〈 Episode 162 〉 Episode 161 – VS Black Dragon or Black Lizard (1)
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“Using something quite dangerous for your level, huh?”
Just before I shot the Cheonma Laser, a Black Dragon appeared and pushed my hand away with its left hand, as a number started to rise above my head.
It wasn’t a complete rejection, just a slight push.
But that was enough.
Originally, the meteor that was supposed to finish Rick in one go slightly missed its target and grazed Rick’s left shoulder.
That was truly a stroke of luck for Rick.
For me, it was an unfortunate situation I didn’t want to think about.
[You moved knowing it in advance.]
‘Damn, pets can be such a hassle.’
And the Black Dragon didn’t let go of my wrist until I landed on the ground.
While I struggled to break free from its grip, the Black Dragon directed its gaze solely at Jeong Siwoo.
“With so many spectators here, shouldn’t we at least set up a barrier?”
“……”
No matter what the Black Dragon said, Jeong Siwoo just stood there, silent and watching.
Realizing what was happening, Rick hurriedly shouted at Jeong Siwoo.
“Y-Yeah! Put up a barrier around us quickly!”
“Understood.”
As soon as Rick shouted, Jeong Siwoo finally took action.
He waved his hand through the air.
Then, a white magical power sluggishly followed the trajectory of his hand.
Soon enough, a transparent dome-like barrier began to form around me, Jeong Ahyeon, Rick, and the Black Dragon.
Seeing this, the Black Dragon marveled at Rick.
“Just as expected of my master. Even that wizard who wouldn’t budge when I spoke is now obedient.”
“Of course!”
Rick spoke with an oddly proud gaze.
Once the barrier was complete, Rick shouted at Jeong Siwoo again.
“And you should prepare a lot of potions.”
“Right.”
“Because…”
The moment Rick heard Jeong Siwoo’s reply, he gathered blue magical energy at the tip of his wand.
With a sinister grin, Rick continued, “If you don’t want to clean up corpses on a auspicious day!”
Before I knew it, Rick’s wand was aimed at me.
I was still trapped in the grasp of the Black Dragon.
“Pierce.”
As Rick finished his incantation, the gathered blue magic at the tip of his wand was about to fly towards me.
At that moment…
“Get lost!”
An eagle summoned by Jeong Ahyeon swooped down and clawed at Rick’s hand.
As a result, the magic that was supposed to fly at me went towards the Black Dragon instead.
“You’re being such a nuisance.”
The Black Dragon dodged Rick’s magic with a nonchalant look.
It then tried to throw me at Jeong Ahyeon.
– Crunch!
“Huh?”
“Is the base solid?”
I gripped one of the Black Dragon’s black horns.
Only then did the Black Dragon realize what I was doing.
“I hope it is sturdy!”
“What kind of novel protagonist grabs a girl’s hair and tosses her around?!”
“That’s me, you bastard.”
In that brief moment suspended in the air, I grabbed the Black Dragon’s hair and, using just my waist strength, I slammed him down into the ground.
As I landed, I kicked the side of the Black Dragon that had fallen down.
As the Black Dragon was sent flying from my kick, I chased after it and urgently shouted to Jeong Ahyeon.
“I’ll deal with the lizard, so handle that young male for me!”
“Got it! Leave this to me!”
And just like that, a 1-on-1 showdown was set up between me and the Black Dragon, while Rick and Jeong Ahyeon faced off.
The moment the Black Dragon got up, it swung its fist at me.
Since it was a rather clumsy punch, I thought to dodge it casually.
[That’s dangerous if it hits!]
‘Damn, can you warn me about important things sooner?!’
With a hasty warning from Piece, I quickly flattened my body against the ground and slid out of the way of the punch.
Then, a small shockwave erupted where the Black Dragon’s punch just landed.
‘…That was close.’
[Its power is definitely substantial.]
As expected from a dragon, its physical abilities were incredible.
When the Black Dragon saw me evade, it looked on with curiosity.
“This body is still only a hatchling, and I lack experience, but still, you’re impressive for a human.”
“So, as a hatchling, do I not need to train you for potty training?”
“I finished that long ago!!!!!!”
As the Black Dragon tried to kick me, I swiftly rolled to the side and struck its jaw.
It was a sort of somersault kick.
– Bang!
“Ugh!”
It really did seem like a hatchling; despite the strength behind its punches, its endurance appeared relatively weak.
Even though I didn’t hit him squarely, the Black Dragon was groaning in pain.
[Come to think of it, didn’t you also purposely avoid magic earlier?]
‘So he focuses all his damage on attacks.’
Regardless, as long as my attacks connect even slightly, I stand a chance.
The Black Dragon’s punches were mostly clumsy, so as long as I evade and chip away at it, I’d be fine.
The problem was…
“Split.”
“Ugh!”
Jeong Ahyeon’s position was too disadvantageous.
Each time Rick recited an incantation, Jeong Ahyeon had been using her summoned beasts to block the attacks, which was about the best she could do.
But even that was exhausting multiple summoned beasts per spell.
And even if she tried to attack…
“Get lost!”
Jeong Ahyeon was too easily countered.
Rick’s incantation power was a problem, but the inherent weakness in the summoned beasts’ durability was the main issue.
Losing seemed to be a matter of time.
Noticing me watching, the Black Dragon sneered.
“Ha! Are you worried about that girl?”
“She’ll handle it just fine.”
The Black Dragon kept its gaze fixed on me while pointing towards my party.
“No matter how calm you pretend to be, it’s pointless! Your companions must be worried too!”
“Where do you see that?”
“Huh?”
Only then did the Black Dragon turn its gaze back to our group.
We were all sitting next to Lilith on a beach chair, which we had no clue how it got there.
Everyone was donning sunglasses and munching on burger sets.
Seeing that, I snapped.
“Hey! If you’re gonna eat, eat Jeong Ahyeon’s, not mine!”
“I already ate that!”
“Well done.”
“What do you mean well done? Damn Elcia, eat it properly!”
Jeong Ahyeon hastily turned this way mid-fight and objected.
Rick seemed so dumbfounded by the situation that he merely stood by and watched without attacking.
“Shinwoo, end this quickly. I’ll leave you some cola.”
“If you don’t hurry, the fries are mine.”
The Black Dragon stared at me with a puzzled expression.
“…Are you really teammates?”
“Shut up.”
Meanwhile, Jeong Ahyeon shouted to me in a dire voice.
“Master! Are you far off?!”
“You know, you’re quite useless as the story progresses, right?”
“Shut up and just hurry to help already!”
[Why is it that you’re treated like a heroine in this novel?]
‘Being treated like a protagonist is already ruined, though.’
Just then, I saw the Black Dragon right in front of me and decided to ask about something I was curious about.
“Hey, lizard. Can I ask you something?”
“I’m a Black Dragon!!! What is it?!”
With the most serious expression, I opened my mouth.
“When you guys get pregnant, do you hatch from eggs? Or do you give birth?”
“Just die, please.”
In an instant, the Black Dragon closed the distance and threw a jab at me.
But it was still very amateurish.
I dodged the jab and delivered a deep body blow to the left side of the Black Dragon.
“Ugh! Not yet!”
Despite groaning in pain, the Black Dragon didn’t stop moving.
It tried to grab my arm with its left hand while kicking me with its right.
At the same time, its tail swung to apply pressure from both sides.
Reflecting that mindset of needing to land just one hit with overwhelming strength, the attacks were sloppy yet powerful.
However, human fights aren’t all about strength.
As Aunt Camille said, without finesse, one becomes nothing but a brute.
I stepped on the Black Dragon’s left thigh to jump up and grab its horn.
“Time to establish the hierarchy?”
“Stop—”
– Thwack!
I drove my knee deeply into its face.
As soon as I pulled my knee away from its face, I quickly raised my right arm and brought it down on the Black Dragon’s head several times with my elbow.
Then, before the dragon could grab me, I kicked its head and created some distance.
The Black Dragon clutched its throbbing head and yelled at me.
“Why does a pathetic guy like you keep talking nonsense?!”
“Damn it, my humor isn’t working on you.”
At that moment, the Black Dragon wiped the pained expression off its face, replacing it with a smirk.
Having just experienced pain, it finally found an area where it could shine and looked genuinely excited.
“Ha! Are you talking about humor? This body knows some real humor.”
“Wait a minute. Damn? This feels alarming.”
A different kind of alarm rang in my mind.
Block that lizard’s mouth.
However, the Black Dragon was faster at opening its mouth.
“What do you think happens when a dragon goes to a cathedral?”
“Hey, don’t say it. Please.”
“It’s ‘Unused’!!! Hahaha!!! Isn’t that funny!!!”
“Damn it. Seriously.”
The atmosphere instantly chilled.
That awful dad joke was about to turn the story into a total bore.
Most of the crowd listening had frowns on their faces.
Of course, not everyone.
“Hahaha! My stomach hurts!”
“Oh ho ho! That’s way too funny!”
“Oh my! I didn’t know such sophisticated jokes existed!”
Among the group of succubi, a few were clutching their stomachs, laughing.
But of course, that meant they had to endure the merciless glares from the rest of the succubi.
“Sis… How old are you really?”
“You told me last time that I wasn’t a friend but ‘the same age’.”
“No wonder it was difficult for you to use the kiosk.”
“You seemed sensitive just hearing the word ‘half-return.’”
The succubi who had laughed at the dad jokes quickly began to deny it.
“What are you talking about! We’re all part of the same MZ generation! We are perfect contemporaries!”
“No way! Our little sisters! She’s only one year older than you!”
“Yes, one century difference, right?”
“That was just to match with the level of the matriarch!”
“Call that kid separately. I’ll deal with her myself.”
With that last remark, Lilith seemed enraged and pointed to one specific succubus.
Meanwhile, the Black Dragon appeared to thrive on the cold response of those around, grinning widely.
A formidable foe threatening the existence of comedy tags has appeared.
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