Chapter 302: The Sun Dragon and Cupid’s Heir (1)

The National Victory Banquet continued around him.

Music filled the Grand Aurelia Hall. Crystal chandeliers illuminated the polished floor, and thousands of awakened individuals mingled beneath the watchful eyes of security personnel.

Silas, meanwhile, had concluded. He needed to stop thinking about women for at least five minutes. Preferably ten.

Unfortunately, the universe appeared determined to make that impossible.

He sat beside Chloe, who was enjoying herself far too much after the phone call. Across the table, Alpha and Alicia were discussing something while holding hands under the tablecloth. Damien was arguing with Neil over whether the banquet food was worth the price. Emma and Rihanna were laughing at something Godfrey had said.

Everything looked peaceful.

’Finally. Peace.’

[Congratulations! You just earned the attention of the Sun Dragon!]

His smile vanished.

’You have got to be kidding me. Not this again.’

The message appeared in his vision, bright and obnoxious.

[Your status as Cupid’s Heir is just beginning.]

[Love, Like, and Lust will be your blessing and your curse.]

[Choose your women wisely.]

Silas stared at the notification.

He had seen these messages before. They had appeared when Kelvina first drew his attention, shortly before the dance that had nearly caused an international incident among the women in his life.

At the time, he had been too busy trying to survive the consequences of Chloe’s jealousy and Kelvina’s inexplicable determination to dance with him.

Now that the immediate chaos had settled, he could finally investigate.

’System.’

[Yes, Host?]

’Explain the Sun Dragon message.’

[The message has already been delivered.]

’Wonderful. I can read it. Explain what it means.’

[The Host has earned the attention of the Sun Dragon.]

Silas closed his eyes.

’I’m going to throw you into a furnace.’

[Warning: System components may be damaged by extreme heat. Such an action is not recommended.]

’That was a threat, not a maintenance request.’

[Host’s emotional condition is fluctuating.]

’And your continued existence is testing my patience.’

[Host’s emotional condition is deteriorating.]

Silas inhaled slowly and exhaled.

He was an SSS-Rank awakened individual who had survived an ancient tower, fought monsters that threatened entire cities, and punched an entity powerful enough to collapse a supernatural structure.

But somehow, his greatest enemy remained a system with the conversational skills of a broken vending machine. He opened his eyes.

’Fine. Let’s start with the obvious question. Who is the Sun Dragon?’

[Designation: Sun Dragon.]

[Classification: Individual.]

[Threat Assessment: Classified.]

[Connection to Host: Unconfirmed.]

[Current Status: Interested.]

Silas’s expression became blank.

’Interested in what?’

[Host.]

’That isn’t an answer.’

[It is the available answer.]

He rubbed his forehead.

’Is the Sun Dragon a person?’

[Affirmative.]

’Male or female?’

[Female.]

Silas slowly turned his head toward Kelvina. She was still seated with the West Town Saints Academy delegation, several tables away.

The golden-haired woman was speaking to another student, smiling politely as though she hadn’t just turned his evening into a relationship crisis. Her long braids rested neatly behind her, and her elegant outfit made her stand out even among the guests wearing expensive formal attire.

As if sensing his gaze, Kelvina looked up, and their eyes met. Her face brightened and she waved. Silas immediately looked away.

’Nope.’

Chloe noticed.

"Who are you looking at?"

"No one."

"You were looking at someone."

"I was examining the architectural design."

Chloe glanced at the chandeliers.

"Across the hall?"

"Very impressive architecture."

"Silas."

"Chloe."

She narrowed her eyes playfully.

"Is it the golden-haired woman again?"

"No."

"You’re a terrible liar."

"I’m an excellent liar. You’re just annoyingly perceptive."

Chloe laughed and leaned against his shoulder.

"Then stop giving me reasons to pay attention."

Silas said nothing, because the system had started speaking again.

[Additional information available.]

He focused on the notification.

’Finally. Give me something useful.’

[The Sun Dragon possesses a connection to the Host that exceeds ordinary interpersonal parameters.]

Silas’s smile disappeared.

’What kind of connection?’

[Unable to provide a complete explanation.]

’Why?’

[Connection remains concealed.]

’By whom?’

[Unknown.]

For the first time that evening, Silas stopped joking.

The Eye of Fate had shown him something unusual when he examined Kelvina earlier. Her attraction had registered at one hundred percent, accompanied by deep fascination and obsessive admiration.

That alone was alarming enough, but the system had also detected a hidden fate connection, and it had practically advised him to run. Silas had initially assumed the system was being dramatic. Now he wasn’t so sure.

’Is this related to the Eye of Fate?’

[Yes.]

’Can the Eye of Fate reveal the connection?’

[Your current skill level is insufficient.]

Silas stared at the message.

’Of course it is.’

[Eye of Fate: Level 1.]

[Recommended Evolution: Level 2.]

’And how do I level it up?’

[Continue interacting with fate-bound individuals.]

Silas’s gaze slowly drifted back toward Kelvina. She was no longer speaking to the student beside her. She was looking directly at him and smiling.

He turned away again.

’System, give me another method.’

[No alternative method currently available.]

’What if I avoid her?’

[The Host may attempt to avoid the Sun Dragon.]

’That sounds suspiciously like permission.’

[Success probability cannot be calculated.]

’Good enough.’

[However, avoiding a fate-bound individual may produce unforeseen consequences.]

Silas’s eye twitched.

’You really need to learn when to shut up.’

[Host’s request has been noted.]

’You didn’t note anything.’

[Correct.]

Silas nearly choked. Across the table, Chloe raised her head.

"Are you all right?"

"Perfect."

"You look like you’re fighting something."

"I am."

"What?"

"Myself."

Chloe studied him for a moment before shrugging.

"Try not to lose."

She returned to her conversation with Alicia, and Silas took the opportunity to interrogate the system further.

’Explain the Cupid’s Heir designation.’

For once, the system didn’t answer immediately. A faint shimmer passed through his vision. Then a new window appeared.

[CLASSIFIED INFORMATION DETECTED.]

[Accessing available records...]

[Access denied.]

Silas blinked.

’Excuse me?’

[Access denied.]

’I’m the host!’

[Of course.]

’Then why can’t I access my own information?’

[The requested information exceeds current authorization.]

Silas sat motionless.

He had seen plenty of restrictions in the system. Some skills were locked behind levels, others required evolution, and certain shop items were unavailable until he met specific conditions, but this was different.

The system was withholding information about its own central designation for him.

’Who authorized the restriction?’

[Origin: Your Ancestor.]

’Who created you?’

[...]

’What exactly am I supposed to be?’

[Cupid’s Heir.]

’That’s a title, not an explanation.’

[Correct.]

Silas looked toward the ceiling. He wanted to scream- he really did. Instead, he forced himself to remain calm.

There was a pattern here. The system was capable of identifying his race, evaluating his combat performance, tracking his skills, and even analyzing his relationships. It had warned him about the tower, helped him acquire resources, and provided information about abilities he had never encountered.

Yet whenever he approached the subject of its origin, the answers became vague. And now, the moment he asked about the Sun Dragon, he encountered another wall.

’Are the two connected?’

[High probability]

Silas’s fingers stopped tapping against the table. That was the first genuinely useful answer he had received.

’How high?’

[Exact probability unavailable.]

’Can you at least tell me whether the Sun Dragon is dangerous to me?’

[Physical danger: Unconfirmed.]

[Emotional danger: Elevated.]

Silas slowly lowered his head into his hands.

’I’m doomed.’