Chapter 199

Chapter 199

Pfft!

Dojae reappeared at the guild.

The surroundings were pitch-black with the lights out, and no one was there.

A sturdy barricade stood around the magic circle, no different from when he had crossed over to the other world.

Hmm.

Dojae immediately opened his pocket dimension and pulled out his smartphone.

The internet connected, but nothing unusual happened.

That meant time was flowing properly and this realm was perfectly connected to the otherworld.

Pabaat-!

“What? Why are you here already?”

Herteias appeared via teleportation.

Dojae had set up an alarm spell, not knowing when he’d return.

But seeing him return alone after only a few hours naturally piqued his curiosity.

“I destroyed Valan.”

“Oh! Really?”

Herteias showed a surprised reaction.

Even for the dragon Herteias, the traitor’s annihilation was welcome news.

“Lidiran must have sensed that Balaan was destroyed too.”

Three traitors have been eliminated.

Only Ridiran remains.

With all the remaining renegades gone, he’ll surely try to hide even more carefully.

But recalling Balang’s words, that might not be the case.

He might reveal himself and attack the Daeja to resurrect Gelahan.

“So what are you planning to do now?”

“For now, I plan to search for Ridiran.”

Rather than waiting idly, I intend to visit the locations where Dungeon Breaks occurred.

After all, Ridiran is most likely to be found where Gelahan’s presence is strongest.

I’ll also inform Jeong In-gon and Kim Hwan-su to gather the original travelers.

With supplies, we plan to wipe out the Gelahan monsters rampaging across Tranfeion via the first dimensional shift.

“So, decide on one of these two options.”

“What?”

“Will you teleport me there, or will you design a dimensional transfer magic circle capable of moving at least 100 people?”

Herteias’s eyebrows twitched.

Having heard from Briasilius, he knew how difficult it was to teleport a large group.

It meant becoming a ‘teleport shuttle,’ shuttling back and forth thousands of times a day, draining mana dry.

But designing a dimensional teleportation magic circle was no easy task either.

Creating a magic circle to transport a few people and one to transport a hundred was not simply a matter of scaling up the size.

The mana-storing incantation had to be solidified, and the magic circle itself had to be modified so human mages could infuse it with mana.

His body might be comfortable, but what if he failed to properly construct the magic circle, or if it took too long?

Herteias could overlook what the scholars or seekers might say with broad-mindedness, but he couldn’t stand being mocked by Briasius.

“Ugh! Annoying brat. If it weren’t for the contract and the covenant…! Let’s go!”

Herteias decided to become a teleport shuttle.

Being a teleport shuttle was far less stressful than creating a new dimensional transfer magic circle.

Still, the idea of treating a dragon like a slave was incredibly irritating, no matter what.

“Let’s stop by home first.”

***

In front of Eun-hee’s house.

Doyoung came out holding Eunhee’s mother’s hand.

“Big bro!”

Wah-!

Doyoung hugs Dojae around the waist.

Their reunion after months apart.

Do-jae stroked Do-young’s head and said.

“You’ve grown so much?”

Do-jae wiped away the tears and snot that had flowed out with his sleeve.

Eun-hee said Do-young was mature and responsible, but in Do-jae’s eyes, he still looked like nothing more than a little boy lying sick in a hospital bed.

“Do-jae, go eat something delicious with your brother and come back.”

Eun-hee’s mother pressed 100,000 won into Do-jae’s hand.

Do-jae bowed deeply in gratitude.

It was a sincere bow, filled with gratitude for everything.

Swish-.

Herteias watched for a moment before disappearing into the shadows, and Eunhee’s mother also went inside.

Do-jae takes Do-young’s hand and asks as they walk down the alley.

“Is there anything you want to eat?”

“No! What about you, hyung?”

“If it’s what you want to eat, I’m fine with anything.”

“I want what you want too!”

Do-jae took Do-young into a nearby fast-food restaurant.

Given Eunhee’s mother’s personality, she’d never feed him something like a hamburger, and kids his age love hamburgers anyway.

“Aren’t you eating, hyung?”

Do-young asked, halfway through his meal.

In front of Dojae lay a hamburger with just one bite taken out of it.

“Now I get why adults say just watching kids eat makes them full. Eat up, Do-young.”

Just watching Do-young eat so heartily made Do-jae feel genuinely full.

It might be because his body barely needed to eat, but the feeling was genuinely full and satisfying.

Clink.

After finishing their snack, Dojae and Doyoung walked a little and arrived at the figure shop.

He worried it might be closed, but luckily it stayed open late.

“Just buy this one for now. I’ll buy you all the others later.”

When Do-young picked out several ‘Metallic Hero’ figures, Do-jae picked up only the latest model and said.

He had the means to buy them all and desperately wanted to, but since Do-young was still living off him, he made him choose just one.

“Really?”

“Hey, didn’t I tell you before? I said I’d buy you the entire Metallic Hero suit. When we move back to our place later, I’ll decorate your room with Metallic Hero stuff.”

“Waaah! When?”

“Soon…!”

Dojae declared firmly.

He vowed to quickly eliminate Gelahan and live with Do-young.

And the end truly seemed near.

“Listen to your aunt and study hard, okay?”

“Pfft… I don’t know about you, bro, but I got a perfect score on my final exam again this time!”

“Seriously, whose little sister are you? Of course you should get a perfect score.”

Do-young didn’t know, but Eun-hee’s mother was always texting Do-jae.

She even knew Do-young got 100% in every subject through those texts.

“Hey, big bro!”

Doyoung waved and went inside the house.

Do-jae bowed his head to Eun-hee’s mother, who was ushering Do-young inside, and called out to Herteias.

“Let’s go to my place.”

“Yes, yes.”

Pfft-!

***

Whoosh-!

Dojae flung the door wide open.

He saw Briasius lying down with his head resting on Prasia’s arm.

“Oh my.”

Prasia gasped in surprise and pulled the blanket up. Briasiilius sat up and said indifferently.

Without even a hint of embarrassment.

“Rude bastard.”

Dojae felt a bit embarrassed, closed the door, and left.

Who could have known a dragon and a human would be like that?

Besides, Dojae hardly ever went home, so he had no idea what the two were up to.

Squeak-.

Briasilius emerged wearing a gown.

It was a gaudy silk robe, completely out of place in an ordinary Korean household.

“What taste.”

“Hmph, I’m on a different level than a stiff-necked dragon like you. This is the latest design trending in Italy. How about it? Want it? Want it?”

Briasilius pressed his face close to Herteias, who stood with arms crossed, taunting him.

It was truly astonishing that someone who had lived for thousands of years could still act like this.

“Trends be damned. Briasilius, I need to redraw the dimensional transfer magic circle.”

“At this hour? More importantly, why are you already here? The time coordinates couldn’t have been wrong…”

“I arrived on time, and I destroyed Valando too.”

“Really? That’s huge news.”

“So, when the sun rises, go to Dongducheon and make a magic circle that can transport over 100 people.”

On his way, Dojae had asked Kim Sukyung to scout out a location large enough to gather a significant number of people.

It was past 11 PM, but Kim Su-kyung replied immediately, her voice showing no sign of sleepiness, saying she knew a suitable place in Dongducheon.

She texted him the location, saying she’d prepare it immediately.

So, the plan was to send Briasius there in the morning to connect Tranpeion with Earth.

“A hundred? Why so timid all of a sudden? I can build a magic circle that can transport a thousand people.”

“Pfft! Brian, do you have any idea how difficult it is to create a magic circle that can transport a thousand people? You expect to handle that intricate and complex task alone?”

“I never said I’d do it alone?”

Briasilius gave a meaningful smile.

And he made a call somewhere.

“Are you asleep? Can you even sleep at this hour?”

A gruff voice came through the smartphone.

It was Ahn Tae-geon, the head of the magic team for the Suhu Guild.

“Gather all the kids. Only the ones with decent skills. No! Right now! By the way, Lee Do-jae ordered it.”

Click.

“If I take these guys with me, it’ll be done in no time.”

“Hey… why are you using my name?”

Briasilius, looking smug, and Dojae, staring at him in disbelief.

It was Dojae, now a wicked deputy guild master summoning members privately in the dead of night.

“Anyway, I’ll get it done as fast as I can, so can you guys just leave now? Haaam.”

Briasilius fastened his robe and let out a long yawn.

His shameless attitude made Dojae almost forget this was even his own house.

“Go… go… Herteias, take us to Jeju Island first.”

Dojae left as if being chased out.

Herteias sneered at him.

***

A remote island in the Pacific.

There, Ridiran couldn’t contain his anger and let it out.

“Even Balansima…!”

Kwang-!

The volcano erupted, thick magma flowing down.

The monsters beside Ridiran couldn’t even flee, instantly engulfed by the magma. They burned fiercely, their skin melting away as they vanished into the flowing magma.

“Lord Gelahan will be resurrected soon! With you all gone, how can I possibly show my face to Lord Gelahan now?!”

Kwang-!

Each time Ridiran’s mana erupted, the volcano exploded more violently, and tidal waves crashed over the island.

Trembling-.

“Mr. Bedaya, Mr. Balan…! How foolish…! There’s no one else…”

Ridiran swallowed her irritation and calmed her anger.

Then, as if by magic, the surroundings fell silent, and both the volcanic eruption and the tidal wave ceased.

“Since you, who were meant to be sacrifices, have perished, I have no choice but to find another method…”

Sizzle-.

Suddenly, space tore open before Ridiran.

Something burst forth from there.

Swirl, swirl-.

The black vulture circling above Ridiran’s head exploded with a pop, turning into black mist that settled upon Ridiran.

“…Is that so, Mr. Balan?”

Ridiran’s expression gradually grew satisfied.

The black eagle was a kind of medium that transmitted exactly what Balan saw and heard to Ridiran.

“I see. In a way, that energy is purer. Opening the crack is my role now, I suppose.”

Lidiran walked lightly across the lava.

Balan had carefully gathered the absorbed lives into the dimensional rift, and soon they would become the material for Gelahan’s resurrection.

Having already completed the ritual to resurrect Gelahan, Ridiran now only needed to open the dimensional rift.

And all that remained was to secure the final offering for the ritual.

“The adversary… It’s unsettling to go where he is, but what choice do we have?”

Pop.

Ridiran smiled with an innocent expression.

His figure, walking across the lava, vanished in an instant.