The Dragon Who Was Once a Guardian
The hero stood frozen before the dragon who had once been a guardian. Frozen World, a transcendence-rank spell, was the polar opposite of his own transcendence-rank defensive spell, Impenetrable Shield. If Impenetrable Shield was his greatest defensive magic, then Frozen World was his ultimate offensive spell—one that froze everything within a hundred-meter radius except himself. In this space, he was the absolute ruler. The ice formed from his mana would never melt unless he willed it so. It was the very essence of his mana, the core of every spell and incantation he wielded. That was why he had not used Frozen World in two hundred years.
Crack.
"Huh?"
That can't be possible. It was a transcendence-rank spell—the very essence of his mana. Then what was that thing breaking through it?
Crack. Shatter.
The hero finally broke free of the ice and revealed himself. He brushed the fragments from his clothes and met Angelica's sapphire eyes.
"That was quite the trick. I almost never got to see Sirmiia again."
"...This spell is one I used when hunting dragonkin in the past. An absolute freezing magic that even transcendents cannot escape. So how did you break out?"
"Who knows? I'm not sure myself. Maybe because I was clad in Dragon Saint Aura?"
"Nonsense! Do you think I've never seen Dragon Saint Aura before? There have been other heroes who used it! But that technique only protects the body—it doesn't make one immune to magic!"
"Hmm... Maybe you were just mistaken about what you saw?"
Dragon Saint Aura was not merely a protective technique. It involved directly channeling divine power and spreading it throughout the entire body—continuously, even in the midst of battle. A single moment of lost focus would cause the divine power to scatter, and the aura would dissipate. Yet while it lasted, one felt true omnipotence. Strength, agility, durability, magic resistance, regeneration, dynamic vision, reaction speed—every ability surged overwhelmingly. It felt as though one had become a god.
"Then the Dragon Saint Aura I witnessed..."
"Was probably just some boastful fool's nonsense. Or perhaps they used mana to mimic a similar effect?"
She burst into laughter, as if she had lost her mind.
"You're... all such fools."
"So, any last words before you die?"
"You're asking that again after what just happened?"
"I suppose so. Then just die."
The hero raised the Holy Sword.
"Wait!" she cried desperately.
"Hmm? What is it?"
"Could you at least tell me the name of that swordsmanship you used at the end?"
Of all things, her final question was about the sword, not Sirmiia. Truly, a dragon's heart was unknowable.
"Jeolma Seongsin Style. The swordsmanship created by the first hero."
More precisely, it was a style the first hero had developed with the Sword King's help after slaying the Demon King.
"How did you know it and use it?"
"Well... the moment I held the Holy Sword, it just appeared in my mind. That's the only way I can explain it."
"If you'd used it during our fight at the cathedral, you could have defeated me, couldn't you?"
"No. I couldn't use it then."
Jeolma Seongsin Style placed an immense burden on the user's body. Every form was designed solely to annihilate demons, with no regard for the wielder's physical condition. It was as though the body could be destroyed as long as the demon was slain. That was why he had not used it. If he had, the moment he executed the First Form—Demon-Slaying Flash—every muscle in his body would have torn apart, leaving him crawling pathetically across the floor.
To avoid that, Dragon Saint Aura was essential. Only while clad in it could the body withstand such extreme strain. But at the time, he had not had the chance to activate it. Channeling divine power required sitting in meditation and concentrating to draw out the body's energy, yet he had been forced into combat with the dragon the instant they met.
"Anyway, are your questions answered?"
"One last thing. May I ask a favor?"
"What is it?"
"Please... save Julius. It may sound laughable coming from me, but he was my only friend."
"...Understood."
Thrust.
He drove the sword into her heart—her Dragon Heart. Crimson blood seeped from the wound.
"You've decided not to resist this time?"
"Haa... ha. I need mana... to resist."
"Well, that's unfortunate for you."
Angelica's skin gradually lost its color and turned pale. Unable to steady her trembling body, she parted her pink lips and wore a sorrowful expression.
"I... want to see... Sirmi..."
With those words, Angelica's body slumped forward.
"..."
Their acquaintance had been brief, but this was no fitting end for a dragon who had once been a guardian. The Blue Dragon the hero had read about in imperial history books had been a hero who saved humanity during the Dragon-Human War. The hero had slain humanity's savior. But what choice did he have? She was now nothing more than an evil dragon tormenting the one he loved. Saving a hero of the past mattered less than ensuring Sirmiia's present happiness. Still, he would at least show proper respect to the dragon who had once been a hero.
"...Farewell, Blue Dragon Angelica. Dragon who once saved humanity."
To the dragon who had once taken the hero's place as humanity's guardian, Ian, the hero of the new era, offered a brief moment of mourning.
Creak.
"Oh my. Ian? What brings you here in the middle of the night?"
"Aria, the truth is, I've been in love with you for a long time."
"Suddenly? But... I've secretly admired you as well, Ian."
"Aria!"
Thud.
"Aria... I don't think I can hold back anymore."
"Aah... Ian. We can't do this yet. Not until after we're married..."
Slide.
"I refuse. I want you right now, Aria."
"A-Ah... If you say things like that... Hngh. We shouldn't... Ahh."
Rustle.
"Ian, ngh... We shouldn't..."
'What exactly shouldn't we do?'
Standing before the saintess's room with her hand raised to knock, Seria froze.
"Hngh... Ah. Ahh..."
Amid the rustling sounds and heated moans, Seria decided not to imagine what the saintess was doing. Even so, she was the current saintess—she deserved to keep her dignity. It was not an urgent matter, so Seria decided to come back later.
Bang!
The force of the fist was so great that a hairline crack appeared on the massive round table.
"You're saying you won't send a subjugation force right now?"
"Now, now... Cardinal Nicholas, there's no need to speak so harshly."
"He's right. Even if we're both cardinals, that was rather rude to His Eminence David."
"Silence! You parasites clinging to His Holiness."
"How dare you—"
"Your words are excessive."
The cardinals of the papal faction flared up at the insult and began fiercely denouncing Cardinal Nicholas.
'Haa...'
The cardinal assembly, convened at the pope's request following the demon summoning, had turned into a battlefield where the cardinals tore into one another. The pope, seated at the head of the table, let out a quiet sigh. This meeting was meant to seek counsel regarding the current crisis, yet it had devolved into petty infighting.
'Even these people call themselves cardinals...'
It was true, but not something the pope could say aloud.
"Everyone, that's enough."
The argument between Cardinal Nicholas, leader of the moderate faction, and Cardinal David, leader of the papal faction, was finally halted by Chief Cardinal Douglas's intervention.
"This is not a place for bickering. While you argue, the Lord's children in the Erebor Kingdom continue to suffer at the hands of demons."
"Hmm... Chief Cardinal, do you have a solution then?"
David asked pointedly.
"I am aware that the Curia has split into two factions, and that the competition between them is fierce. Therefore, I will offer my opinion with that in mind."
He proposed drawing 2,000 knights from the moderates and 5,000 from the papal faction, forming a 7,000-strong subjugation force to eradicate the demon in Erebor.
"Hmm..."
"No! Chief Cardinal Douglas, that is clearly an attempt to weaken the papal faction!"
"Exactly! This is outrageous. If the papal faction falters, only the moderates stand to gain."
As expected, the papal cardinals vehemently objected.
"Why the fuss? It seems like a suggestion that considers the balance between both factions. I agree with the chief cardinal."
"I think it's reasonable as well. Considering the ratio between the Teutonic and Severino Orders, this number feels appropriate."
"Indeed. An excellent proposal, Chief Cardinal Douglas."
In contrast, the moderate cardinals all voiced their approval.
"How can you speak so carelessly when it doesn't concern you?"
"Because it doesn't concern us. Isn't that obvious?"
At Cardinal Nicholas's words, Cardinal David, his face flushed with rage, shouted at the chief cardinal.
"You insolent wretches! Chief Cardinal Douglas, this is unfair. Change the allocation to 3,500 from each order!"
Bang!
Cardinal Nicholas struck the table again, drawing everyone's attention.
"Heh. Where's that pig-like squealing coming from?"
"What did you just say, Cardinal Nicholas?"
"Oink, oink. The sound of someone sucking up honey."
David's face turned crimson.
"How dare a cardinal resort to wordplay!"
"I'm telling you to let go of your greed, Cardinal David."
Cardinal David turned to the pope with a voice trembling with fury.
"Your Holiness, please say something! These terms are far too disadvantageous to the papal faction!"
Tap.
The pope remained silent.
Tap.
He merely drummed his fingers on the table.
Tap.
At once, the cardinals who had been shouting fell silent.
Even a rotten pope was the sole supreme authority in the Vatican, second only to the saintess.
"We will proceed as Chief Cardinal Douglas suggested. We shall dispatch 5,000 knights from the Severino Order, 40 apostles from the Red Unit under direct cardinal jurisdiction, and 200 inquisitors from the White Unit composed of heresy inquisitors."
Thud.
The pope's finger stopped.
"Additionally, I will send twenty agents from the Black Unit, my personal special assassination force. I will not entertain objections."
Five seconds of silence followed the pope's words. The first to respond was Cardinal Nicholas, the most senior among them.
"Yes. Let it be so."
Then, as if unwillingly, Cardinal David also replied.
"...We will prepare according to Your Holiness's words."
The two cardinal bishops affirmed. The other cardinals quickly nodded in understanding.
"Haa... These meetings are exhausting."
The pope rose, declaring he would prepare to depart, and left the conference room. The remaining cardinals began murmuring among themselves about what had just transpired. Cardinal Nicholas fell into thought.
'Pope Ferdinand... He's even going himself. What is he thinking?'
Honestly, he had expected the pope to send only the Severino Order and the White Unit while keeping the real forces—the Black and Red Units—back. But the pope had exceeded his expectations by committing all twenty of his own agents to the subjugation force.
'What reason could that scheming old man have? There must be some calculation behind this...'
Still, the most important thing right now was saving Julius. He could not forget that.
Julius Caesar, viscount. Second son of Count Caesar and commander of the Notre Dame Cathedral Knights. His abilities and reputation would surely lend great strength to the moderate faction.
'I must save him and win him over—no matter what.'