Chapter 89: Like a Dragon (3)

「Dragon Breath」.

The hottest and fiercest flame in this world, which was said to turn everything it touches into ashes in an instant.

The 「Ice Wall」, layered in multiple layers, was blocking that 「Dragon Breath」.

However, even the cold of the ice wall that would freeze everything around it could not completely block the heat of the breath being spewed from beyond it.

Hwareureureuk──!

The high ice walls began to melt at a rapid pace due to the unceasing flames.

At the same time, a thick cloud of steam rose above the melting ice walls.

Before long, one 「Ice Wall」 melted, and the second wall also disappeared before our eyes, and in an instant, only one ice wall remained.

The red flame seen through the transparent ice wall became clearer and clearer.

And before long, when the last 「Ice Wall」 also melted──

“Lily!”

『──Protect us!』

Lily's prayer created a 「Miracle of Protection」, and a dome-shaped ‘barrier’ was formed around us.

──Pajijijik!

As befitting a ‘miracle’ that temporarily blocks all incoming damage, the barrier somehow managed to block the flames that had finally broken through the three layers of ice walls before they could reach us.

“Keuk…!”

Lily's expression gradually hardened as she concentrated on maintaining the barrier.

Pajik! Pajijik!

Despite this, just like the 「Ice Wall」 that had melted in an instant, the 「Miracle of Protection」 also began to crack and break at a rapid pace, and then.

──Chaenggeurang!

In the end, it shattered like glass not long after.

However, the flames did not engulf us.

Because the dragon's mouth, which had been spewing out a fierce breath, had closed at some point.

We had somehow succeeded in enduring the 「Dragon Breath」.

“Huuuum──”

The dragon stretched its neck and began to look down at us with narrowed eyes.

Of course, if it were to spit out 「Dragon Breath」 again, we would surely not be able to block it and would be turned to ashes, as we had used up almost all of our resources to block this one breath.

But for now, this was enough.

“──Truly, interesting.”

It seemed somewhat surprised, as if it hadn't thought that we could really withstand its fire.

At that, I spread my arms wide to emphasize that we were completely unharmed and said.

“With this, have we proven our qualification to make a ‘deal’ with the great Red Dragon?”

“──Keu,”

At that,

“Kehaha! Kehahahat──!!”

The serene lake began to churn at the dragon's hearty laughter.

“Yes, good. For inferior species, you have sent beings of a certain caliber. To be honest, I wasn't expecting it at all.”

That's right.

The ‘deal’ it had proposed was probably just a whim to show off its power.

If it had just burned down the village it happened to see while flying in the sky with a breath of fire, that would have been the end of it, but by deliberately adding difficult conditions like this and putting the humans in a difficult situation, the fear towards it would grow even greater.

“──Fernaga.”

At that moment, the dragon, which was laughing with satisfaction, said.

“That is my true name. From now on, I will allow you to call me Fernaga. Humans who have brought the treasure called ‘art’.”

“It is an honor. O sublime Fernaga.”

“You are polite. Good.”

When I politely paid my respects, Fernaga's lips curled up in even greater satisfaction.

“So──, what are your true names?”

“My name is Yubin.”

Then, my companions followed my lead and began to introduce themselves one by one.

Although it showed a slight tilt of its head when it saw Rine, who had calmly introduced herself last, it soon lost interest and showed no other reaction.

Thus, a chance to have a proper ‘conversation’ with the dragon── no, with Fernaga, had been created.

“How did you like the treasure we brought? O great Fernaga.”

Now it was time to use it.

“Were you pleased?”

“Yes, I was pleased── but!”

Fernaga continued with a chuckling laugh.

“It is still ridiculously insufficient, O human who sings beautiful songs. Did you really think that you could satisfy all my desires with that one short song──?”

As expected of a greedy dragon, it was asking for more.

Of course,

“Oh, that can’t be.”

I already knew it would come out like this.

So.

“I have also prepared another treasure.”

“Ha!”

Of course, I had prepared more.

A very valuable treasure that could instantly quell even its greedy desire for wealth.

“What are you waiting for? Then hurry up and show me.”

At that, its tail began to wag with anticipation again.

Then, seeing it lie down and listen as before, it seemed to think that I would show another [Performance].

But, it wasn't.

“──One thing.”

This time, it wasn't a song.

As long as my song was still ringing in Fernaga's ears, it would be satisfied to some extent, but in the end, when the song ended, its satisfaction would inevitably decrease.

Moreover, its greed was endless, so the more it liked my song, the more it would make me sing until it got tired of it.

Leaving aside whether that was physically possible, even if it were, since it was a species with a different concept of time than us, I might have to be held captive by this creature for the rest of my life and perform.

So.

“There is a condition.”

“──Ha!”

What I had brought was a sublime treasure that it would remember for the rest of its life, even if I wasn't there.

“Condition? Conditioooon──?”

Kehahaha!!

Fernaga burst into laughter, shaking the forest.

So much so that the ground trembled as if something had really exploded.

“A mere inferior species, dares to set a condition for me──? Keha, kehaha!!”

“It is for you, Lady Fernaga.”

“For me?”

“Yes.”

“Then let's hear it, O bold Yubin.”

I raised the corners of my lips in a grin and continued.

“Show me, one magic.”

“Magic──?”

“I have heard that you dragons can use all sorts of powerful magic that we inferior species can only dream of, as naturally as breathing, from the moment you are born.”

“──Hmm. That is true.”

Dragons were in many ways far superior to us.

This was an undeniable fact.

They could use all sorts of high-level magic that even great archmages would have to train for decades or centuries to learn, right from when they were babies (?).

“So, what magic do you want me to show you?”

And among those magics.

“「Polymorph」.”

There was also transformation magic.

“With 「Polymorph」, please transform into a human like us.”

One that could deceive not only the eyes of others, but also one's own existence.

“……What? Into a humaaan──?”

It was a magic similar to the 「Disguise」 I had seen not long ago, but if I had to be precise, 「Disguise」 was ‘shape-shifting’ and 「Polymorph」 was ‘form-shifting’.

Even if you imitated someone else with 「Disguise」, only the outward ‘appearance’ would change, but 「Polymorph」 would change even the ‘essence’ itself.

Of course, the latter was a much more difficult magic, and.

“Of course, it is possible.”

Dragons were beings born with that magic.

“For me, it is easier than burning down all the trees in this forest.”

“Then──”

“──But, why should I?”

Fernaga, who had snorted, showed a contemptuous reaction, as expected.

“Why should this great body deign to transform into an inferior being like you?”

“To properly appreciate the true value of the treasure I have brought, you must first become a ‘human’ like us.”

I said in an even more polite tone.

“Forgive my impertinence, O sublime Fernaga. Your majestic presence is too grand for inferior species like us.”

“──Huuuum?”

“The song I just sang for you was an ‘art’ that used sound, so even you, Lady Fernaga, who can hear sounds from a thousand miles away, could enjoy it without any problem. But if you were to appreciate the ‘art’ I will show you this time in your current form, I am worried that you might not be able to fully enjoy the emotion…”

“Hooo……”

At my words, Fernaga showed a strong interest, but also a reluctance.

It must be very hesitant for a proud dragon to become like us.

As if to prove that complex state of mind.

--

[Persuasion]

Difficulty 30

--

The difficulty of the [Persuasion] check was also demanding a high number that I had never seen before.

--

CHA bonus +26

--

So much so that there was a possibility of failure even with my charisma bonus.

Degururu──

The probability of the rolling dice hitting 4 or more—the required value—was 50% for each.

Of course, I had two dice, and even if I failed, I would be given another chance due to the ‘happy’ buff, but now was not the time to rely on probability.

So.

『──The die is cast.』

I overturned that probability, and flipped the dice.

--

⚅ / ⚅

--

The [Persuasion] was a great success.

“──Good!”

After some thought, Fernaga opened its mouth again.

“In consideration of your commendable efforts, I will show you──”

At that moment, a bright light emanated from in front of me.

They say that the 「Polymorph」 of dragons is so perfect that it can deceive everything.

As I said before, even one's own ‘existence’.

“──Now, look. O Yubin with the silver tongue.”

Sure enough, Fernaga, who had finished 「Polymorph」── to anyone who saw it.

“As you wished, I have taken on a human form.”

Was unmistakably, in the form of a ‘human’.

Of course, in the midst of it, it seemed that it couldn't give up its pride and joy, its horns, so they remained as a compromise, as if to show off that it was still a dragon.

Except for that, the current Fernaga was a ‘human’ no matter how you looked at it.

“……It was a female?”

As Ibi muttered softly next to me, specifically, a ‘human female’ of about the same height as me.

“Kekeke── How is it, Yubin?”

The current Fernaga was not ‘transformed into a human’.

It had just, ‘become a human’.

That was 「Polymorph」.

In game terms, it even deceives the ‘system’.

A dragon that has changed its form through 「Polymorph」, when you hover the cursor over it and bring up the ‘status window’, the race column says ‘human’, not ‘dragon’.

Of course, it had horns now, but those were no different from the animal ear headbands that you could often see at amusement parks.

“As you can see, even in human form, I am far superior to you……”

In other words──

“──Now, look.”

The activation condition of the 「Kingdom-Toppling Beauty」 trait, had been met.

“……!”

As you can see from the appearance of that ‘dragon’, which had held its breath the moment I took off my mask.

“O arrogant dragon.”

The treasure I have prepared.

My ‘artistic’ beauty, which will be called the manifestation of the God of Beauty…