How to Survive as a Dungeon Manager in Another World

41 – Uroboros’s Reverse Scale (2)

Elf.

A race that perished during the Forgotten Era, from the invasion of the Outer Gods.

One of the ‘Semi-Eternal’ races existing on the boundary between life and death, referring to beings sustained by the soul, not the body.

Like the dragonkin, they existed half-detached from the flow of time, a race that maintained its numbers not through breeding, but through ‘manifestation.’

‘In many ways, a race comparable to the dragonkin.’

The elves were one of the two primordial races that guarded the world alongside the dragons.

If the dragonkin were the liege lords of the *ma* (魔), then the elves were the liege lords of the *sung* (聖).

Both were transcendent beings, yet they governed different domains.

And the era when they safeguarded the world is what later generations would call the “Forgotten Age.”

In any event, the most striking characteristic of the elves is their resemblance to humans.

Unlike the dragonkin, who borrowed human form through polymorphing, the elves themselves were akin to the human archetype.

Therefore, Arkan’s misunderstanding was understandable.

Her Insight likely pierced through the fact that I was human.

But seeing as how there were too many suspicious points to simply dismiss me as a mere human, she must have suspected I was an elf, the next closest thing.

However, there were too many errors in her words.

The foremost among them:

“Elves do not possess a male form.”

“…What?”

There are no males in the elven gender.

Or, to be precise, they do not possess gender itself.

Only their form always maintains a feminine appearance.

“I’ve never heard such a thing.”

“Whether you’ve heard it or not, the truth remains unchanged.”

Arkan stared at me for a long moment, then asked as if muttering to herself.

“…Were you a woman?”

“Do I look like a woman to you?”

“No, that’s not it…”

I scanned Arkan up and down, clicked my tongue, and rose from my seat.

“Above all else, elves are eternally immortal.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“I age. I get older. Can’t you tell by how my appearance has steadily changed since I was a child?”

“…Eh?”

I shook my head and turned away.

Arkan stared intently at my departing back.

Frankly, whether she was mistaken or not, there was no particular need to correct her, but if I left it like this, the list of misunderstandings would only grow longer, like a receipt, so I had no choice.

An elf, of all things.

A race that doesn’t even appear enough to be considered anything more than a setting detail, even while reading the original novel.

“Then what are you? Don’t tell me you’re just a regular human?”

“Human. Besides, aren’t you the Grand Duke, possessor of Insight? You should be able to tell just by looking, shouldn’t you? Whether my words are false or not.”

“Wait. How do you know about Insight?”

“It’s one of the Grand Duke’s racial traits.”

“What are you? Do you know about my race?”

Ah, I shouldn’t have said that.

I spoke in a casual, nonchalant voice.

“Yes.”

“How?”

“Because I saw it. Outwardly, you appear human, but your essence is a legendary race whose very flesh is embodied magic. Golden eyes that pierce through the very nature of existence…”

I paused, choosing my words carefully, and added.

“The last of the Witch Clan on this continent.”

I narrowed my eyes, glaring at her.

Normally, with her personality, she should be throwing a fit about her identity being exposed…

“…Legendary race?”

…Is it just me, or does she seem to be enjoying this?

“Ahem, *cough*! You really know a lot, don’t you? What did you just say? Legendary race? Well, I suppose it’s not entirely wrong.”

I stared at her, dumbfounded.

Was she always this way?

I was so used to seeing her only as strict, solemn, and serious that seeing this stripped-down version of her felt rather new.

Our eyes met, and Arkan finally cleared her throat, turned her head away sharply, and glanced sideways at me.

“…But I’m not.”

“There’s no point in playing dumb.”

“I’m really not! You…if you go around spreading strange rumors, you hear me? I’m warning you?”

“You’re the one who shouldn’t even dream of spreading any false rumors about me.”

“No, but really, what is your true identity!”

“Human.”

“Hmph, as if he’s a normal human.”

Arkan, who had been grumbling for quite some time, “I can’t just use force to find out either, this is driving me mad,” finally let out a sigh that seemed to crack the earth, and muttered.

“Having a plain human as a mate would be a bit… the lifespan difference is… No, still… there’s no way he’s just a normal human…”

What on earth is he babbling about?

There was no time to waste here like this.

I needed to inspect my abilities and absorb the Uroboros’s Reverse Scale as soon as possible.

I stood still, waiting for her, but soon frowned and turned back around.

“If you have nothing more to say, I shall be going.”

“Huh? Where are you going! You need to finish explaining yourself!”

“If you follow me, I’ll disappear, regardless of being a Sovereign or not, so don’t even think about it.”

“What? Where does it say that! Sixth Sovereign!”

Ah, damn it all.

This is driving me insane.

Returning to my private chambers, I lightly washed and ate a meal, before immediately struggling to pull out the Uroboros’s Reverse Scale that I had hidden near my bed.

For a mere scale fragment, its weight was absurd in many ways, but even so, it was an object that would be central to my future use of my abilities, so I handled it with care.

I carefully stroked the surface of the scale.

The surface of the golden scale was as smooth as a mirror, and within it, minute patterns pulsed as if alive.

Though only the size of my palm, it was as heavy as a lead weight, and from the scale’s surface, a red light occasionally flashed, reminiscent of a snake’s eye, before fading away.

‘Its appearance is rather eerie.’

The Uroboros’s Reverse Scale is not a simple scale, but a living creature.

The core of the Uroboros, like its very heart.

In particular, the greatest characteristic of this Reverse Scale is its immense power of imagery and circulation; if these are woven together into a single loop, it becomes possible to establish a perpetual circulation system where imagery is automatically replenished, even when consumed.

The Ifrahsia’s Ring I had been using wasn’t very efficient, to be honest.

When not in battle, Ludine’s Heavenly Star was weak, and the amount recharged was correspondingly small.

Besides, the restriction of having to be near Ludine was one of the annoying points.

But this case is different.

The power of circulation inherent in the Reverse Scale is a kind of divine authority, and its fundamental essence is the same as the power of the runes I use.

The important point here is that the ‘rules’ of amplification and circulation even circulate and amplify the imagery that constitutes the divine authority.

‘A chance encounter only attainable in the latter half, is it…’

In many ways, it could be called a stroke of fortune.

Honestly, I hadn’t expected the spire to be connected to the Bottomless Abyss at all.

Anyway, now that I had the Reverse Scale in hand, only one thing remained.

I had to completely absorb everything contained within the Reverse Scale into my flesh.

“Hoo.”

I steeled myself and slowly raised my right palm, placing it upon the Reverse Scale.

Then, along with a humming vibration, blue light began to emanate from the rune tattoos etched beneath my right and left eyes.

The Reverse Scale’s circulating power was activating, resonating with the runes.

The Reverse Scale began to emit red light as if in a fit.

Blue and red light intersected, causing the Reverse Scale to pulsate as if alive.

Then, a torrent of surging energy, pulsating, flowed across the surface of the scale and into my palm.

“……”

As the energy permeated my palm, the first wave was felt.

At first, a light tingling, but gradually, a sensation as if a thousand needles were flowing through my veins swept through my entire body.

“Kkeueueuk…!”

My blood boiled and something deep within my muscles writhed. The sensation that began at my fingertips spread throughout my body in an instant, and the energy began to mercilessly awaken each cell.

Pain, as if every cell in my body was being wrung out one by one, enveloped my being.

At the same time, my heartbeat changed, and my nervous system expanded into a new dimension.

Like a snake endlessly chasing its tail, the energy was constantly restructuring my flesh.

“Ahheu……”

I barely managed to support my swaying body.

With bloodshot eyes, I breathed irregularly, in broken gasps.

While sweat and tears mixed and flowed, the boundary of reality crumbled.

But I had to endure.

The moment I lost consciousness, the whole process would be meaningless.

But…

“Ssibal…”

Damn it, this is too painful.

Beyond mere pain, it was an agony of a kind I couldn’t bear while sober.

Slowly, very slowly.

The dread of death creeps, a clammy hand on the nape of my neck.

“Krrraaaggh…!”

*Kwhoom—!*

My head lolls heavily, losing purchase, collapsing to the floor.

Agony floods my frame, tearing at muscle, searing nerves with a pain that sends me thrashing.

Through the haze of torment, I glimpse shattered shards of mirror.

Around pupils that are gradually losing their color, a golden aura begins to coalesce.

Consciousness grows distant.

A heat consumes my entire being, as if my very flesh were melting.

And then, just then.

“Hu-ah…!”

As though splashed with ice water, a refreshing coolness blooms from toes to crown.

The excruciating pain that had been wrenching my body starts, little by little, to subside.

And, before long, my clouded consciousness, too, begins to sharpen.

Sprawled on the floor, I stare up at the white ceiling, my entire body slick with cold sweat.

All sense of time has vanished, leaving only the stillness of my surroundings.

With a herculean effort, I reach out my right hand, parting my lips slightly to utter the familiar activation phrase.

“Acceleration.”

Unlike the usual shimmering azure, this time, a torrent of gold, the very color of my reverse scale, cuts through the air.

The golden torrent hums, gently enveloping a fly flitting about the space.

“Inversion.”

…Stopped.

Dust, air, even the flutter of the fly’s wings.

I slowly turn my head and grasp a fallen stick from the floor.

And.

“Transference.”

*Kwajik—!*

The stick in my hand pierces the fly’s torso at its center.

No, not pierces.

As if folding the space between two points in half until they touched, the stick in his hand pierced through the air, erupting into the world on the other side.

Truly, a power bordering on the divine.

Output, precision, range—an unbelievable advancement in every aspect.

The golden shimmer was once again absorbed into the tattoo beneath his eye, the spent energy slowly beginning to replenish with a soft glow.

A peculiar smile touched his lips.

“…Absolutely busted.”