Chapter 143
"Come in."
Suhyeok entered the room and came face-to-face with Kaiden Valkheim.
Sylvie, Kaiden's granddaughter, was still cradled in his arms.
Kaiden's appearance matched his deep, dignified voice perfectly.
Sharp features.
Black hair.
Red eyes.
The aura flowing from him far surpassed Bellian's.
Dragons were long-lived beings for whom age itself often meant strength.
And Kaiden's strength reflected the countless years he'd lived.
[Title ‘Dragon Slayer’ is currently inactive.]
Suhyeok studied the immense aura surrounding him.
Without the title...
Even I might not be able to guarantee a clear victory.
Kaiden seemed to feel something similar.
The aura coming from Suhyeok was abnormal.
Far too immense for a mere Player.
Blue light flickered in Kaiden's eyes.
The Dragon Eye.
An Authority of dragonkind capable of seeing through nearly everything.
His gaze swept across Suhyeok's body.
More precisely...
It examined the strange things hidden within him.
...Impossible.
He is clearly not of dragon blood.
There are no dragons even among his distant ancestors.
Then how does he possess a Mana Heart and a Half-Human, Half-Dragon body?
Worse still...
The aura within that Mana Heart belonged to a Black Dragon.
Like Kaiden himself.
No.
Perhaps it came from an existence even greater than him.
Simply sensing it made Kaiden's hand tremble.
"As expected."
"You are clearly different from the one who entered before you."
His eyes narrowed.
"You must be Lee Suhyeok, the one currently causing such a commotion throughout the Tower."
Seong Hosu had entered before Suhyeok and spoken briefly with Kaiden.
He had been so nervous that he'd come out trembling afterward.
Most likely, Kaiden's presence had simply overwhelmed him.
Suhyeok had sent him straight to the annex where Wayne and Lee Hyein were staying, so he should be fine.
"You recognized me despite my appearance being different."
Suhyeok looked at Kaiden's glowing eyes.
"I suppose that's thanks to the Dragon Eye."
"You seem to know quite a bit about dragons."
Kaiden nodded slightly.
"Then again, Lea wouldn't have entrusted that child to you otherwise."
His gaze moved to Sylvie.
"...So that's her."
"The child Lea sent."
He gestured toward a seat.
"Sit."
Suhyeok sat down.
Sylvie remained nestled comfortably in his arms.
"You haven't known her for long."
"Yet she seems quite attached to you."
"Her name is Sylvie."
Kaiden froze.
His expression changed noticeably.
Of course it did.
Sylvie.
That had also been the name of Lea's mother...
And Kaiden's deceased wife.
Suhyeok didn't know the finer details of their family history.
But he could tell from Kaiden's reaction.
For all his awkwardness in expressing it...
He had loved his daughter.
"...She used that name."
Kaiden's voice softened.
"Yes."
"Sylvie."
"It's a beautiful name."
Sylvie, who had been nodding off, burrowed deeper into Suhyeok's arms.
After finding a comfortable position...
She fell fully asleep.
Kaiden looked at her for a moment before asking,
"Dragons do not normally follow humans."
"How did you make Sylvie trust you so completely?"
His gaze changed in an instant.
The meaning behind the question was obvious.
The dragon-related Traits Suhyeok possessed.
[The target's Dragon Eye sees through Player Lee Suhyeok's existence.]
Suhyeok was slightly surprised.
The coat he was wearing possessed resistance against appraisal.
Kaiden's Dragon Eye had pierced through it anyway.
So he's different from Bellian.
"You are not of dragon blood."
"Nor does our race exist anywhere in your ancestry."
Kaiden's voice grew colder.
"Then why do you possess a Mana Heart?"
Dense killing intent slowly rose from his shoulders.
Depending on Suhyeok's answer...
Kaiden was clearly prepared to act.
"I took it from the ‘Dragon of the End’ on the 99th floor."
"...!!"
Kaiden shot to his feet.
"T-The Dragon of the End?!"
His voice was loud enough to make Sylvie stir.
She rubbed her sleepy face against Suhyeok's chest.
Kaiden forced himself to calm down and sat again.
But the shock still showed clearly on his face.
"Arthur, the Dragon of the End."
Suhyeok continued.
"You should know that name."
Arthur, the Dragon of the End, whom Suhyeok had encountered on the 40th floor.
His true name was Arthur Valkheim.
The founder of House Valkheim on the 70th floor.
And now...
A great ancestor of all dragons who existed only in history.
Kaiden ran a hand across his mouth as if trying to conceal his shock.
"...I once felt his presence briefly on a lower floor."
"Don't tell me..."
"That was when?"
Silence followed.
After a moment...
Kaiden regained his composure.
"I see."
"If that is the case, then I understand why Sylvie follows you."
He gave a small sigh.
"My apologies for losing my composure earlier."
"It doesn't matter."
"I would've had to explain it eventually anyway."
It was something Suhyeok would have needed to reveal sooner or later.
In fact...
It was better that Kaiden discovered it before the other dragons could raise objections.
Kaiden took a sip of tea.
Then finally moved to the main subject.
"Then we should discuss Sylvie."
"Her future will be decided at the Great Council two days from now."
The Great Council.
A gathering where the leaders of each dragon faction came together to decide matters affecting dragonkind.
It's been a long time since I've heard that name.
The Great Council handled every major and minor affair concerning dragons.
Before the regression...
Suhyeok had once been summoned there with Kim Mihyeon.
Dragons.
They were a race that considered every species other than themselves inferior.
Kaiden and Bellian were unusually reasonable exceptions.
Naturally...
Suhyeok didn't have particularly fond memories of the place.
How dare a mere human speak excuses before us?!
He should be torn apart immediately!!
Why does the Dragon Knight defend that human?!
Lee Suhyeok, you insolent bastard!!
Do you even understand where you are?!
Do you know who you're mocking right now?!
Whether human.
Monster.
Or dragons who proclaimed themselves a great race.
The longer a society existed...
