Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: The One Who Chose a Sinful Name (2)
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“After igniting the Dragon Emperor War, the great king realized his choice was wrong, but it was already too late to turn back. And in reaction to that mistake, Azel Karzark appeared and gave the king a chance to correct his wrong choice and start anew… that's the interpretation.”
“…So the point is that even Atein's defeat and death were part of his planned fate? I can see the intent to never blemish his divinity.”
“I won't deny it.”
“Then, next question. That guy Jephers Almaric—is he really Almaric's descendant?”
“And?”
Laura asked, puzzled. Azel had been harping on that fact since the middle of the battle. She had assumed it was psychological warfare, but maybe not?
Azel furrowed his brow.
“At the very least, you believe so too. That's strange. What the hell is your leadership thinking?”
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“That guy Jephers Almaric doesn't resemble Almaric at all. Sure, if it were just looks, you might think it's possible. But it's weird that even his Dragon Demon Armament is different.”
“Huh?”
Laura was startled. Watching her reaction, Azel said,
“Almaric's Dragon Demon Armament is ‘Scream of the Storm.’ It's completely different from what that guy was using. Why? Did it get lost over time and get replaced with another one?”
“…Where did you hear that?”
Laura couldn't hide her bewilderment. What Azel pointed out was a fact she had never known. In the Dark Frozen Wastes, everyone regarded Jephers Almaric as Almaric's legitimate successor, and his Dragon Demon Armament ‘Blades of the Tempest’ was said to be the one Almaric had used.
Seeing her reaction, Azel said,
“The fact that you didn't know this… Hmm. One thing to confirm. How many survivors from the Dragon Emperor War era are left in the Dark Frozen Wastes?”
“About twenty.”
“Fewer than I thought. Who's the highest-ranking one?”
There had been far more Dragon Demon survivors from the Dragon Emperor War. But it seemed their numbers had dwindled over time.
“The Dragon Demon Queen.”
“Which queen? Ainsera? Tedrin? Kayalia? Ah, Tedrin couldn't possibly still be alive.”
“It's Lady Ainsera. The other two are dead.”
“Ainsera… That woman was truly incompetent in combat compared to her abilities. Well, leading an organization is a different skill altogether. Tedrin aside, it's fortunate Kayalia is dead. I was worried since her fate was uncertain…….”
Among the three Dragon Demon Queens who had married Atein, Kayalia had been his prized disciple before becoming queen, and she possessed exceptional combat prowess. Excluding the Four Great Dragon Demon Generals, she was considered the strongest mage in the Dragon Demon King's army. She had sustained severe injuries in the final battle, but her death hadn't been confirmed. Hearing she was dead brought relief.
“Do you know the names of all the other survivors?”
“Not all of them. I don't know three.”
“So some are hiding their identities. Then, are the Dragon Emperor War survivors the real powers controlling the Dark Frozen Wastes now?”
“Yeah.”
“Name them.”
Laura complied with Azel's demand. As he heard the names she listed, Azel's expression hardened.
“Some big shots survived after all. But the failure prince… Hmm. So Saibain is dead?”
“Missing.”
“Missing?”
“About twenty years ago… after fighting the Guardian Shadows, he vanished without a trace, or so I heard.”
“Hmm…….”
“Then, in the last six months, Nibiris appeared having inherited his Dragon Demon Armament. So everyone thinks even though he left the Dark Frozen Wastes, he's still alive. The elders won't talk about it, though…….”
Laura paused there and asked,
“Can I ask one thing too?”
“I still have a lot of questions left… but fine. You've been honest, so I'll hear you out.”
“Are you Azel Karzark himself by any chance?”
At that question, Azel flinched inwardly. But outwardly, he showed no sign as he asked,
“Why would you think that?”
“You look exactly like the Azel Karzark I know.”
“…Have you lived that long?”
“No. The Aunsor clan has extensive records on Azel Karzark, including magical recordings of images. You're too identical to him to just be a descendant.”
“But humans often resemble their ancestors to a startling degree.”
“Even accounting for that. And… you're speaking like someone who lived through the Dragon Emperor War era.”
That was why Laura felt such great confusion. Azel hadn't bothered to hide that nuance.
Azel chuckled.
“I see. Well, believe whatever you want about the answer.”
“…….”
“I have no obligation to answer you. But you do have to answer my questions.”
“…Got it.”
Though her expression barely changed, Laura's voice sounded like a sulky teenage girl.
3
Yuren sat cross-legged on a magic circle drawn in blood, immersed in meditation. Behind him, Leticia held her spear and kept watch over the surroundings. The corpses of numerous magic beasts littered the area. The fact that every one of them was grotesquely shriveled and desiccated confirmed Azel and Kairen's guess.
“Ugh, I finally feel like I'm alive again…….”
How much time had passed? Yuren opened his eyes and let out a long breath.
Leticia asked,
“How much have you recovered?”
“Enough to walk around, more or less. Running is still a stretch. We'll handle movement with magic as much as possible.”
“Better to fully recover than float around with magic.”
“Recovering the body with life force drain isn't great. It's good short-term, but long-term, it disrupts the balance of life force and can become irreversible. Thrashing to survive only to fall into a fate where you become Undying is stupid, right? Best to avoid black magic when possible.”
“Not something a black mage should say.”
“The Dragon Demon Worshippers teach basic black magic to anyone they plan to use in the field—what can you do? I didn't become a black mage because I wanted to.”
Yuren grumbled. He had learned black magic from a very young age. He had started breaking away from it after escaping the Dragon Demon Worshippers' brainwashing through the Guide's Dream.
Leticia asked,
“So, what about that fate or whatever?”
“That man is probably the one.”
“Hmm. So Azel is the man of your destiny.”
“…That's got a weird nuance.”
“Take it as it is. Anyway, that guy's strength is beyond human.”
The prowess Azel had shown was chilling even to Leticia, who was called the Cold-Blooded Empress and feared by the Dragon Demon Worshippers. To toy with the Dragon Demon executives from the Dark Frozen Wastes like children……
“I was shocked too. It wasn't human skill. And… no, that's something to discuss in person.”
Yuren had followed the Guide's Dream of unknown origin here. Learning truths, and acquiring information and magical secrets the Dragon Demon Worshippers hadn't taught him……
Leticia said,
“Then, time to go meet him. Ready?”
“My heart's pounding like a teenage boy's.”
“Pray it doesn't turn into love.”
“…Sometimes you seem like you've lived decades in the human world, Leticia.”
“If I seem that way, blame my master for the bad influences.”
The two headed toward where Azel, Kairen, and Laura were. Though night had deepened, everyone was awake.
Azel said,
“Sit at a moderate distance. Better not to put each other on edge.”
“Appreciated. But that would just put you on edge.”
Yuren said that and plopped down in front of the magical campfire Azel and Kairen had lit. Azel looked at him with a somewhat surprised expression.
Azel had suggested sitting at a distance out of consideration for each other's positions. When hostile, close range favors the warrior since blades can reach. At a distance, the mage has the advantage. He had tried to set an appropriate distance, but Yuren sat right in front of him without hesitation.
“I have no intention of being hostile toward you. That's why.”
“But I might be hostile toward you? Didn't consider that?”
“Hmm. After hearing my story, you won't think that. …Probably?”
As Yuren added uncertainly, Leticia snorted.
“Where's that silver tongue you used to charm people? Getting weak meeting your destined man?”
“Spare me the misleading phrasing. Anyway, let me introduce myself. I'm Yuren Lister.”
“…Lister?”
At those words, Azel was startled. Kairen reacted similarly, if not as strongly.
The reason they reacted to the name was obvious. Because……
‘No way this guy's Kallos's descendant?
Lister was Kallos's surname.
It was natural for the Dragon Demon Worshippers to be sensitive about it. In a sense, Kallos was a more hated figure to them than even Azel.
Before the shock faded, Laura said,
“Ah, you're the traitor who chose a sinful name?”
“Yeah. Heir of Aunsor. You came to capture me too, right?”
At Yuren's words, Azel snapped out of it and asked,
“Weird nuance. ‘The traitor who chose a sinful name’… So you chose that name yourself?”
“Yeah.”
“Hmm. So you are. Kallos's descendant.”
Azel muttered, sounding deflated.
Then Yuren quickly said,
“I did choose it myself, but I am Kallos the Great Mage's descendant too.”
“What?”
“At least that's what I believe. I resemble his younger self quite a bit. Not so much his later years, though.”
“…….”
At those words, Azel narrowed his eyes. It was certainly true. His appearance was a mess from being thoroughly thrashed by Nibiris, but Yuren's wavy brown hair and grayish-blue eyes……
‘He really does look like him.’