Chapter 259: Legend Among Us!

And then, Ash nudged Lily insistently.

“Hm?” Lily blinked, lifting the little dragon gently into her arms. “What is it, Ash?”

Ash pointed at its glasses with a small claw, tapping the frame twice.

Lily tilted her head in confusion. “You want them off? But you liked them so much…”

Still, she carefully removed the eyeglasses and held them in her hands, watching as Ash hovered in the air before her, then moved forward a little.

For a single breath, the world seemed to pause.

Then the air shifted.

Mana surged outward in a sudden, overwhelming tide, pressure rippling through the street like an invisible wave. Ash’s small form stretched violently, shadows peeling away as if discarded, its body expanding upward in a heartbeat.

Scales thickened and darkened, wings unfurled with a thunderous rush of displaced air, and in the span of a breath, the adorable little drake vanished. In its place, a gigantic dragon filled the street.

Its immense wings blotted out the sunlight, casting the entire district into shadow as a low, resonant hum rolled through the air. Buildings trembled faintly, loose fabric fluttering, glass rattling in its frames. Ash lifted its massive head, eyes glowing softly with ancient power, its presence alone enough to make mana recoil.

Lily froze. “…Eh?”

She already knew this but she was still shocked nevertheless…

Bruce laughed.

He scooped Lily up effortlessly and leapt, landing smoothly atop Ash’s broad back as if he’d done it a thousand times before.

“What are we waiting for?” he said easily, steadying her with one arm. “Ash seems to be in a good mood. Looks like it wants to give us a ride home.”

Before Lily could even process the words, Ash’s wings snapped downward.

The ground vanished.

They shot into the sky, wind roaring past them as the city fell away in a dizzying rush. Rooftops shrank into toys, streets thinning into pale lines as Valkrin unfolded beneath them. Lily clutched Bruce instinctively, heart pounding wildly, then, slowly, fear melted into awe. Unlike her first ride, she steeled her heart more easily this time.

“B-Big brother…” she whispered, eyes shining as she stared out at the world below. “this feels so good…”

Bruce tightened his hold just a little. “Hold tight.”

Ash let out a deep, pleased rumble as it soared higher, its massive silhouette cutting across the blue sky like a living legend, wings beating with effortless power.

Behind them, the door of the clothing shop creaked open.

The shopkeeper stepped outside, squinting upward, irritation already forming at the sudden shadow, until he saw it. His breath caught.

His jaw dropped. “…That’s…”

His hands trembled as instinct took over, smart bracelet snapping up as he fumbled to activate the camera. He captured the image just as Ash’s colossal form crossed the sun, wings fully spread, two small figures seated upon its back.

He posted it immediately, with the caption…

[I met the Legendary Helper Dragon, and didn’t even realize it.]

[It walked into my shop as a small, adorable drake, standing beside a young man and a little girl like it belonged there. I even spoke to it. Smiled at it. Completely unaware.

That little drake was the same dragon that saved my grandson’s academy.

When it transformed, when its true form filled the sky and it flew away with them, I could only stand there, stunned.

To think… I met a legend and didn’t know until it was already gone.]

One minute. A thousand likes.

Two minutes. Five thousand. The traction the man got at his page with that post was more than the man had ever expected… His post was practically exploding with comments…

He now had something else to give life to his boring shopkeeper life, that day was a memorable day…

Ever since the footage of Ash tearing through dungeon-break creatures had flooded V-Net, the dragon, especially its colossal true form, had become a symbol in Valkrin. A protector. A miracle. A living legend. And now, people were realizing something new.

That legend wasn’t distant.

It walked the streets. Browsed shops. Stood quietly beside a boy and his little sister like it belonged there.

High above the city, Lily clutched Ash’s scales, laughter bubbling free as exhilaration replaced fear completely.

“This is amazing!” she shouted over the rushing wind. Ash rumbled happily in response, banking gently as the city stretched endlessly beneath them. Bruce watched it all with a soft smile, eyes reflecting the rooftops, the streets, the people below.

Valkrin buzzed with speculation. But for just a little while, above the noise, above the rumors, they flew home.

Ash descended smoothly, its massive form already drawing attention long before its shadow touched the ground. Curious gazes followed from a distance, whispers spreading as the dragon circled once before landing lightly near the house.

The moment its claws touched down, Ash shrank back into its familiar, cute drake form, wings folding neatly as if nothing extraordinary had happened.

Bruce set Lily down gently.

The three of them slipped inside before the attention outside could grow any heavier.

Once Lily was settled, still buzzing with excitement and recounting the flight to Ash in rapid whispers, Bruce finally checked the time.

His expression sharpened.

“…It’s almost time.”

He handed the clothes he’d bought for Lucy to her, briefly explaining what was inside. Lucy accepted them with a small smile, clearly touched, but Bruce didn’t linger. He tapped his smart bracelet and finally opened the message Bale had sent earlier that morning.

He’d ignored it until now, back when he’d been sparring with Lily, back when time still felt unhurried.

The message contained the meeting details.

[Location: Valkrin Kingdom Main Base of the Adventurer Guild.]

Bruce’s gaze steadied.

The same place.

The guild headquarters at the far north of the Valkrin Kingdom, the same massive complex where he’d taken the VR trials.

He checked the time again.

He had only a few minutes before the meeting began.

For normal people, the mana train mobile would have been the obvious choice. But still, it would still be too slow.

Bruce had never considered it an option.

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