Chapter 82
The corpse of a dragon that had lost its life in the War of the Gods more than two thousand years ago.
Its unyielding bones, buried deep beneath the earth and refusing to decay, were gathered and bound together with corrupted divinity.
Thus, an undead monster erged into this world—reborn from what might as well have been a demonic lair—and ca to be called the Demonic Dragon.
No blade forged of iron could so much as scratch its scales, and a re brush from its writhing tail was enough to crush an entire body in an instant.
Its eyes glead with a sinister red light, and when it threw its jaws wide and released a scream that seed to tear the air itself apart, people’s eardrums burst.
Only its first breath.
The mont that seething, lava-like breath poured forth, the Demonic Dragon’s breath erased an entire mountain range from the map.
One of the great ridgelines of the East vanished from the world along with the dragon’s first cry.
All who had made the East their ho trembled in fear, and as the news spread across the entire continent of the Delvion Empire, countless others were seized by terror.
For it could spread its wings and go anywhere at any ti.
Nurous masters strove to subdue the Demonic Dragon, yet not a single one managed to pierce the hardened scales of the undead monster.
It was not that there had been no opportunity at all.
Rather, perhaps in consideration of early balance within this ga world, the Demonic Dragon fell into slumber after releasing a single breath.
However, there was no warrior capable of defeating it.
The Sword Master of the North remained silent, and the Sword Master of the South had already passed away by then.
As for the Sword Master of the East… he was incinerated by the fourth breath the dragon unleashed.
Although the Mithril mine discovered by House Raiesel passed into the hands of another house, allowing weapons and armor to be forged, they were traded at exorbitant prices, and no warrior worthy of such equipnt ever erged.
Unless one knew how to end it in a single strike, disturbing the Demonic Dragon’s sleep only caused it to rampage further and devastate the surrounding lands.
Yet it could not simply be left alone under the pretext of avoiding its breath.
With each slumber and awakening, the Demonic Dragon grew stronger. From the mont it awoke from its seventh sleep, it no longer fell asleep again.
There had even been a cycle in which the entire continent was engulfed in flas by the Demonic Dragon before the Corrupted God could bring about the world’s destruction.
In those days, when failure after failure could be attributed to the Demonic Dragon itself, ■■■■ received help for the first ti from the sword of the North.
The man handed him a single glass vial.
Poison.
Lexenbert Fad Reschenhardt said that if it were applied to a weapon capable of piercing those hardened scales, the Demonic Dragon could be killed.
Quietly, as though nothing at all had happened.
As though it had rely fallen asleep…
***
“I see. Suicide by poison… The poison Erzet swallowed was one capable of killing even the Demonic Dragon. That must be why Lexenbert gave that vial, and why the formula for the poison could be found there.”
Aquila Reschenhardt continued his thoughts with a furrowed brow.
“In searching for the Curse Removal thod, they must have examined every poison in existence. Perhaps in that process, they succeeded in creating an instant-death toxin.”
Unconsciously tightening his grip and crumpling the letter, I loosened my hand and reread the one Bejiana had sent.
Magic did not work against it. And its black body and scale-like exterior.
The more I read, the more I felt that if the creature newly appearing in the Black Dungeon were not the Demonic Dragon, that would be an even greater problem.
Before long in this era, the Demonic Dragon would open its eyes for the first ti. After erasing the Egoril Mountain Range with its initial breath, it would fall into a deep slumber once more.
A year and a half later, it would awaken, fly to a new location, and cause another catastrophe.
When it would awaken, where it would unleash its breath, and where it would fall asleep again—
I knew every detail without omission.
My record of suffering because of that creature was extensive, to say the least.
And yet…
“The main scenario has been brought forward. Ark Batchel has appeared with knowledge of the previous cycle. And now even the nad monster has changed—does that make any sense?”
I was uncertain whether the Black Dungeon had ever been temporarily sealed in the previous cycle. But if its nad monster had beco the Demonic Dragon, then this distortion must have occurred in the current one.
But why would such a thing happen?
Never once had it happened before.
“If there is one difference from the previous cycle, it is Aquila Reschenhardt’s survival. And…”
My black eyes lifted.
After receiving the letter, I had been staring blankly into the air. Yujelia and Shen looked at with concern.
“…Young Master, are you all right? What was written in the letter to make you react like that?”
Shen, who had been fidgeting, asked carefully once our eyes t. He cast a sidelong glance at the letter clenched in my hand, worried that sothing dreadful might be written there.
“Yujelia, Shen… and Erzet. All of you are alive. Is that the only difference?”
But that alone felt insufficient as an explanation.
Throughout my countless cycles, I had made many different choices, and as a result, nurous characters who once died had survived.
This world was a ga world.
Gas had predetermined scripts. Though Aquila’s actions could add to or subtract from events, the firm trunk of the main scenario had never changed.
Chapters progressed in order. On a fixed date, Ark Batchel always lost his family and set out on his journey. The sa nad monsters always appeared.
But the current situation was entirely different from anything before.
“…What is this world?”
With that thought, I recalled the vague unease and confusion I had felt when I first fell into this world.
“…Is there sothing unpleasant written there? You often say unexpected things, Young Master, yet you rarely share what truly weighs on you.”
After studying my expression, Yujelia finally spoke in a quiet voice, as though she had made up her mind.
She asked for a mont’s leave and gently placed her palm upon my shoulder.
Warm, rippling Divine Power of the Sun flowed from her touch.
The golden aura that only she possessed seeped into , soothing the throbbing ache in my muscles.
“We may not be of much help, but our concern is sincere, Young Master. You have looked especially pale these days.”
“That is right, Young Master! Even if I lack ability, I can at least listen to every word you wish to say without missing a single one!”
Encouraged by Yujelia’s words, Shen raised his voice with determination.
Concern shone in Yujelia’s amber eyes, as deep as her Divine Power, and in Shen’s gentle green gaze.
Two steady pairs of eyes fixed upon .
Across many cycles, I had co to know that the trust contained in those eyes was not false.
Yet after a mont, I shook my head.
“…I am growing soft. To entertain such doubts while they stand before .”
Gradually calming myself, I pushed aside the confusion that had surfaced and returned to my usual expression.
I drew a deep breath and rubbed my chest several tis.
After thanking Yujelia for expending Divine Power over sothing as trivial as muscle pain, I extended the letter, its edge slightly crumpled.
“The temporarily sealed dungeon in the East. The monster that has appeared there seems far from ordinary. The situation in the East is unsettled as well.”
I explained the contents of Bejiana’s letter.
It was, without question, one of the concerns weighing upon .
But after listening to the explanation, Yujelia tilted her head.
She understood that the East was in turmoil due to the appearance of an extraordinarily powerful monster disrupting dungeon resources. Yet she could not comprehend why the letter had driven into such deep contemplation.
“Neither blade nor magic works…”
Shen suddenly murmured those words.
He looked at with a stiffened expression.
“Madam… no, when Celsia turned into a monster, neither blades nor magic worked on her either. Ah, though yours did, Young Master.”
At Shen’s remark, Yujelia started and turned her head sharply.
“The blessing… that is what you called it, correct? Did you see sothing again? Is there a connection?”
Their expressions changed in an instant.
They were recalling what I had previously explained—that whenever I encountered certain keywords, the words left to by the ancient dragon Igdrein would surface in my mind.
“It was wise of to establish that setting in advance.”
Though I thought so sincerely, I rely shook my head.
“I do not know. But… it is true that sothing about this feels unsettling.”
Then, as though in passing, I added, “I suppose I would need to see it for myself to be certain…”
“The East? You, Young Master?”
“…Young Master, that may be difficult. It is very far.”
As expected, their imdiate responses were entirely negative.
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
“Sohow, I must confirm the situation in the East with my own eyes.”
I had previously considered making my way to the East, but now I had a clearer objective.
The temporarily sealed Black Dungeon.
It was not the Egoril Dungeon, but that place I needed to visit first—and there was another reason.
The Demonic Dragon had originally been a monster of the main scenario.
If it had appeared in a dungeon as an event monster instead, that implied a new possibility.
“…The probability that the main scenario’s monster has changed is high. Perhaps it has been replaced with sothing entirely new—and far more dreadful.”
I needed to go to the East and uncover traces of this new nad monster.
If the storyline had not yet completely derailed, then that monster would kill the character who served as the branching point.
The bad ending had to be avoided.
If I were ever to prevent this ga from starting anew.
***
While I was contemplating whether I truly needed to devise a plan to run away from ho, an opportunity to leave Igrail arrived far sooner than expected.
With Celsia gone, a family breakfast was finally possible.
And during that morning al, Lexenbert made a proposal.
“There has been a summons from Denimarad. I cannot leave Igrail, and they would not welco that either. Therefore, one of you two must go.”
Although the destination was the capital, Denimarad, it was still a chance to step outside.
“A summons from the imperial family?”
“There has indeed been a summons regarding the Frost Forest. However…”
Lexenbert cast a brief glance at .
“House Friadel has also expressed a desire to et you. They must have heard the Temple of the Sun’s account.”
“I understand that the Holy Son of the Sun has departed for Saintroia. Whether I wish it or not, an opportunity to et will arise once he returns.”
“That is precisely the reason.”
Answering Erzet, Lexenbert narrowed his eyes.
“They say the Holy Son’s return will be sooner than expected. He will pass through the capital, and they hope you will et him then.”
I recalled Ianpel’s ssage that it would not take long.
Since he had said nothing specific at the ti, it seed the suggestion had originated not from the temple, but from House Friadel.
Though Lexenbert had said “one of you,” the intended recipient of the summons was clear.
After swallowing the last of the bread soaked in soup, I spoke.
“It cannot be refused.”
A summons from the Delvion Empire alone would have been difficult to decline, and now House Friadel and the Temple of the Sun were involved as well.
Even so, Lexenbert shook his head with a hardened expression.
“If you truly do not wish to go, I will refuse. I have heard of your physical condition, and even if the matter is urgent, summoning you in this manner displeases .”
His voice was cool.
It was a statent only a Reschenhardt could make.
Unlike the imperial family, whose footing was unstable, House Reschenhardt stood firmly in the North—a special and formidable power in its own right.
“No, Father. I will go. There is no need to invite trouble unnecessarily.”
My expression appeared composed, as though I spoke for the sake of the house.
Of course, my true intentions lay elsewhere.
“There will be more avenues of escape and more rumors gathered there than here. I must go.”
With resolve in my voice, I spoke once more.
“Please send to the capital.”
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