Chapter 193
Chapter 193
Chapter 193
Preparation for War (1)
In fact, these two had been earnestly conspiring beneath the surface to drag the Dragon Race into the war.
However, they had absolutely no intention of proceeding with matters while inflicting such massive damage on the Dragon Race.
"Will it be alright?"
A slight shadow fell across Calesta's expression.
"The truth is, the damage we've suffered this time is by no means small...."
Although things had gone smoothly due to an unexpected variable, they had paid far too great a sacrifice because of that variable.
"Dragons have few numbers, so they create a single Path to confirm their survival. Do you happen to know this fact?"
"This is the first I'm hearing of it, but is that so?"
Rudian asked back nonchalantly.
He actually knew about it, but there was no benefit in showing off his knowledge when there was no gain to be had.
"Yes, it's called the Dragon Mind...."
It wasn't quite like the network that certain aliens connect to through neural links, but if one had to describe it, it was roughly like being able to see the member list of party members you've formed a party with?
However, what this meant was that unless one voluntarily left the party, if a registered name disappeared, it signified death.
"The number of kinsmen who died in this incident reaches two hundred...."
"......"
Rudian's expression hardened at the damage that was far greater than expected.
If most of them were young blood who would carry the fate of the race in the future, it was massive damage that couldn't be measured by simple percentages alone.
"Naturally, the Lords and the Council of Elders have decided to absolutely not let this situation pass."
Of course.
If they just let this slide, they'd be mocked by everyone as the world's greatest fools and idiots.
"I hear forces from Outer Space will soon invade this continent? We'll make those bastards pay a bloody price. Not only that, but to the remaining other fallen gods as well!"
The Dragon Race's anger is strong and frightening.
And dangerous.
Although they had lost some face due to the surprise attack by the Heavenly Society, the truth was that the Dragon Race's military power was enough to sweep away even the Demon Race at this point.
However, separate from that, there was an issue that absolutely required compromise.
"Then... there won't be much opposition if I use Dilmun, will there?"
"...Although proper agreement hasn't been reached yet, if they know you can make all authority of the ark independent from the Dragon Race, the other elders probably won't have much to say about it."
"That's fortunate."
Then at least the minimum preparations were complete.
Rudian raised his head to look at the sky.
Completely unrelated to the dark clouds of the coming battle, it was an excessively clear and clean sky.
'I hope I can see such skies even in the distant future....'
As Chapter 3 of progressed with the space war, this planet's sky became deeply stained with a gloomy purple color throughout all seasons.
Beings from Outer Space filled the vacant places of extinguished humanity, and humanity could only revive and continue their lives after the mythological war ended.
'I'm feeling it anew, but now failure is unacceptable for me.'
He had stolen the path of the original protagonist, Abel.
He had worked for a better ending, a better process.
He could take pride in having achieved some results, but that was only a temporary part at best.
'Now it will be decided. What score will come out for the full-scale evaluation of my actions....'
If he safely gets through the space war, he doesn't really need to worry much about the final gateway, the mythological war.
The mythological war that proceeds from the Day of Great Liberation might be even more massive in scale than the space war, but the stage itself will be in the Celestial Realm, not here.
Rudian bit his lips with eyes slightly filled with regret.
'There might have been better choices available, but still, if I just get through this matter well, this place will become safe. Interest in the planet will be distant for a while.'
The Middle Realm, more precisely this planet 'Gliese', attracts attention for no other reason.
In fact, in the worldview of this , there exists what's called the 'Flow of History' that should have proceeded according to the original settings instead of the 'History of the Original' that was twisted due to Abel's intervention.
In the Flow of History, the Day of Great Liberation called the end of the world approaches, and just like in the original, all restrictions of causality are lifted and the gods find freedom.
However, without Abel's intervention, the gods who had been suppressed by causality until now simply repeat fighting, destroying, and annihilating as they please.
Then the original final boss, the Avatar of Apocalypse, appears and establishes a new order, and the Second Genesis begins with the destruction of the existing world.
'Absolutely... I can't let it be left that way.'
There's only one reason why this planet is called the 'Middle Realm' representing all planets in other universes, or why there are so many strong individuals and secret societies.
When the Second Genesis begins, that genesis will be centered around Gliese here, and Gliese will be reborn as the First World... that is, the new Celestial Realm that holds hegemony over all dimensions.
'Well, Abel twisted everything that was predetermined, but....'
What Rudian ultimately aims for isn't much different from Abel either.
He intended to create an ending without greatly harming the original order.
There were still several unresolved issues like the Demon Race problem including Baal, but he decided to finish those after getting through the immediate crisis first.
When Rudian showed signs of organizing his thoughts, Calesta asked.
"So what do you plan to do now? Are you going to activate the ark right away?"
"No, I plan to first take a look at the Hall, then definitively finish the matters between nations."
"Matters between nations?"
"Yes, originally I tried to naturally guide the flow without greatly interfering with history, but... now there's no need to do so."
No matter how much the Morian Empire was the strongest on the continent in terms of national power, it wasn't enough to subjugate all the remaining sixteen countries by force.
But now that the Dragon Race had joined, and nominally they had formed an alliance with Baal as well....
There wasn't much time, so there was no need to unnecessarily gauge this and that.
Calesta, being a dragon, nodded at Rudian's words.
"Indeed, there's no need to persuade humans with words."
"...I plan to persuade with words for now, but still, gathering them will require some coercion."
"We'll help you. Then threats will be more manageable."
"It's not threats, I tell you. Ah, but of course I'll gratefully accept the help."
...No, thinking about it, are they threats?
Several countries recognized as major powers on the continent are uniting to temporarily reform the Continental Alliance.
"Well, to recruit useful military power, that much is... Hmm?"
Calesta's words, who had been chuckling, suddenly cut off.
RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
From outside, along with tremendous waves of power, a pillar of light suddenly shot up.
Calesta, who confirmed where that pillar originated from, gaped.
"That's... what on earth?"
"What was meant to come has come. No, should I say what was meant to go has gone."
Rudian looked at the massive pillar of light connecting heaven and earth with a bitter expression.
That was the phenomenon of the Hall of Heroes, built ten thousand years ago, finally beginning to disappear after completing its purpose.
***
Two weeks later.
"Your Majesty, an envoy from the Morian Empire has come."
"...What? From the Morian Empire? Without prior contact?"
In one corner of the 17 countries existing on the continent.
The young king of the Kapuras Kingdom, Magellan I, frowned at the sudden visit from the Morian Empire.
The Kapuras Kingdom was located in the southeastern corner of the continent, and was a kingdom that belonged to the middle tier in terms of size.
It was a country that had accumulated wealth through abundant maritime resources and trade, and had maintained a lukewarm relationship with the Morian Empire due to their distant borders.
"No matter how much of an empire they are, they seem to be rude people who don't know courtesy...."
Originally, in this world where magic was developed, the law was that you had to notify at least a month before sending envoys between countries.
The nobleman from the foreign ministry in charge of the report hurriedly bowed and continued.
"That... they said they had no choice but to commit a diplomatic discourtesy because it was an urgent matter that would determine the survival of the continent."
At those words, Magellan I's expression became even more wrinkled.
"The survival of the continent? Hmph, indeed, since they practically won in this war, their pride must have grown. Don't waste time dragging this out and tell them to come in right away."
Naturally, the 1:2 war between the Morian Empire and Rohans and Ergon drew the attention of everyone on the continent.
It was natural since it was a major event that would be recorded in all history books.
'Pay tribute, or lower tariffs... well, it'll be some trivial threat like that.'
Things were quiet lately, but the adjacent Kingdom of Rohans used to make such threats whenever you'd forgotten about them in the past.
Magellan I unfolded the emperor's letter brought by the Morian Empire's envoy and began reading the contents.
Then, encountering content that exceeded his expectations, he blinked slightly.
"...Continental Nations Conference?"
In the document bearing the direct seal of the Morian Empire's emperor, Rausa Wilhelm von Morian, the words "Continental Nations Conference" were clearly written.
Magellan I laughed helplessly and briefly looked away from the letter.
"...What on earth are these people plotting?"
Continental Nations Conference.
Considering the Morian Empire's national status, he thought they could hold such a thing.
But....
"Requiring the king to attend personally crosses the line. Tsk!"
Magellan I turned his head and asked the man in black robes standing beside him.
"What do you think?"
The man in black robes was a member and leader of the guardian organization that substantially protected the Kapuras Kingdom.
And he was also a loyal retainer who had resolved the monster incident that attacked Kapuras this time.
"I think it's possible."
"...Possible?"
"The reason the Morian Empire is doing this is because of 'that incident' that happened just recently."
Magellan I, who couldn't not know what that incident was, closed his mouth.
"The monsters from Outer Space that attacked the entire continent were truly a natural disaster. We too...."
He bit his lips slightly and let out a sound close to a sigh.
"If it hadn't been for those 'Mysterious Ladies' who suddenly appeared from the sky, we couldn't have avoided total annihilation."
"Mmm...!"
Mysterious Ladies.
This was what the continent called the Elysion bodies that Rudian had sent to eliminate the monsters from Outer Space.
An unidentified group that all had the same girl's face.
Thanks to the existence of these beings who scattered rays from the sky and launched bombardments, it was no exaggeration to say that the continent had escaped from the crisis of destruction.
"Certainly... while we were fortunate to have no major damage, other countries would be different."
Although Kapuras had casualties in the thousands, considering the damage to other countries, this didn't even qualify as damage.
Magellan I continued reading the letter.
"...Several countries have already finished their agreements in advance."
While Luuren was understandable, his expression turned unpleasant when he saw the names of Rohans and Ergon.
"Those who just finished a war are now holding hands as if nothing happened...."
"That's what politics is."
"And what's this? A list of people selected as mediators for the Continental Nations Conference?"
At the very bottom of the letter were the names of those who would serve as mediators and witnesses for this conference.
Magellan I slowly read through those names.
"Red Dragon Lord Calesta, Blue Dragon Lord Shaiharan, Gold Dragon Lord Aldebaras, Black Dragon Lord Deabreta... Green Dragon Lord... Huh?"
"Yes...?"
Not only Magellan I, but the man in black robes who heard that list also widened his eyes and asked back.
"What is this...?"
Since it was a letter written directly by the imperial emperor, its credibility was beyond doubt.
But still, wasn't this... too unrealistic?
"Is this written with some hidden meaning like 'we won't leave you alone if you don't attend'?"
"Well, I wonder...."