Chapter 78
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Desert Kingdom (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"...Ha."
Lucas sheathed the sword he held back into its scabbard. He had drawn it because monsters were swarming, but there was no need to swing it.
The empire's VIP, who should have been under the protection of the Royal Guard, had already taken care of them.
"...This is..."
...The empire's duke, Yujin Banus.
He muttered the name Yujin several times in his mind.
What Yujin had just shown—killing all those monsters single-handedly—was something even Lucas himself could do.
Because Lucas, a member of Kara Kingdom's royal guard, was also a martial artist who had reached the Master realm.
But...
'That one sword stroke.'
The single stroke the man before him had demonstrated was beyond his capabilities.
'...An incredibly clean sword stroke.'
He could imitate it, perhaps. Slicing through monsters with a single draw was within Lucas's realm.
However... that was the limit.
Anything more was impossible.
Slicing the world itself, cutting so smoothly as if slicing paper...
"...Impossible."
The principles contained in that sword were more complex and yet simpler than anything Lucas had ever seen.
Slash, slash, slash, slash, slash.
It was swordsmanship honed to the extreme solely for slashing the target before him and claiming its life—a sword for killing.
Even the Heavenly Killing Star transmitted from the distant East across the sea probably didn't carry this level of murderous intent.
'The continent's youngest and greatest talent...'
...It was no mere rumor.
"Ha..."
Lucas was no politician. But in this moment, his mind raced with calculations worthy of one.
'We must never make the Empire our enemy.'
No matter how advanced firearms had become lately, they couldn't replace Archmages or Masters, only heightening their importance.
The presence or absence of a Master profoundly impacted a nation's prestige.
That was why every nation on the continent sought to bind Masters or Archmages to their service.
And to dispatch such a Master externally without even a war?
...
'Come to think of it... Duke Banus's fiancées are all high-ranking mages.'
Young geniuses teetering on the brink of Archmage realm, renowned as such.
Top-tier talents anyone would beg to recruit, overshadowed only by Yujin's fame.
Even the white-haired woman beside him emanated nothing detectable, for some reason.
Typically, that meant either a commoner or a powerhouse beyond sensory perception...
...
Lucas's intuition screamed it was the latter.
And he trusted his instincts.
'Is this the Empire...'
...Can they really deploy this level of force merely for external support?
For Lucas, who had devoted his life to Kara Kingdom, this was a massive shock.
Other nations couldn't even dream of it. Even Elvenheim, deemed the next strongest after the Empire, had never dispatched a Master abroad.
'...I must advise His Majesty to purge the anti-Empire faction completely.'
How could one even oppose a nation like that?
It was no different from a natural disaster.
Suddenly, those pushing an anti-Empire line seemed utterly pathetic.
Tsk tsk.
We should grasp the Empire's hand like us.
For some reason, Lucas had been shooting him an uncomfortable gaze since earlier. More precisely, a hot, sticky one?
"Hehe. You're quite popular, my lord."
"...Popularity?"
"Of course. Everyone here is gazing at you with shining eyes."
Uh... um.
"I can't fathom why they'd look at me like that..."
What was it? Like the way fans stared at an idol. The reaction when the longed-for object of admiration appeared right before you.
"Hehe. Because Kara Kingdom worships the strong."
"They must have fallen for that single sword stroke from earlier. From their position, Yujin is the ideal figure, wouldn't you say?"
"...Seems like it."
Lua, seated across from him, chuckled softly.
"Must feel good, hero."
"...Not really."
"Is that so? I think I'd like it..."
Receiving such gazes from men? Hard pass.
Being respected and revered certainly felt nice... but something about it was off-putting.
"You're so honest."
"Life's best lived honestly."
No need to lie or conceal one's heart except in political contexts. Yujin wasn't the type to watch his step around others. If anything, others fidgeted around him.
Besides, lies piled up endlessly until they became irreversible one day.
"Then you prefer beauties like us?"
Irene asked with a mischievous smile from beside him.
"Well, yeah."
Beauties like Irene, Lucia, and Lua were preferable. Especially those with great figures.
Like Lua right in front of him.
"Eek...!"
Not expecting such frank words straight to her face, Lua's cheeks flushed red.
Lucia and Irene, meanwhile, smiled leisurely.
Before Yujin headed to the Holy Kingdom, the three had shared some intimate skinship, so this was nothing.
Of course, Lucia still blushed recalling it...
'It felt so good...'
...Gulp.
It was like floating on air.
...To the point he wanted to do it again sometime.
'...No, since my lord and I are officially engaged now, more is fine, right?'
Lucia resolved to sneak into Yujin's room late at night later.
While Lua became the target of relentless teasing, a fairly large city wall came into view.
"Looks like we've arrived."
Passing through the walls into the interior revealed buildings in a style unseen in the Empire.
Earth-toned structures like those made of adobe, with small windows.
'Just like the Middle East.'
Truly reminiscent of cities from Arabian Nights or other Middle Eastern tales.
"Wow..."
"Definitely different from the Empire."
"...So very exotic."
The women gaped, mesmerized by the city. It was beautiful, without a doubt.
The Royal Guard uniforms were striking, and the citizens' attire was uniquely revealing, evoking a vibe utterly unlike the continent.
Easy to see why Kara Kingdom was such a hit as a travel destination.
But...
"...Their expressions aren't great."
"...The atmosphere feels subdued, hero."
The faces of people on the streets weren't cheerful. Like those robbed of hope for the future, merely awaiting death.
Or blankly emotionless.
Those glancing their way only frowned or wore pitying looks.
After watching for a while, Lucia murmured softly.
"My lord. No foreigners."
"...You're right. No one in continental attire or features."
"Looks like all foreigners have already fled Kara Kingdom."
She was spot on.
For a kingdom popular with tourists, it was oddly devoid of outsiders.
They might be disguised in local garb... but Kara folk had darker skin and coarser features compared to continental races.
'Unless born here or mixed blood, they'd stand out...'
...Yet after scanning, no foreigners in sight. Meaning they were the only outsiders in the capital now?
"...The situation's worse than we imagined."
Nod.
All the women nodded quietly.
The travel excitement faded, replaced by heavy silence.
—No matter how many times you challenge it, you cannot pass beyond this point, insect.
"..."
Vast underground cavern.
Within it glowed a pair of enormous eyes.
Vertical slit pupils like a reptile's, shining golden.
Before them stood a petite human with red hair.
The woman dragged her wounded body forward and drew her sword once more. Crimson-black flames erupted from the blade.
The cavern lit up instantly, revealing the dragon's form ahead.
Enormous crouched body. Coiled tail.
Red scales.
And... folded wings.
—How long do you intend to repeat this folly? It's pointless. Aren't you losing yourself in the process?
"..."
Silent, the woman intensified the flames even further.
To the dragon, her actions resembled a moth hurling itself into fire, heedless of death. Such flames could never slay it.
—This is the last time, insect.
How many repetitions had there been? Uncountable.
Time he didn't have for this.
Pity for the tiny human before him had squandered too much.
Even as scheduled doom loomed...
—Sigh.
With the dragon's faint sigh, the woman's flames were swept aside.
Whoosh———!
Rumble———!!!