TRPM 232

chapter 232

Alex, who had been lying as if dead, suddenly came to his senses.

“(…Where… am I?)”

He tried to open his eyes, but before he could, pain surged through his body.

“(Ugh?!)”

The sharpest pain came from the back of his head, but he felt it throughout his entire body. Yet, Alex couldn’t scream. For some reason, his mouth was sealed.

“(…No… it’s not just my mouth.)”

He realized belatedly that his eyes were covered and his hands and feet were bound. Slowly, memories of what had happened before he lost consciousness came back.

“(…Right… I was driving behind the police car ahead of me.)”

Where should he start recalling? Ah, yes. Sophia.

“(…I had recently developed feelings for Ms. Sophia, who works in the same place…)”

She was a new subordinate brought in by Yeon Mirae. Although technically a subordinate of Yeon Mirae, it was mostly in name only. Thanks to that, Alex could see Sophia every day at work. Formally, Yeon Mirae only had two subordinates—Alex and Sophia.

So naturally, Alex became interested in Sophia and began to harbor feelings for her.

“(…And I went out with her to make a good impression.)”

Sophia, like Yeon Mirae, seemed eager to respond to an artist’s mother’s call and head to Shinsegyo immediately. Alex, knowing the way and having no urgent tasks, took Sophia in his car toward Shinsegyo.

“(…After things at Shinsegyo were over… I even gave a ride to some Chinese people to help the police.)”

To be honest, he wanted to return to the Iron-Blood Guild with Sophia, but it seemed the artist intended for her to handle the aftermath at Shinsegyo, so he had given up for the day.

“(…If I keep trying, maybe one day I’ll have the courage to confess to Ms. Sophia.)”

For now, she was just a colleague, but one day…

While Alex was driving behind the police car, such thoughts ran through his mind.

Boom…!

With that sound, the police car ahead flipped over. Then…

Boom…!

The car Alex was driving also overturned.

“(…Yes, that’s right… the car flipped….)”

Startled, Alex unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the overturned car. But that was it. A strong impact struck his head, and he collapsed immediately.

“(…Was that when I got hit on the back of the head?)”

The pain throughout his body was likely from the car flipping. Understanding why he was here, Alex tried to raise his magical energy, just in case.

“(…Tch… it’s not working.)”

The bindings on his arms were no ordinary restraints; whenever he tried to raise his magic, he felt it being drained. Escape was impossible.

“(…Still, there’s hope if someone comes to rescue me.)”

It wouldn’t have been noticed if he disappeared quietly at night, but he had been attacked in broad daylight with a police car. The police would investigate quickly, and news would reach the artist.

“(…If it’s the artist, they’ll find me soon.)”

Alex had often wondered if the artist considered him a personal vehicle… no, a Paphnir summoning shuttle, but he knew the artist would come to save him.

“(…The problem is, where exactly am I….)”

With his eyes covered, Alex had no clue where he was. No, in fact…

“(…Where I’m at… it’s incredibly cramped….)”

Even though his hands and feet were bound, he could move a little. Gradually, he realized he was trapped in a coffin-like space. At least he could breathe, which meant there must be an air hole somewhere.

“(…So, they don’t intend to kill me.)”

If they had wanted to kill him, he would have been finished when the car flipped.

“(…If they don’t intend to kill me, it means keeping me alive is advantageous… Could it be for Paphnir?)”

Thinking that, Alex gritted his teeth. Though he couldn’t bite properly because something covered his mouth.

Then, there was a clatter.

“(…?! Light?)”

Light seeped through the blindfold over his eyes—someone was opening the coffin-like enclosure.

“(…Looks like you’re awake.)”

“(…Chinese….)”

Alex realized the person speaking was speaking in Chinese.

“(…The people I gave a ride to before being attacked were Chinese too.)”

Too perfect a coincidence.

“(…Why are you doing this?)”
“(…You’re awake already. Your condition looks good. I think we intended to make you barely survive…)”
“(…Huh?)”

Then, a gunshot rang close by, followed by the sound of someone falling a short distance away.

“(…Is this guy crazy? One of his subordinates….)”

Even though the subordinate hadn’t done much wrong, he had been shot. Alex decided not to provoke the madman further.

“(…Listen carefully. From now on, you will fight the dragon our country prides itself on.)”

…Dragon?

Alex had researched dragon folklore worldwide before summoning Paphnir, including Chinese dragons.

“(…I read news about a magician in China controlling a dragon…)”

While Alex thought about this, the man continued.

“(…You will summon a dragon too. But… can a dragon summoned in your current state fight properly?)”

“(……)”

Ah, he got it.

“(…This guy wants my Paphnir to fight a Chinese dragon.)”

And he had set it up so that the Chinese dragon would win. Alex guessed why: they wanted to show that a Chinese dragon could defeat a Western dragon.

“(…Such cheap tactics….)”

What’s the point of winning like that…

“(…Take him out.)”

Someone removed Alex from the coffin-like enclosure and forced him into a chair, untying his hands.

“(…My magic works.)”

The bindings had been preventing him from using magic. Alex considered gathering energy but let it go; his magic wasn’t strong enough for a desperate escape.

“(…Remove the blindfold.)”

Light reached Alex’s eyes as the blindfold was removed. The man who had been giving orders approached and spoke:

“(…Now, summon your dragon.)”
“(……)”
“(…Or do you want to summon it after seeing some damage?)”

Resistance was pointless; Alex summoned Paphnir.

…Kyuung?

Paphnir, summoned without proper magical energy, was naturally small. Even at full strength, Alex couldn’t maintain Paphnir’s giant form for long.

…Grrr….

Paphnir growled as soon as it saw Alex in the chair, recognizing he was in danger. Though it couldn’t grow without Alex’s magic, it understood the threat.

“(…Stop them from attacking us.)”
“(……)”

Paphnir obeyed begrudgingly.

“(…Good.)”

The man smiled, satisfied, and spoke into a radio.

“(…We’re ready.)”
[(We’re ready too. Shall we start the match?)]
“(…Yes, the sooner the better.)”
[(Then….)]

Soon, a harsh metallic sound rang out as a wall opened.

“(…Ah, it’s a door.)”

The wall was actually a massive door. Beyond it…

“(…An arena?)”

A giant arena with an open ceiling.

“(…Send your dragon inside.)”
“(……)”

Alex commanded Paphnir, who walked through the door.

Kroaaah…!

A massive Chinese dragon appeared from the opposite door. Alex observed it carefully and judged:

“(…It has no substance.)”

Though it looked like a proper Chinese dragon, Alex knew from experience it couldn’t defeat even a regular Awakener.

“(…Still, it’s stronger than my current Paphnir.)”

Alex’s Paphnir was too weak in his current state—even a normal person could be lethal to it. But…

“(…Sufficient.)”

Alex smiled, unseen due to his mouth being covered.

Grrr…

Paphnir began growing in size, even without receiving Alex’s magic. The man smiled, satisfied.

“(…Good, you understood our intent. A giant dragon versus a small one looks off. Keep understanding our intentions and your life won’t be in danger.)”

Alex silently scoffed at the man’s foolishness.

[(We will begin.)]
“(…Alright, order it to fight hard. Though with its master in this state, it won’t fight well.)”

Alex commanded Paphnir:

“(…Kill.)”

That was enough.

Kwaaah…!

Paphnir unleashed an immense flame breath, and the superficially powerful but hollow dragon was obliterated.

[(…Guaaah?!)]
“(…What….)”

The breath didn’t stop with the dragon—it burned through and reached the magician supposedly controlling the dragon.

“(…You crazy bastard… Stop…!)”

The man tried to swing a club at Alex, but…

“(…Huh?)”

His head was severed faster than he could react. The woman who appeared afterward asked Alex:

“Alex, are you unharmed?”
“You came quickly. I expected to hold out for at least several tens of minutes.”

Thanks to that, Alex was safe, Lady Geomhwa.