Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: Chapter 33 - Hecatoncheires
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Hecatoncheires.
The retainers of the Demon Dragon Helcanes, who played a pivotal role in the creation myth.
After the Divine Dragon Volpidga perished, it was Helcanes's retainers who seized hegemony over the continent.
But as generations passed, the blood of Helcanes flowing through their veins grew thinner, and the power of the evil dragons and dragonkin weakened accordingly.
The founding of the Holy Empire put an exclamation point on this phenomenon.
The evil dragons, who had ruled the world as its masters for eons, were driven to the fringes by humans led by Sword Emperor Clausewitz.
The humans who claimed the center of the continent founded the Holy Empire—a moment when the world's master truly changed.
The surviving evil dragons were few, and the lesser dragons whose Helcanes blood had become far too diluted were little more than beasts.
High Dragonkin Zenadu lifted her head.
As the granddaughter of Anabolia—who was the first dragonkin to directly inherit Helcanes's blood and his consort—she was an especially noble figure among the third-generation dragonkin.
More of Helcanes's blood flowed through her veins than in other third-generation dragonkin, and as if to prove it, she had shown exceptional achievements in various fields.
Yet Zenadu's face was filled with worry.
The wrath of dragons flowed through the land as lava in the molten zone.
Zenadu slowly raised her head and looked around.
Gathered at the obsidian round table imbued with Helcanes's power were the high dragonkin of the Hecatoncheires.
Some were real, while others were illusions conjured by magic, just as she had done.
[Everyone is gathered.]
At the low, resonant voice, Zenadu bowed her head.
A second-generation dragonkin even higher than her was present, but all had to show respect before that voice.
The owner of that voice was of the first generation—a noble being who had walked the mythic era itself and led the Hecatoncheires.
[The operations in the west and south have both ended in failure.]
There was no rise or fall in the voice.
Not even a hint of anger or reproach.
And that fact squeezed Zenadu's heart all the more.
[We are weakening.]
[Among those gathered here, only a handful can move about freely.]
[It is true that we have not fully healed from the wounds of past battles.]
But even so, two consecutive failures were fatal.
Especially the failure in the south, where far more effort had been invested than in the west—it was unexpected.
'Eight Calamities...'
The alien horrors that the Sword Angel had brought to this star, which humans called the Eight Divine Armaments.
One of them had appeared in the south.
And it had even unleashed its full power.
Luther Lightseeker.
That man, most likely.
The Sword Emperor's successor who had appeared in both the west and the south.
Zenadu swallowed dryly and, head still bowed, turned her gaze toward her sister Iclusia, who had been in charge of the southern operation.
Iclusia, also bowing her head like Zenadu, remained utterly still with her lips pressed tight.
[Focus more efforts on the eastern operation.]
[I authorize direct action by the third generation.]
At the voice's declaration, Zenadu's eyes widened.
The other dragonkin at the obsidian table reacted the same way.
Plans prepared for the west, south, and east.
Zenadu knew.
The Hecatoncheires' goal was not the empire's destruction.
Toppling a human sandcastle that had stood for less than 200 years was unimportant, and even if successful, it held little meaning.
What the Hecatoncheires truly desired.
And the grand plan to achieve it.
"I shall obey your command."
As second-generation dragonkin Ixion replied on behalf of all, the overwhelming presence from above vanished.
Zenadu let out a sigh of relief despite herself and slowly raised her head.
After a brief silence, Ixion resumed the meeting, deciding to maintain the framework of the eastern plan.
Use the Wild Hunt to destroy the east.
Deploy more forces in case of contingencies.
And the most critical change.
An additional plan not originally scheduled.
"Zenadu."
At Ixion's call, Zenadu raised her head.
She showed respect and received the new command.
* * *
[But Master, what on earth is the Hecatoncheires thinking?]
"What do you mean by that?"
Deep into the night.
Luther, seated on a deserted terrace, turned to Integra and asked.
Having fled the terrace as if escaping Noel, he had considered heading to the garden instead of another terrace, but the pairs of life signs in the garden's dark corners—those secluded spots—forced him back to the terrace.
[It just struck me as odd.]
She stepped forward to face Luther, who leaned against the terrace railing, and began counting on her fingers.
[The western Beastmaster Balakia, the southern tsunami, the eastern Wild Hunt.]
[In the original story, each one should have caused enough devastation to raze its region... but is it really possible to destroy the world like this?]
If it had followed the original, the west would have seen over 100,000 casualties, and the south far more deaths.
But stepping back to look at it, it certainly felt 'insufficient.'
[According to your story, Master, the world of Dragon Hunter Origin should essentially be doomed.]
[With 70-80% of humanity dead, right?]
[But even if these events repeat several more times... I'm doubtful it would lead to the level of destruction in the original.]
It wasn't about treating human lives lightly.
It simply didn't add up arithmetically.
"Intending to... weaken the empire?"
[The terrorist acts from west to east are means to weaken the Holy Empire, and the Hecatoncheires' true goal is whatever comes after with the weakened empire—that hypothesis?]
"Well, in the original, the empire did get severely weakened."
But how that weakened empire met its end, Luther didn't know.
It was a part of Dragon Hunter Origin that hadn't been released yet, so he hadn't played it.
Luther knew only three-quarters of the total content.
The remaining quarter was completely unknown territory.
'Are all these events in the west, south, and east just preparatory work for some plan in that final quarter?'
And if so, what was the Hecatoncheires' true plan?
How did the Hecatoncheires destroy the world?
[Well, we'll find out as we block them one by one.]
[Anyway, we stopped the west and south, right?]
Integra, now changed into her cheerleader outfit, winked playfully, and Luther nodded.
Whatever plan the Hecatoncheires was hatching, he just had to disrupt it step by step.
[A gift for Master, who's toiling to avert doom.]
[I still need more time to fully analyze the data, but I have a rough idea of what's inside.]
[Location data.]
[It's either the spot where one of the Eight Divine Armaments—the Sky Giant—is dormant, or a place with clues to that location.]
"Cliché-wise, the latter's more likely?"
[Smart Master earns 1 shop point.]
As Integra held up a small sign with the number 1, Luther chuckled anew before asking.
"But Integra, what gift do I get when I collect all the shop points? How many points do I need in total?"
[That's still a secret.]
Her tongue-out expression was endearingly coy and sweet.
To the point where it might be the reward itself.
'A 1-point reward? Yeah, I'd accept that.'
[Master? What are you thinking? Your usual naughty thoughts?]
"Yeah, no. Anyway, how long until the data analysis is done?"
[By tomorrow morning.]
[Then, with southern business wrapped up, we zoom to the east~.]
[Mm-hm, perfect. Perfect.]
Integra nodded vigorously, clearly delighted.
In truth, she had been subtly fidgeting these past five days, eager to leave.
'Well... I get the reason, roughly.'
Too embarrassing to say aloud, but Luther had a good idea why Integra was acting this way.
Of course, that realization embarrassed him too.
[Anyway, King Adon is recovering, the spies are being rooted out, Malkuth Kingdom is on Master's side, and Queen Reina will now guard King Adon fiercely, so no more relapses.]
[The Sky Island is gone, so no more tsunamis.]
[Mm-hm, flawless.]
[A flawless problem resolution.]
It was problem-solving marred by destruction, but as Integra said, the issues were indeed resolved.
[You plan to keep in touch with Ash?]
"Yeah, I should. Even keeping distance from the Holy Knights now... I can't do that forever."
To fight the Hecatoncheires, he needed as many allies as possible.
Once Luther grew strong enough and secured more of the Eight Divine Armaments, he could join hands with the Holy Knights on equal footing.
Luther took another look at the coin Ash had given him, which served as a communicator.
[Hmm, somehow the western and southern protagonists feel like they've been sidelined into minor roles, but that's cliché in its own way.]
[Since the new protagonist, Master, has appeared.]
Integra nodded contentedly but suddenly turned her head.
Luther did the same.
"Luther?"
Aru appeared, opening the terrace door.
Startled, Luther straightened from the railing, but Aru approached with a casual smile.
"Hiding here?"
"Well... too many people showing interest."
"Ah... yeah, I didn't realize the capital had so many bald nobles until now."
One reason Luther had fled to the terrace right after dancing with Integra was the onslaught from the bald nobles.
[Well... from their perspective, it's like a divine miracle dangling right in front of them.]
Luther understood their feelings, but treating them all would deplete his nanomachines, so avoidance was the only option for now.
"Being too capable is a curse, huh."
Aru giggled, seamlessly taking Integra's spot as if by magic, leaning lightly against the railing and looking up at Luther.
"Luther."
"Yes, Aru."
"Earlier... that was a spirit, right?"
The woman with whom Luther had danced third.
So beautiful and ethereal, she could pass for the goddess of the moon.
Luther nodded with a wry smile, and Aru suddenly let out a deep sigh.
"I almost messed up big time. Felt like I got caught off guard and took a hit."
[Heh heh.]
[The price of underestimating me.]
Integra was triumphant, perhaps even more so because she knew Aru couldn't hear.
But Aru was Aru.
After a momentary slump of her shoulders, she smiled brightly, glanced around as if searching for Integra, then looked back at Luther.
"Luther."
"Yes?"
[That spirit earlier... an illusion, right? Untouchable. I could tell from watching the dance.]
Aru's eyes were provocative, her message spell sharp.
While everyone else was mesmerized by Integra's beauty and fantastical grace, Aru had noticed the oddity in the dance.
She seemed to have concluded that the palm-sized Integra was the real body, and the human-sized one was an illusion spell.
'Uh... it's only 14 seconds, but do I tell her it's touchable?'
As Luther pondered—not quite a dilemma—
His hesitation made Aru confident in her guess. She flashed her trademark bubbly smile and straightened up.
"Yeah, good. Then I don't have to give up easily."
"Huh?"
"I said I don't have to give up easily. Gonna keep embarrassing a lady like that?"
How was he supposed to respond to this?
As Luther floundered again, Aru burst into laughter, let out a tiny sigh, and turned back to him.
"Good night, Luther. Dream of me, okay?"
Winking playfully instead of waiting for a reply, Aru spun on her heel and returned to the banquet hall.
Not quite a Sandalphon-level whirlwind, but her entrance and exit felt like a storm had passed.
And one person remained.
[Master? That was a message spell just now, right?]
[What on earth did Princess Aru say to make you like that?]
Now what should he say here?
As Luther grappled with another non-dilemma, Integra furrowed her brow, hugged his arm lightly, and said.
[But Master. You'll dream of me later, right? Right?]
14 seconds.
Luther could only muster another wry smile.
* * *
Time passed.
The next morning.
A crowd had gathered early in front of Luther's annex.
Not just Yoru, Aru, and Iru, but also Sandalphon, Grand General Azrael, and even Queen Reina.
King Adon was absent due to lingering discomfort, but this lineup was dazzlingly grand for a send-off.
Departing the south for the east.
Luther had announced it before the grand banquet, so this farewell was planned.
Queen Reina and the princesses had wanted a parade-style send-off, but various reasons prevented it.
Luther's refusal was the biggest, followed by the bald men now flocking to the capital.
[If word gets out that Master's leaving the capital, it could cause a huge uproar.]
It pained him to give hope to the desperate only to snatch it away, but he had no choice.
Luther had urgent business.
"See you next time, Luther."
True to her declaration yesterday, Aru smiled boldly and said so, while Sandalphon behind her waved a finger-made zero enthusiastically.
Luther exchanged brief hugs with not just Aru and Sandalphon, but Yoru as well, then mounted Schwarz's back.
"Malkuth Kingdom awaits Luther-nim's call anytime."
His promise with Queen Reina.
With a nod, Luther glanced at Aru one last time; she smiled and waved.
[Go quick. Before I really follow.]
[I'll be even prettier next time, so prepare yourself.]
"Yes, Princess. Until next time."
From their chance meeting in the western village to now, their bond had endured.
Seeing Aru's beautiful, bubbly smile always reaffirmed for Luther that he was doing the right thing.
'Stopping the fated doom.'
It wasn't just Aru.
Yoru, Iru, Queen Reina—the three spy suspects.
King Adon, who would have died in bed, and countless southerners swept away by the tsunami.
Smiling once more at Aru, Luther urged Schwarz forward.
Schwarz kicked off the ground and soared in an instant, transforming into something like an airstrike vehicle—but that wasn't the end.
Thanks to the parts Integra had made.
[Deploy flight assist parts!]
[Synchro system all green!]
At Integra's shout, the horse armor on Schwarz linked up, becoming additional flight plating, while the saddle luggage turned into a pair of wings.
And mounted beneath those wings: a pair of Gatling beam cannons and micro-missile cartridges.
From the cockpit, Luther gazed at the fully transformed Schwarz and muttered.
"It's practically a fighter jet now."
He could probably turn Jogres from the primitive beast forest into Swiss cheese in seconds.
[Setting automatic route.]
[Destination: Wind God Isle in the eastern Holy Empire.]
The coordinates hidden in Noel's Energy Cube.
The place where the Sky Giant might be slumbering.
'Sky Giant, huh...'
Likely a steel giant.
Luther briefly imagined merging with the Sky Giant's head atop Schwarz, a pleasant smile crossing his face. For once, Integra watched him tenderly instead of teasing.
Destination: the east.
What must be stopped: the lesser dragons' Wild Hunt, their Night Parade of a Hundred Demons.
Schwarz, carrying Luther, cut across the southern skies.