Radiant Dragon’s Otherworldly Reincarnation

Chapter 225. He Was Stronger Than Me (1)

‘There’s no way that guy would be satisfied with just the Flame Kingdom.’

Normally, one would think that after winning a big war, they would take a break to stabilize the country.

But Cierion’s goal was the unification of the continent.

There was no way a guy like that would rest after swallowing just one Flame Kingdom.

That childish act was probably part of a scheme to quickly stabilize the nation.

‘He’s really doing everything he can.’

Maybe guys like this are the ones who leave their names in history.

Looking back at the history of the Central Plains, those who left their names as great monarchs had this kind of aspect.

They maintained their dignity usually, but when it was truly necessary, they threw away their pride and had a tenacious obsession to do everything they could.

And most importantly….

‘I’m tied down here right now.’

Patrick was needed for the stabilization of the pioneer city, Ava.

Every day, he went outside the city and slaughtered any monsters that came within a certain area.

Of course, recently, the increased number of Elven warriors and the knights of the Schneider fiefdom were also diligently helping Patrick.

But for the big shots that were difficult for them to handle, Patrick had to step in himself.

‘Thanks to that, my combat sense has improved a bit… Tsk, what a headache.’

After pondering for a moment, Patrick said to Aron.

“I have two favors to ask of you.”

“Go ahead and say them.”

“First, please closely monitor the information on the Yusef Kingdom and inform me frequently. And please deliver a letter to Marquis Raines of the Decator Kingdom.”

“To Marquis Raines?”

“Yes. Well… I don’t know if it will work or not, but please do it for me.”

The next target of the Yusef Kingdom would most likely be the Decator Kingdom.

If that happened, Marquis Raines, as a knight, would also stand against Cierion. However….

‘Honestly, he won’t make it.’

Patrick, who had fought both of them, knew.

Marquis Raines would have a hard time winning against Cierion, let alone the attendant knight who followed him.

‘Was he called the Black Knight recently? I can’t remember his name. It was Ka… Ka something? Carnival?’

In any case, Marquis Raines had no chance of winning.

They would have to see, but unless he was incredibly lucky, the Decator Kingdom would also be defeated.

But he was a talent too precious to die there, so Patrick’s intention was to at least open a path for him to live.

“Just deliver the letter. The choice will be up to Marquis Raines.”

“Alright. I’ll do that.”

“Then I’ll be counting on you. It’s time for me to go on patrol again.”

Cierion had started to move for his ambition.

As long as he had decided to watch, he would watch as long as he didn’t cross the line.

For now, that is.

* * *

It changes with each passing day.

Although people often say this, it’s actually a metaphorical expression and not something that easily happens in reality.

Usually, that is.

But in the pioneer city of Ava, that unbelievable thing was literally being realized.

“Woooooooaaaaar! Destroy it!”

“We have to clear it all by today!”

“Oooooooh!”

The Orcs were neatly clearing the Moana River basin to complete the quota assigned by Patrick.

Seeing them clear hundreds of meters of jungle every day, it was truly changing with each passing day.

And the pioneer city of Ava itself was rapidly building residential buildings and completing the city’s infrastructure.

“5th Sage, this is our limit.”

“We need manpower reinforcement from the Tower.”

“Or at least send me, please.”

Of course, in the process, the mages were being ground down at an ultra-high intensity.

The 5th Sage soothed the mages who were on the verge of rebellion and requested manpower reinforcement from the Tower.

The 5th Sage himself wanted to run away, but he couldn’t.

That was because research materials that couldn’t be obtained anywhere else were coming in almost daily.

The Great Forest indeed.

Uncharted territory for humanity.

Rare monsters that one might not see in a lifetime were pouring out.

Each and every one of them was a research material that couldn’t be obtained even with money.

On top of that, there were the knights of the Schneider fiefdom and the Elven warrior band who were neatly clearing the vicinity of the pioneer city, Ava….

Literally everyone was being ground down to build this city.

The hardest part was that even while being ground down like this, they couldn’t say a single word of protest to Patrick.

The reason was that Patrick Schneider himself was being ground down more than anyone else.

“Wow… what is that thing?”

“It’s a variant of a wyvern.”

“Isn’t that a dragon at this point?”

“I heard it actually breathed some serious fire too.”

“And the Young Master caught this thing.”

The people of the pioneer city clicked their tongues as they looked at the black variant wyvern that Patrick had caught.

A normal wyvern was about 10 to 15 meters long, but this one looked to be over 30 meters at a glance.

On top of that, the hard-looking black scales and the protrusions on its body were evidence that this creature had survived for a long time and undergone evolution.

Patrick had sliced this thing up.

And after dragging it to the city….

“I picked this up on the way. Disassemble it and sell it to the Elbador Merchant Guild.”

He said that and then went back up to the city wall to sip on some alcohol.

The reason this city was being maintained was because Patrick was protecting the area near the city from the monsters of the Great Forest.

He usually went around bossing people about, sticking his nose in everywhere, but every day at a set time, he would go out and hunt the big shots in the vicinity.

Such days continued on and on.

The monsters of the Great Forest were so dangerous that even the world-renowned Double Dragon accumulated injuries every time he came back.

But Patrick did not rest for a single day.

And everyone in the pioneer city knew this fact, so they couldn’t feign weakness in front of Patrick.

“Ugh… My whole body aches. It aches.”

Patrick sat on the city wall and grumbled.

He had been through quite a few intense battles since being reborn, but it was the first time he had continued to fight with such high purity every day.

Each one was manageable enough, but grappling with them every day, he could no longer handle the accumulated fatigue.

If he had his way, he wanted to rest for just three days without doing anything. However….

‘Sigh, I can’t do that. This fate of mine…’

Why is it that both the Twin Dragon Sect and the Schneider fiefdom can’t function without me?

Well, of course, the current pioneering of the Great Forest is a project I initiated, but….

“Ugh, this damned cow’s fate.”

Patrick sighed and drank the strong liquor in his water bottle.

He felt like he needed the help of alcohol to shake off the fatigue in his body. And at that moment….

“If you’re not busy, come back later.”

Patrick said tiredly at the presence of someone approaching. Usually, when Patrick said this, everyone would piss off on their own, but….

“I’m not busy, but let me see my son’s face.”

“Uh. Mother?”

This person was an exception.

Ava Schneider.

His mother, Patrick’s mother, had come up to the city wall carrying a small basket.

“How did you get here, Mother…”

Patrick was slightly surprised.

She was supposed to be at the mansion in the Schneider fiefdom, but she had come all the way to this pioneer city.

“It’s been a while since I saw my son’s face, so I came. Is that not allowed?”

“Hey, who said that. You can be wherever you want to be, Mother.”

“Right?”

Ava smiled and approached Patrick, sitting down next to him.

And she opened the basket she had brought herself and said.

“April told me. That your meals have been poor lately.”

In it was a simple meal she had prepared herself.

It didn’t seem to have been made in the pioneer city.

She probably made it at the mansion in the Schneider fiefdom and carefully brought it here in the basket.

Seeing that, Patrick said for no reason.

“I’ve been eating well.”

“It seems you’ve been drinking well…”

Ava said, looking at the liquor bottles rolling around nearby. At that, Patrick laughed awkwardly and gently pushed the rolling bottles away.

No matter how great Patrick Schneider was, he couldn’t help it in front of his mother.

Ava smiled faintly and offered her son a sandwich.

“Ah, here you go…”

“Mother, my age…”

“You’re not going to eat it?”

“…….”

It’s really difficult.

Even looking back at the life of Radiant Dragon Great Master Jin Cheon, there was no one who made him feel as difficult as Ava.

In a way, neither Master nor his wife from his past life were this much.

Before the irresistible existence that was his mother, Patrick’s mouth eventually opened.

“You’re eating well. It’s a turkey ham sandwich, your favorite.”

“Yes. It’s delicious.”

“I brought some raspberry juice too. It’s your favorite, so…”

“Yes. Well…”

Mother, your son likes alcohol.

He couldn’t bring himself to say that. And strangely, the food she had made herself was delicious.

More so than the food made by any great chef.

Omm nomm nomm.

In the end, Patrick began to eat obediently.

Ava watched her son with a pleased expression.

And after the meal was finished, Patrick said.

“But why did you come all the way here? Do you have some business?”

“Didn’t I say I came to see my son? You keep asking strange questions over and over again.”

“That’s because…”

It’s because I don’t have anything particular to say and it’s awkward.

He couldn’t say that and was struggling, but Ava smiled and gently pulled him into her arms.

At her touch, Patrick naturally lay on his side, resting his head on his mother’s lap.

“Uh… Mother?”

“Stay still.”

“No, a son has a social reputation to maintain…”

“Shh.”

Patrick couldn’t dare to resist Ava’s touch as she laid her son on her lap and gently stroked his hair with her hand.

‘Ah, if anyone sees this, it’s so embarrassing.’

But he couldn’t push his mother away, so Patrick fretted for a while before eventually giving up and lying down comfortably.

The breeze from the Great Forest blowing gently feels good.

It was always a breeze that brought tension, but somehow, right now, at this moment, it feels good.

His eyes were closing without him realizing it.

Patrick gently let go of his consciousness.

* * *

He slept soundly for the first time in a long time.

He couldn’t remember the last time he had completely let go of his body and mind and rested fully.

Thanks to that, his physical condition had improved significantly.

“Are you awake?”

“Yes. I’m alright now. Mother.”

As Patrick sat up, Ava said with a smile.

“Such a grown boy, still can’t leave his mother’s embrace…”

“No, that’s because…”

You did it, Mother.

But if he said that, it would sound like a child complaining.

‘I can’t win no matter what I do. No matter what…’

To the resigned Patrick, Ava said.

“It’s about time for you to leave your mother’s embrace. Don’t you think?”

“Don’t worry. Your son will be twenty next month…”

As he was speaking, Patrick suddenly felt a chill.

It was ominous.

His senses, trained through countless real battles recently, were warning him. To get away quickly.

But Ava was faster.

“For a man to do his part, he must get married and have a family.”

“I object. That is a serious discrimination and prejudice against unmarried people.”

“…….”

“Please continue.”

I’ll say it again, mothers are difficult.

Mothers are difficult.

To an opponent against whom even his specialty of tantrums and sophistry didn’t work, Patrick said with a droop.

And Ava said….

“I liked Princess Isabella when I saw her in person. She was a good lady, too good for you.”

“Eh… well… umm… eh…. uh huh…”

“You’ll have to take responsibility for April, of course, right?”

“Why me?”

“Why you? After living with her for several years at the Academy, are you saying you won’t take responsibility?”

“No, we just lived together as roommates. Strictly speaking, our rooms were separate. I didn’t lay a single finger on her.”

Patrick protested his innocence.

But Ava was not to be trifled with.

“According to April, you saw her naked body.”

“When did I…”

Ah, come to think of it….

He saw it. Right. He saw it.

At the coming-of-age ceremony birthday, that time…

“A chaste maiden has shown her naked body to a strange man, where will she marry now? Right?”

“No, Mother, that’s…”

“Right?”

“This is a bit unfair.”

“Right?”

“If you could listen to your son a little…”

“Right?”

Patrick gradually shrank.

He’d rather have Master. Master is more comfortable.

The pressure from his mother made even the great Patrick Schneider shrivel up.

Neither the Imperial Sword Saint nor the regular army of the Kaisar Kingdom could do it, and neither could the demon race, but his mother could.

“And one more thing.”

“What now?”

“That Elven lady named Elione.”

“Mom, I’m scared of her.”

Being so desperate, the word ‘mom’ came out instead of ‘mother’. To such a Patrick, Ava said.

“Oh my, that’s perfect.”

“…….”

“I was worried that both young ladies were too soft on you.”

Young ladies? What young ladies?

Isn’t ‘young lady’ a term for an infant who can’t even walk yet?

But where does our mother have a young lady?

There shouldn’t be one.

But Ava paid no mind and said.

“A lot of Elves have come into our fiefdom. I don’t know who’s responsible, but…”

“I don’t know either. Who’s responsib… Ouch. Ouch. Mom, it hurts when you pull my sideburns.”

“Honestly, this kid… where did you learn to be so glib.”

“It really hurts. Mom. Aaaah!”

Ava looked at her son with a rare stern expression and said.

“The Elves have come into our fiefdom in droves and have started to settle down. If that’s the case, what do you think is needed for both sides to blend in well without conflict?”

“Violence?”

“…….”

“Threats?”

“…….”

My son. My son, what am I to do with you.

He was a reliable son, but his tendency to solve everything in the world by beating it up was a flaw in the diamond.

Ava embraced her son with a benevolent smile and said.

“In an alliance, there is nothing more certain than a marriage tie.”

“No, Mother, that’s…”

“Fortunately, she now holds the status of a princess of the Elven race.”

“Damn it.”

Who made Elione royalty and created this troublesome, critical situation?

‘Ah, it was me.’

It was spitting while lying on his back.

No matter what he did.

Actually, now that it’s come up, who was it that quickly picked up April knowing she had the Nine Yin Severed Meridians?

‘It was me.’

Who was it that accepted the nominal engagement with Isabella to maintain a smooth relationship with the king, knowing her situation within the royal family was not good?

‘It was me.’

The source of all chaos and misfortune in this world.

His name was Patrick Schneider.

And the karma he had thoughtlessly accumulated had now returned like this.

Ava looked at Patrick intently and said.

“Take responsibility.”

“No, that’s, that…”

“…….”

This isn’t right, this is troublesome.

Patrick eventually closed his eyes tightly and said.

“Mother, as you can see, I’m a bit busy right now. No, actually, I’m very busy.”

“…….”

“If I don’t go out every day and wipe out the monsters, countless blood will be shed in this pioneer city. And if the pioneer city falls, our fiefdom will go back to how it was.”

“…….”

“Marriage is something… I might do someday. I don’t know, but at least now is not the time.”

“Kids who postpone marriage always say things like that…”

“No, really, now is not the time. For real.”

“Hmmm…”

“I’ll do it later. Later. I promise I’ll do it when the pioneer city development is complete.”

“Will you really do it?”

“Yes. I’ll really do it. Do I look like the kind of guy who goes back on his word so cheaply?”

“You do.”

How did she know?

But Patrick put on a thick-skinned face.

He could deal with future matters in the future, what did it matter now?

“Hahaha. Mother, your son is Double Dragon. The winner of Arcana, a genius swordsman who is always mentioned when discussing the strongest on the continent.”

“But that has nothing to do with character, does it?”

Why is she so unnecessarily sharp?

Patrick pounded his chest and said.

“It means I value honor that much.”

“Hmm…”

“Three years, I will definitely get married within three years at the latest. So for now, please wait a little.”

“Yes. I see.”

As Ava made a face as if she understood, Patrick’s face also brightened.

And that brightened face crumpled when Ava took out a small crystal ball.

“Mother, that is….”

[Three years, I will definitely get married within three years at the latest. So for now, please wait a little.]

From the crystal ball, the words Patrick had just said flowed out exactly as they were.

Ava put away the crystal ball with a satisfied face and said.

“The mages really do make some amazing things.”

“…Those rotten bastards.”

“My son, you will keep the promise you made to your mother, right?”

“…….”

“Then I’ll take it as such and go back.”

Watching Ava turn back with a smile, Patrick slumped down.

He’d been had.

Completely….