EP.102

[I would appreciate it if you could refrain from playing dumb or pretending not to know. Although I may appear this way, I do hold you, a human, in respect, so I would like to avoid the disgraceful act of ruining our reunion with a long-time companion by spewing lies.]

The enormous dragon grinned, chuckling softly.

In truth, dragons and humans differ so sharply in appearance that reading each other’s expressions should be next to impossible. Yet remarkably, everyone present could read the expression the dragon was currently displaying.

At this moment, the dragon clearly revealed the emotion of ‘joy.’

“…How did you know?”

With such certainty in its tone, Jin realized that playing dumb would not yield any benefits, and he sighed, causing the dragon’s smile to deepen.

[Well, is it so surprising that I have cherished memories of you?]

“Regrettably, this has never happened until now.”

Throughout the nine iterations Jin had experienced, this ‘Dragon of End’ had never once remembered events from past iterations.

However, right now, the Dragon of End distinctly recalled events that would occur in the past, transcending time.

If not only the Dragon of End but other dragons as well recalled their encounters with him, it would indeed be the worst-case scenario he had feared.

He had gained an advantage in knowledge about his opponents through repeated regressions, only to have that advantage flipped in an instant.

[If I were to explain, this moment we are facing is merely the fate that was meant to be.]

“…What?”

What nonsensical banter was that?

[There’s no need to overthink it. To put it simply, your ability to face the past by transcending time was merely a privilege.]

You mean the phenomenon where I regress to ten years ago upon my death is not an ability but a privilege?

…No, what exactly is the difference between ability and privilege? No matter how I think about it, it just sounds like a play on words.

And even if it is a privilege, what is the reason for the Dragon of End to be able to resurrect memories of the past in this iteration?

[I’m sorry, but I have no obligation to explain everything to you. I am not here merely to answer your questions.]

The dragon spoke in a surprisingly curt tone, as if refusing to say anything further. It felt absurd that it had previously blabbered meaningfully on a topic Jin hadn’t even asked about and was now refusing to answer questions.

“By the way, why do you consider me your friend? Is there truly a relationship that could justify such a bond between us?”

[That’s rather disappointing. Haven’t we engaged in countless life-and-death battles, akin to spiraling circles, slaying each other all this time? If we harbored no such feelings for each other amid that struggle, wouldn’t that be a lie?]

“Sorry, but the notion of developing feelings for one’s opponent during a fight went out of fashion long ago. I can’t relate to that at all.”

With a light scoff, Jin glanced at Claire, who was kneeling in front of the dragon, gasping for breath.

“By the way, how about you release Claire already? You pulled me here as you wished, and not only that, but you’ve also liberated yourself from this place. It seems like it’s time to let her go.”

[Unfortunately, that is a request I cannot grant.]

The dragon raised one of its massive front paws and carefully handled Claire, who was kneeling and panting.

On the surface, it looked as if it were about to crush something beneath its foot, but shockingly, it was indeed an act of ‘petting’ someone else.

Because at this moment, the dragon was adjusting the magical energy of the atmosphere to ensure that Claire sustained no injuries while protecting her.

However, to be honest, Jin found it utterly nauseating behavior.

The dragon’s actions appeared more as though it were nurturing and caring for a precious pet rather than protecting a person.

“…Claire is not your pet.”

[No, this woman is indeed my pet. Everything she possesses is derived from me. Therefore, I am the owner of her soul, and in a way, I am her captain of fate. And she is also the only being that holds a deep-seated hatred for me. How could I possibly entrust my precious doll to someone else?]

[And do not pretend you are unaware. Jin, do you really think I failed to notice that you have been eavesdropping on the conversation between this woman and me from afar? I have merely turned a blind eye to your actions because I wanted to face you and converse with you in person.]

“…Indeed, you noticed, didn’t you?”

Looking back now, it would have been stranger if it had not noticed.

Ten years from now, the most terrifying weapon possessed by the ‘Dragon of End’ is not its endlessly unleashed high-caliber magic, nor its steel-like scales that repel all attacks, nor the sinister eye that deceive and ultimately corrupts others; rather, it is the dragon’s senses, capable of perceiving and reacting to everything in this world.

[This woman is my first apostle, a toy, and at the same time, a precious pet. So, Jin, if you wish to take her from me, you must impose your will upon me.]

“Just like how I trampled your head and severed your neck six times before?”

As Jin scoffed, recalling the six times he had hunted it down, the Dragon of End chuckled incredulously.

[Yes, I certainly am a loser. In the distant past, I have countless times driven you to defeat and even death, yet I am now a pitiful victim hunted by you.]

[But you are not the same as you were back then, are you?]

At that moment, the dragon’s eyes, glimmering with bloodlust, fixed directly on Jin.

[Ten years from now, you will be the most exceptional hunter in the world. Your body will be harder than steel, your movements faster than the wind, and your strength will have the power to slay even the earth. You will have honed yourself to the limits of what a human can achieve.]

[But what about now? Your bones are weak, your stamina is feeble, and your heart is frail. It seems you have been training in your own way, but your body is still incomplete. Compared to the ‘you’ I once knew, the present ‘you’ is embarrassingly weak.]

[Is that all? When you opposed me before, did you not have countless humans aiding you? Those humans restrained my movements, took my attacks for you, and opened the path for your hands to reach me—would it truly be possible to win against me without them?]

The dragon laughs loudly with a scornful tone. Within that laughter was an absolute confidence in itself.

[But now, no matter how you look around, there exists no human who could serve as your limbs. Although it seems you brought one with you, isn’t that the same girl who tragically died after acting as your shield?]

[It is truly amusing! The saying ‘the hunter is most relaxed when he is out hunting something’ could only apply to this situation, couldn’t it?]

The dragon’s laughter echoed throughout the hollow, causing Altina, who stood beside Jin, to instinctively shrink back.

Altina, having also reached the mastery level, was an absolute powerhouse among mortals, yet before that dragon, she found it impossible to even breathe properly.

Furthermore, confronted by that dragon, her eyes exhibited strange, incomprehensible images, and her mind was flooded with an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.

I understand. Altina is undoubtedly encountering this for the first time, and while she may not comprehend what it is, she still seems to grasp it somehow.

In truth, she shouldn’t have been able to understand it, yet the memories etched within her soul resonate, insisting that she knows what it is and what it is saying—

“…Calm down. It’s okay. From now on, I’ll handle everything.”

As if sensing Altina’s state, Jin raises his arm, quietly blocking her.

“No. What it says is correct. It is something you can’t face alone. At the very least, I must be your shield…”

“No, that’s not what I mean to say to protect you. As I mentioned earlier, this is about dividing our roles.”

Saying this, Jin glances quietly at Claire, who is sprawled out a distance away, gasping for breath.

“I’ll confront that dragon, so you take the opportunity to save Claire. Understand?”

Given the previous patterns, the probability was extremely high that the ‘Dragon of End’ had implanted some kind of device in Claire.

And as long as it has a follower or someone it despises, it possesses a body that is essentially immortal.

In other words, Jin wasn’t trying to separate Altina from this battle but rather assigning her a different role.

“But, but that thing—”

As Altina attempts to speak, insisting it’s something that no human could possibly face alone, Jin carefully raises a finger to silence her.

“We can discuss this later. For now, trust me. If you truly consider me your master, then it is your duty as a disciple to believe in your master.”

As Jin delivers this playful remark, Altina bites her lip firmly before turning away from him.

“…If you die, I won’t let this rest. I’ll pursue you to the ends of hell for an explanation.”

“That’s quite a frightening threat.”

Jin shrugs as he says this, prompting Altina to whip her long hair back and distance herself without looking back.

She likely has every intention of using the moment when the fight truly begins to rescue Claire.

[My friend, what a foolish choice you’ve made. Knowing fully well you cannot win, you chose to risk your own life for the sake of a mere doll? If only you had abandoned this capital and sacrificed others’ lives to buy some time, your odds of defeating me would have increased.]

“Sorry, but I can’t make such a choice. Sacrificing the lives of others for my sake is merely a form of escape.”

Above all, countless people have already sacrificed their lives for him without hesitation. Therefore, he had no inclination to increase that number here.

[But how? How do you plan to defeat me all by yourself?]

“I think you’re misunderstanding something, so let me correct you. First, I am not here alone. Second, I certainly did not come here to throw away my life.”

[…What?]

“You said it yourself, didn’t you? I’m the only human who has hunted you down six times. In other words, can’t we interpret that differently?”

With this, Jin steps forward without any hesitation toward the ‘Dragon of End.’

“Regardless of our differences in power, I am the human who knows best how to kill you.”

From this point on, it is no longer a matter of duel but a matter of life and death.

At this very moment, Jin intends to hunt the ‘Dragon of End’ right here.