NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 136
When do you think humans feel the most threatened?
When their lives are in danger?
No.
When their goals seem hopeless?
No.
When they start reading the words at the bottom?
No.
It’s when they start to hear the name of the Elite Outsider whispering their own name.
Right now, I was trying my best to maintain a poker face, but perhaps because of my previous reaction, the Dragon Slayer continued to whisper her name right into my ear with newfound confidence.
I couldn’t run away either.
She had a tight grip on me, like I was some kind of plush toy, whispering in my ear.
I’m not having any strange thoughts.
No, I’m trying not to.
Cuddled up in the arms of a noble lady, feeling her soft touch and listening to her whispery tones made me feel like I had the whole world.
I’m not having any strange delusions!
…Ahem, anyway.
The real problem was this.
I couldn’t hear everything, but it didn’t matter.
The parts I shouldn’t be able to hear were coming through loud and clear.
I would’ve preferred it if her blessings were coming through instead!
Then I could just play dumb when they called me!
Moreover, what was even more frustrating was thinking the Dragon Slayer was just a character type, but it seemed like she was truly a noble.
Having ‘폰’ in her name usually meant she was of noble birth.
Seriously, how did this world of Outsiders work?
At this rate, even if the Rondan was to perish, she seemed set on whispering to me to achieve her goals, making me break into a cold sweat before I finally spoke.
“Um….”
The Dragon Slayer looked at me with sparkling eyes.
She seemed hopeful that I would finally call her name, but I thought I’d have some fun with her first.
“폰…?”
I carefully recited ‘폰’ and hoped that if she heard that much, my surprised reaction might make some sense and maybe I could trick her.
Hoping she’d let it go, I glanced at the Dragon Slayer, but she only pressed a finger to my lips.
Rather flustered, I kept looking at her, but now she began shaking her head from side to side.
“My lord.”
“…”
“What you were hoping to hear was not that.”
“…!”
In that instant, a shiver ran through my entire body.
I had to admit it.
I realized I was psychologically completely trapped by the Dragon Slayer.
“Or is that so? So this was the method.”
“…?”
“Since you’ve been using the power of the Dragon a lot, your overall energy must have decreased a lot?”
“…!”
I couldn’t even respond.
I understood her words just as her fangs sank into my neck.
A cool yet sharp pain.
But the warm energy that flowed in made my entire body feel relaxed.
However, this time it felt like way too much was flowing in.
Hold on.
If this keeps going, I might end up breathing fire!
It felt like filling up a tank at a gas station, feeling the energy stopping just as it reached a full tank. I could tell how much the Dragon Slayer could pump in.
This was a big deal.
Doesn’t this mean a whole Dragon just entered me?
“…That’s enough.”
I was scared.
Was this what it felt like to be a condemned prisoner sticking their head into the guillotine?
No, that would be way better.
Just moments after, I’d be free, right?
But if I messed up just once…
The Dragon Slayer, as if she had no intention of understanding my feelings, leaned in closer to my ear again.
“즈҈미҇͂͗̓̈͆́͒̋야҉̧̯͔͎̭̜͉͈̩͈̗ 폰҈̨̛ о̵̢͠д̸̧҇и̸͢͡н̶͢͞о̷̧͝к̴̡͠а҈̕͢я̸͜͝”
Her voice was clearer than before.
Now it was almost as clear as when it was with Nutricha.
But I kept pretending I couldn’t hear it.
No way would I be released before I die.
Was it then that the Dragon Slayer realized my firm attitude? She frowned in frustration.
“Are you going to hold out until the very end?”
“…”
“Sigh, my lord is truly cold-hearted!”
Now the Dragon Slayer was on the verge of tears.
And then, she seemed to use her ultimate move.
“My lord… do you really dislike me that much?”
Seeing her almost in tears made my heart ache.
No, it’s not because I dislike you, that’s not it.
Then again, could this all be a reflection of my own selfish perspective?
Isn’t this just me hurting those around me to achieve what I want?
Just as I began to waver in my thoughts.
*Scritch, scritch.*
I saw something being carved somewhere.
– “즈҇̏̔̋미҇͂͗̓̈͆́͒̋야҈ 폰҉̧͔̞͒́͋̑͒͡ о̵̢͠д̸̧҇и̸͢͡н̶͢͞о̷̧͝к̴̡͠а҈̕͢я̸͜͝” said, noticing my increasingly troubled expression, and finally feeling joy as the opportunity had come.
My lord always showed weakness to us.
What if with this tearful act, I could capture his heart…
“Ugh, ugh! You Record Keeper! Are you betraying me?!”
Completely forgetting the Dragon Slayer was holding me, I quickly darted out, scratching at the words with my nails.
Why did the Record Keeper suddenly interfere with the Dragon Slayer?
Wasn’t it the Record Keeper who led her to that kiss nonsense?
But that wasn’t what mattered right now.
…This crazy Dragon Woman.
Playing with people’s feelings like this?!
Now this was fun for me too.
“Hmph.”
“What?!”
As soon as I let out a sulking sound, the Dragon Slayer hurriedly approached me, flustered.
“N-No, my lord. This is something that record-keeping scoundrel is distorting!”
“Hmph!”
I know I’m being unreasonable here, right?!
But it was true that the situation was plenty enough for the Dragon Slayer to feel hurt!
If I pushed any further, I might actually end up calling her name, bringing it to a close.
Having realized she couldn’t get through to me, the Dragon Slayer clutched her head with both hands.
“Gaaah! I was almost done! Record Keeper, are you blinded by jealousy and interfering with me?! Today will settle everything!”
With that, the Dragon Slayer finally disappeared from the room.
Phew.
But why do I feel so uneasy?
It feels like something else is going to come crashing in…
Ah, no way.
It must just be my imagination.
#
After the Dragon Slayer finally left, regaining my physical freedom, I quickly went to the place where that prophet grandfather was.
After the operation to eradicate the Cultists, the grandfather was granted permission to establish a personal religion due to his recognized contributions.
Because of that, I had to break one of Rondan’s strict rules, but I suppose the Knights had no choice since oppressive repression against someone who could help humanity would have brought criticism.
I hadn’t been able to visit because I was busy lately, but now I could finally do what I had planned.
It was about the Watcher.
It was time to start figuring this out.
I had enough battle strength to go fight the Giant of the Snow Mountain.
The Knight Commander, the God of War’s return.
Five Elite Outsiders, including the joining of Nutricha.
Above all, my personal battle power had become absurdly strong.
It was time to minimize variables.
Year after year, what had always brought doom to the country was that damn variable.
The Silla Dynasty was massacred by General Eulji Mundeok because they failed to foresee the traps laid by him in the Battle of Salsu.
As I deeply engraved the words of the tyrant Yeonsangun, “There’s no future for those who forget history” into my heart…
I arrived at the church established by that grandfather while walking lost in thoughts.
How could someone turn a deserted building into something so grand? Maybe that grandfather wasn’t just a religious figure; he might have made a great architect.
Brushing away unnecessary thoughts, I carefully opened the building’s door and stepped inside.
There wasn’t a single sound within.
Of course not.
Would anyone suddenly feel comfortable believing in God after being told they couldn’t before, especially after having held the law above their head like a sword?
Even if the food they previously thought was poison was revealed not to be, who would want to eat it, feeling uneasy?
“Is anyone here?”
Just as expected.
There was not a single soul in the chairs arranged inside.
Well.
Seeing this sight made my heart sting a bit.
Still, being founded by someone who contributed to the country, surely a few visitors should have stopped by for a look.
Thinking that, I sat in an empty chair and blankly gazed into space, when, out of nowhere, a soft voice reached my ears.
What was that?
Was someone here?
I got up from my seat and cautiously walked towards where the sound was coming from, and upon seeing it, I felt my breath catch in my throat.
“Ughaha! It’s none other than me, Older Outsider! If the Commander can die and be revived, then I just don’t die!”
“It’s good to see you back. I feel relieved. Make sure to visit frequently. I get so lonely with no one around.”
“Of course! Even without you saying that, I plan to come every day when I have time! I need to reclaim the glory of the past, Older Outsider!”
The conversation happening there was between the God of War and the grandfather.
Upon seeing that sight, I felt like I had seen something I shouldn’t have and cautiously tried to back away.
But—
*Squish.*
Damn it.
A fallen leaf on the ground crunched loudly as I stepped on it.
“What’s that? Sounds like a guest has come?”
“Oh no, I better go check!”
Both turned their heads towards me at the same time.
“…Oh, what’s this?”
“Sir Tanton?”
My attempt to escape was thwarted.