at Dusk Bringar standing beside me.

"To become a dragon yourself and join the 'Bringers'."

"...!"

I suddenly remembered what Dusk Bringar had said to me a long time ago.

- Do you know what happens when a mere human consumes a Dragonheart?

- You become a 'vessel' capable of containing a dragon. It means you have halfway acquired the qualifications to become a dragon!

Terrified, I quickly turned to Dusk Bringar.

"Ahhh! Your Grace, what should I do?! I don't want to become a dragon! I like being human!"

"...Child, do you think becoming a dragon is that easy?"

Dusk Bringar snapped at me as if scolding a gym newbie worried about getting too bulky from working out, then sighed heavily.

"You've become a vessel and have the qualifications, but that's all for now. To truly become a dragon, there are more steps to go through and more materials needed. Don't worry too much."

"Really?! I won't suddenly start breathing fire, right?! Or grow wings and fly around?!"

But now that I think about it, that kind of sounds cool?!

"Yes. You are firmly human."

Dusk Bringar nodded.

"We all hope you remain human."

At those words, Nameless also nodded.

"I gave you the Dragon Heart hoping you would become a Slayer. I had no desire for you to become one of the Bringers."

Then, Nameless smiled bitterly.

"But, Ash."

"Huh?"

"Even if, by some chance, you transform into something else... we are still friends. Don't forget that."

"..."

Nameless's face, warm with a smile, briefly overlaid with the image of the final boss I had encountered in the game - 'The Princess of the Unsleeping Lake'.

Clutching my fist, I responded seriously.

"The feeling's mutual, Nameless. No matter what changes you go through, we're friends."

We smiled warmly at each other.

Only Dusk Bringar, standing behind, made a disgusted sound with a shocked expression.

"...Why are we suddenly declaring friendship?"

Anyway, the conceptual talk about becoming dragons, killing dragons, and acquiring dragon certifications concluded like this.

Nameless waved her hand and left the Public Security Office first.

"Let's meet again during the next Black Dragon Legion subjugation, Ash. Take care of yourself. And... be careful with Parekian."

"See you, Nameless!"

I waved back energetically.

Smiling faintly, Nameless eventually disappeared into the dungeon's darkness.

***

After treating the injuries, the heroes and I completed our search inside the Public Security Office.

As expected of a place used by a rare dragon, various treasures were piled up. Since Parekian was now on our side after being captured, there was no need to leave anything behind, so I cleared everything out.

"Now that Parekian is one of us, it's just about moving his assets over~"

Speaking casually as I packed magic cores and magic stones into a bag, all my subordinates looked at me with eyes full of... no, not disdain, but admiration. These kids, really.

After sweeping through the Public Security Office, today's schedule ended. We returned to Crossroad.

"Your Majesty!"

"You've returned safely!"

In the lord's mansion backyard, near the teleport gate, the waiting staff greeted us cheerfully.

It was past dinner time, nearing night. They seemed to have waited for us, worried, despite the time it took.

After all, the battle could have easily resulted in casualties.

"It's a relief that everyone returned safely."

The members who had gone on today's exploration lined up in front of me. I briefly spoke and then dismissed them.

"Eat well, sleep well, and rest up. I'll call you together again in a few days."

"Yes-!"

"Thank you for your hard work!"

"Yay, time to clock out!"

The gathered heroes dispersed in small groups.

I told those who were going to eat to stay, and quite a few heroes joyfully entered the lord's mansion.

I was about to enter for a late dinner after a brief clean-up.

Woosh...

Suddenly, the space above my head ominously rippled...

Swoosh!

Ripping through a subspace, a lizard-like Black Dragon - Parekian burst out!

"Waaaah!"

"What in the world?!"

All of us jumped in shock, rooted to the spot.

Why did this guy suddenly appear like this! Was being captured a lie?! Or did he intentionally get caught to attack our base?!

All these thoughts crossed my mind, but fortunately, it seemed he had no such terrifying intentions.

Parekian, having tidily wrapped up its unique demonic aura, landed smoothly on the ground and cautiously moved its head around, searching for something.

"...!"

Eventually sensing something, Parekian ran off in that direction. Really, like a huge lizard.

Parekian's destination was... towards Violet, who had turned white with fear.

Violet, having joined the members of the Gambler's Club she had been waiting for, was on her way to the tavern to share her heroic tales of the day, when this gigantic Black Dragon-lizard ran straight towards her, making her look as if she was about to faint.

"Yo, Yo, Your Highness?! Wha, wha, what do we do about this..."

But there was no time for me to do anything.

Parekian gently extended its tail, coiling around Violet's body, then swiftly lifted her onto its back.

Then, it lightly bounced up and down as if urging something from her.

Stunned and making a noise of distress, Violet eventually seemed to realize something and placed her hands on Parekian's head.

"Oh, um... 'Show me' again?"

Whoosh-

Violet's lavender-colored magic power gathered at her fingertips and penetrated Parekian's head.

Like when she had subdued the dragon before, it seemed to show the surroundings.

"..."

Parekian slowly curled up its body to sit down on the ground, quietly lifting its head to look around.

The brightly lit lord's mansion, the people around it tensed up, and then-

The night sky.

"..."

A 'whirring' sound vibrated from inside Parekian's chest, turning from red to a light blue hue, slowly spreading inside the dragon's body.

I, who had been ready to use the 'Absolute Command' to subdue Parekian if necessary, hesitantly stopped.

Now fully settled on the backyard ground, Parekian quietly looked up at the night sky, intently observing the Milky Way stretched above.

Watching this curious and somewhat amusing scene, I patted the shoulders of the other heroes and entered the lord's mansion.

"It seems alright. Let's eat."

"What do you mean, alright?! Wait, Your Highness! What about me!"

Violet screamed in horror, hands still on Parekian's head and seated on its back.

Everyone cast sympathetic glances at her... and went inside the mansion to eat. I gave a hearty laugh to Violet, who looked miserable.

"Take good care of that fellow from now on, Violet."

"What do you mean by thaaat?!"

Leaving Violet to cry out in despair, I closed the door behind me.

Having someone to take on the role of dragon tamer in my ranks, I really am blessed with good fortune...