1.
Just a little before the activation of Daylight Annihilation.
“…Perhaps it was a mistake.”
Upon seeing the Yellow Dragon sprawled helplessly on the ground, Laktea turned her head coldly.
Black Wolf.
There’s no way that our esteemed leader of <Black Wolf> would ever act like that—it must have been a joke.
‘It was an unnecessary worry. Let’s not concern ourselves.’
Right now, the only thing I should focus on is the ‘garbage cleaning’ order given by the captain.
At the thought of Black Wolf’s face, a sense of calm returned, and Laktea regained her composure.
‘First, this side.’
Dalan, the fifth member of <Black Wolf> and the weakest among the ten elites, “Monstrous Dragon,” and Tal, the third member of <Black Wolf>—Hanlyang.
“Ah! Just let me have a little chat, alright?!”
As Dalan approached after finishing up with the trash, he continued to request a conversation, but Hanlyang, following Laktea’s orders, completely ignored him with a steadfast focus.
Boom!!
A giant pair of hands struck the roof, scattering red-brown bricks in all directions.
The chunks of debris filled the area, blocking both Tal’s vision and movement.
“Ends—now!!”
Raising his hands to protect his head, Hanlyang launched himself towards Dalan.
Crack!
Crack, Crack!
The bricks shattered upon impacting Dalan’s massive, sturdy body, but Hanlyang paid them no mind and clenched his fist preparing for the next attack.
[Skill – <Might (A++)> has been activated!]
Creak!
From Hanlyang’s ferociously clenched fist, a bluish energy streamed out toward Dalan.
Finally having been driven back to the edge of the roof, Dalan sighed deeply and spoke.
“Even a brief conversation is out of the question, huh?”
There was no reply.
Even if he were to respond, it would be inaudible before he was thrown off the building.
Just at the moment Hanlyang’s piercing blue fist was about to strike Dalan’s face directly.
“Hmph, I knew it.”
Slither.
Dalan vanished.
Swoosh!
As Hanlyang’s punch swung and only tore through an afterimage, leaving him off-balance.
“Let me apologize in advance.”
Dalan, who had inexplicably moved to wrap his whole body around Hanlyang’s arm, applied a joint lock.
Creak!!
A limb not being bent in one direction but twisted unnaturally in multiple directions.
“—!!”
Panicking, Hanlyang attempted to reach out with his other hand to grab Tal, but all he grasped was merely a tattered brown cloak.
Dalan, who had now inexplicably transferred to the other hand, bent his arm with the same ease while muttering faintly.
“Ask Peter for treatment.”
Creak—!!
Both arms were utterly paralyzed at once.
Dalan, the Monstrous Dragon.
Dalan, who was proficient in all forms of martial arts and body techniques, was characterized by movements that were utterly unpredictable. He favored enveloping and breaking his opponents with unarmed combat, earning him the nickname “monstrous dragon” for his grotesque resemblance.
Hanlyang at least saw Dalan’s moves and tried to keep up, but due to his injuries, his reaction was too slow, and he ended up getting caught.
“It’s unnecessary—Lord!!”
Even so, Hanlyang tried rushing forward to follow the order until stopped by Laktea approaching.
“That’s enough. You’re already bruised from the Emperor, you know. You’ll really die like this.”
“But—!!”
“If you’re that eager to die, Hanlyang…”
Laktea interrupted Hanlyang’s protests, dipping her head to reveal an unsettling pair of golden eyes.
“Either get your restraints lifted or die alone.”
The restraints of <Black Wolf>.
An ability akin to a curse that simultaneously strengthens whoever contracts with <Black Wolf> while binding their lives together.
Thus, the tone of resignation in her voice even as she refrains from killing him immediately because their captain is in danger.
“…I’m sorry—Lord.”
“That’s enough, now step back.”
“Yes, Vice Captain.”
Only when Hanlyang retreated did peace return to the bakery roof.
Or rather, it appeared to return for a brief moment.
[Note.]
[<Laktea Babylonia (S+)> is releasing the <Black Wolf> restraints.]
Laktea, the sole member among the members capable of entirely releasing the <Restraints>, instantly surged her full power and then addressed Dalan.
“Lift the restraints, Dalan.”
An ominous killing intent filled the air.
Had it not been for the <Restraints> of <Black Wolf>, my head would have been severed long ago.
‘But what has turned the compassionate First Princess into such a fearsome person?’
Dalan swallowed the bitter taste quietly spreading in his mouth and slipped his hand into his cloak.
“I tried to report this earlier, but forgive me for delivering it so late amidst the commotion.”
Clatter.
What Dalan drew out was a worn-out dagger with the insignia of <Black Wolf>.
Though all members had the same type of dagger, one golden moon decoration and one silver sun decoration twinkled as if distinctively marking his identity.
“…”
Laktea silently stared at Dalan as she picked up the dagger from the ground.
“It’s an order from the Moon. We’re currently trying to pacify <Yellow Dragon>, so let’s call it a day here and return to the base. And…”
Dalan trailed off, drawing all of Laktea’s attention to his voice.
Gulp.
Why am I so tense just hearing words delivered through a messenger?
My heart races,
I smile,
My hand trembles,
And I somehow lean closer, despite trying to control my rapid breathing when Dalan finally added his last words.
“…The hero is returning. Be prepared.”
At the end of Dalan’s words,
[Skill – <Daylight Annihilation (EX)> is being activated!]
[Flash—!!]
A dazzling golden light streaked through.
The second time.
“Vice Captain!!”
Hanlyang hastily moved to block Laktea who had already experienced the power firsthand, but
“That’s enough. Bring Persona. I’m heading back to base.”
“…??!”
Instead of Hanlyang, Laktea grabbed Lun and tossed her towards him.
…Click.
Somehow managing to collect and tightly embrace the dagger, Laktea canceled the release of the restraints and added.
“Relay this to Captain. Starting with today, I’ll wait quietly for exactly three days.”
“…Yes, Vice Captain.”
“Remember, Dalan. Exactly three days.”
The next moment,
Shriek!!!
Every place touched by the flash was bisected, exposing its insides entirely.
Rows of buildings,
Part of the royal palace behind,
Even the clouds drifting by.
The flash flew undeterred, dissipating in the distant heavens.
After the flash swept by, only Dalan remained, muttering softly.
“Ah, I didn’t even get a chance to introduce myself.”
Ker-thud.
Slumping down, Dalan turned his gaze towards the direction Laktea had disappeared.
That place was the source of the attack.
The place where Laktea had thrown Lun after retrieving her, and where the captain still remained.
To the people, it would seem like the subordinates of <Black Wolf> were trying to capture <Yellow Dragon>, but in reality, they were all in on it.
“The captain will handle the details. The old man needs to lie down and rest a bit.”
It was the day the central plaza regained its peace,
at some noon.
2.
Skill – Daylight Annihilation.
At first, I just thought it was some vague light bomb or something similar.
“…But its power is definitive.”
Certainly, all my energy is drained the moment I use it, and a feeling of weariness washes over me, but thanks to the <Ring of Iaso>, I can stay upright without collapsing.
Given that the two shadows on the rooftop disappeared, it looks like Dalan did his job well.
Regardless, it appears as though we managed to drive off the subordinates of <Black Wolf>, thereby increasing our excuses for abandoning the bounty.
“Something to report to His Majesty the Emperor.”
“The Emperor…?”
Oops.
“It’s nothing you need to know.”
Pretending nothing is wrong, I gripped my greatsword and turned away, only for Luna, who had barely held on, to raise her voice in indignation.
“Why, when you have such power, do you move for the Emperor’s sake…!?”
The current Emperor is misunderstood by the <Eclipse>.
“We don’t know, people don’t understand why we suffer like this!?”
Especially <Black Wolf>‘s members disliked her even more, so it’s understandable for Luna’s reaction to be so sharp.
But as mentioned earlier, the misunderstanding only holds true.
<Yellow Dragon> missions are all designed to alleviate the people’s suffering.
The person who sends these missions is the Emperor while, although fooled by corrupt ministers, he is still a well-meaning individual striving for the empire’s benefit.
“You’re the ones who know nothing.”
With that, I turned around.
It would be useless to explain to the members now.
I would have to move either as <Black Wolf> or <Yellow Dragon> to directly clear up misunderstandings.
However, when I turned completely around,
“Yellow Dragon.”
A bone-chilling killing intent faced me.
“Rockteah.”
Instantly recognizing her, I attempted to lift my greatsword, but she passed me by muttering in a childlike voice.
“…I’ve remembered.”
That was all.
When I turned back to confirm, she had already vanished without a trace.
I froze, wondering if she might be nearby, but relaxed upon seeing Dalan lying sprawled on the floor.
“…It’s over.”
I wanted to lie down like Dalan right here, but…
“Everyone, look! The Yellow Dragon drove off the subordinates of <Black Wolf>!”
“Did you see that? He did it all by himself with just those three!”
“<Black Wolf> is really no match for <Yellow Dragon>!”
The citizens who had gathered in the meantime, shining with admiration, stood me up again.
[Passive. <Blessing of the Sun (EX)>]
◆ Effects
: Sparkles and shines bright. Wow, cool. If a target holds <Reverence> for you, you can induce the status effect <Reverence> by exposing them to the sparkling light. <The Blessing of the Sun is number one worldwide!>
I hated the floating system message which mocked me, but thanks to the Yellow Dragon’s skill, I had survived.
Clang!
I declared victory, raising my greatsword with one hand in its Yellow Dragon form.
“A new hero is born!”
“Long live the Yellow Dragon!”
“Long live the Monstrous Dragon!”
The citizens’ immense cheers echoed beyond the central plaza, reaching the royal palace.
“What? What’s happening?! Huh?”
Dalan, who had fallen asleep somehow, bolted up with a start at the enthusiastic cheers,
Clatter!
only to trip and tumble down, marking the conclusion of the <Central Plaza Raid Incident>.
“Ugh!!”
“Snap out of it and clean up this mess, you idiot!!”
“Hey! Bring over that piece you’ve dropped!!”
“Damn, what’s this mess…!!”
Amidst the late-arriving guards cleaning up the aftermath and the continuous cheers, I picked up Dalan, turned around and made a resolution.
Until the return, three days left.
“Captain. What are your plans for the remaining three days?”
“Play and eat.”
“…Eh?”
“I said, play and eat.”
Decided to take a complete rest and do nothing.
But then…
“Hehehe, if you don’t mind, let’s have a little chat in a nice place, <Yellow Dragon>.”
What is this guy?
“Judging just from the look—no doubt. Could it be…”
I hastily turned away, checking the pop-up status window within my helmet.
─『Side Quest Complete!』─
◆ A New Hero. (Completion!)
: With uncertainty growing as <Hero> embarks on his <Expedition>, a new hero is needed in the Babylonia Empire.
◆ Completion Conditions. (Completed!)
1. Drive away <Black Wolf>.
2. Do not expose <Black Wolf> as <Yellow Dragon>.
3. Survive.
◆ Rewards. (Completed!)
: <Eclipse>’s attention.
◆ Failure & Refusal. (Deleted…)
: The elimination of <Yellow Dragon>.
Did <Eclipse> approach as a reward for the side quest completion?
“Monstrous Dragon.”
“I’ve already got him.”
As soon as the words were spoken, Dalan swiftly moved, seizing the man by twisting his neck.
“K, keek!! T, this…!!!”
Black robes,
Pointy goatee,
A deceitfully crooked gaze.
I whispered in a low voice to the suspicious man writhing in mid-air.
“Sent by <Eclipse>?”
“…!! How do you…!!”
“Guess I was right. Dalan.”
“Of course.”
“Keek!!”
Turning to Dalan, the man’s face turned bright red.
“<Eclipse> is linked to every bad ending in this work, the hidden mastermind.”
However, precisely because they are so tightly concealed, they could not even be found in the <original>.
“Because of this, <Hero> and <Emperor> never cleared up their misunderstandings, dragging in <Black Wolf> and collapsing together into a bad ending.”
Hence, uncovering <Eclipse> is the top priority to prevent all bad endings.
I asked Dalan with as much killing intent as possible.
“Monstrous Dragon, are you good at interrogation?”
“Ha! Mate, do you call that a question! That’s my specialty!”
“Then show me your skills.”
Grinning amiably, his shadow darkened, and his narrow slits grew into sharp eyes.
“Let’s start by smashing one eye.”
Just as Dalan thrust his finger toward the man’s eye,
“Wait, hold on!”
The trembling man, pulling out something, shouted desperately.
“I-I am the Emperor’s personal secret guard!”
The presented identity badge bore the Emperor’s affiliation, rank, and the Emperor’s seal.
“Is this all the proof you have?”
“Didn’t His Majesty recently issue a <bounty mission>? He sent me to withdraw it! There is no falsehood in my words!”
“Indeed, it’s a piece of information we must believe. …Let’s verify one thing first.”
With a slight smirk, I stepped back, pointing to Dalan.
“Your assault was by Monstrous Dragon, not me.”
“What?”
“I’m saying that I have nothing to do with this violent incident.”
“What? Hey, Yellow Dragon!!”
“So?”
To be honest, that’s the truth, isn’t it?
