Hello. It has been a long time since I greeted you. With a heavy heart, I thought I would ramble a little.
Although Dark Mage is being serialized on several sites, among them, the readers of the Soem Cafe and Ranian are the most enthusiastic about criticism. And the Bookbox readers seem to have quite a knack for flooding(?), too.^^
Of course, the comments readers leave are of no small help to the development of the story. But today, out of needless worry, I would like to say a word.
I read every single comment posted on Ranian without exception. The reason I do not reply is partly due to my personality, but also because I trust the readers who answer even better than I could. However, seeing the arguments breaking out again lately in the comments section makes me feel quite saddened.
Of course, excessive criticism sometimes hurts my feelings, but I know very well that all of it is because you care for Dark Mage. As I said before, I am prepared to accept it humbly.
But from what I see, the rift in the arguments is growing too deep. Debates over a single comment intensify endlessly, and in the end there is even a tendency for them to spread into personal attacks. I am afraid that at this rate, the comments section, which was allowed only with difficulty, may be closed again.
So it is my wish that debates in the comments section be kept within reasonable limits as much as possible. Even if somewhat excessive criticism is posted, please do not confront it head-on. Everyone’s thoughts are different; I will sort out what should be filtered and accept what should be accepted on my own. (How arrogant of me?)??
And secondly, what I would like to ask of the Bookbox readers is that you refrain from flooding. A few of you truly spent tremendous effort and time leaving nearly 2,000 comments. Of course, I would like to praise that effort, but other readers do not seem to welcome it very much. I, too, think there is no need for you to go that far.
Third is the serialization time. Unless something special happens, I post around eight o’clock. I try to post regularly, but when I have work to do, I may be a little late. If I post early, it is because I am going out. Please keep that in mind.
I am determined to finish Chapter 8 before going to China, but it is not easy. The night air is cold, so everyone, please be careful not to catch a cold. That will be all.^^
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It was exactly the same as the appearance he had seen in Reitona, without the slightest difference. Looking at him, Damon frowned.
“Quite a handsome face you’ve got. I don’t know why dragons prefer the faces of handsome men.”
“Do you have some complaint about this face?”
“No, not really. Then I’ll state my business.”
Damon stared intently at Katroi’s face and continued.
“Originally, I had intended to stay in your lair for a while. But looking at the situation, that seems a little difficult.”
Katroi’s eyes widened sharply.
“You, you were going to stay in my lair?”????
“That’s right. I had something to do here... But since your lair is on top of a lake, that is no longer possible, so I suppose that is rather fortunate for you.”
“What is it that you have to do?”
“You don’t need to know. In any case, you will have to take responsibility and find us a place where we can stay here. I want two places. One where humans can live without difficulty, and one where the cold is the harshest in this region. I want you to guide us to both.”
At Damon’s incomprehensible demand, Katroi narrowed his brow.
“I cannot understand what on earth you are trying to do. At any rate, fine. Those conditions are not particularly difficult, so I will grant them. There are plenty of places where the cold is at its harshest, so there is no need to worry about that, but finding a place where humans can survive will not be so easy.”
Katroi, who had been resting his chin on his hand and thinking deeply about something, suddenly clapped his hands.
“That’s right. That place should do.”
Katroi, wearing a slight smile, looked at Damon.
“There is a large cave a little distance from here. Since lava flows beneath the cave, it should not be that cold. On top of that, there is a natural hot spring inside.”
It was welcome news, so Damon’s expression relaxed.
“Is there no danger of the lava erupting?”
“Of course not. It is a cave that has existed for a very long time, so there should be no major problems for the time being. There is one issue, though. I know that many monsters seek out the hot spring inside the cave. They do so to heal their wounds. Does that matter?”
“What sort of monsters?”
“Well, there are various kinds, but the most numerous are ice trolls. They are extremely common in this area.”
“That works out well.”
A smile appeared at the corners of Damon’s mouth. As it happened, he had already been thinking of using ice trolls to train the mercenaries. Damon believed that harsh training resembling actual combat was the best way to improve one’s skills. And if they made their lodging a place where ice trolls came of their own accord... Damon nodded without needing to think further.
“Good. We’ll choose that place. So guide us there immediately.”
“What do you intend to do with this gold?”
Katroi looked at him in bewilderment. He simply could not understand how they would move such an enormous amount of gold. Even if a lightening spell had been cast on it, it was not an amount that ten humans could carry. But Damon resolved that problem with a single simple gesture.
Ssssss.
Increcia, the treasury of space, appeared once more. The twenty tons of gold that was Katroi’s ransom were stored inside Increcia in the blink of an eye.
“How is it? Simple, isn’t it?”
Looking at Damon’s triumphant expression, Katroi silently nodded.
“That is an extremely convenient treasury. Very well. I will guide you to the place I mentioned earlier. Follow me.”
Katroi turned around without much hesitation. Even though a human he had always thought of as insignificant was ordering him about, Katroi did not feel any particular aversion. Perhaps it was because he had realized the human’s true ability. For it was the nature of dragons to readily acknowledge those who possessed ability...
A little while later, the place Katroi guided them to was exactly as he had described. The mercenaries, who had once again been reduced to a near-death state by the brief march, let out exclamations the moment they entered the cave.
“A-amazing.”
“To think there was a place like this in the northern lands, a land of extreme cold...”
The inside of the cave was unexpectedly warm. Seeing the faint geothermal heat rising from the ground, it seemed true that lava flowed beneath. Perhaps because there was a great deal of moisture, droplets of water quickly formed on the surface of the armor worn by the mercenaries. The moisture contained in the air had touched the chilled metal armor and turned directly into water droplets.
The entrance of the cave was not very large, but the inside was unexpectedly spacious. Not just ten or so people, but even a hundred could live there without difficulty... Katroi, who was watching color return to the mercenaries’ faces, tossed out a remark.
“It seems humans are quite weak against the cold. You cannot function at all in the north.”
“That’s none of your business, you lizard.”
At Damon’s curt reply, Katroi gave a bitter smile and raised a hand to point deeper into the cave.
“If you go in a little farther, there is a hot spring. But you had better be careful. This place is what the ice trolls use as a resting place... As you probably know, ice trolls are monsters that are extremely sensitive about their territory. If they find out you are here, they will attack without regard for anything, so you would do well to stay on your guard.”
“Don’t worry about it... Do you think something like ice trolls could be a threat when we’ve even caught a dragon?”
At Damon’s continuously biting tone, Katroi shook his head as though he could not be helped.
“Well, perhaps that is true. If you simply release the Death Knights you possess, it would be the worst disaster for the ice trolls... That aside, how about we restore our relationship now? I have paid the ransom, and now that we have become neighbors, there is no need for us to keep glaring at each other, is there? Let’s get along well from now on...”
At the unexpected proposal, Damon’s eyes widened.
“Get along? You and I...”
“That’s right. Though you bear a grudge against dragons, that is strictly limited to the dragons of Truebenia. I do not think there is any need for you to show hostility toward me, who had nothing whatsoever to do with the fall of Truebenia. In any case, those fellows defied the providence of the gods. The dragons of this place are not particularly pleased with their actions either.”
“.........”
“Though it has now been greatly diluted, dragons originally had a mission to walk the middle path and mediate disputes between the various races. Taking the side of one race and destroying another, as they did, is something strictly forbidden.”
Damon stared intently at Katroi’s face, as if trying to read his true intentions.
“Then, if Arcadia were invaded, may I take that to mean you would side with the humans and fight the dragons of Truebenia?”
Katroi shook his head as if to say that was not the case.
“No. Fighting fellow dragons is not permitted under any circumstances. Therefore, I do not think we can lend strength to the humans. Even if war breaks out here, we will strictly maintain neutrality.”
Hearing Katroi’s answer, Damon sneered.
“Hmph. So it really was nothing but smooth talk. Be that as it may, why are you trying so hard to improve relations with us?”
Katroi looked at Damon with profound eyes. In his pupils shone the wisdom of a dragon who had lived for ages.
“Well, it’s nothing special. Shall I say I became curious about your existence? Humans are an extremely mysterious race. Individually they are exceedingly weak, but when they gather, they become dramatically stronger. On top of that, among humans, beings as unimaginably powerful as you can appear, can’t they? I want to research the mystery of the human race.”
“Isn’t your intention to keep me close, then take the opportunity to eliminate your greatest enemy with a surprise attack?”
“Not at all. As I have already stated, dragons are a race that cannot lie. My precise intention is simply to learn about humans through you.”??
At Katroi’s repeated sincerity, Damon felt the knot in his heart loosen somewhat as well. He had come to understand that not all dragons were the same.
“Fine. If that is what you mean, I will accept your proposal. But I cannot do anything for you. Simply deal with us and figure things out for yourself. Do you understand?”
When Damon nodded, Katroi’s face brightened at once.
“You have made a good decision. Since you have allowed it, I will come by from time to time.”
“Well, do as you like...”
Thus began the strange cohabitation of a dragon and a human mercenary company. No one knew how the relationship between them would change, but for the time being, a friendly relationship had been established between them.??
There is a saying that when you wake up after sleeping, the whole world has changed. It refers precisely to a case where someone goes from being in an insignificant position to being placed in the spotlight overnight. Here, too, there was someone who had experienced such fortune.
‘How could something like this happen to me...’
The old man holding his breath as he looked at the expensive gifts placed before him was none other than the king of Carsel.
He was the king of Carsel, a tiny kingdom with a population of not even ten thousand, one of the literally countless small kingdoms that existed in Arcadia. The reason such a kingdom could exist was that the powerful nations around it had no interest in it whatsoever. Most such kingdoms were located in remote mountain regions or backwoods that were difficult for people to reach, and even if troops were mobilized and they were attacked, there would be nothing to gain. Thus the neighboring nations knew of them but simply left them alone. However, if even the slightest merit appeared, the story changed. If a gold mine was discovered, or if there was a dense forest and a neighboring country felt the need for logging, such a kingdom’s fate was to be swallowed up at once.
Karsel, one of these nameless minor kingdoms, had maintained its history for quite a long time in the remote Elysia Mountains—despite the fact that just beyond the mountains stood Tarpan, a kingdom with considerable military strength. The Kingdom of Karsel was a typical mountain kingdom. Most of its residents made their living through slash-and-burn farming and hunting, and since it had no advantages whatsoever—no mines, no dense forests—the Kingdom of Tarpan had no interest in Karsel at all. Thanks to that, the king and people of Karsel were able to live out their days in great peace. Then, one morning, an extraordinary event befell them.
“Your Majesty, if you form an alliance with our kingdom, you will no longer need to concern yourself with your kingdom’s safety. Should your nation be invaded by another country, Terbia will dispatch a great army at once in accordance with the treaty.”
“………”
The middle-aged man who continued speaking with a face full of confidence was dressed in splendid attire. It would not even be an exaggeration to say that the knights standing behind him were dressed more magnificently than the king of Karsel himself. Naturally so, for they were envoys from Terbia, one of the foremost great powers in Arcadia.
The man who had come as envoy was Duke Geliones, the prime minister of Terbia. He had been personally dispatched to Karsel in order to make up for their previous mistake. As he looked at the king of Karsel, who was deep in thought, Duke Geliones could not help but feel bitter.
‘Damn it. Normally, I would never have to bow my head to the chief of some mountain village like this……’
From the perspective of the Kingdom of Terbia, Karsel was quite literally nothing more than a village in the mountains. Ordinarily, it was a weak nation they would not even need to spare a glance for. But Karsel was no longer a kingdom that could be carelessly looked down upon. From the moment it became known throughout Arcadia that the black mage’s party was escorting the princess of Karsel, Karsel had become an existence of immeasurable importance to Terbia. Duke Geliones silently recalled the instructions of Rosimus I.
—No matter what happens, you must conclude an alliance treaty with Karsel. Only then can we seek to improve our relationship with the black mage. Judging by the situation, there must be some sort of connection between the princess of Karsel and the black mage. Otherwise, why would someone of such ability bother to guard the princess of Karsel? Since a great power like ours is voluntarily offering an alliance, the king of Karsel will have no reason to refuse. So do not spare the gifts you bring, and make every effort to gain the king of Karsel’s trust.
Recalling his mission, Duke Geliones began to persuade him in an earnest tone.
“From now on, please feel free to disregard the likes of Tarpan entirely. If even a single soldier were to cross your nation’s border, the Kingdom of Tarpan would be erased from the map of Arcadia that very day.”
Although the Kingdom of Tarpan was flaunting its power in this region, it was no match for Terbia. Even by a rough estimate, the difference in their military strength was more than tenfold.
Duke Geliones persuaded him with all his passion and sincerity, but the king of Karsel merely listened in silence, regardless of whether the duke was growing anxious or not. Meanwhile, the knights the duke had brought with him were examining every detail of the Kingdom of Karsel’s defenses. In the eyes of these elites of Terbia, Karsel was, in a word, a place that could not be considered a kingdom.
‘How could we form an alliance with a place like this……’
‘I simply cannot understand it.’
The Terbian knights frowned as they looked around at the Karsel guards lined up in disorder. In their eyes, not a single one looked like a proper soldier. None of them wore their equipment correctly, and perhaps because they had been summoned while farming, their clothes were thickly covered in dirt and straw. Their attitudes while on duty were all over the place as well. Some yawned long and lazily as if bored, some propped their spears carelessly against their shoulders as though they were too heavy, and some were even dozing off while leaning against the wall. It was something unimaginable in Terbia, which was famous for its harsh military discipline.
Terbian soldiers, most of whom were professional soldiers, devoted themselves solely to training except when eating and sleeping. Since they received sufficient pay, there was no need for them to concern themselves with anything else. But Karsel’s circumstances were different. Most of its soldiers had their own livelihoods, and since they trained only when they had free time, their proficiency could not even be compared to Terbia’s. Having roughly grasped the state of the defenses, the Terbian knights clicked their tongues inwardly.
‘Damn. Even if only we stepped in, we could clean this place up in half a day.’
‘I cannot fathom why His Majesty has taken an interest in such a useless kingdom……’
Unaware of what the knights were thinking, Duke Geliones could hardly hide his impatience. He had been certain that Karsel would bite at the bait, yet the king of Karsel was not revealing his intentions at all. The king of Karsel rested his chin on his hand and sank into deep thought. A moment later, as if he had made his decision, he raised his head with a troubled expression.
“First of all, I thank you for taking an interest in our Karsel. However, I fear forming an alliance will be difficult.”
“Y-you mean to refuse?”
Duke Geliones’s eyes widened. He had never dreamed that Karsel would refuse the alliance proposal. No matter how one looked at it, this alliance request was an obvious loss for Terbia. To begin with, even if they concluded an alliance, there was nothing they could gain from the Kingdom of Karsel; rather, Terbia would be burdened with the obligation to protect Karsel under the treaty.
Moreover, the gifts he had brought were by no means ordinary. Even by a rough estimate, he had brought gifts exceeding the Kingdom of Karsel’s annual budget, and yet the king of Karsel was refusing the alliance request…… Duke Geliones shook his head.
“I cannot understand. By forming an alliance, Karsel would suffer no loss.”
“I am sorry. We have already concluded an alliance with another nation. For that reason, I must state that I have no choice but to refuse your request.”
At the king of Karsel’s reply, Duke Geliones snapped to attention.
“W-with which nation have you formed an alliance?”
In Duke Geliones’s mind, the resolve to establish an alliance with Karsel no matter what was firmly engraved. He did not know which kingdom had formed an alliance with them, but improving relations with Karsel was something that had to be accomplished even if it meant going to war. However, when the king of Karsel’s answer followed, Duke Geliones felt all the strength leave him.
“We have formed an alliance with the Croisen Empire. Duke Pershtein, who may be called the true leader of Croisen, personally sent an envoy. And so, one month ago, we signed the treaty. We are now an allied nation of the Croisen Empire.”
“Th-the Croisen Empire, you say?”
If it was the Croisen Empire, then even Terbia would not dare covet it. Duke Geliones’s complexion had turned dark before he knew it.
‘As expected of Duke Pershtein. True to his name as the greatest strategist on the continent, he has already made his move……’
Unable to even begin to decide what to do, Duke Geliones maintained a heavy silence.