Chapter 197 - Spirit

# Translated Text

I could feel the malice in the original comic, [Stardust!], as if it was determined to torment the protagonist.

As if tormenting the protagonist wasn't enough, in the latter half, it goes all out to make Stardust suffer, even breaking the power balance.

Dozens, hundreds of villains suddenly pouring into the Republic of Korea. Then divine beings appear, and even some interdimensional monsters—it becomes absolute chaos.

...Of course, to prepare for this mess of an original story, I've set up some countermeasures. I've trained Stardust, and created a villain alliance by gathering only the strongest.

But it still feels insufficient.

I'm still hungry. I want to recruit more powerful ability users, the ones responsible for power inflation.

That's why I'm now in this cave on a snowy mountain.

To awaken someone who sleeps here.

"Huff... Hey, are people really living here? It's just a cave."

"Whether they're human... I'm not entirely sure, but someone is definitely here."

I only told Choi Se-hee that much as she looked around. She'd see for herself soon enough.

So we advanced into the cave.

And finally, we could see it.

"....Wow."

Choi Se-hee's mouth fell open, unable to believe what she was seeing.

And standing beside her, I was looking up at that enormous thing together.

In front of us, majestically lying there, was a massive white dragon.

"....."

I don't know why there's suddenly a dragon in a mountain in 21st century Republic of Korea, but there it was. A white divine spirit, in the form of a dragon.

"What is this..."

"A divine spirit. One that has lived for hundreds of years."

"I never... I never imagined something like this existed..."

Choi Se-hee, who hadn't been surprised by Death Knights jumping out of rings or black tentacles, was finally expressing amazement at the sight of the dragon.

Just then, disturbed by our commotion, the dragon finally opened its eyes.

".....?"

After opening its eyes and blinking at us, the divine spirit yawned widely, and with sleepy eyes, spread its wings and muttered:

"Breaking through my barrier... that's a first."

The dragon spoke in a massive voice that sounded sleepy, then settled comfortably into position.

Anyone could see it wasn't being cautious or hostile toward us despite our sudden intrusion. Rather, it was looking down at us with curiosity.

This is the divine spirit's nature. Of course, I came here precisely because I already knew about this personality. It's the composure that comes from overwhelming power.

Under the dragon's gaze that was examining us with interest, I greeted the divine spirit.

"Greetings, Divine Spirit. I've come to see you."

"You know of me? How curious... The people of this land should have forgotten me by now."

As it looked at me with interest, I organized my thoughts about the dragon before me while mentally preparing what to say.

A pure white divine spirit that has protected this mountain since ancient times.

It is said that long ago, she flew to this place and settled here, once mingling with humans and protecting them.

Anyway, now I need to persuade her. To join us in villainy, no less.

Under that penetrating yet languid gaze, I prepared to start talking in earnest.

But before that.

"Se-hee, could you step back for a moment?"

"Huh?"

"I need to discuss something privately with her. It won't take long."

"Oh... okay. I'll wait near the entrance."

Sensing that things weren't going badly, Choi Se-hee quietly nodded and stepped back.

The massive dragon watched her leave without saying anything.

Once Choi Se-hee's footsteps faded away, the dragon spoke again.

"Since you don't seem to want that child to hear, I've blocked out the sound. Now, speak."

...Well, thanks for the consideration.

After confirming once again that she was indeed kind-hearted despite her appearance, just as I'd seen in the original work, I opened my mouth.

Now comes the real challenge.

"Divine Spirit."

"Do you remember the covenant you made long ago?"

"....A covenant."

-It's been a while since I heard that word.

Watching her mutter that, I continued speaking with a confident posture.

"Soon, this world will face destruction."

"To prevent this, I need your help."

"....."

The white dragon continued to look down at me with an expressionless face.

And to that divine spirit, I delivered one decisive statement.

"If you doubt me, feel free to verify."

"Hmm..."

Through the original work, I knew. That this divine spirit could verify the truth in someone's words. And how should I put it... she could also glimpse their essence? She is fundamentally a divine creation, after all.

Seemingly slightly interested in my words, the divine spirit opened her eyes a bit and raised her arm.

Then, a blue light appeared in the space.

And simultaneously, my head became slightly dizzy.

"Tsk..."

As I staggered for a moment, the dragon, having apparently seen everything in my mind in that brief moment, tilted her head with interest.

"Hmm... I see. You're from another world. How fascinating..."

She was becoming interested in me.

Yes, this is my chance. The moment when she becomes curious about me.

Even if she skimmed through my memories, she probably didn't see everything, just the general outline.

This means I need to employ highly sophisticated rhetoric to make her join my side.

With a slight smile on my face, I prepared to start talking in earnest.

Well.

Let's begin, shall we?

***

"Ugh... it's cold."

At the entrance of the cave at the top of the snowy mountain.

Choi Se-hee was rubbing her hands together and blowing on them while waiting for Da-in to finish recruiting and come out.

She wondered if she could hear anything, but the interior was quiet.

"Are they even talking or not..."

Seriously, a dragon?

That was what Choi Se-hee felt when she saw that huge white dragon. Of course, in a world full of all kinds of ability users, having someone with the ability to transform into a dragon wasn't strange, but it was still a mystical sight. ...She really couldn't understand how Da-in knew about and sought out such things.

But anyway.

"It's too quiet..."

Choi Se-hee muttered to herself as she looked back.

Although the dragon hadn't shown any hostility toward them, she was still anxious just in case.

If necessary, she would have to save Da-in, that was what she was thinking. Even if it meant fighting that house-sized dragon.

As Choi Se-hee was reaffirming her resolve alone, just then.

From behind, the sound of footsteps approached.

'Is it over?'

Choi Se-hee turned around with relief.

There in the distance, she could see Da-in walking toward her.

The dragon was nowhere to be seen.

"....Did you succeed or fail?"

As she was squinting to see, at that moment.

She could see someone else walking alongside Da-in.

Who is that...?

They soon approached right in front of her.

Da-in smiled awkwardly and introduced the person behind him to Choi Se-hee.

"It's all done. Let me introduce you—this is the divine spirit from earlier."

"Yes. We finally meet properly. Pleased to meet you."

The figure who emerged from behind Da-in was.

A beautiful woman in white clothes, with black hair adorned with a hairpin, speaking in an old-fashioned manner.

"...Another one?"

"Hmm?"

"Ah, it's nothing. Nice to meet you, I'm Choi Se-hee."

Choi Se-hee could only smile and say that.

...Still not understanding why the dragon had to be a woman.

***

The divine spirit.

She first appeared in the chaotic final part of the original work in dragon form, saving other people. At the time, while watching the original, I cursed at the lack of plausibility when a dragon suddenly appeared to save Stardust, but I was secretly hopeful.

Finally, an ally for Stardust had appeared, maybe this terrible situation would improve somewhat? That was my expectation.

Especially later when she transformed into human form, wearing white clothes and controlling the weather like some kind of mountain god.

Yes, I had such expectations. Until the next-to-next issue when she became corrupted and destroyed the entire city...

Anyway, I was doing my best to recruit her into Ego-squad inside the cave.

"Hmm..."

As we conversed, she had transformed from dragon form to human form.

With her black hair adorned with a hairpin and dressed in white clothes, smoking something like a long pipe, the beautiful woman looked unbelievably delicate compared to the dragon from earlier.

If there was any similarity to the dragon from before, it would be her eyes, which observed the world with a detached perspective as if she had attained enlightenment.

"...I see, so that's it. So that god will finally descend..."

After listening that far, she put down her pipe and said to me.

"...Very well. I will help you."

"Thank you."

"...You accept so readily. ...Yes, I haven't descended to the human world for a while, it's time to return to the secular world."

Success.

I inwardly clenched my fist in victory.

...Indeed, selling the future, selling the past, doing all sorts of things has been helpful...!

"Just call me Ryeong, you said your name was Da-in?"

The divine spirit said as she stood up.

I nodded and stood up as well. Phew, have I finally succeeded?

"...So, how can I help you?"

As we walked out of the cave, she asked me in a calm voice, seemingly curious.

So I answered her with the same nonchalance.

"You can help us with terrorism."

"...Terrorism? What is that?"

"You'll find out soon."

That was all I told her.

...It's a bit complicated to explain right now...?

Time passed as we returned home and I introduced her to the others.

After explaining terrorism to the divine spirit, explaining the reasons, preparing, and doing various things.

Finally, the day of the terror attack dawned.

...The day I would become a dragon rider.