Chapter 159
The Empire's reason for implementing its non-human race extermination policy was as follows.
It was due to the theory that races other than humans were groups affected by demonic energy, no different from demonic beasts that had transformed from animals.
Among them, the Dragonkin and Beastmen were races that particularly drew their discriminatory gaze and aggression.
Their outward appearance was that of beasts, and aside from walking on two legs and using language, anyone could see they looked no different from demonic beasts.
Probably, the reason he came to find me wasn't much different either.
Like most other races.
The Empire's persecution and oppression.
And to resist the extermination of their race, or to ask for strength—that would be the story.
"Is that right."
"Looking at the results, yes. The Empire abandoned us."
"Abandoned?"
"It was a foolish choice. Beastmen were skilled at hiding their presence from birth, so the Empire wanted to use us."
Meaning they became the Empire's vanguard.
Other non-human races.
Elves, Dwarves, and Dragonkin couldn't be detected by their sensory perception, making them easy to use as scouts, and the shield of the Shield God they served was so solid and sturdy.
From the Empire's perspective, they were perfect pawns to push to the front lines.
However, as time passed and the power of the small nations and minorities that had put up fierce resistance weakened, while the Empire's power grew stronger...
"When the prey disappears, the hunting dog too becomes useless."
Meaning they were discarded.
But some barely survived and maintained their lineage until now.
"So. The story about me being a savior?"
"The Saintess said. Though disaster will descend upon the Empire's navel, the one who beheads it will be the savior who reminds us of the true meaning of the shield..."
It was then.
"These treacherous bastards...!"
Suddenly, Fillo twisted his spear and thrust it at the shield knight with a shout.
Thoom!
A dull noise rang out.
Fillo's spear was blocked by the shield.
A large kite shield.
It was blocked, but since it was deflected subtly, there seemed to be no impact at all.
'The shield is indeed a shield.'
Fillo's arm strength is second only to Aldu here.
That's due to his innate physical abilities and his race's unique muscles.
Yet the shield that blocked Fillo's spear without any particular impact, and the shield techniques that wielded it...
'Shield Knight Pupi.'
The name sounds harmless enough, but for all that, he's a character set as a named NPC.
His qualities and convictions are as solid and faithful as befitting a shield.
"How many of our kin do you think died because of you bastards! And now that you're the ones dying, you want help!? If you're the Empire's dogs, then die like dogs!"
Smash! Clang! Boom!
Fillo's attacks continued.
But all were blocked.
Blocking with a kite shield larger than his own body, and when that wasn't enough, using the small buckle on his wrist to block and deflect.
It was fitting for a race that survived using only shields.
"Hah, hah, damn it!"
Unable to contain his anger, Fillo threw down his spear and slumped to the ground.
Seeing him turn his back, it seemed his pride was quite hurt from not being able to leave a single wound on him.
'Fillo's spear art used to focus on defense, but it's changed a bit.'
It seemed the battle with Garcia had brought about some change.
But seeing the shield itself, the very embodiment of defense, wouldn't he have realized something?
What direction he should go.
"For now..."
Regardless, I had to make a decision.
The reason he came all the way here was one.
To take me with him.
"I refuse."
There wasn't much to think about.
"May I ask the reason?"
"I have no desire to be your savior. I'm not wandering the world for such grand causes. I'm already overwhelmed just handling myself and my surroundings."
That was the surface reason.
But the inside was a bit different.
'My body is not two.'
My body is one.
It would be great if I could intervene in everything, but time is limited and I only have one body.
I must make more efficient choices and produce abundant results.
For that, my choices must always be the best, and the results must be the optimal ones aligned with my purpose.
'The shields will come to Carpe anyway.'
It would be a little later, but these people would gather at Carpe anyway.
Chased out by the Empire, the places they could rely on were limited.
It's safe to say there are none.
Even in the original scenario, they were the ones who eventually lent their strength to Carpe and the small nation.
If my prediction is correct, Cedric—backed by the Gods of Authority and Horn—should be establishing his position in Carpe by now.
The Whip would be the same.
In such a state, Carpe couldn't stop another god from approaching.
Rather, they should welcome it.
Because the war with the Empire is approaching steadily.
'Even if I do nothing.'
Just giving them a verbal promise would be enough for Carpe to absorb the shields.
"Besides, I have a prior agreement."
The shield is good too, of course.
Their strength is also needed.
But there's such a thing as priority.
Besides, it was a prior agreement from the start.
"The Dwarves come first."
Aldu, who had been looking slightly uneasy, whipped his head around.
"Ooh...! Callis! How touching!"
Pushing away Aldu who was trying to cling to me, I sat back down in my chair.
It was originally mealtime.
Whether then or now, I strictly keep my meal times.
The only things I enjoy in this world are the sword and gourmet food.
"I am not asking you to help us without any conditions."
Ignoring Pupi's words, I cut the steak.
Something like a salad the Elves had brought, and bear meat that Fillo had caught and aged.
Plus the wine Aldu had prepared and the red sauce Serena had made.
It was a combination I'd been deeply into lately.
Cutting a small piece with the knife and placing it on my tongue, the rich flavor of fat and meat quality harmonized with the sour and sweet taste of the sauce. The salad I took with it enlivened the texture, and I happily savored it before refreshing my mouth with a sip of wine.
"It's a shame there's no bread."
I wanted to dip bread in the stew.
The bread that had filled my subspace inventory was already long eaten up, and bread couldn't be baked in this desolate forest.
The moment I was feeling a bit disappointed.
Swish.
Pupi held out a round piece of bread about the size of a palm.
"Thank you."
Wag wag wag.
His tail swayed.
His gaze was fixed on the steak.
Does he want to eat?
"I don't share my meals with anyone. Don't get your hopes up."
Pupi's tail stopped moving.
After finishing my meal so satisfactorily, he spoke as if he'd been waiting.
"The Saintess said. You must head to the tomb."
"Go back. My mind won't change."
The moment I was about to refuse without even listening.
"...Wait. Tomb?"
"Yes. The Fairy's Tomb."
"!!"
"!!"
"!!"
"!!"
Serena and Aldu.
Even Fillo and Callius were surprised.
But there was one more person who was surprised, and that was Ovarna.
"The Fairy's Tomb! I've never heard such a thing exists in my life. It's natural that even the existence of fairies is unfamiliar, but a tomb... How intriguing."
"You, you're still here?"
Why wasn't he leaving and still remaining here.
When I gave him a look, he instead puffed out his chest shamelessly.
"Where I am is my free will. More importantly, the Fairy's Tomb—I've never heard of it in my life. Could you explain?"
"Other than the savior, I cannot share the detailed circumstances."
"My..."
Leaving the dejected Ovarna behind, Callius pondered.
The Fairy's Tomb.
He was the only one here who knew its meaning and value.
'The Fairy's Tomb.'
He was going to refuse the Beastmen's request, but the Saintess's will was different.
No less than the Fairy's Tomb.
Besides, as a reward for catching the dragon this time, Dragon Power had entered a stable range.
Looking at the stat window, Dragon Power had grown rapidly enough to see the change.
「Stats」
Strength – 201
Agility – 186
Technique – 52
Health – 232
Faith – 110
Dragon Power - 108
It was nearly on par with Divine Power.
Of course, the purity was different so they couldn't be compared, but it was virtually equivalent to having them aligned.
The instability from before had disappeared, and the output had also increased.
But because of that, Fairy Power was the problem.
Fairy Power was still at a negligible level, not even recognized as a stat.
And just then, an opportunity to approach the Fairy's Tomb appeared.
"Callis...?"
Anxiety settled on Aldu's face.
He had a strong feeling that I might be completely swayed by the shield guy's words.
That was why he called out cautiously, but Callius didn't even flinch.
In truth, Callius even felt destiny.
With this opportunity, he could incorporate Fairy Power as a stat and greatly grow it.
Then the balance between the Sullivan-style divine arts he used and the Remnants would roughly align.
'If it's the Fairy's Tomb, he'll be there too too.'
The goblin gold coins he had only been collecting for a while.
He already had twenty of them in his possession.
He might be able to put them to use.
His interest was piqued.
"Where do I need to go?"
Aldu became dejected. But Callius didn't care.
* * *
Boom, boom.
The sound of horn instruments and the footsteps of the army created a grandiose atmosphere.
Boltan's plains.
Before the place called the Dragon's Forest, an army of a thousand and three of the Empire's Spears stood imposingly.
On their red armor and cloaks, the numbers 11, 10, and 7 were inscribed.
From the left, the 11th Spear, Bürennen.
The 10th Spear, Jollet.
And the 7th Spear, Dex.
No less than three of the Empire's Spears.
Plus a thousand elite knights.
With this level of military force, they could easily destroy a small nation.
But all of this was for one purpose alone.
To subjugate the dragon residing in Boltan.
"That fool Quilrod. They say he turned to dust from a single dragon breath?"
"He too was one of the Empire's Spears. Don't mock his death."
"But Sir Dex. Right? Unlike during the Dragon-Ma War when lesser dragons ran rampant, this was a pureblood true dragon, and he died acting all high and mighty alone."
But Dex shook his head.
"Even if it was a true dragon, it hadn't fully grown yet, and from what I heard, it was one that even fell from the sky after fighting someone. Young and injured, hiding in the forest—I suppose he thought it was worth trying. His courage is worthy of praise. A toast to Quilrod's courage."
Dex mimed raising a wine glass and toasted toward the sun hanging in the sky.
They acknowledged and respected his skill and character, but they couldn't understand that behavior at all.
"Bürennen, Jollet. Lead the knights and scatter to both sides before charging in. If a dragon breath seems like it'll come, dodge with all your might. We still don't properly know its true power yet."
"Yes!"
"Understood."
"And Bürennen. Don't look down on others. It's your bad habit."
"Quilrod was clearly beneath me."
"Even so, that doesn't mean he deserves to be looked down upon by you. Distinguish between public and private matters."
"...Understood. Let's move out."
"Charge!"
The sight of the army splitting into three and charging could safely be called a magnificent spectacle.
Their momentum pierced the sky, and the transcendents at the forefront maintained powerful strides as if they would smash the forest entirely.
However.
The dragon they had expected was not there.
The only thing there was.
"Who are you?"
A single man with hazy eyes, draped in rags.
[Ah... I want to die.]
"......!!"
It was an indescribable sensation.
Threat? Killing intent?
It wasn't such an ordinary sensation.
It was different from the pressure of facing a strong opponent—an utterly horrifying and disgustingly unpleasant sensation.
Feeling as if they were looking into a bottomless abyss, the faces of the Empire's Spears changed.
Thoughts were brief, and action was swift.
All three of the Empire's Spears launched a combined attack simultaneously.
As they thrust their spears, all three thought the same thing—an absolutely inescapable strike.
Stab stab stab!
It was a strike with enough force to cleave even dragon scales.
The three spears crossed and perfectly pierced the man's chest.
But at that moment.
Slash!!
[Why can't I die. Why!!]
Crack crack crack crack!
Slaash!!
The man's body transformed into sharp tentacles and ravaged the area.
That day.
In the Dragon's Forest, three Masters were injured and fled, and all of the nearly thousand knights became fertilizer for the forest.
Afterward. The Empire declared that the peace following the conclusion of the Dragon-Ma War had been shattered.