Episode 39

“Dragon Slayer Technique?”

The True Dragon Sword Technique, left behind by Shaton Draker, was defined as a method for humans to slay dragons.

Zeke carefully read through the words left by Shaton.

[With the aid of the great Hero King, humans were able to form contracts with dragons, known as the harmonizers of all things.

Humans, with their many shortcomings compared to other races, were always weak beings.

Dragons took pity on such humans and generously shared their knowledge with their contractors.

After the Hero King, those who contracted with dragons began to establish their own civilizations across the continents.

The speed of their development was so astonishing that it filled me with a sense of dread.

The fear I felt was directed at the incomprehensible existence of dragons.

If these beings, with their boundless power and knowledge, suddenly decided to erase humans from this world, humanity would vanish in an instant.

Suppressing the fear growing within me, I sought various ways for humans to stand against dragons.

My first thought was magic.

However, magic was the first gift dragons bestowed upon humans.

They taught humans how to create circles in their hearts to generate magical power like dragons.

Using magic to counter dragons, the very beings of magic, was absurd.

The second was the Hero King’s Elemental Sword. But this power was reserved only for him, who bore the blood of the Fairy King.

Initially, I researched various ways for humans to wield the Elemental Sword.

Ironically, the one who most fervently assisted my research was the Hero King’s contracted dragon, Chronos.

Chronos, intrigued by my research, sought to find a way to transcend human limits by combining various magical experiments, the abilities of the Eastern Continent’s successors, and the Hero King’s Elemental Sword.

Eventually, Chronos and I discovered a power called ‘Aura.’

We found a way to manifest a different kind of power from elemental force and magic within the human body.

Having found a clue for humans to surpass their limits, I continued my research even after the Hero King departed to the spirit realm.

And by completing the True Dragon Sword Technique, I was able to perfectly control the power of Aura.

I shared this True Dragon Sword Technique not only with the Kingdom of Chronos but with all human kingdoms.

It was a desperate measure to ensure humanity wouldn’t vanish should dragons turn their backs on us.

The problem was that there were no individuals who could fully understand and master this True Dragon Sword Technique.

To master Aura, one had to endure excruciating training, but using artifacts created by dragons allowed one to easily gain much greater power.

Thus, my True Dragon Sword Technique struggled to find a worthy successor, leading me to leave it as a secret manual.

If a successor finds this manual, I hope they understand my intentions and diligently strive to master it.]

Shaton Draker’s plea ended there.

Simultaneously, a message appeared.

―Achievement Quest (Intermediate Mission)―

[Master the True Dragon Sword Technique, the secret of Sword Saint Shaton Draker. (Time limit: three months)]

[Quest Mission Reward: Title - Successor of the Sword Saint / Coordinates to the Treasure of the Kingdom of Chronos]

“The treasure of the Kingdom of Chronos as a reward, huh.”

If it was the treasure of an ancient kingdom, it likely contained valuable items.

For Zeke, who was trying to build his own power, it was a useful reward.

Moreover, the True Dragon Sword Technique was the origin of the dragon-slaying method.

If it was the ultimate technique left by Shaton Draker, the founder of Aura, it was surely a secret that could surpass the barrier of the Black Knight.

“A three-month time limit. I’ll need to focus on mastering the True Dragon Sword Technique while I’m in Valhalla.”

At that moment, Zeke noticed something strange.

The Draker family’s lineage of dragon slayers had a much older history than was commonly known.

So why were stories about Shaton Draker or his successor, Terrakan Draker, not passed down?

Everyone knew of Terrakan Draker’s feat of slaying the evil dragon Bahamut and saving the central continent.

Yet, surprisingly little was known about Terrakan Draker.

Though the Liberation War a thousand years ago was widely known, the details were more legend than history.

This made Terrakan Draker seem more like a mythical hero, akin to Kaishir, rather than a real person.

“Why have I never questioned this before?”

It seemed more accurate to say he never felt the need to question it.

Zeke, too, had never deeply considered the legend of the dragon slayers until he inherited Terrakan Draker’s legacy.

But as he formed direct and indirect connections with those he thought were mere legends or myths, he began to suspect there might be hidden truths behind what he knew.

“System, search the secure archives for any personal records of Terrakan Draker. Diaries or the like.”

[Searching for the administrator’s request.]

[One result found for your request.]

Zeke opened the content the system had found.

A video appeared before his eyes.

The video was damaged, filled with static and noise.

Still, he could make out the general content, as if someone had recorded what they saw and heard.

[Adjusting the video.]

As the system adjusted the video, the static-ridden screen became clearer.

Something appeared on the screen.

At first, Zeke couldn’t comprehend what it was.

Then, after a moment, he realized.

“A dragon?”

A colossal being, so immense it seemed impossible to exist, was staring at Zeke.

A massive dragon, covered in black, impenetrable scales, gazed down at him with golden eyes.

Just being under its gaze, Zeke felt an overwhelming pressure, as if everything could be obliterated and his soul frozen.

Then, the being spoke.

“Terrakan.”

Zeke realized the perspective of the video was that of Terrakan Draker.

“Bahamut.”

Terrakan Draker called the black dragon before him Bahamut.

Bahamut slowly lowered its head and spoke.

“Terrakan, my contractor.”

Zeke was taken aback by those words.

“Terrakan was Bahamut’s contractor?”

The static intensified again.

The conversation between Bahamut and Terrakan became inaudible.

The screen flickered, cutting in and out.

When the video resumed, Terrakan Draker’s sword was embedded in the center of Bahamut’s forehead.

The two seemed to be exchanging words, but Zeke couldn’t make out what they were saying.

Shortly after, Bahamut lowered its head completely, eyes closed.

From the spot where Terrakan’s sword was embedded, Bahamut’s body slowly turned into black ash and scattered.

All that remained where its body had been was a heart shining like a jewel and a single, incredibly hard fang.

And then the video ended.

Zeke stared blankly, unable to believe what he’d seen.

“Bahamut was Terrakan Draker’s contracted dragon?”

Zeke was deeply confused by the revelation that Terrakan Draker and Bahamut had been in a contract.

There was undoubtedly something unknown about the legend of the dragon slayers.

Zeke’s sharp instincts kicked in.

“Perhaps there’s a significant secret of the Draker family hidden within.”

If he could uncover the family’s secret, it could become a valuable card to play in the future.

Zeke decided to investigate the hidden aspects of the dragon slayer legend.

He was currently in Valhalla Library, the greatest library on the central continent.

Zeke began searching for and reading all the books on the legend of the dragon slayers in Valhalla Library.

And he discovered something astonishing.

“All the content is the same.”

As if deliberately crafted, the content about the dragon slayer legend was limited to Terrakan Draker defeating Bahamut and ushering in a golden age for the central continent.

More surprising was the absence of any research papers or scholarly books on the subject.

Compared to the hundreds of books and papers on the Hero King Kaishir, whose existence was also uncertain, there was almost nothing on Terrakan Draker.

“How can this be?”

It was as if someone had intentionally erased or censored all information about Terrakan Draker.

Zeke realized that in his past life, he hadn’t even been aware of this situation.

Feeling that further investigation in Valhalla Library was pointless, Zeke returned to his estate.

He then contacted Kay separately.

He requested that if there were any books about Terrakan Draker in any region, including the central continent, they be sent to him.

A week later, Zeke received a bundle of books from Kay.

They were books about the dragon slayer legend, written in the languages of the northern and southern continents.

The problem was that these books were not much different from what Zeke had seen in Valhalla.

Zeke read the letter Kay had included.

<While searching for books on Terrakan Draker, I began to understand why you made such a request. The books available are almost identical. The ones from other continents are only slightly different in format.

I found it strange too, so I asked through rare book channels. Do you know what response I got? Forbidden (禁). Just that one word. And from what I know, there’s only one reason for such a reaction. It means the Draker family itself is blocking research on Terrakan Draker.>

Receiving Kay’s letter confirmed Zeke’s suspicions.

The Draker family was hiding the history of Terrakan Draker and censoring information about him.

It was hard to understand why the Draker family, which had risen to the position of one of the three transcendent families as the dragon slayer family, would erase the past of their founder, Terrakan Draker.

Zeke burned Kay’s letter.

There was something more to this place than he had initially thought—something hidden, something secret.

It was then that he sensed it.

“Who could it be?”

Zeke’s finely tuned senses picked up on the subtle presence of intruders approaching stealthily. His mastery of elemental power through the Elemental Sword set his awareness apart from ordinary knights.

He quickly drew Bahamut and pressed himself against the wall, concealing his presence. The intruders moved with a precision and stealth that marked them as professionals, not amateurs.

“Could it be the Empire’s hounds on my trail? That shouldn’t be possible…”

When he had dealt with the hounds in the Giant Mountain Range, he had left only traces of his identity as a Southern hitman. Moreover, he had used a portal to descend the mountain, leaving no trail behind.

Puzzled, Zeke held his breath and watched as the intruders entered his room. Clad in black, they began to search the room, unaware of his presence. Their movements were so cautious and discreet that, had he not sensed them earlier, he might not have noticed their search at all.

Zeke realized these were not the Empire’s hounds. The hounds were not capable of such silent and covert operations.

The moment he understood this, Zeke moved with shadow-like steps.

Whoosh!

With a dagger in hand instead of Bahamut, Zeke closed in on one of the intruders, ready to strike. But to his surprise, the intruder twisted away from his attack and rolled out of the room in a swift escape.

Zeke turned his attention to the others who hadn’t yet fled.

Swish!

He hurled his dagger at their legs to prevent their escape. Yet, the other intruder also managed to evade his attack and made a dash for the exit.

“At least the level of a Purple Knight,” Zeke mused.

He gripped his dagger and employed his phantom steps.

Swoosh!

Just as one of the intruders was about to leap out the window, Zeke’s sword blocked their path, forcing them to roll back into the room. The black-clad figure, face hidden by a mask, crouched low and drew a sword from their waist.

Seeing the weapon, Zeke recognized who they were.

“North Rangers?”