[17th Round] Descendants of Dragons
“The Brave job is far more widespread than I thought.”
The better the job, the rarer it should be. However, it seemed the opposite was true here.
Logically, a Greatest-Top-Secret-Legendary-Ultra-General-Emperor-ZZZ-ranked concept should only be available to one person!
However, in this world, there was no such logic.
It amazed me how faithful the First Hero was to his youthful instincts.
It was more than enough to say that he was the most faithful in the entire universe.
Most animals reproduced only with their own kind, after all.
Meanwhile, he was interested not only in mammals but also in reptiles, birds, and fish.
His fecundity was then passed on to his descendants… together with his Brave job.
“What is this all about?!”
Classmate A was confused.
Relying solely on his strength and skill, he could no longer move in his new heavy armor.
He clearly needed to train more.
That wasn’t to say I didn’t understand Classmate A’s feelings, however.
One of the heroes’ advantages was their 500% experience gain increase.
Even if they didn’t try as hard as others, they could still level up at the same pace as them, if not faster. However, to build muscle mass, rigorous training was required.
That was where the problem arose.
The higher the rank of the Physical Strength skill, the more one relied not on their physical form but on the skill itself. Heroes often reached the state of completely relying on it five times faster than others. No, considering their level’s growth was also increased fivefold, then theoretically speaking, they reached it twenty-five times faster!
He couldn’t do anything.
“Wait for me here, friend. Don’t die.”
Of course, none of this applied to me.
My muscles, which developed from my breathing alone, had gone beyond the human race’s limitations 100 years ago, causing my body’s structure to be rebuilt in such a way that took into account the characteristics of different races and individuals, including Noebius, the Supreme Dragon of Oblivion himself.
I was the epitome of evolution, of innovation.
It was Mollan’s will!
It was hard to prove Darwin’s Theory of Evolution since evolution required thousands of years to occur.
But Mollan’s Evolution was different.
Just knowing the teachings of the greatest creature was enough for changes to emerge instantly.
It was the most effective form of evolution!
“I don’t know who Darwin is, but I can say with confidence that he is much more majestic than Mollan, cowardly hubby.”
“You’re simply ignorant of the truth.”
I stepped out through the shattered wall of the forge and soared into the sky using my wings of the righteous hero, which were the ultimate fruit of evolution.
There was no need to even waste time looking for the wife and children of my dear comrade Noebius.
The battle took place not far from us, after all.
The battle was so uneventful that it was hard to believe the combatants were dragons, though.
Their lackluster clash was due to their levels falling to 1 and having their true skills sealed since they were in the form of humans, not dragons.
Even then, they weren’t entirely human.
▷ Race: Green Draconid
▷ Level 1
▷ Job: Green Queen (Jungle → Blessing ↑)
▷ Skills: Resurrection ZZZ, Eternal Life ZZ, Recovery ZZ, Rebirth ZZ, Dragon Scales ZZ…
▷ Status: Happy, Transformation, Unification, Dragon Scale
The Divine Dragon’s body was covered in green scales. On top of that were black scales that resembled armor.
And on her head was a dark horned helmet, protecting her face and her green hair, which weren’t covered by her scales.
“How practical.”
I thought she was just an exhibitionist with no knowledge about protection, but that changed after she married and had children.
However, her black scales were the ones that piqued my interest the most.
No matter how I looked at it, those were definitely Noebius’s scales.
Black scales on a green dragon?
It wasn’t logically impossible, but it seemed that their “Unification” worked, the results of which reflected on both her and Noebius’s statuses.
She also had a helmet on.
How interesting.
The dark scales I got from Noebius covered my body completely, leaving me hairless!
“Surrender, Brave’s descendant.” said the Divine Dragon as she looked at the opponent.
She was armed but didn’t leave her seat.
Her children fought for her instead.
“Do not hurt mother!”
“You’re a bad person.”
The attacks of the green-haired girl and the black-haired boy were inept, which confirmed that they lacked experience.
In contrast, their opponent was an experienced fighter.
▷ Race: Half-dragon
▷ Level 1
▷ Job: Brave (Everyone = Level 1)
▷ Skills: Flash ZZ, Transformation ZZ, Reflection Z, Sword Mastery Z, Magic Z, Magic Power Z, Dexterity Z, Deflection Z, Stealth Z, Stamina Z, Blunt Weapon Z, Counterattack Z, Charisma Z, Surprise Attack Z, Hand-to-Hand Combat A, Hunting A, Arrogance A, Archery A, Fortitude A, Energy A, Sorcery A, Defense A, Friendship A, Inner strength A, Immunity A, Recovery A, Superspeed A, Trade A, Pressure A, Mass Murder A, Ambush A, Blessing A, Stealth A, Love A, Spear Mastery A, Poison A, Crafting A, Javelin Throw A, Concentration A, Command A, Deception A, Alchemy A, Enchant A, Five Senses A, Gathering A, Fishing A, Evasion B…
▷ Status: Transformation, Blessing, Empowerment, Potion
She was equipped with multiple combat skills.
She wasn’t a balanced character, however. While her offensive skills were top-notch, her defensive skills were at the bottom of the list. Moreover, there were only a few of them.
She was like an assassin seeking to kill her targets with one blow or a hunter who only aimed for weak prey. Or both.
“These monsters…”
Her appearance was no different from the common female mercenaries across the continents except for her blonde hair, which seemed to glitter like stars.
She wore the usual brown leather armor.
In her hands, clad in golden gauntlets, was a golden hammer, which she swung so easily it seemed like a toy. That alone showed she was no ordinary person and that the blood of golden dragons flowed through her.
But that was all she had.
BOOM! BOOM!
Noebius’s children remained on their feet, relentlessly charging at her like throwing daggers, even when struck with her armament.
They instantly recovered from the gravest injuries and mortal wounds.
“Good luck.”
Tuk!
The Divine Dragon, watching the battle, gently hit the ground with her staff whenever she needed to resurrect her children.
“Yes, die! Die! Damn monsters!”
Adults shouldn’t be talking to children like that.
But I perfectly understood how she felt.
“It bothered me too.”
Since the “First Saintess” stood behind the First Hero, constantly resurrecting him, I thought there would be no end to our last battle.
However, the end did come when his house, which had become our battlefield, could no longer survive our clashes. I was kicked out of there due to that.
“I’m not a monster. Not that it matters. You’ll fall soon enough.”
“Enough hysterics. Just die already.”
The two children quickly recovered thanks to the superior genes they received from their father, and even if they couldn’t, they were saved by their mother’s fraudulent ability.
The golden dragon, on the other hand, was already battered.
“Hmm. I don’t have to interfere.”
Their family was too strong.
Noebius, the final boss and the head of their family, hadn’t even woken up yet.
“Tsk! Monsters! We’ll see! Next time… Kya?!”
“There shall be no next time.”
She tried to escape with the Light, a racial trait of the Golden Dragon race, but my outstretched hand grabbed her neck between the 6th and 7th vertebrae beforehand.
Oh! What a coincidence!
“D-Demon Lord?!” Shouted the blonde-haired mercenary.
She looked in my direction, causing me to turn back. However, I couldn’t see my father-in-law anywhere.
I immediately focused my attention on the Creator of Fantasy.
“What’s the meaning of this, my cowardly wife?”
How did this lizard know that I was the MAX-Class Righteous Demon Lord?
“Who knows? There are no glitches in the program…”
I took a look at my job, but it still stated Prophet.
“Are you sure?”
“… I was.”
“Which means you’re not sure right now. You have plenty of time and funds. I can wait for the reason behind this, cowardly little wife.”
“Shut up. I hate being unaware of its cause as much as you do, perhaps more.”
I left Ssosia alone, whose pride had received a fatal blow, and asked the source of the confusion directly.
But I didn’t even have to ask. Shaking with fear, the golden dragon confessed on her own.
She began to mumble something incoherently.
“Everything is as my mother told me! Your terrible wings are worse than any nightmare. I laughed at her abstract explanations at the time, but now I realize my mother described them perfectly.”
“What’s wrong with my wings?”
They weren’t terrible.
They had reached the peak of evolution for the sake of punishing the evil that might come my way.
“The problem doesn’t seem to be my system, but your easily recognizable wings.”
“Damn it!”
I didn’t think my wings would become more famous than me.
“Drug Demon Lord, even just by looking at them, anyone would immediately assume they belong to the Demon Lord. Even my noble aura can’t save their terrible appearance.”
“Such prejudice should have no place in this world, Minion A.”
The way a weapon is perceived depended on its user and when and where it was used.
That could be confirmed by the syllogism of the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle.
Big premise: I was righteous.
Smaller premise: My wings were a part of me.
Conclusion: Therefore, my wings were righteous.
That was why they were called the “Wings of the Righteous Hero.”
They should naturally be perceived as heroic, not diabolical!
“Wow! How cool!”
“I envy them.”
The children of my comrade Noebius stared at my wings with awe and admiration in their eyes.
They were definitely intelligent kids!
Kind creatures would see no malice in my wings.
On the other hand…
“Your fear of my wings of the righteous hero serves as proof of your maleficence and malignance. I want to cleanse you of your anger, but things will only get more complicated if you die now. Do you understand?”
She drew attention to herself by shouting, “Demon Lord!” I had to make sure she paid for such blasphemy.
“Hmph! Submitting to such a clear threat… Huh?”
“And they’re even more beautiful up close. I think it’s because they’re dragon bones that my hands moved without my knowledge… Haha!”
“…”
“Hey, say something. Is this… your first time seeing your vertebrae? Really? Do you want to touch it?”
“Aaaaaghhhh—?!”
***
There were unforeseen circumstances, but everything ended in my favor to my efforts as the MAX-Class Demon Lord.
“Dear citizens! I apologize for making such a fuss and for lying about seeing the Demon Lord! R-reason? Well… I just wanted attention so I can increase my value as a mercenary… I beg your forgiveness…”
She apologized on her knees to those around her.
At this time, the B-rank Hero, who had regained his level since Brave had come undone, finally reached us.
As usual, my friend was late on the uptake.
“Han Soo! What happened?!”
“This mercenary will become your companion.”
This was not a part of my plan.
I just wanted to quietly kill this girl so that she would no longer spread rumors that I was the Demon Lord.
But the Divine Dragon asked me to let her live since she was the daughter of an old friend.
Hence, I decided to assign a caretaker to her instead.
“Huh?”
Of course, I chose Classmate A, a pitiful guy whom Lanuvel abandoned, for that task.
“Do you need any more explanations? Or do you refuse?”
“N-no! Haha! I was just confused because you suddenly gave me a mistress! Mollan! Long live Mollan! Mollan! Mollan!”
Not a mistress, but a companion…
Classmate A’s Faith skill had increased again.
“Hello, Sir Hero. I am an illegitimate child born out of the tumultuous personal life of the Golden Dragon Gladisia. Since my father, who died before I was born, was a human, I was born a half-breed, which prevents me from transforming into a full-fledged dragon. Instead, I inherited the strength of my father: Brave.”
“Ah… Nice to meet you. I am the Hero, and my name is Piko,” Classmate A answered shortly, having listened to her boring introduction from start to finish.
Even I felt somehow uncomfortable, and I was just standing next to them.
‘Hey friend, have you got nothing more to tell besides your name?’
Even that was just a pseudonym made to allow the stupid locals of Fantasy to easily remember him.
At that moment, Ssosia lightly poked my side.
“Cowardly husband, you wouldn’t kill your parents, living quietly in peace, just to diversify your boring biography, would you?”
“Did I say anything about needing them to die?”
I could talk about my family for an hour, at least.
On the other hand…
⤷Mother: Son, take your little brother as an example. (7:31)
⤷ Son: Why should I follow the example of a two-year-old toddler? (13:26)
⤷Mother: He never ceases to please me. He never cries, can distinguish between pooping and peeing, and is popular with our neighbors. (16:15)
⤷Son: Your son is a respected Hero here. (19:15)
⤷Mother: Do you have time for everyday life? (22:01)
I was certain I could talk about my mother for more than ten hours…
