Dragon System: Red Dragon Legacy

Chapter 75: The Other Otherworlder

Lilian and Orion came back to their room.

"Why did you agree so fast? What about me?"

"Do you not want to? If you don’t, you don’t have to. But you understand why I have to go, right?"

Lilian nodded.

"I’m not saying I don’t want to. I’m just saying we should discuss these things first."

"And by the way... I thought— I thought you were supposed to be that person," she added.

"Well, I’m just as lost as you are," he said, exhaling deeply. "And honestly, someone else being ’that person’ makes more sense than me. I only came to this world a few months ago, remember?"

Lilian sat on the bed and sighed.

"I guess you’re right." She paused. "But that takes us back to square one."

Orion understood. If he had been that person, she would have had little to worry about.

"Let’s just check things out first. And we need to break the Demon Queen’s seal anyway. This might actually be good for us," Orion said.

"Don’t tell me you want to ally with them." Lilian narrowed her eyes.

Orion sighed.

"Lilian, as I told you before, I’m not a good guy. I would do anything—legal, illegal, immoral, even commit war crimes. It doesn’t matter how heinous the act is; if it gets me closer to my goals, I’ll do it."

"And as you know, I lived in an extremely political world. I learned that nothing is ever black and white. No matter how good someone appears, they are never entirely good... and the same is true for someone considered bad." He Continued.

Lilian snorted.

"Yeah? But did you live with demons? They’re not humans. They are evil to the core."

"Okay, tell me this. Do you think demons have loyalty toward the Demon Queen?"

"Yes. What is that supposed to prove?"

"If they can express loyalty, then they aren’t pure evil. They’re just like humans — gray." He paused. "And tell me, what exactly is a demon?"

"Well... succubi, vampires, dark elves, for example. They are demons," she said, confused.

"So... there isn’t actually a race called demons, right?"

"Okay, what are you implying?"

"I’m saying humans branded races stronger than them as ’demons’ because they were afraid. That’s it."

Lilian’s eyes widened.

"And do you know what the most horrific thing to humans is?"

"What?"

"’Almost human’—something that resembles a human... but isn’t one," Orion said.

"I mean... it makes sense. But how do you explain them attacking us and making us slaves?" Lilian snapped.

"How much history do you really know? Do you think human leaders would tell you the full story?" Orion scoffed. "Don’t be naive. I’m sixty percent sure humans started it. Because as a great man once said, nothing — I mean nothing — is scarier than a human."

"That’s some extreme philosophy you’ve got there. But..." she paused, "...if you want me to forget my hatred for the demon race, I’m sorry. I don’t think I can. My parents died in a monster attack. And those monsters came to this world because of the demons."

Orion heard the hatred in her voice.

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into an embrace.

"I was just speaking logically. And I would happily burn the entire demon race if you wanted. You know that, right?"

"I know... and thank you," Lilian muttered.

"But your world is weird, though. Saying things like this to your own race like that. In our world, that would be heresy."

Orion chuckled.

"Well, in a place where only humans exist, who else are we supposed to make fun of? I mean... we joke about aliens too, but that doesn’t really count. We haven’t even discovered any real ones yet."

Lilian looked at him, confused.

"What is an alien?"

"Oh boy..." Orion took a deep breath and began explaining aliens, space, and the universe.

"Whoa... your world really is freaky. To think you can travel to other planets." She paused. "Hearing you talk about the universe makes me feel smarter... but also smaller. If what you say about aliens is true, then we’re more insignificant than we realize." Her expression turned thoughtful.

"That’s true," Orion said. "But I think we’re getting distracted from the real issue."

Lilian snapped back.

"Oh, right. So what’s the plan?"

"Well, I’m thinking..." He trailed off. "Wait. We don’t even know the full situation. We don’t know when ’that person’ started the dungeon raid, whether they’re finished, or which floor they’re on."

Orion sighed.

"And I don’t think even the headmistress knows. Otherwise, she would have told us. What exactly are they expecting us to do?"

A knock came at the door.

"Lilian, are you there?" Rachel called.

"Yes, hang on." She opened the door.

"What’s up?" Orion asked.

"We just heard from the church. They want you at the scene today if possible. Are you ready?"

"Yes. We’re ready anytime," Lilian replied.

"Good. Pack your bags. I’ll call you when the teleportation portal is ready." She turned to leave.

"Wait. We don’t even know where we’re going or what the situation is. Aren’t you supposed to tell us that?" Lilian asked.

Rachel sighed.

"All we know is that you’re going to Silverstone County. The rest... I’m afraid we don’t know. The church will brief you once you arrive."

Orion let out a slow breath.

"Fine," Lilian grumbled.

After Rachel left, they packed their things.

A while later, Rachel returned with Evelyn.

"Let’s go. We don’t have time to spare."

She led them to the portal hall, where many mages were already chanting.

"Silverstone County, huh? I’ve got to see this," Orion muttered.

Lilian narrowed her eyes.

"What do you mean? Have you encountered them before?"

"I’ll tell you later."

The portal activated, and Orion and Lilian stepped through.

"Whoa... now that’s some serious wealth flexing," Orion said as soon as they arrived.

The church was built entirely of pure white marble, with pearls of various colors embedded throughout. It radiated both grandeur and an ominous presence.

"I know. You have no idea how much each church receives in donations," Lilian said.

"Yes... we are blessed with many loyal followers," a feminine voice echoed through the vast hall.

"Huh?"

A tall woman descended from above. She had bird-like wings and eyes with no pupils — only glowing blue light. She stood at least eight feet tall, hovering in the air.

"Holy shit... is that an angel?" Orion muttered.

"I...think so." Lilian was equally stunned.

The woman landed before them.

They instinctively stepped back.

"Do not be afraid. I will not harm you," she said gently.

They were still sweating.

With a sigh, the woman shifted her form. Now she appeared as a normal-sized woman with average features.

"How about now?"

They relaxed slightly.

"Good. Let’s get straight to business." She gestured toward a nearby table.

They sat.

The woman stared at Orion for a long moment before turning to Lilian.

"I understand this boy is not a hero candidate and possesses no divine energy. Can he be trusted?"

"Yes. And for reference, Queen Evelyn was the one who suggested he come with me."

Orion quickly intervened.

"If you don’t mind me asking a few questions... do we actually know the situation? And how was that person allowed into the dungeon if he isn’t a hero candidate?"

The woman’s expression hardened.

"We have received news that the person in question..." She paused for a brief moment. "Is from another world. A reincarnated individual. He gained that ability through the reincarnation cycle."

Orion and Lilian froze.

"What?"

In a shadowy chamber deep within a dungeon, four figures sat in a circle.

The Madam. Her right-hand man. A blurry, blue-tinted figure. And a blonde young man in his twenties, staring at the Madam with a lustful gaze.

"If you look at me like that one more time, boy, I’ll claw your eyes out," she said, her aura turning frightening.

He stepped back.

"Relax... I’m sorry." He smirked. "You can’t hurt me anyway. If you kill me, you’ll be trapped here forever."

"Watch your mouth," the blurry man growled, rising with his greatsword.

"Ronald, stop," the Madam ordered.

He lowered his weapon.

The boy’s smirk widened, thinking his threat worked.

Then the Madam began to laugh.

What is this eccentric woman doing? the boy thought, unease creeping in.

"You think you’re untouchable?" she said, wiping a tear from laughing. "The only reason we let you believe that was to see your true nature."

Her expression turned deadly.

"And now that I have... you’re of no use to me as a free man."

She stepped toward him.

"N-No... stay away from me, you bitch!" he shouted, panic overtaking him.

A purple aura formed in her hand and shot toward him.

"AHHHH—!" the boy screamed as the purple aura forced its way into his body.

He was lifted into the air, limbs jerking unnaturally as the energy seeped through his skin.

"W-Wait—ahhh—stop! I promise I’ll behave! Please, stop this agony!" he begged, his voice breaking.

The Madam laughed again, low and manic.

"You think you can disrespect me and get away with it that easily?" Her eyes narrowed, glowing faintly. "No. Prepare to live the rest of your life as my slave."

"W-What?"

He couldn’t finish. The aura surged deeper into him, fiercer than before, forcing a strangled scream from his throat.

Then, abruptly, the Madam closed her hand.

The purple energy snapped back into her palm.

The boy dropped to the ground with a heavy thud.

He tried to push himself up.

He couldn’t.

"W-Wait... why can’t I move?" Panic flooded his voice.

The Madam stepped closer, heels echoing softly against the stone floor.

"Ha... ha ha ha..." She smiled down at him. "You will move only when I allow you to."