The King of the Land Kingdom, Felts IV.
At this moment, he held a single-handed shield in his left and the King’s Hammer in his right. After roaring, he slammed the hammer onto the dragon’s head several times in succession.
The mythical beast clad in silver scales was now being pounded into the earth by a mere mortal, blow after blow. The next instant, the furious dragon flared its wings, its force shattering houses as it flung Felts IV several meters away.
Shoved aside, Felts IV quickly struck his shield to the ground to slow himself, eyes full of fury—yet beneath that rage, unease was buried deep.
With the “Ancestral Land” behind him and the King’s Hammer in his grasp, he could, for a brief moment, confront the dragon on a superhuman level. But the sense of being evenly matched was just a fleeting illusion.
Even though his one-handed hammer was a blunt weapon, its nature allowed Felts IV to injure the flesh beneath the scales without breaking through them.
But…
The dragon hadn’t even shed a drop of blood; its scales were too tough, and by sight alone, it was impossible to tell what wounds, if any, had been inflicted.
The Phantom Battle Array behind him was already starting to dissipate, and no power remained to help Felts IV drag the dragon from the skies. His own strength would not last long; he absolutely could not let the creature take to the sky again.
Felts IV hurled his shield, smashing it into the dragon’s wing, and strode forward again, trying to keep the beast grounded.
The sky is not a realm for mortals to soar.
He must deal a heavy blow here, or else this royal city… No, once the royal city is thrown into chaos, the entire Land Kingdom would fall into civil war, torn apart by feuding lords.
“I will never let that happen…”
Felts IV bit his lip until it bled, hoping the pain would anchor his resolve.
From a short distance away, Green watched it all unfold. Truly, the king’s courage and actions were praiseworthy, but after a flurry of hammer swings, exhaustion had finally slowed him down by a beat.
Taking advantage of this brief pause, the dragon broke free of Felts IV’s restraint, and, in the king’s unwilling gaze, soared back into the sky.
It repaid its wounds in kind, unleashing dragonfire upon Felts IV, the ground beneath his feet, and his royal city.
The flames raining down from above looked like divine punishment. Felts IV’s pale, retreating figure seemed so desolate.
Their battle had already lasted tens of minutes—facing a dragon for so long was truly remarkable.
Green was preparing to move, but just as he took a step forward, someone suddenly grabbed his hand. A delicate girl’s voice rang out:
“Are you really planning to just go face that dragon?!”
Green whipped around, only to find the one holding his hand was a little girl he’d never seen before, wearing the badge of Urgrich University.
Golden hair and violet eyes matched with a lovely face, strikingly cute, but Green was sure he’d never met her.
But the next moment, the system revealed her name to him.
[Albeco]
[Affection: 79 (Trust)]
Was this the college student he had run into back at the palace?
She was anything but ordinary. Besides that odd 79 affection, it was only after she left that Green realized how much information was hidden in her words.
Green, with memories from a previous life, knew the attacking dragon was called “Zug,” the dragon of the snowy mountains.
But she not only knew this, she also warned him that the “Dragon Summoning Flute” in his hand, because it drew on the blood of the volcano dragon “Vulcan,” could have a backlash if used recklessly.
The Dragon Summoning Flute was meant to soothe dragons, but its real power only showed when paired with other binding magic.
And “Golden Plaza” and “Sword in the Stone” were too obvious—clear hints guiding him toward the sword hidden in the hero’s statue.
“If you just charge in like that, you’re sure to die! His Majesty the King has the blessing of faith and the protection of the Ancestral Land—he won’t get into trouble right away… But you’re just an ordinary person!”
Albeco spoke urgently. She had been observing Green for a while and, seeing he truly meant to rush in unarmed, had no choice but to leap out and stop him.
So what if her disguise was blown? She absolutely could not stand by and watch him act recklessly.
After all, her most important real identity had only met him once. At worst, if she needed to give more clues, she’d do it in this little girl form.
“But His Majesty can’t hold out much longer. The dragon will seriously wound him, and the palace knights and Guard Army will suffer heavy casualties. If it turns back to breathe fire on the city… things will get even worse.”
Eh? Why does that sound… a bit kind?
Albeco had thought Green, influenced by the system or seeking personal gain, would already have strayed far from the once-kind hero described in the original story.
But now, it seemed he still acted a little… human?
“I promised someone I’d let fewer people die, so I have to help… Besides,” Green shifted his tone, fixing Albeco with a stare, “who are you?”
Using the system, Green confirmed this was indeed the Albeco he had briefly met before.
But why had her eye color changed? And why did she look so much younger now?
“I… my name is Qinghuayu. Anyway, I’m here to help you. If you want to fight the dragon, go to the Golden Plaza and grab the Sword in the Stone. It’s inside the statue of the first Hero. With it, you can at least break through the dragon’s scales!”
Relying on her disguise, Albeco stopped speaking in riddles and bluntly told him what he needed—if he wanted to fight, he should at least pick up something that could penetrate the dragon’s defense!
“I know. Earlier, a blonde girl told me as much. That’s why I have the confidence to take on the dragon now.”
Green’s gaze turned toward Felts IV in the distance. The king was already exhausted, backed up against the city wall, the remaining Guard Army unable to summon the Phantom Battle Array.
Everything was headed toward the worst.
Even though he was curious about Albeco, now was not the time to hesitate.
He needed to claim the hidden reward for the main quest and complete the affection task for Dolores.
He had to appear before Felts IV and injure the dragon, to complete both tasks at once.
So, he understood her earlier hints? Then why hadn’t he brought the sword with him?
Albeco’s hand was brushed aside as Green walked away. Just as he took a few steps, Albeco called after him:
“If you find you can’t beat the dragon, dive into the underground caverns near Mercury Street. The Noble Miracle will descend there after a while! The miracle can drive the dragon away. Whatever you do, don’t die!”
Albeco shouted to Green, who paused for a moment.
Green remembered, Dolores used to shout at him just like that, so many times.
Whenever he was in danger, Dolores would cry out to him with such urgency.
Because he was always risking his life for others.
Dolores would always grumble about his foolishness, yet still respect his wishes and encourage him to keep going.
And when he was badly hurt, she would hold him, praying for him in silence, murmuring for him not to die…
But when he looked back now, he saw only a complete stranger: Albeco.
“Are you worried about me? I don’t think we’ve ever met before.”
“We haven’t, but… I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”
Albeco’s words came from the heart. She truly hoped he’d drop some gold coins.
“Tch…” Green was reluctant to admit it, but he saw a hint of Dolores in this girl.
That same unreasonable concern—concern that is, in itself, a kind of gentleness.
Maybe he was just sick, his mind full of Dolores.
So much so that, at the time, he’d forgotten to demand any unreasonable requests from her, and instead volunteered for danger.
Even though there were safer ways.
Didn’t he know already? It was “miracles” that forced the dragon away.
So Albeco’s concern, coming from a stranger, was just baffling.
Apart from Dolores, no one would ever show him such inexplicable gentleness and care.
“Busybody.”
With that, Green leaped past the burning houses, appearing before Felts IV. The latter was visibly surprised to see him:
“You… you are…?”
Albeco slipped into an empty house, carefully savoring Green’s reaction.
His reaction was strange. He wasn’t full of suspicion and wariness like with a stranger, but neither was he friendly or eager to get closer.
She couldn’t figure it out.
But Albeco felt she’d done everything she could: the Sword in the Stone, the miracle, and the safe spot—all told to him.
She had done her utmost.
Next time they met, she’d switch back to her real appearance.
He’d never be able to tell these two identities apart—
So she’s partially in the system.