Book 2: Chapter 229: Symbol of Victory (1)
Book 2: Chapter 229: Symbol of Victory (1)
<Symbol of Victory (1)>
After deciding to teleport to Delphine, the capital of the Haru Kingdom, all preparations finished quickly.
Choi Han stepped forward as well after Eruhaben.
“I will go as well, Cale0nim.”
Eruhaben shook his head.
“No, Choi Han, you stay here. Cale, you agree, right?”
“Uhh… mm.”
Cale pointed to Raon, who was fluttering his wings next to him.
“I think it would be fine for just the two of us to go?”
“No.”“You cannot do that, Cale-nim.”
Choi Han and Eruhaben shook their heads at the same time.
Raon puffed up his cheeks.
“What is the issue?! The two of us is enough!”
“Hoo hoo.”
Mila quietly chuckled as she spoke.
“It is because you are both troublemakers.”
“…….”
“…….”
Cale and Raon looked around as if they had been wronged, but nobody took their side.
“I will be going with Raon and Cale. It’ll be the three of us.”
The ancient Dragon made the decision as if to say he will not accept any comments. His gaze then turned toward the Haru Kingdom's people at a corner of the room.
“…Minister?”
“Yes, yes sir.”
Bailey wiped some cold sweat off her forehead.
Raon approached her and cautiously asked.
“Hey Minister! Are you still hurting? Shouldn’t you be getting some rest?”
“N, not at all. I am okay. Oh esteemed Dragon.”
Honestly speaking, Bailey felt as if her mind would go blank right now.
‘How many Dragons are here?’
Raon, Eruhaben, Rasheel, and Mila…
She had seen four Dragons until now.
She would have fainted a long time ago if it wasn't for her many years of experience.
“…….”
“…….”
Bailey's aide and Sam had already blanked out, so she had to at least maintain consciousness.
“Minister-nim, are you really okay?”
Bailey calmed herself after hearing Cale’s question and answered with a stiff expression on her face.
“This is not the time to be resting, sir.”
She had no idea when the Holy Empire would realize something was wrong and make their move.
They had to move as quickly as possible so that King Dennis would not get flustered no matter the situation.
“Huuuuu.”
She let out a short breath before continuing to speak.
“There is only one proper mage in the Haru Kingdom.”
"But you said that person is part of the Empire faction?”
“Yes, sir. That is why we are unfortunately not able to contact his Majesty in a different way and have to teleport immediately-”
Bailey stopped for a moment before continuing to speak.
“I ask for your understanding even if there is chaos for a moment and it becomes disordered.”
“Yes, ma’am. That is okay.”
A little chaos was nothing to Cale who had even thought about barging into the palace.
"Then Minister-nim… Where would these coordinates place us within the Royal Palace?”
“Ah-”
Bailey realized she had not told them yet and calmly answered.
“It is the bedroom.”
“?”
“It is his Majesty’s bedroom.”
“?”
"That is the most secretive place.”
Cale was silent for a moment before he asked.
“…There should be no issues, right?”
Yes sir. None at all.”
Cale decided to trust the Minister's gentle smile, no, he just decided to stop thinking.
Because they did not have time.
“I'll cast the spell.”
Eruhaben stepped forward and gently pushed Raon back a bit.
The training ground at the basement of the Black Castle…
There were a few of the Haru Kingdom's people, in addition to the ones going with Bailey to the capital, in this decently large training ground. The Village Chief was there as well.
Eruhaben did not want them to see Raon using magic. He spoke to the others.
“Hold on even if it is a bit difficult to handle.”
Bailey clenched her hands together.
She had already heard the explanation. A Dragon needed to use Dragon Fear to dominate the area in order to cast a spell.
Bailey agreed to hear a detailed explanation once they met the king, so Bailey chose to not ask anything else and simply watched.
Ooooooooong-
The air rumbled.
The air around her slowly started to get heavier.
Bailey realized that the Dragon was being considerate of them and using his Dragon Fear extremely slowly and weakly.
However, she still felt suffocated.
‘Mmph.’
It was definitely different.
The density and depth of this Dragon Fear was different from the force used by the Dragon half-bloods in the First Knights Brigade.
The pressure and awe that humans feel when seeing a beautiful natural scenery in front of them… It was like subconsciously gasping in response. This aura did not only have fear and dread within it.
Something of the world that humans did not have…
It felt as if she was facing one of the deepest secrets hidden in this world.
A fear that she could not describe, potentially from getting a peek at one of the laws of the world, stimulated her.
‘Is this Dragon Fear?’
Even an extremely light form of Dragon Fear was making her feel such strong emotions…
How would a full Dragon Fear feel?
Bailey suddenly looked toward Cale's back.
The aura that destroyed the Dragon half-bloods earlier…
The other humans did not properly experience that aura earlier. She had no idea how a human like him could use such an aura, but… Would his power be like this as well?
Bailey felt curiosity, anticipation, and concern all at the same time.
‘…What could Sir Cale want?’
She still had not figured that out.
‘I'm sure we will figure that out as well once we meet with his Majesty.’
There was no need for her to make any rash judgments.
Oooooo– oooooo–
A white gold magic circle appeared at the center of the training ground.
‘Ah.’
The Dragon Fear disappeared and only the radiant white gold light filled Bailey's eyes.
It was beautiful.
“Let’s go.”
The ancient Dragon was the first to step onto the magic circle.
Cale and Raon followed him before Bailey motioned to her aide and Sam as she got onto the magic circle as well.
Sam, who was the last to move, made eye contact with a senior knight. He nodded his head with a determined look on his face after seeing his senior knight nodding his head, telling him to do well.
‘Sam. Tell his Majesty exactly what you saw.’
The reason Sam, who was young and the newest knight in the group, was going with this group was because he had seen the most.
Sam calmed his heart that was running wild from fear, excitement, nervousness, he didn’t really know, as he stepped onto the magic circle.
Ooooooooong-
Dragon Fear rose up a bit again, and…
Paaaat-!
Cale’s group disappeared from the spot.
“Mm.”
One of the Haru Kingdom's knights gulped after seeing that.
‘How amazing.’
This was his first time seeing teleportation. It was shocking but he barely managed to not let his shock show.
The butler of this castle walked up next to him.
“I will escort you to your lodging.”
“Yes, sir.”
He respectfully answered the butler before leaving the basement training ground with the others.
Rasheel watched them leave before asking.
“What do we do now?”
Mila answered him.
“Follow me.”
The group following Mila arrived at a meeting room in one of the middle floors of the Black Castle.
Click.
The door opened.
Three women, whom Cale had left behind a request with, were looking at a map on top of the center table and chatting.
Former Dragon Lord Sheritt asked Mila who just walked in.
“Did they leave?”
“Yes, ma’am. They left.”
Rasheel couldn't hide his curiosity and blurted out.
“Hey, human mage. What do we need to do?”
He was looking at Rosalyn.
Choi Han also looked toward Rosalyn. On the other hand, Rosalyn motioned toward the Chief who had awkwardly followed behind the group.
“Chief-nim, please come over here.”
“Hey, I asked you what we need to do.”
Rosalyn then nonchalantly responded to Rasheel's question.
“Nothing right now.”
She then pointed toward the map for the Chief to see.
“Mm.”
The Chief gulped.
A portion of the Erghe Mountain Range, their village, and the vast fields outside…
Everything was drawn on this map.
‘Where did she get this?
Did Minister Bailey give it to her?’
Rosalyn spoke in a refreshing tone before he could ask anything.
"We are planning on fortifying this whole area.”
Cale had asked Rosalyn.
‘Miss Rosalyn. We are lacking when it comes to numbers. You know what we need, right?’
‘Please don’t worry.’
She knew the answer even without him saying anything.
“The ten mages that came with me will work with me to create large-scale magic circles in multiple locations on this map.”
Rosalyn’s subordinates were part of the one hundred who came here.
She had pulled them out of building the Magic Tower to come with her. They were also talented battle mages who had worked with Cale and Rosalyn since the War against the Indomitable Alliance.
The Chief's eyes opened wide.
“M, ma’am, you are able to use magic?”
“NO, sir.”
Rosalyn shook her head.
“Ah.”
Rosalyn smiled toward the sighing Chief. Choi Han could see that Rosalyn's gaze was firm despite saying that she could not use magic.
‘Choi Han. You said that you could use your aura, right? Can I ask you how you did that?’
‘… Domain. You just need to create a domain.’
‘Is it the same as young master Cale?’
‘Yes.’
‘How did you make that? Can you tell me?’
He had no problem telling Rosalyn, one of his close friends.
‘In my case, the aura automatically started flowing out once I became certain about my path.’
‘Ah.’
Rosalyn's face did not look good as she gasped.
Choi Han had a decent idea about why she did that.
Of the people he had met until now, there was nobody who was as firm about their path and pushed forward without any hesitation like Rosalyn.
Maybe she should have created this aura sooner than Choi Han had done.
However, Rosalyn soon removed the concerned portion of her expression and her face lit up.
‘Choi Han, in that case…’
‘Yeah?’
‘You are saying I should be able to use Dragon Fear as well? No. You are saying I can create something that is different from Dragon Fear; something that is my own?’
‘As expected of Rosalyn.’ Choi Han thought to himself.
She could not hide her curiosity.
No, it was not just curiosity, it was a desire.
‘…I may be able to grow my magic one step higher.’
He then heard Rosalyn gently speaking to the Chief.
“Chief-nim, although we cannot use magic right now, we have our knowledge of magic and can make the preparations for magic as much as we want. That will be extremely beneficial.”
As long as they install some magic circles throughout the area, they will just need to activate them in the future.
Activating shouldn’t be a problem as they had Dragons, Cale, and Choi Han.
“As for our large-scale magic circles, hmm… I can say this much with certainty-”
Rosalyn said it loudly despite Dragons being there with them.
"Even the Dragons will be shocked.”
Rosalyn had not stopped research while constructing the Magic Tower.
‘Let’s install these magic circles as well.’
‘Will that be okay, ma’am? These are for warfare.’
‘Miss Rosalyn. We may end up going to war against the entire continent.’
Cale had said to Rosalyn.
‘Most of this continent’s power configuration would have been newly reconstructed since the cataclysmic period.’
Cale had not stopped worrying because the Dragon half-blood Knights Brigade were weaker than he had expected. In fact, the look on his face became more serious after his conversation with Bailey.
‘Even in the Haru Kingdom, the opposing faction supporting the Empire has more influence than the king himself. I'm sure the other nations are worse if not at the same level.’
There would be many people supporting the Holy Empire's authority and power.
‘Furthermore, the Dragon half-blood Knights Brigade was much weaker than we expected.’
‘Young master Cale, do you think they were just putting on a façade?’
‘Yes, Miss Rosalyn.’
After magic and aura became a power only the smallest amount of individuals can use, it could be said that all of Aipotu became weaker.
‘May I ask why?’
‘It is because of the Blood Demon.’
However, Cale did not believe that Aipotu was weaker now.
‘The Blood Demon has killed hundreds of thousands of people and done all sorts of things in order to fight the Dragons, the Purple Bloods in Aipotu.’
The reason Cale brought one hundred strong people with him was because of what happened in the Central Plains with the Blood Cult.
An opponent stronger than the Blood Cult…
It was vigilance toward the Purple Bloods as the Blood Demon had been scared of them.
Cale did not tell Rosalyn, but there was one more thing he was worried about.
‘The God of Balance also did not say anything about me bringing a hundred people with me.’
That meant that he needed to have at least that level of preparation for the balance to be right.
‘The God of Balance will argue that we are breaking the balance if our side was too strong.’
That meant that Aipotu was stronger than the combined strength of the 100 in his group.
Cale did not share this thought with Rosalyn but did emphasize something with her.
‘Preparations save lives.’
Rosalyn remembered the battle against the Indomitable Alliance that Cale’s preparations had created.
That was why she said this to the group inside the meeting room.
“These are all necessary preparations to get ready for another subjugation squad showing up, so please follow the steps.”
There was one another thing Rosalyn wanted while they did these preparations.
‘…I'm in a period of stagnation.’
She knew that her magic was currently in a period of stagnation.
Maybe this world, a place where she could not use magic properly, would give this the chance to grow.
Opportunities always follow danger.
‘And I am here because I did not miss that opportunity.”
Although what she just said could sound arrogant, Rosalyn truly had not missed it. She had persisted no matter what it took.
She planned on doing so this time as well.
Mila, who had been quiet, made a comment.
“If Rosalyn is at the center to prepping for the subjugation squad, then the inquisitors-”
She looked somewhere.
A woman, who had been looking at the map until now, raised her head.
She opened her mouth.
“I will take care of them.”
Dark Elf Tasha.
She smiled at them.
“Pendrick and I will take care of the inquisitors.”
The Inquisitors, whom they believed to be Elves…
Dark Elves such as Tasha, Elves like Pendrick, and many Elves and Dark Elves would be dragged into this.
Rasheel opened his mouth at that moment.
“You said even a Dragon might show up? I'll take care of that.”
He then added on.
“Plus, someone needs to use Dragon Fear for you all to use your powers. I will use Dragon Fear so use your powers within its domain.”
Mila smiled gently and commented in a quiet voice.
“How active of you.”
“Hmph.”
Rasheel snorted but could not answer Mila's question.
He then must have found something to be uncomfortable as he added on.
“It is because I want to pummel those motherfucking Dragons whose brains have rotted to the core! It is absolutely not because I want to help Cale Henituse!”
“Hoo hoo.”
Mila and Sheritt quietly chuckled while Rasheel frowned and tried to say something else.
But he couldn't do that.
Tap tap. Someone was tapping his arm. He turned his head to see a white-haired man.
“What the…?”
The white hair and green-eyed man, Clopeh Sekka, was smiling.
“May I come with you?”
“Huh?”
Clopeh had asked Tasha.
I want to be part of the team going after the Inquisitors…”
“Mm. Well, it doesn't matter to us.”
Tasha answered.
Rasheel, who then received Clopeh’s gaze, flinched before answering.
"Well, it shouldn't matter, right?”
He then thought to himself.
‘That fucker's gaze is weird.’
That guy seemed to be the one who was out of his damn mind.
However, he did not say that part out loud.
Crazy bastards were best when fighting against crazy bastards.
These punks who quietly stood there as if they were shy but had sparkling gazes were the most suitable for such situations.
As everybody was figuring out their roles, former Lord Sheritt slowly moved back and sighed.
“Huuuuuu.”
"Did something happen?”
Mila came over right on time and Sheritt shook her head.
“You must be worried about the children.”
However, Mila’s next comments made Sheritt smile bitterly without being able to answer.
“No.”
“I'm sure that’s not the case. You must be worried about Raon going to the capital. In addition-”
Mila could not finish her sentence.
The children she mentioned were not only talking about Raon.
Her other child or really her other child's enemy…
The Dragon half-blood.
Mila, who could not mention the half-blood who became a Bone Dragon, trailed off a bit before asking.
“…Who is with them?”
Lord Sheritt closed her eyes before opening them back. Her gaze moved toward the rear garden of the Black Castle.
“I'm pretty sure Beacrox, Witira, and Sui Khan are with them.
She then added on.
“…They are probably interrogating the Captain and the Dragon half-bloods of the First Knights Brigade.”
The Dragon half-bloods of Aipotu…
The Dragon half-blood was in charge of dealing with them.
“He apparently volunteered himself for it.”
This was what the Dragon half-blood had wanted.
Mila stopped talking for a moment. Sheritt joined her in the silence.
However, the area around the two Dragons was quite wordy.
The Holy Empire and the Purple Bloods…
The preparations to go up against them were being prepared one after the other.
* * *
Paaaat-!
Cale opened his eyes after sensing the bright light.
“?”
King Dennis, a young boy who had a completely blank face from confusion, was looking at him.
Dennis then blurted out.
“You are-”
‘Hmm?’
Before Cale could respond in any way…
King Dennis continued.
“You are the disappeared youngest young master?”
Cale started to speak at that moment.
“Excuse me?”
The young King reacted back.
“Hmm?”
The two of them blankly looked at each other.
—
Translator's Comments
Just who was this House of Snow? You know nothing, John Snow!
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