Unlike the surprised Darulma, who was blinking in confusion, the Saintess seemed calm.

She ascended the watchtower leisurely, scanned the surroundings, and spoke.

"Yeomyeong, are you planning to release it right now? Are you sure? The Korean army won’t stand idly by…."

Her voice was the usual upbeat yet laced with concern. Yeomyeong, tucking the Golden Seal into his belt, replied,

“Have they ever stood idly by? As long as the dragon’s here, the army will keep acting this way.”

“…That’s true.”

Ever since they obtained Kahal Magdu’s rib, the Korean military had never bothered to hide its greed. From blatant power plays to subtle manipulations and even the bullet that had just flown at their backs.

Of course, it was likely Colonel Jung acted on his own, but given how the military higher-ups were demanding the entire dragon tail as a trophy, they probably didn’t think much differently from Jung.

The Saintess, organizing her thoughts, nudged the unconscious Colonel Jung with her foot and said,

“I still didn’t expect them to start shooting right away. If we release the dragon now, won’t they just try to assassinate us later?”

“Didn’t they already try?”

“…What?”

Already tried? The Saintess tilted her head in confusion.

Instead of explaining, Yeomyeong pointed at Colonel Jung and then at her. Finally understanding, the Saintess’s eyes widened in realization.

“No matter how badly they want the dragon, attempting to assassinate the Saintess….”

She glanced over at the soldier standing behind Yeomyeong, head hung low and arms trembling.

“…Huh.”

Was he really planning to go down this route? Smiling slightly, the Saintess stepped closer to Yeomyeong.

“What’s your plan, then? Got something in mind?”

Her voice was so low that neither the soldier nor Darulma could hear her. Yeomyeong replied in an equally low voice.

“I’ll suggest they cover up the Saintess assassination attempt in exchange for releasing the dragon.”

“Oh… an ultimatum, then? Either be the army that tried to assassinate the Saintess, or the army that released a dragon.”

The Saintess looked slightly impressed. For an improvised plan, it was a pretty solid one.

Only minutes had passed since he dodged that bullet, and yet he’d come up with a scheme like this in that short time.

He didn’t seem to have a particular knack for politics or international relations.

‘Maybe… he’s just really sharp when it comes to messing with people?’

She took a moment to study Yeomyeong’s face. Judging by appearances was unfair, but…

If he were an actor, he’d probably fit a villain role better than a hero.

“…Come to think of it, you were ready to kill Wallard when we first met.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“Oh, nothing. Just saying I approve of this plan.”

She turned the conversation away smoothly. Yeomyeong squinted at her before raising the Seal.

Just as he was about to channel mana into it, Darulma interjected.

“Hey, Yeomyeong. Are you really planning to release the dragon?”

Darulma couldn’t hide his surprise. He must’ve thought it was just a bluff to deal with the army, not a genuine intention to release the dragon.

“Yes, I am,” Yeomyeong replied firmly. Realizing he was serious, Darulma started to say something, then closed his mouth.

If Yeomyeong was set on releasing it, was there any point in trying to dissuade him?

It was a shame about the dragon’s heart and bones, but… technically, that dragon wasn’t even Doon Heavy Industries' property.

On the contrary, it could be satisfying to give the impolite Korean army a bit of a sting, making Yeomyeong’s idea seem not so bad after all.

“…Is there anything I can help with?”

After sorting through his thoughts, Darulma asked. Yeomyeong hesitated briefly, then looked toward the dragon and responded.

“Could you possibly gather reporters immediately?”

“Reporters? They’re not allowed here since this area is managed by the military.”

“What about at the Manju base? The location doesn’t matter as long as they’re gathered in one place.”

“Oh, that’s doable.”

Without questioning the reason for gathering reporters, Darulma promptly pulled out his phone and instructed his staff to summon the press.

As the soldier turned pale at the mention of reporters, Yeomyeong added lightly,

“Oh, and please ask them to bring good cameras.”

“…Good cameras?”

“Ones good enough to capture a flying dragon.”

 

Orsse Tabul was in a slumber so deep it was almost death-like—a sleep induced by copious amounts of tranquilizers and sedatives.

In the depths of this stupor, the dragon’s consciousness wandered.

Then, warmth began to flow into his body—a strange mana that pushed the drugs out of his veins, breathed life into his stiff heart.

The dragon recognized it as divine mana, blessed by the gods.

It was similar to the mana once granted by the priests of the five gods in a distant past.

Could the gods be trying to save him?

Following the path of the mana, the dragon’s consciousness broke free from the fog of the drugs. Muscles that had been limp began to twitch, and mana that had lain dormant started pulsing through his veins again.

As blood and mana flooded his brain, his awareness returned, shaking off all traces of drugs and sleep.

The dragon finally awoke from his long slumber.

“You’re finally awake.”

The dragon’s enormous eyelids slowly lifted.

Looking at him was a human female, her hand emitting a soft white glow.

[…Saintess.]

With a dazed gaze, Orsse Tabul took in her pristine white robe and her face covered by an eye patch.

[Why… am I still alive?]

Focused on her healing work, the Saintess merely gestured with her eyes toward the side.

The dragon attempted to turn his head to look, but something was tightly holding his neck and body in place.

Restraints fit for livestock. Instinctively, he tried to exert strength against them.

Rumble…

The restraints trembled, groaning under the pressure, but that was all. The thick bindings continued to press down on the dragon’s body.

He could tell these restraints were specially made to contain a dragon, and even his full power wouldn’t easily break them.

He wanted to unleash his breath attack right then and there, but… the Saintess was in the way. Left with no choice, he moved only his eyes to glance at the figure standing beside her.

And then he saw a familiar human male.

[You are…]

How could he forget? The very human who had severed his wings and legs and fired bullets into his eyes.

“Orsse Tabul, you may be confused since you’ve just woken up, but first, listen to me….”

Before he could finish, mana gathered in the dragon’s mouth.

Hummm—

Bound as he was, he was still a dragon.

He prepared his breath attack, intending to annihilate the restraints and the human male in front of him.

However, in the next moment, the object in the human’s hand made the dragon shut his mouth.

The Golden Seal—the last legacy left by his old friend.

[Cursed human! How dare you!!]

The dragon’s furious roar shook the warehouse, making the Saintess cover her ears and the man holding the Seal wince slightly.

“Ugh, could you… let me speak?”

[Speak? Are you mocking me before you butcher me?]

“….”

[Saintess! How could you?! How could you ally yourself with humans?! Can’t you see the resentment of the millions persecuted by communists—?!]

As the dragon unleashed his lengthy grievances, the man threw the Seal at him.

The dragon recoiled in shock.

[W-what are you doing?!]

The dragon shook with anger. If not for these restraints, he would have raised his claws to crush that human on the spot!

Just as he was about to shout further in protest, he felt the weight of the restraints vanish with a series of metallic clicks.

The restraints holding him down had all disengaged.

Finding himself abruptly freed, the dragon forgot his anger momentarily and looked at the human male in bewilderment.

[Unlocked? What is…?]

The human raised his hand in response. After a brief moment, the Seal returned to his grasp.

Not only had he unlocked it, but he could also recall it? The dragon’s eyes trembled as he watched the human.

[How? I couldn’t even use all its powers. Who did you receive it from?]

“Someone you know well.”

[How dare you mock me?!]

The dragon bared his teeth, growling, his mana surging and shaking the warehouse.

The soldiers watching nearby quickly raised their guns.

But neither the human nor the dragon paid any mind to the soldiers.

A tense silence followed, then the human raised the Seal and spoke.

“Bloodlines weaken.”

[…]

“Statues rust, and vows are forgotten.”

As he finished, the dragon’s wings spread wide, his pupils dilated. The scars on his unhealed eye tore open, and blood began to trickle down as if he were shedding tears.

“There may be nothing eternal in this world, yet still, we….”

[…hope for eternal friendship.]

The dragon lowered himself, meeting the human at eye level. In his vertically slit, reptilian eyes, the image of the human was reflected.

“Will this suffice as proof that I met someone you know well?”

[…I will believe you.]

Orsse Tabul responded without resistance, surprising everyone in the warehouse. Darulma, in particular, shivered as though struck by lightning.

[Reveal your name.]

“My name is Cheon Yeomyeong. The human who defeated you.”

[I am Orsse Tabul, the dragon.]

Thankfully, unlike the Dwarven king, he didn’t seem to have a particular obsession with titles.