As they stepped into the dungeon, Rai expected monsters to pour out immediately. It was Hayato's first time, so he didn't know what to expect, only that something should happen.
But to their surprise, everything was still. The silence was almost hostile. Every step echoed back too loud, too sharp, too aware. The air was thick and cold, faint mist coiling around their boots. Somewhere far off, water dripped against stone, and the scent of rusted metal clung to the air like old blood.
Hayato spoke just to break the silence, and to stop himself from imagining what might be lurking in the shadows."They must have sensed our strength," he said calmly, scanning the darkness like a man who knew exactly what he was doing.
Rai followed a few paces behind, eyes glimmering faintly. "He says it so casually… truly, his presence suppresses them."
Suppresses them? Hayato muffled. Are dragons really this stupid?He raised a hand dramatically. "Stay sharp," he said, stopping abruptly and scanning the path ahead. After a few seconds of silence, he nodded. "All clear."
They continued through the first and second gates, Hayato pausing every now and then to mutter fake tactical observations while Rai followed quietly, utterly convinced.The faint growls that echoed through the halls never came close. Whatever creatures lived here seemed afraid to approach, though neither of them realized it was Rai they feared, not Hayato (Cause rai looked like a dragon).
By the third gate, the air began to tremble faintly with mana. The mist thickened, vibrating like a living thing. Rai froze mid step. The very air shimmered, distorted like heat waves.
He could sense them clearly now two, maybe three great beings deeper ahead.
Hayato noticed him stop. "Something wrong?"
Rai's throat tightened. "D-Dragons… their souls are near. They do not tolerate visitors."
Hayato blinked. "Ah, I see… family problems, huh?"
Rai tilted his head. "...Family?"
"Yeah," Hayato said seriously. "Let's sneak past them. We'll say hi later if they're your friends."
Rai's pupils shrank. He knows? He knows I'm not a true dragon? And still… he accepts me?
He bowed slightly. "Understood, Master. We shall proceed quietly."
Good, Hayato thought, relieved. If they meet Rai who's also a dragon, they might convince him to stay. Then my retirement plan's ruined. Can't sell a dragon if his family shows up.
The two moved forward, each bearing completely different kinds of tension. Rai trembling at the thought of ancient hatred, Hayato terrified that his "merchandise" might be reclaimed.
By the fifth gate, the smell of earth had vanished. The air reeked of burnt iron and ozone. The floor vibrated faintly with power.
"Stay behind me," Rai said, his tone low and serious.
Hayato smirked. "You sure? What if they prefer the taste of dragons?"
Rai's tail stiffened. "…I shall make sure they do not."
They stepped through a narrow corridor, and the mist gave way to a scene of carnage bones scattered like ruins, massive ribs jutting from the earth, pools of blood still steaming.
And then they saw it, a four legged beast thrashing violently.
A white dragon no, an ancient one roared, one wing shredded, frost spilling from its lungs.
Across from it stood a man in a black suit, silver-white hair glinting faintly, his right hand glowing red. His face was calm, almost bored, as though he were swatting away an insect.
He stepped through a torrent of frost, flicked his wrist, and the icy breath shattered like glass. The recoil cracked the cavern walls.
Rai stopped breathing. W-What is this aura… That's not a human.
Hayato squinted. I wonder how much that would sell for. totally oblivious to the aura since his body and soul aren't in sync.
The dragon roared again, the air vibrating with divine mana. The man blurred, his outline dissolving into mist and reappeared beside the dragon's head. One clean motion, and a red line bloomed across its face.
The dragon fell. Half its skull gone.
Hayato turned his head to rai. "...So is that normal here?"
Rai's voice shook. "That was a Fourth Dragon of Origin…"
"Ah," Hayato nodded wisely. "So, the dungeon boss huh."
A faint cry echoed from behind a pile of rubble. Hayato turned, spotting a young woman trapped under debris, her leg pinned, her face streaked with tears and dust.
"Helppp" she cried.
Hayato stepped forward, trying to look heroic. "Hey there..."
Her expression twisted in disgust. "Who are you?" she snapped weakly, then turned to Rai. "Please! Mr. Dragon, help me!"
Rai blinked. "That… would be my master."
Her jaw dropped. "...Huh?"
Hayato knelt beside her, forcing a smile and picking up the rubble that fell on her. "It's alright, no need to apologize," he said gently. That was a bit harsh, he thought. You could've gone easy on me He said internally as tear slipped from his eye.
Rai tilted his head. "Master, are you sweating? Why is water coming out of your eyes?"
"Stop looking at me," Hayato muttered flatly.
Suddenly, the air twisted. Mana pressure exploded outward like a storm.
The girl coughed blood. Rai dropped to one knee, gasping for air.
The creature who'd felled the dragon was walking towards them now calm, expression unreadable, eyes glowing faintly.
The girl's voice quivered. "It's… an Elfan."
Elfan.
A race whispered only in legends. Triple-'X' ranked, third only to the Demon Lord himself.Said to have erased an entire kingdom with a single motion of its hand.And now, one stood before them alive.
The Elfan's gaze fixed on Hayato. His mana cracked the ground beneath his feet.Rai vomited from the pressure. The girl trembled uncontrollably.
Hayato couldn't hear anything. His eardrums had given up long ago. His soul felt halfway out of his body.
Yet to everyone else—he looked utterly calm.
The Elfan's thoughts churned. The Drakkin bows. The woman breaks. But this human… unshaken? My aura means nothing to him?
He took a step forward, voice soft but heavy. "You do not tremble. Not even dragons withstand my power. Who are..."
"...Huh?" Hayato's lips moved slowly. He couldn't hear a word.
The Elfan dropped to one knee. "Please… name me, my lord."
Rai froze. "He kneels… to him?"
The girl stared in horror. The Elfan… kneeling? To a human? Who is this man?
Hayato stood perfectly still, still trying to process the ringing in his head.
I really pray me and my priceless dragon don't die here so I can sell him and make a lot of money.
The cavern rumbled again. The dying white dragon lifted its head, roaring weakly one final time.
The Elfan flicked his wrist. A thin red line appeared across the dragon's throat. Silence followed.
The beast collapsed. Lifeless.
Dust drifted down like snow.
Hayato crouched beside the girl again, tone calm. "So, uh… how much does a dragon sell for in the human world?"
She blinked, trembling. "...Y-You mean… alive?"
"Preferably."
"...Enough to live comfortably for a hundred lives."
Hayato smiled faintly. "Alright. I'm getting you out of here."
And he meant it. As long as he lived, he'd be rich.
The Elfan glanced up, his heart sinking. He doesn't even acknowledge my presence… of course, for someone of his caliber even that is beneath him. he said still kneeling
Hayato slowly stood, alittle dizzy. "Okay, new plan," he muttered. "We need to get out of here."
Rai's eyes glowed faintly. Master never even acknowledged this being… Who is he truly?
The girl nodded weakly, trembling. "I-I'll do anything he says…".