Chapter 31

While staring down at the president of the academy who was sitting on the floor and blankly gazing at him, Yujin gave a bitter smile.

“President, shall we have a candid conversation?”

Though the president had tried to kill him, Yujin decided to give dialogue a shot. There was no choice; if he killed the president in retaliation for trying to kill him, the repercussions would be too much to handle.

Besides, whether you look at it this way or that, the president wasn’t someone who could harm Yujin anyway. As a mage, the president was powerless against one of the great masters of magic, the Dragon.

Just like with Mirien, there was no need to overreact when there was no real danger.

“Yes, yes?”

However, the president herself was flustered and repeated his words back.

Certainly, she had used magic to try to kill him, yet here he was suggesting they talk. And not just anyone—this was one of the great masters of magic, a Dragon!

Hadn’t he heard that Dragons were haughty and merciless toward those who dared challenge their authority?

“Is… is there no punishment for me…?”

“Punishment… Hmm. Let’s think about that later. First, it seems you misunderstand something about me, so let’s clear that up.”

Yujin said this and then smirked again with half-lidded eyes.

“First off, President, I truly did not harm Her Highness the Princess. I merely sealed her demonic energy.”

“Huh? Ah, but before that…”

“Hmm? Is there some other more important matter?”

“W-well, you see…”

More important than the sealing of the princess’s demonic energy was the fact that a Dragon stood right before her now, and the president stammered as she spoke.

“Are you… really a Dragon?”

“Ah, you mean that.”

Yujin chuckled bitterly at the question and absentmindedly stroked his chin as he thought.

A Dragon… Sure, it wouldn’t hurt to tell her as long as discretion was maintained, but still, it was kind of a secret, right? Like with Mirien, who hadn’t realized he was a Dragon despite sensing Dragon fear—it wasn’t something to reveal too easily.

Still, Yujin decided to just come out and say it to the president outright. Her eyes already seemed pretty convinced that he was a Dragon, so hiding it would be pointless.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“…!!!”

The president’s eyes widened dramatically. Though she’d almost been sure upon hearing the Dragon language, hearing it confirmed directly from the source felt entirely different.

A Dragon! Truly, really a Dragon!

Thump, thump! Her heart pounded wildly with excitement. The realization that a Dragon actually existed right before her eyes made her mind go completely blank.

What should she do? What can she do? Did she dare attack him, and is he angry? More importantly, how is he walking around on earth like this?

“Erm, how is this possible? I thought all transcendent beings aside from the gods were either dead or trapped in the maze…”

“All dead or trapped in the maze, you say? Then let me ask you something, President.”

Yujin asked this while narrowing one eye.

“Is what you see before your eyes the truth? Or is history, which you haven’t experienced firsthand, the truth?”

“That’s…”

“You don’t need to overthink it. You seem pretty convinced I’m a Dragon anyway, so there’s no need to deny what’s right in front of you, right?”

“…”

“You don’t need to dwell too deeply on why I’m alive and walking outside the maze. History might’ve gotten things wrong, or some anomaly occurred. Either way, it’s none of your concern.”

Yujin firmly drew a line. No need to dig too deep. The president understood this and closed her mouth, bowing her head slightly before speaking again.

“I-I’ll keep that in mind. Forgive my rudeness.”

“It wasn’t that rude. No need to belittle yourself too much.”

“No, no! Please lower your tone. I’m just a mere mortal who inherited a bit of dragon blood. There’s no need for a transcendent being like a Dragon to speak highly to someone as insignificant as me…”

“It’s fine. I prefer it this way. Anyway, are the misunderstandings about me cleared up?”

“Huh? Oh, oh yes! Of course. So… you only sealed the princess’s demonic energy…”

Recalling Yujin’s earlier explanation, the president nodded. Yujin then asked:

“Do you need proof of that?”

“G-gah, no need! A Dragon has no reason to lie to someone as insignificant as me!”

“…I see. That’s good then.”

Yujin watched the president with a strange feeling.

How should he put it… Even though he was a Dragon, Yujin felt the president was being overly submissive. This was a woman who had always stood above others her whole life.

Of course, Yujin quickly understood. In her eyes, he saw admiration and reverence. Maybe, because she had inherited some dragon blood, she instinctively respected Dragons.

Anyway, with the president acting like this, things were easier for Yujin. He continued.

“Just so you know, the seal is only temporary. Her Highness the Second Princess has already become closer to a Demon than a human. With the demonic energy sealed, she will likely grow weaker over time.”

Yujin relayed what Tiamat had told him to the president, whose expression hardened upon hearing it.

No matter what, the president cared for her students. Hearing that one of them wasn’t doing well was serious business for her.

“In that case, what must be done?”

“There’s a way. We can’t turn her back into a fully human, but there’s a method to at least preserve her sense of self.”

“…?”

At this, the president’s face grew complicated. She asked,

“Can’t she return completely human, even with Dragon power?”

“Even though Dragon power is close to omnipotent, it isn’t truly all-powerful. If Her Highness had just been invaded by the Seed of the Demon, it might’ve been possible, but… She’s already become one with the Seed. In short, Her Highness has been reborn as a transcendent being. And reversing an already-born transcendent being back to what they were before isn’t easy.”

This revelation left the president wide-eyed. She asked again,

“Transcendent… Are you saying the princess has become a transcendent being?”

“Not quite complete yet, but still undeniably a transcendent being… Even Dragon power can’t perform miracles against another transcendent.”

“…”

The president fell silent with a dark expression. Seeing this, Yujin decided to lighten the mood by asking,

“By the way, may I ask a few questions?”

“…Huh? Oh, yes! Ask anything! I’ll answer whatever I can!”

In response to this, Yujin asked about something that had been bothering him.

“It’s nothing major… but you seemed to be quite wary of me from the start. Why is that?”

“…Huh?”

Yujin had been curious since the beginning. Both the president and Professor Reina had treated him like an enemy from the moment they first met, ever since he was found standing over a collapsed girl.

Sure, that could seem suspicious, but even accounting for that, their level of wariness and hostility had been excessive. It led him to suspect there was some other reason.

However, upon hearing this, the president froze.

“…Uh, what should I do?”

How could she explain that she’d mistaken the very Dragon she admired and revered for a Dark Sorcerer and had been wary of him ever since?

She was already anxious about having attacked him; how could she possibly confess this additional mistake?

“But, um…”

Deciding it was better to take the punishment upfront rather than hide it and risk greater consequences, the president revealed everything.

The recent activities of the Dark Sorcerer faction, the party that faced a Demon on just the fifth floor and underwent a trial, the suspicious timing of a new mage joining them, the fact that the mage’s past was completely unknown, and today’s incident with the princess…

Thinking it over, it was all based on flimsy circumstantial evidence without any proper proof, but preconceived notions and first impressions had led her astray. Recalling this, she felt ashamed again.

“I see.”

But Yujin understood her. Being mistaken for a Dark Sorcerer was admittedly absurd, but considering all the suspicious circumstances surrounding a suspicious person, her caution wasn’t entirely unwarranted.

“Yeah, I get it. I probably would’ve done some investigating myself. Still, it did escalate a bit too far…”

“…”

“Still, it’s fine. Nothing escalated into a big issue, and I don’t dwell on it, so please lift your head.”

“…Yes, yes? But…”

Upon hearing Yujin’s words, the president looked up in confusion. However, Yujin remained calm, his expression unreadable.

That face, which initially seemed suspicious, now appeared merciful.

“Really, is it okay?”

“Yes, I hold no personal grudge. Of course, separate from that, there must be some form of retribution, but…”

“Ah…”

That’s right. If someone dared harbor enmity and murderous intent towards a Dragon, they must pay the price. The president bowed her head.

“I’ll accept any punishment gladly. But, might I make one request…?”

“Go ahead.”

“If you must punish me, please end it with me alone. Spare my family and the academy people…”

Not wanting to involve others, she pleaded thus, causing Yujin to give a wry smile.

“That’s obvious. Is that all you wanted to say?”

“…Yes.”

Relieved by Yujin’s words, the president relaxed somewhat. Believing the transcendent being wouldn’t go back on his word, she closed her eyes.

“In that case, I shall administer the punishment. Roughly… yeah, this should do.”

After mumbling to himself for a moment, he addressed the president.

“I shall now place a restriction upon you using Dragon language. You will be unable to disobey what I am about to say.”

“…I understand.”

Swallowing hard, the president nodded.

Then, Yujin’s Dragon language rang out.

“‘From this moment forward, unless I permit it, you are forbidden from revealing the fact that I am a Dragon anywhere.’”

Woooom!

A sensation as if the entire space-time resonated swept through her. His words imprinted themselves into her mind, as if etched onto her soul.

She silently agreed within herself. Such a condition was only natural. Revealing the fact that he was a Dragon would bring no good to many places.

But surely this wasn’t the end. Next…

“‘This restriction will remain until I die or release it.’”

“…Huh?”

…Is that it?

…Really?

There’s no way. After showing such hostility, there’s no way he’d end it this lightly…

“It’s settled. That’s all.”

But soon, a normal male voice reached her ears instead of the one etched into her soul. Confused, the president asked,

“Um, is this really the end?”

“Hmm? Is there a problem?”

“N-no… it’s just…”

It was far too lenient, almost excessively so. Yet, it felt weird to ask for harsher punishment when he said he was fine with it.

Speechless, the president froze, and Yujin, noticing her bewilderment, turned around and started walking away.

“Let’s… go see Professor Reina Sahart next. From what I’ve heard, she also seems to misunderstand me, so let’s clear that up first.”

“…”

The president could only stand there dumbfounded, watching Yujin walk away.