67
“Ha, this is driving me crazy.”
I tried hitting the wall with my hand covered in aura. Woong, only a sound came out, but it was fine. I couldn’t make a single scratch on a wall I had destroyed even when I was thirteen.
“Magic Director, what is your true identity?”
In the original story, the Magic Director was on the Crown Prince’s side, but he was not a very important character.
It might be because it was written from Stella’s point of view, but that made him even more suspicious. How could such a strong person be mentioned so little?
He was currently brainwashing the Crown Prince and using him like a puppet.
He didn’t hesitate to brainwash me either, and he was strong enough to cast an enhancement magic that could withstand a Sword Master’s aura.
Suddenly, this thought came to mind.
What if the original story was also played into the hands of that cunning guy…?
Brainwashing magic was said to be a type of curse. Durant said it was a magic impossible for anyone but an exceptionally evil powerhouse. In other words, the Magic Director was an exceptionally strong, wicked bastard.
There was something else suspicious.
“Bled, are you sure the Magic Director saw you?”
The dragon flapped its short wings and answered.
[I think so. But it seems he couldn’t properly see my appearance, nor did he hear my voice.]
He said it looked like a reddish light was flickering.
Until now, no one but me could see and hear Bled.
“How am I able to see and hear you?”
[I don’t know. The only person who should be able to see me right now is that person….]
“Who is that person?”
[The only one who can make me a complete dragon.]
“Your parents?”
[It’s not like that, but….]
Bled hunched his shoulders and watched my reaction. It was clear he was hiding something, but I could see he was having difficulty talking about it.
“Tell me when you want to talk about it.”
[Yeah….]
Bled’s face showed obvious relief. I didn’t know what worries he had, but I wanted to help if I could be of assistance.
After gently stroking Bled’s head, I concentrated again on the problem at hand.
“Both Stella and the Magic Director…. It’s unsettling that both of them are talking about death.”
I frowned and tried to recall what the Magic Director had said.
“What else did he say earlier? Something about, ‘descent’? Or something.”
[He said that preparations for that person’s descent are all complete.]
“That’s right. But who on earth is that person?”
[That….]
Bled fell silent with a confused look. He hesitated for a long time before opening his mouth.
[This is just my speculation, but that Magic Director… might not be human.]
“What?”
As I stared in surprise, the dragon explained.
[I can’t tell you the details, but the fact that he can vaguely see my weakened form like this, maybe….]
“Maybe what?”
Bled swallowed once and then spoke.
[He might be a High-Ranking Demon.]
“Demon…?”
In the original story, there was talk about monster breaks, but not a single word about demons, so this was a completely unexpected suggestion.
I recalled Durant, who was said to be a half-demon. His face, covered with spots, and his pointed ears made him look different from an ordinary human to anyone. However….
“Aren’t demons supposed to have pointed ears or something? The Magic Director looks human.”
Bled shook his head.
[I haven’t seen many demons either, so I don’t know the details, but I heard that the higher ranking the demon, the more similar they look to humans.]
“So that’s it….”
I crossed my arms and pondered. If the Magic Director was really a demon, what on earth was the original story I saw? Why am I even remembering such a book in the first place?
Then Bled threw out an unrealistic statement.
[If my speculation is correct, the Magic Director might be planning the Demon King’s descent.]
“What? The Demon King?”
When I made a dumbfounded sound, Bled spoke rapidly, as if he couldn’t hold back anymore.
[I don’t know either. This is just my own thought, so filter it as you see fit.]
“Just tell me first.”
[First, the Demon King suddenly vanished about 20 years ago. Since then, there have been rumors that the High-Ranking Demons were searching for the Demon King, but they haven’t found him until now, and rumors started circulating that he might have died.]
“Keep going.”
[But that can’t be true. The monsters haven’t disappeared yet, and the demons are still alive. I’m also alive.]
“What? Are the Demon King’s life and death directly linked to the life and death of monsters and demons? Does that even make sense?”
[Think of it this way. What would happen if the goddess Nyx, whom you humans worship, died?]
I immediately understood. This world, unlike my previous life, had Sword Masters, magicians, and monsters.
That means a god must also really exist.
A god like that dies? The extinction of humanity was naturally depicted.
“I understand. So the Demon King is your god… something like that?”
[That’s right. We didn’t appoint the strongest among us as king, like you do. That person is simply our King, God, and Origin.]
“I see.”
[Actually, I also… need to serve the Demon King for a few years and receive his energy to become a complete Adult Dragon. But since he disappeared for 20 years, I couldn’t do that, and I gradually weakened, and my body became this small.]
Bled looked down at his body with sad eyes.
“So that’s how this cute two-head-tall proportion was born.”
When I exclaimed in admiration upon learning the secret of his two-head-tall figure, Bled snapped back in a huff.
[Hey! I’m talking about something serious right now!]
“Oh, oh. Sorry.”
Did I hurt his pride? I quickly reminded myself of the topic.
“So, the unusual event the Magic Director is planning is, in your opinion, an attempt to make the Demon King descend, is that right?”
[Yes.]
“Wouldn’t that be a good thing for you guys?”
Bled shook his head.
[No…. The Demon King concealed his presence by his own will, and a mere demon forcibly attempting his descent…. That will only incur his wrath. Our Demon King is not as benevolent as your goddess Nyx.]
Thinking about it differently, it was like a mere human attempting to make a god descend. Logically, even a benevolent god would be angered by such an act.
I scratched near my eyebrow and asked.
“…Is he very scary when he is angry?”
[Half of the empire might be blown away entirely.]
“Crazy.”
An expletive involuntarily came out. The wrath of a god is that terrifying. Then, Stella’s face flashed through my mind.
“Wait. If that’s the case, the future Stella saw….”
My mind spun rapidly. If Bled’s speculation was correct, she might have seen the Demon King descend and the empire suffer calamity.
That’s why she said everyone would die.
As soon as I reached that realization, I became anxious.
“Thank you for telling me. Now that I roughly understand the situation, I need to escape this place. And also spy on what the Magic Director is up to.”
[Is there a way? The Magic Director blocked everything.]
Bled tapped the wall. The wall had enhancement magic on it, so even my aura-fist didn’t work.
It was time for me to propose a simple solution.
“If I hit the guard’s neck and knock him out during mealtime….”
Thud!
A sudden noise and vibration shook the entire prison. Then, immediately, tremendous sounds erupted one after another, and everything around shook as if there was an earthquake.
[Agh! What is it?!]
“Bled! Come here!”
I snatched the small dragon, who was scrambling to avoid the falling rock fragments in mid-air. After putting him securely into my left chest pocket, I wrapped my entire body in aura.
“Hold on tight so you don’t fall.”
[Be careful, Marian!]
The building was collapsing. The prison’s iron bars were crushed and peeled open to the sides. It seemed that even the Magic Director’s enhancement magic couldn’t withstand the building’s collapse.
I quickly slid out through the gap. I ran through the corridor, taking three steps at a time up the stairs.
The ceiling was collapsing behind me, following me. If I got crushed, I’d die instantly. I ran up for dear life.
“Who made so many stairs!”
A shout of pain escaped me.
“Marian!”
When I reached the entrance to the prison, I saw Kayden running towards me in the distance.
No sooner had the feeling of relief struck me than the ceiling in front of me collapsed with a tremendous noise.
“Ah, seriously!”
I recklessly slammed my aura-fist into the obstacle that was interrupting my reunion with Kayden after a week.
Slam!
With a refreshing sound, the wall was pierced. Kayden’s figure appeared in the hole.
“Grab my hand!”
I took his hand and crawled up out of the hole. When half of my body was out, Kayden grabbed my waist and pulled me up like pulling a radish. I gasped for breath, held in his arms.
The prison building completely collapsed. Was the ground weak?
“Are you okay? I was worried. I thought something had happened to you….”
“I’m fine, Grand Duke. More importantly….”
I looked up at the sky.
A huge wound, as if torn open by a knife, was visible in the sky.
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