Chapter 263
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 263
Chapter Title: Lesson 51. Solid Alliance - 5
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Exodus and Crimson Spear had both suffered near-annihilation damage and retreated, but the universe wasn't theirs alone.
From the moment the wave of chill emanated from Melodia's spaceship, there had been a group frozen in place, unable to so much as twitch—the fleet of the Guardian Alliance, composed of the native inhabitants of D-13 Dimension.
What action would Melodia take against D-13 Dimension?
No one could stand in their way if they swept everyone aside and scoured every planet for what they wanted before departing.
Of course, such drastic measures would come at a cost to Melodia as well, but it would be infinitesimally lighter compared to the utter destruction facing D-13 Dimension.
"What do you think they'll do? If Melodia truly has the right to act directly in D-13 Dimension, they could brush aside an alliance like that with a single finger."
"Why bother? I've heard Melodia is one of the more reasonable among the top ten families."
"Lady Seira must not know because she only operates within the family. Sure, Melodia is known as the conscience of the top ten families, the guardians of discipline, and they're quite amicable. But they're also infamous for going all the way once something rubs them the wrong way, with no one able to stop them. Seventy years ago, in A-19 Dimension, someone interfered with Melodia's distribution business, and an entire planet was literally reduced to dust."
"Distribution business?"
Ban Yu-won, listening to Aneri's explanation alongside his mother, tilted his head and chimed in. Aneri nodded and elaborated.
"The Melodia family is famous for their mastery of spatial magic. There's a lot of speculation that the blessing they received from the True Dragon is related to space. Their distribution business, powered by that spatial magic, forms the foundation of the Melodia family."
"Even when that spaceship appeared earlier, it didn't burst through the dimensional wall—it just materialized right in the center. With that kind of absurd infiltration ability, no one wants to make an enemy of Melodia."
Selden, who had once roamed the universe as a dimensional pirate, seemed well aware of the dangers posed by the Melodia family's power.
But Ban Yu-won thought of something else upon hearing "space."
The first time he met Aire, she had reacted intensely when he freely manipulated spatial coordinates using his student ID.
Of course, it had fizzled out when Yumina appeared right after, but thinking back now, it was probably because Aire was highly conscious of spatial magic.
"Oh, looks like they're talking?"
At Keira's words, everyone's eyes turned to the screen.
The Guardian Alliance received the signal from Melodia's spaceship and hesitated for a long while before one ship was pushed forward as if shoved.
Was it Galahad's? No, it was Camelot.
Unlike earlier when the sound had echoed across the universe, now they were using a private channel, so no audio came through.
"Tike?"
—Uung.
Hoping it could capture the audio signal, he sent his will to Tike, but it replied that attempting interference in the widespread magic field risked detection.
No matter how curious they were about the events unfolding in space, they couldn't take unnecessary risks.
He was about to recall Tike immediately when, for some reason, the private channel comms being exchanged started being received by Tike and shared with Ban Yu-won's group.
—Is As Light's father aboard that ship? asked the man from Melodia.
"Huh...?"
A deep, masculine voice flowed from the Melodia side.
It was shocking enough that Melodia had named As Light, but even more surprising that audio had suddenly become audible.
No, this wasn't just surprising—it was terrifying.
It meant Melodia knew Tike's location and had even grasped the conversation between Tike and Ban Yu-won, deliberately opening the channel for them!
Ban Yu-won and the rest of the group, realizing the implications, all froze.
Meanwhile, the comms between the two sides continued.
—Uh, no, he's not! Your Majesty... Alliance Leader—no, the king is currently on Planet Camelot. My apologies!
—Of course, a king's steps must be heavy. But even that has its proper time and place. If he dawdles until the fate of the stars is at stake, there'll be no excuses even if he falls in that position.
"......"
Perhaps they had grown complacent toward the top ten families because they were used to dealing only with upstarts like Ortima and Prominence.
But those they faced were mere immature heirs, despite being successors.
When the true power of a top ten family—honed over hundreds or thousands of years, masters of every magic and technology—stepped forward, they could instantly grasp the situation here, unlike Galahad, who had been toyed with by Ban Yu-won alone.
—O-Of... Of course! Um... Do you have business with the king?
—Indeed. So open the way. We will head to Planet Camelot.
"......Ban Yu-won."
Before he knew it, his older sister had slyly taken his hand.
She squeezed it tightly, pressing her body against his, and murmured in a distant voice.
"At least if we're dying, we're doing it together... that's a relief."
"You... wanna say something ominous?"
"Hold on, everyone. Let's hear more of the comms. They opened it for us to listen, so there must be some meaning to it."
As soon as Aneri spoke, more dialogue flowed through the channel.
—If I may ask... what business with the king...
—One thing, Camelot! Open the way!
—We'll clear them out and open the path!
—Fulfill your duty as Alliance Leader, Camelot!
Ah, the Guardian Alliance, which had seemed united for a moment, was fracturing again at Melodia's declaration that they needed to meet the Alliance Leader!
At this point, wouldn't it be better for As Light if they all just collapsed? As Ban Yu-won seriously pondered this, the infighting heated up.
—No, but we can't just let an external dimension's fleet in...
—We can't stop them with our power anyway. Better to have Alliance Leader Camelot attempt dialogue than suffer pointless losses!
—If there's a time to wield authority as Alliance Leader, you must bear the responsibility that comes with it. If you enjoy the privileges but dodge when it's time to represent the dimension, no one will follow Camelot anymore!
No, these guys seemed to be using the opportunity to vent whatever they wanted to say.
But none of their words were wrong.
They probably never imagined a top ten family would barge in demanding to see the Alliance Leader's face. It was time for Camelot, which had suppressed its allies all this time, to pay the price.
"But... it feels like their focus is off somehow."
Ban Yu-won muttered softly as he watched the other planets' ships restraining Camelot's to force open a path.
They seemed to think, "Melodia's pissed for some reason and holding the Guardian Alliance Leader accountable!" But Melodia had specifically said they were looking for "As Light's father" at first.
Didn't that mean the Guardian Alliance or Alliance Leader stuff was irrelevant?
'Then why?'
Ban Yu-won asked himself.
Deep down, he already knew.
Aire, the Special Class from Melodia.
As Light, her one... or rather, only friend if including Ban Yu-won.
Whoever was on that spaceship knew her relationships!
Judging from that, Melodia's move toward Camelot wasn't the apocalyptic doom the Guardian Alliance feared—it was likely something extremely personal and trivial!
"Wait, then what about the Dragon Slayer Sword?"
As Ban Yu-won muttered in exasperation, Melodia's comms continued through Tike to his group.
—I'll come see to my business myself, so no need for you to move.
"Oh."
The sudden transmission elicited only a dazed response.
—I also wish to broadcast. Mind lending me the channel and that device for a bit?
Broadcast?
From Camelot?
Ban Yu-won narrowed his eyes at the unexpected proposal from Melodia, but with no room to refuse and no signs of violence, he agreed.
'Tike, remember last time someone called you a low-paid cameraman and I said to shoot them?'
—Wiing.
'Can't shoot these guys, so squeeze them for a ton of money instead.'
—Click.
Tike departed with desperate resolve.
As Ban Yu-won let out a faint sigh of relief and prepared the Rebellion live stream, Keira quietly remarked beside him.
"So, miss, how long are you planning to hold the young master's hand?"
"Huh? Oh? Oops, didn't notice!"
Ban Yu-mi, who had been trembling faintly while gripping his hand, finally realized and jumped back in surprise. But even her Oscar-worthy performance didn't fool Ban Yu-won.
The dominant emotion she felt was thick regret and lingering attachment.
Of course, pointing it out would lead to awkward reactions, so he said nothing.
Besides, excluding him, there were four other big mouths present.
"Handles power like a badass but sneaky in the worst way."
"Agreed with the captain."
"Sigh, you wanna do that in front of Mom...?"
"I'd kill the brat if I could..."
"Ah, shut up, all of you! Look, they're entering Camelot—Camelot!"
Ban Yu-mi yelled at the members teasing her instead of Ban Yu-won, half in tears, pointing at the screen again.
Melodia had already linked up with Tike and begun filming.
Tike was mainly capturing a middle-aged man who seemed to be the one who had commed Ban Yu-won earlier.
A stern-faced middle-aged man in luxurious robes with graying beard—even viewing through Tike's feed, his overwhelming strength was palpable.
And the sharp, blade-like aura mixed with icy frigidity suggested he was probably the source of that earlier chill wave.
"He has a temperament like Aire."
"And who the hell is that bitch?"
"You know, Yu-mi, the one who sometimes appears on the channel exchanging looks with Yu-won like 'Only we two understand each other'..."
"Mom, that makes me and Aire sound super cringy, so stop."
"The pretty doll-like girl who pretends not to but hangs around Yu-won a lot and wields ice magic masterfully... Yeah, there she is."
"Ah, that lone high-and-mighty bitch. She pisses me off."
"What did Aire do to you to piss you off... Aire's there?"
Ban Yu-won, frowning at his mother and sister's comments, suddenly blinked.
On screen, walking step by step beside the middle-aged man in a silver-blue luxurious robe she rarely wore... was the breathtakingly beautiful silver-haired girl, Aire.
The moment Melodia family members appeared on the Rebellion live stream, viewership exploded, surpassing 7 billion by the time they entered Camelot's royal palace!
"No, forget that—why is Aire here?"
Ban Yu-won gaped in disbelief.
When he asked for help, she said "see you later," but... she'd come from the start?!
—Aire: Ta-da.
—Me: Ta-da what?
Stunned by Aire's uncharacteristic joke via message, Ban Yu-won replied, then sensed all the members' gazes on him and looked up.
"Our young master... is... seriously... something..."
"Mom thinks our son swallowing top ten families one or two at a time might be faster than our daughter devouring Prominence."
"Master Yu-won will just conquer the tower without needing to."
"Ha... what a shitty bastard, son of a bitch."
Amid the varied reactions leaving him speechless, Selden—serious unlike the female members—bowed his head and pleaded.
"Teach me your womanizing tricks, bro."
"Aneri."
"Leave it to me."
As Aneri reined in Selden, the group watched the live stream together.
Camelot's knights, unsure whether to treat them as enemies or guests, awkwardly escorted the middle-aged man and Aire inside. Upon entering the throne room, at the end of the red carpet stood the throne, where the Camelot king sat half-restrained by his ministers.
He wore an expression like he wanted to bolt skyward but, knowing the stature of the visitors, forced a welcoming smile.
"W-Welcome to Camelot's palace... Strangers. I am Yuder Light Camelot, king of Camelot inheriting the blood of the great guardian, and leader of the Guardian Alliance protecting this dimension."
"Lasteil Pendragon Melodia, head of the Melodia family."
Incredibly, the man's identity was the head of a top ten family!
But from the moment the live stream started, the chat had gone wild exposing him, so Ban Yu-won already knew.
Aneri had even slapped her own mouth, calling it loose-lipped, upon seeing the screen.
Still, one thing newly piqued his curiosity.
Why had he come here in person, and...
"Will you introduce yourself?"
"Aire."
Why was the head of a top ten family slightly bending his knee and bowing his head to Aire as if she were his superior?
Aire merely stated her name and stepped back, showing no intent to converse despite arriving with him.
"Wh-What brings the top ten families to this humble dimension...?"
"My visit to D-13 Dimension is no grand matter. Merely here for business that can be handled together."
The family head glanced back at Aire.
She nodded, and he cleared his throat before proclaiming loudly.
"In the name of the Melodia family, upholders of the great True Dragon's will and protectors of all dimensions' dragons, I declare: Having confirmed the existence of As Light, heir to the True Dragon's bloodline who has awakened its power, the Melodia family shall officially sponsor her from this moment."
"Ah...!"
The king let out a sigh mixing strange relief and emptiness at a top ten family declaring sponsorship of his daughter.
The family head continued.
"However, Yuder Light Camelot, her current guardian, and his bloodline bear a clear history of persecuting dragons, and it has been confirmed they inflicted horrific abuse upon As Light herself. Thus, from this moment, in the name of Melodia, proxy of the True Dragon, I exercise the rightful authority to intervene in a D-grade dimension."
As expected, the True Dragon lay at the root of all Melodia's actions.
That "authority" must be why they could rampage even in D-13 Dimension.
"Ab-Abuse? No, impossible. My son—no, daughter—has always stood at the forefront as a representative of the nation and planet, bearing the people's expectations..."
The king, sensing the unfavorable turn, began stammering excuses, but to Ban Yu-won, each word seemed to step on a landmine.
"Do not presume to blind the dragon's eyes. I could pierce that babbling mouth this instant."
"Gasp!"
"We refrain from immediate execution of a crime warranting annihilation because a servant is needed to hold the throne while the rightful heir to the crown is absent."
"I've heard a lot from As Light."
Aire suddenly spoke up.
As the exalted one even the family head addressed deferentially stepped forward boasting her closeness to his daughter, the king flailed his eyes trying to grasp the situation.
The two had been close since the first semester and even appeared together in Rebellion videos, yet he seemed utterly oblivious to his daughter's school life.
"You... mess around again, and you're really dead."
"Kkh!"
Her blunt words, far more direct than the family head's.
As the king toppled backward from her thick killing intent, the family head concluded.
"This planet's successor is As Light. All that is due her shall be given, and until she desires otherwise, the planet's rights shall be held in trust by the servant."
"I... under...stand..."
"It is not power to wield freely, but a heavy responsibility to bear. Should you ever wish to defy that, think again. The dragon's eyes watch."
With the declaration complete, the family head asked Tike to stop filming.
The live stream continued, the chat flooded with comments.
Differences between dragonkin and dragon heirs? Sponsoring a lower dimension being by a top ten family? Expected sponsorship with dragonkin emergence, but not the head personally...
Ban Yu-won used admin rights to post: [All persons, nations, and organizations in this video are real. All proceeds will fund dragonkin human rights.] Then ended the broadcast.
As Light's lingering issue resolved unexpectedly in an unexpected way.
Relief, emptiness, joy, and disappointment washed over him simultaneously.
"But it was a huge moment in As Light's life, and she's not even there... so very As Light..."
"Friends, right, son?"
"He came for intel and ops prep, how'd it end up like this?"
Should he have consulted Aire from the start?
No, he couldn't be sure, but perhaps Aire's bold move was enabled because he stirred things in D-13 Dimension?
He had anticipated she'd step up for As Light soon, so this resolution made sense enough.
'Ultimately, she handled what I planned, so As Light should be worry-free now...?'
No way the king would act rashly after this.
Of course, As Light still had much to do.
Mending the fractured Guardian Alliance and seizing Camelot by her own power—only then could she claim dominion over D-13 Dimension.
Yet with immediate threats behind her gone, his heavy heart lightened considerably.
—Aire: Coming to meet you now.
No, it grew heavy again instantly.
Come to think of it, the main issue remained...