Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Preparations for the Final Battle (1)
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“Dragon Word?”
Damian seemed flustered by the unexpected words.
“How could a human use Dragon Word...? No way?”
There was only one case where a human could use Dragon Word.
The bloodline of the Asktalin Empire, heirs to the dragon's blood.
Riya bowed gracefully with poise under Damian's gaze.
“I am Riya Asktalin, princess of the empire.”
“Hmm, h-hum.”
This time, even Damian was quite taken aback, his voice trembling slightly.
He stared at Riya for a moment before turning his gaze to me.
“What kind of guy are you to know the empire's princess? Weren't you a noble of the Talua Kingdom?”
“I got lucky.”
“Hah.”
Damian crossed his arms and shook his head in disbelief.
“Well, if you can use Dragon Word, it'll be a huge help against Rugal. But even Dragon Word can't nullify all of his attacks.”
“Still, it makes things easier, doesn't it?”
“Yeah. You're right.”
A faint smile colored Damian's tone.
“It'll be a solid restraint. You've got good allies.”
“And... there might be one more person coming here.”
“One more? Who?”
Having seen Riya first, Damian seemed genuinely curious.
From his position, he naturally wanted an easier way to take down Rugal.
“I'll introduce her later. She won't be much help in the fight against Rugal anyway.”
“Then why bring her here?”
“I'll explain that then.”
Damian looked puzzled at the vague response.
Of course he did. Why bring someone who wouldn't help against Rugal?
It looked suspicious no matter how you sliced it.
“Clay.”
“Yes.”
“I've been watching you closely all this time. You're not one to do anything reckless.”
“......”
“So I'm sure there's a reason. I'll wait.”
“......Thank you.”
He stopped there without pressing further.
It was convenient for me since I'd prepared various excuses, but also a bit embarrassing.
[As expected, Damian is so naive. No one trustworthy, so he trusts a kid like this.]
'It's all for mutual benefit.'
[Hmph.]
Honestly, deep down I agreed with Gransesia.
I hadn't expected Damian to trust me that much.
'Well, it's been almost half a year since we met...'
I'd spent a considerable time in Aintban, but even more with Damian.
I'd lived here for days and nights to learn the Single Moon Divine Sword, to the point where this place sometimes felt more comfortable than the mansion.
“So, you came today to introduce this girl?”
“Yes, exactly. I still have some territory matters to handle.”
“Then it's perfect timing.”
He crossed his arms and glanced to the side.
“Follow me.”
Without waiting for my reply, he turned on his heel.
I exchanged a quick glance with Riya at his retreating back and followed.
'First time going down here.'
I'd been coming and going from this place for a while, but this was my first time entering.
The passage was pitch black without light, but Riya created a small magical flame, making it easy to tail Damian.
After about ten minutes...
We emerged from the long passage into a vast space.
“This is...”
Smaller than the cavern where we'd just talked with Damian, but lined several times more sturdily with mithril.
Then it hit me.
This was Rugal's seal.
“To be honest, I didn't trust you at first after we met.”
As I surveyed the mithril-lined space, Damian spoke up.
“So I didn't tell you exactly where the seal was. But watching you, I've realized you're genuine about defeating Rugal. Now I can show you where he's sealed.”
He slowly raised his hand, pointing at the ceiling.
But no matter how I looked, I saw nothing.
What was it?
“......I can definitely sense a dangerous presence.”
As I narrowed my eyes in confusion, Riya rarely frowned and spoke. Her pupils, staring into the void, were slit like a lizard's.
Nothing to my eyes, but she seemed to see something through her Dragon Eye.
'Then...'
I looked up again, this time activating Insight Eye.
Now I saw it—something invisible before.
A black rift in space.
No, more like a crack than a mere gap.
The black fissure greedily sucked in surrounding flows of energy, slowly expanding.
“You can see it now.”
Damian quietly addressed me as I watched.
“With your skill, you shouldn't have been able to... Well, saves me the explanation.”
“It's the power of the Eye of Simosa.”
“Hoo? That relic has such ability.”
Damian admired, glancing at the ring on my finger.
“Anyway, you both see it. That's the crack where Rugal is sealed. It's steadily gathering power, so it'll only grow larger.”
“What happens then?”
“This area will be overrun by his demonic energy. Being mithril-lined suppresses it somewhat, but...”
He trailed off, unable to promise more.
Unlike before, Rugal would attack at full force now.
'......If I use Solaris, I could probably cut it.'
Solaris, which severed space itself, could slice even Rugal's hiding crevice.
But the outcome was uncertain.
It might drag Rugal out—or explode with all the power he'd amassed.
I pondered the possibilities, but couldn't risk an uncertain gamble.
“Clay, you said the territory's been busy lately?”
“Yes. But if I make time, coming here daily isn't hard.”
“It's the opposite.”
“Yes?”
“For the time being, don't set foot here.”
Damian shook his head gravely.
“Soon it'll be filled with Rugal's demonic energy. Noxious magic will overflow, a corrupting aura spreading to taint the living. It'll be poison to any living being.”
“But we have to endure it to defeat Rugal anyway, right?”
“No. If he breaks free from that crack, the energies get sucked back into him. No issue then.”
“Then what about you, Sir Damian?”
When I asked cautiously, Damian looked at me absurdly and chuckled.
“I'm a Death Knight. No matter how tainted that demonic energy is, it has no effect on me.”
“Ah, right.”
Damian seemed so human, I sometimes forgot he was an undead Death Knight.
'But with Divine Blood, I should be fine...'
No matter how potent the demonic energy, Divine Blood would surely protect me.
As I pondered how to explain, Damian continued, perhaps misreading my expression.
“And even if you come, I'll be suppressing the spreading energy, so I can't train your swordsmanship. It'll be a wasted trip.”
“......Understood.”
“I've already taught you all the forms of the Single Moon Divine Sword. Now master them one by one. Don't be impatient.”
He placed a hand on my head and patted it.
His friendly gesture startled me momentarily.
We'd talked plenty, but this was the first time.
“I never thought I'd take a disciple. I don't know what you seek, but stay calm, Clay. Never act hastily. Be patient.”
He withdrew his hand slowly and turned away.
“Go back now. This place will soon be filled with demonic energy.”
I hesitated, then spoke to Damian, who stared at the growing crack.
“Sir Damian, you said not to come for a while. Then when should I return?”
Missing Rugal's revival would be disastrous.
Unaware or not of my worry, Damian replied calmly.
“You'll know naturally when it's time to come.”
I understood his meaning exactly ten days later.
* * *
One day, the sky suddenly darkened.
At first, people thought it mere storm clouds, but as it persisted for days, everyone noticed the eerie change.
The phenomenon centered on Kitten Forest in Banheart territory, affecting nearby Bellun and Deolic territories as well.
“What freakish event is this?”
Logan Deolic frowned at the black sky visible from the mansion.
Fifth day already.
No rain, no overcast, yet the sky stayed dark. At night, it deepened, making movement without lights nearly impossible.
“They say the darkness spreads from Kitten Forest.”
“Kitten Forest?”
Logan knew the name well.
Famous as the fairies' forest, it was Banheart territory's prime tourist spot.
'Is that bastard Clay up to something weird?'
The thought crossed Logan's mind, but he dismissed it.
Even Clay wouldn't cause such a conspicuous disturbance.
In his current winning streak, stirring trouble gained nothing.
“......Maybe related to demons?”
That left demons as the only possibility.
The demonic activity revealed in the recent war with Kainzel Kingdom.
Perhaps something demonic stirred in Kitten Forest.
'Oh, right...'
Logan recalled an old Deolic family record.
Kitten Forest in Banheart territory periodically blackened the skies, reason unknown.
'And the darkness naturally recedes and vanishes.'
Logan smirked as he pondered.
“This is an opportunity.”
“Yes?”
Leon, beside him, was baffled by his father's sudden words.
“An opportunity?”
“Whether this ties to Banheart or not doesn't matter much.”
The visible issue was the black sky.
An ominous pall centering on Kitten Forest blanketed the southern lands.
“Pin it on Banheart, and we're done. If we 'resolve' it? Public sentiment flips to us instantly.”
“......!”
Leon couldn't retort.
It was indeed an opportunity.
“But how do you plan to resolve it?”
“The darkness fades naturally. We garrison Kitten Forest, wait for it to lift, then boast we solved it.”
“......Will it be that simple?”
“The actual solution is secondary, Leon. What truly matters is...”
Putting a leash on that clueless upstart who'd been rampaging blindly.