16 - The Wrath of the Dragon God

The search for the criminal began.

For me, every major incident always began with a search for criminals.

I said that, but it's still the second time.

So, the entity that crept into the world of dragons, eluding the eyes of the dragon tribe, made its way to the mansion of the Dragon God, and furthermore attempted to kill Lunaria and, eventually, the child.

Will he be hard to find?

Certainly, it is easier than finding a demon in the entire world of dragons.

After all, few can do that.

Unlike the case of Crystal, it was a daytime incident and it happened in the city.

Moreover, I also have the power of the Demon Eye.

There is no reason why I couldn't collect evidence.

Thus, the evidence was collected in a short time.

Easily, the proofs were assembled.

It was not appropriate for a case in which a person—who can be called the most precious in the World of Dragons—is killed.

It was so easy that it was strange that no trace was left at the scene.

It seemed to be hidden to some extent, but it was a careless hiding method that could be found immediately if one deliberately looked for it.

It was so easy that I didn't even need to use my Demon Eye.

I should have had some doubts about it too.

Unfortunately, people do not question things much when everything is going well.

At that time, I thought it was natural for it to work because I acted according to the proper procedure.

While collecting evidence, the suspects were narrowed down.

But when I narrowed them down, I was astonished.

I reviewed the evidence again and confirmed it several times.

But no matter how much I looked, the list of suspects did not change.

The meeting was held almost immediately after the information was collected and the suspects were identified.

■

"Are these the suspects?"

We, the five Dragon Generals, gathered in the meeting room where the Dragon God was waiting and presented the findings of each investigation.

All the Five Dragon Generals had the same suspect on their list.

Yes, they all reached the same conclusion as I did.

The list contained the names of four individuals.

Pudoria Dordia.

Nartakiel.

Npadon Ballad.

Kirisis Calisis.

The first three are probably names unfamiliar to you.

However, with the name of the last person, I believe you might have some idea.

Yes, they are inhabitants of another world.

At the same time, they were the assistants whom I spent many years training and inviting into the world of dragons.

"They gathered in a building and held a meeting a few days before Lunaria was killed. Furthermore, on the day that Lunaria was suspected to have been killed, some suspicious behavior was witnessed. For that reason, they have disappeared since that day."

"…"

What Szilard explained is the same as what I found.

But I wanted to deny it.

It is impossible for them to do that.

They came to the world of dragons.

They came for world peace…

But I had nothing to deny the "evidence" lined up there.

Isn't it proof that Kirisis Calisis is a friend of Lunaria?

No, it's the opposite.

One could say that she approached Lunaria because she was trying to cause that incident.

"What is wrong with you, Laplace? You look pale."

Szilard's words made my wings tremble.

If they really committed the crime, wouldn't it be strange for me also to be a suspect?

I devised a plan to kill Lunaria and, for that reason, invited them into this world of dragons.

And I had no words to deny it.

Even if I didn't want to, there was no substitute for inviting them.

Szilard said to me, trembling with fear.

"Laplace, I do not suspect you."

It was a reassuring word.

Looking around, the other Five Dragon Generals were looking at me with the same eyes as Szilard.

It was a reassuring look.

"You are kinder to Lunaria than anyone else. Everyone recognizes your loyalty to the Dragon God. You could not cause this tragedy."

"...Thank you"

At the same time that I felt relieved, I felt proud.

I am being regarded by this proud Dragon General as an unquestionable comrade.

"Perhaps they tried to use you. The criminal knew what you were doing and approached you. They were probably trying to strike at Lunaria's life and pin the blame on you."

"But why Lunaria-sama?"

Anyway, I wanted to know the reason.

Who killed Lunaria and for what purpose?

Are you trying to kill the child?

I wanted to know the reason.

"...It's just a guess, but people from other worlds probably do not like the dragon world having more power. In particular, the Dragon God married the daughter of the Human God and had a child. I suppose that is why."

"What is dangerous about that?"

"Don't you know? The human race is the weakest, but the pace of cultural development is unmatched by other worlds. And although our pace of cultural development is slow, we are the strongest race individually. The connection between the human race and the dragon tribe is problematic. Their thinking must be: if they become stronger, they can dominate other worlds and take the initiative."

"That's stupid! They thought that the Dragon God was joining forces with the Human God with the intention of taking over other worlds!?"

"Wouldn't it be strange for anyone to think that way?"

Szilard's reasoning did not convince me.

At the very least, all the gods I saw were only thinking about their own world.

There was a slight fear that we might be attacked by another world, but no one really wanted to fight.

If we even attempted to do so, the wise gods would certainly notice.

That is why I was convinced that it would be better if the worlds were equal.

However, once a clear gap is created, the current situation will not continue.

The superior can despise the inferior and treat them as a slave.

If you took the initiative to avoid that, it is not unreasonable.

"But if that is the purpose, it is a bad move. There is no sense in killing Lunaria herself!"

"That's true... So, Lunaria's murder may have been secondary, and the true purpose might have been to kill the child."

"What do you mean?"

"The Child will be the king of both the dragon race and the human race... No, he could be the God of the next generation."

The title of Dragon God's son would make the dragon tribe offer their loyalty.

The title of Lunaria's Son would make the human race offer their loyalty.

There is a possibility that the Dragon Race and the human race could unite under the Child.

Therefore, the aggressor tried to kill the child.

However, Lunaria showed more resistance than expected; he was unable to kill the child.

Of course, I would have considered killing Lunaria from the beginning.

Even if you kill your child, it makes no sense if you then give birth to a second one.

"I don't care about the reason."

It was the Dragon God who cut off the words of Szilard and me.

After looking at the list, he looked at Szilard with his half-closed eyes and said,

"Szilard, what is this?"

"Eh?... Huh, is this a list of suspects?"

"What did I order you?"

"The criminal... ooh."

Szilard realized his mistake.

It is not the suspect that the Dragon God told me to look for. He said to look for the criminal.

In other words, we failed to complete our mission.

Normally, the Dragon God would not point that out.

But, the Dragon God at that moment was different.

He had a face that basically said that if we did not bring the culprit now, he would tear us to pieces.

"I apologize."

In an instant, Szilard made the most respectful bow.

With a look that showed he was willing to die, he advised the Dragon God.

"From now on, I will travel to every world, find the criminal, and drag him here."

"Wait."

The Dragon God cast a piercing look at Szilard, who tried to scream and jump out of the conference room.

Szilard was trembling.

The anger continued.

No one can face his gaze and remain calm.

Even if it is the Fifth Dragon General.

"Szilard, is the criminal on the list?"

"Huh! I think it's highly possible!"

The Dragon God seemed to be pondering something.

Is it another reason why the criminal killed Lunaria?

Or is it a way to find the criminal…

However, nothing came out of his mouth.

For a while, he looked at the list with a gaze that seemed as if he wanted to burn everything.

As if he would never forget the name on the list even if he died.

"Hm."

Finally, the Dragon God lifted his face as if he had realized something.

Did you notice something? We saw the Dragon God's face with that in mind.

However, the Dragon God abruptly looked back at something behind us.

"Do you have any business here?"

The Dragon God said that and finally realized.

There had been a solitary man standing the whole time.

His presence was so faint that we were not even sure if he was there or not.

Only in the space around him did it seem somewhat distorted.

It was as if he was always in our blind spot.

"Is it strange that I came?"

He had an atmosphere slightly different from the one I had encountered before.

It seems he harbors anger somewhere in his heart.

Well, it's nothing surprising.

"Do you think I'll remain silent if my daughter is killed?"

Yes, he is the Human God.

He is Lunaria's father.

"You're probably planning to take revenge, aren't you? Please, let me in. We, the Human Race, really do not have strength, but we have wisdom."

"…"

"I beg you, let me help you with that. May I?"

"Your help would be useful."

"Can you let me see the list?"

The Human God said this and, without waiting for an answer, picked up the list on the table and looked at it.

He put his hand on his chin and struck a pose that said he was thinking.

"Hmm… As expected, these four worlds, huh."

"Do you have something in mind?"

Without thinking, I said that.

Then the Human God turned to me as if he had just heard me.

"Yes, I believe you are aware that these four worlds are in a terrible state with one another, aren't they?"

"Yes."

"But these four worlds had been quiet for a while."

"But... that is..."

"Yes, it is because of your courage to become the bridge between worlds that we have created a pathway between them."

After being praised, of course, I felt proud of myself.

However, the continuation of his words was something completely different.

"But, because of that, studies on monsters and metastasis became known."

It was something I had no idea about.

Regarding monsters and metastasis, the subject is being studied all over the world.

That in itself is something I know.

I had inspected the research content on the Demon Race several times.

However, in truth, at that time, I did not know how far the research in the world of dragons had progressed.

To be honest, I thought the world of dragons was similar.

I had only heard reports that there were "research results" from time to time, and I didn't know how many results had actually been achieved.

No, if you think about it now, the report might have been concealed to some extent...

Well, let's talk about that later.

I didn't know about that at the time.

"I bet they were surprised. The Dragon Race, which all along had nothing but power, now possessing this level of technology. They thought that perhaps we are the mentors of magical beast transfers."

"What the hell is that!?"

No one answered my question.

But the Dragon God and the Five Dragon Generals had terrifying expressions.

It was a face that had perceived something horrible.

"Why was Lunaria killed?"

"Probably Lunaria-sama accidentally discovered what they knew, and they found out that she knew."

"…"

After that, while considering her future fate, it wouldn't be strange to kill her now.

However, isn't it strange that they think the Dragon God and the Five Dragon Generals are to blame for the appearances of monsters and metastasis?

I was not convinced by that alone.

"I understand, they stole our research and concluded from our progress that we were the cause of the appearances of monsters and metastasis, and they also killed Lunaria-sama and tried to get their hands on my son."

The Dragon God said this silently.

However, his voice made the temperature in the room seem to drop.

It was a terrifying word.

It was as if the Dragon God's anger had leaked from his mouth.

"This is absurd!"

Finally, the Dragon God jumped from his chair and said this.

Then he headed for the exit, still angry.

"Where to?"

"From the top."

No one could understand the meaning of the word.

Both I and Szilard.

Dora, Maxwell, and Chaos.

No one understood.

The condition of the Dragon God.

It was that very Dragon God who insisted on peace even when Crystal was murdered by demons.

At that moment, if we had managed to bow down and restrain the Dragon God, perhaps a slightly different future might have emerged.

But that is an impossible story.

For us, Five Dragons, the word and the act of the Dragon God are absolute.

Do you know what I mean by absolute?

The words of the Dragon God, his actions... everything he does is right.

Until then, it had always been that way.

The Dragon God never said anything wrong.

Everything is for the future of the dragon kingdom, so I was doing what was right.

Therefore, it is not surprising that no opposition was seen among the Five Dragon Generals.

That is why I should have noticed.

I was the one who was closest to the Dragon God, but for the shortest time we were together.

Even dragon gods can lose their normal judgment when they are furious...