It was the fateful day for the survival of mankind.
In Conference Room 2, which had changed overnight, Velgrynd nodded with satisfaction.
In front of her was a set of communication equipment and a plush chair.
Soft cushions were provided for her comfort.
The spacious room had been cleared of extraneous equipment and was ready to receive the visiting heads of state.
Snacks and beverages are available near the wall, and there are several waiters standing in line.
The furnishings were elegant and carefully considered so as not to diminish the dignity of the kingdom.
“I like it. You did well, Yamamoto.”
“Hah! Thank you. Just to hear you say that, I, Yamamoto, feel like I’m in heaven!”
A man who specializes in brown-nosing. Yamamoto Kanji.
Through the supervision of a once-in-a-lifetime supervisor, he succeeded in gaining recognition from Velgrynd.
Incidentally, this is truly an achievement, since Velgrynd’s eyes are unusually discerning. Even the military officials who came to check on the situation were impressed by how well he managed to do this in just one night.
Even the subordinates who had responded to Yamamoto’s recklessness were beaming with pride.
“Well, we’re running out of time, so let’s get started.”
Velgrynd sits in the chair.
With the grace of a dominatrix, yet still swift. She handled the communication equipment.
The first caller is the United States of Azalea.
“George-kun, how are you?”
“Oh, yeah. It’s good to hear from you, how nostalgic. Everything is as usual, so it’s a mess. But I’m relieved that you haven’t changed, if that’s strange to say.”
President George is understandably confused.
After all, he was coming to the Empire through the ‘Spacetime Connection’ without even bothering to say hello on the phone.
Even the Azalean government ministers who came with him can’t believe their eyes.
“Ufufu. I couldn’t have changed. It may have been twenty-five years for you, but for me, we just parted ways a few days ago.”
“Oh, I see.”
Velgrynd and George are chatting about the past.
Yamamoto moves so as not to interrupt their conversation.
With a casual glance, the servers begin to work.
Even the confused Azaleans seemed to take a breather and their heads start to spin.
Beside them, Velgrynd was having a lively conversation.
“It’s been a long time ago. Thanks to that man, I didn’t have to be bored every day.”
“I heard that you always went along with my dad’s big legalities.”
“Yeah. The day before the typhoon, ‘It’ll clear up tomorrow’ was a big deal.”
“I know, that story. He told me that story over and over. Thanks to you, you really made it better.”
“Well. There was a baseball game that day, and the neighborhood kids were looking forward to it. He was always teasing them and lying about it all the time. Maybe that’s why. ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if my words came true once in a while?’ he said. You know, I was really surprised how it made me work.”
Everyone was struck by the story that the typhoon had disappeared.
“You’re kidding…”
“You don’t even want to hide that you’re not normal.”
Some couldn’t hide their surprise.
Without realizing it, or even if they did, they didn’t care, the conversation between Velgrynd and the President continued.
“Is that so? All Dad said was that ‘the kids were freaked out and it was super funny’, so I never knew that was the reason…”
“Uh-huh. The kids were so excited, too. The players got all worked up that day, and we had an oversized home run.”
“I’m sure that’s true. My kids love baseball, too.”
At this point, Velgrynd noticed that George’s expression had become cloudy.
It was a subtle change that a normal person wouldn’t notice, but Velgrynd noticed it because she could read other people’s emotions from their thoughts.
“Speaking of which, how is Emile-chan doing?”
Emile Hayes, the name of George’s son.
Velgrynd deduces from her conversation with George that Emile is the reason for George’s anxiety. So she decided to use his name as a sounding board for George to talk to.
“That’s amazing, Velgrynd. I’m no match for you, you know everything…”
“That’s not true. I’m just worried about you, you’re like my son.”
“Fufu, thanks. I guess I’m not a good person to talk to about this kind of thing, as a representative of the state. Still, you’re the only person I know who can help me. Can you help me?”
“Of course. Because you’re the son of my beloved Laurent Hayes, the genius scammer.”
George bursts into tears when he hears this.
Then, after muttering to help his son, he started talking about the situation.
Things have gotten pretty ugly, from what is heard.
The US Department of Defense is already aware that the US military in Azalea has been hijacked by the Phantom. Worst of all, Fleet Commander-in-Chief: David Reagan has sent a messenger with a demand to the government.
The demand is that the United States government accept the demon’s control.
The demon’s goal is not to end humanity. They want to rule this world and build their own paradise. That’s why they thought that if they destroyed the organization that governed the nation, it would be too much trouble to deal with afterwards.
“—That’s why they told us to follow them. That way, they wouldn’t take away the government officials’ free will, and they’d continue to guarantee our safety.”
“Hmm. And what if you don’t give in to the demands?”
“They’re going to send the Grand South Sea Fleet to attack the capital of the United States. And at the same time, they’re going to tell the people exactly what’s happening. That will destroy the prestige of the government and cause uncontrollable panic. The truth is that we have no idea what to do.”
Given the choices, the opinions are divided. But whichever choice they make, the phantom has the advantage.
Besides, thinks Velgrynd.
The demons’ goal is to enslave mankind. They want to keep bodies to replace their own in case their numbers grow.
It would be better to have slaves under control, but there are five spheres of influence in this world. The destruction of one of them would only serve as an example to the rest of the world.
Compared to the total number of phantoms, there are more humans than there are phantoms. Even if the human race was reduced to less than a tenth, there would still be enough dependents.
“I see. China must be in a similar situation, and the Great Roziam Dynasty must have stubbornly stuck to its demands, and the royal family is even in danger of extinction due to the riots. In this way, the Empirre was in a relatively better situation.”
“It’s only a matter of time. The combined fleet of our country and the Chinese will be here soon, won’t they?”
“Yeah, I’m here, so it’s not a problem. I’d rather hear about Emile-chan.”
When Velgrynd let the subject of the Grand Fleet slide, Yamamoto and the rest of the Imperial Bureaucracy and Azalea’s government ministers made ridiculous expressions
But no one interrupted them as they waited for George to speak.
They were afraid to interrupt, lest they might offend Velgrynd. At this point everyone knew that Velgrynd was a woman not to be crossed.
“The messenger who came was Emile. He had the same face as my son, the same knowledge, but he had a very evil look on his face…”
Emile had grown up and become a soldier. And unfortunately, he had been sent to the fleet.
“It’s okay, George. Calm down. What did I tell you?”
Velgrynd smiles when she hears the story, saying it’s okay.
It was a perfect, unflappable, ladylike smile.
That smile apparently had a calming effect on the viewer’s mind.
“Haha, always so soothing, right?—I remember that, Velgrynd.”
As soon as George regained his composure, he remembered his duties as president.
“Good job. Rest assured, Emile-chan will be safe with me. And I’ll protect the honor of the United States as well.”
“Thank you—If you say that, I can be relieved. Please, save the United States…and my son.”
“Leave it to me. We’ve got a couple of months until the demon is fully assimilated into human form. Emile-chan will be fine. And by the way, so will the other generals.”
“It makes me feel better to hear that. But it’s been three weeks since I was dispatched, so I don’t have a lot of days left until the grace period…”
“It’s okay. That’s why we’re meeting today.”
George nodded widely.
“All right. I promise to cooperate to the best of my ability. Let’s hope the meetings will be fruitful.”
With that, George stands up. The Azalea government ministers who had been watching in silence followed suit.
The discussion is over.
Yamamoto gave the signal and an usher immediately opened the door.
“Then, I will show you to your waiting room.”
Everyone seemed relieved to hear Velgrynd’s strong words. With words of thanks, they left the room as they were led away.
***
Velgrynd’s next call was from the Holy Arcia Empire.
An incomprehensible ‘Spacetime Connection’ had brought them across the sea. If you imagine their feelings, it’s impossible not to get confused.
“it's a secret place that only a few people know, so how can…why…”
One of the ministers muttered.
Velgrynd, overhearing this, snorts boringly.
“If you don’t want to be located, use ‘Isolation’ or ‘Barrier’ whenever possible to cut off all contact with the outside world. Even then, air currents and such will leak out, so it’s probably impossible for you to hide.”
“Communicating with the outside world… Do you mean you traced a radio signal to the location where we were hiding?”
One of the young men spoke up.
Because he was carrying a mythical-grade bow, Velgrynd realized that he must be one of the Seven Vessels.
But she’s not particularly interested, so she just says, “That’s right.”
The Arcia crowd is in an uproar, but it’s not Velgrynd who has to deal with it. It’s like a joke to her, so she doesn’t make a fuss about it.
And there was another who was arrogant.
“So you’re Velgrynd. I am Zang, The Emperor of Arcia of this world. You’re the one who claims to be Caldina, the goddess who gave blessings to Emperor Shin, my grandfather, right?”
A handsome young man in his early 20s with blond hair and blue eyes and a well-proportioned body.
He was Zang Yulan Dorte Arcia, the apex emperor of the Holy Arcia Empire.
“Caldina? Oh, that’s what I was called. I’ve heard it said that it’s awe-inspiring to call me by my true name, or something like that, but I didn’t think that the nickname was more established… maybe my real name isn’t in the records?”
“You still won’t admit it? How laughable! Or did you think that your good looks would absolve you of your delusion?”
He chalked up Velgrynd’s statement as a lie and refused to listen to it.
That attitude was a big problem.
If the top brass made a mistake, an apology often wouldn’t suffice.
If this was a subordinate’s outburst, then that person alone could be held responsible. Or the higher-ups might be able to get away with an apology.
But if the chief executive makes a wrong choice, the consequences may be irreversible.
“Bright, the first seat of the Seventh God Vessel, almost cried when he heard Zang’s words.
You idiot! After all the explanations I’ve given you, you have no idea how crazy Velgrynd-sama is? Before that, if you were to see a supernatural phenomenon that had just occurred in front of you, you should know that it was obviously God’s work!
He was in a panic.
Velgrynd’s ‘Spacetime Connection’ is obviously impossible for a normal person. If not a goddess, then it’s no doubt the closest thing to one who is able to do it.
What was the point of offending such an opponent?
There was one more person who was troubled by this situation.
It was Yamamoto Kanji.
Oh my god, the Lord of Arcia is an unbelievable jerk! What should we do now? If nothing is done, the fearsome Ryuo-dono will become angry…
Since it was not just another person’s affair, Yamamoto racked his brain frantically.
The first thing he did was to send a message to his aides.
“Bring His Majesty to me as soon as possible.”
“But that’s not—”
“Fool! I know this is impolite, but only His Majesty can stop Ryuo-dono!”
That was so true that even his aides are struck dumb by his opinion.
“Yes!”
As soon as he whispered his approval, the aide scurried away.
Yamamoto Kanji, normally a pompous buffoon, but he had a real talent for spotting people who should not be crossed. He used this ability without regret to prepare for this crisis.
While everyone around him felt threatened, one man was at ease in making that statement.
“Kukku-kukku, are you speechless, knowing that I’m not so easily fooled? Well, that’s just as well. A scammer like you might not know this, but I’m not like the rest of the foolish ones. I, too, have been approved by the gods! The seventh seat of the Seven Sacred Vessels. That is the one you’ve been trying to take in! The true identity of the person who did it!!”
Zang said proudly.
These words were true, and at Zang’s waist hung a shining mythical-grade sword.
Of course, Velgrynd also knows.
She was just too dumbfounded to speak before that.
“—You’re lying, right? How could you react like that even when you see me…Did Shin's descendants really give birth to such an idiot?”
At the same time as she lamented, it occurred to Velgrynd that she hadn’t responded to his call.
This Zang didn’t trust Velgrynd when she didn’t respond to his call.
Of course, a king should be skeptical, so she wouldn’t complain about that.
But she can only say it’s a shame in more ways than one if he doubts his opponent when told something only he knows.
If you were told a secret and you still didn’t believe it, then you were out of the question.
If you believe the secret was leaked, then your ability to maintain confidentiality must be questioned.
Either way, you’re out.
Lack of cognitive ability was a bigger problem than being small for a king.
“Idiot? Did you mean me?”
“It’s a pity you can’t understand such things. But it sounds like you’ve got more than 4,000 years of history behind you, so I suppose it’s no wonder your bloodline has deteriorated.”
Velgrynd chuckles. She was appalled by Zang’s outburst, but she was not so narrow-minded as to be offended by it.
But Zang was furious.
“Hmph, you still haven’t stopped acting, and even taunted me. Foolishness. Then I will ask you! You not only deceive the goddess’s name with impudence, but you claim to be able to recreate her deeds, don’t you? If you say you can make the sacred artifacts, let’s see it. However…prepare yourself. And if you fail to do so, that’s when your disguise will come undone!”
“That’s so troublesome!”
“Hmph! I don’t want excuses. You spoke of something impossible, and you will pay for it. What? I’m not going to kill you. It seems that you are good at what you do, and have some ability. You can rest assured that you will be kept as my companion.”
Zang talks stupid nonsense all the way.
Everyone aside from Velgrynd and Zang watched with bated breath to see what would happen.
Although Zang’s words and actions were clearly wrong, they saw a glimmer of hope in the patience of Velgrynd, who was quick to anger.
Everyone looks at Velgrynd, praying that this story will be settled.
“You can’t do it anyway—”
“There’s a lot to say, but oh well. It was promised, so I’ll prepare it for you.”
As if to interrupt Zang’s words, Velgrynd made a blue dragon sword appear. It was created with ‘Matter Creation’ by solidifying her own magic element.
“This is fine. You guys may not be able to handle it anyway, but it has unmistakable mythical-grade capabilities.”
“Wha—!?”
Zang received it unexpectedly and was mesmerized by the brilliance of the Blue Dragon Sword. He didn’t need to doubt Velgrynd’s words, it had a real glow to it.
As a king, Zang was not entirely incompetent. Although he is arrogant, he is not a tyrant and has the decency to listen to his subordinates.
Since this was the first summit meeting of the five great powers, he was more stubborn than usual to avoid being stepped on.
It was his revenge.
It was only then that Zang realized his mistake.
Really? No way. But that’s crazy, right? How could a mythical character from thousands of years ago exist in the real world!?
And much to his consternation, Zang is confused.
Perhaps because he was related to the man who was Rudra, Velgrynd had a soft spot in her heart for Zang.
If this were an unrelated person, the negotiations would have been over long ago. It was more than likely that blood would have been spilled.
And yet, Zang didn’t realize his good fortune.
On the contrary—
— Wait, what? If the mythical goddess is real, then she deserves me! Yes, yes, that’s right. If I can have the goddess, all of my problems will be over!
As if he had just come up with a brilliant plan of recovery, he did something outrageous.
“Kukkukku, is that so! O goddess, Velgrynd! Have you crossed time and space to meet me? Love me? Very well. I will return the feeling. I will take you as my wife and swear that I will love you!”
In front of the crowd he burst into multiple misunderestandings.
This confuses Velgrynd.
“Huh? What kind of joke are you making?”
“Don’t be embarrassed. It’s wartime now. I can’t show you now, but when everything’s settled, I’ll make you my queen. I heard the emperor didn’t have any children with the goddess, but do you think she’ll have any with me? If we can bring in the blood of the goddess, Arcia will be ready for a time of further development!”
Velgrynd was speechless at the astonishingly rapid pace in which he was running.
She ad never been so insulted before and was at a loss for words. It’s not that she can’t keep up with it, or that she didn’t want to understand it…
It was proof that even a person who was good at calculation could lose their heads.
Aside from Velgrynd, the audience’s reactions were mixed.
It was the people of the "Seven Sacred Vessels" who paled.
Stop, stop it, Your Majesty—!!
One wanted to scream at him, but held back and signaled to the ministers with his eyes.
He instinctively knew that this was going to be a terrible thing if nothing was done.
How could a man hope to bend the goddess to his will? Zang must be silenced before the goddess’ punishment was doled out.
And yet the ministers wouldn’t act.
Or, rather, they couldn’t.
The blank expression on Velgrynd’s face made her good looks stand out.
And it felt very scary.
It was because his heart was dependent on his own actions.
He couldn’t expect the ministers to do anymore.
The Seven Sacred Vessels grew impatient and turned to their leader. And so Bright is left to bemoan his misfortune.
The Empire was no stranger to this.
The bureaucrats of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' intelligence department, who were nervous before the meeting, thought that the Emperior of Arcia would not be such a fool.
That was gutsy of him, but if Velgrynd got angry, everyone would be collateral damage. They all agreed that they didn’t want that to happen.
“What do you think? It’s a wonderful proposal! Even if you spend the rest of your life, you won’t be loved much by an old man who doesn’t have much life left in him. I, on the other hand, would spend every night…”
“What?”
The air in the room froze.
Everyone realized that what they had feared had come true.
Velgrynd’s anger was taken seriously and Zang went rigid. He realizes his stupidity, but couldn’t swallow the words he was saying.
What!? What the hell is this divine energy!? Mythical Goddess—this is even more than I imagined. How could I have imagined such a supernatural existence being my queen?
Incoherent thoughts flashed through Zang’s brain. Then he realized the stupidity of his folly.
Taking in the blood of the goddess seemed like a really great idea. That may be true in and of itself, but there are things you can do and things you can’t do.
Even the god emperor, who was said to be loved by the goddess, was no match for the goddess to give birth to a son. Even his descendant, Zang, was not even worthy of the goddess’ favor.
And the Goddess’s character as described in the literature was, even as rumored, quite harsh. She even tried to destroy the country when she someone she loved was insulted.
Excavations in the region, following the literature, had uncovered traces of the city’s existence in the buried strata. The outer walls of the excavated buildings are reported to have been melted by the ultra-high temperature and turned into glass.
For some reason, Zang remembered such information only now.
Zang paled as he saw a future where the nations of Arcia would be consumed by the fiery flames. Perhaps he had violated the greatest ban on war, but that’s behind him.
It would have been Zang’s complete ruin, but someone made a move.
It was Yamamoto!
If e allowed Velgrynd to run amok, he would be held fully responsible. Their lives were at stake before that, but that was of secondary importance to Yamamoto.
Yamamoto was not normally a pompous and hardworking man, but he wasn’t so corrupt that he would run away from his responsibilities when the time came. Rather, he knew that someone had to take the blame when the war broke out, and he thought it was his role to do so.
It was precisely because of Yamamoto that he was able to act before anyone else when he heard Zang’s statement.
“You idiot! You insult our Emperor! War may be inevitable if things go wrong, but how shall I respond!”
Before Velgrynd could say anything, he jumped out and shouted, “No!
People have a tendency to cool off when others are angry before they are. This also applied to the True Dragon, Velgrynd, and prevented her from bursting into anger.
That was the biggest fine play of the day, Yamamoto Kanji.
And here’s the other thing that comes into play.
“What are you making so much noise about?”
The Emperor, who had profusely been asked for help, arrived just in time.
“Your Majesty…”
“Oh, Ryuo, don’t let the young man’s words deceive you. Zang-dono must have tried it to see if you’re really worthy of trust.”
When Sakura Akira arrived, he called out to Velgrynd in a calm manner. He was inwardly impatient, and this was the first time in decades that he had run down the corridor, but he showed no sign of that.
He really was a majestic champion.
Seeing such an Akira Sakura, Velgrynd forgot her anger. She regained her composure and examined the words she was told.
“I dared to find out how much anger I would have to get angry, by caressing my emotions against me—”
“Uh-huh. Isn’t that right?”
Anyway, it was Akira Sakura who wanted to convince Velgrynd. He thought it didn’t matter that he was insulted if he could mend the situation.
For all that, his wish came true.
“Oh, so that’s what happened. I didn’t want to think Shin’s descendants were that stupid, so that makes sense.”
Velgrynd nodded widely and smiled.
It was so beautiful and gentle, that it relieved Akira Sakura.
“Now, since the Arcia people are probably tired, you may show them to the waiting room.”
When the moment arises, Akira gives the instructions.
Normally, the Emperor wouldn’t do this himself, but this was a time where he had no choice. As if the magic was broken, everyone started to work together and the great danger had subsided.
Incidentally, in a later version of Arcia…
There are many pro-Japanese families, but the Yamamoto surname in particular has become immensely popular.
He is even listed in history textbooks as the man who saved Arcia from the crisis.
He is described as the friend who admonished the then king Zang… though Yamamoto never knew about it himself.
***
With Arcia and her team gone, the atmosphere in the room settles down.
Emperor had gone back to his room to take some stomach pills, so Velgrynd decided to resume her work.
“Well, it’s been a long time since anyone’s tested me. Zang, is it? It’s just like Shin’s descendants, you’ve grown up in an interesting way.”
“Yes, you’re right. Haha, I’m surprised too.”
You’ve got to be kidding me, thinks Yamamoto, but he’s not bad. He’s gaining the trust of his subordinates, so he’s just hoping they’ll put up with it.
“Well, now, the only thing left is—”
“We are a nation of harmony.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
It is an ally of the Empire and has finally agreed to participate on the condition that other nations join the talks. Velgrynd does not know much about them, as she has not negotiated directly with them.
This time they have invited the President of the People’s Republic, several leaders of the government, plus their personal bodyguards.
They confronted Velgrynd with a stunned stare.
Turning his gaze sharply to Velgrynd, the President of the People’s Republic opens his mouth.
“My name is Wang Longren. Are you Ryuo-dono?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Hmph! It looks just like a human. But we won’t be fooled. Demon, have we entered the empire of your allies? Or is it just a trick to make us think so?”
Wang Longren called out Velgrynd with hostility. The bureaucrats are puzzled by this, while Velgrynd herself thinks, “Not again.”
From Wang Longren’s reaction, it was clear that something was up. Until she finds out, Velgrynd decides it’s best not to speak out.
“I don’t know where this is, but I dared to jump into the tiger’s den. Don’t grow up and think your plan worked, demon!”
As soon as Wang Longren shouted this, the guards from China moved in.
They were dressed in white robes that looked easy to move in. It was clear from their refined movements that they were experts in the martial arts.
But that didn’t matter to Velgrynd.
“I recognize your formidable power, demon. But I will not permit you to speak that name!”
“Exactly! The very name of the man who supposedly guided Long-sama, the founder of Dragon Fist, is not worthy of being spoken by a demon!”
The warriors shouted in a fiery rage.
But…
The reaction from the empire was somewhat cold.
Everyone was left thinking,
‘Here we go again.’
‘It’s definitely her,’ the bureaucrats all thought.
And so did Velgrynd.
“Long? You know, that guy named his technique as ‘Dragon Fist.’ Well, Long lived in this world too. So you guys are Long’s disciples and have inherited his mastery of the art? That’s nice.”
Velgrynd had studied the history of this world, but of course she did not know all of the historical figures. It is impossible for the Empire to have information on the secrets of kung fu that other countries keep.
It’s no wonder Velgrynd was unaware of Long’s, the Dragon Fist founder’s, existence.
But for the Chinese, this is a situation that they can’t understand.
“What are you pretending to be convinced of?”
“Are you trying to cheat? But that’s not very nice. We’re the best of the best, and we will destroy you here and crush your ambitions!”
“After all, you werer first. You who deceived us with your precious name, let us destroy you and regain the pride of our country!”
Shouting this, the warriors took up a battle position.
Seeing this, Velgrynd smiled happily.
“Oh my, for a human from this world, your fighting spirit is very skilled. You’ve been training hard and improving yourself. I’m glad to see that you are learning Long’s teachings so well.”
The way Velgrynd looked at the warriors was no longer the same as the way she looked at her enemies, but rather a master’s gaze on their beloved disciple. That temperature difference was causing the warriors to grow angry.
“Do you think you can fool us?”
“It’s okay. If this happens, then all at once—”
The warriors tried to rely on force, but someone stopped them. Only one of them was a small figure wearing a black long robe with a dragon embroidered on it.
“Stop it! I’m the only match for her.”
The person with a transparent and clear voice was a beautiful dark-haired, dark-eyed girl.
“Xia-Xianhua-sama!”
“But…”
The warriors were about to argue in anger, but when they saw that person—Fist Saint Xianhua—they kept their mouths shut.
This was because the strongest Fist Saint, who was always calm and collected and looked cool no matter what kind of enemy she was facing, was sweating and nervous.
“I’ll take care of it.”
Once she said that, there was no one to talk back.
“So, you’re the heir. That’s an impressive display of fighting spirit, I’ll give you that.”
“Yes. I am the Fist Saint who has inherited the spirit from the Fist Saint of old. If you are indeed the Dragon Phoenix-sama (Ryuo), will you give me the honor of your guidance?”
“Of course. I’ll do you the honor of coaching you.”
With that, the story suddenly came together.
It was decided to watch the outcome of the battle without any chance for the others to interrupt.
………
……
…
Needless to say, the result was an overwhelming victory for Velgrynd.
Or rather, it wasn’t even a match, but only Xianhua knew that it was.
In the eyes of the others, it looked like Xianhua was attacking unilaterally. Even those who were studying Dragon Fist felt that Xianhua, with her fists and feet, had cornered Velgrynd.
The Dragon Fist was not a bloodline, and all the profound secrets would be passed down to the one with the highest skill among the disciples.
The most important skill to be inherited was the one Xianhua spoke of—spirit. This was a forbidden ritual that required one to record every move they learned and pass it on to his successor. Moreover, a portion of his spirit was also inherited, so the quality and quantity of the fighting spirit was increased rapidly!
It was not always possible for the successor to learn all of the powers and techniques, but as long as spirit was passed down, there was hope for the next generation. And so Long retired, hoping that one day the strongest fist fighter would be born.
Such is the history that led to the birth of Xianhua, the Fist Saint who deserves the name of the strongest fighter in the world.
She had completely fused her inherited spirit and her own vitality to bring all her skills and power to herself. As a result, she had reached a level of strength that was foreign to this world.
More than 100,000 in existence value.
In the Cardinal World, where Velgrynd was born, she was an overwhelmingly powerful human, even to the point of being classified as an Immortal.
In this world, she was unmatched, but this time, it was just too bad. Xianhua was easily beaten by Velgrynd and suffered a defeat.
“I’m here…”
“Uh-huh. That was a great strength. Definitely stronger than Gensei, and in this world, you would have beaten Kondou as well.”
Even though she was defeated, Xianhua still felt refreshed. She could forget her doubts about Velgrynd and admit that she was the real thing.
And Velgrynd was also extremely happy to know that her beloved Long’s wishes had been carried on. She has very fond feelings for Long’s disciples, led by Xianhua.
Now she is willing to give them a mythical-grade or two unconditionally. It never happened, but there was no doubt that Velgrynd was pleased.
***
A lot had happened, but now the heads of state are all here.
All the leaders from China, except President Wang Longren, were substitutes who were disguised as fists. They thought it was a demon’s trap, so the Imperialists thought it was inevitable.
They’ve been replaced by the real ones now.
But if you ask about their situation, it’s a common story.
They’re hostages.
Only on a national scale.
The phantoms in China began their activities by going after the leaders’ children. By building relationships, making connections, reaching out to targets. Then they brainwashed them and took them back to their base.
Teachers, co-workers, superiors, family members. Little by little, they possessed them and achieved 70% of the goal.
That is why the invasion of the United States of Azalea was unanimously approved by the National People’s Congress.
“I don’t think an apology will suffice, but I hope you understand that it was not our intention either.”
And Wang Longren bows.
To which George responds.
“That’s okay. I understand that each country has its own set of circumstances. I have a son that got taken away. When I put my family and my country on a scale, there’s only one choice. And it’s my responsibility as president, but I’m not going to give up until the end.”
“Hm. I’m sorry for your loss.”
George and Wang Longren nodded at each other.
“If you say so, I apologize too.”
So says Magellan, the Great Roziam Emperor.
The military is out of control and invading China. There is nothing to stop this, Magellan himself has admitted.
“In that case, that makes me guilty too. Our invasion of the Great Roziam Dynasty, a fool’s errand of the devil’s own making. I can now admit as much.”
It was an uncharacteristic attitude of the Emperor Zang.
After Zang was saved by Yamamoto and Akira Sakura, he calmed down in the waiting room. When he calmed down, he realized how dangerous what he had done was.
Zang is not incompetent. He had the presence of mind to acknowledge the situation.
And he had consulted with the other Seven Vessels.
The Emperor’s sword is now the fourth seat.
“One of the Seven had never returned from his incursion into Roziam. That’s why it has come to our attention.”
The one who went missing was a woman who, eager to do battle, submitted a plan of action and moved her troops on her own without waiting for a decision from headquarters.
This was a clear violation of military discipline.
“The national war potential of the Seven Sacred Vessels invading another country without waiting for Emperor’s order is an unavoidable problem.”
She had always been against starting a war. But lately, she showed a sudden change of heart.
Her attitude had puzzled everyone involved and was reason enough to be suspicious. The fact that she was acting on her own, and despite the fact that she was a heroic member of the “seven vessels,” she was the target of the investigation.
Even so, they still hadn’t found conclusive evidence that the demon had taken over, but they had come to the conclusion that they had no choice but to admit it.
They were convinced because their pride was broken.
The match between Velgrynd and Xianhua took place in the courtyard, but it was clearly visible from the waiting room.
Velgrynd had treated Xianhua like a baby, as if she couldn’t win even with all the Seven Vessels working together.
When the Seven Vessels saw this, they saw no point in being overbearing. So did Zang, who had given up on his ambition to unify the world through the Holy Arcia Empire.
Huh, now I remember. Whoever has the goddess’s blessing will be king of the world. If that is the truth… then the ruler of our time is Lord Akira Sakura.
Because Zang understood that, he became fully compliant.
Just like that, there was an apology battle by the nations.
“I, too…”
“No, no, no, no, no, I understand the position of the empire.”
“Yes, that’s right. And as for the United States, I regret that we were forced to make a choice.”
Akira Sakura tried to join in, but he was cut off by Wang Longren and George, who cut him off immediately.
Yamamoto and others who had been standing upright by the wall observing the meeting were able to understand what the leaders were thinking.
Well, if they say His Majesty is to be blamed here, I’m sure his people will be displeased.
Yamamoto glanced at Velgrynd, thinking that she would make the same judgment.
When the apology battle was over, the scene is redrawn.
In earnest, a strategy for the demons was being planned, but all eyes were on Velgrynd.
“So, Ryuo-dono, what kind of strategy do you think is effective against demons?”
That was the Army Minister’s statement.
It’s a shameful question.
As a military leader who protects the empire, there should be no other power application.
However…
This time, no one was blaming him.
On the contrary, the other leaders were ready to wait for Velgrynd’s answer.
That was inevitable.
They are powerless against an enemy beyond human understanding.
While all eyes are on Velgrynd, their only hope, she is at ease. As if to say, “Well, it can’t be helped,” she turned to the speaker.
“You understand that sending an army out is pointless, don’t you?”
“Reluctantly, of course. It makes sense in terms of keeping the fleet off the mainland, but there’s no such thing as a fleet battle. Even if each ship is manned by people gathered here, it will be impossible to resist the demons.”
The Army Minister was right.
If they came close to the mainland, the cities would be targeted by gunfire. It makes sense to build a maritime defense line to stop them, but it would be useless if they had no chance to win anyway.
Whether or not the demon will destroy the city is also unknown.
If they have the power to possess humanity, there’s a good chance they’ll use the city as is. Then there would be no reason to challenge the fleet.
Velgrynd nodded and replied.
“That’s right. Firearms don’t work against demons, and ordinary soldiers aren’t much help. So, we are left with two choices.”
“What is that?”
“Either you leave it all up to me, or you can try to do a little bit of work on your own.”
Velgrynd’s statement was humiliating to the proud soldiers. But the truth is they couldn’t even argue with that.
The brave men and women gathered here look at each other for a reaction. And by the keenness of their eyes, they had come to the same conclusion.
The imperial swordsman, Araki Gensei, and Minamoto Saburo, broke the ice.
“This is our problem, you know. I have no desire to speak of poor pride… but relying on Ryuo-dono all the time is shameful. If there’s anything I can do, I’ll challenge him with my life.”
“I feel the same way.”
Arcia’s seven sacred vessels follow suit.
“We don’t want it to be just the men of the Empire. We wish to join you on this mission.”
“His Majesty Zang is out of the question. I want us to handle it.”
“That’s right. His Majesty can only do his duty if he survives. Leave it to us!”
Leaving Zang behind, six men have declared for war.
In addition, Chinese Fist Saint Xianhua announced her decision.
“If you protect mankind, Ryuo-sama, we will fear no man. Even if we are defeated, you have promised us a great victory. Please give us the opportunity to grow, even though we are so small.”
Xianhua bowed reverently.
Nine warriors came forward, but there was also one more person who came forward at the end.
“Ah, may I come along with you?”
That was interrupted by Billy, the head of the U.S. Secret Service. He is a combat professional who came to the scene as George’s bodyguard.
He is a young man of twenty-eight, with a scar on his cheek. He is also proficient in magic and uses his own special gun bullets.
But he was inferior to these nine men.
Not to mention his physical prowess…his weapons were also not too much to talk about.
“I’m better than others who have given up on their own, but when it comes to being an asset, I’m not that good.”
Billy, aware of this, waits nervously for an answer from Velgrynd.
George joins in.
“Billy is a very good man to be my bodyguard. He’s saved my life a lot of times, and I miss Emile. I’ll give up if it’s too much trouble, but you can take him with you if you want.”
Without a good bodyguard, he was more likely to be in danger. But doing nothing was not an option when humanity’s survival was at stake.
Billy could go head to head with the lower-ranked demons. Believing that, he offered to increase their strength.
They will gather all of humanity’s strength to attack the demon’s stronghold. They would destroy what Velgrynd called the Underworld Gates and remove the threat of the invaders from the root.
And everyone was prepared to die for it.
And yet, Velgrynd laughs serenely.
“If you chose to leave it up to me here, I was only going to protect what I wanted to protect. But it’s great that you’re all willing to do it. I’ll give you a little help with that resolve.”
In fact, Velgrynd had seriously planned to abandon humanity if the former was the answer to this question. She was even willing to emigrate to another world, taking only Akira and George with her.
Goddesses are fickle.
The representatives of humanity made the right choice.
And so, Velgrynd responded to that.
“Billy. I’ll allow you to join us. I can’t say no to that. And you’re just as strong as everyone else in there. With those weapons, you’ll have plenty of strength to add to your arsenal.”
Velgrynd ordered Minamoto and Billy to produce their weapons.
Velgrynd ordered Minamoto to bring his sword and Billy to bring his favorite S & WM ? (Magnum Revolver). Velgrynd takes them and, without a second thought, transformed them into mythical-grade weapons.
“—?”
“Th-this is…”
Minamoto and Billy are stupefied when their beloved weapons are returned to them, which have gotten visibly more dangerous.
Gensei had experienced it once, so he wasn’t as surprised. He just nodded with a nonchalant look on his face. The others, however, were not the same, and were stunned by the fact that the Seven Vessels, who knew what they were, could not understand how such a weapon could be so easily transported to another country!
But it’s true that their strength was also reliable.
This was not the time to ask Velgrynd to carry their weight, so Sakura Akira could only watch.
“It will be better if you use it. But I want you to keep in mind that only Xianhua is really an asset. You are called Bright, right?”
“Yes!”
“Yes, you. You’re the best at what you do, but you still haven’t drawn three percent of the mythical-grade weapon’s power. The others are out of the question. They’re only at one to two percent, and they can do better if they try their best.”
If they could truly harness the power of the mythical-grade weapons, they would be able to awaken as a spirit life form and defeat most demons. But with their current strength, this awakening was impossible.
Velgrynd only made the artifacts available to those of Shin’s blood when she created them. They could be used, but they were nowhere near as powerful as they should be.
But there’s no need to be ashamed of that.
This world is weak in magic and fragile in every way. If they could cross the realm and have their bodies reshaped, they would be able to rise above Sage. As for Xianhua, there is a strong possibility that she will awaken as Saint.
So that’s why the warriors are now ready.
And with this, the great counterattack has begun.
***
The demon (youma)—Delia strolls through the Great Roziam Palace.
………
……
…
As a human, Delia was the fourth seat of the Seven Vessels.
That day, Delia was assigned an important mission. A demon calling himself Emile was behind the sabotage and she was on a mission to stop him.
But it was a trap set by Emile.
Even the intelligence officer had fallen into Emile’s hands, and his goal was to lure Delia out.
Delia was defeated by Emile.
Fully armed, Delia tried, but Emile, who had a rough appearance, played her, and beat her to a pulp.
It was humiliating.
But more than that—
For the first time in her life, Delia, the strongest of mankind, was terrified.
Putting aside her shame and ignorance, Delia begged for her life.
Emile smiled softly and said, “Of course.”
But she didn’t know what that meant until it was too late.
Delia has been stripped of her knowledge, her position, and even her name, and is now completely reborn as a demon.
Delia’s rank was the same as Li Jinlong and David, the “general” rank.
She went to war at the same time as the Arcia invasion of the Great Roziam and was involved in the mission to destroy it.
The first objective of the demon invasion was to secure the territory.
And the second objective was to enslave mankind.
This was to ensure their dependents would be possess the families.
Not just anyone, but a body strong enough to withstand the changes caused by the magical element. This is where selection is important.
As half-mental life forms, demons do not need to eat even if they possess people. It’s not that they can’t eat, or that they can get sustenance from food, but it’s okay if they don’t.
But the greater the body to be possessed, the better. So they sought a way to control humanity from the ground up.
A plan was devised to destroy the five great powers whose conditions were the most unfavorable.
That was Roziam.
Most of its land was unsuitable for development.
Harsh conditions have made their soldiers strong, but the land was no longer needed for the state.
The reason for leaving the royal family in the territory is to entrust the management of the land and the people. But with Great Roziam no longer needed, there is no longer any sense in preserving the lineage of the Roziam dynasty.
The demon does not intend to kill all of Great Roziam’s people. She believes that destroying the Great Roziam Royals will bring down the existing system of state.
This is why Mystery Monk Pulcinella is encouraging his people to stage a coup and Delia is following suit.
………
……
…
Walking around the palace, Delia let out a sickening sigh.
She looked everywhere and saw no sign of Great Roziam’s royalty.
The Roziam Emperor and his family.
The same goes for the government officials and their families.
In addition to the knights who worked in the palace, their maidservants and attendants have disappeared. She searched everywhere for hidden passageways, but found no evidence of them.
She possessed one of the men to read the memories of those who know the castle, but there was no sign of them. In this situation, there was no choice but to assume that they had disappeared.
“What about you?”
That is said by Delia’s colleague, Emile. Now that they were on a par with each other, the banter was casual.
“I don’t know. I have no idea where the Roziam Emperor has gone.”
“Well, we’re in trouble. I don’t think they can do ‘Spatial Manipulation’ as well as we can…”
“Pfft, they can’t. That is an act of God for the mortals in this world. None of the Seven could have teleported them.”
Delia affirmed that.
Her memories of being a strong being in this world make her sure of that.
Magic is scarce, so no one knows how to use it, and there is no elemental magic in this world. There is the Extra Skill ‘Spatial Movement’ that Delia now has access to, but only a few people can dive the portal at the same time.
There is no way they could have escaped from a palace that was completely surrounded by them. It was supposed to be impossible.
Because Emile was the most physically gifted among those gathered recently, he had been given the rank of ‘general’ demon. He is too weak to be the strongest man in the world, Delia guessed, and has no knowledge of such things.
His body is stronger and his knowledge of this world is greater than hers. Remembering that, Delia feels a little bit better.
“Then there was a hole in the siege, but my gut tells me that’s not the case. It’s like I’m overlooking something very important, you know?”
Saying this thoughtfully, Emile turns to Delia’s spear. The spear, which is said to have been created by a goddess, is the origin of the name “Seven Sacred Vessels.”
For some reason, the sight of the spear made Emile feel nostalgic. He has no idea what the reason was, but he thought the answer might be in his memory.
Demons can read the memories of possessed humans.
However, aside from important knowledge, things that were repeated on a daily basis, such as an ordinary conversation, were too voluminous and took too long to scrutinize. Most of it was usually ignored because they couldn’t spend the effort on something that didn’t mean much.
Emile was no exception; he knew his status, his skills, his relationships at work, and his duties, but he ignored the memories of his childhood.
That’s why he could only remember the word “Gryn-neechan” about the beautiful woman beside his grandfather. If he had known it was Velgrynd, he would have decided that this was the most important thing and would have advised to rethink the entire operation.
That spear is really bothering me. Maybe Emile, whose body I was in, had something to do with that spear. I’m going to have to search my memory.
Emile is worried about the uneasiness that won’t go away.
Even though he doesn’t think it had anything to do with the escape of the Roziam Emperor and the others, he began to search his memory to relieve his fears.
In contrast to Emile, Delia is confident.
“Oh well. It’s no use caring about the people who got away. They can’t win against us anyway, so let’s just ignore them and go on with our plan.”
“……Yeah.”
“The plan was to hold the royal family hostage and call in the elite of this country, but…let’s scrap that. Instead, how about we let this palace go up in flames and make the demise of the Great Roziam Dynasty known?”
Originally, they would have announced the public execution of the royal family, thus accelerating the madness of the people of Roziam. They had hoped to lure the heroes to stop them and replace them with their own people.
And if possible, they wanted to secure Fist Saint Xianhua, who was considered to be the strongest in the world, not just in China.
Because of the difference in countries, whether Xianhua would move or not was a gamble. So the failure of this strategy wasn’t too bad of a blow.
If the Great Roziam Dynasty was in chaos, the next target was China. Xianhua would come out when the time came anyway, so it was not a problem if they went for Xianhua.
Once Xianhua was secured, this world would be under control. Delia smirked. It was that simple.
—But then.
Mystery Monk Pulcinella sent an urgent telepathic message.
“Can you hear me?”
“Is this Pulcinella-sama? Did you take the trouble to contact me?”
“Yes. There was a mysterious report from one of my men who had sent me to China first. I had them look for the Chinese leaders, but none of them could be found.”
“What did you say!? You think the humans can deceive us?”
“—No, I think not. I thought it might be some kind of magic trick that only exists in this world, but I don’t think it would work against a high-ranking officer.”
“I agree with you. The low-level people of this world are of no threat to us, no matter how much they try.”
Delia couldn’t believe that she had been misled, and that it was the same for her subordinates as well.
Judging from her memories of her time as a human, even the Seventh Sacred Vessel level was only at the lower middle level.
It was unthinkable for Xianhua to fall behind the others.
However, Pulcinella chided Delia.
“Don’t flatter yourself, Delia! This is the material world. You don’t know what kind of change you can cause by giving one magic. I feel my strength growing every day. This is proof that this body is superior. Only in this body can we demons attain perfection. Don’t you dare to forget that!”
Angered, Delia was reminded of the truth.
This is a lesser world in terms of strength alone, but that’s because the laws of the world are different. Delia cautioned her mind that she must not forget her position until the invasion was complete.
“I beg your pardon, sir. A reprimand, I am well aware of that.”
“Then it’s good.”
“Haha! So, we’re going to get started, but there’s actually a problem on our end as well…”
Now is the time for Delia to give her report.
They were going to capture the royalty, but no one was there.
It was the same situation in China that Pulcinella had told her about, and she couldn’t shake the feeling.
“What, you think it’s the same phenomenon in Roziam? I can see the palace from my vantage point, but I don’t see anything unusual. Or is this an oversight? I don’t know, but something bad has happened…”
“What shall we do?”
Delia agrees with the idea that something bad is happening.
Emile, who was standing next to her listening to the telepathic message, looked just as nervous as Delia.
“Wait a moment. I will discuss this with Amari Masahiko.”
Pulcinella avoided drawing conclusions on his own.
It’s a miracle that the sharpest man in Cornu’s camp, the Chief of Staff, is now in the hands of one of the best minds in the world. It was only natural for Pulcinella, who was also a member of the “chief of staff,” to hear an opinion from such a man.
And the conclusion he comes to is…
“It is a withdrawal. If something unforeseen occurs, all operational actions must be frozen. We will rendezvous on the Atlantis continent to formulate a more careful plan. Do you have any objections?”
“No, sir.”
Delia answers immediately.
There is no doubt to Emile
Thus, the demons had to abort their mission and gather at their home base.
***
When Amari Mashiko received the report from Pulcinella, he understood that the situation was not looking good.
They were invincible.
Not only as demons 31 , but from the knowledge and power they had gained when they were human, they should have been one step closer to taking over this world.
After conquering mankind, they will reveal Cornu to the world. After doing so, they plan to modify the planet and use it as a stepping-stone for further invasions.
The universe is vast, but not as vast as the other worlds. They thought that if they had gained a relying spirit and incarnated themselves, they could completely conquer this space-time within a few thousand to tens of thousands of years.
At the same time, they had developed the Underworld Gate, which leads to other dimensions, and had their sights set on a further invasion.
But then, an unforeseen event occurred.
There was a definite element of uncertainty, judged Amari Masahiko.
“Well, what shall we do now?”
Li Jinlong and David responded as he uttered that.
“What is it?”
“There seems to be a lot on your mind. I thought everything was fine, is there a problem?”
Looking at the pair, Masahiko looks at them and explains the situation.
The Roziam royalty and the leaders from China have gone into hiding. The cause is unknown, and some forces are suspected to have intervened.
“Wahaha, don’t you think that’s overthinking it?”
“Hmmm, there are definitely some uncertainties, but is it enough that we have to interrupt the operation?”
Li Jinlong laughed without a problem. David also thought that this was a bit too weak.
But that doesn’t change Amari Masahiko’s mind.
“Sure, we’re strong, but we’re not all-powerful. Be aware that the slightest carelessness can derail the entire strategy. Now is the time to gather all the information we can. Contact those remaining in the three countries and assess the situation. Find out thoroughly what the other top brass are doing in the other countries.”
With that order, the place was dismissed.
After they left, Amari Masahiko surrendered to the chair in his office and was lost in thought.
“Arcia doesn’t have any of the seven vessels below the emperor’s clan.”
“This is the United States. We’ve lost contact with the president and his entourage. I have no record of them going out, but there is no sign of them in the White House.”
“Although it is an empire, security is high. We tried to break into the place of administration, including the imperial palace, but it was impossible.”
Even before David and the others were ordered to do so, he was already working with his handlers. Whenever there was something on his mind, he would act immediately.
Then what he heard was, of course, what he needed to hear.
Forget the United States and Arcia, I’m interested in the Empire. We have the lieutenant in charge of our intelligence. Gensei might be able to handle him…no, he couldn’t. Anyway, he’s not that adept at covert action.
Gensei is the master of Amari Mssahiko, and his swordsmanship is top-notch. But as a sorcerer, he is a novice, and without him, the Royal Guard Corps would have a difficult time dealing with the demon’s dark activities.
The demon was discovered in a forcible infiltration attempt. It would be understandable if a battle ensued.
This isn’t the case.
If they couldn’t even break in, then this was a very unusual situation.
“Well, let’s see what we can do about it.”
He asked Pulcinella and the others to come back as soon as they’ve dealt with the situation, so they’ll teleport back. By then, David and his team will know what’s going on, and they’ll discuss the future strategy.
But…
It was not about such matters that troubled Masahiko.
Who am I?
The human-born Amari Masahiko was possessed by a “mastermind” level demon. His assimilation rate isn’t perfect, but he can use his powers to their fullest extent.
No.
That’s not the case.
He was a rival to Kondou.
They were best friends and rival—so it’s no wonder his spirit was strong enough to reach the ultimate goal.
It is precisely because of this that Masahiko thinks about his own existence.
Is he really a demon?
Or perhaps…
Humans in this world do not have the aid of a universal substance called magic. That’s why they are vulnerable, but their minds are free and their spirits are infinitely strong.
Phantoms, on the other hand, are often called angels who used to serve seraphim. They were like machines that only did what they were told, such as angels of the dominion class and below.
That’s why their egos are so thin, and that’s why they can’t afford to be taken over by others.
If the human will breaks the phantom’s ego, the order will be lost.
It was precisely because Masahiko anticipates this that he was troubled.
As a demon, he believes that resurrecting Cornu is the best thing for him. He should do his best for that and get rid of all obstacles.
However, the current Amari Masahiko had a different opinion.
“Postponement on the expansion of the Underworld Gate. Instead…
Once it’s destroyed, am I the king? No, kings are a pain in the ass, so I can leave it to Pulcinella. Isn’t it better for us humans to rule this world, rather than allowing demons and other invaders to rule it?
He had that grandiose idea in his mind.
He wonders if this phenomenon was only happening to him.
A high-ranking general class demon remembers that he was originally a cherub.
He was born to the god Veldanava, the Star King Dragon, to serve Cornu.
And yet, even though he was comparable to an Awakened Demon Lord in the Otherworld, he was now wavering about his own existence.
As long as he was an example of himself, Amari Masahiko, he couldn’t let his guard down.
He must assume that the others were as well.
If that’s the case, then who is an ally and who is an enemy…
How is it best to organize them and how is it best to act?
Whether or not Pulcinella is the right choice for the king is also an unanswerable question.
There is not enough material to make a decision.
Masahiko reserved his conclusion.
At that moment, the report came in that everyone was present.
***
“So, as it turns out, all the heads of state and government have disappeared?”
“To be exact, it would appear that some of them are still around.”
“It’s not worth considering. Seeing that the people who are in charge of determining national policy have gathered in the Imperial State, we should consider that humanity is also showing a full-fledged counter-offensive attitude.”
“Mm. I won’t argue with you.”
If the two apex men agreed that that was the answer.
“Then shall we move our fleet toward the Empire?”
It’s an open secret that there is an outpost here on the Atlantis continent. The humans know this too, and that’s why they’ve been lured here.
Soldiers are better suited to take the place of demons than civilians.
Instead of kidnapping them, it’s better to have them come to them. That was the plan.
But now that there is unrest in the land, that’s a different story.
It seemed to be reasonably effective to launch a grand offensive and wait and see what happens…but Masahiko felt uneasy as if he had overlooked some important factor.
This world is within reach and the reason for that is that there are no strong men.
But was that really the case?
If this assumption was wrong, then the strategy would need to be reexamined from the ground up.
“I want to reiterate. I want each of you to mobilize all your knowledge and make sure. Aree there really no other powerful beings in this world?”
When Masahiko asks that question, Li Jinlong replies with a laugh.
“There’s no doubt about it. The only one who is a threat is Xianhua!”
With that assertion, he became even more worried.
“Wait. Then who trained this Xianhua?”
“That’s…”
“According to my research, Xianhua has learned the Dragon Fist, a martial art that is passed down from one generation to the next. She is said to have inherited a skill that is unknown to the world.”
“Yeah, that’s it! That’s why she’s stronger than ordinary people.”
“How did that martial art come about? The founder is said to be a man named Long. Do you have any information about this man?”
When asked that, Li Jinlong recalls. Although he was not chosen as the successor, he was one of the best members who studied the Dragon Fist. That’s why he had been drilled with knowledge of the Founder.
“I believe the book of secrets states that a woman named the Dragon Phoenix (Ryuo) guided our Founder, but it’s only a biography of an oral history. I don’t see any point in that.”
“…Hmm.”
Masahiko had a bad feeling about this.
Normally he shouldn’t be misled by such a vague biography…but he can’t help but feel uneasy.
“Now that you mention it…”
Delia says what she’s remembered.
“Arcia also had a myth of a goddess who guided the Emperor’s ancestors…”
Hearing that, Masahiko felt uneasy.
Delia’s face paled and she was sweating from the nerviousness. Since she became a demon, Delia hadn’t been affected by her emotions like a human, but the enormity of what she remembered frightened her.
“What is this goddess’ name?”
“Caldina—”
“…”
“—It is believed that she took the name Cardinal, which means crimson, but it was said that ‘Caldina’ was established as a nickname.”
The word “Cardinal” sounded familiar.
“Scorch Dragon” Velgrynd used to call herself that because of the color of her aura, and Masahiko had found that out from his knowledge of the demons.
It’s a coincidence. “The Scorch Dragon Velgrynd, like Feldway-sama, is supposed to be in the Cardinal World. I hear that she was with Emperor Rudra and has no idea of our true purpose. She couldn’t possibly be in this world.
He hadn’t had a chance to talk to the Phantom King Feldway, even though he was Cornu’s chief of staff. So, from hearsay, the operation in the “Cardinal World” was going well.
“The Scorch Dragon Velgrynd is at Rudra’s beck and call, and I can assure you that she will never leave Rudra’s side. So it is unthinkable that she would be in this world.”
And yet, the doubt of whether it is true can’t get out of his mind.
Delia’s pallor also suggested that the story didn’t end there.
“Hmm, is that all?”
That’s what he asked.
The answer was Delia’s spear.
“This is a divine object supposedly created by the goddess. It contains a terrifying amount of power, but even I can’t use it now…”
““—!!!””
That statement not only upset Amari Masahiko…but the others as well.
It is only natural that a demon general should be able to use a Legendary-grade weapon as well as a limb. If they can’t do that, it proves that their weapons are mythical-grade weapons.
“In this world where magic is scarce, how can a mythical-grade weapon be created? Moreover, it is said that there is not just one mythical-grade tools, but twelve in the beginning. I’m familiar with the sacred artifacts of my former colleagues, and I feel that they were the equivalent of my spear.”
“So that means there are twelve mythical-grade tools, right?”
“Yes…But I don’t think those guys could get more than a few percent of the performance out of it!”
He’d like to say out loud that that’s not the problem. However, that would not be a solution, so Amari Masahiko told them something else.
“What matters is the fact that there was a being that could create mythical-grade weapons.”
“No way! It’s really a mythical-grade!?”
“You’re a fool. You should think twice before you speak. How dare you stand in front of physical evidence and refuse to consider it!”
“I beg your pardon!”
With Delia’s panicked apology at his side, Masahiko was convinced.
The goddess Caldina is the “Scorch Dragon” Velgrynd.
If the coincidences keep coming up again and again, it was inevitable.
That’s why he can’t help but mutter,
“Never thought Velgrynd would be in this world.”
And…
And that’s what led to the dramatic effect it had on a certain someone.
“…Velgrynd? Even Velgrynd!?”
“What’s going on, Emile?”
Emile, who was always aloof and easygoing, was behaving strangely.
He seemed to be oblivious to his surroundings and began mumbling to himself.
This was not the action of a demon, but a human being, and it was an instinct of Emile’s. The others, who didn’t realize it, watched with bated breath to see if Emile was onto something.
“Yes, that’s right. She’s here, she’s in this world! If that’s the case, then we’re going to have to—”
Emile’s mind is filled with pure fear.
That’s the emotion the demon feels.
And the other is subterfuge.
—It was Emile, the grandson of Laurent Hayes, showing his true colors by continuing to deceive the demons by pretending to be dominated.
The demon’s domination was shattered by the fear that Velgrynd might turn against him. Seizing the opportunity, Emile, as a human, fought back desperately.
The memory of the smile of a beautiful woman who loved him like a grandmother, like a mother, like a sister, haunts his mind. It is the memory of an embrace that gives him absolute security.
The name of the woman who held his young self to her breast, was Velgrynd.
And so Emile called her name.
To ask for all the help he could get.
“Help me, Gryn nee-chan—!”
Emile’s exclamation was the key to the sudden change.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login