Las’s expression hardened at my words.
I felt as if I had stumbled upon a secret that should never be known, and I spoke in a heavy voice.
“How did you find out?”
“It seems you’ve left too many hints.”
But I felt unjust as well. Showing off that “I am a dragon; in fact, I am the ancestral guardian Ragnix,” while pretending not to know was pushing it too far.
“I’m not really getting it.”
“In my opinion, you’ve given too many hints. Ancestor, haha!”
Even Prince Lethers now seemed relieved as he laughed.
With a dissatisfied look, Ras muttered transparently.
“So… what do you want?”
What do I want? Ah… come to think of it, I’ve heard of it before. It’s said that if the divine beasts descended into the human world and were recognized, they would grant a reward.
In reality, it was a reward to hush things up when it became known that divine beasts affected the human realm, but was that actually true?
Contemplating, I honestly said.
“Um… I don’t want anything.”
“…Really?”
“Oh! If the game is released as per the contract, I would be grateful if you could give me a Dragon Heart Stone.”
At my words, Ras looked puzzled and replied.
“If it’s known that a divine beast intervened personally in the world, it could escalate diplomatically, hence the need to grant a wish; do you not understand its value?”
I knew how significant an opportunity it was to ask a dragon for something. If I played my cards right, it could likely be a chance to snag another Dragon Heart Stone.
But…
“I do understand. However, I don’t want to threaten a friend for that.”
“Friend?”
“When playing a game together, everyone is a ‘friend.’”
Yeah, if we’re having fun together in the game, we were friends. And I didn’t want to blackmail a friend for something like that. There was nothing I wanted to gain in that way.
Ras seemed momentarily shocked by my words before bursting into laughter.
“Ha…hahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!”
Ras’s reaction was so wildly funny that both Lethers and I were taken aback.
What’s going on? Is it really that hilarious to think of us as friends?
“Are you alright, Ancestor?”
“It’s fine. I’m just reminded of an old acquaintance.”
Once he calmed down, Ragnix emitted dragon-like intensity again. After seeing so many sides of him, he didn’t seem as terrifying this time.
“You really are an interesting human. If it weren’t for Jerael, I’d want to adopt you as a citizen of the Ra Kingdom.”
Ragnix approached me and said, “『Ragnix Mentum』—it’s my true name that I reveal to those I recognize. If you ever need my help, shout that name towards the sea. I’ll lend you my strength, just once.”
“Um… is any help possible?”
“…Of course, but if you think of asking for something bizarre or for a moving service, it’ll be your last breath.”
Yikes! Caught red-handed.
“But if you truly wish to act as a hero, I will acknowledge you, just once, as my ‘Dragon Rider.’”
Thus, I learned the true name from the legendary Fire Dragon Ragnix. It may not be of much use, but knowing a dragon’s true name might someday be helpful, I thought as I remembered it on my way to my lodging.
*
After completing QA and the World Tree Network work, the game “Dragon Hunter” was finally released.
I initially thought the World Tree Network might have difficulty operating in another country, but thanks to my Master’s involvement, the connection was seamless. Indeed, a sage favored by the World Tree!
“Dragon Hunter” premiered in the Ra Kingdom, where I developed it. The royal family made a bold decision for its advertisement.
That was…
“Wow!!”
“Mom! Dragons are flying in the sky!!”
They mobilized dragons for marketing.
The dragons that the royal family could summon flew around holding gigantic “Dragon Hunter” posters to promote the game.
The sight of dragons gliding gracefully through the sky, unfolding the posters, was truly magnificent.
I even seriously considered asking Ragnix for such advertising in the future.
With such an advertisement, the news of Dragon Hunter’s release spread rapidly throughout the Ra Kingdom.
This was a game that had been properly produced with national funding, and the fact that a famous wizard from the Zers Empire had even produced it encouraged gamers in the Ra Kingdom to be the first to purchase and play “Dragon Hunter.”
The first gamers to encounter the game were slightly bewildered by its different structure compared to existing action games.
“What the!? I have to perform an action to drink a potion!?”
“I have to cook the meat myself!? What kind of inconvenient game is this!?”
However, in no time, that discomfort transformed into fun. They say the process of preparing for a festival is enjoyable.
The same applied to Dragon Hunter.
As they made various weapons, armor, and items for hunting, they rapidly became immersed in the primal hunting fun of Dragon Hunter.
“Guys, map 5! Map 5!! No, let’s go to map 8!!”
“Got it! Heading there now!!!”
Plus, realizing the fun multiplied when playing in multiplayer mode, the children of the Ra Kingdom dove headfirst into the joys of Dragon Hunter.
Kids in the Ra Kingdom, who used to consider the forest their playground, began gathering in their forest hideaways with Dragon Hunter Crystal Balls to hunt down dragons.
Even adults who weren’t familiar with the game would think, “Oh, they’re probably playing ‘Dragon Hunter’”—and they wouldn’t interfere, showing how prevalent Dragon Hunter became in the Ra Kingdom.
Even in the Ra Kingdom, which lacked a gaming culture like that of the Zers Empire and Yura Republic, a gaming culture began to take root after the release of Dragon Hunter.
Thus, having succeeded in the Ra Kingdom, Dragon Hunter was also released in the Zers Empire and Yura Republic.
“Loyal game of true dragon hunting from the land of dragons!!” was the provocative tagline under which Dragon Hunter was launched. Unlike in the Ra Kingdom, or rather, because there were gamers already accustomed to multiplayer, the game spread even faster.
Gamers hunted dragons in the world of Dragon Hunter, marveling at their strength while steadily preparing and growing into heroes.
As countless gamers across the continent hunted dragons in Dragon Hunter, so many did so that a mission unlocked.
“Kids!!! Look at this!! A new mission has been unlocked in Dragon Hunter!!!”
“Where! Where!! ‘Receive recognition from the Black Dragon Ragnix’—what kind of mission is this?”
The mission to earn the acknowledgment of the legendary dragon and the mightiest dragon, the “Black Dragon Ragnix,” seemed too easy for the gamers, who had become veteran hunters after taking down numerous dragons.
“Black Dragon? It’s just a snack for us!!”
“Let’s go smash his head in, kids!!”
Gamers enthusiastically armed with their gear set off to hunt down the Black Dragon Ragnix.
It might not be easy, but just like dragons had before, they would eventually hunt it down.
What awaited those overly confident hunters as they started the game was an abandoned arena.
And a legendary hunter explained.
“When many dragons are defeated, legends are reborn. When countless skins are torn, bones shattered, and blood drunk, the dragon appears.
He who burns the earth, he who melts iron, he who boils water, he who sweeps away trees, he who births flames, he who stirs the wind;
the name of that dragon is Ragnix—he is the last dragon to test you.”
At that moment, a gigantic black dragon appeared alongside a massive burst of flames.
Its presence, radiating powers unmatched by any dragon so far, overwhelmed the hunters.
If there were an existence that embodied death, it would surely be that.
“W-We’re fine!!! Everyone remember what we hunted before!!!”
“Yeah!! We can do it!!!!”
“Let’s go!!!!”
The bravely challenged hunters attacked the black dragon.
However…
Ping!
“What!? Why is this flesh so tough!!!”
“Damage isn’t going through!?”
The hunters’ weapons were rendered useless against the solid hide of the black dragon, and they were wiped out by its area-of-effect breath attack.
The users, who had felt they had grown as hunters after defeating hundreds of dragons, were shocked by its power.
How could there be such a strong dragon? How were they supposed to contend with it?
But amidst that despair, excitement bubbled up as well.
Yes, this is how games should be.
When there’s an insurmountable wall, and you struggle to surpass it, the game becomes enjoyable.
The hunters returned to their roots in Dragon Hunter as they took their first steps to challenge the black dragon once more.
After dozens, hundreds of attempts, analyzing the black dragon’s weaknesses, tailoring weapons to fit, and studying its patterns, the hunters gradually edged closer to defeating it.
Breath, enhanced breath, meteors, earthquakes, and the countless attack patterns saw the hunters fail again and again, but after thousands of attempts finally managed to tackle the black dragon.
[The black dragon’s health has been completely depleted.]
“I did it!!!!!!!”
“Woooaahhhhhh!!!!!”
The hunters felt a rush akin to that of a country celebrating victory in war, having succeeded in taking down the black dragon.
Yet, the black dragon was unlike any other dragon.
Instead of collapsing and dying, it simply acknowledged them before soaring into the sky and disappearing.
Its noble demeanor left a deep impression on the gamers, reminiscent of a deity.
Before long, it became known that the black dragon was modeled after Ragnix, the divine beast of the Ra Kingdom, and merchandise began to be sold alongside Dragon Hunter plushies.
For the first time, divine beasts were turned into character merchandise and began to be sold.
