Three Years to the Dragon
Once the Grand Duke of Libertas’s explosion subsided, monsters burst forth from the cloud of dust. Despite the grandeur of the blast, far more had survived than expected. Thanks to their sturdy constitutions, at least nine hundred monsters had weathered the detonation.
“About a hundred per shot, then?”
“Even some Silver-ranks are holding up.”
“This would be perfect for a monster wave.”
One shot felled roughly a hundred. Moreover, the monsters that escaped the blast radius bore wounds both large and small. The new weapon’s power spoke for itself. Yet Aron, who had unveiled it, wore a dissatisfied expression.
“The Mana Concentration Cannon is an extremely inefficient weapon. Its construction alone costs a year’s tax revenue from a decent grand duchy, the highest-grade mana stones used as fuel are priced at whatever the seller demands, and worst of all, after each shot the overheated barrel requires a long time to cool and recharge.”
“It really is closer to waste than anything else.”
“Even this version took seven years of refinement to reach its current level of efficiency.”
No one from another region would ever buy it. Demonstrating this level of power was so wasteful that calling it excessive felt like an understatement. With the funds needed for a single Mana Concentration Cannon, one could train far more talented individuals or purchase other, more practical weapons. Arthur knew this as well, and he smiled brightly as he spoke.
“Honestly, I didn’t have high hopes. Even when I asked for it, I thought it might be a bit much.”
“We could have developed something far cheaper and more efficient in the time spent on this.”
“But the enemy we’re facing now isn’t one we can reason with.”
“The Mountain Dragon, Magranas… I’ve heard enough about it, yet without facing it myself, I cannot even begin to imagine its scale.”
Aron did not offer a firm reply to Arthur’s words. When he first heard that several of humanity’s strongest had thrown themselves into the fray, joined by elites from other regions who would never normally cooperate, and that they had barely managed to repel it, he had thought it a dream. The existence of such a monster in the North filled him with dread, and some had even claimed the northerners were lying. Yet Aron had never doubted their words—the evidence they presented was simply too clear.
“That’s right. The Mana Concentration Cannon succeeded in melting part of Magranas’s shell.”
“Oh? It actually worked?”
“Everyone at the Royal Academy threw themselves into finding a solution.”
Seeing Arthur’s surprised expression, Aron shook his head wearily. It had only been a fragment smaller than a breastplate, but he doubted Arthur could understand how thoroughly it had upended the southern academy. Its defense and Mystery resistance defied imagination; no matter what conditions they added in an attempt to destroy it, the material refused to budge. Everyone had agreed:
“If the being that shed this material truly exists, it is a calamity.”
“The continent has survived only because it remains in the North. It is a monster beyond all standards.”
“I have lived as a craftsman for a hundred and fifty years, yet I have never seen such an absurd material. Its owner is a monster.”
“We must stop it in the North! If the North falls, the continent is doomed!”
If such an existence descended from the North into the central regions, the current civilization would perish. That was the conclusion Aron, head of the Royal Academy, felt most keenly—and his homeland, the Lubern Kingdom, understood it just as clearly.
Aron turned to Arthur with a resolute expression. Even in this moment when the North’s fate hung in the balance, the man before him remained relaxed. Their eyes met.
“The central regions may stay silent due to their chaotic politics, but the South will not. We will not refuse the North’s request for cooperation. We will extend our hand.”
“Straightforward. I like that. And I appreciate that you didn’t dress it up with complications.”
“The details—conditions, interests—will be handled by the working-level staff. Besides, helping the North comes with generous rewards. How could we refuse?”
Aron answered with a sly smile, then glanced around.
“By the way, where did the others go? I saw them heading down below the walls earlier.”
“They went out to fight the monsters.”
“Ah, the monster wave.”
Aron, who had momentarily forgotten, looked beyond the walls. Adventurers and knights who had exited through the gates were sweeping through the monsters. Hundreds of fighters, each at least Silver-rank—individuals who would be hailed as high-ranking knights in the central regions—were charging in and slaughtering the horde. It was no wonder the South regarded northerners as the finest solvers of Mystery phenomena. While others prepared elaborate strategies, northerners often resolved things with raw force.
Watching the northerners annihilate the monsters, Arthur spoke.
“Let’s discuss the details later.”
“When should we schedule the meeting?”
“Probably in a few months. We’ll use this opportunity to deal with one of the Named Monsters.”
“Does that mean you intend to request cooperation from the other regions as well?”
“Exactly.”
Aron fell silent at Arthur’s words. Though his tone was light and his face full of smiles, Aron felt an intense pressure radiating from him. Meeting the Grand Duke’s golden eyes, he finally perceived the enormous presence he had overlooked until now and quietly shuddered.
“Three years from now, the North will slay the Mountain Dragon, Magranas.”
The Grand Duke’s voice was as casual as if he were announcing steak for lunch. Aron bowed his head in silence—an act of respect toward one who stood at the pinnacle of humanity, just as Vergo did.
***
After rampaging across the battlefield, I returned to Starus with a refreshed expression. It was the first time I had fought such a massive horde with nothing but pure strength. Then again, the idea that battles of this scale would occur at least once a month was absurd in its own right.
“Good work today. You shook up the entire battlefield.”
“Neon. You were the star of the show.”
“I’m seriously exhausted…”
Still, today’s battle had gone far more smoothly thanks to Neon. The monsters on the front lines had never encountered black mana before, so the tide of battle had shifted dramatically.
“Your name was Neon, right? You’re quite the talent!”
“If you want, I can put you in the front-line mage corps anytime!”
“That was your first battle, and what a fiery debut!”
The expressions on the adventurers’ and knights’ faces said it all. Because the monsters’ attention had been focused on Neon, the fight had become much easier. In exchange, Neon had twisted his body in every direction to survive the onslaught of hundreds of monsters. Unfortunately for him, evasion was what he did best, so he survived once again.
“I finally reached the 5th circle I’d been longing for, so why does it feel like nothing special?”
“Because in the North, the 5th circle is considered about the same as early Silver-rank?”
“It’s a common level on the front lines.”
At my and Adela’s words, Neon’s face twisted. He had worked hard enough to reach a level that would qualify him for an elder position in the Magic Tower, yet he was still being chased by monsters. Of course he was dissatisfied. But having fought alongside him this long, I had seen how his responses changed as his circle rose. When he was at the 3rd circle, he had only run away helplessly. At the 4th, he had started counterattacking to some degree. Now at the 5th, he could hold his own even against Silver-rank monsters. He already possessed skills surpassing most northern mages. He might not realize it because of the stigma attached to being a black mage, but his abilities were already among the best at his level. Not that telling him now would make any difference.
We brought the grumbling Neon back to Starus, where Arthur greeted us at the entrance with a bright smile.
“Great work today! Everyone, go fill your stomachs and prepare for tomorrow!”
At his words, the adventurers and knights erupted in cheers. It had been a monster wave numbering a full thousand. Though this battle was merely a prelude and the real fight was still ahead, victory remained victory. Arthur watched contentedly as people headed toward taverns and restaurants to celebrate today’s win. Then his gaze turned to us.
“Come to think of it, we had some new adventurers arrive recently.”
The moment the Grand Duke’s eyes landed on us, my body froze. His gaze had been light, yet the instant it touched me, I couldn’t move—as if I were prey caught by a predator. Even my breathing felt controlled. I was inwardly horrified when the oppressive sensation suddenly vanished like a mirage, and Arthur scratched the back of his head with an awkward laugh.
“Ahaha! Sorry, sorry! I got carried away and stared too hard without realizing it.”
Watching him act so harmlessly, I instinctively understood that this was a calculated performance. The sight of him deliberately presenting himself as a harmless predator for those who couldn’t withstand his presence filled me with quiet shock.
Whether we were shocked or not, Arthur smiled good-naturedly and looked us over.
“I’ve been quite interested in the adventurers who’ve come up to the front lines. We’ll be seeing a lot of each other from now on—how about we chat over a meal at a nearby restaurant?”
“Of course.”
“A good meal is always welcome!”
“To be honest, I’ve wanted to dine with Your Grace for a long time!”
At the Grand Duke’s invitation, the adventurers who had just arrived at the front lines answered promptly. The lion-like flash of his golden eyes lingering on me for a moment was probably just my imagination. Please, let it be.