Following that single revelation, the tables had turned.

Since he couldn't avoid the four treacherous dragons, Ashe decided not to dodge them. Instead, he began plotting how to turn the situation to his advantage.

He wasn't wrong. The foreign land invasion operation was indeed the best chance he'd had to escape recently, but he wasn't anxious. After all, the Virtual World had already guaranteed his success. It was like a professor assuring a student before an exam that they would pass. Even if they skipped a few questions, they could still pass thanks to their overall score.

Ashe had expected his status to skyrocket, rising from a one-time taunt minion to a top-priority protected prisoner. For Iger and the others, sticking close to him now would guarantee a smooth...