Please get drunk
Please get drunk
"Your Majesty, was this level of power overwhelming enough?"
"Yes! It was truly perfect! Saklasi!"
Kalina cheered. Saklasi smiled shyly and continued.
"I'm glad you liked it. I have a plan to utilize this frozen land full of glaciers."
Kalina's eyes sparkled. She was looking forward to what ingenious move he had, just like the plan using the 「Raigen」 Kingdom. Now she finally understood Marina's excited reaction.
'She said, "Saklasi is amazing, incredible, the best." I thought she was just her usual excited self.'
Although she was also shocked by Saklasi's [Wish] at first, at some point, her affection for Saklasi overflowed, and he became as precious to her as her own daughters.
The party moved to Kasak's residence.
Just looking at the house of Kasak, who called himself an Emperor, showed that the gap in civilization was immense. The Dragon Beastkin, having heard about the current level of development on the continent, were greatly shocked, as if they couldn't believe it.
Thanks to that development in civilization, when they learned that Kalina had known about the Dragon Beastkin living in the frozen land for a long time and had been tacitly allowing it, the Dragon Beastkin groaned.
Ariun's judgment, whom they had thought was a traitor, had been correct. They had no choice but to admit now that her judgment had been the only lifeline to save their race.
"Rather than officially announcing today's events and having the Dragon Beastkin incur the Empire's hostility, we will annex the frozen land into Imperial territory."
Following Saklasi's suggestion, Kasak was appointed as a Margrave. He was appointed with the rank of Marquis, and the frozen land and all the Dragon Beastkin there were to be placed under the dominion of Saklasi Stan.
"Water knows the answer. Ice is water, too, right?"
And Saklasi said he would gather the many glaciers in the sea of the frozen land into one place to open a path.
"We are pioneering it. The frozen land route."
With this, the Empire's Koopong secured a foothold to send logistics to the United Kingdom through a new, drastically shortened route.
Merchant ships coming from the United Kingdom to the Empire would have to pay a toll while passing through the frozen land route that Saklasi had opened.
Also, since many people would come and go for the tourism business, they decided to slowly assimilate the Dragon Beastkin.
The northern part of the Empire had been slow to develop, but by making the frozen land a place that tourists pass through, they could also seek balanced development of the Empire.
"Since the Dragon Beastkin are fire ability users, a hot spring business would be possible, and since they can fly, things like appreciating the rare scenery of the frozen land or sledding are what come to mind right now."
Saklasi turned to look at Kasak, Juchir, and the Sajunsagu, and continued.
"If your warrior's blood boils, there is also the option of enlisting. If you show trust in the Empire for a long time, at least I will create a way for you to survive. Abandon the mindset stuck in 2,000 years ago and accept civilized society now."
Kasak's pupils wavered. He had already committed an irreversible mistake. He should have listened to Ariun from the beginning; having admitted defeat, he thought there was only death left for him.
Just as he was despairing that after he died, his remaining kin would also slowly walk the path of extinction and disappear,
the answer Saklasi presented was a story that guaranteed the future of his race.
If they weren't just stuck in the frozen land, Dragon Beastkin, guaranteed a lifespan of 2,000 years, might be able to connect with other races at least once in their lives.
A future that even 'Varla', a distant descendant of the 「Dragonia」 Emperor from 2,000 years ago, now passed down as a clan name, could not present.
Kasak's father, Varla, whose only will was, 'Do not ever oppose Kalina. Hide and live forever.'
Before Varla died, Kasak asked.
'Father, what should I do if a situation arises where we can never meet other races?'
Kasak did not hear the answer to this question.
And when the situation he had been worried about for 100 years actually happened, he broke the will not to oppose Kalina and came this far.
He had now found that answer through the absolute existence named Saklasi Stan.
One might wonder, can someone with such vast, unfathomable power be this gentle?
But Kasak did not think so.
Like stepping aside to avoid stepping on a long line of ants encountered while walking down a path.
To that being, it would be merely that. A being like the sun and moon. He thought that such a being was reaching out a hand to us, the weak.
'It is a matter of a being from a different dimension looking down upon us.'
Shaking off that hand would be truly stupid.
"I, Margrave Kasak, swear to become the limbs of His Highness Grand Duke Stan until the day this life ends, and to follow only you steadfastly."
Saklasi did not know, but his words, 'If you refuse, I will not leave a single Dragon Beastkin in this world. I swear it,' were words that hit Kasak, a Dragon Beastkin, very hard.
Such a Kasak told Saklasi that he swore. It was like an absolute binding of the soul for Dragon Beastkin, where if they broke it, they had to take their own lives.
"I, Juchir, also swear to become the limbs of His Highness Grand Duke Stan until the day this life ends."
"""We, the Sajunsagu, also swear to become the limbs of His Highness Grand Duke Stan until the day this life ends!!!"""
Juchir was puzzled by the changed attitude of the Sajunsagu, who he thought would object, but he thought it was fortunate anyway.
He didn't know because Saklasi had excluded Kasak and Juchir from the target of 'Blood is also water'.
That Saklasi's [Wish] 'Blood is also water' was not just about stopping blood, but a feeling of having one's soul definitely stolen.
For a Dragon Beastkin, an oath is the same as betting one's soul.
The Sajunsagu were already in Saklasi's grasp before they bet their souls on the oath. The current oath was just a procedure to confirm that fact once again with words.
"If it is an oath made by the Dragon Beastkin, it is enough."
Kalina thought it was truly fortunate. One must not do something that ends the future of a race.
It was partly because 2,000 years had passed and her ill feelings toward the Dragon Beastkin had faded, but there was something more important.
She had learned the fact that each race was supporting the axis of the world.
'Two more races, if the axis of this world collapses, the seal of "that thing"...'
The reason why Kalina, a Transcendent, leaves the monsters of the Demon Continent alone.
It was because Pink Grima and Azure Slug were also considered one of the races supporting the world.
'If the fanatics who want the destruction of the world find out, they will try to exterminate the two races somehow. But if it's Saklasi, couldn't he stop "that thing"?'
"That thing" was a powerful entity that even made Kalina turn her back.
'Abaddon'.
As Kalina looked at Saklasi, lost in deep thought, Saklasi thought it meant to finish this up, so he opened his mouth.
"This settles it for now. You've worked hard, Your Imperial Majesty. And Princess Sonya and the members who followed us here as well."
'It feels strange that I keep acquiring land. Anyway, I'm a munchkin.' Saklasi was satisfied that things worked out well and encouraged the northern members.
The members, who had been trembling in incomprehensible fear until just a moment ago, felt a strange emotion at Saklasi's characteristic relaxed yet innocent smile.
Charisma that shows power from a different dimension. The brightness that contrasts with it.
The northern members were feeling the same emotions toward Saklasi that they felt toward Sonya.
Saklasi's kindness that came after overwhelming fear was fatal.
Sonya also showed a dominant personality and charisma on the outside, but on the inside, she had firm trust in her members.
Saklasi's current appearance overlapped with Sonya in the eyes of the northern members.
'Even if he's a man... it might be okay?'
In the end, the northern knights also started to break down upon meeting Saklasi.
"Your Highness Grand Duke Stan, would you like to take Juchir? He is my younger brother. Please use him as your limb."
"It would be a great honor for me, Juchir, Your Highness Grand Duke Stan."
Kasak had now completely become Saklasi's man. He wanted him to take Juchir as a token of friendship.
Just then, Aurin, who had been quiet until now, stepped forward and opened her long snout, typical of Dragon Beastkin, and said.
"Aurin is better than that! It would be good for a man to have a woman by his side!"
Aurin, whose vertically slit golden pupils were sparkling with anticipation.
"My daughter Aurin would also be good. She is the only one among my children who has risen to the rank of Seongwi ability user. She will be a limb that is perfect for Your Highness Grand Duke to use."
Thump! Thump! Bang!
As soon as Kasak's permission was given, Aurin shouted, hitting the floor with her tail as if happy.
"Aurin is very useful! I will guard His Highness Grand Duke's side day and night! And even warming His Highness Grand Duke's bed, I will not refuse anything!"
"Juchir is strong, but he is still a high-ranking ability user, so he probably won't catch Your Highness Grand Duke's eye. There are the Sajunsagu, but taking my daughter would be a better token of friendship. Please, what do you think?"
Kasak asked, his golden pupils sparkling. He thought his daughter was the first opportunity for the race's preservation. Moreover, it was Saklasi, that absolute being! It was an opportunity he could never miss.
When Kasak and Aurin were glistening with anticipation, Saklasi was feeling the greatest sense of crisis since he fell into this world. An unmistakable bewilderment appeared on his face.
'...Impossible!'