The Dragon’s Sleeping Range
A cool breeze swept through, causing the hair of countless users to flutter like waves. A woman’s jet-black hair scattered gently in the air before settling back into place.
Han So-young, known as the “Queen of Blood and Iron,” was not one to flinch at most things. Yet, her eyes were filled with an inexplicable tension.
Her gaze was fixed on a plateau surrounded by high mountains. But the view was obscured. A thick, gray mist covered the basin, exuding a gloomy and ominous aura that seemed to root the users in place.
The wind blew again.
This time, it felt different—unpleasant and sticky, like a warning. As if whispering, “Come any closer, and you’ll die.”
A man approached the woman. Clad in slightly tarnished chain mail, he gripped a large axe with both hands. His hands trembled slightly, and sweat beaded on his brow, betraying his own tension.
He spoke cautiously.
“Clan Lord, the Queen’s summoned army hasn’t returned.”
”…I know. I confirmed their disappearance five minutes ago.”
The woman nodded lightly. The man widened his eyes in disbelief, not expecting to hear the word “disappearance.”
She exhaled softly, turning to face the clan members standing behind her.
Clan Istantel Low.
Renowned across the northern continent for their strength, they now wore expressions no different from the woman and the man. Some even showed signs of fear, oppressed by the aura emanating from the basin.
”…Should we just turn back?”
Her voice carried a hint of regret. She looked back at the basin with a longing gaze, reluctant to leave after coming so far.
But the man shook his head calmly, trying to reassure her.
“Clan Lord, remember user Jung Chang-min’s last words. He warned us against going further, even with his dying breath. We’ve come this far, but conquering the ruins might demand even greater sacrifices.”
User Jung Chang-min. Just a day ago, he was a member of Istantel Low, known for his ability to handle barriers. He was also the unfortunate user swallowed by the “Dragon’s Sleeping Range” due to a single mistake.
‘Malice, despair, hatred… The deeper you go, the more unsettling it feels. Clan Lord, I truly didn’t want to go there. I’m sorry…’
The woman remained silent for a while, closing her eyes out of habit. After a long pause, she finally spoke.
“Let’s go back.”
Her decision to retreat was met with relief from the clan members, who all visibly relaxed.
At the same time, a long sigh escaped the lips of a young man standing at the back.
“I don’t like it.”
It was late at night. The clan members, exhausted from the day’s march, had retired to their sleeping bags after dinner. Only I and Heo Jun-young remained on watch.
Crack, crackle!
As I tossed split logs into the fire, I glanced at Heo Jun-young. Distracted by my thoughts, I was slow to respond. The fire crackled as the logs caught flame, sending sparks into the air.
Once the fire was rekindled, I spoke.
“What don’t you like? Going to rescue Ahn Hyun and Han Kyul?”
“Just everything. Going to rescue Ahn Hyun, being part of this mission.”
Being part of this mission, huh.
I studied Heo Jun-young. His long hair, reaching his waist, shimmered with a dark purple hue. He wore a black coat-like mail adorned with mysterious patterns that emitted a subtle glow.
Heo Jun-young sat with his eyes closed, his sword resting on his lap. Though I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, the atmosphere around him felt dark. The sheathed sword seemed warmer than the man himself.
Sensing my gaze, Heo Jun-young finally opened his eyes, meeting mine. His eyes were a deep shade of purple, matching his hair.
“A year ago, when I first joined the mercenaries, something similar happened.”
“A year ago?”
I asked, recalling the events of a year ago.
I first met Heo Jun-young while working in a vagrant extermination squad. We had received intel on the vagrants’ hideout and set out to eliminate them. When we arrived, we found a user already engaged in battle.
That user was Heo Jun-young. He was fighting nearly a hundred vagrants, including their leaders, alone.
Back then, Heo Jun-young was holding his own, but he was in a precarious situation due to the vagrants’ organized response. My squad and I immediately supported him, wiping out the vagrants.
Heo Jun-young didn’t join us right away. He expressed his gratitude and promised to repay the favor before leaving. I remembered his user information and moved on.
Coincidentally, our paths crossed again thanks to Lee Hyo-eul, the guardian of the northern continent. It turned out Heo Jun-young was working in the shadows for Lee Hyo-eul. He had gone to deal with the vagrants at Lee Hyo-eul’s request.
At the time, Lee Hyo-eul had found a successor and was preparing to step down as guardian, ending his contract with Heo Jun-young.
Lee Hyo-eul suggested that since they were both stepping down, I should recruit Heo Jun-young into the mercenaries.
After some discussion, Heo Jun-young officially joined us.
For me, gaining a user comparable to Nam Da-eun was a boon, and for Heo Jun-young, it was a chance to repay a debt.
My thoughts continued to wander. Perhaps sensing my lack of recollection, Heo Jun-young spoke in a slightly frustrated tone.
“Ahn Hyun. A similar incident happened a year ago, and it was quite troublesome to resolve.”
“Oh, that. But… it’s not the same as back then.”
I replied with a light laugh, but Heo Jun-young shook his head slowly.
“In the end, it’s the same context, isn’t it? After that incident, things seemed to calm down, but that reckless fool caused trouble again. He didn’t follow your orders then, and he doesn’t now.”
“That’s true.”
”…So why not just leave him be? Honestly, after this incident, I’ve lost all affection for him. If he’s lucky, he’ll survive. If not, there’s nothing we can do. We don’t have to…”
“That’s not an option.”
I cut him off firmly, continuing in a resolute voice.
“I’ve decided to rescue them, and the rescue team is already this far. I understand what you’re saying, but I’m not changing my mind or turning back. If you want to leave, go alone.”
Crackle! Crackle!
The fire suddenly flared, sending sparks flying. Heo Jun-young shook his head slightly, as if hit by a spark.
After a long pause, he spoke slowly.
”…I don’t want to.”
“The Dragon’s Sleeping Range is a dangerous area. We need to work together, not be uncooperative from the start.”
“It was just a thought. Considering Han Kyul is involved, we have no choice but to go in.”
“It’s inevitable.”
I smiled wryly. Heo Jun-young’s earlier words were more of a habit than his true feelings. He had a tendency to grumble before ultimately lending his strength. Sometimes, he reminded me of a finicky cat. Though, a man being compared to a cat was a bit odd.
Just then.
“Hmm?”
“Hmm.”
As I reached for more logs to feed the slowly dying fire, Heo Jun-young and I simultaneously turned our heads. We felt faint vibrations coming from the ground, like something tunneling beneath us. The vibrations continued steadily.
‘Jackalords… about thirty of them.’
Jackalords. Simply put, they’re underground monsters. Their bodies are optimized for digging and living underground, and they often attack when users are asleep.
Swish, shing!
“Isn’t it about time to change the watch? I’ll handle it. You get some rest.”
Heo Jun-young stood up, drawing his sword with a flourish. The blade was thin but long, nearly matching his height. As he rested the sword on his shoulder, I spoke up.
“I can go with you.”
“Not really. They don’t seem like the type to follow us… Even if a dozen of those scavengers show up, it’s no big deal.”
“Those who follow us, huh.”
Huh Jun-young replied nonchalantly, but I listened carefully. The ones he mentioned were likely the users or vagrants who had been tailing us since we left Monica. They were so discreet that I only had a vague sense of being followed, but Jun-young had an uncanny intuition.
“Anyway, I’ll handle it quickly, so don’t worry and get some rest.”
I nodded at his assurance and got up. With his skills, even a hundred of those so-called ‘scavengers’ would be no match.
“Should I wake someone to keep watch?”
“No need. I’ll wake them when I get back. Got a cigarette?”
I tossed him a cigarette, which he caught deftly with his slender fingers. In the blink of an eye, he leaped into the air and vanished, as if using some kind of teleportation skill. Like me, he was part of a secret class with high agility.
After checking the fire, I crawled into my sleeping bag. Soon, the distant sounds of a scuffle, the earth being torn apart, and faint screams—likely from the jackal-like creatures—drifted in. With those sounds as my lullaby, I slowly drifted off to sleep.
The morning was clear and blue, though a bit foggy. We had a quick breakfast and set off early. As we departed, I overheard An-sol and Yoo-jung mentioning how well they had slept, oblivious to the fact that we had nearly been attacked by jackal-like creatures.
I glanced at Huh Jun-young, who simply shook his head. He wasn’t one to boast and seemed content to let the incident pass quietly.
The Dragon’s Resting Mountains lay about three weeks northwest of the small western town of Dorothy. Despite the distance, the area was considered unexplored territory. The path was treacherous, and the region was notorious for its frequent monster appearances.
We had already crossed the Red Desert and the Magnetic Wasteland, and trudged through the swampy marshlands. Once we passed the Misty Plains, we’d reach the rugged mountain terrain that marked the start of the unexplored region.
I fell into deep thought. In the first timeline, the northern continent had been stabilized before the Iron Mountains were tackled. The only exception was the Dragon’s Resting Mountains.
The last clan to attempt it was the Istantel Low Clan, which I was part of. We managed to reach the ruins, though we lost one member. Han So-young eventually decided to turn back, heeding the dying wish of our fallen comrade, Jung Chang-min, who was skilled in barrier magic.
“Su-hyun… If the Clan Lord insists on going, even if everyone else tries to stop her… Please, you must persuade her. She cares for you… If everyone else tries to stop her, she might relent… But still, I’m worried. And…”
In the end, Han So-young heeded the clan’s advice. We set up a large-scale barrier near the ruins and cleared the mountains, but it wasn’t a complete conquest. We sealed the ruins without exploring them.
And then there was the mystery of the missing users within the mountains. In both timelines, those who disappeared left no trace, not even bodies. Many speculated they were inside the ruins, but the sealing left it as mere conjecture.
I pondered the history of the mountains. In ancient Hol Plain, the mythical Great War was recorded—a battle between dragons who ruled the continent and humans who sought freedom.
The records claimed that humans were the ultimate victors. The mythical inhabitants won the final battle, and the dragon Magna Carta cursed the final site with its dying breath.
Yet, nothing was recorded beyond that. The records ended with the victory and the dragon’s curse, leaving the aftermath a mystery.
The place where the decades-long war ended was where we were headed.
“Wow, so what happened next?”
An-sol asked, eyes sparkling with curiosity. I had been sharing snippets of ancient mythology during our march, and she seemed captivated.
I shook my head slowly at her eager tugging on my arm. “I don’t know. It’s not in the records. If you’re curious, you’ll have to find out for yourself.”
“Ugh… The dragon Magna Carta… I’m so curious…”
An-sol clung to my arm, tilting her head in wonder. Watching her, I quietly asked, “Aren’t you worried?”
“Huh? Worried?”
“About Ahn Hyun. Your brother.”
“Oh, not really. My brother’s as tough as a cockroach. And you’re going to save him, right? Hehe.”
An-sol laughed brightly, swinging my arm playfully. Her carefree attitude was both reassuring and concerning.
‘Is he still alive?’
I was pondering whether to take comfort in her reaction when Nam Da-eun approached, smiling as she spoke to An-sol.
“Our Sol really likes the Clan Lord, doesn’t she?”
“Yes! I like him the most in the world… Oh, wait, why are you pulling me away, sis?”
“Oh, you’re just too cute, Sol.”
“Wha…?”
An-sol, arms wide open, was gently dragged away by Nam Da-eun. Watching her flail in the air, I rotated my now-free arm.
“Ugh…! Ugh…!”
A faint groan came from the rear. It was Han-gyeol’s voice. I stopped marching and rushed to Shin Jae-ryong, who was carrying Han-gyeol.
“What’s going on?”
Shin Jae-ryong had laid Han-gyeol down and was looking at him with concern. He sighed lightly and clicked his tongue.
“Han-gyeol suddenly…”
“What’s his condition?”
“He was fine until last night. But since we reached the edge of the Misty Plains, he’s been in pain. He looks terrified, and now he’s in agony. Healing spells aren’t working… I’m not sure what’s wrong.”
”…Tsk.”
I clicked my tongue involuntarily. Of course, healing spells wouldn’t work. The Han-gyeol before us was just an empty shell, or half of one.
I placed a hand on his chest and felt his heart still beating, though much weaker than when we started. It wouldn’t be surprising if it stopped soon.
“We’ll have to push on. Shin Jae-ryong, can you manage?”
“It’s fine. I’m strong for a priest.”
Shin Jae-ryong shook his head and lifted Han-gyeol again.
As the clan prepared for another forced march, I bit my lip. I wanted to give them time to rest before tackling the mountains, but circumstances wouldn’t allow it.
The preparations were swift. Just before we set off, I paused and looked back.
The presence that had been following us since last night was gone. I glanced at Huh Jun-young, who also looked back and shook his head.
I addressed the clan members. “We’ll rest for three minutes. After that, we won’t stop until we find Han-gyeol, so consider this your last break.”
After speaking, I moved to a secluded spot, signaling Go Yeon-ju to follow. She quickly understood and joined me.
“Su-hyun, what’s up?”
“The presence that was following us is gone. Did you notice?”
I got straight to the point, and Go Yeon-ju’s eyes widened. But she nodded, indicating she was aware.
“Yes. They seemed to retreat after breakfast, once we reached the plains’ edge. I think they were curious if we’d enter the mountains… But I don’t know why.”
“That’s exactly it.”
“What do you mean?”
Go Yeon-ju tilted her head in confusion. I glanced around once more before stepping closer and placing a hand on her shoulder. She flinched slightly, then looked at me with puzzled eyes.
“User Go Yeon-ju, you need to listen carefully to what I’m about to say. I have an important request.”
“An important request? You’re not going to tell me to go back, are you?”
“I’m sorry, but yes.”
”…Wow.”
For a moment, Go Yeon-ju was silent. Then, with a sob, she collapsed into my arms.
“That’s so unfair~.”
“I’m sorry. But you’re the only one who can do this.”
I felt guilty for asking her to turn back after coming this far, but there was no other choice. It wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision; the idea had struck me when I saw Kim Soo-jung in the meeting room. And when I sensed the group following us, I was almost certain. The reason we brought Yoo-jung along in the first place was to fill the gap left by Go Yeon-ju.
”…Something only I can do?”
“Yes. From now on, you need to return to the city without anyone noticing.”
The group tailing us was likely trying to confirm whether the rescue team was entering the mountains, just as Go Yeon-ju suspected. More precisely, they wanted to verify the participation and possible withdrawal of the ‘Shadow Queen.’ In terms of information and tracking, no one was as formidable as Go Yeon-ju.
‘Of course, this is all just speculation for now…’
I trusted my instincts, honed over a decade of working in the shadows during the first cycle. This whole situation reeked of something suspicious and unsettling.
“The important thing is that you must return without anyone knowing.”
When I emphasized this again, Go Yeon-ju’s sobbing abruptly stopped.
I felt her head lift slightly from my chest.
“Soo-hyun, what’s going on?”
Her languid voice tickled my ear. Glancing down, I saw Go Yeon-ju with a deep smile playing on her lips.
After a moment, I whispered softly.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Thankfully, I wasn’t too late. I managed to visit my family and even stopped by the grave to pay my respects. :)
Ah, watching the wedding made me feel a bit envious, and it was strange how quickly it ended.
Heo Jun-young, Ahn Sol, Shin Jae-ryong. I’ll update the user information this morning. Driving back and forth from Seoul to Changwon has left me a bit disoriented and quite exhausted. Haha.
Due to unavoidable circumstances, Lee Jun-young’s name has been changed to Heo Jun-young. I ask for the readers’ understanding.
The clan member who participated in the rescue team was Shin Jae-ryong, not Baek Seung-hoon. Baek Seung-hoon is a newly added apprentice clan member, and I mistakenly confused him with Shin Jae-ryong in the previous chapter. I apologize for the confusion. (__)