◈ Episode 266. This Is Highly Regarded by History (1)
I should have known from the social-circle setting. “The heir of a great house. In the social circles of the past, Granfell’s presence was like an oasis in the desert, or perhaps a mirage. Since he did not enjoy social gatherings, there were not many days when he showed himself. Yet on the days he appeared without warning, he would inevitably draw everyone’s attention……” Back then.
Just what in the world had I considered “cool”……?
Greatness that did not reveal itself.
Influence so immense it could not be hidden even when not displayed.
Even donations could earn you criticism.
In modern society, that was nothing but nonsense that wouldn’t fly at all. ‘And yet I named them the Four Heavenly Kings?!’ On top of that, my contradictory sense of naming came as a bonus.
I looked at the four statues moving as if alive.
Three men and one woman.
Their names surfaced in my mind. [The Golden House of Maxima] [The Forest House of Yugric] [The Valorous House of Cansel] [The Shuddering House of Akamond]
Befitting the title of Four Heavenly Kings, even their names were grandiose to the extreme.
The statues embodying the four houses bowed their heads to me.
While calling me their master!
A normal person would have felt burdened or embarrassed.
They would have done at least one of the two.
But the thickness of my iron mask was not of this world.
I spoke calmly.
“I have received your greetings.”
Even the way I spoke was truly that of some lofty person, the head of a house.
I had only just swallowed a sigh.
There was no way a personality that lived and died by procedure would stay still.
“Raise your heads.”
Raise your heads.
The reason I said that was simple.
The Four Heavenly Kings……
In other words, the reason the stone statues had not raised their heads.
Was not merely because they were greeting me.
Why else would stone statues stand tall near the mansion?
It was to protect Claudi Territory.
However, the statues had collapsed.
It meant they had failed to fulfill their duty.
As if reporting that fact, Maxima’s statue spoke.
“We do not have the right to do so.”
What do you mean, you do not have the right?
If you lot do not have the right, then what does that make me? ‘Someone is about to struggle desperately to make up for things, you know.’ How can you be more dispirited than I am?
So raise your heads.
With my prickly personality, I will not say it a third time.
“This is not your responsibility.”
“……?”
“This, too, is merely a burden I must bear.”
“……!!!!”
It was my fault.
I had truly spoken those words with pure intent. Yet the expressions of the statues as they raised their heads at my words looked far too rich for stone. As if tears might start dripping down at any moment.
Well, it hardly mattered. [Hidden Piece, Claudi Territory]
Now that the primordial evil knew its location.
There was no telling when, again, or by what sort of dirty trick, it might try to swallow Claudi Territory. Of course, as long as I existed within Claudi Territory, my commands here were absolute.
Why? Thanks to the setting that no one could defy them. ‘The problem is that I cannot simply settle down here.’
I needed sentinels to fill my absence.
From dwarves to dragons, and now even elves.
There were many forces on the Arcana Continent who would step forward and take on my requests.
But the problem, as always, was this damned pride.
Would that noble pride allow me to entrust household affairs to others? ‘In that sense, the Four Heavenly Kings……’
No, reversing the statues of the four houses had been a great gain.
Not only had magic dwelled within them.
Unlike the mansion, which had been severely damaged.
Their remains had been lying intact on the ground. That was probably why. ‘In any case, I have more work to do.’
Make Claudi great again.
In order to realize such a grand goal.
Claudi Territory, too, would have to regain its former glory.
Just like the grind-heavy training class quests I always carried around with me. It meant I would now need to cross over to the Arcana Continent frequently and manage Claudi Territory.
Still, territory management. ‘It is not actually my first time.’
I had activated the [Authority] function in the Yusra Kingdom and in Frost. The problem was that I had left most of the work in Hakuna’s and Harkon’s hands respectively, so in practice, I lacked experience. ‘If I really feel uneasy, I can get advice, but……’
Would that even happen?
Granfell had been chosen as the heir of the great Claudi family at the tender age of seven. In other words, Granfell had received all manner of heir education from the time he was seven years old.
“It is familiar work to me.”
Rebuilding Claudi Territory for Granfell, who had received gifted education.
Considering Granfell’s brilliant mind, unlike mine.
Perhaps it might be as easy as eating cold porridge.
More importantly. ‘The four houses, huh.’
Let me recall that grandiose setting once more.
I could not be certain.
But even if the Arcana Continent had been reduced to ruins, they were probably fine. Judging by the fact that no news had been heard of them until now…… Like Claudi, they seemed to exist faithfully according to the setting. ‘……
And yet I am not glad in the slightest.’
I simply do not want to meet them if possible.
The reason is simple.
Because I have absolutely no desire to be called master by the Four Heavenly Kings!
This is already more than enough.
I am saying that even my immediate destination worries me. ‘I have no choice but to go, though.’
My visits to Sisley and Claudi Territory.
They had not ended perfectly, instead becoming a new beginning……
But for now, both objectives had been settled.
This time as well, in accordance with procedure, it was time to stop by Antonium. ‘I have to meet Kichi.’
That’s right.
The imperial capital.
Antonium, where the legend of the Black Dark Dragon Lee Hoyeol must be resounding……!
Reality and the Arcana Continent were different.
Thanks to Eunaxus roaring out that Dragon Fear so loudly, the emperor and the other Arcanians would know. From the fact that I, Lee Hoyeol, was the last survivor of Akshan, to the fact that I was the legendary Black Dark Dragon!
And so.
“I will return soon.”
While being seen off by the statues.
From the very first step I took away from Claudi Territory.
I could not help but be filled with worry.
Just what sort of shame is waiting for me this time……?
*
News arrived.
“Your Majesty, the expeditionary force has discovered survivors!”
“We have retaken Holdemwood!”
“It is said that the Demon King’s Castle in the east fell last night!”
It was truly a reversal.
What had dragged the empire out of the pit of despair was a legend drifting across the continent. The Black Dark Dragon the dragons had roared about. The unbelievable news that the Black Dark Dragon had been the last survivor of Akshan.
The emperor smiled. ‘May I feel a little rewarded as well?’
During his days as crown prince.
He had hated learning oratory so much.
He had never imagined it would shine in a way like this.
Antonium.
It could not, by any means, be called peaceful.
Even the soldiers who had returned just moments ago had come back with injuries large and small. But unlike before, the faces of the people were full of vitality. It was a sight he had not seen since the demons of the Demon World appeared on the continent.
The emperor did not waste the opportunity he had been given.
No matter how great the legend was.
It was an undeniable fact that it would fade as time passed.
Moreover, the enemy was demons.
Considering their innate cruelty, they might resume their activities at any moment, as if they had never been afraid in the first place.
“Rebuilding the collapsed walls must be our top priority. Nash William, hear me. I grant you command over the imperial mages. Utilize the mages of Antonium and raise walls in the territories we have reclaimed.”
“I shall obey your command, Your Majesty.”
“I will also permit access to the imperial palace’s underground treasury.”
“……!”
The underground treasury.
At those words, the eyes of the listening retainers widened.
The items stored in the imperial palace’s underground treasury were among the finest treasures.
Not only in the empire, but across the Arcana Continent.
“You may use any potions and magical tools necessary to carry out your mission.”
It was the empire’s final bastion, something to be saved until the very end.
It was an underground treasury that had not opened even when Antonium had been in crisis.
The meaning of opening such a treasury was simple.
This was an opportunity that had to be kept alive, even if it meant revealing their last reserves.
Nash suppressed his swelling heart and said,
“I will be certain to complete the mission, Your Majesty!”
Although Nash had succeeded in leaving the palace before his respected elder brother.
He had no room in his mind to think of Bensh.
His two legs simply itched to move.
It was just as Nash was suppressing that impulse.
A cautious voice followed.
“My apologies, Your Majesty.”
“Speak.”
“Please reconsider that decision.”
“……!”
Nash’s face stiffened in an instant.
What kind of bolt from the blue was this?
Was he trying to stop me from leaving the palace?
Flash—Nash glared without realizing it.
But it was a clear misunderstanding.
To begin with, why had Antonium not fallen until now?
Because everyone had given their lives for the empire.
This, too, was an opinion from another perspective, for the sake of the empire.
The man who had spoken also understood the emperor’s intention.
But they had to be cold-headed.
The empire remained unmistakably inferior.
“Your Majesty, comprehensive reclamation and restoration in all directions is realistically impossible. At this moment, thanks to the legend of the Black Dark Dragon resounding far and wide, the demons are refraining from all activity…… But as Your Majesty knows, have the Demonic Eyes not opened once more?”
It was true.
The eyes of the demons that had vanished from the night sky for a time had begun to appear one by one.
Unlike before, their gazes were not contemptuous.
But the way their eyeballs rolled made it seem as if they were watching for an opening.
“My feelings are no different from Your Majesty’s. I, too, wish to save the empire and its people as quickly as possible. However, the more we do so, the more Antonium will instead be placed in danger.”
Antonium had already consumed many resources through its desperate resistance. The number of soldiers was not even one-tenth of what it had been when intact, and the surviving soldiers could not all be called elites either.
“Even if we raise walls with magic, it will be useless if there are no troops to defend those walls. Yet if we deploy Antonium’s forces to the reclaimed cities, then Antonium itself will sway greatly even from a small attack.”
“Hmm.”
The emperor stroked his chin.
Just as Nash was growing restless.
The final nail was driven in.
“A legend is, in the end, only a legend, Your Majesty.”
The emperor’s eyes narrowed.
Blaming the empire’s lack of ability could not be helped.
But if he was finding fault with Hoyeol, who was like a benefactor to the empire.
That was not something he could simply listen to and let pass.
The retainer bowed his head.
“The adventurer, Black Dark Dragon Lee Hoyeol—his greatness is beyond words. However, he is, in the end, an outsider. A being from a completely different world……!”
His intent was not to disparage him.
As he had said.
The man also knew very well that without Hoyeol, the empire would have collapsed long ago. He was merely saying they should look at reality coldly.
“Since the day the name of the Black Dark Dragon was cried out, the dragons have not appeared again on the Arcana Continent. The demons must have overheard Your Majesty’s proclamation, and even now, they must be thinking in their own demonic way.”
“What are they thinking?”
“Look, even the legend was nothing more than an empty rumor in the end.”
“……!”
That was right.
Even if the dragons and dwarves had declared it publicly, and even if he, the emperor himself, had proclaimed it.
If the actual existence itself was not present.
Then it was merely a drifting rumor, albeit a slightly louder one.
“As Your Majesty knows, the time Sir Hoyeol, an adventurer, can remain on the continent is extremely limited. That, too, will have no small effect on the legend being forgotten.”
Of course, even so, the legend of the Black Dark Dragon was a legend of unparalleled greatness.
But the problem was that the enemy was demons.
A race that, because they could not understand their own place, forgot even fear itself.
“…….”
It was at the moment both Nash and the emperor fell silent.
The man who had been speaking made his decision and clenched his fist.
Then, in a firm voice, he continued.
“I am not trying to deny the legend, nor am I saying we should not rebuild the empire. I merely beseech Your Majesty to consider whether we might take steps that are small, but certain.”
Nash swallowed a sigh.
It was regrettable, but his words were not without reason.
No, depending on how one looked at it, it was an extremely level-headed judgment.
The opinion that would finally turn the emperor’s heart followed.
“Your Majesty, just as we took in the residents of Dreadsen into Antonium. Is there not also a way to first accept the rescued people into Antonium? They have survived until now under the most atrocious circumstances, so they will adapt quickly even to an unfamiliar environment.”
Silence followed. ‘……
Was I, perhaps, too hasty?’
It was just as the emperor was about to break the stillness and open his mouth.
Suddenly.
“……?”
Darkness fell over the imperial palace.
In the middle of the day.
And considering the number of glass windows in Antonium’s imperial palace.
It was something that should never have been possible.
Nash flinched and muttered.
“……
Could it be them again?”
Was it the dwarves’ Iron Castle?
That was the first possibility that came to mind.
But he soon realized it was not.
No matter how enormous the dwarves’ airship was.
It was not large enough to completely cover the sun.
Then what on earth……
What could completely cover the sun in the sky?
Everyone soon learned the answer to that question.
It was.
An enormous existence that could not help but be revealed, even without revealing itself.
Even without asking to be recognized.
Even without roaring.
A one and only existence that everyone had no choice but to recognize.
“Y-Your Majesty, that is……!!”
That was right.
A legend.
No, a living, moving legend.
“How can this be?”
The Black Dark Dragon was crossing the skies above Antonium.