The Story Of The Second Son Of The Baron Family [EN]: Chapter 63

The Story of a Baron’s Second Son – Episode 63

< The Story of a Baron's Second Son – Episode 63 – >

Knowing the enemy and knowing yourself, you can fight a hundred battles with no danger of defeat; knowing yourself but not the enemy, you will suffer one defeat for every victory. Knowing neither the enemy nor yourself, you are sure to be defeated in every battle. But if you truly want to win a hundred battles out of a hundred, there was one more thing you needed to know.

A neutral element that belongs neither to the enemy nor to you, but influences both sides: terrain. No one would deny that understanding the terrain is sometimes more important than knowing the enemy, as it has a significant impact on the battle.

‘There’s nowhere to hide.’

A flat plain with no undulations. There were trees and rough grass here and there, but it didn’t offer any real cover. I would have preferred a forest or a cliff, something that could obscure vision or restrict movement. But there was no such terrain around, and I couldn’t wait for it to move in that direction.

Despite my dissatisfaction, the plain wasn’t bad terrain for me. It had no advantages, but no disadvantages either. Just as its movements weren’t restricted, I was also free to move, and the lack of unexpected variables made it a neutral middle ground. From my perspective, wishing for any advantage, it was still disappointing.

I know enough about myself. So, what about that thing? The dark red scales covering its body were harder than steel. Even an aura-imbued sword couldn’t scratch it, so there was no need to discuss its strength.

Its power was as great as its size, and it had sharp teeth and claws that could tear anything apart. I, who faced it head-on, knew that power best. But if that was all, I had a chance.

Because I also had teeth and claws sharp enough to pierce its scales, as sharp as its own. Also, the scales didn’t cover all parts of its body. When it moved on all fours, most of the areas facing the ground were covered in leather, not scales, which I could target. The leather was tough and sturdy, but not comparable to the scales.

‘The problem is that it probably isn’t *just* that.’

I fought it only once, and lost overwhelmingly. In the process, I was able to confirm its overwhelming physical abilities. But I didn’t think that was all.

‘I don’t know if it’s not using them, or *can’t* use them, but…’

I was leaning towards the idea that it wasn’t using them. Just being covered in that blood was enough to elevate its magical talent by several levels. It was truly a stroke of luck. If that thing, with that blood flowing through its veins, couldn’t use magic, that would be ridiculous.

It would be a more likely assessment to say that we didn’t even *need* to use magic back then.

“Not just magic, but also breath, and it might even call for allies when in danger… The more I think about it, the more daunting it becomes.”

Variables for me, constants for it. Fortunately, they weren’t unpredictable variables. Of course, whether I could deal with those variables was another matter entirely.

Fortunately, it seemed quite satisfied with its full stomach after the meal and was taking a nap with its eyes closed. Judging by the location and its previous behavior, it would only be a short nap, but that was enough time to finish my preparations.

Tap- tap- tap-

“Well, shall we begin?”

#

The distance between it and me was about 1.5km. An overwhelming distance that made the creature, boasting a size of nearly 20 meters, look smaller than a fingernail. Even that was because I was floating dozens of meters in the air; if I were standing on the ground, it would have been a mere dot. No, would I even have been able to see it?

But now, I could clearly see it. Not to the point where I could see each individual scale, but enough to confirm its movements.

Thanks to the scope using ⾒ [견, *gyeon*, see far], and the fact that I had adjusted it to not be affected by gravity as long as magic existed, I didn’t have to worry about missing as long as I aimed properly.

Doo-geun, doo-geun.

I need to stay calm, but my heart is pounding. It can’t be helped. I haven’t lived a long life, but it’s not short either. The path I’ve walked for three-tenths of it could be concluded in a day at most. Who wouldn’t be excited?

Clank-

One bullet, two bullets, three bullets, four bullets, five bullets, six bullets.

Each of the bullets I’ve made so far has been crafted with great care, but these six were even more special. They were the celebratory shots that would mark the beginning of the battle with it. At the same time, it was also an opportunity for me to attack it unilaterally. I couldn’t afford to waste an opportunity that would never come again.

Whoo-oong-

The sight from dozens of meters in the air was truly dizzying. The fierce wind brushed past my ears, and the muzzle couldn’t help but be affected by the wind. If not only the muzzle but also the bullets were affected, it would have been difficult to attempt such long-range sniping. And I would have been discovered by it sooner.

Toong-

And now, I can’t avoid being discovered. No matter how much distance shields and hides me, unless it’s an idiot, it won’t wait until I’ve fired all six bullets.

Clank-

As expected. As I went through the preparation process to fire the second bullet, I saw it roaring as if it wouldn’t let the intruder who woke it from its slumber get away. But it didn’t seem to have pinpointed my location, as it was just sweeping around.

I might be able to avoid revealing my location until the second bullet, or if I’m lucky, the third. But by the time I fire the fourth or fifth bullet, it will be right in front of me no matter what it takes, but I’ve already prepared for that, so it’s okay.

Toong-

Clank-

Toong-

I was lucky. It wasn’t until the third bullet was fired that it seemed to have pinpointed my location and began to take flight. I should be able to fire at least the fourth bullet, or at most the fifth.

Clank-

Toong-

Clank-

Toong-

Because it was so large, the bullets, combined with the speed at which it was rushing, pierced through the scales and into its body as easily as inserting a finger into a sponge. Of course, it didn’t seem to be damaged.

‘It’s still within expectations.’

Only one bullet left, no significant damage to it, and it’s approaching me close enough to see the tartar on its teeth. If anything, it was better than expected, nothing bad.

‘But now it’s dangerous if I don’t move.’

In an instant, the view reverses. My legs, which were far from the ground, were now touching it, and the creature, which had approached close enough to see each scale, was once again at a considerable distance. Enough to fire one more bullet.

It was bewildered by my sudden disappearance, but soon identified my location and charged again. It must have reacted to the magical energy generated during the movement, rather than confirming my appearance with its one remaining eye.

Toong-

After firing the last bullet, I moved again. To buy a little more time. It was worth preparing in advance. A large amount of magic stones were invested to buy this little bit of time, but it was worth it.

‘Will it work?’

The number 6.

A number that has been considered ominous since ancient times and avoided by many people. The funny thing is that people’s perceptions actually influence the use of magic. Just like when luck is needed, they try to incorporate as many numbers related to 7 as possible.

Six bullets, six magics, even the structure of a hexagram.

The curses built upon the meaning of 666, in addition to the primary imprints of petrification, freezing, paralysis, confusion, poison, and blindness, could not be lightly ignored.

But the opponent is a dragon. My teacher applauded and said that if the conditions were right, no one could escape the influence of the curse, but I couldn’t let my guard down. But with its next move, I was finally able to gain confidence in this battle.

‘It’s working!’

It was very slight. Petrification on the left hind leg, freezing on the right foreleg, and the one remaining eye seemed unable to focus and was shaking from side to side. The fact that my magic was working on it, that all the hard work I had put in was not meaningless, was enough.

Chwaaa-

The bullets prepared in advance are lined up from the subspace. Not bullets with special purposes, but bullets with the sole purpose of killing. I took them out, attached them to my belt, and jumped back into the air.

At the same time, its forefoot slammed down on the spot where I had been, and fragments flew. Pieces of ice were noticeable here and there, but it didn’t seem to be having a significant effect yet.

I flew around using the Ether Wings, and occasionally made good use of the Leap (跳躍) [Tiaoyue, Jump] effect engraved on my shoes, firing [Fangs] when the distance widened, and [Claws] when I brushed past it, engaging in aerial combat. In an extreme situation where my vision was constantly rotating 180 degrees without being fixed for even a moment, I could have gotten motion sickness, but I was able to overcome it with practice and the power of magic, as I had predicted this situation would occur.

Too-doong- Toong-

The battle unfolded surprisingly simply. It tried to crush me with its mouth, feet, tail, or its huge body, and I skillfully evaded it, embedding bullets into its body. I tried mixing in other magics in between, but they were ineffective against its tough scales. Rather, it was more efficient to entrust the attacks to [Fangs] and [Claws] and focus the magic on utility.

Of course, the bullets weren’t in a much better situation either. Once they penetrated, they used the remaining magic power, so they were definitely able to inflict more damage than ordinary magic, but perhaps because it was so large, or because its regeneration surpassed the damage, it didn’t seem to have suffered much damage despite having dozens of bullets embedded in it so far.

Jjeo-jeok-

Nevertheless, there was a hopeful element. As time passed, the encroachment of the curse accelerated, and it began to be visibly uncomfortable.

‘But why is it staying still?’

Of course, it wasn’t really staying still. It didn’t seem to tire, using its long tail and wings, and all parts of its body, making it impossible to let my guard down for even a moment. But that was all. The variables I had been wary of beforehand were still lying dormant and showed no signs of appearing.

‘…Or is it not using them, but *unable* to?!’

It’s not a big influence. But it wasn’t light enough to just leave it alone. It wouldn’t be a big crisis if I stopped moving for a moment, and even if I put my heart and soul into it, a dragon, called the master of magic, should be able to easily break through it.

‘Could it be.’

That a dragon, called the master of magic and revered as a legendary being, is actually unable to use magic, isn’t that quite an interesting fact? It might be necessary to rewrite all the fairy tales around the world. At that moment, its mouth opened.

I thought it was going to bite me like it had been doing. But soon I realized it wasn’t an ordinary bite. An enormous amount of magical power that I had never experienced before was gathering around its mouth.

If my prediction is correct, this is definitely

‘Breath!’

< The Story of a Baron's Second Son – Episode 63 – > End