Chapter 189
Past Carpe, past the Grand Duchy, past the Empire at the center of the continent, to the northwest.
Where the North Sea and the West Sea meet, there lies an island hidden among the mists.
Its name is Laperion. The stronghold of Kracion.
At its center stands a building that looks like a dragon craning its neck upward.
Above it stood two people.
"Do you know why such a lighthouse imitating a dragon was built in Laperion?"
An old eccentric holding a staff with a long beard trailing down spoke to his disciple beside him.
"To avoid the eyes of others."
There are those who do not believe in the existence of dragons, but there are more who do.
People are not ignorant of the tales of the heroes who brought peace to the continent.
While not a few revere dragons and treat them as gods, the dominant instinct of most people is to avoid dragons when they see them.
A being that has occupied the top of the food chain since ancient times.
Humans instinctively avoid dragons.
"That's precisely why, isn't it? There's nothing good about Kracion standing out."
"Yes, that's right."
The dragon head hidden by mist.
Those who accidentally set foot here would be startled by the dragon's head and flee, and those with competitive spirit who entered would end up dying or being driven out instead.
"I heard fishermen nearby even call Laperion a dragon's nest."
Laughing hollowly, Ramatu's eyes narrowed into thin slits.
Above the dragon head.
Suddenly, scraps of paper gathered together.
They soon formed a human shape and bowed its head.
"Ramatu. You were here."
"What is the matter, Walcom."
"Politan was killed."
"What? Politan? That Politan? Did he really die...?"
It was a look of utter disbelief.
Who was that Politan?
Was he not a young man who held outstanding influence even among Kracion's factions?
Not only was his ability exceptional, but his ambition soared high, and with a cunning side like a snake, he was skilled at deceiving people—a strong man who wouldn't die easily!
And that Politan died?
Cocoon Politan?
"I can't believe it. And in the north of all places? Something must have gone wrong. Was it trolls? Or fairies?"
At Ramatu's questioning as if he couldn't believe it, the man called Walcom answered.
"By the master of the north."
"The master of the north? That brat Elberton? Surely not!"
They had perfectly analyzed their forces.
Elberton's level had been clearly revealed in the previous war.
He had left two or three walls before the Master's threshold.
He was no match for Politan.
Archbishop Politan was a strong man who wouldn't easily fall even if his opponent was a Master.
There was no way he was killed by mere Elberton.
When Walcom shook his head at the questioning Ramatu and spoke a name with four characters, he immediately flew into a rage.
That name was.
"Kalias!! That bastard has returned!! And he's interfering with us again...! Ugh, urgh!"
"Master! Are you alright!"
The disciple and Walcom supported Ramatu, who grabbed the back of his neck and collapsed from rising blood pressure.
But Walcom's expression twisted even further.
"I think we need to issue an evacuation order to the archbishops."
"Evacuation order? Why?"
"They're coming."
"Coming? You mean that bastard Kalias?"
Crack. Ramatu gripped his staff tightly, veins bulging on his forehead.
"Rather, this is better! I have a debt to pay him, so I should pay it back thoroughly this time! Still, we were together for a time, so I should at least avenge Politan, shouldn't I!"
But Walcom shook his head.
"It's not him who's coming."
"Ha! It's not him coming? Then who is coming? Are you saying his subordinates are coming...?"
"Yes."
At that, Ramatu's face contorted grotesquely and he burst into maniacal laughter.
"Hahahaha!! This Ramatu, truly I've been taken lightly by him. That bastard doesn't even come himself and sends his subordinates!? Fine! Rather, this is better. Unlike the north, this place is my stage."
Thump.
When he struck the dragon head with his staff, as if responding, the hazy mists gathered and the water droplets also changed.
The swirling water droplets gradually swelled in size, and then plomp! they plunged into the sea.
Then the sea churned and whirlpools began to form everywhere.
The whirling streams of water soared like waterspouts and soon transformed into water dragons, as if the sea itself was in a furious rage.
"To send mere subordinates when the water dragon Ramatu stands before them!? This insolent bastard... Kracion must have been looked down upon that much!"
The disciple and Walcom tried to calm Ramatu's furious rage, but he was not easily pacified.
When Ramatu suddenly displayed his power, Laperion instantly fell into commotion.
"What is the matter this time, Archbishop Ramatu."
An old man who came up with his hands behind his back held a fan in his hand.
"Nemesis! You've come at the right time! Can you believe that brat from the north sent his subordinates to Laperion, which we've built up our entire lives! Hahahahahaha!"
"Hmm? What is he talking about, Walcom."
When Nemesis, who had fully opened his fan, looked at Walcom and asked, he explained the situation from beginning to end.
"Politan is dead, you say... That bastard seemed like he would never die even if the Dragon-Horse Great War happened again."
Nemesis fanned his long hair with the fan and clicked his tongue.
"Archbishop Nemesis. I think it would be best for you to evacuate first. His subordinates are coming here."
Just as Walcom was about to explain further.
Ramatu indignantly cut him off.
"Why would you fear mere humans so much! That's not like you! Has Kalias's subordinate become a dragon or something!"
Right at that moment when Ramatu was lashing out.
Rooooaaar!
A vibration that shook the heavens began to be transmitted as noise.
"What in the world..."
"...What is that sound?"
"It's already too late."
Along with Walcom's self-mocking smile.
Whoooooosh-!!
The mist of Laperion was swept away in an instant!
And what appeared next was.
"Gasp!"
"A d-dragon!!"
It was an Iron-armored Dragon equipped with black armor.
With its wings fully spread, emitting a menacing aura, hovering in midair and looking down at the archbishops atop the shabby dragon head sculpture, the dragon opened its mouth wide.
"Y-you must evade!"
"Wh-what...!"
From the Iron-armored Dragon's mouth, a gray breath was shot toward Laperion.
The seawater near the island surged up and became a dragon to block it, but.
"Gasp!"
It couldn't do anything about Beati's body slam.
Crashhhh-!!
In a single strike, the dragon head that had symbolized Kracion in Laperion for decades was shattered.
Only the head fell and crashed to the ground.
Boom!
"Kaliassssss!!"
Along with Ramatu's mournful scream.
The voice of the man who mounted the dragon echoed throughout the entire domain of Laperion.
Kalias's herald.
It was Brance.
"Hear, you who have been forgotten and defeated!"
Above the Iron-armored Dragon's head.
Brance's dignified voice with his arms crossed serves as his declaration.
"The North will not tolerate Kracion's insolence! Cease your scheming like rats! You who have abandoned honor and betrayed trust."
The North will no longer.
"Endure it!!"
At the same time.
The knights who had mounted the Iron-armored Dragon and Politan leading them created wings from dozens of threads and flew up.
"P-Politan!?"
"No, is that really Politan!"
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
"Ugh!"
"Kyaaaah!"
Their bodies are pierced and controlled by threads.
Their bodies are slashed by swords and pierced by spears.
Knights brimming with ashen energy.
They swarm like ants and attack Laperion in an instant.
"Ha..."
Watching Laperion being destroyed in real-time, Ramatu's legs gave out.
* * *
[Ashen Legion]
Upper Generals: 2 ▶ 3
Generals: 19 ▶ 28
Elite Knights: 712 ▶ 872
Regular Knights: 514 ▶ 345
'Smooth progress.'
Subjugating magical beasts and orcs, the knights' level had risen significantly.
Steady growth.
This was the advantage of the Ashen Legion.
Kalias did not make those who died in this war into knights.
Even if their numbers increased further here, he couldn't handle them.
He also didn't want to turn the northern knights into ashen knights without good reason.
They were warriors born in the north and abandoned by the north, so they would want to either be buried as they were or become swords to be wielded by the people of the north.
"Anyway, I'm not sure if they're doing well."
Given the distance, the shared vision wasn't working, which made him a little anxious.
But there shouldn't be any major problems.
This was a kind of warning.
A warning sent to Kracion.
They were scattered all over the continent and employed various schemes and stratagems.
If the name Kalias became embedded in their minds and made them wary.
For now, that alone would be sufficient.
'I just hope Brance doesn't do anything reckless.'
Since he's a coward, I probably don't need to worry. He might just put on a bluff, issue threats, and return. Because he's a guy desperate to protect his own life above all else.
Surely he won't get captured again.
"My lord, we will arrive at Caladi soon."
"Yes."
Having sent Beati and Brance's group to Laperion, Kalias headed for Caladi.
He had taken the Empire's Saintess as a prisoner, and left the Shield Saintess and the beastmen in the north, so this was to report on that.
The matter regarding the beastmen was irrelevant due to the special nature of the Four Great Noble Families, but the matter regarding the prisoner was different.
Since he had probably achieved a great feat, he expected to receive an appropriate reward.
'I wonder what the royal family will give.'
Anything was fine.
The North's financial situation wasn't very good, so whether it was money or treasures.
Right now, anything would help.
"I've only heard of Carpe but never been here. What's famous here?"
The Saintess in the same carriage.
It was Junis.
She seemed strangely excited, which was a bit different from her usual angry demeanor.
"Why are you so excited."
"It's just fascinating to come to Carpe which I've only heard about. I didn't carry a shield because I liked shields either."
"Did you want to carry a sword?"
"A sword is better than a spear. And she's in Carpe, isn't she?"
Glancing at Eily beside her, Junis said with a pleased expression.
"Her?"
"There's the only woman among Carpe's five Masters."
"You mean her."
"Do you know her well?"
It was a gaze full of life, like a woman with romantic feelings.
Could Junis, who usually had dead fish eyes, even make such an expression?
Kalias was a little surprised.
"No, I've never met her."
Flame Demon, Carina.
The Master of Carpe that Junis spoke of meant the Flame Demon Carina.
A woman with a deep story, who lost her twin younger sister in the flame demon incident by the Imperial army, became a Master, and obtained the Phantom Sword of the Flame Demon.
'Come to think of it, I heard she was put in charge of overseeing the Academy.'
He had never properly heard about her or met her. Honestly, she wasn't really someone he wanted to meet either.
Kalias generally had a slight aversion to women, and she herself was a bit... peculiar.
It was then.
Neiiiigh!
"What is it."
The carriage stopped with the sound of horse neighing.
Judging by how roughly it stopped, someone seemed to have blocked the way.
The eyes of the three in the carriage changed.
Clank, clank.
Heavy armor sounds continuously rang out and surrounded the carriage.
"Caladi isn't the capital, is it?"
"That's right."
It was rare for a count's carriage to be stopped so rudely in the capital. At least.
Unless one had committed a crime.
Swing. Suddenly the carriage door opened.
The person who then appeared was a red-haired woman with a long scar and burn marks on her face.
"Count Zerban. I arrest you by Her Majesty the Queen's order."
She was one of Carpe's five Masters.
The Flame Demon, Carina.