Chapter 154
Chapter 154
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: Dragon Child Corps (4)
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On the stirrup of a wyvern slicing vigorously through the sky.
Cassandra, cradled in Ray's arms, suddenly lurched violently as if struck by a shock while in mid-flight.
"Cassandra, you okay?"
Ray startled and caught her firmly.
It was a perilous moment where she nearly got flung out of the stirrup.
"Th-thank you. It seems a penalty just kicked in for a moment."
Mages were beings who manifested miracles.
But the foundation was the law of equivalent exchange, applied rigorously.
For Cassandra, who used future technology now, she naturally had almost no price to offer, so the law of causality took effect, delivering a severe blow to the Mage-Empress persona.
She probably could no longer cast magic through the 'Mage-Empress' consciousness from now on.
Even if she returned to her original future.
Her precognition ability might even seal shut completely.
But she harbored no regrets.
'Even if I can never use my power again, it's fine. As long as I can impose even a little restraint on the [Nameless Lord].'
Compared to the [Nameless Lord] who led the world to ruin, the Mage-Empress was merely a speck of dust.
But she wanted to show it.
That even a cornered rat could bite a cat.
'And someday, if it can help even a little when Theo-nim defeats the [Nameless Lord]…!'
Not being able to see the future with precognition meant one of two things usually.
There was no fixed future.
Or she was too distant from the axis of time, sketching infinite futures.
Cassandra believed it was the latter for Theo.
But even leading the Dragon Child Corps using the [Clockwork Array], it wouldn't be easy to defeat the [Nameless Lord] right away.
He needed additional helping hands.
"Selphard, there's a place we need to go."
Cassandra's gaze turned to Selphard.
Selphard felt as though the woman with eyes closed was somehow overlooking the world.
"Where to?"
He didn't say they couldn't return because Arin needed treatment.
He too was a member of the White Dragon Knights, for whom mission came first.
"To the manor. The place we first thought was a spirit tomb."
The manor?
Selphard recalled that the riding dragon and Lje were probably still there and nodded.
Then he yanked the reins sharply to the side.
Kee-eeek!
The wyvern flapped its wings powerfully, beginning to change course.
* * *
『You're up to something amusing. It must feel like ages to you, but to me it's like yesterday… just like the parade I held a few days ago.』
The [Nameless Lord] burst into laughter at the sight of the Dragon Child Corps swarming like ants.
Beyond the hazy black mist, two eyes curved into crescents.
『Then shall I play along to match that time?』
The black mist writhed and coalesced, spewing out a massive horde of demons in various forms.
'Definitely weaker than the ones from the demon sea.'
Theo was certain of victory.
Revived by the Mage-Empress's imperfect magic, the Dragon Child Corps couldn't compare to their prime.
But that was nothing compared to the penalty the [Nameless Lord] suffered.
How grand could a god summoned by sacrificing a mere bishop be?
In truth, the delusional god before Theo now had a far weaker presence than the [Nameless Lord] whose consciousness he'd once invaded in the parish head.
Likely just a facet of the main body, or an avatar.
But that was enough.
The binding Theo planned to impose on it with the Mage-Empress's help was a mental attack.
'So I can do this.'
Theo had no intention of missing this chance while the thing acted arrogantly.
-You wanted to learn magic, right, Theo-nim?
The Mage-Empress had delegated 'authority' to Theo to access her mental domain.
Thus, he could operate all chronographs in this world.
-Try touching the [Clockwork Array] and tracing its structure. It'll be a huge help.
Theo closed his eyes briefly as the Mage-Empress taught him.
['Skill: Hatchling Synchro' activates, attempting connection to this world.]
[Confirmed delegation of authority from the creator. Winding the spring is now possible.]
Like touching the mana updraft holding the floating archipelago, now his fingertips felt a clock spring.
Simultaneously, the Mage-Empress's lingering thoughts flooded his mind.
The events, misfortunes, despair, frustrations she'd endured until becoming the Mage-Empress.
But the magic system born from barely scraping by day by day shone clearly.
It was like a colossal tree.
A tree grown endlessly toward the sky.
Its roots gathered the papers and magic knowledge she'd studied; the trunk held the necessary frameworks; the leaves contained the unique spells invented from them.
The Mage-Empress had wanted to show him this tree.
Though his comprehension limited how much he could take, it alone let Theo reach a new realm of magic.
At the same time,
Tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock!
Chronographs appeared beneath the feet of the pouring demons.
Theo gripped a spring at his fingertips.
Without hesitation, he turned it left.
The demons vanished like illusions.
『Oh, putting on an amusing trick?』
Interest filled the [Nameless Lord]'s eyes.
Another demon legion poured forth.
But soon vanished with chronographs.
『Hahaha! How entertaining! Truly entertaining! One who escaped the axis of space-time toying with time instead! Another contradiction born from this warped space-time!』
-What the hell is this guy babbling?
-We must not be visible to him?
-Looks like we need to give him a proper thrashing to reawaken his trauma!
As the [Nameless Lord] roared with mad laughter, the Dragon Child Corps had already latched onto its body, launching their assault.
Aura flashed.
Wounds large and small appeared in the black mist, black blood gushing like waterfalls.
Some swordsmen hurled their lances high from their backs.
A shockwave punched a ragged hole where its head should be, and lightning bolts rained down from the sky.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-
Rumble, rumble, ruuumble!
Kwa-kwa-kwa-boom!
To maximize the wounds, the chronographs applied to the [Nameless Lord] fast-forwarded.
And,
『My dear. You've been up to such cute mischief.』
In Theo's mind, Lordbroke gazed down at the world with keen interest.
Seeing the old selector's subordinates again stirred long-buried memories.
'Perfect timing, Roddy.'
『Heh. Planning to use me again?』
'Don't you need more heart material by chance?'
『Hm?』
'Purifying the lingering thoughts in that delusional god should yield plenty of energy, no?'
『What? Pahahaha!』
Lordbroke was dumbfounded.
To suggest devouring even an avatar of the [Nameless Lord]!
『Hey now! You don't eat spoiled goods recklessly!』
'But it's tempting, isn't it? Too difficult?'
Lordbroke realized Theo was serious.
His tone grew solemn.
『That's the opposite of our guardians. Not very efficient.』
'Not impossible, then. Got it. I'll give it a shot.'
『Yes. Let's try. If it goes as you wish… maybe I can finally escape this tedious cave life to some extent.』
Lordbroke muttered softly and attempted manifestation.
[Lordbroke's spirit descends!]
Like the [Nameless Lord], only a 'portion' could be sent, but it was enough.
Light flashed in the sky as a colossal dragon appeared, pinning the [Nameless Lord].
Kraaaargh!
The ancient dragon roared.
-That's…!
-Our guardian dragon!
-Hahaha! We only saw Lordbroke-nim twice ourselves, and now we meet again!
The Dragon Child Corps's morale soared.
Theo gripped Drake's blade tightly and leaped from Umbra.
Spirit sight dwelled in his eyes simultaneously.
He saw the core embedded in the [Nameless Lord]'s body.
'There-'
Theo raised Drake's blade straight, pouring mana with all his might.
Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump!
With each wild pump of his heart, the white light around Theo thickened, turning into a massive sun.
'-I'll stab!'
And when that sun halved.
Slash!
The fiercest thunderbolt yet, dragon spear, light's trajectory struck the [Nameless Lord].
Kwaaaaang!
The darkness mist shattered, scattering everywhere, and Drake's blade plunged more than halfway into the hidden core below.
That core was its eye.
Drip.
The massive pupil gazing downward, spilling black blood, felt grotesque and eerie.
『Trying to end it by merely breaking my core? That can't be all, right?』
It seemed expectant of something even more entertaining, matching the fun it had received.
Theo's eyes beneath the helmet smiled too.
"Of course not."
Tick-tick-tick-tick-
At that instant, a chronograph appeared where the sword was embedded.
"I'm going to 'trap' your time, delusional god."
『My time, trap?』
"Yeah. If I can 'pause' your mind, it'll hit the main body too. A halted mind… the gods will love that."
『Even if you could pause it, it'd only be an instant?』
"Naturally. But."
His lips twisted.
"Your instant is plenty long for us. Enough time to grow strong enough to crush you."
『Buying time, eh. A fine idea.』
"Let's see if you can still laugh when you return."
『You.』
Theo shoved the sword deeper until the hilt touched.
Splurt!
『Every time we meet, you show something entertaining. Lordbroke, your final years won't be boring with him. How enviable.』
Simultaneously, the chronograph's hands spun madly before stopping dead at 12.
『Wonder how entertaining our next meeting will be. This fun diversion from my tedious shackles…』
The [Nameless Lord]'s laughter cut off mid-way.
And,
Crunch!
Lordbroke tore into its core and swallowed it whole.
With a light scoff.
『Who knows. In my view, when you meet my contractor again, it'll be tears, not laughter.』
In that moment, the clockwork world collapsed.
* * *
"What… have I even been doing all this time…?"
The halted springs began falling one by one.
Boom! Thud!
Springs crashing to the ground shattered, and the cracks spreading in the sky now covered the clock face on the earth.
Ode watched the scene vacantly.
Overbleeding, heart pierced long ago by the Moonwhite Sword and Dragon Slayer Sword—it wouldn't be odd if she died right then.
Yet she still clung to life because of the lofty realm she'd attained in her lifetime.
Or perhaps.
Because the sight she beheld now was the one she'd always dreamed of since childhood, and she didn't want to miss it.
-Grandpa, Grandpa!
-Oho, my little one. What brings you to this old man?
-Tell me that story! The story! About how the Captain went Kwaaang! and Ku-ku-ku!
-Hm? Ah! The legend of this necropolis?
-Yes! I wanna hear it again.
-Heh heh heh. You rascal. I've told it twice already today.
-But it's fun no matter how many times I hear it!
While other kids played sword fights or with dolls, Ode's favorite game was listening to necropolis legends.
Nothing was as thrilling as tales of ancestors battling the demon king bent on world destruction.
So when she became the necropolis keeper after her late grandpa, and heir to the Black Ice Full Moon, she always yearned to be one of those legendary suicide squad members.
And right there, the legendary squad lived and breathed.
The scene she'd dreamed of even in sleep.
But,
She had no place there.
Only Theo did.
"……."
Ode slowly lowered her head.
Right. That spot was meant for someone else from the start.
She'd just presumptuously coveted a place that wasn't hers.
-We all know the hardships you've endured.
Then, suddenly, a hand gently stroked Ode's head.
Ode slowly raised her head.
Through hair matted with tears and blood, she saw a swordsman with helmet pulled low gazing down at her.
-Even when you were born. When you took your first steps. When your first word was 'Grandpa.' When you had your sweet first love at fifteen. We watched it all.
The swordsman's face somehow resembled her grandfather's.
-You. Your grandpa. His grandpa… We all watched.
Her past struggles, efforts, wishes didn't feel in vain.
A single tear traced down Ode's cheek.
-You and your ancestors are no different from us—proud swordsmen of the Dragon Child Corps. I want to tell you your sacrifices were never in vain. Thanks to you, we were never bored. It was truly fun.
Each warm, sincere word settled in Ode's heart.
And as her head slowly fell,
A faint smile graced her lips.