The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 31

5. Achievement: Encounter with a Young Master

On the Arnia continent, powerful figures have always existed.

Sometimes these figures were humans, sometimes dwarves, and sometimes elves.

However, if you were to ask who the strongest is, everyone on the continent would choose a dragon.

Dragons.

These intelligent beings, with an average lifespan of thousands of years, possess bodies the size of small hills and overwhelm other races with their sheer size.

Some might argue:

“With such a large body, the number of vulnerable spots increases, making them weak in battles between experts.”

That’s not entirely wrong.

That would be the case if they met a true expert.

However, the dragon scales covering their entire body turn an attacker’s iron sword into a mere toy.

Even the mana swords of Experts, considered strong among humans, can’t even scratch their scales.

Their hardness is comparable to Adamantium, the legendary metal.

Is their defense the only thing that’s high?

Dragons also have huge wings that match their size.

Soaring through the air, the powerful breath they spew from their mouths can easily devastate an entire city.

In short, if a fully grown dragon has bad intentions, the Arnia continent would have to unite all races to face it.

Fortunately, dragons are a proud race with strong individualistic tendencies.

They are also a lazy race, so they tend to leave others alone as long as their lairs are not invaded.

Anyway, that’s what dragons are like.

And this wondrous creature was now glaring at me with wide eyes.

-Answer me, human. You have trespassed into my lair with a demonic sword. You must give me a reason why I shouldn’t incinerate you with my breath right now.

Psychic Transmission.

Dragons, being special creatures, communicate without using their vocal cords.

The feeling of it resonating in my head was similar to how the Demonic Heavenly Sword transmitted its voice.

-······

The Demonic Heavenly Sword had been silent since entering the lair.

It seemed the dragon had used some means to block communication with the Demonic Heavenly Sword.

And the dragon seemed to have a vague idea that the Demonic Heavenly Sword I had was an ego sword and the identity of the Demonic Heavenly King inside.

“I greet the great being.”

I made a gesture of respect to the dragon.

This was the proper etiquette for any intelligent being on the Arnia continent when facing a dragon.

And it was also to avoid being roasted alive by the flames spewing from its mouth. Actually, this reason was more significant.

“Great being, the sword I have is an ego sword, and the one sealed inside is the greatest person under the heavens. He was born as a human and trained alone to become a half-human, half-demon, so he is different from those who are demons from birth.”

The reptile’s unique yellow eyes scanned me thoroughly, and cold sweat ran down my back.

What would have happened if I didn’t have the Druid’s abilities?

I might have fainted from being overwhelmed by its gaze, or my heart might have stopped from the fear it exuded.

The dragon scrutinized me up and down for about a minute.

During that time, I also observed the dragon.

The dragon’s size was enormous, even considering its race.

It was obviously a fully grown adult, and it had to be considered an Ancient Dragon class beyond that.

The dragon watched for a long time.

He soon curled up, casting a tired look.

-It’s the truth. The demonic energy felt from the sword is not the sticky demonic energy unique to the Demon World, but pure demonic energy caused by pure longing.

The dragon added.

-Even if it were a lie, there is nothing I can do. I am an old being who only wishes for eternal rest, without even the strength to move.

Somehow, I could feel the dragon’s age.

A dragon preparing for its end after a lifespan of thousands of years.

There was no story about hunting dragons in Sionlike [a fictional game], so I had to rely on my gut feeling from here.

Unable to contain my soaring curiosity, I asked him a question.

“If it’s not too much to ask, I would like to know the great being’s true name.”

First of all, the name.

-My true name is Alpharis Hayden Lunaron Eldrigo Cocarius.

What is that???

It’s the longest name I’ve ever heard in my life.

Fortunately, the dragon seemed to realize that I was in trouble and offered another name.

-Humans call me Kyle.

Even that name surprised me in another sense.

“That’s a familiar name. There is also a person named Kyle among us humans. He is the hero who protected the continent from the invasion of the Demon King Baal.”

-That Kyle is me.

“…Yes?”

-I polymorphed [changed form] into a human and sealed the Demon King Baal with my own hands.

Sometimes there are games like this.

A game that failed because the difficulty level was not adjusted, but the story is a hit.

Sionlike should be classified as this type.

A new story comes out every time you dig.

“The brave warrior who saved the Arnia continent was the great being. I am deeply grateful for your generosity.”

-There is no need for that. If Baal were to devour the continent, it would be troublesome for me as well.

The dragon Kyle kept fidgeting, as if he was uncomfortable staying in the same position for a long time.

His breathing was also gradually weakening, as if his end was really near.

-I’ve answered one question, so I hope you’ll answer one question too. Why did you come here, and how can a mere human be so free from my fear? Special human.

That’s not one question.

The dragon’s calculation was a bit strange, but I decided to give him a special discount since he was the hero who saved the continent.

“I am a Druid.”

Along with the words, I cast a skill.

At my gesture, a small sapling sprouted through the stone floor of the ruins.

The dragon had as much knowledge as he had lived, so he grasped almost all the details with just one word from me.

-A child loved by the World Tree. A half-elf. No wonder I smelled a strong verdant scent from you.

“That’s right.”

-I understand why you were able to withstand my fear. The reason you came here is…

The dragon’s gaze turned to the World Tree branch on the altar.

-Is it to take the World Tree branch?

“That’s right. So I dare to ask you to allow me to take the golden branch.”

Originally, I was going to steal the golden branch, but since the dragon Kyle seemed like someone I could talk to, I politely asked.

However, the answer that came back was unexpected.

-Impossible.

I was flustered inside.

I answered calmly without showing it.

“Why?”

-To be exact, I can’t give it to you even if I wanted to. You’ll know what I mean if you go to the altar.

As the dragon said, I moved towards the altar.

The World Tree branch, radiating a brilliant golden light and floating above the altar.

As I got closer and tried to reach out my hand,

Fzzzt!!

Sparks flew and pushed me away.

Then, a window appeared before my eyes.

[You have discovered the Golden Branch.]

[You must pass a test to acquire it.]

[Would you like to take the World Tree’s test?]

[Y/N]

There’s no easy task in the world.

As expected, the golden branch did not readily entrust ownership to me.

Anyway, the moment I get that, I will grow greatly as a Druid, so I have to take some kind of test.

And this test was a test that only I, a Druid, could take.

-The intangible barrier was not created by me. The golden branch was there even before I settled here. After sealing the Demon King Baal in the northern mountains, I was looking for a place to set up my lair and accidentally discovered the golden branch sleeping here.

The dragon Kyle’s voice was skeptical.

-So go back. That golden branch is protected by a special causality that even I cannot touch…

While ignoring Kyle’s voice from behind, I reached out my hand again towards the golden branch as if possessed.

And then I said.

“YES.”

[You have answered the World Tree’s test.]

[Entering the test.]

Faaaah!!!!

A dazzling ray of light, mixed with golden and green light, radiated brilliantly and covered the ruins.

A warm and cozy energy rippled like silk and wrapped around my body, wriggling and moving towards where the dragon Kyle was.

Sparkling gold and green fireflies danced happily, drawing the ∞ symbol [infinity symbol].

The dragon Kyle, who witnessed a series of phenomena, was shocked and his eyes widened.

-How mysterious! To transcend the laws of causality. A special human.

With Kyle’s Psychic Transmission echoing in my head as the last thing I heard, I was swept away by the dazzling light and moved somewhere.

What kind of test awaits?

My heart was beating fast with anticipation.

Flash!

As the refreshing light faded, I gently opened my eyes.

The scene that appeared before me was…

‘A forest?’

I don’t know where this forest is.

For me, who had only seen snow-covered coniferous trees in the northern mountains every day, the lush forest full of broad-leaved trees that I saw after a long time gave me a different feeling.

‘Where is this?’

As I walked aimlessly, I saw a stream flowing gently.

Naturally feeling thirsty, I went to the stream and scooped up water with both hands and drank it.

Then, I unintentionally saw my reflection in the water.

“!”

Surprisingly, I was not Henon.

It was someone else.

And this person had an easily identifiable appearance.

‘An elf.’

Even aside from the sculpted appearance, the two ears that protruded sharply on both sides clearly told what race this person was.

The atmosphere was similar to Henon.

If it weren’t for the small height and youthful appearance, I might have mistaken him for Henon.

That’s all for the appearance.

First of all, this is a test.

It was a little different from the test I expected.

Somehow getting out of here will be the passing condition of the test.

“Were you here?”

Someone suddenly approached and roughly put his arm around my shoulder.

It was a child full of freckles, and his ears were much longer and sharper than mine.

Other elf children followed behind him.

Are they a group that plays together?

“I thought you ran away somewhere again.”

“Where can a half-wit run away to.”

“Hehehe, that’s right.”

It doesn’t seem like it.

They do play together, but I felt strongly that I was an outcast from the group.

If it were Henon’s personality, he would have immediately charged at them, but that didn’t seem to be the purpose of passing the test, so I stayed still for now.

They took me somewhere.

On the way, they kept hitting me in the back of the head and tripping me.

I don’t know who the possessed person is, but I could definitely feel what kind of treatment he was receiving.

The fact that they were acting so viciously without hesitation meant that the owner of the body usually stayed still even when he was being bullied.

“Half-wit. What does that mean?”

“What? Why are you talking so straight all of a sudden?”

“I asked what it means.”

Although the body is a child, the being inside is an adult who has overcome many adversities.

The elf children paused for a moment when their eyes changed.

But that was only for a moment.

“What is the half-wit saying?”

“A half-wit is a half-wit.”

“I don’t like your eyes today? Do your eyes look like that because they resemble your human dad?”

“I guess a half-breed is no different.”

Although it was a short conversation, I got a sense of how things were going.

It seems that the owner of the body I am in is not a pure-blooded elf, but a half-elf like Henon.

So he is currently being ostracized by his elf friends.

Is this situation a simulation?

Or is it someone’s memory that has already happened in the past?

With several possibilities in mind, I quietly matched their rhythm.

The place they led me to was a low hill.

After placing me behind them, the little devils, who had been excitedly chattering until now, shut their mouths and lowered their bodies when they arrived here.

Their faces were full of tension.

“What…”

“Shh!”

Someone forcibly grabbed the back of my neck and made me lower my body. Everyone walked stealthily to the top of the hill.

I also followed them.

After reaching the end of the hill, I peeked my head out.

As the view opened up, I finally understood why the elf brats’ bodies had frozen stiff.

‘A troll!’

Below the hill, a huge troll was crouching and sleeping.

Judging from its 4m tall body and thick limbs, it was definitely an adult, and a strong one at that.

Even to me, whose senses had become strange after seeing the dragon until just now, it felt quite large.

Henon would have burned with a desire to win, but the body I was currently possessing was only a child who looked about 10 years old.

The ferocious aura emanating from the troll’s entire body made my legs tremble without me even realizing it.

“Wow, it really exists.”

“It’s so amazing.”

“Trolls must be incredibly strong, right?”

The curious children chattered and gossiped while looking at the troll.

I ignored their words and observed the troll.

It was a monster I had never experienced even while working in the north for a long time, so I wanted to get some data on this opportunity.

And then it was that moment.

Thud!

Someone pushed my back.

I was properly hit by an unexpected blow.

I tumbled and rolled down the hill, making a loud noise.

“Ugh…”

A groan came out involuntarily.

I quickly scanned my body and found that my clothes were covered in dirt and my body was full of scratches, probably because I had hit a tree several times while falling.

But that wasn’t the problem.

A huge shadow covered my small body.

When I raised my head, the troll’s red eyes, awakened by the commotion, were staring straight down at me.

“Kuaaaaaah!!!!”

The monster, feeling that its nest had been invaded, roared wildly while holding a club.

To not only bully me, but also do something that was practically murder.

It was truly absurd.

When I looked at the top of the hill, I could see the elf children’s panicked expressions.

“What. Why did he fall?”

“I don’t know. He fell on his own?”

“I don’t know anything about it.”

“Me neither. He just lost his footing.”

I was clearly pushed by someone, but they were all busy denying it.

They shouted from above.

“Wait a minute! I’ll go get an adult!”

The children rushed down the hill.

I don’t know where the village is, but it probably isn’t close from where this huge troll lives.

Will I be able to protect myself from the monster in the meantime?

It would be absolutely impossible if I were an ordinary child.

Only if I were ordinary.

And in my eyes, the system window was now appearing.

[Starting the first test.]

[Revealing the clear conditions.]

[Survive for 30 minutes from the troll.]