*Achoo* 

Ryuu had a powerful immune system from birth which had only improved after all the physical training he underwent as Aoi. But as it seemed, one would have to reach the level of a transcendent being to be immune to the common cold. 

“Why am I the only one who caught a cold?” Kai had also dived into the lake, albeit for a shorter time, but he was completely fine. Not even a cough escaped his throat.

“Because you let water into your lungs? What did you expect?” Kai spoke as if it was a fact, which it was. But that didn’t stop Ryuu from complaining about it with a runny nose and hoarse tone as they passed the Lake of Grievance. 

The dragon curiously observed him every time he sneezed or wiped his nose. No one knew what it was really thinking, but Askr took the liberty to explain what cold was. Following the explanation, the dragon began to look at Ryuu with pitiful eyes. 

“Don’t give me that look.” Being pitied by a child who just learned about the cold was the last form of sympathy he needed.

By the time Ryuu’s cold had completely subsided, the group had reached the border of Isle forest. From the clearing, the bell tower was visible along with other tall buildings and walls. 

Right outside the Isle forest, the city of Selcouth stood tall as it had been for centuries. Contrary to the name, it was a busy place. The biggest magic market of the kingdom was located at the heart of the city. Merchants were always on their toes to get a spot here. 

But the city didn’t get its name for nothing. Some things did add force to the town's origin and identity. What person and place doesn’t have secrets? Having secrets was a part of one’s identity. 

Selcouth wasn’t an exception either. There were bound to be hidden aspects to this sleepless city.

But that was not Ryuu’s headache. If Selcouth had an underworld, Scarlet Eye was probably a well-known name there, after all, Aoi was a star employee of the underworld. Similarly, if there was a secret society here, he’d still be known, as a threat. In that sense, Ryuu was the headache.

But as far as information went, Selcouth didn’t have an underworld. People here were too busy with their day jobs to focus on building an underworld. There was this matter of space too. Businessmen were always fighting over spaces to set their stalls. Even long-standing trade companies could fall if they got distracted. 

That didn’t mean there was no illegal dealing at all, there was. But not on a scale to take the high place of being ‘Selcouth’s Secret.’

That drew the line for Ryuu’s involvement. Whatever other secret Selcouth could have, wasn’t an assassin’s concern, in Ryuu’s opinion that is. 

[System: Visiting the city of Selcouth would boost your experience tremendously.] 

The system, however, never saw eye to eye with him. 

'Does it look like I'm in a position to go on a tour right now? I'll do it later if I'm alive!'

Ryuu did plan to visit the magic market if he got the chance, but his idea of visiting and the system’s idea of visiting was not the same. 

That aside, if he went to Selcouth while dragging the tied-up middle-aged man, what kind of image would he be putting out there? Let's not forget about the dead prince and the lost dragon, they weren't invisible. Sure people were too busy to care, but Ryuu didn’t want mud on his day-job image.

Crossing through the city was inevitable, but they had to be as discreet as possible. So they took a detour around the city, choosing a route outmost to the city that only had unused plains.

As a result, the group reached the southeastern mountains with only two days at hand. 

[System: Final checkpoint for the mission loading. Please wait.] 

Despite being the closest non-residential destination to Isle Forest, the biggest hunting ground of the game, the southern mountains weren't a part of KS's game map. Access to Selcouth was also class-specific, and time limited. On that note, even the southwestern mansion wasn't a part of the main map. The cotton fairy forest was mentioned but wasn't accessible. 

Most of the places Ryuu had to visit for his missions weren't part of the game map. In the beginning, he wondered if this was because some places were class-limited, but still, it was impossible not to even hear about it. That could only mean that these places didn’t exist in the game. 

There was a lot to think about if he wanted to. He could ask why's and how's all day but still be left with questions. Like, why was KS introduced as a game? If it was a game, from where did all the additional data appear? 

And if it wasn't a world of a game, then why were they brought here? Did they possess actual living people? It was a long endless route of worry, guilt, and self-reflection. Ryuu didn't like being drowned in worries. What's done is done. What's supposed to be done, would be done. Mulling over it day and night wouldn't add even an hour to his lifespan. 

Ryuu's blood was already running dry thinking if he'd survive meeting an elder dragon, he didn’t need more worries on his shoulder.

[System: Synchronization complete. 

You are clear to go ahead.]

'I won't get killed off, right?'

[System:...] 

The system screen stayed like that for a minute before answering.

[That is unlikely.] 

‘Why the pause?’

[...]

‘Answer me!’

The morale of the group was so low, that no one appreciated the beauty of the restricted dragon habitat other than the blue dragon. The people with a higher chance of dying were calmer than Ryuu though. Ryuu was basically the visualization of anxiety as a person at this point. 

The farther they went into the valley, the more he looked like he was heading in for an exam he didn’t study for. His heartbeat quickened, his face paled, and his breathing became unsteady. 

Only after seeing a human face did Ryuu's nerves calm down a notch, only to realize that a face doesn't represent a whole person as they got closer. 

"Are you the person Grey sent over?" The man had a thin voice. The words were spoken very profoundly, more so than the prince.

"Yes."

"Please follow me."

The green-haired, blue-eyed individual looked human only from a distance. But upon closer inspection, he looked like a glass doll. The visible skin underneath the clothes was almost transparent like water. Anyone could assume he wasn't a human, but pointing out what creature he was, was beyond them. 

The dragon's lair was hidden amongst the jagged peaks and steep cliffs of the mountain range. The entrance to the lair was a large cave opening, partially obscured by rocks and foliage. The cave itself was dark and spacious, the air cool and damp

The glass doll wasn't much of a talker so they ended up silently following him deep into the cave. 

[System: Your inner feelings are showing. Please contain your expression.]

‘Easy for you to say! Your life isn't in danger!'

[System: You're showing more discomfort than the culprits. It's unsightly.]

'Ugh.'

'It's fine. I just have to explain what happened. Stay calm, Ryuu. Get your act together.' 

Like hell, he would. 

Deep inside the cave, a majestic-looking white dragon sat calmly, taking up enough space to make a building. Eyes the side of an adult human. Limbs big enough to crush a normal-sized bus—no airplane. And that creature was now looking at them with those big, condensing eyes.

Ryuu felt small. Standing in front of the creature that looked down at their ant-like figure, he felt minuscule, insignificant. His heart raced, breath got caught in his throat. Although he wanted to look at the majestic creature, he couldn’t. 

The sheer thought that he wasn’t allowed to look up was carved so deeply into his mind that even though everyone around him was looking at the dragon with curious gazes, he couldn’t lift his gaze any higher. 

Ryuu wanted to run. Leave this place and go hide in a corner where no one could find him. 

But he had a job to do, a mission to complete. 

"You—"

"It's their fault." It didn't take Ryuu even 5 seconds to throw the two culprits to the front and retreat behind Kai. It was such an abrupt action, that even the dragon was taken aback for a moment. Who'd believe this was the same person who killed people left and right for the last few months?

[System: Your inconsistent behavior is tainting your image. Please act appropriately.] 

Ryuu didn't respond or move. What did this black screen know? Who cared if he was inconsistent or whatever? He was meant to work behind the scenes anyway. 

Ryuu wasn't afraid of dragons. Sure, he was afraid of dying, but the dragon had no reason to kill him. Dragons were superior beings, they wouldn't hurt someone insignificant for fun. He knew that, but some things were too much to overcome no matter how much time had passed. 

"Grey sent such a coward—" Call me a coward. It doesn't matter. As long as I’ve done the job, why does it matter whether or not I’m a coward?

Ryuu didn’t need to justify his cowardice to himself for long. 

As cold fingers grasped his trembling hand from behind, the overbearing voice came to a halt. The whole cave did. All Ryuu could hear was his own rapid heartbeat.