The Mages (1)
—O Red Dragon, grant me power too…! Overwhelming power!!
[Why, why? What's wrong again? You said the cold feels good! So I've been keeping the egg temperature like that…]
<Leviathan, be quiet.>
[Uh, uh, okay.]
I'm going mad. Truly losing my mind. Shockingly, ever since returning to my lair, I hadn't managed a single proper wink of sleep.
The reason was simple. The voices of my followers—the voices of countless people—were resounding in my head.
I could chalk up the recent 'summoning' to a religious ritual infused with the earnest wishes of many. But what the hell was this?
A barrage of complaint calls I couldn't just ignore or refuse. They were flooding toward me.
Unable to endure it any longer, I asked Leviathan.
<…The voices of countless people are reaching me. I hear Elenoa's voice too, but the problem is that I'm starting to hear the desires of Aidon's folk as well. Leviathan, do you know why?>
[…Ah, so that's what it was?]
Leviathan looked at me and sighed in relief before continuing.
[Your divinity must be rising or something. I've never been a god myself, but don't you hear prayers and wishes all the time? That's probably it.]
Hearing her words, my initial suspicion hardened into certainty, filling me with utter despair.
Why the hell did the heavens create me—and them! If they'd only made me, none of this would have happened. I could've lived in peace, free from all interference!
But such cries probably wouldn't reach the heavens. Regrettably, there was no god to grant my wishes anyway.
I had to find a solution myself.
…No way in hell am I going to the Pantheon. Nothing good would come of that.
But following Beul to resolve this? That was pure insanity, no matter how I looked at it. She'd clearly told me to come under her wing. The moment I set foot in the divine realm, she'd shove a few of her domains onto me and make me manage them. And I'd have to face gods who were outright hostile to me.
Even for me, stepping into their domains would ramp up the risks.
As I agonized over this…
[…Well, just my personal take,]
Leviathan ventured cautiously.
[Those things would probably sort themselves out once you head to the divine realm, right? Your very existence would get restructured upon ascension.]
<Probably.>
[Then why not create your own 'domain' right here? A world just for you, within the material plane. Something modeled after the divine realm. You've got the divinity for it now.]
<…!>
Her words sparked a powerful inspiration. Right—as Beul had said, I was, in name and truth, the god of chaos (not that I wanted it). So couldn't I create a space tailored for myself—for this god-cursed body of mine?
<Hmm, like this?>
—Kudududuk…!
[Oh, whoa…?!]
And so, I exercised magic… no, 'authority.' Something beyond mere magic. A miracle born of godhood, of ruling chaos.
It was utterly astonishing. The ground could no longer be called ground. The ceiling ceased to be a ceiling. An vast, empty void defying all definition unfurled.
[…Holy shit, that's insane.]
Such a space was taking shape.
But this wasn't enough yet. It was just an empty lot at best. So I glanced around, reassembling the space once more.
<…There.
With the process complete, I could finally be satisfied.
This place was no longer a mere cave. A river of golden treasures flowed eternally across the floor. The ceiling was adorned with clouds of fathomless black chaos. Crimson drapes cloaked the walls, blocking all interference.
It was a structure made solely for my comfort—a perfect bedchamber.
<…>
And I savored the silence. No voices disturbed my mind here.
Creating such a haven filled me with pride.
<…Not bad.>
Content, I lay down once more, grateful for the chance to sleep again.
<Leviathan, hurry and serve as my pillow…>
…I closed my eyes.
…Fuck my life.
*
Naturally, Hyahir Mountain—home of the Red Dragon—had become a place watched intently by the entire continent, nay, the whole world.
The Mage Tower regularly patrolled Aidon, observing Hyahir Mountain from afar.
Kingdoms and cities across the sea gauged Hyahir Mountain's value from a distance.
Some priests judged with cool detachment.
But then…
—Kugugugu…!!!
—Wha—what?! What's that…?!!
The earth trembled, space tore asunder. The mana around Hyahir Mountain warped everything.
Bushes and trees blackened. Animals sprouted scales like demons possessed.
Even…
"…Is that… the mountain?"
The mountain's form vanished, replaced by a colossal, majestic citadel.
Hyahir Mountain could no longer be called a mountain. 'Red Dragon's Citadel' or 'Hyahir Citadel' fit far better.
That was Hyahir Mountain now.
"…This needs reporting immediately."
Rajier, the mage from the tower witnessing it, knew he couldn't downplay this.
The Red Dragon and his kin's momentum was unnatural. The dwarves, thanks to him, had devoured half of Aidon and were digesting it. The other half had morphed into a land of pure calamity, devoid of rules or order.
Unable to even define if he was friendly or hostile to humanity, Rajier deemed it essential to learn more.
"[Tear space and cross distant realms]."
Chanting a spatial transfer spell, he headed for the tower.
—Pajijik…!
Placing his hand on the opened portal, he stepped into the tower and flung open the door to the top floor—the Mage Tower Lord's domain.
—Bang!
"Master. The Red Dragon… he's done something again."
His master, Darkul, closed the book he was reading and turned, smiling as always in that kindly voice.
"I saw it through clairvoyance."
Unlike Rajier, he exuded calm. Years of experience and knowledge kept him composed.
As expected of Master…! To stay so steady in this situation!
Rajier thought he should learn from that.
Damn it all! Why does this shit happen on my watch as tower lord!
Unfortunately, Darkul's insides churned more chaotically than his disciple's.
"Rajier, what changes did you observe? Clairvoyance limits to visuals—can't read mana flows. Your firsthand account is crucial."
Still, he was the tower lord. Leader of what was called humanity's last bastion. He concealed his turmoil, listening intently.
"From my humble analysis… it was the creation of a space."
"Space creation…"
"Yes. Remodeling for him and his kin to live better… altering the ecosystem itself. That's how it looked to me."
"…Hah."
Darkul plunged deeper into confusion. What was the Red Dragon preparing for? Did he seek humanity's extinction and subjugation, as the divination school warned?
Doubts swirled in his mind.
"For now, we keep watching."
No immediate action possible, despite the thoughts.
"As expected… yeah."
Rajier already knew, dropping his head in dismay.
"Wendy says Aidon's flow is stable for now. Though without order, calling it 'stable' is debatable."
"Aidon… Sigh, such a fine city. Had a great tavern there…"
"Well, limiting to Aidon and Yggdrasil, I don't see it as bad."
"I-Is that so?"
He recalled the previous lord, Haien—a long-lived elf who ruled 80 years, incarnation of greed. Worked Darkul like a dog in his youth, self-praising his mercy. Hearing of his death in Yggdrasil had been secretly cathartic.
"Elves were arrogant, Aidon greedy. They paid the price."
"…Could be."
Too personal?Darkul steered back.
"Anyway, can you keep investigating?"
"Of course."
"Sigh… Most talented young mages are tied up with those damned 'evil gods,' leaving us short-handed."
Indeed. That's why Darkul hated being lord. The world was a ticking bomb.
Evil gods harvested their sown seeds on one side. The Red Dragon shook the world anew on the other.
For one maintaining balance, headaches inevitable.
Thus, Rajier burned to help his master.
"I'll get it done."
—Tap.
"You, Wendy, and a few others are the only ones who can probe the Red Dragon. I trust you."
Darkul placed a hand on his shoulder, smiling, ending the talk.
"Then I'll head out, Master."
Rajier departed the tower.
Darkul watched, plotting countermeasures diligently. For his uncertain return. For his disciples laboring afar.
He shifted gaze back to Hyahir Mountain—no, the Red Dragon's Citadel.
Please, no incidents.
Today, too, he wished for peace. As always.
…Or so the days were for Darkul.
"Ah, nice to meet you. You're the tower lord, right?"
A scale-sprouted elf—a Draconic Elf.
"Let's get this over with quick. Our king has lots to handle."
The blue dragon called Leviathan.
"S-Sorry… Master."
Until they bound Rajier like a prisoner and dragged him into the tower.