Coronation of Dragon Blood
Coronation of Dragon Blood
Boris mentioned the 『Coronation of Dragon Blood』 every time the bumbling fool asked for independence. Because every time he did, the timid Alexei would flinch and withdraw his statement.
It had to be that way.
Wasn't it the maw of a monster that had swallowed countless successors chosen to be the Tsar?
'It's a ritual that brutally crams the power of past Tsars, who were monsters capable of taking on a thousand men, into one's body.... Naturally, a human body wouldn't be able to withstand it and would collapse. Either the flesh crumbles from the vast power, or the ego is extinguished after being swallowed by the resentment of past Tsars. In the end, becoming a cripple is unavoidable.'
The Tyrant of Bloody Blood.
The Giant Hunter.
The Archer King who shot down a thousand wyverns.
Only a tiny fraction of Tsars passed the Coronation of Dragon Blood. That was why the greedy uncle kept bringing up the Coronation—which was practically a suicide mission—to his weakling nephew, thereby permanently monopolizing control over the Golden Eagle Tribe.
However,
"Are you saying you will accept it? Tsar...! This isn't a matter to be taken lightly with empty words! The Coronation of Dragon Blood is a sacred ritual that symbolizes the Tsar's valor and honor!"
"Isn't it because you, Uncle, bring up the Coronation of Dragon Blood every time I ask for independence, just like you look for your wife's backside? I'm actually curious about the scheme you've been cooking up, forcing this dangerous task that has devoured countless successors of the Frozen Lands on me every time."
"That is...! Hasn't the Frozen Lands faced an unprecedented era of chaos due to the emergence of the Unified Empire and the division of the tribes? It is because we need a hero chosen by the Coronation of Dragon Blood to resolve such an unprecedented era of chaos!!"
"Well, the justification sounds plausible."
Sloppy and crude.
It was, quite literally, bullshit beyond reason.
Too blatant.
Isn't this murder by proxy using the Coronation of Dragon Blood?
If the nephew dies, he'll just say 'what a pity' and snatch the position of Tsar.
I thought it was bullshit when I read the original work, <Splendid Days of the Golden Empire>, but hearing such bullshit from the sinister uncle in person made the absurdity hit even harder.
'Alexei Berkut.... What on earth are you planning? I was tense because the bumbling fool suddenly changed as if possessed by a ghost, but it seems my wariness was unnecessary. To think he would actually accept the Coronation of Dragon Blood. Hahahat! The pressure from the Unified Empire has been intensifying, and I've finally grasped the perfect opportunity to ascend to the position of Tsar!'
Why accept the proposal?
I can't understand it.
He must know it's a trap to take his life.
Does he actually believe that he will pass the Coronation of Dragon Blood?
Crazy bastard.
A weakling like you wouldn't be able to do it even if you died ten thousand times.
It was truly a foolish act of bravado that would be recorded in history for a long time.
If the situation had been comfortable, he would have been wary of Alexei's intentions and postponed the Coronation of Dragon Blood. But Boris, facing the coercive pressure of the Unified Empire, had no choice but to accept this perfect opportunity, half-doubting it.
The greedy uncle, clutching the perfect opportunity to legally eliminate his bumbling nephew, withdrew from the official residence along with the warriors of the Golden Eagle Tribe.
How blatant.
Just how much does he want to kill his nephew?
The Coronation of Dragon Blood would likely take place in the near future.
Because he would want to ascend to the position of Tsar as soon as possible.
I watched the four-horse carriage and the warriors of the Golden Eagle Tribe moving rapidly away from the official residence.
Then, Milena's sharp shout exploded at me.
It was an agitated reaction, unlike the older sister figure who had only shown a cool-headed and dignified demeanor.
"Are you truly in your right mind! You're going to undergo the Coronation of Dragon Blood?! No! It is absolutely impossible! It is a conspiracy by the Great Chieftain to strangle the Tsar, who is the only obstacle!! The Coronation of Dragon Blood..., no one has succeeded in it for the past 100 years!!"
"...I'm perfectly sane."
The beauty with flowing silver hair grabbed Alexei's shoulders with both hands.
And shook him mercilessly as if operating a centrifuge.
No.
Absolutely not.
Follow the Great Chieftain right now and retract it!
The intention of Boris, who had ordered the Coronation of Dragon Blood, was too blatant. It was clearly his intention to strangle his nephew while claiming it was a feat and a hurdle to ascend as the true Tsar.
Why,
Why did you accept it?!
Milena's shout was more desperate and urgent than ever.
"There is still a chance to reverse it! I will run to the village of the Golden Eagle Tribe myself and..., somehow cancel the Coronation of Dragon Blood!!"
"I might pass the Coronation of Dragon Blood. Do you not trust the Tsar?"
"......."
"I know, of course you can't trust me. Because the weakling Tsar who used to grovel before the uncle and the chieftains..., suddenly snapped and bit back as if he'd eaten rat poison."
It was natural distrust.
It was natural suspicion.
Because the timid Tsar had only shown bumbling aspects until now.
Alexei Berkut.
The Tsar abandoned by all the tribes of the Frozen Lands.
The mastermind who eventually contributes to the destruction of the Frozen Lands while being corrupted by the Demon King.
But such a weak dropout, unlike a typical barbarian, possessed a single 『Unique Ability』 that would only be revealed in the middle of the original work, <Splendid Days of the Golden Empire>.
Was it because I only stayed in the Tsar's official residence, which boasted status and dignity, however crudely, like a medieval noble's mansion? Looking at Milena, I thought, "Even the most uncivilized barbarians must have accepted the civilization of the secular world."
It was a truly distorted delusion.
The Varangian Tribe of the Frozen Lands, called by the derogatory term 'barbarian' by countless nations including the Unified Empire, boasted a culture that was unimaginably barbaric and uncivilized.
"Hehehe! Come into the Black Dragon's Lair, young Tsar!"
"King of the Frozen Lands! Descendant of the Golden Eagle!"
"The great ancestors will bestow blessings upon the Tsar's path! Yes, they will!!"
Old women with gloomy appearances appeared, leaning on pussy willow staffs. They were the shamans of the Golden Eagle Tribe who would lead the Coronation of Dragon Blood.
Viciously distorted goat masks.
Beast furs that reeked, draped like robes.
Ornaments decorating their entire bodies with byproducts of countless beasts, like talismans to ward off evil.
They were the image of hags that might appear in a nightmare.
In particular, the stench emanating from the old women was so foul it assaulted the sense of smell.
"To volunteer for the Coronation of Dragon Blood...! As expected of Fyodor Tsar's son!"
"Glory to Valhalla! Valor to the brothers of the Frozen Lands!"
"Brothers! Let us shout to repay the young Tsar's valor!!"
Uwoooooh──!!!
Giants of the Frozen Lands, boasting fierce faces and burly physiques, flocked in. They were all chieftains representing the Frozen Lands.
Those who cheered for the young Tsar's courage,
Those who ridiculed the young Tsar's bravado,
I was baptized by gazes that were as starkly contrasting as black and white.
Hmm.
The reaction was as expected.
An old woman with a hunched back like a hunchback guided me, tapping her staff. The old woman's footsteps were accurately heading toward the abyss cave called the 『Black Dragon's Lair』.
"Tsar! No, Alexei...! You must...! You must return safely...! I will keep waiting outside...!"
"Just trust your younger brother, Noona. Everything will be fine. I will return after receiving the recognition of the past Tsars."
The beauty with flowing silver hair held me back with a desperate voice.
It was Milena.
Worry and concern.
And insane anxiety.
Milena's violet eyes were trembling pitifully.
'To be genuinely worried about and cared for by such a beauty who could topple a nation..., I thought I had a miserable life buried in countless misfortunes, but there was still a ray of hope, Alexei Berkut.'
After bidding farewell to Milena for a moment, I followed the shaman.
Hwaak-.
As soon as I entered the cave, countless torches greeted me.
It was an ominous jade-colored flame that reminded me of will-o'-the-wisps.
"It's creepy. A ghost might pop out."
"Hehehe! This is the sanctuary where the great ancestors are resting in eternal sleep. When the ritual begins, the souls of the great ancestors will awaken."
The sound of footsteps passing through the rugged narrow path.
The dull thud of the staff hitting the ground.
Walking for a long time, I headed toward the center of the Dragon's Lair.
How long had I walked like that?
The narrow path of the cave expanded into a vast cavern. Underneath thousands of rugged stalactites, a strange spectacle that could not be defined simply existed.
"What on earth, is this...."
"The center of the Dragon's Lair where the Coronation of Dragon Blood will be held..., it is the blood pond where the soul and power of the progenitor Black Dragon, Valactor, and the past Tsars are dormant."
I couldn't help but be dumbfounded by the sight mixed with an enormous amount of blood and countless remains.
Huge bones presumed to be the remains of the Black Dragon.
Countless remains that appeared to be the corpses of past Tsars.
And the blood pond overflowing to the point of reaching my waist.
The Coronation of Dragon Blood.
I realized that the blood pond spread out before my eyes was the fresh blood of the Black Dragon, called the progenitor Black Dragon.
As I took slow steps, I approached the blood pond surrounded by countless remains. Then, the Black Dragon's blood rippled like amniotic fluid protecting a baby, welcoming the new Tsar.
"Should I go into the blood pond right away?"
"First, please take off your top. This old body will be waiting outside."
The shaman's long yet short guidance ended.
The old woman wearing the goat mask turned around and left the scene.
'Not only did I possess the body of a sub-villain in a romance fantasy work..., I'm in a situation where my life is threatened by an uncle plotting usurpation, and now I have to enter a blood pond that reeks of blood.'
It was truly a series of unfortunate events.
But there was no time for complaints.
I promised.
That I would return in one piece.
Thinking of Milena, I emptied my hesitation.
Chal-pak-.
I dipped one foot into the blood pond.
And as I continued to move forward, I advanced toward the center of the blood pond.