Chapter 115

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Stonehenge (1)

The preparations for the subjugation battle were in full swing.

Having returned to Cambria, the City of Opportunity, Najin looked around and thought about it. Of course, it wasn’t obvious on the surface, but to Najin, who knew the internal circumstances, subtle movements were noticeable.

The flow of merchants, supplies moving somewhere, and the Central Guild employees busily scurrying about…

They were preparing for the upcoming Red Dragon and White Dragon subjugation battle. The Central Guild had issued a gag order to the White Horn adventurers, but that didn’t mean only the White Horn adventurers were aware of this information.

‘They must have shared it with their merchant partners.’

A large-scale subjugation battle required an immense amount of supplies. Moreover, with five White Horn adventurers and even a royal knight order being mobilized for this subjugation, there could be no shortcomings in supply preparation.

And the experts in this field were the merchants, not the guild. They must have brought in one of the merchant companies.

“……”

Smiling slightly, Najin walked towards the merchant company, thinking of a particular merchant whose eyes sparkled like gold coins. It had been nearly a month since he last saw her. He could almost hear Dieta’s voice complaining about not visiting often, so he made his way towards the merchant company.

‘It’s almost time.’

-Yeah. About three days left?

Merlin, who had been counting on her fingers, shook three fingers in front of Najin’s eyes.

-By my calculation, about three days left until the seal is at its weakest.

The date was similar to what the Central Guild and the royal family had predicted. Najin touched the chain stake given to him by Gillette and muttered to himself.

‘Should we have informed them?’

That the Red Dragon and White Dragon would be fully revived, and that they would be stronger than expected. Only Najin and Merlin knew this information.

-Well, it wouldn’t have mattered.

In response to Najin’s question about whether they should have informed them, Merlin shook her head.

-Even if you did, there’s no guarantee they would believe you. There’s no proof. If you act like a prophet, they might listen, but that would just make them suspicious.

It was true.

That’s why they hadn’t informed anyone.

-And even if they believed you, how much more support would the Empire send? There are no people left in this era who truly understand the terror of dragons. Maybe only those in the Outland.

They wouldn’t invest Master-level personnel in such matters. At most, they might add a few more knights, Merlin explained.

In reality, the Empire didn’t see the Red Dragon and White Dragon as very high threats. They probably considered it just another event that occurred every few hundred years.

‘That’s true.’

-So, what’s there to worry about?

Merlin puffed out her chest proudly.

-You’ve got the great archmage who set the sky on fire, brought down numerous dragons, and pinned the dragon of the abyss to the ground, teaching you the ‘art of dragon hunting’ firsthand. There’s nothing to worry about, right?

Najin shrugged at Merlin’s confident posture and smirk. Over the past few months, whenever there was a chance, Merlin had lectured Najin about the characteristics of dragons. Thanks to that, Najin knew more about dragons than most scholars.

‘If Merlin says so, it must be true.’

-What’s with that reaction?

Najin, now used to Merlin’s grumbling voice, moved on.

“It’s really hard to see you, isn’t it?”

“…Sorry about that.”

“No, it’s fine. Nothing to be sorry about. You were busy, right? I was busy too. Just, you know, there was time for a light meal? Not that I particularly missed you or anything, just from a very business-like perspective, disappearing for a month without a word is…”

Dieta twisted her hair and avoided Najin’s gaze, delivering a lengthy speech. Watching her from nearby, her bodyguard Passion had to bite his lip to hold back laughter.

For the past month, Dieta had sighed while looking out the window. She often muttered, “It’s really hard to see his face. Isn’t he ever going to visit? He lives next door, isn’t this too much?”

Then, when she heard that Najin had left for the Outland, Dieta had gritted her teeth and stomped her feet. Still, knowing he would return within a month, she sighed and waited for 27 days.

‘He’s finally back!’

Upon hearing that Najin had returned, she jumped up in excitement but quickly composed herself. She worried about showing too much, thinking, “Am I being too obvious? Am I letting him control the relationship?” Dieta had learned from books that once you lose the initiative in a relationship, you lose everything.

“I didn’t exactly wait for you, but sending a letter would’ve been nice, right? I might have thought about it, or maybe not…”

Of course, learning from books and applying it in real life were entirely different. Seeing Najin’s face for the first time in a month made her heart pound, and her face flushed. He seemed more mature after a month. Well, at eighteen, it was his growth period…

With such useless thoughts, Dieta fanned her face and tried her best to act composed. But to Passion, who stood next to her, it looked like a futile effort.

“I’ll make sure to send a letter next time.”

Though he couldn’t know her true feelings, Najin noticed she seemed very upset, and he replied with a bitter smile.

“…Really?”

“Yes. Sending a letter isn’t difficult.”

“It would be better if you visited.”

“I’ll try.”

“You promised.”

Only then did Dieta brighten up and pat the table in her office. It was a signal for him to sit closer. There was a luxurious chair placed across from her, which she had bought a month ago, ostensibly for guests, but only Passion knew it was actually Najin’s chair.

‘When other guests come, she hides it away.’

Passion had hurriedly set the chair back in place upon hearing of Najin’s visit. Najin, unaware of this, simply thought, ‘This chair is quite comfortable’ as he sat down.

“By the way, Dieta.”

Najin, now seated, asked.

“You know about the upcoming subjugation, right? Your company’s people seem very busy.”

“Of course. Our company secured the primary supply and post-subjugation material priority rights.”

Dieta hadn’t been idle during the past month. Noticing the Central Guild’s suspicious movements, she quickly approached and secured several contracts.

“A subjugation requires supplies, and post-subjugation, the company’s help is even more needed. Especially since we’re dealing with dragons. Dragon materials fetch exorbitant prices.”

Dieta’s bright yellow eyes sparkled.

“It’s an opportunity. A chance to earn a lot of gold.”

As someone with a keen sense for the scent of gold, Dieta had already cast her bait. She had already prepared items to sell to the royal knight order, which would arrive in the city tomorrow.

“Najin, this is a big opportunity for you too, isn’t it?”

Dieta smiled at Najin.

“Dragons have always been a symbol of great deeds. If you perform well in this subjugation, you might even get a star, right? I don’t know much about it, though.”

“Just performing won’t be enough. I plan to be the protagonist. The most eye-catching and splendid role.”

Achieving great deeds is always the privilege of those who lead the charge. The more risks they take, the more their achievements will shine.

“That sounds like you. So, this subjugation is a big opportunity for both of us, to get closer to our dreams.”

Opportunity.

“We’ll monopolize the dragon materials from this subjugation. It’s been decades since such items have been on the market. There will be plenty of reasons to monopolize them. Many companies will try to follow, but can any merchant company match ours in the flow of gold? We’ve gathered gold even at a loss for this trade.”

She flicked a platinum coin.

“We’ll move on to the capital.”

To a bigger market.

Beyond Cambria, to the heart of the Empire.

“We’ll open trade with the Magic Tower in the capital using dragon materials. Once the path is open, the rest is easy. Our company can quickly distribute ‘many materials’ through Cambria. We can provide the materials they need promptly.”

This was just the beginning, she said.

With a sly smile, Dieta caught the coin she flicked.

“It’s an opportunity to make our name known in the capital. Making a name is the start. This is the first step.”

“The same goes for me.”

Najin said, looking at Dieta.

“To reach the highest place, I must start by inscribing a star. This is the first step for me too.”

For both Najin and Dieta, the upcoming dragon subjugation had significant meaning. It would be the moment the two frogs in the well would step out into the world.

“Then, to cheer for each other’s future…”

Dieta looked at Najin and hesitated for a moment before speaking up.

“Shall we have a meal together? One meal won’t hurt. Maybe some tea as well.”

“Let’s do that.”

At Najin’s response, Dieta clenched her fist in joy, almost shouting in excitement. Seeing this, her bodyguard Passion smiled inwardly.

A merchant planning to take over the capital. Her master was a born merchant who could control the flow of gold and create that flow, but…

In front of that boy, she was just an ordinary girl.

She smiled innocently, blushed over trivial matters, and acted shy like a typical girl her age. Passion nodded and moved at Dieta’s call to prepare to leave.

Anyway, it was a good thing.

Watching the sweet exchange between the boy and girl, Passion smiled contentedly.

Time passed, and the day of the subjugation battle arrived.

Near Cambria, the participants gathered at Stonehenge. The White-rank adventurers, who were considered the peak of Cambria, gathered in one place.

Former Inquisitor, Bashen Corte.

Former Knight Commander, Richard Polsen.

Red Eyes, Rosalin Ascalo.

Unknown, Grisel Paramelt.

And.

The New Star, Najin.

The subjugation team, centered around the five White-rank adventurers at the peak of Cambria, surrounded Stonehenge. The knights sent by the royal family started setting up artifacts and equipment, and the merchant company’s staff busily arranged supplies.

The time when the sealing ceremony would break was deep into the night.

To light up the night, luminous stones and flare grenades provided by the merchants filled the sky. Spare equipment and supplies were placed at the rear, and top-quality potions for mana and stamina recovery were distributed.

And Najin.

He walked to the position he had chosen.

A gently sloping hill rising in the wide plain. The stone pillars forming a circle around the hill that looked like a grave. It was a sealing ceremony set up by Merlin a thousand years ago.

Stonehenge.

A sealing ceremony and a dragon’s grave.

Najin stood in a spot where the stone pillars were clearly visible. This was the position he had chosen for a reason. Merlin had told him that this was the spot where Arthur had stood.

Najin drew his sword.

The same place as Arthur. The same stage. The same situation.

Tonight, he would write the first chapter of a new myth. Najin decided that. It was something he decided for himself.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

In the high night sky.

Though his star had yet to take its place and seemed distant,

Tonight, Najin would inscribe his star.