Overlord: Does The Sleeping Dragon Dream Of A New World?

Chapter 5: Dragon's Dream (3)

Evileye quickly got dressed, checked to make sure her mask wasn't crooked, pulled her hood snugly over it, and muttered "Ah~ Ah~" to confirm that the voice-altering magic was functioning properly.

As Lakyus had warned, she was indeed the last to arrive. Blaming herself for the delay, she hastened her steps.

"Kept you waiting?"

"Honestly! If we're late, I'm putting all the blame on you, Evileye!"

She pushed open the inn's front door and hopped onto the carriage waiting just outside. The first thing she saw were bright, healthy green eyes and soft pink lips.

But most eye-catching of all was the cascade of golden hair coiled neatly and draped over both shoulders.

Lakyus Alvein Dale Aindra—leader of the adamantite-ranked adventurer party Blue Roses, heir to a magic sword, and one of the few people in the party Evileye felt close to, second only to Gagaran. Once a noble lady, she had been inspired by her uncle's tales of adventure and thrown herself into the path of an adventurer. Years later, she had risen to become one of the realm's top-tier adventurers.

"What were you doing? Everyone's been waiting."

"You're late."

"Very late."

Her reprimand was echoed in different tones by the party's twin assassins—Tia and Tina, the slender blonde sisters.

From the side, the towering and muscular Gagaran—whose build was so burly that people often mistook her for a man—chuckled, her hefty frame shaking with amusement.

"Well, we can forgive being a little late. But we should hurry. Even if we're not technically late, arriving exactly on time when you're the invited guest is still kind of rude. I don't like being summoned like we're subordinates, but… given their position, we'll just deal with it."

"Same rank… but treated like nobles."

"Special treatment. So unfair…"

"Alright then! Let's move out!"

With Lakyus's spirited command, the carriage began to roll forward.

Clatter, clatter—the carriage set off toward the mansion where Dragon's Dream was waiting.

A meeting between adamantite-ranked adventurer parties—depending on the context, it could mean the movement of power on a national scale.

And great power always draws attention.

In the shadows, unseen eyes watched the carriage closely—then began to follow its path.

To understand what it means to be an adamantite-ranked adventurer, one must first understand what it means to be an adventurer in the first place.

Put simply: adventurers are hired hands who take on paid commissions.

Delving into the details would require covering the history of the Adventurer's Guild, how the current system was established, and more—but at its core, that's the job.

The Guild connects clients with adventurers, and the adventurers carry out the tasks for a reward.

But they're more than just errand-runners.

They might start with simple chores—cleaning, deliveries, escort duties, or even travel guidance—but they're also the ones who hunt monsters, explore dungeons and forbidden lands, and collect rare herbs or materials.

Dangerous and unpredictable work.

The reason for this wide range of tasks?

Rank.

The more dangerous or valuable the request, the higher the risk—and the more trust required.

From Copper to Adamantite, adventurer ranks are named after minerals, and each step up represents a vast leap in power and prestige.

Naturally, that also means a dramatic difference in the kind of requests they receive—and how they're treated.

A Copper-ranked adventurer tasked with clearing goblins doesn't get the same treatment as a Platinum-ranked one who slays calamity-class monsters.

The difference between those ranks is almost as vast as the gap between commoners and nobles.

At the very summit of all adventurers stood those known as the Adamantite-ranked—named after the strongest mythical metal.

But even among these legends, there existed those of a class entirely their own.

The Adamantite-ranked adventurer party: Dragon's Dream.

Not simply a team, but an adventurer clan, passed down through generations—an anomaly in the world of adventurers.

Their influence transcended borders, extending its reach across the entire world, their legacy nearly as long as that of the Adventurer's Guild itself, which was born out of the chaos following the Evil Deities War over two centuries ago.

Around 150 years ago, a man who called himself the Dragon Priest, Drake El Dragondream, first raised the banner of Dragon's Dream.

In a world plagued by monsters and war, he and his party carved out their legend—slaying beasts, establishing towns, conquering dungeons, and vanquishing evil.

One by one, they racked up feats that elevated their status to something even sovereign powers dared not challenge.

Their overwhelming might caught the eye not just of nobles, but entire nations.

Some rulers attempted to win their loyalty with titles and lands—but Dragon's Dream made one thing clear: they could be hired, never ruled.

This stance elevated the position of adventurers worldwide, reshaping the perception of their freedom and purpose.

"No matter how vast your authority, no ruler may chain the freedom of an adventurer!"

This declaration shattered the old view of adventurers as nothing more than errand-runners and mercenaries.

Furious, some nobles resorted to clandestine assassins, mercenary guilds, and shadowy figures known as "walkers" to eliminate Dragon's Dream.

They failed.

Because Dragon's Dream was strong.

And their founder—the Dragon Priest—was terrifyingly powerful.

Whispers from that era claim that had the Dragon Priest chosen to raise a flag and found a kingdom rather than live as an adventurer, he could have birthed a nation far greater than any that exists today.

After several failed assassination attempts, "accidents" began occurring—whole noble houses wiped from existence, even a minor kingdom erased overnight.

From that point on, Dragon's Dream was recognized as a paramilitary force independent of any nation, a rare group whose might could rival entire states.

Even those hailed as heirs to heroism could not break their dominion.

Yet not even heroes escape the march of time. When the Dragon Priest passed and his heir succeeded him as the second Clan Master, many questioned whether a clan born from one man's strength could endure.

That doubt was swiftly silenced.

The second Clan Master, Lion El Dragondream, was said to have surpassed even his mythic predecessor.

He ventured beyond the domain of heroes into the realm of anomalies—those few whose power defied all understanding.

During the Great Invasion, when monsters poured out of the Azerlisia Mountains and threatened the Re-Estize Kingdom, it was Lion—wielding the clan's legendary relic, the True Dragonblade—who alone slew hundreds of beasts.

Among them were several with a Threat Level over 100, and even a few rare Dragon-kin classified as uniquely hazardous.

His power far outshined the so-called heroes of his day.

Even now, 150 years later, bards still sing of his deeds in the ballad "The Song of the Lion King", a tavern staple known across the continent.

And the legend continued.

Each generation, Dragon's Dream produced warriors who surpassed even the standard of heroes.

Though its regular members were formidable, the Clan Masters were always exceptional—building legacies worthy of the name.

Some ballads claim the clan descends from the bloodline of ancient Dragon Kings, and many believe it.

With such power, not even kings dared provoke them.

When Fluder Paradyne, the Empire's Grand Sorcerer and a 6th-tier spellcaster considered an anomaly in his own right, was compared to the strength of an entire imperial army—some whispered that Dragon's Dream, as a single clan, might surpass even that.

In the modern age—where most human heroes have faded, and demi-humans and beastkin now dominate the continent—Dragon's Dream remains an unshakable presence, always named when discussing the continent's mightiest.

And yet, curiously, they never sought expansion.

Despite their power being sufficient to build a kingdom, they never extended beyond their main house and a few branch families.

Thus, while every nation kept a cautious eye on them, none felt a need for open hostility.

It was no wonder that adventurers looked upon Dragon's Dream with awe and reverence—much like common folk gaze upon legendary heroes.

They were the embodiment of the ideal adventurer: never clinging to power or titles, never greedy for more than needed, and always willing to throw themselves into the most perilous of quests. Their path was one of pure conviction.

And so, adventurers called them—with deep respect—

"The Great House."

Because of this, Dragon's Dream was regarded as an entity beyond class or status—equally revered by peasants, nobles, and even royalty.

To call them living history would not be an exaggeration; after all, they had walked alongside the Adventurer's Guild for over a century.

Even among other Adamantite-ranked adventurers, Dragon's Dream stood apart—honored with special treatment that went beyond recognition. They were a class unto themselves.

In fact, in some kingdoms, they were treated with the same esteem as royal bloodlines.

One famous tale recounts a princess of the Dragon Kingdom who, claiming shared draconic heritage, publicly proposed to the current Clan Head of Dragon's Dream.

Allegedly, after being turned down, she ran away from home in heartbreak—a rumor likely born from the imaginations of gossipmongers.

But such was the company Blue Rose was now preparing to meet.

Though also Adamantite-ranked, they were mere newcomers; Dragon's Dream had built a legacy of more than a hundred years.

Rumor had it that every time a new Guildmaster took office, they would personally visit the Dragon's Dream estate to pay respects to the Clan Head.

While Blue Rose had crossed paths with members of the Great House before, this was the first time they had been formally invited to their estate—and the first time they would meet the current Clan Head.

This was a man so notoriously elusive that he wouldn't attend even state ceremonies when invited by the king himself, citing them as "a bother."

So naturally, nerves were high.

Not long after, the carriage rolled to a stop, and Blue Rose found themselves face-to-face with an awe-inspiring sight.

It wasn't quite a palace—but the sprawling estate before them could have been mistaken for a fortress.

Towering stone walls and architectural majesty exuded a quiet, imposing authority.

This was the ancestral home of Dragon's Dream, nestled just outside Re-Estize's royal capital.

Why, many wondered, would the Great House choose to settle in a minor kingdom, rather than within the borders of a mighty empire or the Holy Kingdom?

The official answer, supposedly given by Dragon's Dream, was that "the kingdom's weak monarchy and strong adventurer culture made it a comfortable place to live." Of course, few actually believed that.

After all, even the Emperor of the Empire wouldn't dare lay a hand on the Great House.

As Blue Rose passed through the towering gates and down the ornate corridors, their eyes were drawn to the crimson carpets, classical paintings, and lavish displays of fine artifacts.

Some of these works would be rarities even in a royal treasury—but here, they were simply part of the decor.

Lakyus, herself born of nobility, could tell at a glance: most were undoubtedly authentic.

A Great House with a century and a half of history…

She mused that, compared to the frequent thefts, civil unrest, and fires that plagued royal palaces, this place might actually be safer.

Before they realized it, they had arrived at the reception hall.

A massive, rectangular table dominated the space. And rising to greet them from behind it—

—was a towering man, whose very presence welcomed them.

------------------

If you want to read 10 advance chapters ahead.

Go to my patreon: patreon.com/Vanity01