Chapter 47

Traces of the Giant Dragon (1)

The next day.

Full-fledged training, like what I did in the Dwarf Village, began.

The routine was the same.

Training with the Skeletons through the Old Man, massage, Supreme Clarity Heart Method, and various skill training.

A cycle of training that lasted about 8 hours.

The village elves didn’t pay attention to my eccentric behavior.

However.

“Here’s the wool you asked for, collected as you instructed.”

“These are silkworm cocoons. You can extract the thread using that device.”

“Should I pile them up here?”

“However, please don’t misunderstand… We are only doing this because the Queen ordered us to.”

“That’s right, it’s definitely not because we have any affection for you!”

In front of the makeshift device.

They were diligently gathering materials for weaving and item creation.

Watching them, I felt it.

‘They’re definitely pure.’

If the dwarves were passionate and fiery, the elves were pure like blank canvases.

If Dagnar harbored resentment towards the Chieftain’s decision.

The elves didn’t add a single word to the Queen’s decision.

They seemed to simply worship and follow her with all their hearts.

This could be seen just from the words themselves.

‘Chieftain’ and ‘Queen’.

‘Chieftain’ still had the feeling of a federal system where representatives from regions or village councils could gather and exercise their voting rights.

‘Queen’, on the other hand, was a concept that only came up in monarchies that divided the ruling and ruled classes.

Well, anyway.

If all the elves were faithful to Serpin’s orders, it would be easier for me.

I wouldn’t have to worry about their favorability and could just act as I pleased.

“Please pile them up here.”

I smiled and collected the materials.

“You don’t have to make them and bring them to me. I need to extract them myself for it to be effective.”

Of course, it would be a disaster if they made them.

Bone Six needed to raise his ‘Weaving’ proficiency.

Bone Six was still diligently spinning thread and weaving fabric.

He worked day and night, already reaching level 2.

[Skill, ‘Mid-Grade Weaving’ (Lv.2) is used.]

[Extracting ‘Mid-Grade Thread’.]

[Extracting ‘Mid-Grade Thread’.]

[Creating a ‘Pile of Waste’.]

[Weaving ‘Mid-Grade Fabric’.]

[Proficiency increases by 1.]

“You…”

Dagnar was watching the scene with a curious expression.

“When did you learn how to use all those devices?”

“Hmm, I wonder? It’s a bit difficult to explain, as it’s a unique technique of our race…”

As I said before.

I didn’t need to know how to use the devices anyway.

Bone Six just needed to use his ‘Skill’ near them.

“Come to think of it! You! You were able to do smithing without any complicated processes last time, weren’t you? It’s really strange. Are you perhaps a member of the God race?”

“God race? Is there such a race?”

“No, surely there isn’t? I was just saying it because it’s so amazing.”

How boring.

Whoosh!

I swung my sword.

Today was the day to practice the skill I learned first from the Old Man, ‘Chop’.

Following my own increasingly familiar flow, I freely slashed through the air.

“By the way, how is the investigation going?”

The investigation into the Giant Dragon’s seal.

That was Dagnar’s job.

To figure out exactly where this place was and to predict the direction of the seal.

I didn’t need to worry about being suspected.

He was just going up to high ground in the village to scout.

If anyone asked, he could just say he came to collect goat hair from the highlands.

“Ah, that’s right, look at my forgetfulness. I’ll go out again soon. I checked the east yesterday, so I should check the south today.”

“Oh, is that so? Good luck.”

“Hehe, good luck my foot! Thanks to you, we might be able to solve the destiny that has been passed down from our ancestors! I have to work hard!”

Good.

That passionate look.

Dagnar could find the relics of his ancestors.

I could get a clue to the quest.

It was truly a win-win situation.

“Then, I’ll leave it to you.”

“You! Hah, hah!”

Dagnar reappeared less than three hours later.

“You’re back early? The sun is still high in the sky.”

I said, wiping away the light sweat.

I was the one who trained.

Why did Dagnar look more tired?

“You’re amazing…! Amazing…! Come here!”

Dagnar, who had come close, whispered quietly.

His eyes were clearly filled with excitement.

“Amazing?”

“It was closer than I thought! No, it’s not just close.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

I put down the sword I was swinging.

“It’s just here. Right here…!”

“Yes?”

“This place where we’re standing is the Giant Dragon’s seal that appears in the ancient texts! A place where blue valleys form a triangle and the growth rings of the stumps face in one direction!”

“……”

“Heo, in the world. It’s still a place where the relics of heroes are buried, but to leave it like this! Do the elves not even have the duty of descendants to honor their ancestors?”

What?

It was here?

I was about to get goosebumps all over my body.

[Ting!]

[Stage: Traces of the Giant Dragon]

[Difficulty: Cannot be Measured]

[You have discovered a relic containing the hidden history of two races.]

[It may be a clue to resolving the conflict.]

[Warning! Warning! Warning!]

[Be careful.]

[Within it lies the trace of the wicked dragon who dominates the minds of beings, the Giant Dragon Drugeon.]

A moment of silence passed.

“Crazy…”

I muttered unconsciously.

I tried to calm down, but my heart kept beating.

‘I thought it would be easy.’

As expected, it was a ‘Cannot be Measured’ difficulty.

Just like when I met Tae Yangi.

A truly insane difficulty that no Ranker had ever mentioned.

“You, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“Hoo, yes, I’m fine.”

My head was throbbing.

Honestly, I wasn’t okay at all, but I didn’t bother telling Dagnar.

It wouldn’t be helpful.

“First.”

“Huh?”

“Let’s wait until tomorrow.”

Right now, I needed the Old Man more than Dagnar.

The next day.

“Hmm.”

The Old Man made a groaning sound.

“Giant Dragon, is it… What a grand name. So, are you going right away?”

“Shouldn’t I? I can’t be trapped in this Dungeon forever.”

“Indeed, my disciple. Your guts are top-notch.”

“Don’t tease me. I’m scared.”

“Keul keul.”

The Old Man smiled.

“I’m saying it because you’re really amazing. This place is a more dangerous neighborhood than you think.”

“……”

“You remember that Chieftain you saw last time, right?”

“Volkanus?”

“Yes, that guy. Even just looking at him, he’s almost as strong as I was in my prime, and how terrible would that Giant Dragon be?”

“……”

Almost as strong as the Old Man?

Honestly, I can’t even imagine it.

Rankers are the strongest in our world.

The Old Man could play with those Rankers with just one finger.

“Hey.”

“Yes, Elder.”

“But don’t worry too much. This ‘System’ I’ve been watching never presents a situation without an answer.”

“Actually, there’s one thing I’m worried about.”

“What is it?”

“I feel like the existence of the High Elf Queen is very artificial.”

Something felt awkward.

A chilling feeling.

“Are you talking about the head of the forest race who brought you here?”

“Yes, she happened to be in front of me on the day I was chased out by the Chieftain. And she naturally led me here.”

“……”

“Since then, she hasn’t made any mention or restriction. As if she wanted me to find this place.”

“Hmm, it seems she’s thinking of guiding you there.”

“Yes.”

I was suspicious.

Not a certainty, but a hunch.

Why would she bring even Dagnar, a different race, into the forest zone?

‘Even at this moment.’

Serpin hadn’t appeared.

She might be watching me like she did when she was watching me make hammers from afar.

I was uneasy.

I felt uncomfortable.

“Disciple.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t think too complicatedly. Isn’t it a problem without an answer anyway?”

“Should I just go in?”

“Yes, and if you suspect that elf head, you can test her.”

“Test?”

“Yes, go in loudly and conspicuously.”

“Ah?”

I immediately understood the Old Man’s words.

Since the quest had appeared anyway.

There was only one answer.

I had to go into the traces of the Giant Dragon.

However, it seemed like he was telling me to probe Serpin’s intentions by moving noisily, like [I’m going in openly? Am I going in?].

“Wait a minute. But, what if Serpin didn’t have such intentions? Wouldn’t I be stirring up trouble for no reason? If a High Elf Queen-level being blocks it, the quest itself could be blocked.”

“Keul keul, that won’t happen.”

The Old Man clicked his tongue and smiled with a confident expression.

“According to you, that elf head was as strong as the Chieftain you saw back then, right? Then she absolutely can’t do that.”

“……”

“There’s a high probability that she’s listening to everything you’re saying right now. Hehe, with my abilities in my prime, it would be easier than eating rice cake while lying down.”

“……”

I nodded silently.

After hearing those words, I didn’t want to say anything more.

In fact.

Even what I was saying now.

Was noisy enough.

But the fact that she hadn’t appeared meant.

That she was allowing me to head to the ruins.

I made a decision.

“Mr. Dagnar.”

“Uh, huh?”

The dwarf, who had been listening blankly next to me, widened his eyes.

I had been talking to myself often, so.

He probably thought that was just how I was.

He was probably just thinking that I was a mysterious race.

“That place called the Giant Dragon’s ruins. Where is it? Let’s go right away.”

“Re, really? Weren’t we going to go secretly at night? What if we get caught!”

“No, I’m going right now.”

It’s better to get hit sooner rather than later.

Cannot be Measured difficulty?

Thump, thump.

My heart started beating even faster.

Fear and anticipation, and a sensation that awakened something dead inside me.

Behind me, the Old Man smiled contentedly.

“As expected, you are a warrior. Apart from being a genius or a mediocre person, you are someone who knows how to fight the world. Keul keul, yes. That’s why you’re my disciple.”

And so, I walked.

I moved towards the highlands that Dagnar was guiding me to.

“Just looking at it, that hole in the highlands is it.”

The Old Man stood next to me.

“This trial will also be a great opportunity for you. I’m not worried. You’re someone who is helped by the heavens.”

A hole about 5m wide was visible.

A dark and gloomy place.

Below it were corroded stairs.

That was the entrance to the ruins.

“Why are you hesitating? If you’ve decided, go in. Disciple.”

“Yes, I should.”

I moved my feet.

Above the forest zone.

A High Elf with snow-white skin was quietly looking down.

The High Elf Queen, Serpin.

The queen of the forest race, and the one who has been worshiped by all elves for 500 years.

Below her.

Ju Dong-hoon and Dagnar, who were moving diligently, were visible.

“Extraworld being. You are finally… moving.”

The muscles in her face twitched.

An expression that made it impossible to know what she was thinking.

One thing was certain.

There didn’t seem to be any displeasure.

“……”

Her figure, who had been looking down silently for a long time.

Swish!

Disappeared like a mirage.