The unidentified square has disappeared. Thank you again and again.
I wonder if everyone has voted. I have. I’ve voted twice so far, and unfortunately, not a single candidate I
voted for has ever been elected. I wonder how it will turn out this time.
Well then…
*****************************************************************************
“Dragons can be called the most powerful living beings on the continent of Truvenia.
They possess an extraordinarily long lifespan, living easily for more than ten thousand years.”
Dugu Cheng’s mouth fell open.
“Ha! Ten thousand years? They live ridiculously long.”
“That is so. Above all, dragons possess tremendous destructive power befitting their immense bodies.
In particular, the hide covering a dragon’s outer skin can be said without exaggeration to be the strongest
of all metals that exist in this world. For that reason, here, armor coated with
Dragon Bone is considered the finest form of personal protective equipment.”
“By ‘bone,’ you mean the bones?”
“That is correct. The creature known as a dragon has hide and bones made of the same material. In the case of
comparatively young dragons, the strength of their hide is not especially great. However, dragons that have reached
a certain age have their entire skin transformed into the same substance as bone, and so there is no ordinary
method by which they can be dealt with. There is only one way to pierce that skin.
It is impossible unless one has the Aura Blade of a Sword Master.”
“Aura Blade, you say… Could that perhaps mean sword gang?”
“I do not know what it is called on your continent. Here, the Aura Blade refers to the ultimate sword art
in which a Sword Master infuses the mana he has cultivated and refined into his sword, sublimates it into a tangible force,
protecting the blade itself while allowing it to pierce anything it touches without fail,
no matter how hard that object may be. In other words, all techniques that allow one to condense mana
into a sword and give it form are collectively called Aura Blade. There is no way to pierce
a dragon’s skin other than that.”
“Hmm.”
Dugu Cheng let out a low groan. If what he said was true, then the Aura Blade seemed to refer to both sword qi
and sword gang. Of course, back when his body had been whole, he had been an expert capable of drawing out
more than three feet of gang qi in an instant. Three feet long on all ten
steel talons of his Tiger Claw, at that.
But all of that had become an old story. In his current state, not only sword gang,
even sword qi was something he could not dream of. Suddenly overcome by a sorrowful feeling,
Dugu Cheng changed the subject.
“It is truly astonishing that a creature called a dragon possesses such mighty power. In the Central Plains, of course,
there exists a being called a dragon, comparable to your dragons. But in our world, in most cases,
people simply call long-lived imugi dragons. Imugi that had undergone long years of cultivation
in order to ascend would sometimes, very occasionally, appear and throw the world into chaos.
People called those creatures evil dragons. Of course, I myself have seen a few
such evil dragons, and I have even hunted them personally. But I have never once seen
a true dragon.”
As a rule, divine dragons that could truly be called dragons never appeared in the human world
under any circumstances.
From the facts Shreheimer revealed, Dugu Cheng was able to realize that the beings called dragons were
incomparably stronger than the evil dragons he had once hunted.
‘If this man’s words are true, then even the divine dragons of legend would be weaker
than the dragons of this place. As if the existence of lowly creatures called monsters were not enough,
such fearsome beings exist here as well…’
While Dugu Cheng sank briefly into thought, Shreheimer’s words continued in his ears.
“But leaving all of that aside, what is truly frightening about dragons lies in their magic.”
“Magic?”
Since he had heard a rough explanation from Shreheimer, Dugu Cheng now had a vague grasp
of the art called magic. Considering that most of the sorcery he had learned consisted of enchantments that deceived the eye,
magic could be called an art incomparably superior to sorcery. Had not the technique
that brought him here also been magic? Dugu Cheng was already deeply curious about magic.
“Then are you saying that these dragons can use magic as well as humans?”
At those words, Shreheimer wore a bitter smile, as if finding the question absurd.
“Originally, magic was the exclusive domain of dragons.”
“……”
“Long ago, several dragons who had formed friendships with humans broke the taboo and passed down magic.
That was the beginning of the appearance of magicians in this land. Therefore, if one speaks of the originators
of magic, dragons must naturally be named.”
Dugu Cheng was dumbfounded.
“T-then you mean that with magic stolen and learned from dragons, you people have advanced
to the point of crossing dimensions?”
“That is so. Humans have an advantage distinctly different from other similar races.
It is the transmission of knowledge. In ancient times, the magicians who learned magic from dragons
compiled all the knowledge they had been taught and all they had realized themselves, then passed it on
to their own disciples. Those disciples, too, researched and improved upon the knowledge they had received,
developed it further, and then passed it on again to later generations. Through that process,
the magic of humans was able to make astonishing progress. To the point of crossing dimensions,
as you say. But even taking all of that into account, we humans are still no match
for dragons. In terms of magic, of course.”
“Truly astonishing.”
Dugu Cheng could not hide his surprise. A new world had opened before him without his knowing,
and that world possessed history and circumstances utterly different from those of the Central Plains…
As he watched Dugu Cheng shake his head from side to side, Shreheimer’s expression hardened.
“Then from now on, I shall explain the circumstances that led us to invite you here. Perhaps
experiencing it directly through a magic stone will be of help.”
The magicians of the Truvenia continent had already reached the stage where they could store human memories
inside magic stones. Through this magic, Shreheimer showed Dugu Cheng the gathering of rulers
that had taken place only a short time ago. It was the very gathering at which the decision was made
to invite a warrior from another world.
If one were to name the strongest nation in both name and reality on the continent of Truvenia, people would undoubtedly
point to the Icarotte Empire. The only empire in Truvenia, with the longest history
and, befitting that, an immense population. As its lofty reputation suggested, the capital of the Icarotte Empire,
Feldrian, was the largest city on the continent. It was the city where the greatest number of people
on the continent lived, and all the major nobles were concentrated there as well.
Feldrian’s defenses were beyond imagination. Its importance could be readily imagined from the fact
that it had not fallen even in the First Race War and the subsequent war against the Army of Darkness.
However, the reputation of that city had been shattered mercilessly not long ago. It was because of
a series of thefts that took place in the heart of Feldrian. The incident in which humankind’s most precious treasure
was stolen by the hands of dragons who had infiltrated together with a small number of orc commandos.
Of course, this matter was kept thoroughly secret from ordinary citizens. If this fact became known,
the repercussions would be beyond imagination. But silencing everyone’s mouth was impossible from the outset.
The theft of the humans’ Oath Stone was being secretly spread among the people by word of mouth.
Bang!
“How on earth are we supposed to handle this matter? Why, of all things?”
The one who clenched his fist and roared in anger was an old man with hair white as frost. From the splendid clothes
adorned with gold and silver and the crown studded with jewels, his status could easily be guessed.
Rosengart III.
The seventeenth emperor of the Icarotte Empire, and the foremost power in the human world, who had personally led
the great war against the Army of Darkness that held humanity’s fate in the balance. Even those of equal sovereign rank
did not dare raise their heads before him; he was an absolute ruler of supreme standing.
That very emperor of Icarotte was now raging like fire. The ministers standing before him
could not even breathe properly and only watched his mood.
“There is not a single one of you who handles matters properly.”
He sprang to his feet. The ends of his pure-white beard trembled, seeming to show
exactly what he was feeling at that moment. He sighed as though muttering to himself.
“Why is it that these incidents keep happening one after another during my reign?”
In the past, he had been a valiant general who personally commanded soldiers on the battlefield against the Army of Darkness.
As such, from Rosengart III there poured forth without restraint the vigor
with which he had once thundered across the battlefield.
“Did I not tell you? Did I not say to kill every person who discovered the secret
and seal their mouths?”
“B-but…”
The middle-aged minister who seemed to have just submitted the report opened his mouth cautiously,
watching the emperor’s expression.
“Among those who discovered the secret, the majority were holy knights of the Berhazel Order.
As Your Majesty knows, ecclesiastical authority is not something even imperial authority may interfere with.
There was nothing we could do.”
“Silence.”
At Rosengart III’s angry shout, the middle-aged minister flinched and closed his mouth. Seeing that,
the emperor shook his head from side to side and let out a sigh. Though he had shouted,
Rosengart III knew very well that his order had been impossible to carry out from the beginning.
“I cannot bear the sight of you. Withdraw.”
At the emperor’s rebuke, the ministers withdrew from before him with expressions of relief.
Even after they had gone, Rosengart III continued to huff and fume for some time, unable to suppress his anger.
“Damnable Order bastards. All they do is uselessly consume food…”
At that time, the conflict between the Berhazel Order and imperial authority had reached a rather serious level.
Of course, if it had been fifty years ago, even the emperor of the Icarotte Empire would not have dared
to put such words in his mouth. But the long war against the Army of Darkness had terribly weakened
ecclesiastical authority. The first reason was that Berhazel had granted no salvation
whatsoever to humanity.
By contrast, royal authority could not help but grow beyond control. The people, disappointed in Berhazel,
had instead chosen the path of loyalty to their kings. Therefore, among the current rulers,
few possessed the thorough faith in Berhazel that had existed in the past. Pride in having repelled
the Army of Darkness with their own strength, and the support of the people, were the driving forces
that allowed them to reject absolute obedience to Berhazel. Of course, Emperor Rosengart also belonged
to that category.
“The Oath Stone itself is not so important. But the symbolic meaning the Oath Stone possesses
is far more important.”
Emperor Rosengart recalled the Race War that had ended fifty years ago. Those bleak days
when they had been pushed back by the orc army in every respect. Human soldiers had barely managed
to hold out by relying on a single fortress wall. No one thought that they would be victorious.
But when the good news arrived that the enemy’s Oath Stone had been seized, they showed an attitude
entirely different from before. Every soldier, without exception, had been filled with courage
and fought against the orcs.
From that alone, the situation was clear. Though ecclesiastical authority had fallen terribly,
Berhazel still remained a spiritual pillar for the majority of the people. Those who had escaped
the yoke of ecclesiastical authority were mostly nobles or successful citizens; most commoners
and lower-ranking soldiers still had to be considered devout believers of Berhazel. Therefore,
in order to escape this crisis, they had to recover their own Oath Stone by any means necessary.
“But how are we to recover something in the clutches of dragons…”
Rosengart IV shook his head as though no answer would come. At that moment, the cautious voice of an attendant
was heard.
“Your Imperial Majesty. Preparations for the gathering have all been completed. The rulers of all the kingdoms
are gathered together and await only Your Majesty’s entrance.”
Hearing those words, Rosengart IV slowly rose. He had a duty to attend the meeting
with the rulers of the various nations, who had gathered together in order to protect humanity’s fate.
In the wide, splendidly decorated great hall, many people were gathered, murmuring among themselves. Each one
wore splendid attire; although middle-aged men were mixed in here and there, for the most part
they were elderly men advanced in years.
They were the rulers of the various kingdoms scattered across the continent of Truvenia. The supreme leaders
who governed each region had gathered in one place. Until now, they had held such a gathering only twice:
once during the Race War fifty years ago, and once during the battle against the Dark Legion ten years ago.
Aside from those occasions, there had been no reason for the rulers of each nation to come here,
to the Icarotte Empire.
But now was a time when the human world faced a desperate crisis. Only by drawing together the military forces
possessed by each kingdom could they oppose the orc race that had newly begun to stir.
In order to wage a war that would determine the survival of humankind, they were once again trying
to unite their will.
“His Imperial Majesty Rosengart IV, Emperor of the Icarotte Empire, enters.”
As the attendant’s announcement that the emperor was entering rang out, the rulers hurriedly took
their seats. Soon afterward, Rosengart IV entered the great hall together with a middle-aged man
whose eyes left a strong impression.
“It has truly been a long time since we last met. Ten years, is it?”
“That is so, Your Majesty. This is the first time I have seen you since the Dark War.”
The ruler of Dispenia, a kingdom relatively close to Icarotte, offered a respectful greeting.
Rosengart IV returned the courtesy according to form, then took his seat.
“Now then, let us begin the meeting.”
No sooner had Rosengart IV spoken than someone stepped forward and unfurled a chart.
A middle-aged man whose eyes left a strong impression. It was the very man Rosengart IV had brought in with him.