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Dragon Ditrinir.

This dragon’s nickname was quite interesting.

‘Dragon Slayer Slayer.’

It was such a powerful dragon that it earned this nickname for hunting dragon slayers in reverse.

‘This infamous Dragon Ditrinir possesses the Elixir of Life.’

Dragons were one of the strongest creatures one could encounter in MePan.

Of course, there were several other powerful monsters besides dragons, and debates often arose about which was the strongest monster in MePan, but everyone acknowledged that dragons were among the top three in terms of strength.

‘Even the dragon I encountered when obtaining the Moonforce Descendant class was incredible.’

Ethan already knew where this Ditrinir was located.

While its exact location was unknown, its name was as famous as Ditrinir’s notoriety as a lair.

Probably even now, challengers were continually searching for it, but only a few would reach the well-hidden lair.

‘And those few end up being devoured by Ditrinir.’

Although Ethan knew where Ditrinir was, he had never gone there for hunting.

‘The reason was simple. The risk far outweighed the potential gains from defeating Ditrinir.’

The rewards were too low compared to the danger involved.

‘If you have to kill it, there should be a corresponding reward, but for Ditrinir, that reward was significantly lacking.’

Dragons are powerful. They boast overwhelming strength capable of destroying an entire large city single-handedly.

Moreover, their levels are on a different scale compared to ordinary monsters. In the past, when Ethan obtained the Moonforce Descendant class, the level of the Fire Dragon King he saw was as high as 100.

“There might be a better way than killing it.”

Ethan pondered deeply.

‘Wait a minute.’

As he was contemplating, Ethan began to reconsider the quest itself. The content of the quest was to obtain the Elixir of Life.

When he first saw this, unlike previous quests, he thought there would be no room for Ethan’s judgment and choice to intervene.

‘No, there is room for intervention. It’s clearly written to just obtain the Elixir of Life, but in the end, how I obtain it could definitely affect the quest reward.’

If so, there were two methods Ethan could choose from right away.

‘Stealing it.’

And the other was to kill the dragon and obtain the Elixir of Life.

‘But these two methods wouldn’t yield great rewards. They’re the most basic and simple methods.’

“There’s another way.”

Ethan immediately searched New World.

[How to Train Your Dragon]

The name of a movie he had seen sometime before.

But this was exactly the ability Ethan wanted right now.

[Dragon Slayer Siegfried]

The god suggested by the algorithm was a very famous one, and Ethan was well aware of him too.

But the god’s alias was problematic. Although he trusted the algorithm, this just didn’t seem right no matter how he thought about it.

“No, this is taming through death. This won’t do.”

He literally needed to tame it. That’s how he could obtain the Elixir of Life.

But the algorithm didn’t recommend any other suitable gods.

‘Have I used up all the algorithm’s effects? Or are there no other suitable gods?’

After a moment’s consideration, there was only one answer.

“Looks like it’s time to enhance the algorithm.”

Ethan immediately entered the Question Board.

-[Algorithm Enhancement Ticket: 200 contribution points]

“I’ll use this.”

Ethan checked the numerous questions posted on the Question Board and quickly started answering them.

-Lord Heo Jun, I’m having trouble finding acupoints for acupuncture, how can I find them well?

-[Only subscribed to the right gods]: Subscribe to Lord Horus and buy the Eye of Horus goods, it’s super easy.

Answers need to be selected by the questioner to earn contribution points.

‘I need to write as if I’m sharing my tips. As much as possible in the direction the questioner wants.’

Ethan continued to write answers to numerous questions thereafter.

However, contribution points were not easy to obtain.

“I wasn’t trying to get all the contribution points right away anyway. I’ll need to write answers regularly to buy the Algorithm Enhancement Ticket.”

Enhancing the algorithm would surely help find and recommend a good god for taming dragons.

‘I believe in you, algorithm.’

Ethan immediately closed New World.

“Well then, let’s go back, Lyuka. Let’s go and surprise them.”

It was time to show the results to those who probably thought Ethan had failed.

***

“We’ve known each other for quite some time, Magic Tower Master.”

“Yes, Sir Hansen. We’ve maintained our relationship for so long it’s almost meaningless to count.”

“That’s why I’m asking. What percentage do you think is the success rate of this ritual?”

Michael fell silent at Hansen’s words.

He knew exactly what he meant by this.

The ancient spirit ritual had an extremely low success rate.

In fact, this ritual was merely obtaining permission to enter the 11th floor.

Actually making a contract with the ancient spirit there was entirely up to Ethan.

“Ancient spirits are by no means benevolent beings. You know that too, don’t you?”

“I do.”

They don’t know if real ancient spirits exist.

But the ancient spirits in legends were truly capricious.

One couldn’t expect them to do good to good people.

They were said to be beings that did only what they wanted to do.

Of course, they were said to possess powerful strength befitting their name. That’s why the heroes in legends wanted to make contracts with ancient spirits by any means necessary.

“To successfully complete the ritual, he needs to make a contract with those ancient spirits. But will an ancient spirit really make a contract with a human? It would be fortunate if he doesn’t die. Above all, we don’t even know if there are ancient spirits there, do we?”

This meant that there was a high possibility that he might have died trapped in the abyss before even meeting an ancient spirit.

“I should have said it clearly. That there are no ancient spirits. Even if there were, they are not benevolent.”

Hansen clicked his tongue.

“I know what you’re worried about, Sir Hansen. I also know that you think all of this is meaningless.”

Even Michael shook his head when he first heard Ethan’s words.

That it was just a legendary story. That all the ancient spirits were already gone.

“When I heard that there was no more hope for Prochet, I strongly denied it. But in others’ eyes, Prochet was already a dead land. A ruined land. It must have looked like a land that could never be revived.”

Hansen frowned at those words. It was true. This land was a place without any more hope.

He, too, had watched Prochet lose its vitality over a long time.

It was natural to doubt who could revive this land full of death.

But look.

This land, which was once full of death, was now lush with new greenery, making those memories seem meaningless.

“Mr. Ethan Whiskers is different. He’s a person I trust more than anyone I’ve ever met. He said it was possible. So it is possible.”

Magic Tower Master Michael had already become a fervent believer in Ethan.

“Oh, really.”

In fact, Hansen was also astonished by the results Ethan had brought about.

He hadn’t even dared to think that there could be someone who could revive this dead land of Prochet.

Therefore, he had no choice but to deny Ethan, betting his life on it.

Because that was the common sense he had built up until now.

But now, the Magic Tower Master’s words were convincing. Ethan had already succeeded in doing the impossible once. Having seen those results firsthand, he had unknowingly begun to hope.

That right now, Ethan might really return with a contract with an ancient spirit.

“Let’s wait and see. Whether he’ll return alive, and if he does, whether he really made a contract with an ancient spirit.”

Hansen’s voice trembled as he said this.

If Ethan really returned safely, and moreover, with an ancient spirit, he would be filled with joy.

Kuwoong-!

With a thunderous sound, an intense energy spread around Ethan.

And Ethan slowly opened his eyes.

“Mr. Ethan!”

As Ethan moved, Michael rushed to support him. Ethan slowly took deep breaths and checked his physical condition.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

“Um, by any chance…”

Michael looked at Ethan with an apologetic expression. Ethan knew well why he was acting like this.

‘He might think I failed.’

Successfully completing the ancient spirit ritual alone was like a miracle.

Moreover, ascending to the 11th floor of the spirit staircase and making a contract with an ancient spirit was an even more difficult task.

“Did you… succeed?”

If Ethan had succeeded, his expression would have been very good.

Since Ethan’s facial expressions rarely changed, it was awkward to even ask. But this question was what everyone present was curious about.

It was said that for over 100 years, no one had managed to contract with an ancient spirit.

There were cases of contracts with Spirit Kings, but not a single case of a contract with an ancient spirit in the past 100 years.

If Ethan had succeeded…

They, too, might have a chance to go down in history as spirit mages who succeeded in the ancient spirit ritual.

Everyone focused on Ethan’s lips, hearts pounding.

Among them, the most nervous was, of course, Archmage Hansen.

Ethan smiled faintly at the Magic Tower Master and shook his head. It meant he was fine now and could stand on his own.

Standing upright, Ethan made eye contact with each person gathered here.

“Thank you all for your hard work.”

The ancient spirit ritual was not an easy task.

Even the spirit mages gathered here right now were all in a state of depleted mana.

Ethan praised them first.

Then he immediately raised one hand.

At the same time, the pattern engraved on that hand shone.

Shaaaaaak-!

The first to notice was Hansen.

As Hansen had the most mana among those present, he could sense the powerful mana wave emanating from Ethan.

“Spirit…”

What Ethan summoned was a spirit.

A new form of spirit unlike any he had encountered before.

“It’s an ancient spirit…”

“Kyung-!”

Lyuka howled towards the sky. It was an incredibly cute howl.

At the same time, all of Hansen’s common sense crumbled.

“Thanks to you all, I successfully made the contract.”

Lyuka gently perched on Ethan’s shoulder.

“Mr. Ethan!”

Michael, who seemed to have expected this, approached Ethan in admiration.

“Ancient spirits… they really existed!”

“To think you actually made a contract with an ancient spirit…”

The gazes of the spirit mages looking at Ethan completely changed. A hero who saved the territory. Now, he could be considered a legendary spirit mage who even made a contract with an ancient spirit.

“When Roanna praised you so much, I was honestly skeptical…”

“Now I understand why.”

“Congratulations, Sir Ethan!”

“Congratulations!”

Amidst everyone congratulating Ethan, Hansen approached.

Hansen’s expression wasn’t very good. It was understandable.

‘He kept saying it would fail, but it succeeded spectacularly.’

Various emotions must be swirling in his heart right now.

‘This is where the decision is made. Depending on how he reacts.’

He could get angry and accuse it of being a lie.

It’s not uncommon to see people, especially high-ranking nobles or those who have achieved quite remarkable things, pressuring others because they can’t admit they were wrong.

“I apologize.”

However, Hansen bowed his head slightly and apologized.

Surprised that the proud Hansen would apologize, Michael showed a slightly shocked expression.

“Within my common sense, this was an impossible task. So I was worried that something might go wrong.”

“I understand.”

When Ethan nodded and smiled slightly, Hansen looked surprised.

This was entirely due to his own rudeness.

For instance, even if Ethan had gotten angry or sneered, there would have been nothing to say in this situation.

But to smile like this…

“Now I see why Magic Tower Master Michael believes in you.”

Hansen said this and then took something out of his pocket.

“That’s…”

It was a golden plaque engraved with Felix’s emblem.

“I’ve seen with my own eyes how great your achievements in Prochet are. If you’re willing, I’d like to formally invite you to the Felix family and introduce you to the elders of Felix.”

Ethan remained impassive. Rather, it was Magic Tower Master Michael who looked excited at Hansen’s words.

An invitation from the Felix family, one of the Twelve Stars Families, was special.

The Felix family was famous for producing many high-ranking officers and high-ranking public officials within the empire, and was known for giving great rewards in some way to those they invited.

“Will you accept this golden plaque?”

Ethan pretended to contemplate for a moment.

This made Hansen look flustered.

He’s considering this?

“I’ll accept it for now. Thank you.”

In an instant, the initiative shifted back to Ethan’s side.

‘I was thinking of contacting the Twelve Families soon anyway.’

If they were calling him like this, it was a very good thing for Ethan.

But he had no intention of going right away.

“However, I don’t think I can go immediately. I’ll set the date. I’ll visit on that date.”

Always polite.

But he must firmly hold the initiative.

“Ah, ah, I see. Then, when…”

Hansen showed a slightly flustered expression. Until now, no one had postponed a visit after receiving an invitation from the Felix family, one of the Twelve Families.

Even though it was Ethan, he thought he would say he’d go right away.

“As I’m a teacher at the academy. I’ll let you know after checking the academy’s schedule. Then.”

Ethan turned around without hesitation. Hansen stared blankly at his retreating figure.

“Congratulations, Sir Hansen. To think that Mr. Ethan will visit the Felix family. It must be a great honor for the Felix family as well.”

“Uh, yeah?”

Hansen looked at Michael with a puzzled expression, wondering what he meant.

“We’ll be holding a festival in the territory from today. If you have time, please enjoy it before you leave.”

With those final words, Michael ran after Ethan along with the spirit mages.

“Let’s go together! Mr. Ethan!”

“We’ll escort you!”

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