Chapter 118
Chapter 118
"Hm... That makes sense."
"If dragons value honor, this can be understood as well..."
Megarexor and Ronit finally accepted it and withdrew their mana.
If someone else would take care of Grafden the Deep, then there was no particular reason to treat them as an enemy.
However, since their mind could change at any moment, they could not afford to relax.
"So if you think that way, does that mean you'll leave us and the Empire alone?"
"Strictly speaking, the dragon attacked first, so we can't be at fault. We only killed the enemy in self-defense."
"So you're saying this dragon doesn't belong to either side?"
"That's right. It's committed to neutrality."
"Certainly... I have heard of this before. Ru the Luminescent is said to uphold neutrality to the end."
Alter observed the scene with doubt.
He never expected Ru the Luminescent to interfere in this war.
Even in the futures he'd seen before, there had not been a single situation where Ru the Luminescent appeared.
'... Has the order changed this time?'
Originally, the revelation that Grafden the Deep was being controlled was supposed to come after the battle was over.
Even if Ru the Luminescent intervened at that point, it would be over, with nothing left to do.
But now, with the slime discovered first, the course of the future had been overturned.
'I suppose I can consider this a stroke of luck. If it's Ru the Luminescent, things can be wrapped up somehow.'
Ru the Luminescent was one of the most formidable among the seven dragons.
Because of this, none of the other dragons dared to speak out against him no matter what he said.
They simply regarded it as another opinion and only insisted upon the rule that no one could infringe on another's territory.
'Dragons are all extremely proud. At least Ru the Luminescent tends to compromise when possible.'
Ru the Luminescent enforced the rules strictly, but never tried to incite trouble.
On the contrary, as long as issues could be resolved peacefully within the rules, he was quick to withdraw.
But once he decided to step forward personally, he would always finish things swiftly and thoroughly.
'It's quite possible that Ru the Luminescent... knows about my identity.'
Ru the Luminescent must have witnessed the process of Tiksa the Frostbane's sealing.
Had it gone against the rules, he would certainly have intervened, but so far, he had done nothing.
In essence, it meant he indirectly accepted both Tiksa the Frostbane and himself as the descendant of the priest.
'Maybe he even knows about my mother?'
If his mother foresaw the future, it's only natural she would have come into contact with Ru the Luminescent.
And since he even inherited the dragon's blood, Ru the Luminescent might have some curiosity.
Nevertheless, if he seeks neutrality at all times, wouldn't he leave even his mother alone?
'There's nothing I can do now. I must not fight Ru the Luminescent.'
Ru the Luminescent was a being who could even become an ally in a critical situation.
Of course, most of the time, he would side with another dragon, but at least he wouldn't threaten humans.
So he had to observe the development of the situation, without getting in Ru the Luminescent's way.
'The thing I need to focus on now... is the Knight of True Flame.'
The Knight of True Flame was probably hiding somewhere, watching the situation.
If Grafden the Deep were simply to fall as is, he could absorb the mana.
But with Ru the Luminescent present, predicting his reaction was difficult, so the Knight of True Flame couldn't recklessly interfere.
'Most likely, Ru the Luminescent won't stop the Knight of True Flame.'
If he really wanted to stop the Knight of True Flame, Ru the Luminescent would've intervened in the war in the eastern territory.
Perhaps he feels Grafden the Deep was simply driven to his death, but the reality is the dragon died.
Even for dragons, once dead, the body is nothing more than a corpse, so perhaps he wouldn't recognize it as the same being.
'Will the four of us have to fight the Knight of True Flame...?'
* * *
The Knight of True Flame was cloaked in secrecy, closely watching Grafden the Deep.
With thick scales and shell, he wouldn't be taken down easily.
For now, he would leave it to the Empire's strong and wait for an opportunity.
'Did they aim for the vital point from the start? I see they were conscious of me.'
The Knight of True Flame watched the two sword energy strikes—one of frost, another of shock—and deduced slowly.
It was inevitable that a prolonged battle with a dragon would accumulate various damages.
And eventually, he himself would step in, so he had to conserve his strength.
'But he isn't dead. This will only make it harder.'
Even as his head was being torn off, Grafden the Deep was still casting spells.
Earthen walls quickly rose up and his head and legs became encased in rock.
With Earth magic enhancing body durability, ordinary attacks wouldn't work.
'There was a slime in his head. So that's what caused the bizarre behavior.'
Discovering the mucus, the Knight of True Flame involuntarily narrowed his eyes sharply.
Because of that slime, Grafden the Deep would never stop rampaging.
Even if the Imperial Army won, there would be huge casualties.
From here, it seemed like he would have to cooperate.
'If I could just bring down one leg... Hm? This sensation...'
The Knight of True Flame instinctively sensed dragonic mana.
Soon, Ru the Luminescent split the sky, revealing his magnificent form.
Who would have expected yet another dragon to appear just as the battle began?
"To dare to defile my kin... I will make sure you perish!"
'It's gotten complicated, but the result isn't so bad.'
Calmly observing, the Knight of True Flame quickly became certain.
Ru the Luminescent was attacking Grafden the Deep without hesitation.
It seemed he wished to grant him a peaceful end.
'I can take as much mana as my ability permits, but now I'll have to fight their side's strong ones.'
The Knight of True Flame tensed slightly, glancing down at his sword hilt.
Sword Saint, holy apostle, Sword Flower, and the next great mage.
The mightiest powers of the Agnes Empire were all together.
Could he defeat the four of them single-handedly and rip away the dragon's power?
'... It was already fated. So I must prevail.'
Once again, the Knight of True Flame steeled his resolve and controlled his internal mana.
To achieve his goal, multiple conflicts with them were unavoidable.
It was a process he must go through, a trial exclusively laid out for him.
'I can't give up just because of this. This is only the beginning.'
* * *
Ru the Luminescent looked down at the earth, letting out endless mana.
The earth wall raised by Grafden the Deep had already collapsed, his body-encasing stones splitting apart in an instant.
Still, Grafden the Deep kept creating new walls and stones, trying desperately to shield himself.
'To have your body taken over by something like that... Grafden the Deep...'
Ru the Luminescent was both deeply grieved and seething with anger.
Once, he had shaken Hazlodein's world, yet now he had been done in by such a contemptible creature.
He had warned him to be cautious, but how could any being be so foolish?
'Even I have only now managed to identify its true nature, so I can't blame you alone.'
So Ru the Luminescent decided to end Grafden the Deep's suffering by bringing death to his body.
A masterless rampaging body could not be left unchecked.
As a watcher and fellow kin, this much dignity must be preserved.
'It could be left to Tiksa's descendant... No, this is my duty to resolve.'
Ru the Luminescent did not deny the existence of Alter Radiant, but he could not fully accept him.
Even if he inherited Tiksa the Frostbane's blood, it was not enough to call him a dragon.
He still harbored human origins; there had to remain a distinction.
'I was careless, but you too cannot be called blameless. So after your death, I will no longer interfere.'
Ru the Luminescent, spotting a brief opening, fired concentrated mana.
Grafden the Deep's right foreleg was pierced, and his body toppled.
At the same time, the stones encasing his head began cracking apart.
'Tiksa the Frostbane sealed herself, Ekexax the Tempest and Benelrode the Incandescent were slain by humans. Grafden the Deep... only you have been put down by another of your kind.'
Suppressing his heartbreak, Ru the Luminescent delivered the final blow.
A brilliant white flash struck down and reached Grafden the Deep.
The beam pierced his head, annihilating even the slime within.
"......."
Ru the Luminescent wiped away his mana and faced the corpse of his kin.
Grafden the Deep moved no more, and the lingering mana dissipated.
At least the pride of dragons had been upheld—perhaps that was reason for some relief.
'My assigned duty is over. Now I must follow the providence of the world.'
With a glance toward the humans, Ru the Luminescent vanished at once.
Those who inherited the dragon's blood, those who craved the dragon's power.
He had pondered over them endlessly but always returned to the same conclusion—he must remain an observer.
'... I will keep watching. You too are now tangled with Hazlodein.'
* * *
Together with his three allies, Alter approached Grafden the Deep.
The matter of life and death had already been confirmed, soldiers encircling the area.
But since the battle wasn't yet over, they couldn't withdraw just yet.
"Are you coming now?"
"......."
The sound of armor clashing could be heard not far away.
He wondered if the enemy might fly, but instead, they were approaching on foot.
Knowing that no trickery would work, he was ready for open battle.
"Sword Flower."
"Yes."
"Let me tell you once more. Don't move in front of me. You only have to focus on me and the holy apostle."
"... Yes."
Brillie Illenat answered reluctantly and adjusted her grip on her sword hilt.
She was well aware of the concerns of the Sword Saint.
Still, it was a bit troubling to have to put the risk entirely on the Sword Saint and the holy apostle.
"Youngest of the ducal house."
"Yes."
"Focus solely on attacking. If you get too involved with us, we can't win."
"Understood."
Alter unconsciously mulled over the meaning of those words.
Even if the Sword Saint or holy apostle were wounded, the Knight of True Flame had to be killed first, no matter what.
The enemy was strong enough to warrant staking their lives on this fight.
"......."
The Knight of True Flame silently revealed himself.
As expected, only the four strongest stood in his way.
Unable to slaughter the soldiers, they were confronting him as an elite team.
"... You plan to interfere?"
From behind the reddish helmet came an eerie voice.
At the same time, flames erupted across his whole body, engulfing his armor.
The Knight of True Flame slowly drew his sword and gazed at them.
"This time, I will go all out. Are you prepared?"