TL/Editor: raei
Status: 5/week mon-fri
Illustrations: none
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"Haltramm is finished now."
In a treacherous valley of the Golden Mountains.
Antios, the Regent of the [Golden Rule Society], gazed down at the mountain base with an eerie glint in his eyes.
The massive campsite with hundreds of burning torches exuded an intimidating aura that made one's legs tremble just by looking at it.
Even a considerably powerful noble would feel uneasy facing such a force.
Those were the nobles and knights gathered to hunt the black dragon Predius.
In other words, they were the enemies Antios had to face.
[The sight of those ragged fools gathered looks like maggots drawn to a corpse.]
Predius muttered darkly, licking his eyeballs with his tongue.
Despite the numerous knights gathered, the black dragon treated them as mere insects.
In reality, the dragon wasn't particularly afraid of knights either.
Siege engines mounted on castle walls or wizards' uncanny magic were threatening, but.
Human knights in iron armor swinging swords and spears could be turned to ash with a single breath.
[It's exactly as you said, Summoner.]
Predius stared at Antios with eyes flashing with madness.
The Margrave of Haltramm chasing them to the Golden Mountains was a situation Antios had already foreseen.
One didn't need to be a space-time wizard to know.
Antios knew what kind of man the margrave was.
"The margrave was once a great warrior. He was famous for his tremendous strength and excellent leadership skills."
[Hah. However great a human may be.]
Predius scorned humans as naturally as breathing.
Antios, who knew that was just how the dragon was, continued calmly.
"But like the setting sun and fading moon. The margrave's time has come to an end."
In his younger days, Antios had met the Margrave of Haltramm once.
His wild charm and overflowing masculinity were hard to take one's eyes off.
He was a man worthy of respect as a fellow man.
But now, the margrave was nothing more than a washed-up old man.
A pathetic middle-aged man who couldn't let go of past glories, still believing he was the best and always right.
"I had hoped the margrave wouldn't follow you."
[Hmm. You wished for my failure, you mean?]
"... That's right."
Antios had sent Predius to the margrave's domain to provoke him.
He instructed the dragon to fight half-heartedly and then pretend to be defeated to lure him out.
The cunning Predius had perfectly executed Antios's orders.
And Antios... had secretly hoped the margrave would see through his ploy.
He believed that a man who was once an excellent warrior and commander wouldn't fall for such a clumsy luring tactic.
However, the margrave had thoroughly betrayed Antios's expectations.
Not only did he immediately chase after the black dragon, but he also spread false rumors that he had inflicted a fatal wound on it.
Antios felt a twinge in his chest.
Was this what it felt like to watch the fall of a hero you once respected?
"Predius."
The summoner of the Golden Rule Society.
Regent Antios gave orders to his summon.
"I'll provide you with troops. Eliminate all the nobles, including the Margrave of Haltramm."
Predius exhaled a rough breath.
Sticky saliva dripped from his punctured jaw.
[Good! Prepare my reward in advance! And once this is over, I will definitely plunder a new territory!]
Antios shook his head.
Having forbidden plundering for a while for this operation, it seemed the dragon was now eager to raid another territory.
"As you wish."
Predius spread his wings wide and let out a long roar.
Kwaaaaaaah!
Birds and beasts fled in panic, causing a great commotion.
"Claw-mark."
"Yes, master!"
An orc about 2 meters tall prostrated himself before Antios.
"Help the black dragon wipe out the knights. You may eat all the corpses."
"Thank you!"
Antios watched the orc horde moving down the mountain, his legs crossed.
With this, the Duchy of Araz was finished.
The County of Haltramm, having lost its margrave, would stagger under the barbarian problem, and the Duchy of Araz would suffer from succession issues.
When internal affairs are in chaos, one can't pay attention to external matters.
Even if a [Civil War in the Empire] broke out between the Duchies of Fargar and Roxlan, the Duchy of Araz wouldn't be able to intervene.
From now on, the Duchy of Araz would have to tremble in fear of the black dragon.
'The end of this false empire is not far off.'
Watching the massive dragon cutting across the night sky, Antios smiled faintly.
With Predius taking action, the fall of Araz was inevitable.
Now, the end was near.
---
---
"Did the margrave really say that?"
As soon as the meeting ended, Ian had a conversation with Salvador.
"I can't believe it either. What a crazy old fart."
Soon after, numerous orcs appeared.
And from the darkness, a wicked and powerful being with black wings also emerged.
It was the black dragon, Predius.
'Is that the dragon?'
They were barely a few hundred meters apart.
Ian felt overwhelmed by the sight of the dragon he was witnessing firsthand.
It was on a completely different level from encountering a drake.
The menacing aura that seemed to proclaim its ferocity with its entire body!
As soon as it appeared, Predius unleashed its breath towards the camp.
"Holy shit!"
Ian fled as far as he could, taking the nobles with him.
The dragon's breath split the camp in half, incinerating everything.
Tents and hay, temporary storehouses and livestock.
Even servants, soldiers, and knights!
"Aaaaagh!"
"H-Help me!"
Before the chaos from the breath attack could subside, orc raiders swarmed in.
"Get a grip! Maintain formation and face the enemy calmly!"
Salvador shouted until his throat was raw, but the confusion didn't easily subside.
Once battle broke out, chaos was inevitable.
All thoughts of command and formation flew out the window as everyone focused on cutting down the enemies right in front of them.
It's precisely because they can maintain proper command and formation in such mayhem that some armies are called elite troops led by great generals.
"Take this!"
Belenka cleaved off the head of an approaching orc.
Ian's formation was in just as much disarray.
Ian calmly assessed the situation.
'This is an ambush. The human formation is at a disadvantage.'
They had expected the dragon, but not the orc horde.
Someone must have deliberately hidden reinforcements.
'... But who?'
Ian shook his head.
He could worry about that later.
Ian immediately cast a skill magic.
"[Spear of Lightning!]"
Bzzzzzzt!
Ian gripped the glowing lightning spear and glared at the front lines.
In the middle of the burning battlefield.
He could see the massive black dragon flicking its long tongue...!
"Die, you lizard!"
If they could just take down the black dragon, the rest were small fry.
The destructive lightning spear flew straight towards Predius.
The lightning spear struck Predius's massive body head-on.
'... Did that do it?'
Ian held his breath as he observed Predius.
... The beast was fine.
Predius turned its head and stared at Ian with chilling eyes.
[You insect... How dare you!]
Predius took a deep breath.
Ian panicked and tried to protect himself from the flames.
'That bastard! It's tough as hell!'
Before the lightning spear hit, Ian had sensed some mysterious power.
It felt similar to the Blood Lord, a demon with magic resistance.
It seemed to have some ability to reduce the power of magic.
Just as Predius was about to exhale its breath.
BOOM!
"...?"
A cloud of dust exploded from beneath Predius's feet.
Something emerged from underground.
"A golem...?"
It was the rock golem.
The rock golem raised its massive stone fist and-
WHAM!
Punched Predius right in the face!
Predius's head snapped to the side.
Pure white dragon teeth clattered to the ground...
[Young wizard!]
The rock golem shouted to Ian.
[I'll buy you some time. Now run!]
"[You... Why...?]"
[A life is repaid with a life!]
The rock golem was undoubtedly repaying its debt to Ian.
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