Chapter 0504 Three Battles
-x-X-x-
The space was already familiar to Ryo, as if he had been here countless times.
"Sealed Corridor…"
Ryo murmured.
He had been separated from Abel and Duke Helb.
"Abel… if he dies, could Duke Helb perform the 'procedure' like he did for Secretary Zlurma and bring him back to life?"
Despite the ominous nature of his words, Ryo was genuinely concerned.
However, he quickly refocused his thoughts and steeled his resolve.
Before him stood the bespectacled woman he had encountered earlier.
"Rare enough to see a Mirage being* or a human swordsman… but you, you're something special. What is that essence overflowing from your body?" (TLN: Illusionkin, the Kanji is also used to mean 'Magician')
The bespectacled woman scrutinized Ryo from head to toe, repeatedly.
Making him deeply uncomfortable.
"Fairy factor? Or fairy essence, perhaps?"
"Ah, yes, that's it. How remarkable. To think someone so unique would be here, in the seas of the Eastern Countries… fate can be terrifying."
"Fate…"
"Yes. You appeared amid my experiment. If not fate, what else could it be?"
The woman nodded enthusiastically as she spoke.
"I didn't come here because I wanted to… The fact is, this island, or rather, the death dragon—approaching the southern continent is a problem. I came to eliminate that threat."
"Hmm, I see. That would indeed trouble humans. But it can't be helped. This experiment requires a lot of materials. I found the death dragon, so I decided to act quickly… my apologies to those who've been caught up in it."
"…How many people are you planning to involve in this?"
"Not sure, but… around a million?"
The bespectacled woman answered after a moment of thought.
"That's unacceptable."
"Yes, I understand. But great results often demand great sacrifices… that's an unchanging truth of the world. Still…"
The woman again studied Ryo intently, from head to toe.
"Right now, standing before me is something even more fascinating than my grand experiment."
"No, there isn't. Letting a million people be sacrificed is better than involving me…"
"Don't be so cold-hearted. Just fifty years of your cooperation in my experiment, that's all I ask."
"What does that even mean?"
"Just a little dissection experiment. I'd like to study the essence overflowing from you…"
"I refuse!"
"It might bring us closer to the truth of the world, you know?"
"Please uncover the truths of the world in some faraway place that doesn't involve me."
Ryo shook his head firmly.
"By the way, my name is Pastra. What's yours?"
"…Ryo."
"Ryo, is it? A fine name. Dissection Subject: Ryo. Yes, it has a nice ring to it."
"No, it doesn't!"
"If you're against it, I could use anesthesia. Though I prefer natural reactions…"
"Anesthesia-free dissection?! That's horrifying!"
"Exactly! It's painful, isn't it? Ah… Ryo, are you the type who dislikes pain?"
"I hate it!"
The world, it seemed, was full of difficulties.
"Are you sure you won't cooperate in the dissection experiment?"
"I won't!"
"Even if I ask nicely?"
"Absolutely not!"
"In that case, I'll just have to force you. Even if it means killing you first…"
"Anything is better than dissection… Wait, killing me first?"
"Yes, and then extracting information from your brain…"
"…"
Pastra shook her head slightly.
Ryo steadied his breathing.
"So be it.
"
Stones erupted around Ryo, forming a cage.
But water imbued with ice-cutting properties sliced through them in an instant.
"What?! Wind? No, water? Cutting stone with water—how fascinating. Now I simply must dissect you…!"
"I refuse!"
Pastra's expression shifted from surprise to glee as she persisted.
Naturally, Ryo refused.
"Then I'll take you by force!"
"You've been trying to from the start!"
"
"
Rocks rained down.
Only to be deflected by layers of ice.
But…
Clang!
Pastra had formed a stone spear without warning and lunged with it.
The stone rain was a diversion.
Of course, Ryo had anticipated as much.
He parried the strike with Murasame.
"What is that sword? An ice sword? Fascinating. I must dissect you, no matter what!"
"I'm pretty sure dissection is pointless if I'm dead!"
"Don't worry, I'll handle it skillfully."
"I'm not reassured at all!"
Despite their banter, the intensity of their battle was breathtakingly sharp.
"You're trying to cut off my legs…"
"Don't worry, I'll sew them back on afterward."
"Neither you nor Duke Helb seems to understand—human limbs don't just work again after being stitched back on…"
"Just sew it up and you'll be fine. Like it never even happened!"
"…And still be able to move them?"
"Of course not."
"…Please, just stop."
"
"
A flaming spear of wind collided with a shimmering ice wall.
The resulting spectacle was almost surreal.
"Hm, that ice wall is troublesome. It nullifies magic attacks."
"Why not try a stronger attack?"
"This is already plenty strong!"
Pastra pouted, clearly displeased.
Ryo thought to himself.
(This Pastra person must be an Akuma. She's similar to Leonor or Jean-Jacques. But her magic isn't as powerful. Leonor's spells would require a 'layered' defense to block…)
He concluded.
(If it's a magic duel, I might actually have a chance.)
But an omniscient observer might have warned him.
'That's a flag'.
"I've decided! I'll break your spirit and make you cooperate with my dissection experiment. As a magician. Your spirit must be vulnerable to this:
The moment Pastra invoked the spell, the ice walls shielding Ryo vanished into thin air.
"What?"
For a brief moment, even Ryo couldn't comprehend what had just happened.
"No way…
"
Once again, the ice wall was dispelled and vanished into the air.
"
"
The four ice spears flying toward Pastra suddenly veered off their path, shooting skyward and disappearing midair.
"Could it be that my control over the magic was stolen?"
"Ahaha, how does it feel to have your magic constructs taken from you? With enough study into magic and magical power, such things are possible."
Pastra said smugly, smirking at the astonished Ryo.
"…You've clearly delved deeply into magic studies."
Ryo said, smiling faintly.
Before continuing,
"I'd like to learn how to do that myself…"
"It's not that simple, you know? Even among my peers, no one else can do this. You'd need about 200,000 years of research…"
"That's… long."
"Research is a time-consuming endeavor."
"I can't disagree with that."
Ryo replied, nodding in agreement for the first time.
Until now, there had been no points of agreement between them.
"Usually, showing
"Is that so?"
Ryo tilted his head slightly.
Indeed, fighting without magic posed significant challenges.
Ryo had faced battles in magic-nullifying spaces before, and each one had been difficult.
This time, however, the opponent could use magic freely.
While he was completely restricted.
"Even so, I still have options."
Ryo declared, bringing his blade, Murasame, into a seigan stance.
It was Ryo's most reliable and fundamental form.
When facing adversity, one should return to the basics.
Often, solutions reveal themselves that way.
"I'll face you with my sword."
Ryo said resolutely.
Among the group divided by the Sealed Corridor, perhaps Abel found himself in the most well-matched encounter.
The initial moments of separation caused some confusion.
But within three seconds, he had regained his composure.
An adventurer like Abel was cut from a different cloth than the average rabble.
His experience far outstripped the superficial knowledge Ryo had boasted about to Chairman Sukhwe.
"This is my first time in a space like this. It's different from where I was before, though."
While Ryo was already accustomed to the 'Sealed Corridor', Abel was not.
Still…
"Does it feel a bit like when I was sent to the 40th floor of the dungeon?"
Abel recalled being forcibly transported there during an investigation following the Great Rune Flood.
The environment covering that floor felt similar to this one.
Later, Ryo would dismissively describe it as a 'poorly made Sealed Corridor', which perhaps explained the resemblance.
Probing the surroundings, Abel discerned that neither Ryo nor Duke Helb were nearby.
He also realized that the Death Dragon and the woman who had been beside it were absent.
But he was not entirely alone.
"Something's coming… from ahead."
He murmured, drawing his sword and taking a ready stance.
In truth, Abel often felt that as long as he had his sword, he could manage.
Such a mindset was undeniably muscle-brained… though he would deny it if confronted.
After all, even the water-attribute magician who might call him out on it was just as muscle-brained…
"Oh, come on… this really is like the 40th dungeon floor all over again."
Approaching from the front was a group of devils wielding swords.
However, they were somewhat different from the ones Abel had encountered in the dungeon.
"These ones are black, like the wyverns."
Indeed, they were entirely black.
With only their eyes glowing red.
"Could they have been created by someone, like the wyverns?"
Abel questioned aloud, though, of course, there was no response.
As the devils drew closer.
One stepped forward and drew its sword.
"What's this? Are you proposing a one-on-one duel?"
Abel muttered, keeping his guard up.
The devil that had drawn its sword moved forward, while the others hung back to observe.
"Hmph, this suits me just fine."
Abel said, smiling faintly.
The most troublesome foes are those that overwhelm you with numbers.
Rushing in recklessly and without regard for casualties.
Once surrounded, gaps inevitably form in your defense, and those gaps will be exploited.
No matter how many you cut down, exhaustion eventually sets in, leading to fatal mistakes.
Sheer numbers alone provide a massive advantage.
However, the devils in front of Abel did not seem inclined to press their numerical advantage—for now.
"Do you want to see what I'm capable of?"
Abel asked the devil before him… naturally, it did not respond.
"Hmph."
Abel stepped forward with a large stride. Bending his knees.
Naturally, his body dropped lower.
His weight shifted forward as his back leg pulled in. His knees straightening as his body rose.
With the rising motion…his sword swung upward.
In one fluid strike, he severed the devil's left arm at the shoulder.
Without pause, he spun and decapitated it from behind.
A clean kill.
The remaining devils, seeing this, showed no signs of agitation…
On the contrary, the next one stepped forward eagerly.
"Do you know what people call this kind of behavior? Muscle-brained."
Abel said with a grin as he raised his sword once more.
Among the three who had been separated by the 'Sealed Corridor', the one most pleased with the situation was likely Duke Helb.
After all, his target stood right before him.
"Kukuku… a one-on-one with the death dragon. There's no better scenario."
A wicked smile stretched across his face as he discarded any pretense of being a human envoy.
"So, Ryo or Abel… or perhaps both—are facing that woman? The one who creates wyverns? Hah, a nuisance of the highest order. If she were here, this battle would be far more complicated… but it seems she's not in this space."
His tone no longer resembled that of a human at all.
"Death Dragon… I've prepared measures to bury you. That said, it'll take a little time. So, stay still until then…"
Duke Helb leapt sideways, narrowly avoiding something that had come flying toward him.
"Black… needles? I'd heard the Death Dragon wouldn't move or attack on its own… only retaliating when attacked… They called it a decayed dragon for that reason. But for it to initiate an attack… this isn't quite the Death Dragon we're familiar with."
Duke Helb frowned as he muttered.
Pulling a black talisman from his pocket.
It was a specially made charm, black paper inscribed with white text.
Crafted specifically for this occasion.
Infusing the talisman with magic power, Helb began circling the Death Dragon.
Carefully placing the charms on the ground as he moved.
The Death Dragon's attacks did not strike the talismans.
Instead, its black needles veered off course, as if the surrounding space were distorted.
It was similar to how, during Queen Iliaja's coronation in the Suje Kingdom, the talismans in the grand audience hall had deflected every one of Ryo's attacks…
Thus, Duke Helb focused on evading the dragon's strikes.
"Apologies, Death Dragon. Even if you can attack, your body can't move, can it? This magic circle incorporates
As he spoke, Duke Helb continued to place the black talismans.
His tone softened, the initial harshness replaced by something that almost resembled pity.
After all, Helb bore no personal grudge against the Death Dragon.
The only annoyance it posed was the added burden to an already tight schedule.
With the annexation of the Free City underway, a powerful magician and a skilled swordsman had appeared to challenge him.
While he believed he could defeat them with full effort, the cost would be great.
He thought to himself that he might enjoy testing his strength against them once everything was resolved…
But for now, avoiding conflict was the priority.
And then they offered to help resolve the issue.
Thus, how things came to be.
So, he had better hurry and get it over with!
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Death Dragon."
Duke Helb placed the last talisman on the ground and made his announcement.
As if in response, the Death Dragon unleashed a barrage of black needles, its most intense attack yet.
However…
All the needles missed, veering away from Duke Helb entirely.
"Be gone quietly."
Helb took a deep breath and began his incantation.
"Pentagrams of heaven and earth, Fill the void, fill the ground, Rend the fabric of existence, Dust and ash, consume the red blood. Return to the sky, sink into the earth, Restore your form to the void. Let all that decays decay, All that moves pass on, All that is known be known. Wayward speck lost in shadow, Your time has passed. Fade and carve anew,
As the chant ended, all the talismans emitted bolts of lightning.
Arcing from the ground toward the sky.
"GYOOOOAAAAHHHHH!!!"
The Death Dragon's scream resounded through the area.
A voice it should not have been able to produce.
The sound was not physical but rather the cry of a lingering will.
A remnant of the dragon's original self.
Something left behind in its hollow form, perhaps.
Duke Helb had no way of knowing.
As the lightning subsided after nearly ten seconds, the Death Dragon vanished.
"A predictable opponent, in an ideal scenario. No surprises here."
Helb remarked, his tone returning to that of a calm and composed human.
"Yet even with the dragon gone, this space remains…"
Duke Helb glanced around as he muttered.
Still confined in the distorted space.
"Perhaps this won't disappear until the one who created the black wyverns is defeated. Ryo or Abel… it seems I'll have to wait for one of them to succeed."
Duke Helb smiled faintly and continued speaking.
"With the Death Dragon no longer in the way. The annexation of the Federation and the Free City should proceed smoothly… though fully absorbing them may prove difficult. Before that advances south, we must amass enough national strength to resist… Even my brother cannot pinpoint the exact timing… how troublesome. That such powerful individuals exist… upsets the balance of the world… No matter how vast the empire, mere humans cannot offer significant resistance."
Duke Helb shook his head slightly.
A future worth striving for seemed out of reach.
"If only I'd been born ten years earlier…"
He sighed quietly.
-x-X-x-
Chapter 0505 Deadly Struggle
-x-X-x-
Ryo's body was battered and torn.
Cuts and bruises were visible all over, including on his face.
While hidden beneath his robe, many areas of his body were severely bruised internally.
Though he hadn't suffered any fatal wounds, his ability to continue fighting was steadily being worn down.
All of his injuries were the result of Pastra's magic attacks.
Ryo's robe was the Fairy King's Robe.
It deflected magic attacks.
After observing that her fire-attribute magic was deflected by the robe, Pastra swiftly switched to solely using earth-attribute attacks.
A barrage of stone bullets in a saturation attack.
Ryo, with his blade Murasame, could cut down dozens or even hundreds of magic attacks, but it was impossible to deflect or dodge every single stone hurled at him in an unrelenting downpour.
He had trained to use the city walls of the royal capital to reflect his
No, perhaps it was because of that extreme training that he managed to avoid sustaining a fatal blow and could still stand.
At least he managed to avoid damage to his eyes…
The Fairy King's Robe could deflect magic.
But that didn't mean it eliminated physical damage.
In other words, while the robe wouldn't be pierced, getting hit still hurt.
Even if someone were wearing clothing, getting hit by a thrown rock would still hurt, wouldn't it?
That's what it was like.
After multiple volleys of stone bullets… totaling tens of thousands…
The result was Ryo's body, riddled with internal injuries.
"Fufufu, Ryo, why don't you give up and cooperate with my experiments already?"
"I will never do that."
"You'd benefit more from the pain of experimentation than from the pain of fighting here."
"That makes absolutely no sense."
Ryo firmly rejected Pastra's words.
Though he held Murasame ready, his body was in tatters.
The unblemished state of his blade and robe made the damage to his body even more striking.
Of course, Ryo hadn't given up.
From an objective standpoint, his situation was dire.
He couldn't use magic, and Pastra always kept her distance, preventing close combat.
Technically, it wasn't that he couldn't use magic.
But whenever he used it, Pastora would immediately seize control.
For example, in theory, he could use
However, the attacks weren't brief.
Even if he deflected the first few hundred or thousand stone bullets, the moment she took control of his magic and he needed to recast the
His
And once again…
"
"
Ryo's
"
He put them up again, but damage accumulated during the delay.
However, this time was different.
"
A continuously thickening wall of ice.
Advanced toward Pastra.
"You're naive!
At Pastora's shout, the stacked ice walls vanished instantly.
"Impossible…"
Ryo was stunned.
If she could only steal one layer at a time, he thought he could counter her by layering them faster than she could seize control…
"Fufufu, a clever idea, but futile. Stealing one at a time is a hassle, so I took them all at once. Since they're all ice walls, I can manage it."
Pastora laughed.
She had prepared even for a technique like Ryo's 'stacking' method.
"Now, are you ready to assist with my experiments…"
"Not yet!
Shouting, Ryo shot forward toward Pastra.
"
Pastra conjured a stone wall to block Ryo's charge.
But it was immediately sliced apart by Murasame.
"
Again, she conjured a stone wall to block him.
And again it was cut down.
"
A third time she tried to block him…
"
Ryo interjected a steam mine into the space where the stone wall was forming.
The result was the wall's failure to materialize.
"Wha…?"
Pastra was shocked.
Using
Clang!
Ryo's decisive strike was deflected by a sword that suddenly appeared in Pastra's hand.
"Ugh…"
"To think I'd have to resort to wielding a sword… how humiliating."
Ryo grimaced while Pastra scowled.
Both visibly frustrated.
"Even your sword is strong…"
"A sword is such a crude tool… forcing me to use one… I won't forgive you, Ryo. During the experiment, I'll deliberately maximize your pain!"
"That hardly changes anything…"
Ryo sighed.
Ryo's desperate attack hadn't landed.
Yet he refused to despair.
For the first time, he had outmaneuvered his opponent's expectations.
By doing so, he had disrupted her composure.
Without achieving that, his plan couldn't be put in motion.
Against a superior opponent, one must force them into a trap.
But to do that, the enemy couldn't remain calm.
In this battle, Ryo had finally succeeded in unsettling Pastra.
And once the enemy's composure was shattered, new strategies became viable.
"
(
Sixteen ice spears attacked from the front, deliberately.
"
As expected, she seized control, erasing them.
Meanwhile, 256 silent spears fell from above.
"
These too were erased.
But now her focus was divided between the front and above.
Naturally, she braced herself for an attack from all sides.
But no.
(
From the ground, icy stalagmites pierced both of Pastra's feet!
"Ugh!"
Pastra let out a cry of pain, unexpected and sharp.
Of course, the damage was minimal.
It hurt, sure… but that was all.
It didn't matter.
That wasn't the goal.
The goal was to literally immobilize her. To stop her from moving.
"Come forth, Neil Andersen!"
At Ryo's command, the sheath of his knife began to glow faintly.
It was the light of alchemy.
Appearing from the glow was the submarine Neil Andersen, the second ship of the Rondo-class fleet.
"What… is that…?"
Pastra's voice was barely audible in her astonishment.
Her disbelief was so genuine it left her nearly speechless.
"This will bring an end to our battle! Mark 256 torpedoes, 32 rounds. Open forward launchers. Fire!"
At Ryo's command, the forward launchers of the Neil Andersen opened, unleashing a barrage of torpedoes.
Though this wasn't underwater, their target, Pastra, was right in front of them.
The torpedoes, propelled by
"Tch,
Pastra, unable to move due to the ice shards pinning her down, conjured a stone wall to block the torpedoes.
At the same time, a sharp, high-pitched sound, keeeen, keeeen, rang out.
This sound came from her attempting to seize magic control of the alchemically created objects.
Pastra was trying to wrest control of the imposing
And failing.
Of course, the correct choice would have been to reclaim control of the icicles pinning her feet and regain her freedom of movement.
But she hadn't chosen that path.
This was part of Ryo's strategy to unnerve her.
Even Akumas, like humans, instinctively focus on eliminating what is directly in front of them and poses an immediate threat.
"Manipulator capture arms, activate!"
The capture arms broke through the stone wall, already weakened by the torpedoes.
These arms, strong enough to seize even a kraken, extended from the Neil Andersen.
Six of these powerful arms bound Pastra's limbs, pinning her down.
Simultaneously, Ryo brought the tip of Murasame to Pastra's throat.
Then, with firm resolve, Ryo declared.
"I win."
Pastra's eyes widened in shock… but they soon burned with anger, her teeth clenched in frustration.
Ryo, however, knew the truth.
Pastra before him was likely an Akuma.
And if she was indeed an Akuma, even severing her head wouldn't kill her.
Binding her limbs and pressing Murasame against her throat didn't necessarily constitute a victory.
Yet, he also understood the high pride Akumas carried…
And their peculiar sense of honor.
Admittedly, they were the kind to challenge their opponents repeatedly after a loss, but still…
"Fine… I lost."
Closing her eyes, Pastra exhaled deeply and admitted defeat.
The capture arms holding her instantly released their grip.
Seeing this, Pastra gave a wry smile.
"You're awfully trusting. What if I lied and tried to kill you?"
"The Akumas I know wouldn't do such a thing."
Ryo downed a potion and responded confidently.
Hearing this, Pastra's eyes widened again in surprise.
"Akumas… you know what we are? Have you met one of us before? Why didn't they kill you?"
"Um, well… I'd rather not die, to be honest."
"Ah, my apologies. I merely meant… humans tend to be on the execution list if they know the word 'Akuma'."
"Now that you mention it, I do recall being told something like that."
Ryo thought back to his first encounter with Leonor in Rune.
"Who was it? Who did you meet?"
"…Leonor."
At his answer, Pastra nearly jumped in shock.
"Leonor… that monster—no, Leonor should still be dormant, right? Wait, what?"
"Oh, yeah. They did mention having just woken up. Someone else said the same thing, too."
"She's awake… I haven't seen her in over 200 years… wait, someone else? You've met another? Who?"
"…Jean Jacques."
"Jean Jacques… that fool—well, I suppose that tracks."
Leonor, the so-called monster, and Jean Jacques, the fool.
Ryo couldn't help but feel a tinge of pity for the two and shook his head slightly.
Pastra closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh.
It seemed she was organizing her thoughts.
"I've lost. What do you want? World domination? Wealth? Fame? Or perhaps… my heart and body…"
"Ah, no, I don't need any of those."
Pastra blushed as she spoke.
But Ryo rejected everything.
It vaguely reminded him of something Leonor had said to him before.
"You win, but you ask for nothing? World domination would take some time, but the rest I could give you immediately."
"No, first, please undo this sealed corridor…"
"Oh, this isn't quite a sealed corridor. It's similar but is actually a spell I devised for my own use."
Pastra puffed out her chest with pride.
"Speaking of which, you did steal control of my magic, didn't you? Krakens and sea creatures have done that to me before… wait, even a ghost ship once… why do I keep getting my magic hijacked…?"
Ryo slumped, unreasonably disheartened.
"Krakens can do it instinctively. My ability is the result of research. Hmm, by the way, didn't you also interfere with my stone wall using magic? That was quite amusing."
"Oh, that. It's something I learned after having a similar spell used on me once. They disrupted my magic generation."
Ryo spoke nostalgically.
It was a technique once used against him by 'Hassan', the leader of the assassin's guild.
"Well, I suppose I'll return this space to normal."
With Pastra's words, the world suddenly shifted back to its original state.
"Whoa!"
Ryo heard a familiar voice.
A certain swordsman king, startled by the sudden change.
"I was so close to defeating the Demon Prince."
Abel's muttered complaint reached Ryo's ears.
Ryo shook his head and said.
"Do you know what we call that, Abel? Being a musclehead."
"Urgh…"
-x-X-x-
"This is Pastra-san, the person in charge of this experiment."
"Experiment?"
Abel tilted his head as Ryo explained.
"Yes, an experiment. A grand one… although I don't know all the details myself."
"Hey…"
"When the field of research is different, it's hard to keep up. It's just the way it is."
Ryo replied, pushing his glasses up with a gesture.
Apparently, Ryo has an image of researchers always wearing glasses…
"Ryo, the fact that you're a researcher in the first place is…"
"I'm a researcher of water-attribute magic and alchemy."
"Oh, right…"
Abel conceded when Ryo declared this in a firm tone, leaving no room for argument.
If that's how he identifies himself, so be it.
Without a formal certification process, being a researcher is essentially self-declared.
"By the way, Abel. Pastra-san here is extremely powerful, so please show her proper respect in your words and actions."
"Why just me…?"
"Duke Helb is naturally respectful to those he meets for the first time… as long as he acts human."
"Indeed, that's true."
Duke Helb said with a graceful bow to Pastra.
"Ooh… Such a perfect bow, even for an Illusionkin. As someone devoted to research, I'm a bit moved."
Pastra nodded approvingly.
"I almost forgot… Duke Helb always wins people over with his impeccable bow."
"Exactly."
Ryo agreed as Abel recalled the incident at the garden party.
Respectful conduct was clearly his forte.
"Show respect, huh…"
"Does it make sense if I say Pastra-san is on par with Leonor?"
"Surely not…"
"Indeed, that's exactly it."
As Ryo spoke, he raised his index finger to his lips.
A silent 'keep it to yourself' gesture.
The word 'Akuma' wasn't something to casually say aloud.
Especially with Duke Helb present.
Although they collaborated this time, Ryo didn't consider him an absolute ally.
It was just a feeling.
Not based on concrete evidence.
Ryo was also hearing the term 'Illusionkin' for the first time.
He assumed it explained the "part human, part something else" vibe he sensed.
"May I confirm something? Can we assume… there will be no more transformations caused by the Death Dragon in the future?"
Duke Helb asked Pastra politely.
"Indeed. The Death Dragon seems to have withered. I'll try again if I find another one… but they're rare. This one was the first in two thousand years…"
Pastra glanced resentfully at Ryo.
"You shouldn't have done it in front of me. It's not my fault."
"Hmph."
Pastra pouted as Ryo firmly dismissed the accusation.
"Then how about cooperating in experiments…"
"Nope!"
"What if it's not a dissection experiment? Perhaps an observational one at my… no, your place. Where I only measure that 'essence'. No pain involved…"
"What's in it for me?"
"W-What's in it for you? Contributing to research is a duty of all living things…"
"I'll pass."
Ryo dismissed Pastra's explanation with a heavy finality.
His expression stern, and his words, grave.
"Propose something that offers tangible benefits to me. Depending on your proposal, I might consider cooperating."
"T-Truly?!"
Pastra nearly leaped to embrace Ryo… and actually did so while confirming.
"Yes, but think carefully before you propose. If your offer isn't acceptable, negotiations will end."
"H-Hmph…"
"Take your time and think it over."
Ryo emphasized the 'take your time' part significantly.
(Ryo, that's just postponing the problem.)
Abel thought to himself, shaking his head slightly.
(These Akumas' sense of 'time' must be incredibly long. I'll buy myself decades, maybe centuries! Long enough for me to be gone.)
Ryo had his own strategy in mind.
Whether it was the right or wrong decision, no one could tell…
Pastra left the scene.
Using the same pitch-black 'gate' that Leonor and Jean-Jacques always used.
"I'll definitely get Ryo to agree!"
Pastra declared as she departed…
Meanwhile, Ryo and Abel successfully returned to the Lone Dark, a ship of the Suje Kingdom.
They politely declined Duke Helb's offer to host them on his vessel.
Preferring some quiet time.
While the Lone Dark crew were familiar faces, the Duke's crew were strangers.
The risk of an ambush couldn't be ruled out.
In comparison…
"On the Lone Dark, all I need to watch out for is Abel attacking me."
"Huh? Why would I attack you?"
"To dissect me and investigate the cause of my overflowing essence… fairy factor."
"Oh, so that's what a certain Akuma was aiming for earlier. I wouldn't do that."
"And how far should I trust that…?"
"If you can't trust me, just stay awake all the time."
"Ugh… I can't do that…"
After this exchange, the two began snoring within seconds.
Resting in their hammocks.
They succumbed to exhaustion…
With its sleeping swordsman and magician aboard, the Lone Dark set sail toward the Free City of Kwebasa.
-x-X-x-
Chapter 0507 Departure
-x-X-x-
Since the two returned from the 'Blue Island', many things have been decided.
As Chairman Sukhwe of the Supreme Council desired, Kwebasa was granted a degree of autonomy.
Of course, the Supreme Council was dissolved, and Kwebasa became part of the Grand Duchy, under Grand Duke Atinjo.
The official name was changed from 'Free City Kwebasa' to 'Autonomous City Kwebasa'.
It was announced that the Chief Administrator of the Autonomous City would be Noson, the former Prime Minister during the Free City era.
However, Noson was held responsible for key decisions during his tenure: the destruction of the Free City Fleet, the directive to explore the hazardous waters, and his early acceptance of the Grand Duchy's intervention. Additionally, rumors also spread that Noson manipulated ministers through sorcery and led the decision to come under the Grand Duchy's control…
When those details became public, the citizens directed their anger not at their new rulers—the Grand Duchy—but at Noson.
"Politics is tough, huh?"
"Yeah, it's a job where you're rarely praised, and constant public criticism could sap anyone's motivation."
Ryo and Abel had this casual conversation as they sipped coffee after dinner at the 'Freedom Breeze Inn'.
One was the Premier Duke, the other a king—a pair deeply involved in national politics. Yet, their conversation was remarkably relaxed.
Ryo, despite being a premier duke, wasn't engaged in national governance.
His title as the King's Special Advisor was purely honorary.
With his stipend going toward maintaining his estate in the royal capital…
Not a single coin made its way into his hands.
Abel, on the other hand, was a king beloved by his people. A former adventurer who repelled the invaders from the Debuhi Empire, he maintained immense popularity.
His consistent efforts to govern for the people's benefit had earned him significant goodwill.
"Well, with autonomy granted and little change in day-to-day life for citizens, this seems like a reasonable compromise."
"True. For most people, leadership changes are often irrelevant…"
Abel agreed matter-of-factly.
Even though Abel himself was one of those leaders potentially subject to replacement.
"Is it fine for you to say that?"
"Huh?"
"What if the Kingdom of Knightley has been overthrown while you're away?"
"By whom?"
"Uh…Q-Queen Rihya and Prince Noah… maybe?"
"If it's Rihya, that's fine. As for Noah, he's destined to inherit the throne anyway. It'd just happen a bit sooner."
Abel's calm response left Ryo at a loss for words.
"What about Marquis Heinlein, then?!"
"Wouldn't he govern better than me?"
"…Yes, I think he would…"
Ryo admitted reluctantly.
Marquis Heinlein, the Prime Minister, was indeed highly capable.
Yet, the idea of him ousting Abel or Noah to seize the throne was laughable.
A former captain of the royal knights, Heinlein was the epitome of honor…
"Abel, you're blessed with capable allies."
"That's undeniable."
Ryo remarked, and Abel replied with a nod.
Their conversation was interrupted by a letter delivered by the inn's receptionist.
"It's from Duke Helb."
Abel said as he broke the seal.
Ryo moved behind Abel to peek over his shoulder at the letter.
"It seems arrangements have been made for a ship heading north. It's a warship from the Grand Duchy, departing the morning after tomorrow."
"As promised, but they sure work quickly."
Ryo remarked, impressed as Abel read the letter.
The day after they returned from the Blue Island, Duke Helb had made an offer to them.
Since they wanted to head north on the continent, he proposed providing a ship from the Grand Duchy.
While the two of them preferred the familiar Suje Kingdom Navy, it lacked detailed knowledge of the northern seas beyond this point.
Similarly, ships from Kwebasa, now a self-governed city, did not frequent northern routes.
North of Kwebasa lies the coastal region of the Atinjo Grand Duchy.
Considering this, a warship from the Grand Duchy seemed like the best option, something both of them understood.
"I hope there's a great chef onboard, like Chef Susie."
"Well, we won't know until we board."
The next evening, the dining hall at the 'Freedom Breeze Inn' was reserved for a special event.
The Suje Kingdom Embassy had sponsored a farewell party for Ryo and Abel, hosted by the crew of the Lone Dark.
The two were overwhelmed by a feast of culinary delights.
Just as the gathering was about to wrap up, urgent news arrived at the crowded dining hall.
"Is this true?!"
Captain Gorick exclaimed in shock after receiving the report.
He had been drinking more than eating but was instantly sobered by the news.
First Officer Lena glanced at the report.
"Chief Administrator Nosson was assassinated?"
She murmured softly.
Indeed, the report confirmed that Nosson, the new administrative head of the autonomous city, had been murdered.
For several days after, the Administrative Island plunged into chaos… but that's another story.
"Wow, we really ate a lot yesterday."
"Yeah, definitely overdid it."
On the morning of their departure, Ryo and Abel were talking as they headed to the free port.
Fortunately, neither of them suffered from indigestion.
Or hangovers, as they hadn't drunk excessively.
Considering they were about to board a ship, such issues would have been a nightmare.
"It seems something major happened while we were sleeping."
"The Chief Administrator was assassinated. Quite the commotion."
"I bet the Grand Duchy people were behind it."
"Huh? Why do you think that?"
Ryo said mischievously, and Abel asked, tilting his head in confusion.
"First, they appointed Nosson, who was once Prime Minister, as Chief Administrator. Around the same time, rumors spread that Nosson had done all sorts of bad things during his time as Prime Minister, leading to the current situation."
"Yeah, I heard those rumors."
"That was all part of the Grand Duchy's scheme. They successfully redirected the citizens' resentment… not toward the Grand Duchy, but toward Nosson."
"I see."
Abel nodded at Ryo's explanation, impressed by his scheming insight.
"By gathering all the resentment toward Nosson and then killing him, what do you think will happen…?"
"Whether true or not, Nosson will bear all the blame… And the Grand Duchy will face less criticism, right?"
"Exactly."
Ryo said with a satisfied nod.
However…
"Still, won't the citizens continue to have grievances? Wouldn't it be better to keep him alive and pin any new discontent on Nosson as well?"
"Hmm… that does make sense."
Though Abel wasn't particularly skilled in intrigue, his three years as king had taught him to consider such possibilities.
"Well, either way, we're about to board a ship provided by the Grand Duchy…"
"Yes, let's keep these thoughts to ourselves."
The two reached a mutual understanding.
Without hesitation, they found their designated ship.
The reason was simple: Duke Helb and his entourage were waiting prominently at the pier.
"Ah, welcome! We've been expecting you."
"Thank you for arranging this ship."
"We're very grateful."
Duke Helb greeted warmly, and both Abel and Ryo bowed their heads in gratitude.
"After your help with the Death Dragon and the Blue Island issues. It's the least I could do."
Duke Helb replied with a smile.
"The ship will take you beyond the northern coast of our Grand Duchy to the capital port of the Bosuntar Kingdom, Jonjon. You should arrive in about ten days."
He explained, handing them an envelope.
"This is an introduction letter to the Bosuntar Kingdom. As a formal letter of recommendation from the Grand Duke's brother, it should assist you in traveling further north."
"Ooh! Thank you so much."
Ryo exclaimed, surprised and grateful for Duke Helb's thorough preparations as he accepted the letter.
"I heard something significant happened last night."
"Ah, you've heard? Well, many things tend to happen during periods of turmoil…"
Abel said, steering the conversation deliberately.
Duke Helb replied smoothly.
Ryo looked slightly uneasy at this exchange.
His gaze saying, "I thought we agreed to keep quiet about this".
Of course, Abel wasn't trying to provoke an argument.
"I don't care what happens at the top, as long as the government works for the citizens."
"Naturally. I understand completely."
Duke Helb nodded in agreement to Abel's words.
Abel had brought up the topic intentionally to make this point.
"May your journey be a safe one."
"Thank you."
"We're off."
Duke Helb added as the two boarded the ship.
Soon, the ship set sail.
"So… the two of them are heading north… I hope they can make it to the Central Countries before that moves south. We'll see how it turns out."
Duke Helb murmured to himself, shaking his head slightly.
-x-X-x-
"Abel… why are we walking through a jungle… or rather, a dense rainforest?"
"…Because the ship sank, obviously. We had no choice."
Ryo and Abel were making their way through the dense jungle.
The reason, as Abel said, was that their ship had sunk…
The two had set off from the Autonomous City of Kwebasa, filled with dreams and hope. They were traveling aboard a Grand Duchy warship arranged by Duke Helb, the younger brother of the Grand Duke of the Atinjo Grand Duchy.
The ship had been steadily heading north without incident, and the crew had not mistreated them in any way.
The voyage had been smooth.
On the fifth day, the ship crossed the northern border of the Atinjo Grand Duchy and continued its journey northward, with the continent visible on the left-hand side.
But then, on the sixth night after leaving Kwebasa, disaster struck.
Ryo and Abel had enjoyed a surprisingly delicious dinner for a warship, though not as skilled in cooking as the head chef Susie, and were sound asleep when it happened.
Suddenly, the ship began to shake violently up and down.
It felt like an earthquake but vertical.
However, being on a ship, it clearly wasn't an earthquake…
"What's happening?!"
Abel, lying in his hammock, literally jumped up.
Ryo did the same and immediately used his
The result…
"There's a huge hole in the cargo hold…"
"Are you saying the ship's going to sink?"
"Let me try sealing the hole…"
But before Ryo could finish chanting a spell, the ship shook violently again.
And then came the despair-inducing sound of wood splitting apart…
"The hull's broken! Water will reach here soon!"
Ryo shouted.
They were on the middle deck.
The warship was large, but even large ships sink when their time comes.
"Come forth! Neil Andersen!"
As Ryo chanted, the scabbard of his knife glowed faintly with alchemical light, and the second ship of the Rondo-class, Neil Andersen, materialized.
Though ten meters in length and fairly large, Neil Andersen was dwarfed by the enormous middle deck.
The two hurriedly boarded the Neil Andersen.
And almost simultaneously, the warship split in half and was swallowed by the sea.
The sound of cracking wood continued.
There were no screams.
Everyone aboard, aside from the two, were sailors.
When the ship broke, most had already leaped into the sea.
Being near a sinking ship is dangerous.
So the sailors swam away, intending to cling to floating debris.
Or make their way to the visible shoreline on the left…
But after jumping in, they realized.
Why the ship had sunk so suddenly.
They saw several enormous 'legs' rising from the water's surface…
"Krakens…"
Many sailors muttered the name.
At the same time, multiple Krakens moved southward, paying no heed to those thrown into the sea.
Had they destroyed the warship merely for sport…?
Regardless, even a warship stood no chance against a group of Krakens.
From aboard the Neil Andersen, Ryo and Abel confirmed the Krakens' departure.
"Those things again!"
"There were so many of them…"
Ryo muttered bitterly, and Abel said, relieved they hadn't been attacked.
Fighting one Kraken with the Neil Andersen was feasible, but facing multiple Krakens was…
"Indeed, fighting multiple Krakens at once is currently beyond me."
Ryo conceded, acknowledging his lack of firepower.
"But someday… I'll assemble a force capable of defeating dozens of Krakens! "
"Y-Yeah, good luck with that…"
Ryo declared, raising his fist in determination, and Abel cheered, silently hoping to keep his distance when the time came.
Afterward, the two aboard the Neil Andersen became a makeshift rescue team.
They used the Neil Andersen's manipulator arms to pull sailors—who had been thrown overboard from the Grand Duchy's warship or had jumped into the sea themselves—back to shore…
They also towed wooden debris, barrels, and anything the sailors clung to back to safety…
They made countless trips back and forth between the sinking site and the shore.
As a result, all the more than 100 crew members were saved.
Both Ryo and Abel were deeply thanked by the ship's captain.
However… the ship was lost.
The crew decided to wait for rescue onshore.
Hoping to be picked up by one of the Grand Duchy's patrolling warships, which supposedly came by every few days.
But Ryo and Abel couldn't afford to do the same.
Demanding a new ship under the pretext of their deal with Duke Helb was an option… but it didn't sit right with either of them.
Neither Abel nor Ryo liked the idea of exploiting their arrangement in that way.
In the end, the two kindhearted adventurers decided to travel north on foot.
They had considered using the Neil Andersen to traverse the underwater route to the north, but…
"I still… don't have a solid plan to defeat a swarm of Krakens…"
Ryo admitted bitterly, and Abel agreed.
Indeed, fighting a Kraken horde underwater would leave no room for escape.
Thus, the two began their journey through the dense jungle.
Yes, a true jungle.
Thick with overgrown trees and uneven ground underfoot.
An unpredictable and terrifying place… where who knows what creatures might attack.
"They say there's a pair of foolish adventurers—a swordsman and a magician—braving such a jungle alone."
"Yeah, if that description is accurate, they're in for a rough time."
Ryo remarked, and Abel replied, conditionally agreeing.
Conditionally, of course.
"If not for this wonderful environment where we're surrounded by walls of ice and walking on a frozen path, making it possible to walk straight ahead…"
Indeed, the two of them were walking along an
They didn't need to cut down trees as they progressed, didn't have to worry about snakes or spiders descending from above, nor about leeches or ticks clinging to their feet…
"Well, I think if you have the power, you should use it. Am I wrong about that?"
As Ryo said this, he created an ice tunnel ahead of them.
Just like when he infiltrated the Atinjo Grand Duchy Embassy in the Free City, the
This, of course, caused a bit of deforestation.
"You're not wrong. It's wonderful. Keep at it."
Abel said with a nod.
"My apologies to the trees of the jungle. It's all because of Abel's orders that I'm forced to destroy the forest as we proceed. If you must blame someone, blame Abel…"
"Hey…"
Ryo shifted all responsibility onto Abel.
"Besides, isn't there some terrifying creature in this forest? What was it again? That faceless gray monster… if anyone's going to be attacked, it should be you…"
"A faceless monster? Oh, the Shadow Stalker?"
"Yes, that! The Shadow Stalker!"
Ryo had fought one before while traveling as part of the delegation to the Western Countries.
"Do you think they exist in the Eastern Countries too?"
"Who knows? You'd probably know better than me, given your history as an A-rank adventurer."
"Shadow Stalkers aren't very well-documented creatures, to be honest."
Abel replied, shaking his head slightly.
"And yet you're making me destroy the forest…?"
"Hey, I never asked you to do that."
"How can you say that? Fine, how about you walk without the
"Uh, no, that would be inconvenient…"
Once people get used to convenience, they find it hard to give it up.
"But Abel, when you were active with the 'Crimson Sword' and had to traverse jungles, you probably did it the old-fashioned way, right? Without magic assistance?"
"Yeah."
Abel nodded, but then paused midway.
"Abel?"
"W-Well… to be honest… while we mostly walked properly…"
"What?"
"There was this one time when Rin used
"…"
"And another time, Warren, following Rin's orders, charged forward with his shield raised to bulldoze through…"
"…"
"Not my fault."
Abel absolved himself of responsibility in the end.
"Abel… who was the leader of the 'Crimson Sword' again?"
"…Me."
"Abel… who do you think should ultimately take responsibility for such acts of deforestation?"
"…Me?"
"Abel…you've done bad things, haven't you?"
"…I was wrong."
Abel confessed.
That said, the current scale of deforestation they were causing was minimal.
"I'm sure the Shadow Stalkers won't get too angry over something like this."
"…Yeah, probably."
And so, the two of them continued their journey northward through the jungle.
-x-X-x-
In the dense jungle, food is abundant.
Fruits and meat are practically unlimited.
And water too.
"I'm glad I'm a water-attribute magician."
"Indeed. Traveling without worrying about water is a bigger advantage than one might imagine."
Abel agreed as Ryo proudly declared.
Man does not live by bread alone… water is equally essential.
"The Free City… no, it's the Autonomous City of Kwebasa now, isn't it? The spices we bought there have been incredibly useful."
Ryo remarked, praising the condiments stored in frost jars that he carried in his bag.
"You're meticulous when it comes to things like that, Ryo."
"Things like that?"
"Spices. When we traveled from Rondo Forest to Rune, you had salt and pepper with you, didn't you? Thanks to that, we enjoyed some delicious meals."
"Ah, yes. Spices enhance the flavor of food with just a small amount. They're not tasty on their own, but they bring out the essence of the ingredients. They're unsung heroes, really. Compact yet enriching—it's why I hold them in high regard."
Ryo said, extolling the virtues of his spices, while Abel commended him.
Currently, Ryo's frost jar contained salt, pepper, something resembling soy sauce, and a few unidentifiable spicy items.
They were primarily seasonings for meat or fish dishes.
After all, fruits and vegetables could be eaten raw.
However, Abel's gaze occasionally wandered behind Ryo.
From behind him trailed a small, ice-made cart-like object.
It was a product of Ryo's magic,
This time, it was a compact box-sized creation, just large enough to fit a soccer ball.
Inside were two bags.
"Hey, Ryo."
"Yes, Abel?"
"That thing behind you… that's
"Impressive memory! It's the spell you're most familiar with… oh, never mind."
Ryo abruptly stopped himself.
Recalling the time he had used
He had never told Abel about it.
Feeling awkward… as he had handled him rather carelessly back then.
"The contents of that cart are…?"
"Ah, yes. Our money. The currency we earned in places like the Komakyuta Principality and Suje Kingdom, which we exchanged into Free City coins."
"I remember loading it onto the Grand Duchy's ship, but I'm impressed you managed to salvage it from that sinking vessel."
"I used the rear manipulator to grab it and push it onto the Neil Andersen's stern. We could only hold onto our bags and swords ourselves, after all. Better safe than sorry."
Ryo said proudly, while Abel nodded in admiration.
"Money can drive people mad. Too much or too little—it doesn't matter. People have even killed over mere pennies… It's wise to keep a reasonable amount on hand."
"Indeed."
Both Ryo and Abel were realists.
The
At night, when they rested, Ryo would create an ice shelter where they could sleep without needing a guard.
While Ryo appreciated the beauty of taking turns to be on watch… he chose to be practical.
He understood the practicality of prioritizing rest for their journey.
Even Ryo knew that much.
"If you're insistent on keeping watch, Abel, I won't stop you…"
"I'd rather sleep."
"Understood…"
Some things couldn't be helped.
"Though, Abel, when you're at the castle doing kingly duties, you're buried in paperwork from dawn till dusk, aren't you?"
"Yes, that's true."
"Then, even if you stayed up late to keep watch…"
"I'd rather not do unnecessary things."
"Ah…right…"
Kingly duties were necessary; keeping watch wasn't.
"This jungle… how far does it stretch, I wonder?"
"Good question. We've been walking for… five days now? With Ryo's help, we've made good time heading north, but we've covered quite a distance."
"Yes, we have. We should still be on a straight northern course, but… ah…"
Ryo trailed off awkwardly.
Which usually meant he had realized something inconvenient.
"Just tell me, I won't get mad."
"Uh, no… I'll check from above tomorrow."
"…Yeah. Why didn't we think of that over the past five days?"
"Wh-why are you looking at me like that? Sure, I forgot, but you didn't mention it either!"
"I didn't say anything, and I'm not giving you a weird look, am I?"
"Liar! That's a judgmental look! Magicians always end up taking the blame for swordsmen…"
"Please, don't stir up class-based conflicts."
Perhaps they had simply been too caught up in the journey…
To think of such a simple solution as scouting from above.
Let's just go with that.
The next morning.
They set off again.
Without checking from above.
Apparently, they both forgot overnight.
They remembered just before noon.
But it was too late.
The jungle had already ended.
"It's cleared…"
"The forest ends here."
And in front of them lay…
"A golden city…"
"Is it… all… gold?"
A dazzling golden metropolis.
The two of them had traveled north.
And now it was lunchtime.
The sunlight, striking from behind them at midday, only amplified its brilliance.
A splendidly shining golden city had appeared.
"A golden city in the middle of the jungle…"
"How do they balance supply and demand here?"
While Abel marveled, Ryo pondered.
An isolated city like this.
It could evoke awe in one person and curiosity in another.
Humans are such complex creatures.
Ryo gazed at Abel beside him.
Staring long enough, Abel inevitably noticed.
"What is it, Ryo?"
"Abel… please don't let the sight of gold blind you into thinking of making this city a colony of the Kingdom of Knightley."
"What are you saying? Of course not."
Abel frowned slightly in confusion.
Ryo's mind wandered to Earth's history and Spain's conquest of the Inca Empire.
In the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors invaded the Inca Empire in what is now Peru.
The cities of the Inca Empire weren't literally glittering with gold.
But they possessed a significant amount of both gold and silver.
Francisco Pizarro, one of the conquistadors, captured the Inca emperor, Atahualpa.
Atahualpa negotiated for his release and to also leave his empire, offering a room filled with gold and twice as much silver, which he delivered.
Which he delivered, and was thus released.
However… Pizarro broke his promise and executed Atahualpa anyway.
Such a tragic tale.
"Gold has the power to corrupt hearts. Abel, please stay strong!"
"Yeah, don't worry about me."
"Of course, if you wanted to shower your vassals with gold as wages, I wouldn't complain!"
"Ryo, I think you're the one already being corrupted by gold…"
The human heart is fragile…
As the two stepped out of the jungle and into the golden city…
Thud.
"Whoa?"
"An invisible… wall?"
They couldn't enter.
But then, a voice resonated in their minds.
<
The moment the voice spoke, they realized the transparent barrier blocking their entry had vanished.
"Abel, did you hear that?"
"Yeah. It said we could enter."
Ryo hesitantly confirmed with Abel, who nodded.
The two exchanged glances before stepping cautiously into the city…
The city shone brilliantly with gold.
But upon closer inspection, it wasn't exactly a city…
"A temple?"
Ryo murmured.
The architecture and layout reminded him more of Angkor Wat or the Borobudur temple.
"There's no sign of people here."
Abel muttered.
Ryo nodded beside him.
Yes, there was no sign of people.
Emphasis on 'people'.
Instead, 'something' descended from the sky.
It landed before them, in what appeared to be a plaza.
-x-X-x-
Instead, 'something' descended from the sky.
It landed before them, in what appeared to be a plaza.
"A golden…"
"Dragon…"
Both Abel and Ryo could only utter those words.
Utterly overwhelmed by its presence.
<
Again, the voice echoed in their minds.
Abel was the first to speak.
"I am Abel, King of the Kingdom of Knighley."
"…And I'm Ryo."
Ryo managed to follow up.
Still awestruck.
<
(Nullus? Nullus? Could it mean null? Nothingness? Void? Zero?)
Ryo's mind raced to deduce the meaning behind the name, recalling his knowledge.
A name reflects one's essence.
The names we bear or are given inevitably influence us over time.
If this holds true for humans, whose lives span mere decades.
How much more profound would the effect be for a dragon…
"This voice we hear in our minds… is it you? May I confirm that you are indeed the Dragon King, Nullus-dono?"
<
Nullus nodded.
The gesture of its massive, over 50-meter-long body created a significant gust of wind.
Yet, Abel stood firm.
Though initially overwhelmed, he now conversed with the dragon with the poise of an equal.
Ryo couldn't help but admire Abel's composure.
"Abel… you're incredible."
"Huh? If the Dragon King meant to kill us, we'd already be dead, wouldn't we? And besides, meeting a dragon is legendary enough. To meet the Dragon King himself… it's an adventurer's dream."
Abel laughed as he answered.
And Ryo felt a deep tremor in his heart.
He was moved.
By Abel's sheer strength of character.
<
"What do you mean by that?"
<>
"What?!"
At the startling words of Dragon King Nullus, both Ryo and Abel were left speechless.
Dragons were said to live forever.
Of course, after the recent 'Death Dragon' incident, they knew this wasn't entirely true.
Still, dragons were believed to have lifespans of hundreds of thousands of years.
"Are you about to become a death dragon?"
<
"So you'll be reborn? That's a relief."
Ryo said, feeling genuinely happy for some reason.
Though he couldn't explain why… For some reason.
<
Nullus said with a laugh.
Ryo and Abel didn't fully grasp the situation.
But for Ryo, the word 'reincarnation' stirred a faint sense of nostalgia.
"Is there anything we can do to help?"
<
"Thousands of years…"
"The Dragon King's sense of time is entirely different from ours."
Abel said, astonished, while Ryo nodded in agreement.
After all, Ryo's so-called slow life had lasted just about twenty years…
<
"Hah. By any chance, will you return as a baby dragon, and we'll have to raise you or something…?"
<
"Oh, I see…"
Ryo had asked the question based on his knowledge of manga he had read back on Earth…
It seemed they wouldn't need to take care of a baby dragon after all.
<
"Huh? Yes, Ruwin is my neighbor. How did you know that?"
<>
"Mark… when did that happen…?"
<
"Consume…?"
"Ryo, you must be delicious…"
Dragon King Nullus said with a laugh, leaving Ryo stunned and speechless.
Abel glanced at Ryo and muttered.
"A-Abel, I'm not tasty at all! If you try to eat me, I'll fight back!"
"Nah, I don't need to. You'd probably upset my stomach."
"That's just as bad in its own way…"
Eating other humans—or anything human-like—wasn't exactly an encouraged practice.
"You mentioned other Dragon Kings. Besides you and Ruwin, are there more? I've only ever heard of the Dragon King Ruwin."
<
Nullus seemed to enjoy explaining that.
Perhaps because he rarely spoke about it to anyone.
"Excuse me. I have a question!"
Ryo raised his hand to ask permission to speak.
<
"At Ruwin-san's place, there were so many red dragons. But with you, Nullus-san, there don't seem to be any gold dragons…"
<
"None?"
<
"That's…"
Ryo looked a bit saddened by this revelation.
<
Dragon King Nullus didn't seem sad at all.
He had simply accepted his nature as fact.
But his words hinted at something profound.
"Even after living for hundreds of thousands of years, you've never met your creator?"
<
"You're absolutely right."
Ryo nodded, agreeing with Dragon King Nullus, who chuckled as he spoke.
While Ryo didn't entirely dismiss evolutionary theory, the deeper one delves into various fields of study and thinks logically, the more apparent it becomes that certain 'systems' could not have arisen purely by chance. It seems reasonable to conclude that some form of creator or designer intervened at key points.
Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean 'God'.
In many cases… the designer, the founder, and the manager are entirely different entities.
Similarly, the one who started something, the one who carried it on, and the one who oversees it now may all be different individuals.
On Earth, particularly among the most elite physicists and mathematicians in the West, there's often a refusal to outright deny the existence of a creator.
The more logical a scientist is, the less likely they are to dismiss the idea.
At the very pinnacle of their fields, most refrain from denying it.
Even if they do not explicitly believe in it.
Some even suggest that considering the possibility of a creator makes things easier to explain.
Conversely, those lower in expertise or with narrow, specialized knowledge often deny the concept outright… perhaps they lack the breadth of knowledge or the ability to think independently—an unfortunate but understandable limitation…
Thinking for oneself.
Ryo believed it to be one of the most important human traits.
"Abel, this is great news. It seems Nullus-san doesn't need to eat you to reincarnate."
"Huh? What are you even talking about?"
"Well, I thought a great being like Nullus-san would need a sacrifice to reincarnate. And naturally, someone powerful, like a king, would make the perfect offering…"
"Couldn't we use a premier duke as a substitute?"
"No way! I'm not okay with that!"
"Why not?"
"Because being a sacrifice means dying. And I don't want to die yet."
"…Neither do I."
Ryo and Abel always seemed to miss each other's wavelengths.
Perhaps this was inevitable for a magician and a swordsman.
Suddenly, an unrelated memory popped into Ryo's mind.
It was from when he had first reincarnated into 'Phi' and received two books from Michael (pseudonym). One of them was the 'Monster Encyclopedia'.
At the end of the 'Monster Encyclopedia', two creatures had been appended—likely by Michael himself.
Dragons. And Akumas.
Those two, and only those two, had been placed together. Ryo couldn't help but wonder if there was a reason for this.
Since the opportunity had presented itself.
He decided to ask.
"Excuse me! I have another question!"
Ryo raised his hand enthusiastically.
<
Dragon King Nullus encouraged him calmly.
"If… it's a question you can't answer, please just say so… But what exactly are Akumas?"
Ryo asked.
<
Nullus paused, breaking the smooth flow of conversation for the first time.
It was clearly a different matter.
His gaze flicked to Abel.
<
"Yes, I am. I've never fought one… but I was caught up in an incident involving them just the other day."
<
Nullus' eyes briefly settled on the sword Abel carried on his back.
<
"Not of this world?"
"Ah, I thought as much."
Dragon King Nullus admitted, Abel tilted his head in confusion, while Ryo said with a nod.
Ryo had once told the trio from 'Room 10'.
That Akumas didn't seem to belong to the same lineage as the creatures of this world.
Of course, he had no concrete evidence.
It was just a feeling.
But intuition should not be underestimated.
And now, it seemed his hunch had been correct…
<
"You're kidding…"
"Incredible…"
Both Abel and Ryo were shocked by Nullus' statement.
But Ryo quickly considered the matter.
While Akumas were indeed powerful, he wondered how they compared to dragons…
He decided to ask directly.
"Akumas are certainly strong, but against dragons… especially the Dragon Kings—wouldn't they be at a severe disadvantage?"
<
"In the usual realms?"
Ryo tilted his head, puzzled by the phrasing.
<
"Wait, what…?"
<
"They did use a Death Dragon recently, though."
<
Nullus shook his head slightly, dismissing the matter.
"For humans, even a Death Dragon is a massive problem."
<
"I-I see…"
Abel looked unconvinced by Nullus' explanation.
But Ryo quietly shook his head and added.
"Humans themselves cause plenty of trouble. Just by existing, we're already a hassle. Compared to that, dragons are quite reasonable."
"R-Really…?"
Abel asked, still doubtful.
The three of them continued their conversation, light-hearted and unguarded.
At last, Nullus broke the flow.
<
"I see. Then this is goodbye, for now."
"When you reincarnate, please visit the Central Countries. If this king, Abel, gives you trouble, you can come to Rondo Forest instead. Ruwin could join us, and we can chat."
<
With that, Nullus began to shine even brighter, his golden glow almost blinding.
<
And with those parting words, the Dragon King vanished.
At the same time, the golden city disappeared.
When the light faded, Abel and Ryo found themselves standing in a grassland, surrounded by dense jungle.
"To witness the reincarnation of a Dragon King."
"I'm only now getting goosebumps. Truly a privilege for an adventurer."
The two exchanged thoughts.
Fully aware that they had witnessed something few, if any, humans ever would.
What an experience.
It was only natural they were excited.
"Reincarnation is in ten years, huh?"
"Let's hope Abel survives that long…"
"I-I'll be fine…!"
"Reckless is spelled A-B-E-L. That's how dangerous you are."
"What kind of logic is that…?"