The Overlord of Blood and Iron

Nah, no way.

Desdemona shook her head.

Those rumors can’t be true.

Unlike dragons, the human race had always enjoyed gossiping.

Shuffle, shuffle!

Desdemona stepped away to stop eavesdropping, but she couldn’t help herself to listen a bit more.

“You actually believe that nonsense?”

“I’m serious! They say that the ancient gold dragon saved Fox Valley, the mist city!”

“Huh? Really?”

“Seems like it polymorphs into a human lord to entertain itself.”

“No way.”

“Apparently all the demi-humans already take it as a fact.”

“Is that so?”

“They even made a statue of the ancient gold dragon.”

Desdemona stopped.

Well… having at least one of my kind around would be nice.

Desdemona had a bitter smile across her face.

Maybe there was one dragon who had been hibernating without a care in the world…

The ancient gold dragon?

Polymorphing?

Desdemona only knew of one existence in Pangaea who qualified as a true dragon – herself.

In other words, she was the last and only ancient dragon around.

***

“Namo Amitabha...”

Park Sun-Ja was chanting a mantra in a temple in the Gyeonggi province in South Korea.

“Dear Buddha.”

She bowed in front of the buddha statue.

“Please help my son get married soon.”

A stranger who heard this prayer would have believed that Kang Chul-In was a lonely old bachelor. She was feeling that desperate.

Was her son bad looking?

Absolutely not!

Kang Chul-In was in fact pretty good looking. Maybe not celebrity level, but he still looked pleasant.

Moreover, not only was he the vice-president of the Galaxy Corporation (he got promoted after the Dungeon Gate incident), but he was also a four-star general in Korea.

How many men in the world could simultaneously brandish these titles? Kang Chul-In was already at the pinnacle of the social hierarchy.

Last but not least, money!

Yes, money!

He possessed an enormous amount of Galaxy Corporation stocks, which made him rich beyond imagination.

They were still rising in value, as well.

Appearance, money, and abilities.

Park Sun-Ja’s son had the three essential traits of a good man.

Kang Chul-In was indeed very good husband material!

“Son, control your temper… sigh...”

His bad temper was his only downfall.

“Hoho~! Mrs. Park, why are you sighing so much?”

“Ah, senior monk!”

Park Sun-Ja greeted the old monk.

“I apologize for sighing in front of Buddha...”

“No worries. Why would the great Buddha be angry about that? So many people have been ranting to Buddha recently that your sigh won’t be a big deal.”

“Hoho~! Senior monk, you always have a way with words.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“But to me, you are more humorous.”

“W-What do you mean?”

“Your son is about to get married, so why do you worry so much?”

“Marry? My Chul-In?”

“Yes, Mrs. Park.”

“How do you know that…?”

“I just know.”

The old monk gave a fathomless smile.

“However… you may be quite surprised, Mrs. Park.”

“Sorry?”

“You are blessed with daughter-in laws.”

“Daughter-in-laws?”

“You will know soon. Hoho! Well then, you may continue with chanting the mantra. I will take my leave...”

The old monk laughed and turned around.

“Senior monk...”

Park Sun-Ja could only stare at his fading back with a puzzled expression.

***

A few days later.

“Hu...”

Kang Chul-In let out a long sigh and stood on the magic circle that bridged Pangaea and Earth.

“Heung...”

Next to him were Ninetails, Lee Chae-Rin and Skadi Andevari.

“...”

Skadi Andevari, who came to send them off, didn’t speak a word.

She didn’t interact with Kang Chul-In much to begin with. Moreover, she had been leading a quiet life after she resigned from her Overlord position.

She had been working as a professor in the magician academy to earn her living.

“...”

Lee Chae-Rin was also silent.

Not only was she embarrassed, but she was also having mixed feelings looking at her competitors, Ninetails and Skadi.

As a Korean, she was having a difficult time swallowing the idea of polygamy.

I’m an Overlord!

Lee Chae-Rin, however, got herself together.

Mr. Chul-In is also an Overlord! I’m no ordinary woman!

That thought made her slightly more comfortable.

She was no longer an average woman, and would never have a chance to be with Kang Chul-In otherwise.

“I’m so excited to meet husband’s mother!”

Ninetails, on the other hand, was rowdy.

“Your mother will like me right? Right?”

She was a Pangaean and was confident enough to not mind Lee Chae-Rin and Skadi.

She also didn’t see a need for hostility.

“Relax sisters~!”

“Ah, ok...”

It was because she was rank one amongst Kang Chul-In’s wives.

Ninetails is their leader?

Kang Chul-In couldn’t help but smile at this sight.

There was a need to establish a pecking order after all.

Hu… Skadi aside, Lee Chae-Rin is a problem.

Kang Chul-In also didn’t find this situation entirely comfortable.

As for Skadi, she needed Kang Chul-In to protect Esmeralda. Kang Chul-In also needed the Esmeralda territory to conquer Pangaea, so their marriage was a win-win for both parties. It was a transactional relationship.

It was different for Lee Chae-Rin, however.

They knew each other even before the Great Summoning, and they mingled in various ways over a long time. To accept her as his second wife was no easy task.

Lee Chae-Rin.

Kang Chul-In glanced briefly at Lee Chae-Rin.

Yes?

She began to have shifty eyes.

Let’s talk privately.

N-Now?

Later.

Ok...

They had already signed the marriage contract, but Kang Chul-In wished to take care of Lee Chae-Rin however he could.

“Let’s go.”

Kang Chul-In activated the magic circle.

***

Seoul was extremely hot.

It was the city’s hottest weather in 100 years, and the heat island effect [1] made it worse.

“Phew, so hot.”

Even under this heat, Mrs. Park didn’t forget to water her cabbages, lettuce and chilis in her garden.

She wanted to treat her son with these fresh vegetables and pork belly when he returned.

Keeek!

At that moment.

“Mother.”

The large gate opened.

“I’m home.”

And Kang Chul-In revealed himself.

“Welcome home, dear son!”

Park Sun-Ja greeted Kang Chul-In delightfully.

“Yes, but…”

“Hmm?”

“I have a few people to introduce.”

Kang Chul-In said firmly.

“People?”

“…Yes.”

“Who are they?”

“Your daughters-in-law.”

“Ah, daughter-in-law… that’s right, daughter-in-law...”

Park Sun-Ja nodded while repeating Kang Chul-In’s words.

“So, my son is introducing me to my daughter-in-law.”

“Yes.”

“Daughter-in-law… Hmm?”

Park Sun-Ja suddenly gasped in shock.

“Daughters-in-law?!”

“Yes.”

“S-Son, you are getting married?”

“Only if you give me permission.”

“...!”

“W-wait but, daughters-in-law, not just one daughter-in-law?”

“A-As for that...”

Kang Chul-In stiffened up.

Even he had a hard time explaining this.

He was a shameless person, but to introduce two fiancées to his mother was another thing all together.

“M-Mrs. Park...”

At that moment, Lee Chae-Rin appeared and greeted Park Sun-Ja.

“Ohmo, Ms. Chae-Rin!”

“H-Have you been well?”

“Certainly! Does this mean that Ms. Chae-Rin is our Chul-In’s future wife?”

“A-As for that...”

Lee Chae-Rin couldn’t find the right words.

How could she announce that she was only one of the many future daughters-in-law?

“My greatest pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Park.”

At that instant, Ninetails appeared and gracefully greeted Park Sun-Ja.

Unlike Lee Chae-Rin who was dressed formally in business attire, Ninetails was wearing a hanbok [2]. She was extremely beautiful and gave off a mysterious vibe.

“W-Who are you, may I ask?”

Park Sun-Ja stuttered.

“Please feel free to address me comfortably~! I am Ninetails, who has promised to be my dear husband’s wife.”

“Sorry?! W-What do you mean, lady?”

“I’m your first daughter-in-law.”

“...!”

“I’m in your care!”

Park Sun-Ja immediately turned around and glared at her son.

“S-Son…?”

“…Yes, mother?”

Kang Chul-In replied with his eyes shut.

“W-What… is going on?”

“You are seeing it yourself.”

“Huh?”

“You have… two daughters-in-law.”

It was two as of now.

He didn’t even mention Skadi, who he married purely for transactional benefits.

“...!”

“The details...”

Park Sun-Ja couldn’t hear Kang Chul-In anymore.

“O-Oh my!”

She grabbed the back of her neck and collapsed in shock.

“Mother!”

Kang Chul-In quickly supported her.

“Mrs. Park!” “Mrs. Park!”

Ninetails and Lee Chae-Rin also shouted simultaneously.

***

Park Sun-Ja rested on her bed.

She had been wishing for her son to bring back a good wife, but she had never expected him to bring two.

“My son… my son is a playboy...”

Park Sun-Ja muttered with a white towel wrapped around her head.

“Two families… who knew that my son was the kind of man who makes women cry...”

It was sort of a disappointment.

Park Sun-Ja was disappointed at her son for the first time.

She had wished for Kang Chul-In to lead a happy life with the love of his life, not for him to practice polygamy.

A playboy. Father of two different families.

How could that even be possible in today’s world?

Park Sun-Ja couldn’t fathom Ninetails and Lee Chae-Rin’s intentions.

Knock, knock.

At that moment, someone knocked on her door.

“Who is it?”

Park Sun-Ja replied coldly. She assumed that it was Kang Chul-In.

However,

“Grandma~!”

It was Arshelly, her beloved granddaughter.

“I missed you, grandma!”

“Grandma is quite sick now. Come back later, my dear.”

“Heeng~! I wanna see you...”

“...”

“Do you not like Arshelly just because you are angry at daddy?”

“T-That’s not true!”

Park Sun-Ja got herself up immediately. She could never let her beloved granddaughter misunderstand.

Arshelly was innocent after all.

In fact, she was the victim of this whole fiasco, at least from Park Sun-Ja’s perspective.

“Can’t you just let me in? Sob…”

Arshelly spoke in a sulkier tone.

“T-That…!”

Park Sun-Ja wavered.

“Grandma, just me~! Please? Sob sob… I wanna see you...”

“I-I too, want to see you, my dear...”

“Heeng...”

Arshelly relentlessly let out her charm and Park Sun-Ja was constantly in a dilemma.

Just a bit more!

Arshelly grit her teeth.

“Your royal Highness, this mission can only be accomplished by you.”

She suddenly recalled Kwak-Jung’s pleads.

“His Majesty’s mother would never appreciate this situation. Because of this, his Majesty could die a lonely man...”

“I-I can’t let that happen!”

“Hehe~! Right? Then you have to persuade her no matter what!”

“Okay, I will try!”

Arshelly was Kwak Jung’s trump card to make Kang Chul-In’s marriages come true.

He believed that only Arshelly alone could persuade Park Sun-Ja.

“Can’t I enter? Please? Grandma, I just want to see you for a while! Please?”

Arshelly asked again.

“Y-You want to?”

Park Sun-Ja succumbed in the end.

I will definitely persuade grandma!

Arshelly inconspicuously clenched her fists and entered Park Sun-Ja’s room.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_heat_island

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanbok