“It’s really the last one now.”
Under the sky swirling with dark clouds, a black spire pierced the heavens. It was the Demon King’s castle.
I had seen this scene dozens of times in the game, but seeing it in person took my breath away. It wasn’t just pixels anymore; a living terror enveloped me.
‘Hero, please save the world!’
A bittersweet smile spread across my face as a memory suddenly surfaced. I vividly remembered the moment five years ago when I fell into this world, accompanied by that voice.
How could an ordinary college student like me become a hero? At first, it was just ridiculous. The fantasy world I had seen in the game had become a reality.
“Are you okay? It might be a good idea to take a short break.”
I turned at the sound of a graceful voice behind me.
It was Aris, the golden dragon, our party’s mage, known as the sage of the dragon race.
“Heh, you seem to be more nervous than usual,” Aris remarked as she took a step closer. A sweet fragrance brushed my nose. The dignity of a dragon who had lived for thousands of years flowed through every movement of hers.
“As we get closer to the Demon King’s castle, I feel an ominous energy. Even the spirits are uneasy…”
A cold voice interrupted. It was Queen Sylvia, the Elf Queen. Her cold green eyes were fixed on the Demon King’s castle.
“Hero, if you’re tired, shall I offer a blessing prayer for you?”
Seraphine, the saint, asked in a concerned voice. Her pure white hair sparkled in the moonlight, and worry filled her violet eyes.
“No, it’s fine.”
I shook my head. I didn’t want to waste her magical power with the final battle against the Demon King just ahead.
“Hey, look! I can see a village!”
A sudden shout came, and Nia, the cat beastkin, jumped up. Her black cat ears twitched cutely.
It seemed she had spotted the village with her sharp senses.
“Where?” Sylvia asked, pulling back her bowstring in a ready stance.
“That way! I can see lights!”
Everyone’s gaze turned to the direction Nia pointed. A small village was visible at the base of the Demon King’s castle. In the game, this was the last save point and the place to buy the final equipment.
“Alright, let’s restock there.”
A party of ancient beings: a dragon sage who had lived for thousands of years, the Elf Queen and gardener of the World Tree, a blessed saint of the gods, and a legendary cat thief.
Now that I think about it, we were really lucky. In the game, it would have been a basic rule to save the game hundreds of times, and even with a strategy guide, this party combination would have been hard to succeed with. But with just one chance, we had managed to form the ultimate hero party.
As soon as we entered the village, we split up to handle our tasks.
Aris went to the magic shop, Sylvia went to restock spirit stones, Seraphine went to the church to pray.
Nia… I looked around, but she had already disappeared. Typical thief behavior. She was probably gathering information. Or maybe off to steal something again.
With tired footsteps, I headed to the inn first.
“Sigh…”
I let out a deep sigh, gazing out the window at the black spire.
We had finally reached the Demon King’s castle. Now, if we defeat the Demon King, everything would be over. If we defeat the Demon King, I could return to my original world. That 21…
I shook my head. I didn’t want to think about it yet. The word ‘return’ pressed heavily on my heart.
Knock-knock—
I heard a knock on the door, and a sense of foreboding filled me. In the game, this was always a dangerous flag.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and Aris entered. Unlike her usual graceful smile, her expression was tense.
“Would you… spare me a moment?”
Moonlight streamed into the room. Aris’ golden eyes gleamed more brightly than usual.
It was the first time I had seen her, the dragon with such dignity, hesitate like this.
A sense of danger stirred within me, as though something very dangerous was about to begin.
“Shall we step outside? I have something to show you.”
She led me to an open area on the outskirts of the village.
A golden magic circle spread beneath her feet. Intricate patterns were etched into the ground, and the air began to hum.
“Just a moment… I want to show you my true form.”
A brilliant light flashed. When I opened my eyes, a massive golden dragon stood before me. Its 25-meter-long golden scales sparkled like jewels under the moonlight.
The dragon’s eyes stared at me. They were the same golden eyes I had grown accustomed to. Despite its immense size, it still held its grace.
“Every time I see it, it’s truly beautiful…”
I couldn’t help but marvel. In that moment, the dragon’s scales turned a deep red.
[W… What are you… saying all of a sudden?]
The dragon’s voice echoed in my head. A trembling voice. Could it be… that she’s embarrassed?
The huge golden dragon lowered its head, gesturing for me to climb onto its back.
[You know, right? This is something I only allow you in this world.]
I carefully climbed onto her back.
Swoosh—
Enormous wings spread wide. They were large enough to block the sky.
[Are you ready?]
Aris’ voice echoed in my mind again. I nodded.
In an instant, the ground seemed to fall away. With the sound of powerful wingbeats, we soared into the sky.
Higher and higher we rose. The cold night air brushed my face, but the warm heat emanating from Aris’ scales wrapped around me. It was an unusually gentle temperature for a dragon’s body.
As we ascended above the clouds, the world turned entirely silver. Beneath us, endless white clouds stretched out, and above us, the moon was so close it seemed like I could reach out and touch it. It was a sight I could never see in the game.
[How does it feel? You’re the only human in the world who can see this.]
Aris’ voice resonated gently. The golden dragon’s long neck curved elegantly as it looked back at me. Its golden eyes shone with warmth.
Slowly, very slowly, we descended. We glided down toward the highest hill near the village, with the moonlight at our backs.
In that moment, a brilliant light flashed again. When it faded, Aris had returned to her human form.
Her golden hair, flowing to her knees, fluttered in the evening wind, and the horns at her temples sparkled like jewels. Her golden eyes looked at me, and she seemed like a goddess of the moon who had descended to the mortal world.
“I have something serious to talk about, Haru.”
This was the first time I had heard Aris speak in such a tone. Could it be…?
“Hmm? What is it?”
“Should I just pretend not to know for now?”
“Let’s walk for a bit. Even I find it hard to speak up immediately.”
Aris moved first, and I followed her. Under the moonlight, her silhouette was as graceful as a painting.
“Hehe… Do you remember the day we first met in the Dragonkin’s library?”
Aris spoke first. The memory of that day came back clearly. I had gone to the ancient library to enhance the holy sword. Aris was the librarian there.
“I was really rude back then… I arrogantly asserted the pride of the Dragonkin, setting trials because humans had dared enter the library.”
At that time, I had secretly laughed. In the game, many players had lost their lives in the maze. The walls moved, the space twisted, and time was distorted—deadly traps everywhere.
“Most humans would have tried to break through with force. But you…”
“The pride of dragons isn’t mere arrogance. It comes from a love for wisdom… right?”
“Hehe, yes. You remember well.”
“The trial doesn’t test strength, but wisdom. The answer to the maze is ‘do not run away.’ If you accept the pride of the dragons and do not flee, the maze will open the path itself.”
This line had been a hidden keyword for the golden dragon event. But now, facing it in reality, it felt even more meaningful.
“Do you know how my expression looked at that time? It was the most shocked moment in my thousands of years.”
Aris’ gaze softened.
“You… the human who solved the riddle of the Dragonkin… from that moment, you seemed special to me.”
Aris’ eyes grew even softer under the moonlight.
“I can’t forget what happened in the canyon either. When the Dragon Lords tried to take me away…”
Her words made me recall that day. The ancient dragons had tried to take Aris away, saying, “The Dragonkin should not interfere with the human world.”
“You protected me without hesitation. You said, ‘Aris is my comrade.’ That one sentence touched my heart.”
Aris stopped walking and looked at me. The moonlight shimmered in her golden eyes.
“You were the first human to protect me from the oppression of the Dragonkin. After that day, I realized… you are special. From then on, my golden eyes could see no one but you.”
Aris’ hand touched my cheek. It was neither cold nor hot, but a warmth like moonlight.
“I’ve seen many humans over my thousands of years of life. But there has been no one like you. Strong but never arrogant, wise but never prideful…”
Her gaze trembled. Deep emotions swirled in her golden eyes.
“I can no longer hide it. I…”
Aris’ voice quivered. All the pride of the Dragonkin and the calm of a sage vanished, replaced by raw emotion.
“I love you.”
The golden eyes staring at me shone brighter than the moonlight.
“I once thought that the human lifespan was fleeting. But the five years I’ve spent with you… were more meaningful than all my thousands of years of life. Haru… Will you spend eternity with me?”
I had expected these words, but hearing them made my heart ache.
“I’m sorry, Aris.”
Her eyes trembled.
“I… I’m human, and you’re a dragon. The great golden dragon, the sage of the Dragonkin.”
“Are you talking about the difference in our lifespans?”
Aris cut me off.
“Don’t worry about that. I’m researching magic that can solve it…”
A chill ran down my spine. In the game, she had been notorious as the ‘yandere dragon.’ One wrong move, and you’d end up trapped in her nest forever—the ultimate bad ending.
“That’s not it. Honestly, I’m afraid of the possessiveness of the Dragonkin.”
The moment I said it, I regretted it. The expression on Aris’ face changed in an instant when I mentioned possessiveness.
“What are you saying?”
Her laughter echoed coldly. The magic in the surroundings swirled.
“I’ve always said, I’m not that bothersome kind of woman…”
Aris’ pupils elongated vertically like a snake.
“Possessiveness of the Dragonkin? You misunderstand dragons.”
“Ah… no, that’s not…”
“I understand your concerns. But…”
This was bad. I must have touched something sensitive.
Cold sweat ran down my back. I needed to change the subject quickly.
“A dragon never forces a choice. We simply… watch forever.”
Her gaze turned cold.
“Don’t worry. I have great patience. I can wait as long as it takes, until your heart opens.”