CHAPTER 123

The sharpest dragon, Nidhogg.

But now, atop that dragon, one elf was catching his breath.

".....I need to go."

Two arrows still protruded from the dragon's eyes.

At the tip of the arrows, white brain matter trickled down.

If the strength failed to reach deeper, you could shoot right then and there.

Baradis got close enough to see in his eyes, and eventually succeeded in shooting an arrow into the dragon's brain.

Thus, he managed to stop one dragon.

"Everyone, get up!"

However, the glory of victory was short-lived as Baradis's voice trembled when calling out to his comrades.

They killed the dragon.

But they couldn't stop there.

Because the dragon they aimed to stop was not just one.

"We have to go back now!"

With Baradis's command, warriors scattered throughout began to rise from their places with groans.

They had fought tooth and nail for just one arrow, yet they still couldn't rest.

From the distant young World Tree, screams seemed to echo all the way here.

'...Shit.'

Though everyone's gaze remained alive, they were all too worn out.

The adult dragon was nothing short of a disaster, and the warriors had to give everything they had to stop its evil intentions.

Destruction crept towards the World Tree, yet the warriors were not standing where they needed to be.

Grrrr!

In an instant, along with the dragon's roar, a sharp light began to rise from the tip of the World Tree's branches.

It was brief, but it was a dazzling light that everyone had to look at.

"······!"

Even Baradis, who was exhausted, and the injured warriors couldn't help but raise their heads in the presence of such intensity.

In the highest place of the Elven forest, Ausrina, a light they had never seen before was twinkling.

Like starlight rising towards the sky.

As the star rose.

The dragon was falling.

※※※※

The World Tree was incredibly precious to the elves.

That's why even someone like Auguste, who was just a guest, could create the current situation.

He was the benefactor who protected the World Tree last night.

"Why did you want to see us, human knight?"

Elders of the elves were scattered here and there without unified intervals.

Although they had knights who protected the World Tree in front of them, the eyes of the elders, who had not yet escaped from Nidhogg's nightmare, were still sharp.

"I have something important to tell you all, which is why I demanded this meeting."

However, Auguste took advantage of this moment to demand a meeting with the elders.

The former captain of the Imperial Security Guards knew well that there was no time as vulnerable as when anxiety shook.

The elves' resentment towards the empire was strong, so Auguste knew that the only time he could dig into their hostility was now.

"Speak."

"······Absilon, please stop the circulation of the drug known as Tujon leaves."

With Auguste's words, the lips of the elders firmly sealed shut.

The words from the old knight were not demands for compensation but rather statements in an entirely unexpected direction.

".....Why are you telling us not to sell tea that's circulating perfectly fine?"

"Interfering in our affairs, even from someone who protected the World Tree, is an excessive act."

Resistance was erupting from various places among the elders.

Selling Tujon leaves to humans was a new avenue and opportunity for the elves.

Even if Geronimo were sitting here, he wouldn't have easily agreed to this demand.

"I guess I said it too bluntly."

However, Auguste was someone who knew the underlying stories that the elves still didn't speak of.

The eyes of the former captain, who had spent his whole life uncovering the truth, gleamed sharply.

"I'm saying no more drugs should be circulated in the empire."

".....What did you just say?"

As Auguste's words shot like arrows, a spark ignited in the eyes of some elders.

"I don't quite understand."

The knight before them was now too dangerous to be accepted as a mere guest.

Auguste felt a small satisfaction as he sensed the clear change in the eyes of the elders looking at him.

Indeed, the elves knew that Absilon was a drug.

"Why would you try to sway us with such clumsy lies? As expected from an arrogant knight of the empire..."

"If you continue selling Absilon, even the newly settled forest won't be safe."

The knight who had uncovered the truth managed to see through someone's sinister intentions.

Indeed, it wasn't the elves who started this.

It all began from the capital of the empire, Brigantes.

"······What are you talking about?"

The elder who held the greatest authority in place of Geronimo frowned.

He had expected this to be noticed sooner or later.

However, the words of the old knight that followed were utterly incomprehensible.

"Clearly, at this moment, the empire is faltering, and the authority of the imperial family is crumbling. It's not that I don't understand your intention to take advantage of that opportunity to unleash the long-standing grudges."

The vast world known as the empire still stood upon the corpses of countless worlds.

And the world of the elves was no exception.

While the perfect dragon set fire to the Mother of World Tree, it was the empire that seized the western forest of the elves.

".....Your words are excessive, human knight. No matter how much you draw your sword for the World Tree, your current statements have crossed the line."

Eyes as sharp as the chill of autumn.

The momentum is fierce, as if no further remarks will be allowed.

"We will spare your life considering what you have done for us."

Regardless of what Auguste said, the elves had no intention of halting their green vengeance.

The empire, once solid, had never been as shaky as it was now, and they believed that with a little more venom and effort, they could gain independence from the empire's influence.

"You must not be mistaken, elders. The empire has not weakened."

Auguste remained loyal to the empire.

And at the heart of that empire stood the imperial family.

"It's just that the power of the imperial family has weakened."

"······."

The nobles of the empire had been inflating their power without any major wars.

And now, their influence had grown so strong that it could no longer be controlled by the power of the imperial family alone.

"The nobles have long been seeking justification to raise their banners."

Auguste knew this well.

In the empire, there were those who believed that with just a small opening, they could topple the sturdy walls and end the era of the swordmaster.

"And in my opinion, here they have found a great justification and pretext to raise their banners."

Elves were biting the leashes that were confining them.

"······And who are you?"

Having been confined for so long, they hadn't been able to see beyond.

But the knight before them was forcibly expanding the elves' perspective with sharp warnings.

"My name is Auguste."

Auguste removed his gray hood, raising his sword.

Contrary to its modest appearance, the sword was adorned with lavish decorations on its black scabbard.

At its tip, a red gem embedded in the center of the hilt bore a shining pattern.

"I was the former captain of the imperial security guards."

A fierce dragon.

And a sword pressing down on that dragon.

Auguste wielded the emblem of the imperial family, one that only a select few could bear.

"Selling Absilon will ultimately come back to you as a deadly poison."

Auguste, former captain of the imperial security guards.

Though now in the lowest position, he was still a knight determined to fulfill his unfinished mission.

He was giving everything he had for his final mission.

※※※※

"······."

With the rising spring breeze, the morning sky gradually pushed away the darkness.

Though the night before had been tumultuous, the morning was serene.

However, Vlad was abruptly awakened by the noisy chirping of birds in his ears.

The chirping of birds from the early morning was cheerful.

"So noisy."

Vlad had no choice but to open his eyes and woke up with a groan.

"Ugh."

Bandages wrapped around various parts of his body squeezed Vlad's entire frame.

It felt as if the tender touch of the girl who had applied all sorts of medicines was still clinging to him.

"······At this rate, I might as well change my name to 'Unkillable'."

His body bore scars from the sharpest malice.

However, the emptiness felt from within was more difficult for Vlad to bear than the pain he felt everywhere.

'Did I overdo it?'

Although it is not clearly visible, mental strength is also a resource that is clearly consumed.

Last night, Vlad had transcended his limits to evoke a deep world, and the repercussions were now tormenting his mind beyond the physical.

It felt similar to when he forcibly drew upon the power of the voice in the past.

"Captain, why are you up so early?"

"It's noisy."

"Noisy?"

Entering the room to bring breakfast, Gott looked at Vlad with a puzzled expression in response to his answer.

"It's incredibly quiet right now."

Contrary to Vlad's words, the morning was not noisy at all but rather tranquil and clear, typical of the elven forest.

Gott began to flick his fingers around Vlad's ears, wondering if something was wrong due to yesterday's battle.

"Could it be that your ears were injured during the fight yesterday?"

"No, they're fine."

Vlad knew well that it wasn't that kind of issue, despite Gott's efforts to check.

'Those darn little things are noisy. Seriously.'

Vlad furrowed his brow at the chirping still audible above his head.

Gott wouldn't know that the room was filled with chirping, barking, and purring little creatures, as if it were a menagerie. A young bird sitting on Vlad's head as if it were its own home was flapping its tiny wings, unable to fly.

"Ha."

Vlad raised his hand to brush his face, tired of the antics of the little creatures, whose commotion was now visible even with his eyes closed.

The deep world he had forcibly summoned had not yet subsided into Vlad's subconscious, like a pond whose bottom had been disturbed. 

He might not get a good night's sleep for a few days due to their antics.

"······."

Avoiding the gaze of the spirits, Vlad looked at the sword lying next to the bed between his fingers wrapped around his face.

It was a silver sword surrounded by young spirits, its appearance dignified in the morning sunlight.

"But Captain, what's this sword? I've never seen one like it before."

Gott's question about the extraordinary sword was natural, and Vlad answered honestly.

"It's the Swordmaster's sword."

"Huh?"

"That's what the elves called it."

As soon as Vlad finished speaking, the Sword Master's sword flashed, almost as if it were answering.

"Swo... Swordmaster? The Swordmaster?"

"Don't make noise, too. My head is already ringing."

A legend and an honor.

A noble silver sword that will clearly show off its shine even if it is hidden among all the treasures in the world.

However, Vlad's eyes, as he looked at the sword, were filled with complexity.

"I definitely need to ask about this."

The man who claimed to slay the dragon.

The man who could see the forgotten world of spirits.

And now, the man wielding the sword of the imperial family.

Surely, that man had handed Vlad this sword in his dreams.

As if it were his own.