Dragon's Awakening: The Duke's Son Is Changing The Plot-Chapter 100 - 99 - Misleading Names.

The wind whistled outside the carriage, brushing against the polished exterior like a gentle warning.

Inside, chaos continued.

Rufus and Jessy were arguing about cursed weapons again.

Siris was drawing squirrel cult symbols on the window with condensation.

Alex was currently trying to explain to Nibbles why his proposed "Operation Acorn Avalanche" would be revolutionary.

Nibbles, however, had curled into a ball and was actively ignoring reality.

He seemed mad at Alex for some reason.

Perhaps it was because Alex mentioned eating dried fruits from now on, and as a result, Nibbles felt his food supply being threatened.

That could be why he wasn’t talking to Alex.

But who knows? Maybe it was something else.

Then there was Raven.

He was staring out the window with a hollow expression.

Not brooding, exactly.

More like... loading.

Behind his still eyes, thoughts churned like a storm caught beneath calm waters.

’If I didn’t know that weaker demons have their souls damaged after crossing realms...’

He remembered the moment the demon spoke through Galeon’s broken mouth—its presence jagged and unstable, like a knife trying to carve its way into a soul too damaged to hold it.

That thing had been a Reaper-rank demon.

Well, a half-recovered one.

Its soul was freshly dislodged from wherever hell it crawled out of, and because of that, it couldn’t control mana properly.

That’s why it didn’t use magic.

That’s why Raven had the upper hand.

That’s why he was still breathing.

’If it had been at its full power...’

He gripped his knee, fingers tightening.

’Even with Dragonification, even with the Soul Burn—I don’t know if I would’ve won.’

He didn’t like admitting that.

He hated admitting that.

Not because he was arrogant, but because he knew what it meant.

Because if that battle had gone any differently... if he had been a second slower or weaker, or if someone else had been in his place—

They’d all be corpses right now.

Alex would’ve charged in and gotten shredded.

Jessy would’ve tried to analyze the demon and gotten possessed.

Rufus might’ve made a speech and died in the middle of it.

Siris... Siris might’ve survived, but he couldn’t be sure.

After all, even he didn’t know how strong she was right now.

All he knew about her power was that she was equal to him or weaker than him.

She wasn’t stronger.

He could perceive that much whenever he Dragonified himself.

And Lia?

Lia would’ve stood proud, tried to protect someone, and gotten ripped in half before anyone realized she wasn’t a guy.

Above all, this was their first official fight against a demon. The ones they would meet going forward would be stronger.

Raven knew that this time, the distance between him and Goddess Death was—

"—Too close," he muttered.

Jessy, mishearing him, glanced over. "What’s too close?"

"Your joke-to-cringe ratio. Dial it down."

Jessy rolled her eyes and went back to arguing with Rufus over whether magical swords should have names.

But Raven’s thoughts stayed heavy.

Glancing at his team, he thought, ’They’ve gotten stronger...’

The Soul Kiln Purification Art he had shared with them was no joke.

Even Alex had started meditating with something resembling focus. Jessy’s spell output had jumped by some percent.

Siris... Well, Siris had accidentally vaporized a boulder while testing her power last week, so it was progress.

But it wasn’t enough.

Not for what was coming.

This slow progress wouldn’t help them against the immediate threats they had to face.

Not against the plans he had.

Now that he had killed one of them and openly made himself their enemy, they would come at him in all ways they could.

They would target people around him, and he wasn’t strong enough to protect all of them.

He needed to make them stronger.

He thought of ways, recalling the cheats they were supposed to obtain, but those opportunities were discovered in the future.

The plot was moving fast. The evil was growing stronger.

All because of him, as he had changed things more than they should.

He had obtained a power he wasn’t supposed to, and to balance out the power dynamic, evil forces—the demons—grew as well.

There was nothing he could do—

—Was what he thought until something clicked.

’I can only try it...’ He thought, rubbing his temple while sighing.

The only thing he could think of was begging his divine sugar daddy—someone he talked to daily despite having a busy schedule.

It was more like he had to talk to that person, but whatever.

With another sigh, Raven willed the system to open the trade app interface.

Without looking at the other chats in the channel, Raven opened that one chat that he needed right now.

The moment he did, a message came as if the god had been waiting for him to come online.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Grandpa_Hot_Pot:

Oh, there you are, little drifting candlelight.

I was wondering when you’d speak again.

I assume you’ve been busy with your hobbies of living with the mortals?

You like watching those things, huh? Suffering? Violence? Mortal heartbreak?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Raven stared at the chat for a while, thinking about how he should proceed with this.

But he couldn’t think of anything.

This god wasn’t something he could predict.

So, he decided to go with the flow.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Raven:

Greetings, Honored One.

My apologies for not contacting you sooner. I was engaged in a battle against a lesser demon god.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Without delay, Grandpa replied.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Grandpa_Hot_Pot:

Pfft. Demons.

Back in my day, we’d crush many of those degenerates before breakfast and still complain that the tea was lukewarm.

I disintegrated an Abyssal Emperor last week.

He tried to weep his way out of death by reciting a poem about his ex.

I was so annoyed, I turned him into a romantic fog and made him haunt a swamp.

Swamp’s happier now.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

’Abyssal Emperor? Sounds powerful...’ Raven thought, wondering what kind of beings this Codger fought, but recalling how he had obliterated a sanctuary of another god before, he sighed.

’Yeah, no. I shouldn’t be surprised anymore.’

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Raven:

That... sounds deeply effective.

Your justice remains unparalleled, as always.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

While Raven said that, he inwardly wondered how he should bring up the main topic he wanted to discuss.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Grandpa_Hot_Pot:

Naturally.

Also, note that love is a waste of time.

It clouds the judgment.

Weakens the flame.

I once loved it.

It ended with a black hole and thirty-seven divine lawsuits.

Never again.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

’Huh? What?’ Raven had question marks above his head. ’Where did that come from?’

Despite talking with Grandpa for so long, Raven was still not used to his randomness.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Raven:

Understood.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

That was all he could think of as a reply.

But then, Grandpa sends another volley of messages.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Grandpa_Hot_Pot:

Now, tell me. What is it that you want to talk about?

You’re not just here to gaze longingly at my chat box, are you?

You never come online at an odd time like this.

Speak, little godling. What burden weighs on your flickering soul today?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

’What...?’ Raven was shocked.

He hadn’t said anything.

As for his inner feelings, no one could read them, so how could this codger know that there was something he wanted to say?

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Raven:

... How did you know?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Grandpa_Hot_Pot:

I just do.

Now, tell me.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Raven hesitated.

His imaginary fingers hovered over the imaginary keys.

He imagined being turned into stardust for simply phrasing something wrong.

He cleared his throat mentally.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Raven:

I have a humble request, Honored One.

If it pleases you, would you be willing to bestow upon me any divine artifacts you no longer require?

Even the discarded or broken ones would be of immense use to me.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

There was a pause.

A very, very long pause.

Raven’s eyes twitched.

Was this... divine silence?

The kind that came before spontaneous planetary extinction?

But before he could think deeply about it, the codger replied.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Grandpa_Hot_Pot:

Hmmm...

So, you are short of divinity, huh?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Raven:

... Yes.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Grandpa_Hot_Pot:

And what would you do with the divinity from selling these divine artifacts that I would give you?

Will you try to impress some sexy moon goddess or star maiden you’ve been eyeing?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Raven’s entire spine locked up.

His instincts screamed:

"SAYING YES MEANS DEATH."

He didn’t know why Grandpa hated women so much, but he was sure that "yes" wasn’t the answer he was expecting.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Raven:

I would never be so disrespectful, Honored One.

I remain committed to the Path of Flame and Clarity.

As you taught.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

There was another pause as if the codger was verifying Raven’s words, and before long, the reply came.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Grandpa_Hot_Pot:

Hmm... Good.

I’d hate to have to vaporize you during a jealous spiral.

You remind me of myself when I was young—terrified, careful, and slowly developing godlike cheekbones.

Very well. I shall give you a few scraps.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Ding!

[You have received 10 gifts.]

[Gifts from Grandpa_Hot_Pot:

1. The Toenail of Absolute Authority.

2. The Crusty Napkin of Dimensional Denial.

3. Grandpa’s Backup Dentures of Elemental Overload.

4. The Sentient Underwear of Fate Dodging.

5. The Passive-Aggressive Apron of Absolute Defense.

6. Mismatched Chopsticks of Reality Carving.

7. The Mood Swinging Teapot of Cataclysm.

8. The Indecisive Socks of Temporal Wobble.

9. The Whispering Toilet Brush of Mental Clarity.

10. Slightly Possessed Slippers of Doomsday Command.]

Raven stared at those items’ names, speechless.

He could see their description, and none of them were normal artifacts, but their names—

—Those names could make one rethink their choice about buying it.

Those artifacts were too OP for such names.

’I guess the saying that one’s trash is treasure for another.’

Yes, they were divine artifacts—something neither Raven nor anyone from his group could use.

But he never bought them to use them.

He had other plans, and he was going to implement them soon.

It was then that Grandpa’s message arrived.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Grandpa_Hot_Pot:

There. Take them.

My leftovers are better than half the Pantheon’s treasures.

Do not damage them. Especially the slippers. They have seen things.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Raven wanted to tell the codger that he wasn’t going to be the one who would use it, but he didn’t think it mattered.

These items were waste to Grandpa, and he was going to use them like treasures.

Finally, he decided to end it with a thank you.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Raven (bowing mentally):

I am deeply honored. Your generosity shall not be forgotten.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Grandpa_Hot_Pot:

Hmph.

Go now, Little Spark.

Burn bright.

And if you do meet a sexy goddess, kill her off.

If you can’t, then tell her that you’re related to me.

Or just come to me; I’ll kill her for you.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Raven exited the chat with sweat on his soul.

Back in the carriage, the others noticed the slightly glazed look in his eyes.

Jessy blinked. "You okay?"

"...Yeah," Raven said, staring at the glowing pair of squeaky slippers in his trade inventory.

In the corner, Nibbles perked up.

Somehow, the squirrel understood something. It realized that—

—Sh*t just got real.

The source of this c𝓸ntent is fr(e)𝒆novelkiss