1.
Just before <Solar Annihilation> was activated.
“…Was it just my imagination?”
Lactea, seeing Yellow Dragon lying flat on the ground, turned her head with a cold expression.
Black Wolf.
The Captain of <Black Wolf> wouldn’t do something like that, even as a joke.
‘It’s just overthinking. No need to worry.’
Right now, the only thing I should be concerned about is the order from the Captain—‘cleaning up the trash.’
As she recalled Black Wolf’s face, a sense of calm returned to her, and Lactea reassessed the situation.
‘First, this side.’
Dalan—the Monstrous Dragon, the 5th member of <Black Wolf> and one of the Great Ten.
And Han-Ryang—the Tal, the 3rd member of <Black Wolf>.
“Hey, let’s at least talk!!”
Dalan, who had already taken down all the enemies, persistently attempted to start a conversation.
“Negative. Executing order──processing!!”
But Han-Ryang thoroughly ignored him and pressed the attack, following Lactea’s command to the letter.
Boom!!
A pair of massive hands slammed down onto the rooftop, sending reddish-brown bricks scattering in all directions.
The debris filled the surroundings, obstructing both Dalan’s vision and his movements.
“Ending──processing!!”
Raising both hands to shield his head, Han-Ryang launched himself toward Dalan.
Crack!
Crack, Crack!
The bricks shattered one after another upon colliding with his massive, sturdy body, but Han-Ryang paid no mind and clenched his fist, preparing for his next strike.
【Skill – <Strength(A++)> has been activated!】
Crack!!
As his brutally clenched fist emitted a dark blue energy, it stretched toward Dalan.
Cornered at the very edge of the roof, Dalan let out a deep sigh and spoke.
“I only need a moment. But you won’t listen, will you?”
No response.
Even if there was one, he’d be knocked away before he could hear it.
Just as Han-Ryang’s fierce punch was about to strike Dalan’s face directly—
“Hah, I knew it, you bastard.”
Ssshhh.
Dalan disappeared.
Whoosh!
The punch cut through only an afterimage, throwing Han-Ryang off balance.
“Apologies in advance.”
Before he could react, Dalan had already wrapped himself around Han-Ryang’s arm and locked him into a joint hold.
Crack!!
Rather than bending in one direction, the arm twisted and snapped in multiple angles.
“──?!!”
Han-Ryang, momentarily panicked, extended his other hand to grab Dalan—but what he managed to seize was nothing more than an old, faded brown cloak.
Before he realized it, Dalan had already switched to the opposite arm.
As he applied another joint lock, he muttered softly.
“Ask Peter for healing.”
CRACK─!!
In an instant, both of Han-Ryang’s arms were rendered useless.
Monstrous Dragon, Dalan.
A master of all forms of martial arts and hand-to-hand combat.
His movements were so bizarre and unpredictable that it was impossible to anticipate them.
Rather than using weapons, he favored grappling techniques that entangled and crushed his opponents—earning him his infamous moniker for resembling a monstrous dragon.
Han-Ryang had barely been able to track his movements and had attempted to counter them, but due to his injuries, he had reacted too late and was taken down.
“Not needed──processing!!”
Despite his condition, Han-Ryang still attempted to charge forward, following his orders—but before he could, Lactea had already stepped in.
“Enough. You still haven’t recovered from what the Empress did to you. Keep this up, and you’ll really die.”
“But──!!”
“Tal. If you really want to die that badly…”
Lactea cut Han-Ryang off and lowered her head, her eerie golden eyes pressing forward.
“Release the restriction and die alone.”
The Restriction of <Black Wolf>.
A contract that granted power in exchange for binding the member’s life to Black Wolf—a curse in all but name.
Even though she clearly wanted to kill him then and there, the Captain’s safety took priority, making her restrain herself.
“…Apologies──processing.”
“Enough. Step back.”
“Yes, Vice-Captain.”
Only after Han-Ryang retreated did a semblance of peace return to the bakery’s rooftop.
Or rather,
it seemed to, for a fleeting moment.
【Warning.】
【<Lactea Babylonia(S+)> is releasing <Black Wolf>’s Restriction.】
Among the members, Lactea was the only one capable of completely lifting the <Restriction>. Now at full strength, she turned to Dalan and spoke.
“Release the restriction, Dalan.”
A menacing bloodlust.
Had they not been bound by <Black Wolf>’s Restriction, his head would have been gone by now.
‘She wasn’t always this sharp-edged. What in the world has made the once merciful First Imperial Princess so ruthless?’
Dalan swallowed the bitterness welling in his throat and reached into his coat.
“I meant to tell you sooner, but with everything going on, I only just got the chance. I hope you’ll forgive the delay.”
Clink.
What Dalan pulled out was a worn-down dagger engraved with the emblem of <Black Wolf>.
Though all the members had identical daggers, his bore a single golden moon decoration and a silver sun embellishment—gleaming as if to set them apart.
“…”
Lactea picked up the dagger from the ground in silence, her eyes fixed on Dalan.
“It’s a direct order from the Captain. He’s currently negotiating with Yellow Dragon, so we are to stand down and return to the hideout for today. And…”
Dalan trailed off, drawing all of Lactea’s focus to his lips.
Gulp.
Even though she was merely receiving a message through another.
Why was her heart pounding?
Why was a smile creeping onto her lips?
Why were her hands trembling?
As she struggled to steady her breath and unconsciously leaned toward Dalan, he delivered the final words.
“…Prepare. The Hero is returning.”
And the moment Dalan finished speaking—
【Skill – <Solar Annihilation(EX)> has been activated!】
【Flash──!】
A radiant golden light surged forth.
For the second time.
“Vice-Captain!!”
Having already experienced its destructive power, Han-Ryang rushed in to shield Lactea—
“It’s fine. Bring Persona. We’re returning to the hideout.”
“…?!!”
Only to be grabbed by Lactea and thrown toward Luna instead.
…Clatter.
At some point, she had retrieved the dagger and now held it tightly to her chest as she canceled the Restriction release and added.
“Tell the Captain this—starting today, for three days, I will wait patiently.”
“…Yes, Vice-Captain.”
“Remember. Exactly three days.”
And then—
Sssccchhh!
Everything touched by the light was cleaved in two, exposing their interiors.
The lined-up buildings, a portion of the Imperial Palace, and even the drifting clouds beyond.
The light surged forward without obstruction, streaking across the sky until it vanished in the far-off horizon.
Where the light had passed, only Dalan remained, murmuring softly.
“Hah… Seriously… I can’t even begin to compare.”
Thud.
He slumped to the ground, his gaze fixed in the direction where Lactea had disappeared.
That place was where the attack had struck.
It was where Lactea had thrown Han-Ryang to retrieve Luna, where the Captain of <Black Wolf> still remained.
To outsiders, it might have looked like <Black Wolf>’s subordinates were closing in to capture Yellow Dragon.
But in reality, they were all on the same side.
“Well, the Captain can handle the finishing touches. This old man needs to lie down and rest.”
Thus, as peace returned to the Central Plaza.
2.
Skill – <Solar Annihilation>.
At first, I thought it was just some ambiguous trick, like a flashbang.
‘…The performance is definitely solid.’
Of course, the moment it activates, all Aura is drained, leaving me exhausted.
But thanks to <Iaso’s Ring>, at least I don’t collapse.
Seeing that the two shadows on the rooftop had vanished, Dalan must have done his part well.
From an outsider’s perspective, it appeared that I had clashed with and driven out <Black Wolf>’s subordinates.
That provided plenty of justification to abandon the Bounty Request against Yellow Dragon.
“I have something to report to Her Majesty the Empress.”
“The Empress…?”
Ah—
“You don’t need to know.”
Feigning indifference, I grabbed my greatsword and turned away.
But Luna, who was barely standing, raised her voice in frustration.
“With that kind of power… why are you working for the Empress!?”
Right now, the Empress was being misunderstood as incompetent due to <Eclipse>’s influence.
“Do you even understand why we—why the people—are suffering like this!?”
Even among the members of <Black Wolf>, she was particularly despised.
So, it wasn’t surprising that Luna reacted so harshly.
However, as I said, it was all just a misunderstanding.
Every request that came down to Yellow Dragon was meant to relieve the people’s suffering.
And the one issuing them was the Empress herself.
Though deceived by traitors and appearing powerless, she still did her best for the Babylonia Empire.
She was not a tyrant—she was a benevolent ruler.
“You’re the ones who truly know nothing.”
With those final words, I turned away.
There was no point in explaining anything to the <Black Wolf> members now.
Whether as Black Wolf or as Yellow Dragon, I would simply prove the truth through action.
But just as I turned completely around—
“Yellow Dragon.”
I was met with a chilling killing intent.
‘Lactea.’
I recognized it immediately and tried to raise my greatsword.
But instead, she simply walked past me and whispered in her cold, melodic voice.
“…I remember.”
And that was it.
When I turned around to check, she had already disappeared—leaving no trace, not even footprints.
I stayed frozen for a long time, wondering if she was still nearby.
But it wasn’t until I saw Dalan flop onto the ground that I finally relaxed.
“…It’s over.”
Honestly, I wanted to collapse onto the ground like Dalan as well, but—
“Look over there!! Yellow Dragon drove out <Black Wolf>’s subordinates!!”
“Did you see that!? He took on three of them alone!!”
“Even <Black Wolf> bows its head before Yellow Dragon!!”
The gathered citizens were already cheering in admiration, their eyes sparkling with awe.
【Passive: <Sun’s Blessing (Ex)>】
◆ Effect
: You sparkle magnificently. Amazing. If someone who holds <respect> for <you> sees that sparkling light, they will fall under the status effect <Reverence>. The Blessing of the Sun is the greatest in the world!
I hated how the system message mocked me— but thanks to Yellow Dragon’s skills, I had survived.
Clang!
Staying in character, I raised my greatsword in one hand and declared victory.
“A new Hero has been born!!”
“Long live Yellow Dragon!!”
“Long live Monstrous Dragon!!”
The citizens’ cheers resounded across the Central Plaza, echoing all the way to the Imperial Palace.
“What the hell!? What’s happening—wait, huh?”
A groggy Dalan, who had dozed off, was jolted awake by the deafening cheers.
CRASH!!
The <Central Plaza Attack Incident> ended with Dalan stumbling and tumbling down.
“Ugh!!”
“Get your sh*t together and clean this up, you bastard!!”
“Hey!! Bring the severed parts over here!!”
“Damn it, what the hell is this…!!”
As the Imperial Guard belatedly arrived to handle the aftermath, amid the never-ending cheers, I turned to Dalan, helping him up, and made up my mind.
Three days until my return.
“Captain, how do you plan to spend the next three days?”
“I’m going to relax and enjoy myself.”
“…Huh?”
“I said, I’m going to relax and do nothing.”
For once, I intended to fully rest.
But then…
“Kekeke, if it’s not too much trouble, would you care to have a chat somewhere nice, <Yellow Dragon> sir?”
Who the hell is this guy?
‘Just from the look of him, he screams suspicious… Don’t tell me—’
I quickly turned my gaze toward the status window flickering inside my helmet.
─『Subquest Completed!』─
◆ A New Hero. (Completed!)
: With the <Hero> embarking on their <Expedition>, fear is spreading. The Babylonia Empire needs a new hero.
◆ Conditions (Completed!)
- Drive out <Black Wolf>.
- Prevent <Yellow Dragon>’s identity as <Black Wolf> from being exposed.
- Survive.
◆ Reward (Completed!)
: Attention from <Eclipse>.
◆ Failure or Refusal (Deleting…)
: The destruction of <Yellow Dragon>.
Did <Eclipse> approach me as a reward for completing the sub-quest?
“Dalan.”
“Already got him.”
Before I even finished speaking, Dalan moved, twisting the man’s neck in his grasp.
“Gack, kegh!! W-what is this…!!”
A black robe, greasy mustache, shifty, narrow eyes.
I stared at the suspicious man, who now dangled mid-air, and whispered.
“Did <Eclipse> send you?”
“…!! H-how do you know that name…!!”
“So it’s true. Dalan.”
“Got it.”
“Keghhh!!”
As soon as I gave him the nod, Dalan squeezed tighter— the man’s face turning a deep shade of red, as if it would burst.
‘<Eclipse>—the ultimate hidden mastermind behind every bad ending in the story.’
However, because they were so deeply hidden, even <Babylonia Full Content> could not uncover them.
‘Because of that, the <Hero> and the <Empress> failed to resolve their misunderstanding, the <Black Wolf> was dragged into the conflict, and everything collapsed together in a bad ending.’
Thus, the highest priority is to find <Eclipse> in order to prevent all <bad endings>.
I directed a short question at Dalan, laced with as much killing intent as possible.
“Monstrous Dragon, are you any good at t*rture?”
“Puhahat! What kind of question is that, my friend? That’s my specialty!”
“Then show me your skills.”
“Alright, let’s see… the guy has two eyes, doesn’t he?”
A shadow fell over his previously genial face, and his narrow eyes opened sharply.
“Let’s start by crushing one.”
The moment Dalan finished speaking and moved to press his fingers into the man’s eye—
“W-wait!!”
The trembling man pulled something out and thrust it forward with a desperate cry.
“I—I am a secret guard of Her Majesty the Empress!!”
The identification he held bore the Empress’s insignia, her official rank, and her personal seal.
“That’s all the proof you have?”
“Not long ago, Her Majesty issued a <designated request>, correct…!? She sent me to rescind it! I swear it’s true…!”
“That is… certainly credible information. …But let’s make one thing clear.”
I let out a smirk, took a step back, and gestured toward Dalan.
“The one who assaulted you is not me, but Monstrous Dragon.”
“?”
“In other words, I have nothing to do with this act of violence.”
“What!? Hey, Yellow Dragon!!”
“Well.”
Honestly, he’s not wrong.
