Before I became Flame Man Lee Young-jin, there was a time in my childhood when I was a bit of a loser in the neighborhood.
Well, not exactly a loser—more like I was sensitive to others’ moods. Anyway, there was a time when I lived like that.
But I’m not a loser. Really not.
Anyway. Back then, my specialty was reading the room. The director never pressured me, but I still developed a history of picking up on cues on my own.
And next was observing people. That’s another one of my specialties—I’m extremely sensitive to others’ emotions. You could even say I have a natural talent for it.
Especially when it comes to sensing feelings directed at me, I’m better than anyone in the world. I pride myself on having that level of sharp analytical ability.
And me, a specialist in human relationships and psychological analysis, analyzing the psychology of a game character I’ve played for 20,000 hours? Ha, that’s the easiest strategy in the world.
And my analysis concludes that Ayla Triasta has a very clear distinction between friend and foe.
To be precise, she shows endless wariness toward ‘enemies’ and is endlessly kind to those she judges as ‘allies.’
So right now, I’m in a position like a ‘reliable ally’ to Ayla.
I like this kind of thing. I didn’t have friends during my school days anyway!
Anyway, I don’t clearly know what criteria Ayla uses to distinguish ‘enemy’ from ‘ally.’
This is a truly wild guess, but I wonder if one of those criteria is how ‘rebellious’ someone is—but come on, surely no one judges friend from foe based on that.
Anyway, what I’m trying to say is this.
“That’s right. Lady Phitia must have been through a lot too.”
“…U-uh, hmm. It wasn’t that hard, you know?”
“But three hundred years of solitude… I can’t even imagine it.”
“……Are you understanding me?”
At some point, Ayla had started thinking of Phitia as an ‘ally.’
Once that happens, Ayla becomes incredibly soft and empathetic toward others’ wounds. In other words, she becomes Light Ayla.
And Phitia, who had spent three hundred years just watching Zefflin alone, began to be colored by Ayla’s kindness faster than expected.
“How could I fully understand that loneliness of yours, Lady Phitia?”
“…U-uh, hmm. You can drop the ‘Lady,’ you know?”
“Then what should I call you?”
“H-how about calling me big sis?”
“Yes. Phitia big sis. Hehe, to think the day would come when I call a dragon ‘big sis’—truly rebellious.”
“Come to think of it, you say ‘rebellion’ quite a lot. What does it mean?”
“Well, you see…”
And so the two began whispering and giggling together, and I, unable to adapt to such conversations, watched the situation in contemplation.
Phitia Bluebreeze. Ayla Triasta. And me.
The Dragon’s Trial. Its content. The strategy. And this current situation.
A rough outline had formed in my head.
There was a slight pang of conscience, but still—somehow it would work out.
“I… won’t even live a hundred years, though.”
“…Then after a hundred years, I’ll be alone again.”
“So how about we try to become close friends over those hundred years!”
“……Huh?”
Hmm.
As expected, Ayla’s recklessly positive attitude is worth learning from.
How did such a girl become so twisted in the original?
“Th-that’s right. Hehe. So today, big sis gains one more little sibling?”
“Of course!”
Anyway, the mood seemed to have ripened, so let’s get to the main point.
“Ayla. Phitia big sis. I think it’s a very positive thing that you two have become close—but we came here today for a different purpose.”
“…Ah. That’s right. Sorry, Wolfram.”
“Little brother… purpose?”
Uh… so.
When starting the Dragon’s Trial, I definitely said a certain line.
So that’s…
Ah.
“Phitia Bluebreeze. Keeper of the Blue among the Seven Colors. I, Wolfram von Lohengrin, descendant of Hark von Lohengrin, request the Dragon’s Trial.”
Phitia’s expression hardened.
Dragons use a magic called ‘Draconic Tongue,’ so their words carry weight.
That’s why they can’t even make casual jokes properly.
Especially when they speak each other’s names—the gravity of it changes for their race.
“Understood. I, Phitia Bluebreeze, adopted daughter of Hark von Lohengrin and Keeper of the Blue, praise your courage in challenging the trial alone across three hundred years of time. The challenger is Wolfram von Lohengrin, one person…”
“No. I’ll challenge it too. Big sis.”
At my signal, Ayla immediately jumped in.
“…Uh, huh? But this is a trial that must be challenged alone?”
Originally, this Dragon’s Trial is a solo trial.
But well… you can do it with two people too.
We’re not strangers.
“I know. To earn the dragon’s recognition, you must pass both ‘martial prowess’ and ‘intellect.’”
“Th-that’s right. Our little brother knows it well. …But you’re saying you’ll challenge it together?”
“Yes.”
Normally, you’d have to challenge it alone—but while I could somehow handle the ‘intellect’ part, I couldn’t do the ‘martial prowess’ part alone. So I planned to challenge it as a duo with Ayla.
“It can’t be done. No matter how close you two are, the dragon’s code is…”
“Are you really saying no, big sis?”
“……I-it can’t be done?”
“Is that so. You won’t grant your little brother’s request. I see.”
“……Ugh.”
I leaned back in my chair and let out a deep sigh. Phitia’s eyes wavered endlessly.
“…Big sis, I want to do it too. Is it really not allowed?”
“…Ugh.”
“Big sis. Is it truly impossible?”
“…Ugh. It really can’t…”
“Big sis…”
“Big sis.”
“………Ugh, a-ah. Th-this one time, okay?”
“Thank you! Big sis!”
“I appreciate it, big sis.”
Phitia, on the verge of tears, began muttering things like “The dragon’s pact…” and “But it’s my little siblings’ request…” while Ayla and I exchanged glances and shared the same thought.
‘Easy.’
‘So easy.’
What an easy dragon.
—
“【Perfect Transfer】”
Phitia placed her hands on my and Ayla’s shoulders and chanted the spell.
Immediately after, the sunset-lit library transformed into a crystal cave.
Red and blue crystals sprouted all around, looking like they could slice you if you touched them wrong.
Actually, they can. Those are field traps.
It wasn’t dark. There was a single crystal hanging from the ceiling that emitted light, and the light reflected off the countless crystals on the floor and walls, illuminating the entire cave.
…It’s been a long time since I’ve been here too.
“It’s beautiful…”
“Mm. Not a bad place.”
Screenshot hotspot No. 7.
The Trial Cave.
“A-hem. Then I’ll explain the trial now. Listen carefully, okay?”
“Yes, yes!”
Ayla nodded nervously, and I gave a rough nod in response.
“As I said, the trial will test both martial prowess and intellect.”
“Yes. I’ll handle the martial prowess part.”
“And little brother takes the intellect part?”
“Correct.”
This is the perfect division of roles.
The moment I step into the martial prowess field, I can guarantee I’d be torn into fifteen pieces in one second.
Originally, I was planning to head to the desert only when I could clear both martial prowess and intellect alone—but as a result, I’ve acquired the qualifications to challenge the trial a few tempo faster.
“So for martial prowess… I’ll show you illusionary monsters. You just need to defeat them.”
“…Yes!”
“And for intellect… I’ll ask questions about the secrets of this world. You just need to answer them.”
“Understood.”
At my words, Phitia looked at us with a serious expression I’d never seen before.
Determined eyes full of resolve.
That’s right.
The Dragon’s Trial holds great meaning for dragons.
Those who pass this trial are recognized as the dragon’s partner and can receive the dragon’s blessing.
This dragon’s blessing is truly a honey buff in-game.
But because it also puts a burden on the dragon, it shouldn’t be obtained lightly.
A soul companion that resonates with the dragon’s spirit—that is what a passer of the Dragon’s Trial is.
“That’s why… the trial will be conducted very strictly and difficultly. Especially since you two are doing it together—I trust you’ll understand.”
Yes.
If Phitia passes us through this trial, she’ll have two passers at once.
So the trial must be conducted even more strictly and seriously.
Of course.
Ayla and I listened to the explanation of the Dragon’s Trial, exchanged glances, and nodded.
“Does it really have to be that way?”
“Isn’t that too strict for us?”
“…Uh, huh? But… everyone does it this way?”
Ayla spoke, I followed up, and Phitia faltered.
“The Dragon’s Trial is designed to make strangers into dragon companions.”
“But we’re not strangers anymore, are we?”
“That’s true, but…”
I spoke, Ayla followed, and Phitia replied in a small voice.
“Are we strangers?”
“Are we strangers?”
“……U-ugh…”
Ayla and I spoke simultaneously, and Phitia started tearing up.
“Don’t you think our bond will become even stronger if I become a passer of the trial, big sis?”
“Don’t you think we’ll become closer and look like real sisters wherever we go if I pass the trial, big sis?”
“Ugh… A-alright. I understand… I’ll make it easy for you.”
And so Phitia went off to prepare the trial, sniffling.
Ayla and I exchanged glances and nodded.
‘Easy.’
‘So easy.’
Are you okay, dragon?
—
“Hmm. So when monster waves come out, instead of using magic on weak monsters…”
“Wrap black crystal only around the striking point of your fist and hit them precisely.”
“I see. How far should I go with that?”
“You can trade fists with trolls. After that, mix in magic. The important thing is to drag it out as long as possible and take down as many monsters as you can.”
“…Yes. Wolfram. Is there anything I can help with?”
Before entering the trial, we shared as much information as possible and held a strategy meeting.
More precisely, I briefed her on what kind of trial it was and what monsters would appear, and helped set up Ayla’s tactics—that was all.
“For you to come out safely.”
“……A-again with, with that kind of talk…”
What.
Why are you suddenly blushing.
“For you to come out safely—that’s how both of us pass, isn’t it?”
“……Ah, yes. 【Black Crystal】”
“……Hm? Why are you loading Black Crystal. Why are you smiling at me.”
“No. I was just testing if I could use it well.”
I see. That’s a relief.
That killing intent—you’re going to unleash it on the incoming monsters, right? The tingling on my skin feels good, like it’s the real thing.
【Are you both ready?】
“…Just give us a little more time, big sis.”
“Give us a little more time.”
【U-uh, okay.】
Now the trial will begin soon.
Me, in what seems to be a test hall mimicking a school classroom.
And Ayla, who must fight illusionary monsters here.
But well… since Phitia left sniffling, the trial probably won’t be that hard.
Before that, there’s something I need to ask Ayla.
“Ayla.”
“Yes? What is it, Wolfram?”
“To be honest, I didn’t expect you to follow along this well. I appreciate you reading my intentions and matching my words even without me saying anything.”
“Hehe. Are we at the level where we need to express gratitude for that?”
“…That’s true enough. But are you sure about this?”
“What do you mean?”
“If it were the usual you, I’d think you’d say that challenging Phitia’s trial fair and square, at the highest difficulty, is rebellion and honor itself.”
That’s right.
If this were the Ayla Triasta I knew, she’d absolutely say that.
“I don’t want to do that right now.”
“What do you mean?”
“Us passing the trial means we become 【friends】 acknowledged by Phitia big sis, right?”
Friends.
So Ayla interpreted the trial passers that way.
That’s not exactly wrong.
“Yes.”
“That’s exactly why. I want to become that person’s friend.”
“……I see.”
Rather than prioritizing her own honor or pride—
She wants to become true friends with a poor dragon who spent three hundred years locked alone in a rare room, just watching gates.
“I don’t really understand the loneliness of spending three hundred years alone… but I just couldn’t leave it be.”
“I see.”
“Of course, when I have the ability later, I intend to try clearing the trial properly, you know? The wings of rebellion that solo-clear the Dragon’s Trial—Ayla Triasta. Isn’t that magnificent?”
Ayla smiled brightly and made a V-sign with her right hand.
Yes. This is the Ayla Triasta I know.
【Are you ready…?】
“We’ve kept Phitia waiting too long. Let’s go.”
“Yes. Wolfram. Let’s both do our best.”
With a brief greeting of fists lightly touching, we headed toward our respective trial grounds.
