Chapter 175 : Chapter 175
Chapter 175
“Star Child…, I’m sorry….”
“Sorry for what! Are you okay?! No, you’re fine! You’re fine! Just keep your wits about you!”
“Please, forgive me….”
“Please! You have to be alive to receive forgiveness, don't you!”
At the melodrama of the two old men, Nerjin and the Star Child, Kragach snorted.
[…Hah, indeed. Star Child…. You too were nothing more than a trivial insect after all.]
Ignoring him completely, the Star Child tried to manifest his Stellar Force on Nerjin's dizzyingly wide wound, but.
“Kgh!”
Instead, a spark flew, and his hand was burned. It was despairing.
“Please…! Lord Cosmos…! Was my sister and my comrades not enough, and now you take even this young one who was given a new life through their sacrifice!”
“I, Star Child….”
“Lord Cosmos, please!”
“I thought, you were trying to kill me….”
The trembling in Nerjin's voice gradually lessened, and strength was added. The Star Child's eyes widened.
Having crossed numerous life-and-death situations and witnessed many deaths, he knew well the final burst of strength that comes with the panorama of one's life, like a candle just before it goes out.
“Why! Why would I kill you…!”
“Even though you saw me, you didn't come for me, so I…, I thought you were gauging the day to kill me….”
“No! Absolutely not! How many people staked their beliefs and lives to save you! How could I possibly kill you! I, too, was waiting for you! Because you feared me, I was waiting for the storm in your emotions to calm down!”
“That you didn't resent me….”
“Absolutely not! So save your words now! Just focus on healing your body! You have to live!”
Nerjin smiles.
“Ah…, I see. So that’s how it was…. What a relief….”
“You have to live! You saw your granddaughter, didn't you! So… little brat!”
Nerjin's eyes close.
‘Aah, Bianca. Please forgive this worthless grandfather.’
It couldn't be helped that she was the first to come to mind. He wouldn't be at peace even in death, worrying about his lone granddaughter.
‘President Martin, I leave her in your care. And may your great work also….’
He wouldn't be able to join him in his great work, but he believed President Martin, being a man of loyalty, would support Bianca to the end.
‘And Star Child, please… somehow survive….’
Not me. A being far greater than me.
Because the Star Child is here.
‘I….’
How could I not know the rumors circulating, having eyes and ears. Princess Adela, Luri of Elidore, and even Savo. All were saved through President Martin, transcended, and became strong.
On the other hand, I received salvation and was shown the path, but I failed to cross the peak.
‘It must be right for me to leave now. Right, Teacher…?’
“Nerjin! Nerjin!”
He could feel the small, precariously flickering flame, Nerjin's flame of life, extinguishing.
***
‘I hate to admit it, but he’s quite good.’
Wilhelm of Harmadun.
His own skills were beyond question, and his command was also clean.
The organized army was small, but it was an elite force that included 3 of the only 35 Platinum Knights in the world.
“I can see Imperium Land over there, Duke Wilhelm.”
“Indeed.”
Of course, those Platinum Knights were not fighting. Well, I understand. They are the hidden ace. A joker card, so to speak. A card that should be saved all the more, especially in an urgent disaster situation like this.
Platinum Numbering No.4 Knight of the Red Bow, Wilhelm.
No.7 Knight of Moonlight, Celina.
No.11 Frost Knight, Daine.
‘Celina and Daine.’
They were Platinum Knights who had achieved distinguished service in the original story as well.
‘Celina's Moonlight has the power to strip away falsehoods. She was the first to notice the crisis at the academy during the Brahmus terror incident. Daine was… the gatekeeper of the summit, was he? They said he might have been called the strongest shield if it weren't for Tauforos.’
‘This disaster might really be their own foolish move, just as Wild Instinct said.’
And there was also an unpleasant but reliable fellow.
“Gilbert! Are you okay?”
“Ah, yeah. I’m not hurt, Elisha.”
“You must be careful, Sir Gilbert.”
“B-Be careful.”
Gilbert and Lina. And even Elisha and Mary.
Well, since the Emperor told Harmadun to protect Imperium Land, I understand Elisha being here. But for Gilbert and Lina to be here of all places too.
It was at that moment.
“Duke Wilhelm! Look at the Land!”
“What in the world is that…!”
Something was soaring up from the central part of the Land. It was like a giant, living black rock. But its form was like….
“A dragon…?”
“It's a dragonkin…!”
Just its upper body seemed to reach the sky, and even though it hadn't spread its wings, the overflowing majesty made my legs tremble. And.
[Hahahahahahaha!]
With the dragon's roar, flames erupted from the rock dragon's massive body.
It was as dazzling as seeing the sun up close. The night instantly turned into bright daylight.
“Damn it! Laughing people and now a dragon! What in the world is happening to the continent!”
Frost Knight Daine drew his sword and shield. The Knight of Moonlight, Celina, next to him also raised her Moonlight Sword and shouted.
“Haha! We’re screwed!”
“Stop it and let’s all go!”
The three Platinum Knights began to dash. A sudden departure of the command structure. At that moment, Celina turned back and shouted.
“Derzo! Take command, will you?”
“Ah, really! You always leave the cleanup to me! Lady Celina! Take care of your adjutant! Please?!”
Despite Derzo's cry, Celina just gave a thumbs-up and ran forward, looking only ahead. Derzo slapped his forehead and sighed.
“…Greetings, gentlemen. I am Gold Knight Derzo, adjutant to Sir Celina, the Knight of Moonlight. I will take temporary command. Nothing changes. Maintain the previous tactics, we will proceed at maximum speed.”
Derzo's feelings were my feelings. Tactics or whatever, honestly, I felt like deserting. The only consolation was that we were just a stone's throw away from Imperium Land.
‘I need to hurry.’
“Now! Forward!”
No one was as anxious as Martin, but everyone had the same thought. Faster. Even faster. Of course, for a different reason than Martin.
The successive disasters that appeared out of nowhere were enough to make even warriors called the strong tremble with fear.
But humanity does not collapse. Today's disaster will also one day become history. So today. They are going to leave their names in history.
“Let's go fast! Fast!”
“…”
Just as I was hoping to arrive quickly while moving in formation, I felt it.
“Prepare to fire….”
“Wait! Just a moment!”
I hurriedly stopped Derzo, the commanding officer. He frowned at me.
“What is it, Sir Martin?”
“…Take a look at their movements.”
Derzo looked at the area occupied by the laughing people. It was nothing unusu—.
“Hmm?”
It was somewhat different from the first impression of them moving indiscriminately and rushing in. It was as if they were being… chased by something.
Indeed, the laughing people were laughing madly and fleeing. From something… a giant, four-legged beast.
“Come here!”
With Martin's call, the beast leaped. It jumped in a single bound over the crowd of laughing people and landed in front of the army.
“Lilac!”
“Yes!”
I grabbed Lilac's hand and got on top.
“Sebastian! Roar!”
The roar that Sebastian let out shot forward. The laughing people froze stiff or fainted on the spot.
‘Incredible!’
Even in the Wild Instinct trial, the poisonous snakes and insects couldn't move a muscle near Sebastian.
Similarly, Sebastian was the perfect antidote for people who had lost their reason.
“Let's charge! I will clear the way!”
Derzo, grasping the situation, hurriedly gave the order.
“All units! Change to pursuit formation! We will charge with Guardian Sir Martin at the front!”
While the army was entering the Land's interior, the three Platinum Knights were able to stand before the dragon of overwhelming majesty.
“O, Dragon!”
[Tsk, what is it?]
Kragach, annoyed, looked at the man with the red bow who had called him. He was not in a good mood for being disturbed from the fine time he was having watching the melodrama of Nerjin and the Star Child, savoring their sorrow and despair as a delicacy.
“I am Wilhelm of Harmadun! A Duke of the Imperium Empire, the focal point of the Humanity Alliance, and I fight day by day for the peace and well-being of the continent!”
[…So?]
“For what reason have you visited the Empire, O Dragon?! Are you perhaps related to the laughing people who suddenly appeared?!”
[Aha, the laughing people.]
Kragach smirked.
[I feel like laughing too.]
“Pardon?”
[Because I'm angry at you fools who can't even tell friend from foe!]
Kragach swung his foreleg. It was a swift movement, like a leopard snatching a sleeping rabbit, but.
“…Aha.”
Wilhelm had also escaped the danger radius in the blink of an eye.
Wilhelm, who caught his fedora that was about to be blown away by the belatedly rushing wind pressure and pressed it down firmly, slightly raised his head and glared at Kragach with his red eyes.
“So you were an enemy?”
[Have you ever heard of me? I am the Seat of Fury! The Demon Lord of Endless Fury, Lord Kragach!]
What flew back instead of an answer was a red arrow that he must have nocked on his bowstring at some unknown moment.
The moment Kragach frowned, the Red Arrow directly hit the dragon's head, creating a huge explosion.
“…Oh dear.”
But Wilhelm twisted his lips downward. Through the red smoke of the explosion, a powerful flame was spat out. Nevertheless, Wilhelm just stood his ground and drew his bowstring.
Just then, the trajectory of the flame shifted.
“Heave-ho!”
[Kgh!]
A ridiculously large Moonlight greatsword had struck Kragach's head.
Celina gave a thumbs-up.
“Sir Daine! If you please!”
“Understood!”
Breaking through the gushing flames and advancing right up to Kragach's mouth, Frost Knight Daine thrust his ice shield forward.
“Die, demon dragon!”
A cold wave surged. In an instant, freezing began, even freezing the flames, and eventually froze Kragach's entire head solid.
“Hup!”
As a finishing touch, Wilhelm once again shot a Red Arrow. The arrow struck Kragach's Adam's apple. Kragach's long neck and head staggered. At the same time, the flames that had been spewing out backflowed, and his mountain-like body began to swell.
…If it had been an ordinary opponent, they would have imploded, unable to withstand their own momentum.
“Everyone, be careful!”
With Wilhelm's warning, flames burst out from Kragach's entire body as if exploding. It was a recreation of a pseudo-sun.
A hot wind accompanied by flames spread out for dozens of kilometers. The entire Imperium Land, which had been a place of a grand festival, began to burn fiercely.
When the flame eruption ended, Kragach laughed.
[Hehehe, that was quite a novel experience, you insects. Are you alive? Khahahaha!]
The dragon's head laughed aloud through the flames and smoke. As expected, Kragach was no ordinary foe. However, his opponents were just as exceptional.
“That’s dangerous.”
The wreckage of the building, which was thought to have completely collapsed, burst open, revealing the interior. It was filled not with flames, but with frost and cold air.
[…Ooh, you withstood that. Well, for an insect's parlor tricks, it's quite something. I'll acknowledge it. It wasn't bad for a little amusement before the main stage.]
“A Demon Lord….”
Just then, Celina stroked her chin.
“I heard Sir Hectia had a hard time against that pig bastard called Brahmus.”
Then she smiled brightly.
“This should be doable, don't you think?”
Kragach was provoked.
[You, you insolent vermin—!]
“For real! I’m serious!”
[I will not forgive you!]
Wilhelm and Daine looked at Celina with an expression that said she couldn't be helped. She was a renowned eccentric, after all.
However, they didn't get angry. Because they truly believed it was doable.
[That foolish Brahmus! Because of you, the day has come when I am being evaluated by mere vermin!]
Kragach stretched his neck straight up, then ducked his head low and spewed fire. A firestorm once again swept over the three Platinum Knights, but.
“I will block it!”
Frost Knight Daine. The ice barrier she erected blocked the flames.