NOVEL WEB 10.00
So normally I wouldn't drag out the suspense, but this time what I'm going to do is going to be really incredible (at least for me).
Wan: (in front of Prism's technical center) ... well... I'm going to go all out (moves his hair to clear his eyes).
I entered and imposed the emotion of 'servitude' so that they would be forced to obey me.
Wan: (looks at the surveillance camera on the ceiling) delete all images and videos of me, then turn off the cameras (a very thin black and red circle forms around Wan's pupils).
And so I reached the basement of the basement after descending more than 70 meters deep.
Wan: °This is where my lack of magic power comes into play.°
In IT0, the protagonist ends up (coincidentally) here and opens the door, except he arrived too late, and that's one of the reasons why I couldn't come later.
Wan: °All the walls are white...° I don't know why, but it's a bit creepy, I think (places his fingers on the huge completely white door).
There are three different ways to open this door: the first is to have the password made of magic power and to draw a magic circle on this same door with quantified magic power. The second is to wait two months when Prism's system security will temporarily weaken, and this door will become breakable for those with over [15.572] in strength. And finally, the third, and the one I'm going to use: having no magic power at all, which makes the door think someone is entering the password when they're actually not.
Wan: (fully places his hand on the door for 3 seconds, then removes it) ... (nothing happens) damn... it doesn't seem to be working–...
I just needed to be more patient because the door started to open, making a lot of noise and taking its sweet time.
Wan: °Yeah, a door that makes dust when it opens, never seen that before, wow...° (sarcastic).
When the dust cleared, I could see a black spot in the middle of all the purely white walls, ceiling, and floor, and that's what I had come for. The black spot turned out to be a dragon with black scales – so a black dragon – who, since its birth – 300 years ago – had been locked up there by the first Hero to "prevent any threat," even though his real goal was just to use the enormous magic power that dragons possess to supply Prism with magic power.
Wan: ... °hmm... what should I say first? Does it even understand human?° (walks toward the dragon).
To be honest, I didn't have much information on this being because in IT0, when the protagonist arrived, this being was already dead.
Dragon: (points at Wan).
Wan: °This is particularly dangerous because, first, my eyes won't work, as dragons don't feel the same emotions as humans... no, it's more like they call them differently, but anyway, it doesn't change the fact that my eyes won't work, and since it's a dragon, its stats will probably be way above mine. Well, in terms of speed, I think I can manage.°
Dragon: (still pointing at Wan) wabug dezra.
Wan: °I don't understand the dragon...°
Well, there's also another thing I didn't specify about dragons, they don't have names. While other species give their children names composed of letters, dragons have no names, they have intentions. In truth, it's a concept that's incomprehensible and incompatible with other intelligent species, but let's say I'm an exception. With my eyes, I can discern the dragon's intention in front of me.
[The black dragon | | just said that you are "lonely eyes."]
The space the system left between these two bars is normal because a dragon's intention can neither be said, read, nor heard and understood by anyone other than dragons (except for me, in this case).
Wan: (takes out his phone and writes to the system).
I asked it how to say "you too" in dragon, and it gave me the answer:
Wan: atare gui | | (opens his mouth and moves his lips, but no sound comes out after "atare gui").
What I 'pronounced' isn't a word but an 'intention,' and it's only understandable by dragons (and incidentally, me).
(Dragon): ! gui jkola | | ?! (jumps around a bit).
[The black dragon just said to you, "you know me?!"]
I asked the system how to say, "can you speak in my language, please? I'm not very good in dragon," and it replied:
Wan: drece jikol mnio svazz? kdol fuitu gui hagnderr.
Then, while I was 2 meters away from it, it approached me, pressed its forehead against mine, and then a faint, slightly liquid black light appeared.
Dragon: Alright, now we speak the same language!
But it wasn't over. The slightly liquid black light didn't disappear; it enveloped its entire body, then covered it completely, and the Dragon finally turned into a girl who looked exactly like me but seemed to be only 9 years old.
Wan: ....
Dragons are polymorphs, that's a fact, but taking on an appearance so very similar to mine and of the opposite gender is a bit hard to believe.
Wan: .... °There's way too much to say, but.... let's start with the most important thing° You don't have a name, do you?
Dragon: Yes, you said my name!
She was naked, but I didn't care; there was something more important.
Wan: I'm not talking about your intention.
I then gave her a little lesson on the difference between a name and an intention, and after a few minutes, she finally understood.
Wan: So, you don't have a name?
Dragon: No, I don't have a name!
Well, I know it's not really related, but she seemed more cheerful and lively compared to the flashback given in IT0: « Nothing about me mattered to them, to the point that I began to doubt my own existence. Only my lonely eyes watched this room in silence. » I said I didn't read much about her, but what I did read was necessary: « We all need a place to belong, and someone to stay with. No matter what, I've always been alone. »
Wan: So, let me give you one, okay?
Dragon: Yes, yes, give me one!
Her behavior was childish, and that's probably because she's still a "child" among dragons, but her horns weren't showing while she was in her human form, so that's already something won, for when I take her out with me.
Wan: Alright... from now on, your name will be Kodoku { (censored) }, °I gave her the same last name as mine...° Does that work for you? Do you like it?
Dragon: Another one!
She didn't seem to like that one, so I thought again and came up with two more just in case she didn't like the first, there'd be the second and vice versa.
Wan: How about Uli? Or Hamkke if you prefer.
Dragon: Uli! (stars in her eyes) Uli is good!
Wan: Well, Uli, would you like to escape from this place that's kept you locked up for so long?
Uli: Yes, but... it's not possible... (makes a sad face) The chain absorbs magic power, so even if you put in strength, you can't remove it.
Wan: Shhh (whispers) my monotone voice isn't perfect for reassurance, but just.... let it guide you while I free you from all this.
Uli: °.... It's strange, but his voice reassures me a bit...°
Since I can't manipulate a dragon's emotions, I can put emotions into my words thanks to my eyes, even if it won't have a huge effect, it will still work at least a little.
Uli: (closes her eyes).
Wan: (places his fingers behind the collar-shaped chain around her neck) °I don't have magic power, so it's okay.°
Well, I could have just destroyed it crudely, but I preferred to opt for a symbolic and elegant way, I broke it in two (with my hands).
Wan: Open your eyes.
Uli: (opens her eyes) Huh . . .
Wan: You're free (shows the two remaining parts of the chain).
Well, what would suit me best is if we made a contract and she became my familiar, but that's fine. In truth, I mainly came to free her so that she could be free and not die in a month because all her life energy had been drained.
Uli: T-thank you! (starts crying).
Wan: °First Evie, now her... I came to the parallel worlds to do babysitting, it's true° Well, before anything else, get dressed (gives her his shirt, then pulls out his phone).
I was about to write a message to the system, but as if by chance, she jumped on me, hugged me, and buried her head in my chest, crying with all her might.
Wan: °....Having kept all that inside since birth, so for over 300 years..., I understand her.°
[Wan: teleport me and Uli to the lair of galactic knowledge, please, system-nim.]
Well.... I know it's a somewhat embarrassing name "lair of galactic knowledge," but.... it's because of Shin-hee, you have to understand.
[Exceptionally and thanks to nearly impossible circumstances, the request has been approved.]
We were teleported to my room while she was still crying in my arms.
Wan: °.... I just thought of something, it's mean to say and think, but... aren't dragon tears special?°
I had a very vague and blurry memory of dragon tears being mentioned as one of the highest-grade materials an alchemist could possess.
Wan: Stop crying, I've taken you out of that white room that held you captive all this time.
She made a surprised, childlike face, and as her tears were still flowing, she sat up a bit but continued holding onto me, looking around and noticing that we were indeed in a different setting from the white room that had imprisoned her since her birth.
Wan: I'm going to take you to the other dragons; they'll take care of you–
She started crying again, probably due to the overwhelming rush of emotions, and out of nowhere, I received a message from the system.
[The black dragon 'Uli' wants to be your familiar and you her master.]
[Due to this sudden proposal, you have obtained the title 'Loved by Dragons.']
Wan: °A legendary rank title... that's not bad.°
I could tell it was a legendary title because the title was written in gold.
[Whenever you encounter a dragon, the chances of it liking you are 74.99%, and the chances of it loving you are 73.99%.]
[Whenever you protect a dragon, your stats will double their current value, including invariable stats.]
[You now understand the language of dragons and can read it, but you cannot speak it.]
[Due to the young age of the black dragon 'Uli,' you are unable to cast or memorize dragonic incantations and spells.]
[Whenever you attack a dragon, your stats will be halved.]
[Conversely, whenever you attack someone hostile to dragons, your stats will be quadrupled.]
Wan: .... °Wow... I don't know if it's fair to say this, but it's like finding a goose that lays golden eggs.° (uses his phone while Uli is still crying).
[You have rejected Uli's request; the title remains.]
Uli: Huh... (looks up and stares at Wan) You're going to abandon me! (cries even harder and starts hitting Wan).
Wan: °Good thing she doesn't have magic power anymore, otherwise who knows what might have happened to me...°
[You have sent a request for an equal contract with the black dragon 'Uli.']
In IT0, there are several forms of contracts with familiars. The one Uli sent me was the default one: a servitude request, meaning she wanted me to be her master and she my familiar, which would make it impossible for her to disobey any of my orders. However, with equal contracts, it's as if we're partners, but we can communicate telepathically and summon each other wherever we are.
Wan: I don't want to be your master; let's just say I want to be your friend.
[The black dragon has accepted your request. You are now under an equal contract where neither's rights prevail over the other's, and vice versa.]
[Due to this contract, the title 'Dragon Master' that you were supposed to receive has transformed into 'Dragon's Equal.']
[As for the benefits and drawbacks, you will have to discover them gradually throughout your life.]
[Congratulations, you are the first in the world to acquire the titles: 'Loved by Dragons' and 'Dragon's Equal.']
[Thanks to this achievement, you obtain /Calculation in progress/]
Wan: Does that reassure you?
Uli: (cries even harder)
Wan: The excess of emotion (holds her a little tighter) °I really came here to do babysitting.°
[/Calculation complete/]
[You have obtained 2 dragonic skills:
- Dragon's Breath Lv ???;
- ????????????? Lv ???]
[You have also obtained all possible, existing, and unimaginable knowledge regarding dragons {does not concern dragons themselves but rather their life, life systems, etc.}]
[And 5 tokens, I forgot, sorry.]
Wan: °... How could I have dared to forget how much I love babysitting!!!°
________________
End of chapter|
[Current number of tokens: 38]