The Academy’s Ankle Reaper – Chapter 384

The three strands of golden light floating above my head looked a bit like claw marks and somewhat resembled a crown.

As I thought about it, I realized it was similar to the sigil that always floated above the Dragon Lord’s forehead like a crown.

But the Dragon Lord’s sigil had five strands, not three.

“Me? Really?”

This was something I had never even considered from the start.

How could the authority of an agent come to someone like me, a mere human? Is that even possible?

My initial assumptions were completely off.

I thought it was 1/3, but it turned out to be 1/4.

In terms of actual probability, it was more like a 0.01% variable that had occurred.

If I was this bewildered, how confused must the other dragons be?

[Ah… Atlas? Why? Uh… is that good?]

Gemma, taken aback, started to smile slightly.

[How can this… even be…?]

Forma looked at the three strands of light shining above me, her expression one of disbelief.

[That guy isn’t even a Gold Dragon! Why is the Dragon Lord’s agent a human!!]

Sal, who reacted most violently, bared his fangs at the presenter, but the presenter showed no response.

[Ancestors, can you explain why such a result came about?]

[This is not something to ponder over.]

The presenter, who had ignored Sal’s cries, responded to Forma’s courteous tone.

[Mortals say that as they age, they weaken and their judgment becomes clouded, but dragons are different. They become wiser and stronger with age. Do you agree?]

[…Yes.]

The dragons couldn’t understand why this discussion was taking place.

To be honest, I didn’t understand it much either.

If we were talking about the oldest dragon here, shouldn’t it be either Forma or Sal?

[Then it would make sense for the wisest and oldest dragon to take the position of the agent for everyone’s benefit. It’s the only reasonable choice.]

[But… that’s not an answer. That is a mortal… human!]

[Human? To me, you look just like a dragon that has lived for 20,000 years.]

The gazes of all the dragons turned toward me.

Me? A 20,000-year-old dragon?

Curious about what that meant, I was about to ask, but in that moment, the presenter’s form began to turn transparent.

[My work here is done.]

With that short remark, the presenter vanished.

What remained was a situation that was hard for the three dragons and one human to accept.

“Then…”

I couldn’t fully understand the situation, but one thing was certain.

“I want to get out of here, so release this.”

I had no idea why I received this, but since I had it, I should use it.

Interestingly, even though I had never been taught how to use it, the moment the three strands of light came down to my forehead, I felt that the authority of the Lord had truly been given to me.

It was a sensation very similar to when new powers took root in my body.

“What are you doing? If you won’t do it yourself, I guess I have no choice but to give orders?”

The three strands of light on my forehead began to glow.

Alright, time for some traffic control.

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After the selection ceremony, the atmosphere in the nest was horrifyingly subdued.

The reason, of course, was because of me.

Having become the Dragon Lord’s agent despite not being a dragon, the other dragons didn’t want to believe this fact, yet my new sigil above my head wasn’t just going to disappear.

The three strands of shining light hovering over my head gradually descended and stopped near my forehead like a crown, which wasn’t too bad.

Having just escaped from a steel cage, I now lounged arrogantly on a plush chair, tilting my head at a slight angle.

“Higher.”

[Ugh… Yes…!]

Just as my words finished, a voice from below sounded frustrated.

The chair was so luxurious that it was comfortable, but it felt jarring because it shook like an earthquake, disrupting the experience.

“Stop shaking. It ruins the experience.”

[Ugh… I’ll adjust it.]

The voice belonged to Jade.

She had to support the chair I was sitting in with both hands.

Though I had received this position by chance, I was akin to the one having the authority of the Dragon Lord, so I didn’t like having to look down upon the other dragons.

Even in something as trivial as this, a hierarchy started to form.

“Wow, look at that. Your hands are going down again?”

As I scolded her, Jade’s hands shot back up.

It wasn’t challenging for a dragon to do this, and I knew she didn’t feel the strain of having to lift it, but I was deliberately making her adjust her habit.

Only I, along with three dragons, had attended the selection ceremony, so when Jade, who had been waiting outside, heard the outcome, it was like the sky had fallen for her, but even then, Jade couldn’t do anything.

Even if Jade protested, no matter how loudly, the sigils the presenters had given me would not vanish.

As soon as I matched the eye level with the other dragons, I spoke to them.

“Alright, I think we’re now ready to talk as equals.”

As my voice imbued with mana echoed through the room, the dragons looked visibly displeased.

[I cannot accept this. How can a human like you take that position? Something must be seriously wrong!! Let’s… do it again!!]

“Are you really upset that I was chosen?”

Sal jumped up from his seat and vented his grievances about me.

[Isn’t it only natural!!]

“So, your complaint is about why a human received that position, right?”

While they didn’t vocalize it directly, it was quite clear that they shared the same sentiment.

If I could resolve this, wouldn’t they have to accept the outcome without complaint?

Fortunately, just moments ago, I remembered why I was chosen based on the presenter’s words.

“Right… I have no choice but to show you.”

My body suddenly shone brightly and transformed into a magnificent Gold Dragon.

I had used the Power of Polymorph to change into a Gold Dragon.

[How about this, does this count as an answer?]

[W… what…!!]

As I transformed into a dragon using Polymorph right before their eyes, Sal’s mouth fell open in shock.

Polymorph was a power akin to a privilege of the magical race known as dragons.

Even elves could only imitate polymorph, yet I had used it right before the eyes of dragons.

[Are… you really a Gold Dragon?]

The dragons were thrown into confusion, seeing me transformed into the form of a Gold Dragon.

[Why are you doing this? You’ve shown the qualifications I wanted. Surely you can’t still have complaints?]

They all looked at my transformed appearance, evidently thinking various things.

Depending on how I approached this, their acceptance would differ, but I knew better that keeping quiet was more enjoyable than having to say anything.

[Ugh… ugh…!]

Sal began to back away as he saw my dragon form.

[Where do you think you’re going? Now that I’ve shown adequate proof, it’s time for you to face the consequences, right?]

I caught Sal’s shoulder, who was attempting to flee.

[Why don’t you try saying what you told me yesterday?]

Sal only clamped his mouth shut and failed to respond.

What should I do with this arrogant dragon?

Ah, I just remembered that the Lord’s agent inherits the Lord’s full authority, so I was able to use ‘that.’

Although I had never used it before, the moment I began to think about it, my body reacted instinctively.

[As the agent of the great Dragon Lord, my first order is that Sal shall remain under house arrest for 500 years. If you step outside your nest even a single step, 90% of your Dragon Heart’s power will scatter in an instant.]

[90… 90%?!]

Before Sal could even react, the three strands of light shone brightly above my head and a three-strand tattoo was etched into his chest.

It seemed I did it right by going with the feeling.

What I just said was not merely a threat.

It was an order imbued with the powers of the Lord, permanently marking my command on Sal’s body.

Indeed, the magical races are something else.

Now trapped for 500 years, Sal had a dazed expression as he stared at the tattoo etched on his chest.

[What are you doing? Hurry up and get to your nest. Or should I have another one engraved to activate immediately if you don’t?]

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I was assigned a new lodging.

It was a luxurious room that was quite close to the Dragon Lord’s Bedroom.

Once back in my human form, I lay down on the sofa prepared for humans and plunged into thoughts about this ridiculous situation.

‘No matter how I think about it, it must be because of the Power of Polymorph.’

I tried to ponder why I was qualified, and I suspected that it had something to do with the drug I had taken from the ruins.

I initially thought it was just a drug that could allow me to acquire the Power of Polymorph, but it seemed like it was more than that.

Since it didn’t put any strain on my body, I hadn’t considered it to be anything significant, but perhaps the opposite was true?

At the time, I had been awfully upset that it wasn’t what I was looking for, but it might have been something as precious as the Elixir of Growth.

What on earth could it have been that led me to the point of mistaking myself for a dragon?

Could it be that the drug was made from melted Dragon Hearts?

But considering all that, it suited my body rather well.

Now I needed to think about what to do next.

I had gained the qualification of the Lord’s agent, but what exactly was I supposed to do now?

Do I have to carry out the Lord’s duties until he awakens?

‘If I’m the Lord’s agent, does that mean I can drop the honorifics with the Emperor?’

From my memory, I was certain the Emperor had spoken with respect to the Lord.

Of course, I was merely thinking of it, knowing full well that my Master would definitely scold me if I actually did it.

“When are you going to keep standing there like that?”

“Huh… did I disturb you?”

“Not at all.”

The only side effect seemed to be that Gemma had come over, sparkly-eyed and had stuck to my side.

I just hoped she wouldn’t have any strange thoughts.