Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Dragon Sword Birth (4)
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“Now that I think about it, I heard an interesting story related to what happened to my younger brother. Would you mind confirming whether it’s true?”
“What story?”
“My teacher said that when Sei was kidnapped, you fought one-on-one against the thunder dragon summoned by the Dragon Demon Worshippers and won.”
“That’s true.”
“As expected…”
It was a fact he had anticipated, but hearing Azel confirm it directly still left him astonished. A human taking down a dragon single-handedly—was that even possible?
But if it was Azel, of all people, then it seemed plausible. During their time together, he had been a being full of surprises.
Arieta asked,
“Now that I think about it, the earth dragon we encountered in the Ballan Forest back then—was that also taken down by you?”
“Yes. Though it was possible thanks to some unconventional factors at play.”
Azel admitted it without hesitation. He now felt it was fine to tell her.
Arieta asked,
“The ‘friend’ you mentioned?”
“That’s right. He was an incredibly powerful mage. Thanks to what he left inside my body for my sake, I was able to overcome that situation.”
“I see.”
Despite hearing such an astonishing fact, Arieta simply marveled and didn’t doubt Azel. He had done too much for her up to now for her to do so.
Even so, she couldn’t contain her curiosity. Arieta asked,
“Sir Azel, what exactly is your true identity?”
“I’ll have to tell you the same story I told the Duke. For example…”
Azel had anticipated this question. With everything he’d shown her, he couldn’t just brush it off by saying he had amnesia. Just as with Kairen, it was time to tell her the truth, at least for now.
“During the Dragon Demon War, Azel Karzark defeated the Dragon Demon King Atein. Two years after the war ended, he went missing. There are no exact records of whether he died or survived. Isn’t that right?”
“That’s correct.”
“What if he didn’t die?”
“Hm?”
“What if, through an incredible spell perfected by his close friend, the great mage Kallos, he entered a long slumber without aging? What if, to avoid people’s eyes, he spent long years in a place untouched by human feet, sleeping like a dragon in hibernation?”
“That’s…”
Arieta furrowed her brow.
“Are you saying that you are the hero Azel Karzark himself, who awoke from over two hundred years of slumber through some tremendous magic?”
“If that were the case, would you believe it?”
“Hm…”
Kairen had immediately denied it. But Arieta couldn’t answer easily and hardened her expression. It was an absurd story, but the things Azel had shown were too extraordinary to dismiss outright. Even if he claimed to be Azel Karzark himself, it carried a bit of persuasive power…!
‘No, if it’s true, it would resolve most of the questions I’ve had.’
The secrets he exuded just by looking at him, and the sense of otherworldliness as if he came from another era—all cleared up neatly by that one answer. Having known Azel longer than even Kairen, Arieta couldn’t easily deny his words.
Arieta asked Zail,
“Sir Zail, what do you think?”
“Are you asking me?”
“Yes. As far as I know, you’re the first one who discovered Sir Azel. I’m curious about your thoughts, having seen sides of him I haven’t.”
Zail had seen Azel from the moment he first awoke, looking like a walking corpse. After a moment of contemplation, Zail shook his head.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t know. It’s too extraordinary a story for me to affirm or deny. But…”
“But?”
“If it’s proven that Sir Azel’s story is true, then somehow, I feel like I’d accept it as ‘so that’s how it was.’”
At those words, Arieta gazed at him for a moment before smiling.
“I see. I feel the same.”
“You believe me?”
“Honestly, I can’t fully believe it.”
As Arieta shook her head, Azel gave a wry smile as if he’d expected as much. Arieta said,
“It’s just too absurd for that. But I can’t help thinking it might be true. Sir Azel, I’ve thought this since the first time I saw you—you’re truly a mysterious man.”
“Thank you. In truth, I am an unknown descendant of Azel Karzark. That’s why I’ve inherited knowledge and techniques passed down through generations, forgotten by the world.”
“That’s a bit more believable.”
Arieta said,
“Let’s leave it at that for now.”
“For now?”
“Yes. That’s enough for now.”
With that, Arieta picked up her teacup.
6
The moment he stepped out after conversing with Arieta, Enora, Zail, and Millin, Sei blocked his path as if he’d been waiting. Sei stared at Azel with an expression that refused to accept it.
“Sir Azel, make time right now.”
“May I ask what this is about, Your Highness?”
When Azel asked in response to the overbearing command, Sei replied,
“Be my sparring partner.”
Azel gave a wry smile at those words.
“Just to make sure, did the Duke put you up to this?”
“My teacher only said, ‘Fight him yourself and you’ll know.’ I can’t move past this without confirming it directly.”
“I see. Then I’ll spar with you. Shall we head to the back mountain where no one will see?”
“You mean…”
Sei’s eyes narrowed.
“You’re assuming I’ll suffer a humiliating defeat in front of my subordinates?”
“I’m just saying it because you seem too inexperienced to gauge your opponent’s skill.”
In an instant, Sei whipped around in shock, as if burned. The voice that had been right in front of him suddenly came from directly behind.
‘No way. I didn’t see him move at all?’
Azel was already standing where the voice had come from, looking at him. He hadn’t noticed the figure in front turning sideways and moving back?
Azel smiled and said,
“Honestly, I’m disappointed.”
“What?”
“You had reason before, but even after seeing it with your own eyes, you won’t acknowledge it. Do you need to clash directly and shatter before accepting reality? If that’s the case… you shouldn’t expect luck like before to hold. There will be mountains of ‘humans’ who overwhelm you among your enemies, and underestimating a superior foe will lead to a pathetic downfall.”
Arrogant words without compare. Yet Sei couldn’t get angry.
No, far from it—he broke out in cold sweat as he stared at Azel. An overwhelming pressure emanated from Azel’s gaze, like facing a dragon head-on.
Azel said,
“No human could possibly be stronger than a Dragon Demon Hybrid like you. If you can’t shed that arrogance… I’ll grant your wish. In fact, we don’t need to go far—we can do it right here.”
“Urk…”
Sei gritted his teeth and reached for the sword on his back. His massive blade was too large to wear at the waist, so he carried it strapped to his back.
“Stop.”
At that moment, Kairen’s voice came from behind Azel. Simultaneously, the pressure bearing down on Sei vanished as if it were a lie.
“Sir Duke.”
“If you and the overeager Sei clash here, the property damage won’t be minor. Do you plan to destroy my historic castle?”
“I kind of feel like doing it, but I’ll hold back. Hasban would be troubled.”
“And me?”
“I’d kind of like to trouble you a bit, Sir Duke.”
“Grr. You never yield even an inch.”
Kairen shook his head as if conceding and said,
“I didn’t expect you to be so reluctant to fight Sei.”
“I simply had no desire to attract the prince’s attention.”
Lately, Kairen had openly pushed Sei to take interest in Azel and have a match. But Azel hadn’t been pleased with the idea.
Kairen said,
“Fine. I apologize for ignoring your wishes. It was out of care for my disciple, so forgive me.”
“Teacher!”
As Kairen humbled himself, Sei jumped in shock. It was utterly unthinkable. For Kairen, whom even the king respected, to apologize to a young human over something like this.
Raised under Kairen’s tutelage from childhood, Sei had developed a fair and unpretentious view compared to other royals or nobles. But he was still acutely aware of his royal status, separate from respecting others. By his common sense, this was incomprehensible.
Ignoring Sei, Kairen requested of Azel,
“Let me ask formally. Would you break my stubborn disciple’s stubbornness? Regrettably, it’s something I can’t do.”
“If you ask so earnestly, I can’t refuse. I figured it was something we’d have to go through eventually anyway.”
Azel accepted the request.
7
As a leader commanding a group, Sei was well-regarded.
Regardless of status, he promoted talent based on ability and knew how to listen to his subordinates. He understood that even the most exceptional individual had limits and didn’t hesitate to borrow his men’s hands.
At the same time, Sei didn’t trust them at all.
‘Humans are weak.’
He trusted the competence of the human subordinates who followed him. But no matter how capable, he deemed them limited in martial prowess.
His life experiences had solidified that view. His difference from Arieta lay in proactively seeking talent. Having scoured for the able himself, he had repeatedly confirmed that they never escaped his preconceptions.
Azel was an existence that directly negated Sei’s beliefs.
“Urk…!”
Sei groaned as he rolled across the ground. He tried to regain his balance and stand immediately, but just before he could, a sword thrust in with exquisite timing to sever his momentum.
Clang!
He barely blocked it with the flat of his massive sword and rolled again. Springing back elastically like a coil, he leaped away—but at that exact moment, a blade stabbed toward the spot where he’d rise, at an angle.
‘This is ridiculous!’
He flung himself flat in panic. His nearly recovered balance crumbled again, forcing him to roll.
The process repeated endlessly. Three minutes after Azel’s precise control of force felled him in their first clash, Sei hadn’t once stood fully, continuously rolling on the ground.
“Good heavens…”
Arieta, watching the scene, was at a loss for words. She had long known Azel’s skills were exceptional. But what he displayed now transcended imagination.
Even Zail was entranced.
“To control an opponent to this degree…”