Chapter 55
Chapter 55
Episode 55
Professor Aira's lab, which I entered after sweet-talking her. The first emotion I felt upon arriving was awe.
“This is strange…”
And a sense of incongruity.
As expected of the undisputed strongest being in this world. The magic barrier Tia had hastily erected was beyond imagination.
But that's precisely why it was strange.
This was only Chapter 3 of the main story.
Which meant the enemies were still relatively weak.
So how did the "Outer Being" Tia captured escape from here? Was that even possible?
The inside would be protected by even stronger magic.
“I-Is there something wrong? Gah! Did the experiment already start…?”
“This doesn’t concern you, so please calm down, Professor Aira.”
“No! I know! I can find it! H-Here? Something's wrong here, right?! …Or not?”
“Please, just stay still.”
Despite my words, Professor Aira continued to look around anxiously, searching for something amiss.
“…There’s really nothing wrong here, so please come in.”
“Just once! Please, give me one more chance! Don’t abandon me!”
I pushed Professor Aira’s back, forcing her inside. She was truly a tiresome individual.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
One of only five dragons in the world.
An incarnation of mana, considered an anomaly.
[KP Dragon Emperor]
Tiamat
Deep within Scientia, in a place only she knew, she was talking to someone.
“There are a lot of strange students enrolled this year. There’s one who’s particularly troublesome. His name is Oz, and he even has talent, so it’s hard to control him.”
She sat down as if having a drink, words constantly flowing from her lips.
“Arietta is a good kid. It’s a shame she fell for the biggest troublemaker in the academy…”
Tia chuckled. She still had much to talk about.
The complicated situation involving Arietta, Oz, and Alexios. The eccentric female student who caused trouble regularly. The magic professor who had recently become anxious.
And…
“The sky shattered like glass…I don’t know what’s happening to the world. It’s like the mythical age is repeating itself.”
…everyday occurrences known to everyone.
As if explaining things to a patient who couldn’t see or hear.
The object of Tia’s conversation was a giant egg.
A dragon egg.
“…Well, still.”
Tia stared blankly at the egg for a while, then chuckled and stood up.
“It’ll be fine, since I’m here. I might look small, but I’m the biggest thing in the world.”
Tap
Tia leaned against the egg, resting her forehead against it, and whispered softly. Even after hundreds of years, her little sister hadn't emerged.
“I’m not asking for much. Just show me your face.”
Tia often wondered if it was her fault.
She was too powerful.
Even though countless dragons had been born and died throughout history, none were as strong as her.
She was clearly an anomaly.
Had she perhaps absorbed her sister’s power at birth?
Was that why her sister hadn’t hatched yet?
“So, can you stop worrying your sister and just come out already?”
Tia carried a burden of responsibility and guilt she shouldn't have to bear.
The stinging pain, like a thorn lodged in her heart, gnawed at her insides.
“Isn’t it lonely living in this world alone, without family…?”
Her hidden feelings, only visible in this place. She, who was called the protector of the world and flaunted her power, couldn't shake off her loneliness.
The dragon egg, long overdue to hatch, made her anxious. She sought advice from other dragons, older and wiser than herself.
–You fool. That child is dead.
That's what Nicks, the [Black Dragon] who had made a pact with the Demon King, had said.
“Dead, my ass.”
Tia could feel her sister's pulse through her forehead.
She was alive. Her sister just hadn't been born yet.
She was certain of it.
–It’s long overdue. You should give up.
That’s what Halbard, the [Sea Dragon] who nested in the Sea of Boundaries, had said.
“They’re all senile.”
Tia cursed, saying that they were the ones long overdue to be in their coffins.
Her sister was just sleeping in.
–If you’re so impatient, why not leave it to me? I’ll make her just like me. Heh heh.
That’s what Gangcheol, who had bound himself to the earth tainted with Yokai Energy and had become a phenomenon known as the [Yokai King], had said.
“That crazy bastard.”
Tia immediately erased Gangcheol's words from her mind.
She shouldn't have even asked him in the first place.
Associating with that thing, which wasn't even a yokai, let alone a dragon, just a bizarre phenomenon, was a foolish mistake.
–Tia, you poor child. Aren’t dragons solitary creatures by nature? I understand your feelings for that child, but I worry you’re becoming obsessed.
That’s what Jinsun, the [White Dragon] who lived a life of asceticism and constant self-cultivation, had said.
“…”
Unlike the others’ words, Jinsun’s words stuck with Tia.
Unlike the other dragons, he had been looking at the small dragon clinging to the unhatched egg, not the egg itself.
“…Still.”
Even so, Tia wouldn’t give up.
Her unborn family still had a heartbeat.
“Because this is the world you will be born into.”
Because she believed that.
Even if dragons were solitary creatures, she wouldn’t give up.
“I, your older sister, will protect you.”
She knew. This newly appeared incomplete being would bring chaos to the world.
There was nothing she could directly do for her sister now.
So, she would make this entire world a beautiful nest for her sister, for when she finally hatched.
“Your sister is the strongest being in the world.”
She became the representative of dragons, the self-proclaimed mediator of the world.
This was the world her family would live in.
Protecting it was only natural.
“So, I’ll be going now, even though it’s a bit early. Many are waiting for their big sister.”
Tia stroked the egg once more, then turned around.
Her hair swayed like a dragon's tail.
“I’ll be back, Spina.”
It was the name of an SSR-rank character who would awaken upon Tia’s death.
The name of the [Inheritor of Will].
She named her that because her existence was like a thorn (spina) lodged in Tia’s heart, a constant source of worry and pain.
Tia didn’t look back.
There was no need.
She strode confidently through the vast space.
The place only she knew fell silent once more.
And in that silent world, suddenly…
Twitch!
…the life that had been silent began to stir.
The world took one step forward.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After leaving the place where Spina’s egg rested, Tia arrived at a laboratory bustling with people.
“Sorry I’m late. We have guests from outside.”
A black coffin sat in the center of the lab, surrounded by layers of powerful magic.
An impenetrable fortress created by Tia’s words. A fortress so secure that it would take the Empire a full day to breach, even with dedicated effort.
“Everyone I gave permission to is here?”
Even though it hadn’t even been a day, humans, as always, were impatient.
Tia chuckled, amused by their eagerness.
“All the alchemy and biology professors seem to be present…”
Tia nodded.
It was good news that all the professors she’d summoned had arrived.
They were individuals she recognized as talented. Even if she missed something, they would catch it.
Tia continued checking the attendees. It seemed most of them were present, excluding a few who couldn’t make it due to their own research.
“All the magic professors are here, too… Let’s see… One, two, three, four… Wait, why are there only four?”
Tia rubbed her eyes, wondering if she’d miscounted.
But the number remained the same.
“…Why are you here?”
“Greetings, Headmaster. I’m honored to have this opportunity. I’d like to participate as Professor Aira’s assistant, if you’ll permit it.”
“…”
Tia shuddered.
Honestly, Oz wasn’t a bad choice.
He was a publicly recognized figure, and his abilities were on par with anyone present.
‘I have a feeling he’s going to cause trouble again.’
But it was unsettling.
Every incident involving Oz had escalated unnecessarily.
Most of them were unfortunate accidents, but the sheer amount of chaos surrounding him was alarming.
And more importantly…
“Aira.”
“Y-Yes…”
His role as Aira’s assistant was strange. It was an unlikely pairing, to say the least.
But it was just a suspicion for now.
So, Tia approached Aira and whispered softly,
“If that Oz bastard is threatening you, bring a carrot to the next research session.”
“Excuse me…?”
“Yes, a carrot. Don’t forget.”
“Ah, yes…”
Tia nodded knowingly, then turned her head.
“Hey, Oz.”
“Yes, Headmaster. What is it?”
What should she do with Oz?
She could kick him out.
He was an uninvited guest, after all.
But if she did, it would likely put Aira, who brought him here, in an awkward position.
‘I don't like being manipulated like this…’
She wasn’t about to play along with Oz's obvious plan, which was based on the assumption that she wouldn't kick him out.
But he was undeniably capable.
Besides Oz, there was only one other elder-level mage in Scientia: Prudence Loa.
And more importantly…
‘With his eyes, he might be able to see what I can't.’
The same eyes as Lucia.
Oz possessed a unique quality that she recognized, that she had to recognize.
“Can you keep your mouth shut?”
“I’m probably the most discreet person you’ll ever meet.”
“How reassuring.”
He was a smooth talker.
Tia considered kicking Oz out again.
But it was information that everyone would eventually find out anyway.
Tia sighed and returned to her place. It was a tacit approval of his participation.
“Some of you might already know, but since most of you don’t, I’ll explain.”
Tia pointed at the coffin bound by various magics in the center of the lab.
“Inside that coffin is a creature believed to have emerged from the broken sky above Chrysos.”
As soon as Tia finished speaking, the researchers who hadn't come from the border began murmuring. But her next words surprised even those who already knew about the "Outer Being."
“That monster constantly changes its form and manipulates perceptions. Your memories.”
Tia tapped her head.
Only two people remained unfazed after understanding her words: Oz, who already knew about it, and Prudence Loa, another elder mage.
Both were assessing the situation with the characteristic composure of mages.
“W-What…?”
Professor Aira, on the other hand, panicked, realizing the scale of this research was far greater than she’d imagined.
For her, escaping her current predicament was more important than research, so it couldn't be helped.
“If you want, you can leave. Even I think this is going to get a bit out of hand.”
Of course, no one left. They’d anticipated this from the moment they accepted Tia’s offer.
The only one who hadn’t anticipated it was Aira, blinded by the opportunity before her.
“Alright, I’m glad you understand… Now, before we begin, one more thing.”
Tia’s gaze swept over the professors and researchers, then stopped at Oz.
“I need to talk to Oz privately, so could you all leave for a moment?”
Despite Tia's somewhat forceful request, the professors and researchers filed out of the lab without complaint.
It wasn’t strange for someone of Oz’s status, the [Successor of the Mage King], to have a private conversation with Tia.
“Now then…”
After confirming everyone had left, Tia extended her hand towards the coffin, which was encased in multiple magic barriers.
The coffin didn’t open.
Instead, Tia’s hand passed right through it, creating a small hole.
“Oz, I’m sure you can guess why I asked you to stay.”
“Yes, Headmaster.”
Tia nodded at Oz’s calm demeanor and pulled the incomplete being out of the hole.
Holding the monster, which was still shifting forms, she spoke to Oz.
“Tell me. What do you see?”
“…”
Tia waited for Oz’s answer.
The wait was long. Oz was hesitating.
And through that hesitation, Tia reached a single, certain conclusion.
“I…see a dog.”
“Really?”
Oz had lied.