Chapter 145
Chapter 145
The subsequent processing of Jeju Island proceeded quickly with the arrival of members of the Corleone Family.
The remnants of the Junk Town were dealt with, and the tangerine farms where new drugs were being made from haunted tangerine trees were cleared. And then there was the rough and tumble of organizing across Jeju Island.
It was all done in less than a day.
"So you're going back now?"
At the small dock that I used to enter Jeju Island we talked as we watched Fafnir's body being loaded onto a large boat.
"I guess I should. I have a lot of work to do when I get back."
"By the way, you said you were the Little Boss of Corleone, so I suppose we'll see each other again sooner or later?"
"Probably."
Since this was my initiative, of course my father would want to let me go.
He's a man who likes to keep things fair and square when it comes to family matters.
"I've learned a lot from you and I'm sure you'll be able to reach higher levels in your aura!"
""" Certainly!!!"""
Nodding as I watched the departure of the slightly overzealous but familiar members of the Blue Moon Workshop, I extended my hand to Yoon Kwangsoo and said.
"I'll see you later for the equipment, right?"
"Yes. I'll come and see you then, master."
"Okay. See you soon."
And finally, I look at the children of Halla Cathedral who are looking this way.
"Big brother, are you going?"
"Brother, are you going back to the mainland?"
"Are you coming back?"
Some of the children are crying or looking wistful, as if they realize I'm leaving.
And among them was Jeanne, who was looking at me with a more determined expression than anyone else.
"Big brother, I'll see you again, right?"
She was holding it together but I could see the corners of her eyes fluttering.
"Yes, I will see you again, so listen to the bishop and Sister Marie over there, and I'll check on you later."
I stroke Jeanne's head, which she's grown accustomed to by now, and as I speak, one by one the children run to me, clinging to my legs and waist.
"Thank you, big brother!"
"Bye, big brother!"
"Tell us a different story next time you come!"
To them, it's only been a day.
I didn't realize that I had grown attached to them.
"Okay, next time I'll tell you the story of Father Andersen, the Devil Butcher."
"What?"
All of the children's faces stiffened.
......Is it because they're so excited?
"Yes, Master. They say we're ready to go."
Just then, I hear the voice of a gang member from behind.
Apparently, they had already loaded Fafnir's corpse and the items from his Rares.
"Ah. You go ahead, I'll be right behind you."
"Yes, sir."
It was time to leave Jeju Island.
With everyone looking at me, I felt embarrassed to say anything particularly emotional, so I put on my natural smile and said what I normally say to friends.
"See you later."
Because obviously it wouldn't be long.
* * *
"This is...... really...... amazing."
Corleone's mansion.
There was Fafnir's corpse lying in a heap in the middle of the garden, and a group of men looking at it with interest.
"You mean Eugene caught this?"
"Yes. There was the bishop at the Halla Cathedral who uses Ascalon, and he and the boy worked together to capture it."
"There's a little bit of rawness on the outside......but no major outward wounds, so I don't understand how they caught it."
Father and another man look back and forth in disbelief at Fafnir's strangely unharmed appearance.
The man's name is Kowalnose Garcia.
He was the boss of the Hunter's Guild and the family in charge of disposing of monster materials in Korea, one of the few experts on dismantling monsters, and the technician who had been called in to dismantle the dragon.
"Thank you for coming all this way Kowalnose."
His reason for traveling all this way was simple.
We didn't want anyone else to know we had Fafnir's corpse.
Fafnir, not just any monster, but a mythical Named Mob.
If the government or anyone else knew that we had the carcass of such a dragon, we would be in a lot of trouble.
You know, like the countless handshake requests that come in when you win the lotto.
"Hehe. It's my nephew's request, not anyone else's, so of course I'll come, and......how many times in my life will I get to dismantle a monster of this magnitude?"
Kowalnose smiles brightly at my words and places a hand on my shoulder.
"On the contrary, I'm rather grateful to you, so don't think too much of it, Eugene."
By using my name and nephew in this way, he seemed to take this as a personal favor from me, rather than a Corleone event, though I'm much more comfortable taking it that way myself.
"Thank you uncle."
"Good. Well, I suppose we should get ready. If you'll step back for a moment, it's been a while since I've had to use my full strength."
He steps toward Fafnir's corpse, his index and middle fingers forming the shape of a gun.
A moment later, a green aura forms on his fingertips.
The sight of it is enough to cut, and slowly the aura begins to cut through Fafnir's scales.
"Haha, so much resistance from the start, that's fun!"
As he does so, Kowalnose slices away at the scales and bones as if it weren't too difficult.
Fafnir's scales predictably failed to hold up against the aura and began to chip away.
What followed was a two-hour dismantling show.
The materials began to pile up in the garden, and by the time he was done, the sun was already setting.
"Huh, that should do it for now, then I'll take some of Fafnir's meat and scales like you said."
"Sure. Thank you for your trouble, uncle."
"No trouble. By the way, Don. Why don't we have a drink together, since I've dealt with such a marvelous find?"
"Yeah? I'm looking forward to it. Come on, let's go."
"Yeah."
I watch them walk away, laughing and stare at the sight before me.
The scales and bones were perfectly dealt with and the red blood and meat was in the tanks but the most eye-catching of all was a red orb the size of a grown man's fist.
'Dragon heart.'
The thing that was the biggest reason why dragons were able to become magical beings, and the nuclear fusion reactor of the magic system.
I slowly walked over to it, picked it up then put it in the cube.
I can't use it right now, so I might as well put it here for now.
"What I need to use right now is......."
Then I look at the giant tank of blood.
"There's something people overlook, and it's the most important thing in Fafnir's body."
Fafnir's blood.
According to Nibelung's song, Fafnir's blood has the power to make those who bathe in it immortal.
Of course, the game doesn't give you immortality for balance reasons, but it's definitely something I needed right now.
After removing DisPater, I naturally stepped into the blood.
The temperature inside the tank felt warm despite the fact that Fafnir had been dead for quite some time.
Slowly, I could feel Fafnir's blood seeping into my body and changing me.
[Fafnir's blood penetrates your body!]
[Attribute [Natural Healing (C)] reacts to Fafnir's blood]
[Natural Healing (C)] becomes [Natural Healing (A)]
['Item: Ancient Berserker's Ring (Sealed).' begins to suck the blood of the Evil Dragon]
['Item: Ancient Berserker's Ring (Sealed).' breaks its seal!]
['Ancient Berserker's Ring (Sealed).' changes to 'Ancient Berserker's Ring (True).']
[Name: Ancient Berserker's Ring (True)]
[Class: Artifact]
[Type: Ring]
[Description: This ring was worn by those called Ancient Berserkers. It absorbs the blood of its wearer and, in return, greatly enhances their strength.
Having absorbed the blood of the evil dragon Fafnir, this ring causes a fear effect in its surroundings just by being worn.]
"That's it."
The indispensable ability to grow stronger as I absorb fear was finally in my hands.
Fafnir's blood begins to cool and turn transparent.
It has lost its color as all of its power is drained from it.
Stepping out of the liquid, which no longer held any power, I used my aura to blow away the moisture and changed into my normal clothes.
"Well, that leaves me with one last one......."
Given the upcoming midterms, improving my abilities was crucial, so I decided it was better to get it done today rather than procrastinate and head to my room.
Unlike last time, this time I prepared thoroughly.
First, I put a towel over my mouth and Midas' gloves on my hands.
Next, I sit upright on my bed and stare at the button that still light up in front of me.
[(N) Epic Inscription]
I got a new ability the other day from the battle.
It's a mechanic that imprints new abilities on you based on the narrative you've written, and I'd gotten myself into quite a bit of trouble the last time I'd pressed it unprepared.
'This time will be a little different.'
As I clicked the button, a thought flashed through my mind.
'Last time, I got a wolf tattoo because I killed a wolf, so does that mean I'll get a dragon tattoo because I killed......Fafnir?'
No, wait.
A dragon tattoo?
An evil dragon?
At that moment, I started to feel a violent pain in my right arm. I dropped the door towel over my mouth as I realized what was about to happen.
"No way-──"
───────!!!
Purple flames begin to engulf my entire right arm.
"Extinguish!"
Unlike when it was the wolf tattoo, my voice couldn't even come out properly.
I writhe in horrific pain, as if I'm plunging my arm into lava, and I pray that this will end sooner rather than later.
The pain reaches a breaking point as the wolf symbol on my right shoulder blade and the dragon symbol on my arm begin to join together.
I feel like I'm going to lose consciousness at any moment.
My gums, which had already let go of the towel, were leaking blood, and his clenched left and right hands were turning white.
Finally the flames finally went out.
"I thought I was going to lose it, really......!"
I look at the black dragon imprint on my right arm and immediately recognize my new ability.
"Holy shit──"
The performance isn't bad.
If there's a problem.......
"Master, I knocked but why is your answer......eh?"
Alessia opened my door and walked in.
"Is that......black dragon tattoo on your arm?"
"Oh."
She looked at my right arm, which was clenched in pain.
"I......understand."
"No, wait a minute, Alessia, this is-─."
"It's okay, I think...... that's, what do you say...... pretty cool?"
"No that's not it, it's really──."
"Then I'll get out of here, have fun master."
──Bang!
The door slammed shut on my pathetic excuses.
Having finally come to terms with the reality of the situation, I sighed as I wiped my face with both hands.
"......Ugh."