Book 21 Chapter 11
To the land of the decisive battle!
The city of beginning and end,
The Decisive Battle of Laptas (8)
The reason why Rageldaran said he had to see it for himself was immediately understood the moment the Sidonia Wasteland came into view from atop the White Dragon Legion.
“What is that…?”
The Sidonia Wasteland is a massive area that even includes the yellow city of <Laptas>.
How should one describe that?
That lava is covering the entire wasteland with a hemispherical curtain?
“Look at that, Friede! It’s not just land! The curtain is extending its influence even over the sea.”
“Are they planning to completely blockade the sea routes? For what reason are they being so thorough?”
[Acid rain.]
Kees said through Serwebon. If the yellow dust and lava were the Lizard Lord’s presence, then the acid rain was the presence of the old ruler of the sea.
“If even one of the <Forgotten Kings> awakens, the others will awaken in succession, and the situation will spiral into the worst. For acid rain to pour down like this…”
What was incomprehensible was that this was the furthest point the Dragon Legion could advance.
“Rageldaran, where is Pyras now?”
Rageldaran answered Shuan’s question.
「Pyras, who was the vanguard of the subjugation force, and his subordinate Red Dragons have also been confirmed to be waiting in front of the southeastern side of the lava curtain.」
Although the Red Dragon Legion advanced, laying waste to all demon strongholds, it would not have been strange for them to have reached <Laptas> by now.
“Surely… is that a barrier so powerful that even the True Dragon Lords cannot break it?”
Rista, who leaped from the White Dragon’s back onto the sand, asked.
“Hero, I am Bezel, the new director of [Children of Gold].”
At that moment, a paladin who had also arrived here on the back of a white dragon approached, his golden plate armor clanking.
“I have come under the orders of His Holiness the Radiant Dragon. The situation is urgent, so let’s get straight to the point. You must see this. Even if you don’t immediately understand, you must accept it.”
Bezel pulled out an emblem from a pouch hanging at his waist, from which sinister toxic energy rippled and emanated.
“Engraved on the surface of this emblem is something called an Anti-Dragon Barrier.”
“Yes, I know that. It’s what prevented the dragonkin from exerting their power during the chaos caused by the [King’s Flesh]…”
“What I’m about to tell you is top secret. It has been publicly announced as something that confuses the sensory organs of the dragonkin, but in fact, if enough power is gathered, it can nullify the dragonkin’s power itself.”
Nullify the dragonkin’s power?
Is that possible?
Rista’s and Friede’s eyes widened.
“Originally, we also thought it only deceived the dragonkin’s eyes, but through phenomena such as dragonkin losing consciousness or their contact organs becoming paralyzed upon contact with this, we were able to reach a different conclusion. This is a power created to defeat the dragonkin.”
“Why on earth has something so important been kept secret until now?”
“It was treated as a secret out of concern that if the fact that dragonkin could be neutralized spread, a void in public safety would emerge, accelerating criminal acts taking advantage of it.”
Bezel turned his gaze towards the lava curtain.
“Although the color flowing on the barrier’s surface has become similar to lava, its texture and momentum are similar.”
“Meaning it’s the same type of barrier…?”
“Yes. This is an Anti-Dragon Barrier. In that light, the reason why the Red Dragon Legion’s vanguard crashed immediately after entering can be directly ascertained.”
Rista and Friede were bewildered, but amidst that bewilderment, they clearly felt the presence of a sworn enemy etched into their minds.
‘Yes, and Zernix acquiring the King’s power is also a secret… If you think that the barrier took on this color because he obtained that power, then everything fits together!’
That guy who wielded such powerful strength with just puppets now even has the King’s power…
‘This will surely be the toughest battle yet. Damn it, Rista probably doesn’t have much time left…’
Friede, hiding the groan that automatically arose from despair with a sigh exhaling cigarette smoke, then opened her mouth.
“Then… we have to break this barrier for the Dragon Legion to intervene. What should we do?”
Bezel suddenly drew a self-defense dagger.
“This Anti-Dragon Barrier is not invincible. In fact, it’s quite similar to magic. As you can see, there are several runes forming the core of the barrier, and if you simply damage these runes with a dagger tip like this… it slowly disappears.”
When he traced the emblem with it, the toxic energy seemed to tremble violently for a moment, then began to fade. Rista nodded.
“There’s nothing we can do from the outside, but once we get inside, disarming it isn’t difficult at all, is that right?”
“That’s right. Our [Children of Gold] have already identified nearly hundreds of such Anti-Dragon Barriers across the continent and completed data collection. We haven’t seen a large-scale barrier like this before, but for medium-sized ones and larger, the rune arrangement invariably forms a triangular shape. Damaging just one side’s runes can neutralize the barrier.”
Bezel tightly gripped and crushed the emblem, on which the Anti-Dragon Barrier was engraved, with his long gauntleted hand, then said,
“But that’s easier said than done. The danger lurking within this barrier is unknown! Deploying regular troops is extremely dangerous. No one knows what will happen. A large-scale barrier of this level, who knows what kind of creatures are guarding it…”
The Blue True Dragon, Rageldaran, broke his long silence and spoke.
「The scheme they are devising, as the Water Dragon said, is none other than a capital relocation (遷都).」
“Capital relocation…?”
「<Laptas> was built as a border fortress by the Red Dragon Legion under the command of Bel’dakidun, the Father of Fire. With its immense military might, it brought peace and justice to the region. Now, they are trying to transfer Larien, the ancient city of the abyss, there.」
“The City of 108 Pillars, then…!”
「Larien. It is the royal capital of the old Lizard Lord. Before that nefarious scheme can be realized, we must eliminate the villains and restore <Laptas> to its original state.」
Shuan added an explanation.
“The Crimson Sun Shurigan sealed Larien entirely and erected a primary suppressor called the Crimson Cathedral on top of it, and also established <Shuriganakyus> to act as a secondary suppressor.”
“…!”
“If Larien breaks free from that suppression through capital relocation… starting with the Lizard Lord, the ancient nobles directly beneath him will awaken and command a Reptilian army, and humanity will be transformed into primitives and enslaved once more.”
Rageldaran exhaled a snort close to a sigh and looked directly down at Rista Alter Shirpeng.
「If that happens, the world will ultimately face the fate of ruin by the abyss once again. Heir to the Hero’s path, the fate of the world rests in your and your companions’ hands.」
The Blue True Dragon Rageldaran was explaining despair to the hero.
It seemed as though he was placing this ‘impossible’ against the blade of the hero’s calling, to cut away the ‘im’ and transform it into ‘possible’.
Rista Alter Shirpeng had to answer this call. For she was the last hero of this era.
‘Is this, my last battle…?’
Will I have to part with everyone at the end of this battle? Must I part?
‘I have to say… that I will do it.’
Rista tragically clenched her fists in front of her chest, her fingertips now losing sensation.
“Lord Rageldaran, our party will now proceed alone into the interior to break the Anti-Dragon Barrier, so at that time, Your Lordship—”
There were those who dared to interrupt the hero’s words, which were about to be uttered towards Rageldaran in response to that fate.
“—What kind of monkey’s gibberish is that? Are you Manuki bastards trying to hog all the credit?”
That man who leaped from the back of the second wave of the White Dragon Legion, led by another Blue True Dragon, Tajirmum… was the Master Tinker, Nils Blantz.
“I-I-I’m going with you. With Ri, Link, and Rin, I’m going.”
Demon Slayer, Cassel Linkan.
“Link!”
Rin, strangely fond of Link, even temporarily set aside her research on the Lord’s Lesser and Greater Circles and bounded forward towards him.
“Kyuuuing!”
The Ice Dragon Asurva also performed a wing dance in front of Link.
“Right! Sending my future husband alone to such a dangerous place, no matter how cool and chic I’m supposed to be in every situation, is absolutely out of the question.”
“Roar (Dangerous)!”
“Roar (Let’s go together)!”
Grand Lion, Leonia.
And the lionesses Horu and Senru!
“A ronin who followed the Hero’s Party until their final journey, his name alone could inflate the tuition fees for ‘Ryumminique’s Special Class’ by at least tenfold, wouldn’t you say?”
Even Muchen Ryumminique!
It doesn’t end there!
“That glory should be enjoyed first by us fairies, the first descendants, not by mere Samigls or dwarves! I, Shimian, the errant shaman, will lead the reorganized shamanic corps and enter first!”
The errant Shaman, Shimian.
The 284 members of the shamanic corps commanded by his escort paladin, Riven!
“D-didn’t you hear? What dangers lurk inside? No, you can’t! Until we solve it and come out…!”
As Rista was about to exclaim that, Friede placed a hand on her shoulder and shook her head.
“Rista, you need companions.”
“…!”
“No one knows what will happen. It could be a battle against time, measured in seconds.”
She seemed to be speaking of a greater cause, but in truth, Friede felt a crushing guilt at that moment.
‘If we accept their help… Rista might not burn through all her lifespan in this battle.’
If she finished her research with Rin, she might be able to save Rista.
Tears welled up in Rista’s eyes.
With her gaze lowered, unable to say anything, she gasped for a moment, clutching her chest tightly.
“If I… if I were a more perfect… hero… I wouldn’t have had to involve all of you…”
Now, if she really thought it was the end… if she thought she was too exhausted to go on any further…
‘There are those who come alongside her and support her…’
This is happiness.
This is the blessing of creation.
“Thank you…”
Then Nils snorted with a choking sound and shouted,
“Thanks for nothing! What thanks do you need when I’m going because I want to go?!”
“Yeah! I’m going because I like Rin, so what are you thanking us for?! You speaking on behalf of everyone makes Rin not say anything!”
“You chosen Samigl Rista! When you speak like that, doesn’t it make our great cause seem like my goodwill just for you?! Can’t you immediately retract that apology!”
As Leonia and Shimian started barking in turn, Friede stepped forward in front of Rista, exhaling cigarette smoke.
“Yeah, it’s good that you’re barking like that, it lessens my guilt a bit. I felt a tiny prick on my conscience, truly no bigger than Pipi’s booger, for taking you along as shields to die in our stead.”
“This crazy, racist priestess!”
“Even if I’m a priestess, I’m also a princess of a kingdom! How can you say such harsh things?”
“I am a Shaman! A shaman respected by all fairies! How dare you say I’m worth less than that parrot’s booger?!”
“Pipi, not a parrot, no, a sun parrot.”
The serious atmosphere vanished instantly, and its void was filled with rambunctious energy.
“The world might end soon, but they’re acting like this; who can stop these fools? If they die like this, it’ll all be for nothing.”
Even Rin let out a small smile, and Kees laughed alongside her.
[(ㅋ-ㅋ)…]
However, the boy would see 300 years later.
Master Tinker, Nils.
Demon Slayer, Link.
Grand Lion, Leonia.
Enigmatic Shepherd, Shuan.
Muchen Ryumminique.
That these people here, in honor of their courage in advancing to the ends of the earth with the Hero’s Party, would forever achieve renown in later generations under the title of ‘The Five Adventurers (Shimian was voluntarily excluded because he was a fairy)’.
‘Yes, ‘adventurer’ is the perfect title.’
Not adventurers in the sense commonly used in later generations, meaning those who explored the world.
‘Because you succeeded in the adventure of a lifetime… even if that wasn’t your intention from the start.’
They are adventurers in the sense that they accomplished something despite the danger and succeeded.
“S-so, Rin, do you, dis, like it?”
Link asked.
Rin’s eyes widened for a moment at the direct question, then she smiled.
“No.”
That smile, though she herself didn’t realize it, bore a striking resemblance to the smile of Dean Atlante, whom the boy so admired.
“I don’t dislike it.”
What truly made Rin uncomfortable at that moment was Link’s stutter.
She worried that Link’s speech might be like this because her own magic was incomplete.
“Link, if you get married later and have children, what do you call it, I’ll teach them to read and write. Since Link’s language is like that, it’ll be hard to teach him.”
“T-teach, children, Rin?”
“Yes, and as the Archmage of the Hero’s Party, I’ll tell stories. That this big, gentle giant of an uncle was a true Demon Slayer. Of course, only until the magic carved into his hood is completed.”
Then Link burst into a laugh more innocent than any child’s.
“I-if we have many ch-children, w-will Ri-Rin s-stay, with us? Since she has to teach them to read and write.”
Then Rin was genuinely flustered.
“Ah, no, that’s not it. Have a moderate number! I have no intention of teaching brats my whole life. Don’t you know the saying, ‘Have one child and raise them well’?”
“Ch-changing your word, c-coward.”
“Coward? You’re kidding me! Fine, just eat and have babies then! Have enough to make a kingdom. I’ll teach them all. Let’s see who wins.”
Kees laughed out loud.
The atmosphere was so boisterous… that even Rista felt laughter pushing up, replacing her tears.
Shuan approached Rista and bowed deeply.
“It is I who should be thanking you… Since I awakened from the ark, it is my calling to stop this, but with Lady Rista stepping forward like this, others too…”
As everyone stopped chattering and began to strengthen their resolve, Rin turned to look at Turena.
Even before Rin opened her mouth, Turena’s face had already turned ashen.
She might have quickly read the strong atmosphere of farewell lingering in Rin’s eyes and around her mouth.
“Let me, let me go with you too! I won’t be a burden, never! I can even use 3-star magic up to the beginner level now! I’m the most capable among all the other mages, except for master!”
Tears began to well up in Turena’s eyes as she spoke wildly.
“So please… please don’t leave me alone… and go…”
How desperate she was.
How frantic she was.
She, who usually stuttered so much if she couldn’t use the [Rin Dialogue Book] when speaking directly with Rin…
‘Perhaps, if this were the moment I had to part with Dean, I would have been saying the exact same thing.’
Rin leaned the golden staff against her shoulder and untied the hat strings with both hands. Rain poured down along the brim.
‘Because I still don’t know what kind of farewell is the most perfect…’
There seemed no way to evade this moment other than to give her disciple the same best farewell that Dean Atlante had given the boy.
“Hey, crying? Kees, she’s crying.”
[(ㅋㅅㅋ)]
“Mages don’t cry. Others will openly look down on you. Like Kees here, whose personality is ruined.”
[(?ㅅ?)]
Sval sat on Turena’s shoulder and licked away her tears.
Yet, what had no end…
Was it because the tears kept flowing, or because of the acid rain pouring down as if the sky had collapsed?
“This conical hat was a gift from the mage I respect most in the world. It’s my greatest treasure.”
Just as the Dean had done, gently and kindly… he covered her tear-streaked face with the brim of the conical hat.
“I’ll leave this with you. Do you understand what it means? It’s a promise. That I will definitely come back to retrieve it.”
“…!”
“Yes, Turena. Don’t worry too much. Pipi! You stay here with Turena too. This is my promise. I will definitely bring Rin back.”
At Friede’s words, Pipi landed on Turena’s conical hat and flapped its wings.
“Turena, Turena, Pipi will protect. Rin, if you don’t keep your promise, you will be considered a swallow clan traitor and killed.”
Rista first stepped into the Anti-Dragon Barrier, and each member of the Hero’s Party patted Turena’s shoulder once before following her.
“We’ll be back soon, so don’t neglect your magic training every dawn, and practice all the magic I taught you until you can use it in the Jorhen style, alright? For every spell you can’t use, it’s five flicks on the forehead, so be prepared.”
That was the last moment Turena could spend with Rin.
Was that why Turena was destined to curse and resent for the rest of her life? Was she doomed to live her entire life amidst that curse and resentment?
Her powerlessness, the inability to be with Rin, at that moment on that day when the abyssal rain chilled both body and soul.