Chapter 42

Pure whiteness took on substance, a hazy clone of light. It entered the Dragon Spirit Hall on the 99th floor of the Imperial Court, a golden palace reaching the heavens.

Five yellow Sage dragons sitting in different positions spoke with gentle majesty.

「In the south, the abyssal mist is engulfing heaven and earth. The earth is becoming a wasteland, and the mountains are becoming volcanoes.」

「The King of Lizards has awakened there. However, we have no way of stopping his awakening.」

「Have you thought of what we should do? Wise White Dragon, as the Light Dragon no longer has time to think, we have decided to follow your judgment.」

The Sage Dragons, who had been observing the world for nearly 2,000 years, discussed the collapsing world in worried tones.

Mirngadia trembled at the state of the True Dragons, who had become old and helpless in the passage of eons.

When the Old Kings woke up, the light of the world would completely disappear…

Once again, he was asked to find a way in the barren world…n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Even then, Mirngadia was floating in the sky, taking care of all three fronts.

「The five elder pillars and I are all running out of time, so we must see the end of this war in this era.」

Cardinal Yoshhar asked, 「What do you plan to do about the King that is awakening?」

Mirngadia felt the fingers on his hands tremble as the fate of the world flickered violently and overlapped with his life.

He paused for a moment and raised his head. Behind the long, white eyelashes, his eyes shone with the determination of one who had laid down his life. 「I have already thought of a way to deal with it.」

「Tell us.」

「Before the Old King fully awakens, we must go and welcome him and his men. That is the only way.」

* * *

“Oho, who’s this? Is that really you, Loveris? The kid that was always teased and called ‘Loro’ has become a proper heroine.” The bigshot from the dwarven military was Halvaron son Ephesus. T

That was Kaisen’s first meeting with that hero.

The Smith of Ten Thousand Weapons, Halvaron, the one who overthrew the Dwarven Republic and established their first empire. He was a member of the old Ephesus Dynasty and the hero of the dwarven people during the ‘Black Summer.’

Although dwarves couldn’t wield magic, their technological prowess was the best among the three races.

Both firearms and steam engines were dwarven inventions, and it was Halvaron who improved both to suit the battlefield.

“Why didn’t you say that to me?” Isla asked. “I have become a heroine too! I’ve become so powerful now!”

He was given the title ‘Smith of Ten Thousand Weapons’ because he could create and improve any weapon; he was also a descendant of Prisvia, the inventor of the steam engine.

The encounter with such an enormous figure felt somewhat comical to Kaisen due to Isla biting his head.

“You brat, you’re still so short, so say something that makes sense!”

“I’m now equal to your height, Halvaron!”

“Isla, stay back. We need to talk.”

Isla retreated at Loveris’s command, but she still stuck close to Halvaron.

From what Kaisen later learned, Isla was created by Prisvia after combining the genes of dragons, humans, and dwarves.

Halvaron, who belonged to Prisvia’s line, was like a godfather to Isla.

“Now you have a sense of authority in your voice when giving orders to your subordinates. You are truly an adult. That little kid back then…” Halvaron said, shaking off the saliva on his military cap.

He looked like a handsome boy with countless scars on his face to his arms, but his actual age was well over 40, and the number of battles he had experienced exceeded three figures.

It was very disconcerting to have someone with a boy’s face talk like an old man, but dwarves were always like that.

“You look the same as ever. You look as young as a child.”

“Isn’t that the advantage for dwarves?”

“There are some who look old because they have bushy beards… Although they are mainly called little people.”

“Hmph, not me. Look at this skin. It still looks like a baby’s. Are you jealous?”

“No.”

“By the time wrinkles appear on my face, you’ll be crazy with envy.”

“I won’t live long enough to get wrinkles anyway.”

“Goddamnit, Fake Warriors are really good at ruining the atmosphere. Is this the guy? He subdued the Mauna Roa like Raminea?”

Raminea… Hearing his mother’s name so suddenly, Kaisen felt like he had been hit on the head with a hammer.

“It’s strange. When and where have we seen each other before? He looks quite familiar. It’s rather odd since this is the first time I’m seeing a male Fake Warrior.”

Halvaron looked Kaisen up and down and tilted his head.

Loveris stepped forward. “I wonder if presbyopia has set in.”

“Hey, you idiot! You still have a long way to go before you can treat me like an old man.”

Loveris and Halvaron exchanged quiet smiles—the kind of smiles that only those who had been through a long journey together could exchange.

Isla was jealous and bit Halvaron’s finger. When the screaming ended, Loveris asked, “So what brings you here?”

“That’s right, His Excellency, the Heavenly Castle, needs my new weapon.”

“What is the new weapon?!”

“It’s an armored train. It’s my masterpiece… fully arming the train. It’s like a moving artillery battery.”

“A fully-armed train? I can’t even imagine what that would be like.”

“Hmph, mediocre people like you have no choice. If you see it, you will turn a blind eye to it. I told Raminea several times that, when I finish it, she will be the first I show it to.”

Was it a coincidence or intentional? Halvaron glanced at Kaisen with a sigh. “But that girl is dead now. I wanted to at least show it to that prickly student of hers, but she died in the end too, right?”

“…”

“Don’t make that face. I don’t know why all Fake Warriors seem to look like they carry all the sorrow in the world. It would be good to follow Raminea’s example.”

He did not receive the right to speak from Loveris, but Kaisen spoke without realizing it. “Do you know Raminea?”

Halvaron’s eyes widened. For a moment, he held his stomach and burst into laughter. “Ha, haha! Loveris, is this guy asking me whose friend I am?”

“I don’t know why you are asking me when you know best.”

“Oh my, that’s just obvious. Raminea, that girl was my comrade. She was the only hero I recognized among humans, and she was my best friend.”

“Is that so?” Kaisen had to hide his quiet joy. He was able to meet someone who talked so happily and proudly of their friendship with his mother…

It was an amazing feeling.

“I want to show my new masterpiece to you guys who always look so depressed.”

“Masterpiece! Is it something delicious?!”

“It’s something cool. It’s a supersized machine, and it can probably play rock, paper, scissors with the Old Kings. Making it so it can make a fist一”

Loveris crushed Halvaron’s passion with a sighing nod. “I think we should just focus on the main points. I don’t want to stay up all night again.”

“Tsk tsk tsk, you’re not as cute as you used to be. So, an Old Noble almost showed up this time?”

“The Pale Baronet attempted to summon one but was thwarted.”

“We are dealing with the nagas. Those sea serpents who serve the Ruler of the Ancient Seas. We smashed a few of the lower-ranking nobles, but compared to the continental front, they are nothing.”

The dwarves were fighting against the main forces of the nagas while the fairies were facing the necrons and bloodkin.

Humanity, leading the continental front, had to fight the main forces of the six great demon races…

“That’s still good news.”

“It’s not even a good thing. There’s no time. Whether it’s the maritime front or the continental front, if we don’t sort it out as soon as possible, things will get out of hand.”

“What can we do? Just protecting the mountain defense line is hard work.”

Halvaron shrugged. “It seems like the Heavenly Castle thinks differently.”

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t you hear? The Heavenly Castle believes that the next coming of the King of Lizards is not far away. I believe the same. Just looking at the Mauna Roa and the Old Nobles’ awakenings makes it clear.”

“That…”

“After the Old King awakens and fully regains his power, it will be too late. You know how the Dragon Sage and the Void Apostle defeated the King of Spiders and the King of Time, respectively, right?” Halvaron looked at Isla before finishing his question.

Isla’s eyes began to spin as she stammered, and then she screamed. “I don’t know! Only lowly mortals rely on such knowledge! A dragon has no need for such knowledge!”

“That’s right. Unlike our great Isla, you, a lowly human Fake Warrior, would know the answer, correct?”

“Yes. I learned that the Dragon Sage first broke the seal on the King of Spiders, who had reached his limit, and that the Void Apostle fought right after the King of Time’s seal was broken,” Kaisen answered.

Halvaron shook his head and blinked at Isla before getting bitten again. “Look. Those monster-like beings knew they had to aim for an early decisive battle. They decided that there was no hope after their physical manifestation was complete. The same goes for us. If we crouch in the mountains, it will be too late.”

Isla raised herself to her tiptoes, subtly pulled Kaisen’s earlobe, and whispered. “I even met the Dragon Sage in person. Are you jealous?”

“?”

“What’s with those eyes…? Are you saying you don’t believe what a dragon says? Are you, a human, ignoring a dragon?!”

No…

How could she have met someone from 300 years ago?

“Actually, Isla is over 300 years old.”

“Huh…”

“This is a secret only known to you, Kaisen.”

“Hmmm…”

“What’s that reaction? It’s normal to show respect.”

Kaisen shook his head with a sigh, and Isla leaped over and bit down on Kaisen’s head.

“The train you mentioned earlier…”

“ It’s an armored train.”

“You mean that armored train was built for attack?”

“It was made with both attack and defense in mind, but it seems that the Heavenly Castle will use it for that purpose.”

Blood was flowing down from the top of Kaisen’s head, where Isla’s fangs were embedded. “But how?”

“The Heavenly Castle’s judgment is not something mortals can question. He has been around since your grandfather’s grandfather was a child. The Heavenly Castle never makes any judgment hastily or senselessly. Please understand.”

Loveris stared into space and touched her chin. “Then it’s clear that this battle will turn into an offensive.”

“Otherwise, why would my men be attacking the maritime front line all night long?”

“The sooner you come, the better for us. We will combine the two fronts and begin the southern expedition…”

Southern expedition… The meaning of the words penetrated deep into Kaisen’s heart, in a place called ‘hatred’.

“I don’t think he told the humans yet, so only you know. Isla, I mean you! I’m talking to you, whose mouth is lighter than a bell.”

“I am a dragon! I am more secretive than any other race!”

“Bullshit.”

“A heat wave warning was issued a month ago. Important information will be released soon.”

Loveris and Halvaron talked about some other things, but they weren’t important.

Halvaron’s subordinate came, causing him to say that he would have to go back, and so did Loveris.

The reunion at the pavilion on the side of the mountain came to an end.

“Is Halvaron leaving now?”

“Yes, those guys can’t even poop properly without me, so I should hurry back.”

“I also want to go with Halvaron!” Isla exclaimed.

“Are you threatening me?” Halvaron asked. “If you go, all the warships will explode and sink.”

“Kaaaaang!”

Halvaron skillfully stopped the charging Isla and said, “It’s just a joke. Since the Heavenly Castle is urging us so much, we should win the battle quickly. Do your best. We will meet again soon.”

Isla’s eyes shone brightly. It was as if all the light in her body was being reflected in them. Kaisen thought only a being full of life could smile like that.

“Really?! I will do my best! Until we meet again!”

“Okay, do your best. Loveris, see you next time, and did you say your name was Kaisen?”

“Yes.”

“Your teacher was a very great person. Always be proud of the fact that you were her student.”

“I already know that.”

“Really? She must be happy. She was so pathetic that she was worried she wouldn’t be able to receive respect, even if she got a disciple later.”

At that, Loveris laughed. “Did she say that?”

“Yeah! Can you believe she complained to me about something like that?”

Beyond the sea of distant memories…

Halvaron looked somewhat sad as he spoke about a time that Kaisen could not reach. The memories of that period and the unspoken sadness seeped into the void of his soul.

“…Thank you.” He was embarrassed and didn’t want to show that feeling on his face.

Beyond that shyness, he wanted to sincerely express his feelings. Kaisen bowed his head deeply and showed respect to his mother’s and his teacher’s comrade.

“What do you mean?”

“For the story you just told.”

Echoes not contained in any book, memories known only to those who lived through that era… Kaisen wanted to know more about his teacher, who died smiling, but he couldn’t ask her.

Just hearing the memory from someone was something that filled his curiosity and respect for that person.

“Ha.” Halvaron let out a laugh. “Kamila got a student who looks exactly like her. The atmosphere is the same… Clear and strong.”

* * *

「There have been a total of 27 clashes in the Red Mountains, and they have won a total of 27 times so far.」

It was as Loveris expected.

Less than two days later, Mirngadia of the Heavenly Castle had his entire army lined up at the Mythic Peak of the Red Mountains.

That was the first time the entire army had been called since forming the mountain range defense line, so everyone was nervous.

「The demon army has not dispersed and is still aiming at humanity from the south.」

The white hair of the Fake Warriors lined up fluttered in the mountain wind, and each holy sword sparkled brilliantly in the sunlight.

「Compromise with the demons is impossible. There is no way they would give up on attacking the north because of the mountain defense line. The only way for humanity to survive is to exterminate the demons.」

“…!”

「After a month of preparations, humanity will launch a counterattack with the 1st Field Army at the forefront.」

“…?!”

「The defensive war is over. The battle for reclamation begins.」

The marshals and Fake Warriors of the 1st and 3rd Field Armies saluted in unison.

As if following them, the sound of the soldiers hitting their chests in salute echoed over the peak.

「The goal of this expedition is to open a route from the central front and merge with the dwarves’ western front.」

It was a very confusing decision. However, the speaker was strong enough to overturn all the confusion.

Overflowing with morale, their shouts were so fierce that they covered the mountain range.

“…After preparing for a month, why would you give up this natural fortress?” The executives thought differently. After finishing the announcements, Teval spoke from inside the elevator, headed to the garrison. “All armies suffered quite heavy losses.”

“The mountain fortresses also took a big hit. They probably thought it would be more profitable to leave rather than repair and protect them.”

“Hmm, but this was still a sudden decision.” When Alidona tried to light her smoking pipe, she was criticized by all of her colleagues.

“Hey! Didn’t I tell you that, if you smoke in an enclosed space, I’ll plug your mouth with that stick?!”

“This is sacred smoke. If you smell it, won’t the blessings of Legendary Priestess Friede come to you all?”

“You rationalized your smoking with bullshit, you smoking auntie.”

“What? Auntie?”

Etiquette must be observed in confined spaces. If Kamila had been the leader, she might have beaten Alidona.

Kaisen politely glanced at Loveris, who remained silent. “What do you think of an offensive shift in the midst of military inferiority?”

“What did you learn from the Temple of the Sword of Bravery? It’s not the role of the Fake Warriors to come up with a strategy. We just need to come up with the right plan to face the changing war situation.”

“Of course, that’s how I learned it, but in , Lia…”

“You mean Senior Sharon’s disciple. Was it the base defense strategy? I read that report. That one is an exception. No, if she had been part of the command system directly under the Heavenly Castle, she would have been no exception.”

The elevator door opened.

A sudden gust of wind and the commotion in the garrison were so loud that his ears started ringing.

Loveris spoke as she walked out of the elevator and into the middle of it all. “There is only one piece of advice I can give you… trust His Excellency, the Heavenly Castle, unconditionally. As His Majesty Halvaron also said, he can see into the future that you and I cannot and weave it into victory.”

Did she know it then?

In order to win that final fight, she had to die.

Or maybe she was already prepared.

Kaisen, of course, didn’t know.

He never knew anything.