Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Sword that Cleaves the Heavens (7)
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The next day, Laura realized that about half of her remaining siblings had vanished. Those who received names had been chosen, while those who hadn't were culled.
By this point, Laura knew their true nature all too well.
The Aunsor clan had reached its limits. Aunsor, one of the Four Great Dragon Demon Generals, was a 1st-Gen Dragonkin—born without parents—and his power was incomparable to that of ordinary Dragon Demon Hybrids. No matter how much his descendants boasted of their bloodline, their limits were clear.
Pairing among Dragon Demon Hybrids alone wasn't enough. They needed a more reliable way to produce exceptional heirs.
And so, they devised a solution befitting mad sorcerers. If breeding fine bloodlines together fell short, then magic could be used to artificially create superior offspring.
That was how Laura and her siblings came to be.
No, actually, "born" wasn't the right word. They were created through an artificial womb crafted by forbidden black magic. Without such methods, could there have been over a hundred siblings of the same generation?
From the start, they were made to become the perfect successors to Aunsor. Their upbringing was merely a process of inspecting whether the carefully crafted products were defective or not.
But it didn't end there. The Aunsor forces demanded perfection. They weren't satisfied with mere flawless goods free of defects; they sought to leave only one that transcended all standards.
"Only those who do not fail inherit the name. Failures are unnecessary."
And so, the failures vanished one by one. Laura knew what became of them. In the early days, before receiving names, they were sent to black magic research facilities as test subjects. After receiving names, they were bound by black magic, doomed to live eternally in hiding, sacrificing themselves for the clan as tools of war.
In the end, only Laura remained.
"Congratulations. From this day forward, you are Laura Aunsor."
The day all her siblings vanished and she became alone was the day she became Aunsor. Shortly after inheriting the cursed Dragon Demon Armament, the Cup of Lament, she made her debut on the public stage through her coming-of-age ceremony, finally existing in the world.
And Laura had lived in a colorless world. No, thinking back, ever since emerging from the glass tube, her world had been dead and ashen. Everything around her was loathsome, and nothing held value—not the Aunsor bloodline, nor even herself, created and raised to be a successor.
If she had to name something that stirred her heart amid all that, it would be her rivals.
Niviris, who showed her rivalry and hatred, was enviable beyond words. She had never needed to doubt her own existence from birth and lived respected by all. Laura envied and hated Niviris for possessing everything she lacked.
Kirien was the same. He had grown up competing with many siblings for the successor's seat, much like Laura. But they had entered the world through proper means and followed the natural course of life. That was why Laura hated Kirien too.
Yet Kirien, so capable yet absurdly fragile in many ways, had a strangely soothing effect on her. Seeing him, whom she thought had everything, fret over Niviris made Laura feel pity and intrigue at once.
Kirien had treated Laura—who was thoroughly made into a tool—like a person. Through him, she could feel human emotions.
"I'll repay that debt here, Duke Baltazak."
With that thought, Laura opened her mouth. Toward the one who had shaken her heart more dazzlingly than anyone in her life so far.
"Azel Zestringer. I have a proposal."
10
Laura released her Dragon Demon Armament and walked toward Azel. It was a mad act for someone desperate to die. She had deactivated not only her Dragon Demon Armament but all her defensive spells, leaving herself completely defenseless.
A Guardian Shadow in pristine white robes charged at her. No matter what she said, their actions showed no room for compromise.
"Wait."
Azel blocked the Guardian Shadows. As he swung his sword, lightning bolts shot out, halting their advance.
"It's not right to cut down someone who wants to talk defenselessly on any battlefield without even hearing them out."
"She's the enemy...."
"We must kill her. No matter what...."
"No forgiveness...."
"That's your business. Whether I cut her down or not is my decision after hearing her out. Or will you fight me to enforce your will?"
Azel spoke in a voice cold as ice. The Guardian Shadows looked at him in confusion.
"Why...."
"We must kill her, but...."
"But... he's...."
If it had been anyone else, the Guardian Shadows would have attacked without hesitation. But the possibility that Azel was the prophesied one they awaited held them back. In the end, they whispered among themselves in disarray and fell back.
Azel shouted.
"Everyone, stop!"
His voice roared through the space like a lion's bellow. As everyone instinctively halted their fighting, an eerie silence descended as if by magic.
In that unreal quiet, Laura's voice rang out clearly.
"I'll surrender. But let the others go."
"What?"
Azel was dumbfounded.
"Do you think that's a reasonable proposal? Your Aunsor bloodline might mean something in the Dark Snowfields, but here, it holds no value."
The Dragon Demon Worshippers had already been defeated. Their total annihilation was only a matter of time. In this situation, what reason was there to spare the rest just because Laura surrendered? Slaughtering them all here was the rational choice.
Laura said,
"I know. So I'll pay an equivalent price."
"Something worth saving those worthless lives?"
"I'll give you my Dragon Demon Armament."
"......!"
Azel, who had been smirking, swallowed in shock. Not just him—the Dragon Demon Worshippers were all stunned.
"Duke Aunsor! What are you saying?!"
With Niviris and Kirien both on the brink of death, Jephers Almaric was the only one who could speak out. In his shock, he forgot he was even facing off against Leticia and turned to Laura.
It was truly a foolish move.
"I'd love to kill you all right here... but I guess I have to wait and see? How unfortunate."
Leticia seized the opening and pressed her spear tip to Almaric's throat. From Almaric's perspective, it was an utterly ridiculous blunder.
"Urk......!"
Laura ignored it and continued.
"I'll pass on my Dragon Demon Armament, the 'Cup of Lament.' I think that's enough to open negotiations."
"Hmm...."
Azel pondered. It was a proposal beyond imagination. He had no choice but to admit that this emotionless Dragon Demon Hybrid girl had caught him off guard.
A Dragon Demon Armament could only be passed on when the wielder truly willed it.
Killing and seizing it, or forcing it through threats, was impossible. The sentient Dragon Demon Armament could sense its master's true intent. Threatening to take it could lead to unpredictable consequences from the armament itself.
In other words, even accepting Laura's offer here gave no guarantee of receiving it intact. If she intended to kill Azel via the transfer and die herself...
Laura said,
"I want to stay by your side and watch you. You might be the one who grants the chance to reverse the king's fate."
"What do you mean by that?"
"If you accept my proposal, I'll answer all the questions you're curious about."
"Hmm...."
"Duke Aunsor! Are you betraying us?"
Jephers ground his teeth upon hearing that much. From the Dragon Demon Worshippers' perspective, Laura's proposal was utterly unacceptable. Handing over a precious Dragon Demon Armament passed down from the Dragon Emperor War, and even spilling confidential information? Laura didn't know everything, but even what she did know would be devastating if revealed.
The young people here all held esteemed statuses. But the duties they bore were even heavier. Until the day the Savior returned, their lives had to be ready for sacrifice to fulfill those duties.
Jephers shouted.
"Don't make me laugh! Fight to the death! Everyone... Gahk!"
He couldn't finish his words. Leticia unhesitatingly struck his face with the flat of her spear blade, following with fluid combo strikes that knocked him unconscious.
"Even if you say 'fight to the death,' there's hardly anyone left. What's the point?"
Only about ten of the Dragon Demon Worshippers remained capable of fighting. If battle resumed, they'd be wiped out in seconds.
Leticia sneered and said,
"That feels a bit satisfying. I wouldn't recommend accepting the proposal, by the way. I'd rather kill this one if possible."
"...Hmm. Hearing the young lady say that makes me feel the need to act more rationally."
"Young lady?"
Leticia wore an expression as if she'd heard something utterly bizarre. Her appearance did make her look like a young lady, but it had been ages since anyone called her that.
Azel chuckled and asked,
"Would 'auntie' be better?"
He recalled a similar exchange before. Back then, the other party had been Regina, a Dragon Demon Worshipper.
Leticia replied,
"Call me that if you want to die right now."
"Scary young lady."
Azel shrugged and turned to Laura. He stared intently, trying to read her true intentions, but couldn't. Her face was expressionless, and her eyes showed almost no emotion.
"Alright. I accept the proposal. But I have conditions."
"What conditions?"
"Burn the corpses of the dead right here with your own hands, leaving nothing behind."
"......"
The Dragon Demon Worshippers stirred at his words. Even Laura showed signs of agitation. But Azel was firm.
"If you take intact corpses, you'll resurrect your 'useful' manpower as filthy undead, right? I'm used to smashing those who come back from the dead, but that doesn't make it enjoyable."
"...Understood."
Laura nodded slightly. Azel said,
"Then gather the survivors and make them run like dogs with their tails on fire. You have three minutes to clear out from here. And...."
Azel looked at Niviris, who was cradled in his arms, and Kirien, collapsed nearby.
"If you have something to say, say it loud. The situation's too dire to pretend I didn't hear you young Dragon Demon Hybrids whispering secrets. If you can use Whispering on her secretly, you can make some noise, right?"
"How... did you...."
Kirien was shocked. He had secretly Whispered to Laura, yet Azel had noticed.
Azel said,
"I've accepted their proposal. Guardian Shadows... do you oppose my decision and wish to fight me?"
"We don't know...."
"Can't understand...."
"But...."
"We won't oppose...."
In the end, the Guardian Shadows gave up opposing Azel's will. The Dragon Demon Worshippers swallowed their rage and retreated, while Laura summoned flames to burn the remaining corpses completely.