Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

---

Chapter 170: A Lesson From the Past

Hero Drake, a classic, typical main storyline hero.

As a protagonist, to avoid potential controversy, the “Tahe” design team made him align with the lawful good camp. Drake’s design, from his childhood experiences to his growth throughout the game’s main storyline, was personally overseen by Nol, making him the character associated with the most quests in “Tahe”.

Drake is a platinum dragon-human hybrid.

His father was the young platinum dragon, Mistrel, and his mother was a common human, Lenora.

This should have been a love affair doomed by lifespan differences, but who could have imagined that the powerful platinum dragon would perish earlier than his human wife—following orders from Subelbot to investigate the monsters of the Endless Sea, he disappeared without a trace, leaving nothing behind.

Drake inherited the platinum dragon’s transformation into a human with pale gold hair and blue eyes from his human mother. Neither of his parents had a surname, so “Drake” was just “Drake”.

Normally, such cross-species hybrids are extremely rare to be born, and even if they survive, they must face hostility from the dragon race and discrimination from human factions. Realizing this, Drake’s mother took him to live incognito in the Kingdom of Alka, surrounded by seas.

Thus, Lenora took her child to Alka and became a magic craftsman. She never told Drake about his father’s identity, only saying his father was an ordinary mercenary who died on a mission—a common occurrence in the world of adventurers.

Unfortunately, while his lineage could be concealed, the powerful magic bestowed by his dragon bloodline gradually revealed itself, and the young Drake became known as a “genius”. To provide her child with a better education, Lenora began to deal in rarer and more expensive magical items, tragically dying in the process of collecting magical materials.

Young Drake mourned his mother, sold everything except their house, and packed his bags—his father’s disappearance was his mother’s greatest regret. Even though his mother never asked, he wanted to find his father “Lyle’s” remains and bury them together with his mother.

Thus, Drake returned to Gemino, starting to travel as a magic craftsman. He wandered among various mercenary guilds, selling his homemade goods while inquiring about a mercenary named “Lyle”.

[Main NPC Quest: Find Mercenary Lyle]

The Players’ story with Drake begins here.

Drake’s potions and items are very useful. To comfortably progress through the game, Players inevitably need to deal with Drake. By collecting information about the mysterious mercenary “Lyle” within the game, players can exchange it for rewards and rare items from Drake.

Not to mention, Drake has a very handsome face—beautiful NPCs usually carry important quests, which is somewhat common knowledge.

Gradually, Players would discover Drake’s terrifying talent. And as Drake learned more, he was no longer content with being a magic craftsman confined to the city.

Evil lords, underground tombs, shadows by the sea… In every main quest, Players could see Drake’s activity. They could watch him transform from a reticent magic craftsman to a somewhat famous mercenary and then into a heroic magic swordsman through his adventures.

For most Players, Hero Drake would become a “weathervane” for exploring the world map. Generally, wherever he lingered indicated that an important main quest was about to appear in that area.

When the time came, [Find Mercenary Lyle] would lead to the “Dragon’s Lair” advanced map, further advancing the main storyline.

On the other hand, Drake himself was reserved and taciturn but genuinely sincere.

As long as Players weren’t classified by the system as evil, or their attitude wasn’t extremely bad, Drake would lend a hand if asked—a nice experience for casual players not skilled in combat.

In a way, Drake represented “Tahe” itself.

Nol had once considered the ending for “Hero Drake”.

Maybe one day, the game will come to an end. Then, before the Players left, Drake would find his father’s dragon scales, bring them back to his hometown, and bury them together with his mother.

Maybe he would then retire, grow herbs, make items, or he might own a magical item shop, living leisurely in this beautiful world.

When that time came, Drake’s AI would probably make its own choice.

Even if he was a character as upright as to be cliché, and as kind as to be dull, among all NPCs, Nol still admired Drake the most. He poured a lot of effort into this hero, hoping he could become more lifelike.

Kindness never goes out of style, and Drake deserves a fulfilling ending.

At this moment.

Nol, through Drake’s eyes, looked at the blood-red, twisted world in front of him, and the “ancient Demon King” that defied common understanding.

In a world with the Demon King as the absolute target, the righteous Drake embarked on the path of a hero. Unfortunately, his opponents were supposed to be sinners filled with evil, dangerous mad beasts, rather than… these.

All beings in this land were confined within the system rules, with limited abilities. But the Demon King wasn’t.

To have come this far, Drake’s team must have slain many of the Demon King’s minions. They set out full of confidence, crossing the Endless Sea, only to end up unable to even directly face the Demon King.

Even Drake, mixed with dragon’s blood, couldn’t face his enemy directly. His eyeballs burned in their sockets, and the pain in his memories was vivid and terrifying.

His long sword was broken, armor damaged, blood soaking the clothes under his armor. The ground was littered with fragments of magical artifacts. His magical power was drained, and the team behind him was in disarray.

No one could escape the ancient Demon King’s illusion. The scent of death spread; despair visible in everyone’s eyes.

[It’s really this guy.]

Teest’s thoughts came through, muttering. [The dragon race has been isolated for a long time, so not many dragons go out, and there are even fewer dragon hybrids. They’re all remembered by the Red Dragon Sage, like a hit list.]

Nol didn’t respond.

No wonder Drake had no faith, he thought.

Drake was a character he had carefully designed, without faith in the setting. Like the moon of the Dragon’s Lair, Drake’s life was also protected by the system. He didn’t convert to the Temple of Life, nor could he possibly join the Eternal Church.

No wonder Drake… Kando was so familiar with the system.

Drake could have come this far, surely having played through many dungeons—as a “guaranteed support partner” given by the system to Players, Drake had the talent to discover dungeons, and the talent to deal with them.

Without the guidance of Players, without the help of AI, Drake still traveled everywhere, becoming a hero.

Was it because of his creation, or was it Drake’s own will? Nol was a bit unclear.

He found it hard to describe his feelings at the moment—on one side was a character he had carefully created, a character whose tumultuous life he had planned with care; on the other side was his compatriot who had fallen into madness, an innocent compatriot with only fragments of thought left.

And he could guess the outcome of this war. He also knew the outcome of this war.

No one returns.

“Drake!”

Nol heard someone calling; the shout was almost dispersed by the sea breeze. “Think of a way… Drake…!”

Nol heard Drake’s heavy breathing. His half-long golden hair was soaked with blood. Drake’s heartbeat was frighteningly fast.

Attack was obviously hopeless, and retreat was difficult to execute. Even without illusions, they had crossed the Endless Sea, coming to the end of the world—they had no support.

Nol couldn’t bear to watch any longer.

Players who stray into high-level battlefields could start over through death. But here, there were no Players. This formidable team had bravely ventured into the unknown for the sake of all beings on the continent, and now they were about to pay the price.

Everyone present would die today, including Drake himself.

In this buried memory, Nol could feel Drake’s heavy and bitter sadness. Drake’s chest hurt terribly—Nol didn’t know if the pain came from the wound or from mourning.

Drake turned his gaze to the feet of the Demon King.

The beach was pale and unremarkable. The soil inside was quite special, with a dark, twisted texture. And on this twisted soil, bloomed patches of dark blue flowers.

Nol had never seen such flowers. Perhaps they were a mutation brought by the Demon King’s corruption. They… weren’t special, but their color was beautiful. On this bloodied battlefield, they were despairingly beautiful.

Drake closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, he raised his sword and cut off his own left wrist. Accompanied by Drake’s awkward and obscure chanting, that piece of flesh slowly radiated light.

Countless magical artifacts flew up from around him, spinning crazily around Drake, emitting an ominous strong light.

Nol’s pupils shrank.

Drake was about to sacrifice himself.

By sacrificing one’s life, one could forcibly greatly enhance one’s strength, and die in a short time. Such sacrificial skills weren’t uncommon. Painter’s [Mercy Countdown] was one of them.

The problem was, the magical artifacts around Drake… were a bit too many.

They overdraw themselves, applying buffs to Drake, many of which didn’t even exist in the system. The power they applied far exceeded what normal people could withstand.

Drake barely stood. The calls and cries behind him slowly faded away.

His skin and hair burst into flames of pure gold, almost burning him into a ball of golden light. His longsword melted, replaced by the bone of his left arm—it seemed to be made of light, with a sharp, fractured tip.

It was necessary to severely damage the Demon King, even if it was just to temporarily repel him.

He absolutely could not let all his comrades die here.

Crack.

A barely audible sound of breaking rang out, and within the golden light, an unusual power gradually spread.

The burning pain gradually faded. His blood-stained vision became clear, then distorted by heat waves. It was like breaking out of a heavy cocoon, leaving him weak yet… powerful.

Through the air distorted by the temperature. Drake looked directly at the Demon King for the first time.

[Hmm?] Teest couldn’t help but let out a sound of confusion.

[…His last move exceeded the system’s calculable limits,] Nol said with a sense of resignation. [He transcended the law.]

At this moment, Drake forcefully transcended the system, becoming a False God.

…But what of it?

The ancient Demon King was the remnants of three Creator Gods. Initially, both Teest and himself, as False Gods, could only defeat it on the condition that the Demon King held back. Moreover, Drake was a newly born False God in poor condition.

After a brief moment of hope for Drake, there would only be greater despair. This breakthrough would only make him more acutely aware of the chasm—

He gave his all, yet he couldn’t even buy time.

Indeed, after facing the Demon King directly, Drake fell silent. And behind him, the sadness and expectations of his companions remained vivid.

[Haa.] Teest sighed. [If he stops the sacrificial magic now and focuses on running away alone, he could still escape—I guess he knows that. If he doesn’t stop the magic, he’s going to die here.]

[So, how exactly did he become like that?]

[…I don’t know,] Nol said. [But either way, he wouldn’t choose to run away alone.]

In the vision, Drake faced the Demon King again and raised his right hand. The sharp bone in his hand spun around, its sharp end pointing towards himself.

Drake pierced his chest cleanly, and molten gold-like blood quickly flowed out, making a hissing sound.

The air nearby suddenly became heavy, and an eerie sense of being watched enveloped him like a swamp. The wind stopped, the shouts of his comrades ceased abruptly, and everyone was stunned by the oppressive feeling, leaving only boundless silence.

Even the ancient Demon King slowed down, raising its head towards the sky.

“The beginning of the world, the sovereign of all things, the supreme Goddess Tilia.”

Drake called out with his burning vocal cords. “Please accept my belated loyalty. Please guide these brave and innocent lives on their way… Please tell me, how can I leave this cursed land.”

“I will become your most loyal knight. I am willing to wield my sword for you for the rest of my life, spreading your glory throughout Tahe.”

The sense of being watched quickly faded, and a green comet slid across the blood-red sky.

A voice filled his buzzing ears.

[I will send them home.]

It was a gentle and sweet female voice. [I will heal their severe injuries and let them return to their familiar land. I am willing to put all my power as collateral for this absolute contract.]

She used the word “them”.

Indeed, he had never been a believer in life, so the Goddess would take the price. Drake held his breath, quietly waiting for his own end.

[Hero Drake, my brave child. Your loyalty pleases me, but it comes too late.]

Indeed, Goddess Tilia continued softly, [To break through the distant space, you need to burn your flesh, your strength, your life, and personally become the path for your companions to return home… Do you accept?]

Teest: “……”

Nol: “……”

In this spirit world, Nol had no physical form, but at this moment, his back quickly turned cold, as if licked by some giant cold-blooded creature.

[This guy really knows how to make an offer when others can’t refuse.]

Teest hummed telepathically. [People call me the ‘White Demon’. In my opinion, this ‘Goddess’ is the most competent demon.]

Nol couldn’t help but frown. What good does it do for Star Stealer Sol to demand Drake’s life?

Moreover, as far as they knew, Drake still survived—of course, in a rather undignified way.

“I am willing.” Unlike Nol, Drake only fell silent for a few seconds before making his decision.

“Please make the covenant and bestow your mercy…”

The next moment, a gentle white light enveloped the burning Drake.

Several clauses swiftly poured into Drake’s mind. The connection of the magic contract felt incredibly real—overall, Tilia promised to heal those still alive, ensuring their safe and healthy return to the continent of Tahe. The price, however, was for Drake to burn himself, opening the path.

Nol was surprised to find that Star Stealer Sol hadn’t tampered with the contract.

Unlike the sham magic contracts he had dealt with initially, what Star Stealer Sol offered was an absolutely fair, unforgeable, and powerful contract.

Amidst the burning, Drake let out a long sigh.

There was relief, reluctance, and more so, an indescribable emotion. Before closing his eyes, his gaze laboriously shifted, finally resting on the blue flowers at the feet of the Demon King.

He burned more intensely.

The golden glow gradually turned into the cyan of death. His limbs melted, his head burned away, and he transformed into an endless flame—Hero Drake lay between the Demon King and his comrades, forming a huge cyan ring of fire.

Beyond the ring of fire were boundless blue skies, lush green grass, and the continuous Brick Mountains.

Unicorns ran through the shrubs, and occasionally, birds flew across the sky. In this tainted and chaotic space, the other side was as beautiful as a dream.

[My name is Tilia. Hero Drake has sacrificed himself to me, forging the path home for you all.]

The voice of the Goddess of Life echoed across the battlefield.

[My children, go home.]

The survivors had not yet reacted when their bodies were illuminated by powerful healing magic.

Broken limbs regenerated, and deep-seated corruption receded. With tears streaming down their faces, the warriors praised Tilia’s divine name, mourning the sacrificed hero. The cyan flames burned fiercely, covering the surrounding murk and darkness.

The first person crossed the ring of fire, stepping onto the soft grass. His eyes were filled with tears as he knelt to kiss the leaves.

“I see the village. There are people!” he shouted to his companions beyond the ring of fire, his voice rough as sandpaper. “Come quickly!”

Drake’s consciousness existed in a blur, watching familiar faces cross the ring of fire, leaving behind corruption and nightmares.

Goodbye, he thought. Farewell.

The adventure had ended. The adventurer died on an unknown journey. A not-so-good, yet common ending. At least his companions didn’t have to join him; they could safely return home.

Someone was waiting for him… His promise unfulfilled…

When his father died, was it with a similar sentiment…

The Goddess’ gaze drifted away, the Demon King’s pressure receded, and everything was dissipating. In Drake’s crumbling consciousness, Nol and Teest silently waited.

[Idiot!]

The dissipation suddenly stopped. A frustrated young girl’s voice entered Drake’s mind. [Why are you so foolish, obediently listening after being deceived? Huh?]

Drake, Nol: “?”

Teest: “…?” This voice sounded somewhat familiar.

[…Who are you…?] Drake instinctively asked.

[You’ve come to my doorstep, yet you were deceived by that guy!]

The girl said loudly, [Couldn’t you just ordinarily ask for a god’s help. Why specifically choose Tilia… Another promising one gone…]

[……]

Drake was cut off mid-death. The other party didn’t reveal their identity, and he really didn’t have the energy to ask again. [My friends… Home… Promise…]

[Home?]

The voice became sharp. [What home! Those people aren’t weak. Having witnessed you surpassing the law, how could that guy possibly let them live and return?]

[Did She promise to send them back to Tahe? She definitely didn’t specify which year’s Tahe—She absolutely sent them back to the ‘past’! Your friends, thinking they were saved, will definitely head towards crowded places. Without that guy’s protection, as soon as they disturb the flow of fate, they will be erased by time itself in an instant!]

[Idiots, all of them!]

That voice angrily scolded. [Now look, She’s dealt with another potential competitor—you’re even dumber than the last unfortunate soul, who at least could live and become Her pope after being brainwashed.]

[I don’t… understand…] Drake responded confusedly.

[You don’t need to understand.] The voice shrieked, [True or false, won’t you know if you just look?]

[What… do you mean…]

[I will let you live.]

The girl’s voice said, [My price is absolutely fair. Let’s make a deal, Drake.]

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>