Chapter 102
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Good News (4)
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Originally, the plan had been to drop by the Ignatus Archduchy for a short while, convince Igni, and head back to House Zahav.
But after hearing Igni's story, the plan changed.
Death Valley. Dive down below it and destroy the Dragon Heart.
Once the western problem was completely resolved that way, they could focus on the southern issue.
"Simple plan, right?"
"I like how straightforward it is! You help me, so I help you back, got it? So what do I need to do, big bro?"
For some reason, Yuria was still draped in Igni's blanket like a cape, her face brimming with enthusiasm.
I forced the kindest smile I could muster at her snort of excitement.
"Guard the house."
"...Huh?"
"We have to break through a space created by divine authority. Sorry to say it, but at your current level, it's impossible."
"Tch. Like that thing from the academy last time?"
"Even more dangerous. It's a fragment, sure, but it's the authority of a properly ascended deity."
"Sigh... I was hoping to finally put what Aunt Adriana taught me to use. Guess there's no helping it then."
Yuria looked visibly disappointed. Having experienced it firsthand, she clearly understood that without a certain level of power, you'd just get swept up in the authority.
Given her personality, she'd normally whine a couple more times, but she accepted it cleanly and backed down.
Come to think of it, while staying at the imperial palace, she'd been hanging out with Adriana a lot... She must have picked up something.
I'd been slow to notice because they'd been together so much lately, but now that I looked, Yuria's aura was quite different from before.
Up until now, it had felt like a beast in human form.
Not theoretical swordsmanship, but instinct and intuition. The kind of presence unique to fighters who relied on physical prowess.
Always taking in surrounding info, reacting sharply, so she'd habitually leak a bit of aura outward and scan the area.
But now, it was different.
She still leaked aura, but far more subtly and intricately than before, like she'd woven a spiderweb around her.
Maybe thanks to handling her aura so precisely now. She'd replaced sensory input with aura sense, and her habit of constantly glancing around had noticeably decreased.
A feat that's tough for me, who just blasts aura everywhere. But I could guess the results.
She could focus purely on her opponent, and her instinctive situational judgment would sharpen even more.
Other changes too, like her gait being more refined, her breathing steadier.
Little things started catching my eye one by one.
"You've really learned properly...? Guess I owe Adriana something later."
Looks like she'd received some serious instruction. As I pondered what to do, it suddenly hit me.
Was this her goal from the start...?
Instead of pushing me directly, she bonds with my little sister, racks up a debt of gratitude. Makes it hard for me to refuse her favors.
How terrifyingly cunning. You can feel the experience behind it.
Well, even knowing it, I'd fall for it anyway.
A swordmaster's tutelage is a huge opportunity for Yuria. Telling her to refuse would be ridiculous.
"Be grateful to Lady Adriana, Yuria."
"What's that out of nowhere? Me and Aunty are tight!"
"Sure you are."
"Hey! We really are! We have similar tastes, you know."
"Oh? Now I'm curious."
"Hehe... Big bro's curious, huh?"
"...Hold on. Suddenly not curious anymore."
A ominous vibe surged up, and I instinctively put some distance between us. Mistake. Should've just covered her mouth.
Yuria stepped right up, pressing her face to my chest, whispering like it was a big secret.
"Aunt Adriana's just like me—she loves getting overpowered by someone way stronger!"
"Harsh taste for a swordmaster..."
"The key is it's not forced. Some people mix up getting overwhelmed sometimes with being forced, but they're totally different, okay?"
"Not curious about that part..."
As I shook my head, a familiar figure appeared at the end of the hall before long.
Burning crimson hair like roaring flames. Long locks trailing to the floor, with splendid horns rising above.
Shorter than Yuria, but a walking mana battery that screams "violent" more than anything else.
And finally, the plump tail swishing behind her hips.
Pure scarlet eyes without a trace of impurity met mine, then curved like a crescent moon.
Igni. Fully prepared, she waved. So did her chest.
"My liege. Are preparations complete?"
"Yeah. My body's my weapon, so nothing extra to pack."
"The same for me. Just in case, I've stored some consumables like potions in subsapce, so worry not."
"Subspace is so damn convenient."
Never felt lacking in combat power since childhood, but magic's perks like this were enviable.
Igni blinked a couple times at my words, then slowly tilted her head.
"Do you not possess a few subspace pouches yourself?"
"Big difference between relying on items and manifesting it with your own power."
"Mm. Truly the mindset of a warrior. At any rate, I see you lack talent for magic."
Where'd she get that from our convo? Igni nodded anyway.
Catching my subtle look, she smirked.
"Simple matter. We're a race called manipulators of magic. Even dragons don't try to do everything with their own power alone. Sometimes we borrow others' aid, fill gaps with artifacts. Ritual magic's the prime example."
"I see... Yeah, makes sense."
Thinking back, even against the Wild Hunt, Igni hadn't gone solo—she'd fully utilized the magic tower's resources.
House Zahav, on the other hand, felt like the patriarch led from the front, knights and soldiers following behind.
Seeing it this way, the difference was clear.
"Anyway, I've handled all the miscellaneous prep, so you need only worry about your own condition."
"That's peak for me, no worries. ...Still, prepping in a day must've been rough. Good work."
"Hm? My disciples actually handled the supplies, so it wasn't hard."
"...The prep was done by mages?"
"I ordered my disciples to do it, so it's still me who prepared."
"..."
Indeed. Mage logic, huh.
"Ah! I heard that from Making! Academy profs are way harsher than assistants, making 'em do all the grunt work—she was grumbling tons about it!"
"Ho? My youngest disciple needs some firm instruction later. Leaking magic tower secrets so carelessly."
"Secrets, huh... So you make 'em do really important stuff."
"Hm? Just that it'd embarrass me if found out."
"...?"
Mm. Less mage thinking, more dragon thinking, probably.
Weird when you think about it. Earth and this world are totally different, yet eerily similar in spots.
Elves with long ears, beautiful, long-lived. Beastkin lack magic talent but excel physically. Dragons powerful, long-lived mediators, yet arrogant and lazy.
Too much like novels, games, myths.
Not just that. Familiar-looking monsters, domesticated animals, crops being grown.
Feels natural and trivial, but strictly speaking, it's absurd.
I brush it off since dwelling's pointless... but sometimes it nags like this.
But battle's imminent now. No time for unsolvable riddles.
I shook my head to clear the stray thoughts and patted Yuria's shoulder, who looked stunned.
"Explanation's done, so I'll head out. Might take a bit—don't cause trouble while I'm gone."
"Big bro, seriously. What trouble would I cause? Oh, but with you gone, can I use the room you slept in yesterday?"
"...Your intent's so transparent I don't know where to start, but if you promise to behave, do what you want."
"Yay!"
Yuria bounced off happily toward the room I'd just left.
Charitably, she unquestioningly believes I'll win and return... but it kinda looks like she doesn't care if I dive into peril, which is a mixed feeling.
I sighed deeply and turned to Igni.
"So? How we getting to the Realm of Blindness from here? Death Valley's at the bottom, right? Teleport? Or flight magic?"
"Neither."
Igni grinned, scurrying on short legs to the magic tower's front yard—the clearing once used to push back the Wild Hunt horde.
She looked skyward, spreading her arms wide.
"There's a far more efficient way!"
Vast mana erupted from her tiny body. Mana so well-hidden even Yuria hadn't noticed surged wildly, vibrating the air.
Pure fire-attuned mana heated the atmosphere.
I unconsciously absorbed some, feeling a slight high. And then.
Crack-crunch.
Something breaking and reassembling. Igni blazed with immense light and heat.
Blink, and a colossal red dragon stood there, rivaling the towering magic tower.
"Whoa... No way!"
"Indeed. Why not just have me fly us there myself!"
"Whoa! Never thought I'd ride a dragon someday."
"Wh-what?! I was just going to carry you in my hand..."
Igni flinched in her massive form. Before she finished, I kicked off the ground and vaulted onto her back.
Firm scales radiating hot warmth. Mana pulses twitching rhythmically with her heartbeat.
Aura compatibility's spot-on with me, as expected.
Plus, the view from up high was breathtaking.
"Ooh, whoa!"
"Such a lecherous...!"
Too excited, I barely caught what Igni said. Probably nothing important.
I patted the back of her neck and shouted.
"Igni! Let's go now. Gonna fly from here? Can't hold back!"
"Hmph! Remember this. I'm not some woman who lends her back easily. Only because it's you..."
"Hurry!"
"...Grr! Fine! If you want it that bad, your wish is granted! Don't regret it later!"
Regret? No acrophobia here.
Igni flapped her wings amid unknown mutters. Gale winds howled naturally, mana streams from her wings enveloping her body.
View rose slowly. Magic tower grounds zipped by in seconds, arriving above an impossibly deep valley.
Igni followed a rift in the valley for a while, then halted abruptly.
"Here."
"Arrived? Damn, fast."
"A bit left. Hold tight."
"Huh?"
The dragon's lips curled slyly. Pointy teeth gleamed between, voice laced with anticipation.
"Dragon Heart's at the valley floor. So we dive, naturally."
"...Ah."
The moment realization hit, Igni flipped midair, folding her wide wings in half.
Screeeee!
The dragon's bulk plunged near-vertically. I clenched scales in the crevices to avoid flying off, gritting my teeth.
"Grrgh!"
Or I'd have screamed.
No acrophobia, but honestly, this was scary.
The valley floor, blanketed in deathly aura and unidentifiable bone shards.
Dead center, a massive structure of blue petals burned brightly, blocking the path.
"This... a theater?"
"Correct. The Power of Blindness is like play characters unaware they're mere roles. A stage is the most natural form for its realm."
"Think I know what comes next..."
An empty stage, waiting for the lead actor.
If this was the realm born of the Power of Blindness, Morteus's Dragon Heart lay within.
Yes. Inside the play about to begin.
"Now we enter the culprit who drove my father mad as the Mad Dragon Wyrm."
"Simple and obvious, but difficult."
Never succumb to the blindness, retain your sanity, and destroy the Dragon Heart at the realm's core.
Now, Igni and I would accomplish what even the previous Dragon Lord couldn't.
Tough solo, sure. But with a trusted ally watching each other, it'd be far easier.
"Let's wrap it quick and head home."
I grinned to psych myself up, stepping onto the stage with Igni.
Shwaaak!
Distant curtains parting, the play's curtain rising.
Blink, and the scenery of an era when Morteus's heart still beat strong unfolded.
This place was a thousand years ago.