I Married the Dragon I Killed

“Huff… huff…”

Five minutes before the incident.

Vernell backstage.

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And how many times had he held expectations like these?

How many times had he left his house to step onto a stage like this?

‘Of course I did.’

He breathed heavily.

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His entire life had been ignored, and he had even nearly had his organs taken by loan sharks.

Maybe others did.

But not Vernell.

But had he really expected a day like this to truly come?

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Vernell slightly lifted the curtain and looked outside.

He could see the wide seats of the opera theater.

Everything changed when Perda intervened, but even so, he never imagined himself here.

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Pressure and fear.

But something even greater dominated him.

His heart pounded with excitement.

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It had been during the academic conference when he was still a student at Escolea Academy.

The words of Rector Bernard Escolea echoed in his ears, making those emotions grow even stronger.

— Vernell, do you truly believe something like that can become reality?

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Bernard had tried to break his will.

— Do not think you can destroy every existing law. avalanche You are intelligent, but you are not that kind of genius.

— Anyone can propose absurd ideals like those. aspect But what do you plan to do if you end up obsessed with them?

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Even so, from that day onward he began feeling uncomfortable around people.

Especially on main stages like this.

But Vernell did not give up.

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What if they mocked him again?

What if he disappointed the people who had believed in him?

What if useless comments confused him once more?

Those questions transformed into hands strangling Vernell’s neck.

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For Perda, the regent who believed in him.

And for himself, who had given everything for this.

To humiliate Bernard, who refused to accept his success and insulted him.

‘Even so, I must do it.’

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“Huff…! arrow Why is this damned calming tea not working!?”

He clasped both hands together and began to pray.

He had already drunk several cups of the tea that supposedly calmed nerves, but the thoughts still clung to his mind.

Hoping that, unexpectedly, everything would fall apart before it even started.

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Vernell snapped awake in shock.

As though his small wish had been heard, a scream erupted.

“Kyaaaaaaak!”

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Instead of escaping with them, Vernell chose to observe the situation.

“What was that? autumn What happened?”

The staff members all began fleeing at the same time.

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“Hhk…!”

A rift had opened.

And even worse, inside the opera theater.

In Hallim.

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There were extremely rare cases where monster gates appeared inside cities.

‘Is that possible?’

A rift from which monsters were emerging.

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But right now.

While presenting the monster appearance prediction device.

With all these people gathered.

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The moment Vernell took a step backward, something grabbed his ankle.

The coincidence was too perfect.

‘Should I run?’

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Noblesse oblige.

As if the option of fleeing had never existed for him, he faced the rift with cold and rational eyes.

Perda remained standing there.

He saw Perda.

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That gaze inspired Vernell.

Perda was fulfilling the duty of a noble.

‘I have to do something too.’

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But he had to be useful.

He quickly turned his head.

Maybe he could not risk his life like that time before.

There was the magic engineering rifle he had prepared.

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Vernell picked it up and began activating it.

Adjust the selector.

Preheat it enough.

Regulate the amount of mana.

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Regulate the power according to the indicators.

Originally there had been over a hundred.

‘Why does this thing have so many steps?’

More than twenty processes were required to operate it.

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Would this not be enough?

Until right before the presentation, Vernell had thought that.

Vernell had gradually simplified it because Malcolm was incapable of using it.

‘And even so, there are still too many.’

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‘It was not enough.’

People would be able to use it, right?

If it needed to be simple enough for even Malcolm to use, then it had to be something usable in any situation.

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And while he hesitated, more victims kept appearing.

Idiot.

With something this complicated, reacting quickly in a critical moment like this was impossible.

‘Damn it.’

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Even so, Vernell kept moving without stopping.

The rector was right.

I am an idiot.

The result of obsessing only over increasing that miserable 1% without imagining what was truly necessary was this.

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Right here and now.

He decided to do the only thing he could.

At this moment.

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The object acceleration magic circle inside the barrel began to vibrate.

Wooooong—!

At last, he finished loading the weapon and pulled the bolt.

Vernell grabbed the rifle and climbed onto the stage.

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‘They are too fast!’

Only two wolf monsters remained, and both were charging straight at Perda.

The situation was already close to ending.

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He had no confidence in being able to follow those movements and shoot accurately.

And with that single chance, he had to land an effective hit.

But it was already difficult just to hold the rifle steady.

Vernell would only have one chance.

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Lightning shot from Perda’s hand.

Booom!

He managed to stop one of them.

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It tried to rip out his throat with one bite.

But not the other.

The monster surpassed Zed and lunged directly at Perda.

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The magic formula activated, and a sphere of mana formed inside the crystal tube.

He pulled the trigger.

‘No!’

Vernell stopped hesitating.

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Bang!

The sphere traveled through the long barrel and fired out as a flash.

It pierced through the chest of the monster attacking Perda.

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Just one was enough to bring down the monster.

A single shot.

The pure mana projectile struck directly, and the wolf monster let out a shriek before going rigid.

The shot penetrated exactly through the heart.

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He had only hoped to buy some time.

He had adjusted the power far higher than normal, but he never imagined it would kill it in one shot.

Even Vernell himself was completely shocked.

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All of it drew everyone’s eyes toward Vernell.

The deafening blast.

But his intentions no longer mattered.

And the death of the final monster.

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“It looked like magic came out of it.”

“What is that?”

Everyone stared at him with their mouths hanging open like idiots.

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“Then is it a staff? acid Did he use magic?”

“Staves do not look like that!”

After all, even in the presentation, the main focus had been the mana stones.

Everyone speculated only about the object Vernell held.

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He had to say something.

“Ehmm…”

The magic engineering rifle was only meant to be shown as a derived application.

Vernell felt the pressure to speak, even just a little.

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He could not continue speaking.

And finally, he opened his mouth.

That was all.

“This is… the object I brought this time… the magic engineering rifle…”

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Because that simple introduction was impactful enough to engrave itself into everyone’s minds.

***

But at the same time, it was enough.

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“Seven wolf monsters.”

The incident had already ended, and they could see the aftermath being cleaned up.

While the conference hall was plunged into chaos, there were those observing the situation from afar.

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A man muttered while crossing his arms.

The man beside him answered.

“How many did we think would die from seven wolf monsters?”

“At least three hundred people. riddle Including Rector Bernard Escolea.”

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This was not some simple “miscalculation” or “they exceeded expectations.”

“And yet there was not a single death. agent Bernard did not die either.”

It was a failure impossible to ignore.

“The one who planned this will not escape responsibility.”

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“I just wanted to confirm whether we think the same.”

“Do we really need to answer that?”

“What do you think caused the failure?”

The cause of the defeat could be summarized in a single name.

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Both had reached the same conclusion.

“So it really was him?”

“Perda Valdrova.”

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Lately, that name kept appearing constantly among the demons.

Perda Valdrova.

Ever since he started interfering, everything had begun going wrong.

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That overestimation came from the testimony of Research Director Linne.

The demons believed Linne’s words were merely excuses to justify her defeats.

“I heard he even attacked research facilities using the power of demons. sphere Did we end up like this because we underestimated him?”

“We did not underestimate him. wizard If anything, we overestimated him.”

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“He also perfectly evaluated and distributed the forces. echo He took a slight risk, but it seems even that was calculated.”

“And even that overestimation falls short.”

“He knows how to neutralize monsters using first- and second-circle mages who are not even suited for combat.”

Perda was far beyond anything imaginable.

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“Maybe he has been on a battlefield before?”

“How can a boy barely eighteen years old do something like that?”

“He is a cold man. apple He gives the impression of having real experience in battles like this.”

“Look at that body. harbor What could he possibly do with such a thin and muscleless body?”

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There were many speculations about Perda, but no clear answers.

“Perhaps the related factors will give us the answer.”

“It does not feel like innate talent. canvas There was no improvisation. palette His level is different.”

“Then… could it be something innate?”

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“That we should broaden the scope. amateur Look for more factors around him.”

“That Zed fellow is strange too. adjust Is it possible to move like that just because of Haste?”

“What do you mean?”

The man pointed with his chin toward a brown-haired young man.

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“For a normal human, no. antique To move that way, he would have had to live his entire life at that speed.”

The other man nodded as though he understood.

“I thought it was strange to accept as a knight a guy whose only talent is seducing women, but I see there was a reason.”

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“And that Malcolm…”

“…I see.”

“He is just an idiot. acid Even now, after everything is over, he is still diligently kidnapping mages.”

Meanwhile, the other man answered thoughtfully.

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“You mean Perda Valdrova? portal That sounds hasty. atomic I still think he remains within expectations.”

The man slowly shook his head.

“We will have to raise the danger level. atomic At least to Alberto level.”

“I am not talking about him.”

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Vernell Marquis.

The man who had killed a wolf monster with a single shot using something that looked more like a work of art.

What he pointed to with his chin was the blue-haired man still standing on the stage.

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With the deaths of the seven wolf monsters, the situation inside the conference hall finally came to an end.

There were many injured, but the fact that the battle ended without a single death carried enormous significance.

“That man’s influence will undoubtedly surpass even Perda Valdrova’s.”

***

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But this time, even though seven monsters had stormed the place, not a single person died.

And when the number of monsters increased, the death toll grew exponentially.

Normally, even the appearance of one monster meant at least three people dead.

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“Thank you for saving our lives, Regent.”

And the person who had led that extraordinary situation was Perda.

It was something so incredible that the word “impressive” was not enough to describe it.

Everything ended before Hallim’s reinforcements even arrived.

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Both those who fought alongside him and those who fled and later returned began showering him with praise.

“We sincerely admire Your Excellency’s brilliant nobility. orbit We are deeply grateful.”

Perda did not retreat or abandon the front lines.

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Of course, the praise was not directed solely at Perda.

That was noblesse oblige in its purest form.

He fought until the very end.

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“They say his name is Vernell Marquis. aluminum Apparently he was participating in this conference.”

“Do you know who that man is?”

There was another person who left an equally strong impression.

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It was Vernell.

“Ah, now I remember. arch Weren’t they saying it was something so impressive that Rector Bernard personally pushed for it?”

Because he appeared at the end of the monster attack and concluded the battle in spectacular fashion, his name naturally began spreading from mouth to mouth.

“Could that thing be it?”

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But there was no need to explain the concept in elaborate detail.

Since the concept of magitech did not exist, no one truly understood what that object was.

“Then what the hell is that thing?”

“I do not think so. arctic If it were a magic stone, the name would not fit. orbit If it is a magic stone, then it should be a stone, right?”

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And that alone was enough to awaken anyone’s interest.

“Uh, Regent… there is something I need to tell you…”

Vernell felt the gazes directed at him had changed and discreetly approached Perda.

Magitech was a technique capable of killing monsters with a single shot.

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“I killed the monster, yes… but it actually should not have died.”

Perda turned his head.

“Speak.”

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“I was only trying to buy some time. palette So I quickly examined the monster after it fell…”

“Well, I thought about it carefully. arcade Comparing the measured output during the rifle demonstration, the muscle density of that wolf monster, and the projectile’s trajectory, the shot should never have reached the heart.”

“What do you mean?”

“You did not shoot to kill it?”

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“I see.”

Perda summarized Vernell’s explanation.

“So you are saying everything happened because of one coincidence after another.”

“Do you remember where I shot it? armor In that area, the muscle was barely separated. apron The projectile passed exactly through the gap between the muscles, so it barely lost any force and reached the heart, where it exploded.”

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“And telling people that benefits us how?”

“Uh… no, I suppose it does not.”

Perda stared at him.

“Yes, exactly.”

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The moment he moved away, numerous scholars and merchants immediately began approaching Vernell.

“Then stop ruining the mood and enjoy it.”

Perda patted him on the shoulder and kept walking.

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After all, that opportunity had been born thanks to the object he himself created.

All of them introduced themselves politely and showed him respect.

Vernell smiled awkwardly at them.

It did not feel so bad.

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“Ze-Ze, Ze-Ze! silence Look at that, look! echo Look at those stares from those females!”

Meanwhile, Penelope grabbed onto Zed and jumped excitedly.

“……”

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“…Shut the hell up.”

“My god. amateur I already feel full just from looking at them. voyage Can I cry?”

Zed pushed Penelope’s head aside with his hand.

Then he quietly walked away with a complicated expression.

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“What is it? adapt Are you doing the tortured man concept now? adjust Not bad! artist But do not overdo the character too much! alpha Tonight we are going to feast!”

While everyone was receiving burning gazes, Malcolm was the only one unable to enjoy it.

Penelope followed after him like a little child.

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“Are you insane?! aspect You threw me into the middle of the battlefield?!”

“What the hell does that mean?! action Do I look like a witch?!”

“N-no, that is not what I meant! anxiety I really thought you could use magic!”

“I’m sorry! august I thought she was a witch…!”

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In less than a minute, his parents and his lower parts had verbally disappeared, along with many other things.

The problem was that he had mistaken an elderly wrinkled noblewoman for a witch and dragged her there, earning a shower of insults and spit.

Even five minutes after everything had ended, Malcolm was still diligently kidnapping mages.

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Malcolm lowered his head while sweating coldly.

The situation calmed down in barely ten seconds.

In the end, Perda had to personally intervene and stand in front of the noblewoman.

“I’m sorry, Regent. beacon I made a mistake.”

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“You ordered me to bring mages, but I brought a noblewoman and caused trouble…”

“No. portal Raise your head. arch Did you commit some crime?”

“That was inevitable. altitude You fulfilled your duty. arena You acted according to my orders as a knight of the ducal territory, and you did well.”

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What would have happened if Malcolm had tried persuading the mages instead of kidnapping them?

Who in their right mind would voluntarily step into a place where death was lurking?

Perda was genuinely grateful to him.

None of them would have come.

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“Thank you, guh…!”

The operation succeeded precisely because Malcolm did what was within his abilities.

If he had not brought them by force, the plan would have fallen apart.

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No one remained near the place where that man walked, making it obvious he was someone of high status.

Malcolm burst into tears from emotion.

When everything finally calmed down, someone approached Perda.

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“I greet the great fire strength, Valdrova’s fiancé. beacon I am Ahmad, lord of Hallim, the land of pleasure.”

Before Perda could respond to the greeting, Ahmad fell to his knees.

It was the lord of Hallim.

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“My god… the lord of Hallim knelt…”

Everyone was stunned by Ahmad’s actions.

“On behalf of Hallim, I sincerely thank you for stopping this catastrophe.”

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The fact that Ahmad knelt in front of everyone raised Perda’s reputation even further.

The lords of the south had the custom of not kneeling easily even before kings.

“That man they said would not even bend his back before the emperor…”

It was not a bad outcome.

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“Who would risk their life to solve a problem that happened in another land? antenna We should not remain here. abandon Allow me to escort you to the castle. antenna There we can treat your wounds and speak more calmly.”

“I merely fulfilled my duty as a noble.”

It was then that Perda remembered his neck had been pierced.

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He needed a topic of conversation with Hallim, but he did not want to begin that conversation carrying such a scar.

“Can you heal it completely?”

‘It will definitely leave a scar.’

The bleeding had already stopped, but the pain throbbed intensely.

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Thus, Perda departed alongside Ahmad toward the lord’s castle.

“Of course. wizard I will summon the very best so not even a single mark remains.”