Chapter 265
Chapter 265
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 265
Chapter Title: Cleanup (5)
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"Yes. We're launching a full offensive."
"A full offensive?"
The voice was grave. Ronan and Azidahaka voiced their doubts simultaneously at the sudden declaration. Navardoje continued.
"I became convinced while listening to you just now. That giant called Duaru is an existence that comes from the sky beyond the sky, just like the monsters we've been holding back in Drimuir. But unlike the other monsters, it seems it can't come on its own unless someone calls it."
"Probably."
Ronan affirmed. He had known it already, but this incident made him certain. The giants couldn't come unless a signal was sent from the Nebula Clazie side.
"So we're taking this chance to uproot them completely. If multiple giants like that descend, we won't be able to handle it. The moment we leave Adren, I'll convene a meeting in my name."
"That's brilliant."
Ronan whistled. It was a strategy to gather and kill all the signal-makers before they could do more nonsense.
It was similar to what Ronan had been doing so far, but Navardoje's direct participation in the subjugation war held great significance. If things had gone wrong this time and Azidahaka had died or fully corrupted, it would have been impossible.
"But we need to end it as quickly as possible. My absence would be fatal for defending Drimuir."
"I agree. Oh, there's something I want to show you."
Snap! Suddenly, Ronan snapped his fingers. He had almost forgotten and skipped it. He turned to Asel and asked.
"Asel. Can you use it now? Blessing of the Stars."
"R-right now is a bit tough. If I could see a star to channel power from, I'd give it a try, but..."
Asel said in a tone full of regret. No stars were visible in the morning sky where the sun had risen.
"So it is possible. You little shit."
Ronan let out a hollow laugh. He had asked just in case, but it seemed he really could use it without a magic circle. Damn genius.
It seemed the condition for wielding that sparkling mana was having celestial bodies in sight. So only on clear nights? As Ronan stroked his chin thoughtfully, a gust of inspiration blew through his mind.
"What if you use my power for it?"
"Huh?"
With that, Ronan switched his core. The pulsing rhythm changed, and his heart began emitting sparkling mana. Asel's eyes widened.
"Th-this...!"
"Think it'll work?"
Ronan asked. It was a pretty good idea on second thought. Asel scanned him up and down and nodded vigorously.
"Y-yeah. That should be enough. So..."
Suddenly, Asel placed his hand on Ronan's chest. Whoosh... The sparkling mana seeping from Ronan's heart began absorbing into him.
It felt like something was draining out of his body rapidly, like a giant mosquito sucking blood. Seeing Asel's unhesitating motion, Ronan chuckled.
"Why not try it on Marya later? As an excuse to suck out her bad mana."
"I-I'd never do that! It's almost done, so just stay still...!"
Asel's face turned beet red. Finally, having absorbed enough mana, he pulled his hand away. Ronan could feel about twenty percent of the mana flowing through his body had been drained.
"Hup!"
At that moment, Asel, murmuring his incantation, swung his hand through the air. Fwaah! A flat, towering barrier rose like a wall between Navardoje and the two. The translucent membrane glistened with its characteristic eerie colors.
"My god."
Shock appeared for the first time on Navardoje's serene face. The very thing the Nebula Clazie used—the biggest reason they were a threatening enemy—was rippling before her eyes. Ronan said.
"Try attacking it. Something light."
"Attack? Here?"
"Yes. There's something I want to show you."
Ronan nodded with a grin. Asel, sensing ominous vibes, went rigid. Navardoje, who had been stunned, raised her hand.
"Very well."
"W-wait...!"
Before Asel could speak, red light gathered at Navardoje's fingertip and shot out. Kwaaaaah! The thin beam turned into a torrent of flames that could incinerate dozens of farmhouses and slammed straight into the barrier.
"Hiyaaah!!"
His vision turned entirely red. Asel let out a shrill scream. The wave of fire colliding with the barrier split to his sides, raging like rapids. Soon the flames subsided, revealing the intact Blessing of the Stars without a single scratch.
"It really is that barrier. Impressive, mage."
"H-heh... h-hic..."
Navardoje marveled. Asel trembled like a newborn fawn, on the verge of tears. Wiping his reddened eyes, he bowed his head.
"H-hic... Th-thank you..."
"This is the important part. Watch closely."
Suddenly, Ronan approached Schlieffen. Guessing his intent, Schlieffen silently drew his sword. Ronan laid his forearm on the blade and pulled lightly. Slice... A few drops of blood from the cut seeped into the sword.
"Show them."
"Understood."
Navardoje frowned. She couldn't fathom what he was trying to show by self-harming.
Schlieffen stepped up to the Blessing of the Stars and swung. Schwick! A white line slashed across the membrane. As he sheathed his sword, the barrier shattered like thin ice.
"Impossible!"
Navardoje's eyes widened. Ronan flashed a V-sign with his index and middle fingers.
"Greatest discovery ever, right?"
"This... this is incredible. I was just pondering strategies to breach that barrier..."
Her reaction showed genuine astonishment. Muttering to herself, she approached slowly. Gazing at the three with eyes full of adoration, Navardoje pulled them into a group hug.
"Well done. Truly well done. This discovery will surely save the world."
"Mmph."
"F-Fire Dragon...!"
Asel's face was completely buried as he flailed his limbs. Even the ever-cool Schlieffen couldn't hide his fluster against her merciless bosom.
Perfect.
Only Ronan closed his eyes, savoring her embrace. The red dragon's body heat, far warmer than a human's, thawed his chilled body. The fatigue from the night before melted away like snow.
Just once, Adeshan. This one's unavoidable.
He apologized mentally to his lover burning with worry back in Phileon. In any case, this discovery would change everything. Suddenly, Azidahaka, who had been quietly listening, interjected.
"Yes. Once you're drenched in the blood of those vile beings, idle thoughts won't even cross your mind. Good luck."
Navardoje waved with a smile. Azidahaka bowed its two heads and turned. Just as it was about to leave, it paused and asked.
"You must have lingering regrets. Didn't I say it was because I need you and your subordinates' power?"
Azidahaka said. Its two voices carried the anguish of life. It still couldn't grasp why it hadn't been reduced to ashes. Navardoje, hugging the three and only turning her head slightly, spoke.
"It's really nothing much. Because you didn't betray your duty."
"Yes. No matter what anyone says, you were Adren's king. You didn't forget that and fulfilled a king's duty to the end. The duty not to abandon your people."
"That attitude of taking it as obvious also helped save your life. Common sense is a value harder to preserve than one might think. How's that? Curiosity sated a bit?"
Hearing the question, Azidahaka fell silent. With no one speaking, the wind sounded loud. After a moment's silence, it bowed.
"Even after finishing things in Drimuir, you'll remain Adren's king. Depart once preparations are complete. Please fulfill the prophecy I made to you in your youth."
Azidahaka murmured in quiet admiration. It referred to the prophecy, heard alongside Alibrije, that it would become either a great king or an evil dragon lord.
With that, Azidahaka turned to Ronan's group. Its left head, meeting Ronan's gaze, continued.
"Don't worry, we'll scrape every last bit of gold."
Ronan waved with a cackle. Azidahaka turned away, leaving two smiles behind.
Naransonia and the other retainers followed. Its limping gait looked utterly pitiful. Asel said worriedly.
"Will it be okay...?"
"Of course. It's not just any king—it's the king of dragons."
Ronan nodded without hesitation. Azidahaka had done so much nonsense, but it was truly a fine ruler. Uniting the haughty dragons as a focal point proved its competence.
"It'll bend but not break."
The fainted Orse didn't join them. From Navardoje's words, it seemed likely to lead the vanguard in the Nebula Clazie subjugation.
Ronan thought that was a fine placement. If the world's powerhouses were weapons, it was surely a spear among the top five sharpest.
Ending the long embrace, Navardoje stroked their heads and asked.
"Then I must handle the cleanup with my children. No need to see me off?"
"We're good. We have the ship we borrowed from Itargand. We'll head back on that."
"Ah, that child helped you. Do that, then."
Navardoje smiled. Not a trace remained of the dragon that had scorched the skies in her gentle expression.
After parting with her, Ronan's group stood rooted as if by agreement, unmoving. The lingering echoes of their short but arduous journey and the ominous days ahead plunged them into thought.
The tide has completely turned.
The clear dawn light was beautiful. Organizing his thoughts, Ronan clenched his fist. It was hard to believe all this had happened in one day.
One night in Adren yielded成果 rivaling three years. The original goal was to obtain Cult Leader Abel's blood, but that could wait.
They had thwarted the Nebula Clazie's plot. For the first time, they killed an archbishop—one of their top forces—and the winged bald head.
The scheming Dragon King was reborn. Asel had awakened as a true killing machine, and the Mother of Fire had declared she would spread her wings for the Nebula Clazie's total annihilation.
But the greatest gain, bar none, was the knowledge that blood could pierce the Blessing of the Stars.
If asked, Ronan could proudly say the deaths in the destroyed city and at Duaru's hands were not in vain. Your sacrifices were worth more than anything.
Ronan said.
"Long night, huh."
"Yeah..."
Asel nodded faintly. Twisting his lips, Ronan turned his head. The ruined city, the shattered sky tower, the piled corpses of the fallen—all entered his view at once.
Where Duaru had bombarded, a massive crater gaped like a fallen star. The wind from the distant sky carried scents of ash and dust. Watching the scene silently, Ronan spoke.
"You all did well."
The day in the dragon city ended. Soon shaking off their reverie, they gathered Azidahaka's treasures scattered around. As declared, they didn't scrape every last gold trinket. Adren would need funds for reconstruction too.
Fortunately, Itargand's sloop was quietly docked inside Adren's waterways. After packing and farewells, the group returned straight to the capital.
In the end, unable to overcome her worry, Navardoje had come midway to help, allowing Ronan's group to set foot on Phileon's grounds in just two days total.
The sky was clear. Azidahaka and its subordinates were about to fly toward Drimuir. Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind.
"Your steps look mighty uncomfortable."
Azidahaka turned, its eyes widening. An old man it recognized stood with hands behind his back. Glancing between Azidahaka and Naransonia, he spoke.
"Need a prosthetic leg? I can make wings too."