Chapter 32: The Dragon of Malice’s Delight and Theodore’s Vengeful Journey

Montoire, the City of Mazes.

It was a haven for adventurers, a dreamland where one could become rich overnight, and a proving ground for countless heroes.

A colossal magical wall encased Montoire’s sole entrance. This formidable structure served not only as a barrier against external invaders but also as a fortress preventing the maze’s monstrous beasts from breaching the outside world.

Though, such an incident hadn’t occurred in over a thousand years.

Within the walls, bustling streets teemed with life. Residents of various races, mercenaries, and adventurers moved through the lively markets. Youthful vigor and fervent passion ensured the city knew no silence, from daybreak until the dead of night.

Naturally, as the City of Mazes, everything revolved around the labyrinth itself.

In Montoire, the most revered figures were not nobles or knights, but rather the Maze Conquerors. The deeper one delved into the maze, the higher their standing within Montoire, earning respect wherever they went.

Take, for instance, a certain mercenary known as the ‘Dragon of Malice.’ Clad in heavy armor, they exuded immense deterrence with every step.

Appearing in Montoire seven years prior, they had single-handedly breached the first seventy floors of the maze in less than a year, demonstrating overwhelming individual power.

On the battlefield, they were ruthless, cold, bloody, and berserk, like a rampaging black dragon. Rumor had it that some who glimpsed the Dragon of Malice amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood were driven mad by the oppressive aura, leading to the moniker ‘Dragon of Malice.’

Now, this terrifying entity had already conquered the first ninety-nine floors, shattering Montoire’s maze-breaking record and becoming a figure of widespread admiration.

Today, the Dragon of Malice emerged from their ‘lair.’ Countless adventurer fangirls shrieked at the sight of their magnificent figure, their eyes filled with adoration, as they struck alluring poses, hoping to spend a passionate night with this hero.

Powerful, aloof, and utterly domineering, the Dragon of Malice, as always, ignored these advances. They strode purposefully down the street, while adventurers lining the path respectfully made way, fearing to even brush against this ‘evil dragon.’

The impenetrable armor inspired awe, yet it also saved their sanity from crumbling upon directly witnessing the ‘evil dragon.’

For the ‘evil dragon’ within the armor was currently… reveling!

Theresia was so exhilarated her face was contorted, her lips struggling to suppress the laughter that threatened to burst from her throat.

Maintaining her persona demanded aloofness, and aloofness precluded unrestrained howls of glee. This presented a monumental challenge to her facial muscles.

Her original purpose in coming here had been simple yet grand: merely to unravel a divine curse and, incidentally, liberate countless single dragons, whose lives were hampered by the curse, from the matrimonial grave.

However, she had never imagined Montoire would be so enthusiastic. All she had done was conquer a few dozen floors of the maze.

Yet, she was met with the fervent admiration of countless handsome men and beautiful women. Everywhere she went, food and drink were free, she was the center of attention, and praises flowed endlessly.

Consider the lovesick girls beneath her residence, for example. Each was passionately ardent, staying up all night, day after day, just to catch a glimpse of her first appearance, clamoring to bear her children.

It was fortunate she lacked the necessary ‘tools’ for such endeavors. If she possessed them… Theresia’s fantasy abruptly halted, replaced by the image of her shamelessly engaging in egg-laying activities with Theodore.

A great puff of steam escaped her body, instantly plunging Theresia into a state of profound contemplation.

‘I wonder how Theodore is doing now?’

In theory, the substantial sum of money she had given him should have been enough for Theodore to live a life of abundance, enjoying endless food, drink, and leisure for the rest of his days.

Given the speed at which humans produced offspring, he probably had a few children of his own by now.

Unable to pinpoint the exact feeling, a bold idea sparked in Theresia’s mind: ‘Should I go see him?’

‘No, what am I thinking? Has the steel dulled my wits? What’s there to see? To relive the years of being ‘steeled’?’

Theresia regained a measure of composure. According to her plan, she should have been making preparations to conquer the 100th floor of the maze.

But today, the Elf Queen had suddenly informed her that a young elf was undergoing training in Montoire and hoped Theresia would look after them, allowing them to participate in her maze conquest to foster friendship between the dragon and elf races…

She rattled on about tribal amity, but Theresia remained unconvinced. ‘Ha, it’s all hollow official speak.’

‘Did she truly think I wouldn’t understand her hidden meaning?’

‘What tribal amity? She’s just seen my rapid progress, thinks the 100th floor will yield treasure, and worries that I, a black dragon, might pocket it. So she sent an elf to keep an eye on me.’

‘And what’s this about ‘training in Montoire’? How pretentious.’

‘Who doesn’t know that this noisy, fervent, profit-driven environment is torture for elves?’

‘Honestly, where’s the basic trust between elves and dragons?’

‘Just because I’m a black dragon, they assume I’d steal the secret treasure, right? Even if a secret treasure does appear, I’d have to inspect it before returning it to the elves, wouldn’t I? Imagine the embarrassment if I handed over a fake, it could damage the friendship between our races.’

‘But it doesn’t matter. I, this black dragon, am kind-hearted. As long as they’re not after my body, everything is acceptable.’

Arriving at the designated location, she pushed open the tavern door. Her immense presence instantly drew the attention of the boisterous crowd within.

Ignoring their reverent gazes, Theresia swiftly scanned every corner of the tavern. Aside from a heap of drunken adventurers, servers, and a poverty-stricken adventurer who had collected a pile of junk and was eating the cheapest bread, there was no sign of an elf.

Elves, after all, were the undisputed center of attention wherever they went. No other reason was needed; they were beautiful, powerful, and carried an air of pure, unblemished arrogance that made one irresistibly want to defile them (these were Theresia’s depraved thoughts).

Especially in Montoire, a place almost devoid of elves.

‘Not here yet?’

Without bothering to ask, she strode directly to the innermost seat with soft cushions and sat down. Although other adventurers were already nearby, and quite formidable ones at that.

But tavern seats weren’t reserved!

However, Theresia was a very polite black dragon. Clad in her heavy armor, she plopped down onto the cushioned seat, instantly making the previously ample space feel cramped. Then, with a deep, muffled, and intimidating voice, she addressed the adventurer beside her: “I’m sitting here. No problem, right?”

The adventurer questioned beside her startled like a rabbit, their hair practically standing on end. They scattered to other seats with lightning speed, leaving behind a hasty, “Please, make yourself comfortable!”

‘Oh, honestly,’ she thought. ‘I wasn’t trying to monopolize such a large, soft seating area; I was just politely greeting them, and they reacted so strongly.’

‘This is truly… delightful!’

‘Ahahahahaha! Just like that!’

‘To be honest, with this armor, a soft cushion makes no difference, but this feeling of silently dominating others and sending them scattering a thousand miles away is simply exhilarating!’

Originally a ‘scummy dragon,’ Theresia had become even more contemptible since arriving in the strength-first City of Mazes.

‘Anyway, the Old Patriarch isn’t around, hahahaha, who can subdue me? Who can subdue me?!’

‘I am the strongest Black Dragon King in the world!’

‘Ahahahahaha!’

****

“You should be able to subdue Theresia now.”

At this moment, on a scarred islet in the distant Dragon Island sea.

A ten-meter-tall giant sat on the ground with over a dozen giant dragons.

Both the giant and the dragons were covered in wounds, yet they seemed completely unfazed.

All of this was for revenge!

For the giant dragons, it was to bury the shadows of their youth and, incidentally, give that scummy dragon’s likely future husband a good, thorough beating.

While beating Theresia herself would have been more satisfying, considering the prestige she had long established in their hearts, they had lost the courage to make a move.

For the giant, it was the price of reclaiming his manly dignity. He had to make that scummy dragon understand that he, Theodore, was not a man to be trifled with. If she dared to toy with him, he wouldn’t hesitate to toy with that scummy dragon for life.

“Brothers, I’m setting off. Is there anything else you need to remind me of before I go?”

“Yes, you must be careful of Theresia’s mouth. It’s incredibly formidable!”

Theodore looked at Dragon One, puzzled.

Dragon One spoke in a deep voice: “You generally know about our early encounters, the Thirteen Bodyguards, with Theresia. In those days, to ensure the continuation of the Black Dragon lineage, the Old Patriarch placed us, then only a little over a hundred years old, with Theresia and confined us to a small island with a barrier.”

“However, that was the beginning of a nightmare. Alas, we are brothers now, so there’s no shame in admitting it. We all got beaten, first one by one, then in groups. Theresia was unlike her brainless ancestors; she was incredibly cunning, adept at traps, schemes, and sowing discord. It was hard to believe she was only a child just over a hundred years old.”

The other brothers nodded in unison. Dragon Two sighed, looking up with his dragon claws clasped behind his back: “Yet, that wasn’t her most terrifying aspect. In theory, if it were just violence, we should have formed an adversarial relationship with her. But this dragon was incredibly skilled at manipulation, using both kindness and threats, even constantly indoctrinating us with her ideologies.”

“There was a time when we, the Thirteen Bodyguards, revered the Old Patriarch as an idol, unwavering in our loyalty to him. However, in just a year’s time, somehow, we found ourselves pledging allegiance to Theresia, determined to follow her in a magnificent coup against the Old Patriarch.”

Theodore truly hadn’t known Theresia had this side to her. His three years with Theresia had left him with the impression of her being straightforward and somewhat naive. ‘Was this the treatment reserved for the chosen?’

At once, a surge of pride swelled in Theodore’s heart, and he eagerly asked: “What happened next?”

Although he felt sorry for his thirteen dragon brothers, the more miserably they described themselves now, the more it proved to him how special Theresia considered him, and the more comfortable he felt inside. Of course, there was also a sense of guilt.

Dragon Three said bitterly: “Then, we little dragons, whose scales hadn’t even hardened, were directly suppressed by the Old Patriarch. In both martial prowess and experience, we suffered a dimension-shattering defeat. We were taken away from Theresia for a complete physical and mental overhaul, and only then did we return to being normal dragons.”

Although the thirteen brothers recounted a truly miserable experience, Theodore couldn’t help but wonder if the Old Patriarch’s heart had been the most desolate at the time.

‘I should be kinder to the old man in the future.’

‘It must have been so difficult for him.’

In a low voice, Theodore addressed his dragon brothers, whom he had befriended over the years: “Wait and see, the humiliation you’ve suffered, I will repay it in full upon that black dragon!”

“Good brother!”

The thirteen dragon claws and one large hand stacked together. At this moment, the strength and conviction of the giant dragons were all transferred to Theodore.

“We’ll take you to the teleportation array on Dragon Island! According to the latest intelligence, Theresia is still in Montoire, preparing to conquer the 100th floor of the maze. We must intercept her before she begins, or she might escape.”

“Good!”

The giant dragons carried the giant into the sky, flying towards the Dragon Island teleportation array.

As they passed an island, a massive shadow fell over a White Dragon hiding in the dense jungle, gulping down freshly squeezed fruit juice. This was Catherine, who had been sent back by the Old Patriarch to relearn her youthful knowledge.

Catherine looked up, slightly bewildered. When she saw the dozen giant dragons and a single giant, she indifferently lowered her head.

‘Oh, it seems like my kin are going out to play… wait, what’s with that giant?’

Catherine peered out, gazing into the distance. Upon seeing the giant’s face, her dragon pupils contracted.

‘Isn’t that… Theodore?!’

‘Wasn’t he discarded by Theresia? How is he with the dragons? And he’s gotten so big, almost as large as a giant dragon!’

Catherine began to ponder…

Still pondering…

Continuing to ponder…

Still continuing to ponder…

Catherine chose to abandon her thoughts and decided to let Theresia do the thinking instead.