1.
Monstrous Dragon Dalan.
Before abandoning the Esteban name, he was mocked as the descendant of worms, not dragons. But the moment he cast aside that name, something awakened in him—and he boldly rose to the ranks of the Great Ten, becoming a monster.
Even the Esteban family, who had excommunicated him, came to recognize Dalan, bestowing upon him—according to family tradition—the name of a dragon, making him the Monstrous Dragon.
Because of this, people were curious.
What could Dalan have desired so deeply that he would give up such wealth and honor?
Despite countless questions, Dalan only laughed them off without giving a clear answer.
Because to him, wandering aimlessly.
Seeing the world.
Stepping into the unknown—
Those were more important and precious than anything else.
But one day, in the midst of his wandering, Dalan finally found the answer to that question.
Abandoning countless things.
Letting go of everything without a shred of regret.
Lightening his steps as much as possible, wandering the entire world—
– Dalan, what was it that you truly loved?
Rose Red.
It was all to meet you.
It’s already been four years since I lost you, and yet I still haven’t forgotten the promise we made that day.
And so, Dalan moved once more.
[While assassinating the final target, we were ambushed by the <Hero Party> and <Eclipse>. I successfully shook off the <Hero Party>, but Ruby Red engaged with an Elder of <Eclipse>—the Calamity of Blooming Blood. She has been out of contact for approximately four minutes.]
You, the one he cherished deeply.
To save the child who reminds him so much of you.
So don’t worry—
【Main Scenario – <The Unredeemed – Dalan & Rose Red> begins.】
【“Dalan. What was it that you truly loved?”】
May you finally enjoy the deep sleep you always wished for.
2.
Something had gone wrong.
Lactea sensed it the moment the 4th Elder of <Eclipse>, the Calamity of the Blooming Blood, appeared.
“Something’s coming. Stay sharp, Blood Demon.”
Right after she warned Ruby of the crimson murderous aura blooming from a black bud—
【Skill – <Blooming Flower> activates.】
“Oh dear, sorry. I’m late.”
A black flower blooming from Lactea’s shadow suddenly engulfed Ruby.
The moment her golden eyes touched the shadow flower, Lactea instantly realized.
‘If I forcefully break it, Ruby will die too.’
So the conclusion she quickly reached—
Was to kill the Calamity of the Blooming Blood.
No matter how powerful the spell is, it typically ends when the caster dies.
Of course, Ruby might die before then—but right now, they were on the Captain’s orders.
‘The mission comes first.’
Honestly, she’d rather kill both and finish the mission first.
But the kid was someone who could help the Captain.
However, if—
‘If the skill still activates even after killing the caster…’
Then she would have to give up.
Either way, this was Lactea’s version of considering Ruby’s well-being.
So, as her crimson longsword was drawn, aiming to cut down the Calamity of the Blooming Blood—
Clang!!
Suddenly, ash-gray threads filling the area deflected her strike.
“…! Damn it, this monster…!!”
Only then did the Calamity of the Blooming Blood notice Lactea’s attack and fled with Ruby in tow.
“I won’t let you escape.”
“We won’t either.”
Clang!
“…Heroes?”
“An honor to be recognized, Black Wolf.”
She immediately tried to pursue Ruby, but it was already too late.
Surrounded by members of the <Hero Party>, she failed to give chase.
So what choice did she have?
The situation had already fallen apart this badly. All she could do now was report it.
“While assassinating the final target, we were ambushed by the <Hero Party> and <Eclipse>. I successfully shook off the <Hero Party>, but Ruby Red engaged with an Elder of <Eclipse>—the Calamity of Blooming Blood. She has been out of contact for approximately four minutes.”
Lactea reported this using Aura, ensuring her voice was only transmitted through the communication mana stone, then scanned the surroundings to assess the situation.
‘Hero at the front, shield and mage on the flanks, and… supporters taking control of the rear.’
If she were alone, she could’ve found a way to escape. But her comrade Ruby had been captured.
‘She was knocked unconscious the moment she was caught by Eclipse.’
If Ruby dies without breaking the Restriction, the Captain could be in danger as well.
‘I either need to retrieve her… or, at the very least, sever her contract with the Captain and then kill her.’
Lactea moved without hesitation.
She headed toward the trace of thick, dark mana—where the Calamity of the Blooming Blood had gone.
Just from that subtle movement, Asha reacted instantly, throwing her holy sword like a spear.
Crash!
The holy sword embedded itself, blocking her path.
‘The opponent is the Black Wolf. Definitely not an easy fight. I need to go all out from the start.’
Asha twisted her hand, channeling Aura through the sword as a medium.
【<Asha Mirabelle (SSS+)>’s Skill 1 – <Heroic Crusade+> activates.】
As a burst of holy light exploded, trying to engulf not just Asha but even Lactea—
Lactea, still chasing only the Calamity of the Blooming Blood as if Asha didn’t even exist, swung her crimson longsword and murmured softly:
“【Collapse.】”
A part of the mental world that was about to close—particularly the part trying to block Lactea—failed to form and scattered.
This was Lactea’s Skill 1: Word Command.
【<Lactea Babylonia (S+)>’s Skill 1 – <Word Command (S+)> activates.】
An ability of the woman once considered a leading candidate for the next Empress—one who could shape the world with mere words.
Lactea quickly uttered short commands toward the layers of the <Hero Party> surrounding her.
“Mana Dissipation, Unstable Ground, Entanglement.”
The mana around Marin.
The ground beneath Vulcan’s feet.
And Selena’s detection threads—
All became null, even if only momentarily, throwing them into confusion. Lactea, ever cunning, didn’t miss the opening and dove through to break their encirclement.
Boom!
Thus, she escaped the <Hero Party>’s siege.
Asha was startled.
“…How?”
The Black Wolf in front of her wasn’t weak—but wasn’t stronger than them either.
In fact, based on raw power alone, she had assumed Lactea was just a low-ranking member of the Black Wolf.
Regardless, Lactea, having broken through in a flash, turned back and warned them:
“Do not act rashly.”
Ominous golden killing intent.
So sharp and terrifying that everyone in the <Hero Party> unconsciously took up a defensive stance.
Not the pressure of one strong enough to rule—
but the innate aura of one born to rule.
Any being with average intelligence would have instinctively submitted to her.
Of course—
“What does ‘rashly’ mean?”
“…?”
“Stop using difficult words from now on.”
—If they had average intelligence, that is.
“Whatever the case, it’s clear—you’re the one we need to stop!!!”
Vulcan, finishing his words, stomped the loosened ground to harden it beneath him.
Boom!
Rumble…!!!
Then, Vulcan’s ultimate skill activated.
【<Vulcan Gardner (SS+)>’s Ultimate – <Iron Fortress (SS+)> activates!】
The torrent of Aura poured forth and took form—
A massive fortress rose.
Walls of thick iron surrounded them on all sides.
Originally a defensive skill meant to protect from outside attacks—
Now it became an arena, trapping both allies and enemies within.
The overwhelming presence of the towering steel walls.
【Due to <Iron Fortress (SS+)> activation, all allies’ Defense, Magic Resistance, and Mental Fortitude are greatly increased!】
Thanks to that, the <Hero Party> members—who had been mentally shaken by Lactea—regained their composure.
Simultaneously, Vulcan struck one of the upper walls with his shield—boom, a direct impact.
The resonance through the shield fortified the connection between the four walls.
With the <Hero Party> restored to full form, Asha drew her holy sword once again and declared:
“Checkmate.”
Once inside Vulcan’s ultimate skill—Iron Fortress—there were only two ways out.
Either Vulcan, the caster, releases it willingly…
Or he loses consciousness due to fainting or death.
Neither named beasts.
Nor demon nobles.
Not even the Demon Legion Commanders—
None had ever escaped once Iron Fortress had been activated.
“Surrender, and I’ll spare your life—for now.”
With the regained momentum, Asha gave a sharp warning. The rest of the team swallowed nervously.
But Lactea still murmured, eyes locked on her objective.
“…Annoying.”
It had always been like this.
— What are you doing? Isn’t this for the benefit of the people? Shouldn’t we let it be?
— Apologies, but that won’t do. The nobles come first before the commoners.
Even though she was only doing her part,
others constantly interfered, dragging her down.
So she had once responded with kindness.
She explained. Then explained again.
Trying to move forward together.
And the result?
— …Pffft. Those bastards…
She was driven to the battlefield, thrown into death.
But after being saved by the Black Wolf.
After choosing to live not as a princess, but as a Black Wolf—
Lactea no longer walked the path of explanation and coexistence.
She walked her path.
That’s why she was no longer the benevolent First Princess—
But the Vice-Captain of the <Black Wolf>.
“There’s no way out of here.”
“If I kill them all, the path will open.”
“Arrogant.”
“Because I can.”
【Warning.】
【<Lactea Babylonia (S+)>’s Skill 2 – <Instant Death Command (???)> activates.】
Mercy was never her way.
3.
Skill – Blooming Flower.
A skill that seeks out a person’s buried trauma
And forces it to bloom fully.
The moment a lingering regret from the past fully blossoms,
the target is trapped—forever repeating that moment.
An unending nightmare.
Not just the horrifying moment.
But the entire sequence of events is relived again and again.
That’s why the Calamity of Whispering Nightmares once asked.
— Then isn’t that a good thing?
Since it recreates even the happy moments, wasn’t it better than nightmares alone?
But the Calamity of the Blooming Blood firmly answered.
— Repeating only pain isn’t a nightmare.
Rather—
— Giving someone radiant happiness first, then plunging them into suffering… that’s true despair.
A pain only those who’ve experienced it would understand.
And now, once again—
“Are you alright, Ruby? You spaced out for a moment.”
“…? Sister Rose…?”
【Main Scenario – <The Unredeemed – Ruby Red & Rose Red> begins.】
【“As always, don’t be afraid—keep shining, Ruby.”】
A forgotten happiness begins once more.
