Yeomyeong looked at the dwarf's outstretched hand for a moment, then responded curtly.

“…I’ll have to decline.”

The dwarf's face went through a range of expressions—anger, confusion, indignation, puzzlement, and then realization. He clenched the hand he'd extended, tapping his forehead with it.

“…Ah, I got ahead of myself and forgot the most important part. I should have offered a reward first before making a deal.”

He continued with a grin.

“If you succeed in this mission, I can offer you anything you want. Money, shares, elixirs, magic tools, and if you desire... certain other things as well.”

Certain other things? Yeomyeong leaned back slightly, wary of the dwarf’s suggestive smile.

“Whatever you can imagine, I promise I can offer even more. After all, you’re someone who can afford to give up a dragon rib. I won’t insult you with small change.”

“...”

“So? Are you more inclined to accept my proposal now?”

The dwarf smirked, his expression betraying his belief that Yeomyeong couldn’t possibly refuse such an offer. But upon hearing Yeomyeong’s response, his face twisted in dismay.

“I’ll have to decline.”

“Are you trying to increase your price? If so, I advise against it. Dwarves aren’t fond of haggling.”

“No, I’m truly declining.”

As Yeomyeong turned to leave, the dwarf hurriedly continued.

“Ah, so it’s about the rib, then? If that’s the issue, don’t worry. Commander Kwon only claimed a share as a test. The dragon rib is entirely yours.”

Still unsatisfied, the dwarf added in a desperate tone.

“If you wish, our company’s craftsmen can even forge weapons from the rib for you, free of charge.”

Yeomyeong paused, rubbing his lips as if deep in thought. Tempted by the dwarf's offer? No, not really. It was just a bit of theatrics to buy some time.

Why was this dwarf so insistent on him?

Was it because he was a superhuman capable of cutting a dragon rib, as he claimed? That seemed unlikely. Perhaps such a skill was rare at the Manju base, but the world was vast. If this tycoon threw enough money around, he could surely find someone else capable of such feats.

So then, what was the hidden agenda behind this proposal?

‘Could there be something I possess that a dwarf tycoon would covet?’

Talent? If the mercenary corps had been watching him for a long time, maybe. But as recently as yesterday, even Kim Mansu didn’t know he was a superhuman.

So it had to be something from last night’s battle with the dragon that caught the dwarf's interest.

The first thing that came to mind was his relic. Both the Comet Sword and the Dagger of the Stars were priceless.

But if his relics were the target, the dwarf wouldn’t need all this roundabout negotiation. He could simply use force or offer a direct buyout.

That left only one possibility.

‘…The Saintess.’

Of course, Yeomyeong’s connection to the Saintess wasn’t particularly deep.

But from an outsider’s perspective, it could easily appear that they were close.

They had fought the dragon together, held an interview together, and she had even protected his claim to the dragon rib.

It was a plausible theory. If the dwarf’s true objective was indeed the Saintess...

Having come to a conclusion, Yeomyeong removed his hand from his lips and gave the dwarf a respectful nod.

“…It’s an overly generous offer, but I must still decline.”

“You’re declining? Truly?”

“Yes.”

“Why? If it’s about the test, I apologize.”

“No apology needed. I simply have no desire to fight dragons.”

“Are you scared?”

“Yes. After fighting a dragon, I don’t think I have the nerve to do it again.”

Yeomyeong feigned fear, observing the dwarf’s reaction closely. If he were mistaken about all of this, the dwarf would back off here—

“There’s no need to worry! The dragon guarding the treasure is much younger than Kahal Magdu.”

The dwarf didn’t relent. He even tried harder to persuade Yeomyeong.

‘So his goal really is elsewhere.’

Yeomyeong sighed internally, but the dwarf continued his rambling, oblivious.

“And you wouldn’t go alone, of course. Commander Kwon and the Seonjook Mercenary Corps would—”

“…That’s enough, Darulma.”

The one to interrupt the dwarf was none other than Commander Kwon Mongju. Standing a step back, his cold eyes assessed Yeomyeong.

“Didn’t I mention this was a petty test? He’s a superhuman. I’m sure he’s figured everything out by now.”

The commander gave Yeomyeong a questioning look. Yeomyeong just shrugged in response.

The dwarf looked between the two of them, then clicked his tongue.

“So that leaves only two options: violence or sincerity. Not very dwarf-like.”

As the dwarf’s ring-covered hand clenched into a fist, Yeomyeong placed his hand on his sword’s hilt.

“I’d recommend sincerity over violence.”

He couldn’t gauge the commander’s strength, but he doubted escape would be too difficult.

As tension thickened between the two superhumans, the dwarf nodded with a sigh.

“Fine, sincerity it is. Cheon Yeomyeong, let me be blunt.”

“…”

“Could you perhaps act as a bridge between the Saintess and our mercenary corps?”

So it was indeed the Saintess. Unfortunately, the dwarf was barking up the wrong tree.

“…I don’t know what misunderstandings there are, but I have no connection to the Saintess.”

“Come on, now. Is it believable that the Saintess pressured the military on behalf of a mere stranger?”

“How should I know her intentions? We fought a dragon together; perhaps she just felt a sense of camaraderie.”

“Then what about her journey to Manju to find you? How do you explain that?”

Wait, what? Yeomyeong’s brow furrowed. He replied honestly.

“That’s news to me.”

“The soldiers and mercenaries at Manju base already know. The Saintess’s stolen bike GPS was directly tracking you. Are you really going to claim ignorance?”

The dwarf let out an incredulous laugh, but Yeomyeong felt genuinely wronged. He truly had no knowledge of this.

Perhaps misinterpreting Yeomyeong’s expression, the dwarf tapped the table nervously, continuing to speak.

“To avoid any misunderstanding, let me clarify. I meant no harm. Every offer I made earlier was sincere. The treasure hunt, the dragon guarding it—”

Before he could finish, Commander Kwon’s phone rang, interrupting him. The dwarf glanced at Kwon, who gestured towards the phone.

“…Also, everything I promised is true. The only thing I lied about was trying to use you to contact the Saintess. You must understand that—”

The commander, looking suddenly anxious, cut him off.

“Excuse me, but I believe you should take this call.”

“Can’t you see we’re in the middle of something important?”

“This is even more important. The Blue Rat’s CEO is on the line.”

Kwon handed his phone to the dwarf, who cursed under his breath at the mention of the KGB’s ghost and began the call.

As the dwarf listened, his face contorted with displeasure, indicating it wasn’t going well.

Then, mid-conversation, his expression shifted to one of shock and fear as he looked at Yeomyeong.

‘…What now?’

What could this conversation be about to cause such a reaction? Yeomyeong tilted his head, confused, as the call ended.

Click.

Silence filled the base camp. The dwarf opened his mouth to speak, but the words wouldn’t come.

Finally, it was Yeomyeong who broke the silence.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

Instead of answering, the dwarf threw a question back at him.

“Are you truly not connected to the Saintess?”

“I’ve told you several times—I have no relationship with her.”

“…Then what about the rumor that you and the Saintess were in the same recovery room last night?”

“What?”

What nonsense was this? Yes, he’d woken up to find the Saintess nearby, but that didn’t mean they shared a room.

…Or did it?

While he was contemplating, the dwarf, in an increasingly frantic tone, asked again.

“Please, just tell me the truth. You didn’t… do anything with the Saintess, did you?”

“…”

The unexpected question left Yeomyeong frozen. His mind reeled, as if struck by a hammer.

“No one would be that stupid, right? Do you have any idea what kind of threats you’d face from billions of believers?”

Yeomyeong felt rage rising as he processed the ridiculous notion. He and the Saintess had known each other for barely two days. They’d hardly exchanged more than a few words.

What did they think this was, some alleyway romance?

“…Who was that on the phone? Why are you asking me such ridiculous questions?”

The dwarf didn’t answer. Instead, the response came from behind him.

Creeeeak.

The base camp door swung open, and an unexpected figure walked in.

 

Deep in the Siberian wastelands, which the Manju people called hell.

In a desolate land where twisted mana mingled with snowstorms, a skeletal dragon beat its wings.

Kahal Magdu. A calamity born from humanity’s boundless greed.

He flew through the Siberian sky, arriving at a place once known as Verkhoyansk.

Where once thousands had lived, only frozen buildings, cars, and an eerie silence remained.

The dragon surveyed the cityscape below, then folded his wings and descended.

Thud!

With his massive body landing in the snowstorm, icicles shattered and snow scattered.

In the biting cold, the dragon summoned mana, seeking his target. Before long, he detected a familiar mana within a frozen school.

“You’re late, Kahal.”

On the rooftop of the school, four figures clad in thick winter gear were waiting.

“The winged one arrives last?”

Aside from one, each exuded twisted mana. The dragon lifted his head to meet their gaze.

-Do you take pride in fleeing first, Ekaterina?

The woman in white winter gear snarled, hefting a large spear.

“Shut up! If you idiots hadn’t bungled things, I wouldn’t have needed to run!”

-Hah, making excuses, are we? By your arrival time, it seems you were the first to break.

Ignoring her rant, the dragon snorted. History held no place for “if onlys”; they hadn’t completed the mission, hence their gathering here in shame.

“Both of you… that’s enough….”

A man in red winter gear, with a voice as low as a corpse’s, intervened in the quarrel.

“We don’t need… to fight amongst… ourselves. None of us… were the ones… who broke….”

“Then how did support get through? Are you saying the Korean government stabbed us in the back?”

“No… this time, not even… the Korean government… could have foreseen it. The Saintess… the Saintess intervened….”

“The Saintess? What’s that academy brat doing in Manju?”

“I can’t say… but the Saintess is here… no doubt about it. Isn’t that right… Kahal?”

As the man in red looked at him, the dragon snorted affirmatively.

-Yes, the Saintess was there. Though this time she seemed a bit unhinged... But what does she have to do with the mission's failure?

“The Saintess… the true Saintess can see the future… She must have acted… before we could even begin… That explains everything….”

At his words, a heavy silence fell on the rooftop. Each was lost in similar thoughts.

-Premonitions, eh? A talent that will continue to plague us.

“Shall we kill her? It’s not in a sanctuary, and we’re in North Manju. It wouldn’t be hard to slit her throat.”

Ekaterina bared her teeth, but the man in red shook his head.

“If the Saintess dies… there will be… war. The time… is not… right….”

-So what, are we just going to back off?

“No… the objective remains… but we will adjust… the plan….”

The man in red scanned the others, his gaze finally settling on the dragon, who subtly pulled his head back.

-I’m out. I’ve met someone interesting, so I’ll bide my time.

“With Kahal stepping out… who will go… from the remaining two…?”

The yellow and black-clad figures were left, and the black-clad one raised a hand.

“I’ll go.”

A voice, pure like an unbroken boy’s. The man in red tilted his head.

“Are you sure, Parsoon…? Treasure theft… isn’t your usual work….”

“Well, it’s not the only thing I’ll be doing. There’s something else I want to check.”

“Check…?”

“When we burned North Manju, I sensed something from beyond the stars.”

“The heavens… beyond the stars…? I sensed… nothing….”

“Maybe it’s just me. Maybe your eyes have finally failed you.”

The black-clad figure looked up, gazing at the starry darkness above, obscured by the snowstorm.

“Very well… Go then… the treasure… is yours….”