There Is No World For ■■

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Once they were done with the mutual introductions, Yeomyeong turned his head to survey his surroundings.

Numerous weapons were aimed at them, tense-faced soldiers, and officers were hastily entering the warehouse.The most noticeable among them was a copper-skinned officer with stars on his shoulders.Even from a distance, the fierce look on his face and mana were unmistakable.Behind him stood a group of Superhumans, including Jung Mapil, whose arms Yeomyeong had severed, almost as if they had gathered all the Superhumans from the Manchurian base.Is he planning to fight if things go south?However, that wouldn’t happen. Yeomyeong gave the officer a light smile before turning around again.The Dragon wiped the blood from its eyes and spoke.[Earthian Cheon Yeomyeong, what do you want from me?]“Nothing.”[…?]“Regarding the compensation, your best friend has already given me more than enough.”Yeomyeong proudly lifted the Royal Seal as he said that. The Dragon looked at the Royal Seal for a moment, before tilting its head in confusion.[So, you’re saying… you’ll let me go just like this?]“Yep.”Yeomyeong simply shrugged his shoulders in affirmation.The Dragon narrowed its eyes and brought its face closer to Yeomyeong. It was so close that he could feel its breath.[I cannot understand. I intended to bring disaster upon your land.]“But you were defeated before you were able to do that.”[That is why I am all the more puzzled. I am a defeated avenger. Are you truly willing to give up on the rights of the victor and the rights for revenge?]It was a voice filled with suppressed emotions, having trouble coming to terms with the current situation. Yeomyeong nodded without a trace of hesitation.“…That’s the deal I made with your best friend. Since I have already received the compensation, I have to let you live. That's all."The Dragon did not even point out that the only proof of their transaction was the Golden Seal and thus, Yeomyeong could still manipulate the terms of the deal if he wished to.No, it could not bring up that point as Yeomyeong had not asked it for anything.Why? Even if Yeomyeong had manipulated its friend’s words and demanded its service, the Dragon would have complied.And it was not something difficult to do either. The moment it heard its friend’s vow, it would not have doubted anything Yeomyeong said.However, this human did not do that. Did he say it was because he had already received compensation? While the Golden Seal was indeed a great treasure… as far as the Dragon was concerned, human greed was endless.The Dragon, half hopeful and half suspicious, focused all its senses on Yeomyeong, but it could sense neither malice nor a scheme.Rather, as if mocking its suspicions, Yeomyeong pushed its face away and said.“That should have explained everything. Now go wherever you desire before the soldiers behind me start having second thoughts.”Since he hadn’t spoken loudly, only the Saintess was startled by Yeomyeong’s words.“Hey! If you’re going to let it go, you should at least tell it to not seek revenge!”Contrary to the Saintess’ bewilderment, Yeomyeong remained calm.“Why should I?”“Why, you say? If the Dragon goes on a rampage while seeking revenge….”“Without the Royal Seal, it’s impossible to burn down Manchuria, and Stalin has been missing for quite a long time.”Yeomyeong interrupted the Saintess, as if questioning what the problem was. And before she could say anything more, he continued.“And if it dies while attacking the Moscow air defense network … the Russian government will probably be very pleased.”“…”Whether she couldn't think of a retort or was simply dumbfounded, the Saintess glanced back and forth at Yeomyeong and the dragon with her mouth slightly agape.A brief silence ensued. After a moment, the Dragon let out a sharp snort.[Are you, an Earthian, trying to gauge my desire for revenge?]The Dragon gave a short, incredulous laugh. At the same time, it recalled what Yeomyeong had said to it during their battle.- Your revenge is justified.Why did the Earthian say something like that… Orsay Taboul then realized the meaning hidden within those words.[Is that so? Are you also…]…a seeker of revenge?The Dragon swallowed the rest of its words because it seemed like the Saintess had no knowledge about Yeomyeong's desire for revenge.Perhaps it was only natural. The Saintess was a being chosen directly by the five gods. It was close to impossible for her to endorse revenge.Revenge did not seek for understanding, and thus, it was a lonely path.Swallowing a strange sense of kinship, the Dragon rose from its seat.As it moved its enormous body, the warehouse shook, the floor trembled, and the walls swayed.The tense soldiers aimed their weapons at the Dragon, ready to fire at any moment, but it paid them no mind.Since Yeomyeong and the Saintess had decided to free him, none of the other Earthians present here were its opponents.[Saintess, and Earthian Cheon Yeomyeong.]Planting its four legs on the ground as it spread its wings, the Dragon gazed at the two people below and said.[I give you my sincere gratitude for your goodwill and mercy. I wish to offer more than mere words of thanks, but… at the moment, I do not have much I can offer.]“It’s fine, let’s just say goodbye…”As Yeomyeong was about to reply casually, the Saintess next to him silenced him immediately. Then, she turned to the Dragon and said.“Will you… continue seeking revenge?”[Even the gods cannot stop justified revenge, O Saintess.]The Saintess bit her lips as if pondering over something before raising her head again and speaking.“Then… please At least think about it.”[Think?]“Think if it is the right target and if your revenge is justified. Also think about the impact your revenge might have on Earth and beyond the Dimensional Portal.”Was it something a Saintess should say, or was it something a girl who did not understand revenge would say?Either way, the Dragon was unable to refuse her earnest request.[I understand, O Saintess. I will heed your words. And… Yeomyeong, do you truly not wish for anything?]Yeomyeong made a troubled expression. Since the Dragon was being so insistent, it seemed impolite to refuse it again.He glanced around the warehouse one last time and then replied after seeing a pale-looking Darulma watching them.“Well, um… could you give us a lift?”[Of course. Where would you like to go?]“Not too far from here. You just need to give us a ride to the Manchurian base next door.”[I'd be happy to oblige.]With that, the Dragon leaned forward and extended its long neck toward the Saintess and Yeomyeong.The Saintess mounted the dragon's neck with an expression that suggested she had just come across an unexpected stroke of luck.Yeomyeong then asked the Dragon to wait for a moment and headed to the surveillance tower to fetch the treasure box.The soldiers displayed their hostility and killing aura toward him rather openly, but no one dared to attack.Ignoring them, Yeomyeong gathered the treasure and walked towards Darulma, who was looking perplexed. No, to be precise, he grabbed Darulma’s hand.“H-hold on! Yeomyeong, I’m fine. While it’s an honor to ride on a dragon’s neck, I can’t just leave my car behind!”“Just get the military to return it to you.”“Oh, please! Yeomyeong! I have acrophobia!”Acrophobia, he said? Yeomyeong gave a wry smile as he recalled how Darulma had returned to the Manchurian base by helicopter.“Don’t worry too much. It’s not like you’ll die.”As it turned out, Darulma did not die.Well, he did scream for his life until they landed inside the Manchurian base crowded with reporters.

* * *The only dwarven teacher at Lord Howe Academy, Margan, sighed as he gazed out of the transport plane’s window.

He began to wonder where things started to go wrong.Even after being chased out by the admissions director, he still held on to a fine shred of hope as he boarded the plane in Sydney.Although the talks of the young mercenary being a potential apprentice of the Holy Sword and him being in charge of transfer admissions was burdensome, ultimately, it was all about bringing in outstanding students.As an educator, it seemed like the natural thing to do.He arrived in Kaesong, anticipating what expression the student who received the transfer permit would make... but his plans began to go awry right from the start.- Manchurian base? You can’t go there right now.Due to the incident in North Manchuria, all land routes to Manchuria were completely blocked.Even though he tried leveraging his status as an academy teacher, all he received was a notice telling him to wait.Margan had no choice but to ask the academy for help.After wasting three days in Kaesong, the academy finally managed to secure a spot on a military transport plane.The issue was that the transport plane was for cargo. There wasn’t even a proper seat on this plane, let alone a seat for a dwarf.Crouched among the cargo, Magan sighed again.The cloud-filled sky outside the window remained bright and clear, indifferent to his feelings…“What’s that?”The instant he saw something emerging from between the clouds, Margan pressed his face against the window.Its red scales glinted, reflecting the sunlight, its wings larger than the clouds, and its tail curved beautifully.“…It’s a dragon.”Didn’t they just defeat a dragon in Manchuria? How could there be another dragon flying now? Was Manchuria actually a dragon habitat?Even while such thoughts passed his mind, his eyes sparkled like a child’s.The legend his grandfather used to tell him when he was young, the one about the guardian dragon and the hero from the Dwarf Mountain Range, came to mind.With glimmering red scales, it flew while carrying a king on its neck…??What was that? Did he see that correctly? It looked like there were three people seated on the Dragon’s neck just now.While he rubbed his eyes, the Dragon had already disappeared below the clouds.“Ah…”Just as Margan sighed in regret, an announcement came over the loudspeaker above him.- We will soon arrive at the Manchurian base. Please be careful not to collide with the cargo.

* * *As Margan got off the transport plane, he was met by a crowd filling the airfield.

“What is this…?”He stared wide-eyed at the noisy crowd. It was nothing compared to the academy’s entrance ceremony, but everyone gathered was holding a camera.Were all these people reporters? Did they gather all the reporters from the Manchurian base or something?Suppressing his rising curiosity, Margan headed outside the airfield.Because the reason he had come here was not for the news, but to find the transfer student.Just as he was about to walk past the reporters… a familiar dwarf caught his eye.“…Darulma? The troublemaker of the Dune Clan?”“Ugh…”Darulma looked like he had been through a storm. His luxurious suit and his cherished beard were all ragged.And judging by his half-dazed and vacant expression, it was clear that something serious had just happened to him.“Hey, Darulma! Do you recognize me? It’s me, Margan. Mal Uragan!”“…Margan?”Darulma stared at him blankly before slowly opening his mouth.“Didn’t you… go to the academy? Why… are you here?”“I came for academy business. What on earth happened to you?”“D-dragon….”“…Dragon?”“I… rode a dragon….”What kind of nonsense was he spouting? What on earth happened for him to lose his mind like this?Despite his confusion, Margan shivered at the harshness of the Manchurian base.With so many people at the airfield, how come no one was helping a dwarf on the verge of death?!“Darulma, wait here a moment. I’ll call someone who can help!”Just as Margan was about to put down his luggage and turn around, a girl’s voice resounded from the empty air.“There’s no need for that.”What now? Margan instinctively took a defensive stance and began gathering his mana.“He’s just a bit scared. He’ll be fine after he rests for a while.”A somewhat familiar, frivolous voice. Margan squinted and glared at the air where the voice was coming from.“…Who are you? Reveal yourself.”“Me? I’m the Saintess.”“…What?”The next moment, the air parted slightly, revealing the face of a girl wearing a blindfold.The face of the Saintess, which Margan had seen several times on TV.She quickly vanished into thin air again. Only then did Margan remember that the Saintess usually went around while wearing an Invisibility Cloak, and he gasped, swallowing hard.“W-why is the Saintess here…?”“This isn’t the time to talk about me. You came to the Manchurian base for a specific reason, didn’t you?”“…”“That person.”Suddenly, a hand emerged from the air, pointing behind Margan. He unconsciously turned his head to follow the direction of the finger.A little distance away, the reporters were crowding around someone, conducting an interview.The person facing the barrage of cameras was none other than… the golden-eyed young man he had been looking for.“What are you doing? You need to take him to the academy as quickly as possible.”The Saintess urged Margan, who had been staring at the young man in surprise.Margan took a brief glance at the reporters, before taking out a piece of paper from his pocket and walking towards them.The Saintess silently watched the dwarf’s back grow further, then realized belatedly.“Ah, I see. He said he didn’t need the application form, but he didn’t say he wasn’t going to the academy.”Once again, her foresight was wrong. Watching the moment Margan and the young man met, the Saintess chuckled softly.