C980
An ancient nameless castle, untouched by human hands for centuries. A woman in a white maid uniform walks among the blackened walls. She enters through a rusted iron door without hesitation, as if she is familiar with this faded place.
As the maid steps through the door, the surroundings slowly light up as if stage lights were being turned on.
Unlike the crumbling exterior walls, the interior of the castle was decorated more lavishly than the Royal Palace of Balkar. It was as if the word "splendor" had been painted on the walls.
"…"
Kubara, the maid and informant of Derus, ascended the red carpeted stairs with elegant steps to the castle's top floor. Tap, tap. She took a brief breath before knocking on the only door on the top floor.
"Come in."
Kubara counted to three after hearing the invitation, then opened the door.
A musty smell of old books wafted through the crack of the door. In front of shelves filled with unknown ancient tomes, a man sunk into a black sofa slowly lifted his gaze.
"What’s going on?"
Derus Robert. He was looking down at the world from the darkness of a tyrant, not with the eyes of a public enemy or a fugitive.
"…A problem has arisen."
Kubara knelt before Derus, lowering her eyes.
"Go on."
Derus nodded calmly, unperturbed even by the word "problem."
"Raon Zieghart has…"
"Raon?"
However, when Raon's name was mentioned, a faint ripple spread across Derus's smooth forehead.
"That bastard again?"
"Um..."
Kubara tightened her lips, feeling the aura of death emanating from Derus.
"Keep talking."
Derus closed the book he was reading, suppressing his aura of death.
"Yes. Raon Zieghart and his subordinates have completely erased the divine power that remained in the humans of Balkar."
"What…?"
He opened his eyes as if he had not expected to hear such a report.
"Is that true?"
"Yes."
Kubara nodded firmly, stating that she had seen it with her own eyes and returned.
"Tell me in detail. What did he do?"
Derus lifted the upper part of his body, separating from the sofa.
"As you know, the Five Kings kept the people exposed to Raphael's divine power in the royal capital instead of sending them back. Today, they suddenly summoned everyone, so I was waiting to see what they would do..."
Kubara continued, touching her red lips.
"They played a song for everyone in the royal capital."
She frowned, saying it was a method she had not anticipated at all.
"A song? Did you just say a song?"
Derus also frowned as if he did not understand.
"Yes. When the swordsman of the Light Wind Palace and Saint Olga ascended the tower and sang, all the humans who had been captivated by Raphael's divine power returned to normal."
Kubara nodded, saying that all of Balkar was in an uproar over that song.
"A song… It’s possible if you think about it."
Derus let out a low groan, as if it wasn't entirely impossible.
"But why did Raon Zieghart's name appear there?"
"Raon Zieghart was behind the singers. A blue aura emanating from him seemed to enhance the song."
Kubara pressed her lips together, saying it was something that couldn’t be felt without seeing it directly.
"What she says is correct."
As soon as Kubara finished speaking, a pure white dimension opened behind the bookshelf, and the Archangel Raphael appeared.
"It’s hard to believe, but all my divine power that remained in that realm has disappeared."
He nodded with the same noble appearance, not a speck of dust on him, as when he descended upon Balkar.
"Ha..."
The hand of Derus holding the book trembled slightly.
"If there was no divine power left, then the meaning of going there has disappeared."
He let out a cold laugh as if he were genuinely irritated. The ancient book in his hand began to crumble into black ashes.
"Do you know what song the humans sang?"
Raphael sent a clear gaze toward Kubara. He seemed to want to know what the song was for future reference.
"Yes. I remember it all."
Kubara nodded with her eyes downcast. To be honest, it was a strange song that was memorized even without trying.
"Tell me."
Derus also moved his hand, saying he needed to know what the song was.
"Hoo..."
Kubara did not start singing immediately but only opened her lips after taking a deep breath.
"Feeling the light shining, in the dark darkness..."
As befits Derus's informant, she recited the childish lyrics of Praise of the Demon King without showing any hesitation.
"Eh? Hmm... Ah..."
Derus also let out short groans one after another, his gaze trembling as if he were surprised by the lyrics of the song. However, he quickly realized that he should focus on the song, not the lyrics, and moved his fingers to feel the rhythm.
"What?"
Raphael's hand, with veins bulging, trembled as if he could not contain his anger while he continued the lyrics of the song.
"Did my divine power disappear because of such a trashy song?"
He expressed deep anger not for the fact that his divine power was erased, but for how childish the song that erased it was.
"That damned human!"
Raphael clenched his pure white teeth, recalling the face of Raon grinning mockingly.
"Kubara. Is that really the song?"
Derus narrowed his eyes, rubbing his freshly shaven chin.
"I’m sure."
Kubara nodded without changing her expression, despite having sung such a childish song to the end.
"The lyrics are so childish that it's ridiculous, but the flow is special. It has the rhythm of a military song layered over a song that praises the gods."
Derus nodded, immediately understanding the flow of Praise of the Demon King.
"That’s what I said."
He shook his head, looking at Raphael with his beautiful face distorted.
"Raon is more special than the celestial or demonic races."
He twisted his lips, saying they needed to be careful about Raon.
"The special aura you said was behind him must be the Authority of the Demon King. Now I understand a bit."
Derus nodded, saying he now understood why Raphael's divine power was erased.
"You seem pleased."
Raphael frowned, looking at Derus.
"Do I?"
Derus slowly raised his gaze to meet Raphael's eyes. He was clearly smiling, but within that smile, a deep and intense murderous intent was blooming.
"The Five Kings summoned neutral forces to attract their power by force. We sent you to stop that and create a favorable situation for us."
Blue flames like fireflies burned in Derus's pupils.
"That plan has completely crumbled, and your existence, which should have remained hidden, has been revealed to the world. And you say I seem pleased?"
He smiled unsettlingly, asking if that's really how he appeared.
"Hmm..."
Raphael swallowed hard, feeling the dark and damp aura of death emanating from Derus.
'Was it that much?'
He had not felt it correctly because he normally concealed his power, but now he felt an enormous aura swirling beyond his expectations. His divine power moved on its own to repel Derus's aura of death.
"Now I’m in a state of anger beyond yours."
Derus shook his head, scattering the powder fragments of the ancient book onto the floor. Blood dripped from inside his leather gloves.
"I only endure because I’ve had many experiences like this."
Derus lowered his eyebrows, saying that Raon often brought results that defied common sense.
"Didn’t you say not to kill that human?"
Raphael raised his trembling fingertips, looking at Derus. A pure white lightning bolt that seemed to burn space blossomed around him.
"I won’t go looking for him myself, but if I ever encounter him, I will kill him without fail."
Raphael vanished in white light after leaving those last words.
"It won’t be easy."
Derus waved his hand, watching the space where Raphael had disappeared.
"Because Raon Zieghart is under the protection of the flow of heaven."
He let out a faint laugh, saying it wouldn’t work now.
"Kubara."
Derus called to Kubara with a calm voice, having instantly suppressed his emotions.
"Yes."
Kubara lowered her head, feeling goosebumps rise on her skin.
"Continue gathering information about Raon Zieghart and the Light Wind Palace. Where they go, what training they do, everything."
She nodded slightly, saying to keep gathering information about Raon no matter how much money or manpower was needed.
"Understood."
Kubara said she would follow his orders and left the study. Derus removed his leather gloves after everyone had left. Perhaps because Raon had moved, much more blood than usual was flowing from his wound.
"Raon Zieghart."
Derus Robert twisted his lips upward, his blue pupils holding a massive flow.
"The day we meet again is not far off."
* * *
"It really happens all at once."
Raon let out a hollow laugh after arriving in the audience chamber of the Lord’s Mansion that he had seen before leaving for Balkar. There was a reason Chamber had confidently said she would send them to the Lord’s Mansion all at once. It seemed that spatial magic had advanced even further.
'Of course, it’s because Zieghart opened the way.'
In fact, no matter how good the teleportation magic was, they could not enter here if barrier magic was set up. This was possible now because arrangements had been made in advance with the magic tower of Zieghart.
"Disgustingly fast."
Martha swallowed hard, saying that the Dimensional Door was so convenient it was frightening.
"What kind of power is magic anyway?"
She clicked her tongue briefly, saying she couldn’t understand it.
"It’s certainly different from us martial artists."
Burren shook his head, saying that trying to understand it would only give him a headache.
"I know a little..."
Runaan blinked, saying there was a unique flow in magic.
"Don’t lie so shamelessly. You’re the dumbest among us."
Martha waved her hand, telling her to stop talking nonsense.
"But it’s true...?"
Runaan nodded calmly, saying she could really feel the flow of magic.
"Ugh..."
Krein let out a stiff groan, stretching over his head.
"Now we can finally rest a bit."
"I also needed time to organize the supplies I restocked."
Dorian chuckled, saying he needed to sort out the items he had acquired in Balkar as supplies.
"Has the meeting ended for now? When should we gather for the next mission?"
Trevin approached Raon and asked when the mission to deal with the dragon would be.
"When? What are you talking about?"
Raon frowned, looking at the swordsmen of the Light Wind Palace who had relaxed their posture.
"Shouldn’t you have heard the conversation with the Head of House just now? We need to move immediately since we have found the dragon."
He shook his head, saying it wasn’t a matter of when, but right now.
"Eh?"
"Did that 'immediately' really mean immediately?"
"Without... even resting?"
The swordsmen let out empty breaths, as if they hadn’t expected to move immediately.
"Yes. We’re leaving right now."
Raon nodded, saying they should depart soon.
"As expected of the Palace Master."
Mark Goetun smiled calmly, as if he knew this was going to happen.
"I don’t understand you guys anymore. Don’t you know our crazy Palace Master by now?"
Martha snorted, telling them to wake up.
"Yes, I knew he would move immediately..."
Runaan also nodded, saying she had expected Raon to move right away.
"Everyone prepare to go to Mirtan Village."
Raon raised a finger, saying he would give them a minute to prepare.
"Eh?"
"We’re all going together?"
"Normally only the Palace Master and the executives go to gather information."
The swordsmen of the Light Wind Palace tilted their heads at the unusual situation.
"Of course, there’s a reason."
Raon said they would understand if they came, and opened the door to the audience chamber to exit.
"Of course, it must have a purpose."
"Let’s go, let’s go quickly."
"Setting off..."
Martha, Burren, and Runaan immediately followed Raon, as if they were ready to go anywhere.
"Something, something..."
"Does it feel ominous?"
"Ugh..."
The swordsmen of the Light Wind Palace left the Lord’s Mansion with exhausted steps, as if they sensed something ominous in the smile of Raon they had known for over ten years.
* * *
They were able to reach Mirtan Village before sunset because all the Light Wind Palace rushed at full speed using footwork techniques. Clang! Clang! Raon smiled slightly upon hearing the sounds of hammers resonating in the darkening sky.
'That sound always feels good no matter when I hear it.'
The heat rising from Mirtan and the sound of the hammers strangely calmed his troubled mind. The reason he occasionally visited Mirtan under the pretext of seeing Vulcan was to listen to the sound of the masters’ hammers.
'I would like to keep listening, but there’s another reason today.'
Raon gestured to the swordsmen of the Light Wind Palace and climbed up the main road of Mirtan Village. Just as he felt the path narrowing, Vulcan's workshop at the top of the village came into view.
'They have repaired the damaged parts.'
The walls and roof of the workshop were as clean as if they were newly built. It seemed they had fixed all the places that were destroyed when Alice obtained the Blacksword Curse. Thump thump. When he knocked on the workshop door with his fist, Vulcan came out, revealing his blackened face. His cheeks were red, suggesting he had been drinking.
"I heard you were in Balkar, but you’re back already?"
Vulcan blinked, asking why he had returned so quickly.
"Master Chamber sent us back through magic."
He tilted his head, saying they were able to return quickly thanks to Chamber.
"Then it must be an important matter."
Vulcan lowered his eyebrows, as if realizing that finding the dragon was more important than he had thought.
"Yes, it is."
Raon nodded and looked inside the workshop.
"Who is the person who knows about that dragon?"
Raon licked his lips, anticipating what name would come out of Vulcan's mouth.
"Hmph, seeing your expression, you already know everything. Meet him yourself."
Vulcan chuckled and stepped out of the workshop. Behind him, Borgos, the chief of the Gray Hammer tribe with his neatly trimmed beard, waved his hand holding a jug of beer.
"It’s me."
Borgos nodded calmly. As expected from the letter, he knew information about the hidden dragon.
"But it seems you knew it would be me."
Borgos narrowed his eyes, looking at Raon.
"Yes. Because there’s no one else in Mirtan Village who knows."
Raon nodded, saying that Borgos was the only one who could know about the dragon in Mirtan Village.
"Then I can speak right away."
Borgos drank his beer, looking not only at Raon but also at the swordsmen of the Light Wind Palace behind him.
"As you humans know, dwarves are the race with the most skillful hands. We are good not only with weapons but also with jewels and gold."
He set down his beer jug, suddenly boasting about the dwarven talents.
"However, that excellent talent does not always bring light."
Borgos bit his lip, looking toward the empty air.
"Dragons love shiny things as if they were crows. Most only steal what others have, but there are some who are exceptionally vicious."
He shook his thick fingers.
"The Spear Dragon Dsiouros."
Borgos opened his lips, joining his trembling hands.
"He is an evil dragon that keeps the dwarven tribes as slaves and makes them ceaselessly create the jewels and crafts he desires."
He swallowed hard, saying that under Dsiouros, both dwarves and humans were being bred as slaves.
"That bastard considers himself a god."
Borgos bit his lip, saying that Dsiouros had already abandoned his role as a mediator.
"What a filthy bastard."
Burren bit his lip until it bled, unable to contain his anger.
"I know. There are so many pieces of trash among those lizards. No, it’s harder to find a decent one."
Martha raised her fist, saying they were a race even more despicable than humans.
"How disgusting..."
Runaan frowned deeply, saying her heart felt blackened.
"To keep dwarves and humans as slaves? We can’t let that bastard go!"
"Right. It’s no different from the Black Tower!"
"No, it’s worse! At least the bastards of the Black Tower were aware that they were committing evil acts!"
"How could a mediator do something like this..."
The swordsmen of the Light Wind Palace also shouted in anger.
"I’m glad you say that."
Raon nodded calmly, looking at the swordsmen of the Light Wind Palace.
"Of course!"
"Even if it’s a dragon, enslaving weaker races is unacceptable!"
"We must cut him down!"
The swordsmen tightened their fists, saying they must fight to save the dwarves and humans.
"Correct. Let’s fight."
Raon smiled, lightly tapping the Heavenly Drive.
"Or rather, you all will."
He crossed his arms, saying he would step aside.
"Excuse me?"
"You mean...?"
"Certainly not us?"
"Yes. This time, the dragon..."
Raon nodded calmly as if it were a picnic.
"Will be killed by you, not by me."
-
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