Chapter 50
Chapter 50
Episode 50
Tia marched resolutely towards the center of the research facility.
The researcher she’d encountered earlier was strange. But the way she’d noticed his strangeness was the problem.
‘I didn’t detect it?’
Even she, the [Dragon Emperor], hadn’t noticed anything amiss.
It was the same even now. If she hadn’t noticed the incongruity in the researcher's words, she wouldn't have realized anything was wrong.
“D-Dragon Emperor? You’ve finally arrived.”
“Yes…”
The further she went into the facility, the more researchers she saw.
They greeted her with a mixture of unease and welcome. Though they feared her power, they couldn't avoid Tia, a source of knowledge about the unknown.
“Let me ask you something. Did you see ‘it’ yourself when it arrived?” Tia asked abruptly, looking down at the researcher. There was something she needed to confirm.
“Ah, yes. I saw it. I wasn't the only one. Most of us were there.”
“Really? What was it like? Tell me.”
“I still remember it. The chilling moment when it flew over with those small wings…”
“Right, wings?”
“Yes, those fins were truly…”
“…”
Tia clicked her tongue. She’d anticipated this. She’d never expected only one person to be affected. That’s why she’d asked the same question to multiple people.
Tia continued deeper into the facility, questioning every researcher she met.
Each answer shared a common thread.
–Those legs…
–The membranous wings…
–The single, bright yellow eye…
–Hundreds of red eyes…
Their descriptions of “it” shifted even as they spoke.
‘They’re all affected, aren’t they?’
Even though she’d been asking the questions with this in mind, she couldn't understand. As far as she could tell, there was nothing wrong with their minds. She couldn’t detect any external influence either.
‘Moreover…’
Despite their varying descriptions, they all felt a sense of unease or foreboding. These researchers were generally stout-hearted. As researchers, they were drawn to the unknown.
That left two possibilities.
‘Either I’m too weak to grasp its power…’
Even the [Dragon Emperor] didn’t know everything. She was still learning about demonic energy and divine power, for example.
‘Or there’s something inherently wrong with ‘it’.’
This time, however, it was different. It wasn’t a matter of identifying a type of power; she couldn't even perceive it. That meant “it” wasn't using some kind of power; there was something inherently strange about it.
‘Neither scenario is good…’
Tia didn't dismiss either possibility. After all, the sky had been torn open. That fact alone made it impossible to rule out the worst-case scenario.
“Well, I’ll see for myself.”
“Right this way, Dragon Emperor.”
Tia opened the door, half-ignoring the researcher waiting for her at the center of the facility.
The researcher didn’t complain about being ignored. Tia’s expression was far too serious. He quietly led her inside, holding his breath.
“This is…”
And the moment Tia saw it, confined in a cage, the thing that had emerged from Chrysos…
“Ha…!”
She sighed in disbelief.
It was the worst possible outcome.
“This is ridiculous.”
Tia was a Key holder before she was the [Dragon Emperor].
The power of the Keys was rooted in the laws of the world. And Tia, among all Key holders, was closest to those laws. So, the moment she saw the bizarre creature, constantly shifting its form, she understood.
“An incomplete being?”
It was no wonder the researchers’ memories were altered. An incomplete being couldn't have a fixed form. It wasn't simply that its appearance was inconsistent; it meant that even in the brief moment it was imprinted in their memories, it was an outsider, a being that didn't belong to this world.
“What do you think, Dragon Emperor?”
“Well, the world might end soon.”
“What…?”
“I’m kidding.”
Tia joked, but inwardly she was filled with dread. It wasn’t that the creature itself was dangerous. The mere fact that such a creature existed was a bad omen.
“From now on, this thing is under my supervision.”
“What? But even if you…”
Tia glared at the researcher who dared to speak, her eyes slitted like a serpent’s. It was a subtle warning from a tyrant, brooking no argument.
“Do you have a problem with that?”
“…No, ma’am.”
The researcher quietly shook his head and backed away. The other researchers observing nearby did the same. None dared to speak.
Tia, without looking back, extended her hand towards the caged creature.
The world turned blue.
That single act unleashed such dense mana that the entire facility was bathed in its light.
“Ugh…!”
Several researchers, unable to withstand the overwhelming mana, vomited. The others weren't much better. Every researcher present was pale and dizzy.
But Tia, ignoring their plight, spoke.
『Contain.』
Transcendental Magic
[Dragon Language - Coffin]
As she uttered the Dragon Language, a black coffin materialized in midair and swallowed the cage whole, along with the bizarre creature inside.
It might have seemed like overkill, but it was necessary.
‘This thing exists outside the laws.’
An Outer Being.
‘I can’t assume the laws will bind it.’
Tia acted cautiously. Dragon Language was the power to bend the laws. This was an unknown she had never encountered before. And since she couldn't even comprehend its nature, it was better to choose a certain method, even if it was excessive.
Tia watched the Outer Being disappear into the black coffin, trying to imprint its image in her mind. Even then, it continued to shift forms. Tia compartmentalized each fleeting image, fragmenting her own mind to contain them. She couldn't allow herself to become like the researchers.
“Anything else to report?”
“…”
“Nothing?”
“Ah, no. We have made some discoveries.”
The researchers, who had been overwhelmed by Tia's display of power, finally came to their senses. They had witnessed a glimpse of the legendary [Dragon Emperor]’s power. Ignoring their dripping sweat, they recounted their research findings one by one.
“Really? You haven’t discovered anything useful.”
“Yes… We had to be cautious, since we had no information to go on.”
“Good thinking.”
The researcher who met Tia's gaze involuntarily stepped back.
She left the facility, leaving the researchers behind.
“Oh, and…”
“Yes!”
“…Why are you shouting?” Tia asked, narrowing her eyes at the overly tense researcher.
“Since this is under my supervision, let me know if anyone wants to research it. I’ll issue Scientia passes.”
“Ah… Yes!”
Several researchers raised their hands at Tia's offer. Even if it was a bit of a hassle, working under the Dragon Emperor would allow them to experiment more safely. About half the researchers, excluding a few who couldn't leave the facility, requested passes from Tia.
“Anyway, if another monster like this appears, report it to me immediately.”
“O-Of course! We will report everything without fail.”
The researcher frantically waved his hands, worried she suspected them of withholding information.
“No, not that.”
“Yes?”
“Use magic, not messengers.”
“…Yes?”
After Tia left, they realized the earlier report had been sent by messenger and promptly fired the researcher responsible.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Around the time Tia headed towards the Chrysos Kingdom border,
Olivia, who had been looking at me like I was trash, slowly turned her gaze towards Arietta.
Arietta, seemingly oblivious to the situation, wore her usual gentle smile.
“Saintess.”
After a moment of hesitation, Olivia began whispering to Arietta.
Arietta's gentle smile quickly faded.
“Dorm? Ultimate magic? Uh…why?”
At first, she tilted her head repeatedly, puzzled.
“…”
And then, at some point, Arietta froze, just like Olivia when she was reading the document, and slowly turned towards me.
What did Tia write in that document? If Arietta started seeing me as trash like Olivia, it would be hard to bear.
But her reaction was different from what I expected.
“Oz…”
Arietta wore an incredibly sorrowful expression.
Just looking at her face filled me with immense guilt.
“…I understand.”
“Arietta…?”
“It feels like…the Oz I knew has become distant…but I suppose it can’t be helped.”
“What’s written there, Olivia Blue? Let me see that document for a moment.”
“I apologize, but this is an official Disciplinary Committee document, Prince Oz.”
“I’m also part of the Disciplinary Committee.”
“Right now, you’re a delinquent student brought in for violating school rules.”
A delinquent student… I had nothing to say to that.
My true purpose was hidden, so objectively, I was a delinquent student.
“Oz…”
Arietta’s sorrowful expression made me feel even more guilty. The power of the Saintess was terrifying.
Did destroying the dorm with [Meteor] warrant such a look of irreparable sin?
Or was the problem that I'd lost my home and was borrowing a room from a friend?
“I understand you’re popular, Oz, since you’re the Successor of the Mage King.”
This was a new reaction. Since all the women I’d interacted with so far had insisted I wasn’t popular, I felt a strange mix of emotions.
“But with so many women… Ahem! Anyway, burning down your dorm as a protest is a bit…”
Arietta’s calm voice held an irresistible force.
I naturally lowered my head, unable to meet her gaze. Sweat trickled down my cheeks.
“We can’t interfere with every single one of your actions, Oz. I know that. But…I can’t help but feel a little disappointed.”
“…”
“I’m not scolding you.”
I wished she would scold me.
Please, just get angry!
Arietta continued to question and lecture me.
But instead of reprimanding me, her words sounded like she was blaming herself for her shortcomings, and it made it hard to breathe.
It was a day that made me realize just how heavy the feeling of guilt could be.
By the time Arietta’s interrogation ended, it was already lunchtime.
Fortunately, it was still the weekend, so I didn’t have to worry about classes.
“Prince Oz.”
“Do you have something to say?”
Honestly, I wanted to refuse, but Olivia said she would guide me to my new dorm.
Because of what just happened, I already felt awkward around the Disciplinary Committee, and the thought of walking with Olivia, whom I wasn’t close to, made me want to vomit.
“The Saintess can detect lies.”
“I know.”
“She also realized that some of what was written in the document was just the Headmaster’s prank.”
If that wasn’t the case, I wouldn't be walking around freely in broad daylight.
It seemed the misunderstanding had been cleared up, but there was still something I needed to confirm.
“Can you at least tell me what was written there?”
Shouldn't they tell me what kind of misunderstandings they had about me?
“I can’t, it’s an official document.”
“Does it make sense that I, the person involved, can’t see it?”
“It does.”
“…”
This damn world was impossible. Even if all of this ended, I didn't have the confidence to live a normal life here.
“But is it always a good thing to be able to detect lies?”
“What?”
“You know the Saintess misunderstood the situation. She even apologized for it.”
Olivia scratched her head in frustration.
“Even if you can detect lies, people still doubt each other.”
“So, you still have doubts about me?”
“No, I’m sure she doesn’t anymore. But she can’t forgive herself for having doubted you, even for a moment.”
Arietta was excessively kind. That’s why she was called the Saintess, but if she agonized over having a moment of doubt, it didn’t seem like a good thing.
“So, Prince Oz,” Olivia said, sighing softly. The sigh sounded unusually loud in the quiet surroundings. It was a sigh filled with worry.
“Please don’t ignore the Saintess’s weakness.”
“…”
“If you can’t accept that weakness, then please condemn her, cast her aside.”
It was a request to end their relationship, one way or another.