novelraw Chapter 136 : Chapter 136
Chapter 136 : Chapter 136
Chapter 136. Towards Reubungwo (4)
Just before the dwarves completed the broken bridge.
I was engrossed in strategizing for the decisive battle with Primus, using the information Aman had brought and the situation in Reubungwo.
But then, the communication magic crystal ball flashed urgently, signaling an emergency call.
The one shouting from beyond the magic crystal ball was a scout from the Unseen Ones, who was monitoring the southern desert region.
His voice was extremely agitated and urgent.
“What?”
I shot up from my seat.
The army of the Durani Empire crossing the desert to the north?
The destination was as clear as day.
It was my headquarters, Lumen Fortis.
‘Could it be because I left without a word?’
I couldn't believe it.
Such military action in just a few days?
No matter what, he was the emperor who had ruled the empire for over three hundred years.
What kind of time was this?
Primus' revival was just around the corner, and at this critical juncture where the world's destruction was at stake, I couldn't even imagine him starting an all-out war for such a petty reason.
‘I thought the Emperor was at least a person with a minimum sense of awareness, but was I too complacent?’
Perhaps reading my complicated expression, Anonymous, who had approached my side at some point, spoke in a cold voice.
Her red eyes held overt hostility.
“Hmph. I knew it, Master. That old emperor bastard, I should have snuffed him out long ago.”
“…….”
“As it is, those bastards have been coveting the dragons' paradise for a long time. They're despicable people who would pick a fight at the drop of a hat and just watch for a chance to invade. Please leave this to me. I'll turn them into a pile of ashes in an instant.”
There wasn't a hint of hesitation in her words.To her, the queen of dragons, the great army of the Durani Empire was nothing more than a handful of sand.
Noemi, who was next to her, also stepped forward in anger.
“That's right, Dad! What kind of situation is this, for him to move an army for such petty personal feelings? I can never forgive him! I'll go with Master too!”
The spirit of the two seemed to pierce the heavens.
Indeed, if they set their minds to it, they could probably wipe the Durani Empire's army off the map in the blink of an eye.
However,
‘Even so, I can't let fellow humans shed blood.’
I was lost in thought for a moment.
With Anonymous' and Noemi's abilities, they could wipe out even a massive army in an instant, but that wasn't the picture I wanted.
Now was the time for all forces to unite before the common enemy, Primus.
Engaging in an all-out war with the empire here was a foolish act.
It was wrong diplomatically and morally.
I needed a way to break the Emperor's arrogance while avoiding a fight at all costs.
Then, suddenly.
An idea came to mind.
Having thought of something, I leaned in and whispered softly into Anonymous' ear.
After hearing my plan, Anonymous at first looked puzzled, but soon she nodded with a strange smile.
“Ahem, it's a little different from my idea, but that's not bad either. Alright, Master. This should be fun.”
Her anger was replaced by a smile full of mischief, yet somehow eerie.
Noemi, watching from the side, tilted her head as if she had no idea what was going on.
Her face showed she hadn't noticed the secret conversation that had passed between me and Anonymous.
Now, the plan was set.
It was time to give the old emperor of Durani a little ‘lesson’.
***
The desert, where the scorching sun beat down as if it were on fire from above.
The great army of the Durani Empire was struggling across the endlessly sprawling sand dunes.
The soldiers' armor glistened, soaked in sweat, and their weary breaths broke the silence of the desert.
But amidst that painful march, there was one person who looked uniquely comfortable.
It was the Emperor of the empire.
He was lying askew on a huge golden palanquin, enjoying the breeze from fans wielded by beautiful court ladies.
The attendants constantly brought cool water and fruit, but his expression was full of irritation and dissatisfaction.
“Are we still far? When will this godforsaken desert end! It's hot!”
At the Emperor's grumbling, the old prime minister beside him cautiously reported.
“Your Majesty, we have not yet reached the halfway point. It is still a long way to the Kingdom of Asturias.”
“Damn it! If I had known, I would have stayed in the capital! I shouldn't have come along!”
At those words, the retainers around the palanquin cursed the Emperor inwardly.
‘Really, why start a war over something like that and make us suffer too. Tsk.’
‘Sigh. He's traveling comfortably in the shade, so why is he complaining so much.’
They too were well aware that this war was an invasion without a just cause.
Rumors were rampant that Frank, the former Hero and now the head of the Continental Alliance, had already left for the east to prevent the world's destruction.
In such a situation, attacking a land that was practically an empty house was an incredibly petty act.
Even if they won the war, they would not win the hearts of the people.
Besides, how far was the destination?
It was even questionable whether this long expedition could succeed.
It was while the retainers were suppressing such complaints and anxieties inwardly.
“Th-that is!”
A soldier at the head of the procession pointed to the sky and let out a horrified cry.
Where his fingertip pointed, in the blue sky that had been empty just a moment ago, a black dot had appeared.
And that dot was growing larger at an unbelievable speed as it approached.
“A d-dragon! It's a huge black dragon!”
“What? A dragon? Where did it suddenly appear from in the middle of this desert!”
The million-strong army fell into chaos in an instant.
The soldiers ran about in confusion, aiming their spears at the black dragon in the sky or hiding behind their shields.
The murderous heat and grueling march were bad enough, but now a legendary creature, a dragon, had appeared out of nowhere!
The Emperor, who was inside the palanquin, also sensed the commotion and looked outside irritably.
And he couldn't help but be horrified at the sight of the black dragon, which boasted a majesty so great it seemed to cover the sky.
“Wh-where did such a monster come from!”
Before he could even finish his sentence, the black dragon's massive mouth opened.
Just as a flash of light seemed to flicker within,Kugwaaaaaang!!!
Along with a deafening roar that seemed to tear the sky, a massive fire breath shot from the black dragon's mouth and exploded on the sandy desert, right in front of the imperial army.
Tremendous heat and a shockwave engulfed the army, and the sand melted, instantly carving out a huge glass pit.
The scorching heat grazed the soldiers' faces as it passed.
Despite this, not a single soldier suffered direct harm.
But before that overwhelming power, the million-strong army froze in place as if time had stopped.
No one dared to even think of moving.
Their eyes were filled with nothing but fear and awe.
The presence of the black dragon looking down on them from the sky felt like the wrath of a god.
‘If you cross any further, I will burn you all to ashes.’
The black dragon's silence was a more powerful warning than any shout.
All the soldiers' gazes turned towards the palanquin carrying the Emperor.
What should they do now?
Advance or retreat?
The Emperor, too, with a dazed face, could only stare alternately at the black dragon in the sky and the huge pit that had formed before them.
His lips were trembling.
He muttered as if to himself.
“Th-this is the kind of power they have……. Just one dragon…….”
Before his eyes, a vision of the million-strong army being swept away like a pile of sand was already unfolding.
The fear that rose up to his chest was suffocating him.
The Emperor was keenly realizing that the man named Frank was not simply a lucky former Hero.
And that he had picked a fight with a being he should never have provoked.
***
Far across the desert, the great army could be seen reluctantly turning its back and heading south.
The army of the Durani Empire, retreating while kicking up sand dust.
A triumphant smile hung on the lips of Noemi, who was looking down at the scene from the sky.
“Hmph. They shouldn't have come in the first place. Why did they bring this suffering upon themselves.”
She snorted and glanced down at Anonymous, who was watching the scene with her.
The very one who had frozen that huge army with a single breath weapon just a moment ago.
Of course, it must have been a ‘warning’ according to the plan her father had hinted at.
“This was Dad's instruction, right?”
“That's right.”
Anonymous answered briefly.
Noemi smirked and continued.
“It would have been fine to just blow them all away. It seems Dad can't help his ‘Hero’ title yet.”
“I suppose so.”
Anonymous agreed.
“The Master must be looking ahead to the war with Primus and even beyond. He probably judged it better not to create unnecessary bloodshed and resentment.”
At those words, Noemi's face turned serious for a moment.
Primus. A primordial being, and the first son of the goddess who created this world.
She suddenly felt anxious and asked Anonymous.
“Master, do you think we will win this war?”
Anonymous was silent for a while.
She gazed at the distant desert horizon, then slowly opened her mouth.
Her voice was lower and heavier than usual.
“About half.”
“Then, what about the other half?”
“That, I do not know. It's impossible to know.”
Anonymous suddenly looked up at the sky.
“Everything will ultimately depend on the goddess' will.”
At those words, Noemi let out a deep sigh.
“Huu, do you think the goddess knows about this? The fact that this world she created is now facing its greatest crisis.”
“I personally heard the goddess' voice at Lake Kalle not long ago.”
As Anonymous quietly began to speak, Noemi looked at her in surprise.
“The goddess will surely know. But she will not intervene directly.”
“Why? Her children, her creations, are in danger?”
“Because that is the goddess' fate.”
Anonymous left a cryptic remark.
Noemi tilted her head, but she didn't ask any more questions.
It was probably because she, too, knew faintly through the power of prophecy.
That the fate of this world ultimately rested in the hands of mortals.
Noemi thought of something else for a moment.
“This isn't the right mood to be saying this, but… in a way, my sisters and I, and Primus, are like siblings, aren't we? So to speak, he's like our big brother, but what on earth is he thinking? Why is he trying to destroy the world?”
At her absurd question, Anonymous let out a hollow laugh for the first time.
“Keke. I doubt he thinks that way at all. He probably considers you all as mere vermin.”
“Aren't your words too harsh?”
Noemi retorted as if pouting, but the smile did not leave Anonymous' lips.
“Hmph. I don't know his true intentions either. But we might get to find out the answer ourselves on this occasion. After all, we will eventually face him head-on.”
Noemi nodded silently.
Yes, in the end, they had to fight.
This was an unavoidable fate.
She no longer hesitated and gestured in the air, beginning to draw a huge transition magic circle.
“Let's go back now, Master.”
“Let's.”
The Durani Empire's attack was blocked with anticlimactic ease.
But this was likely just a gentle breeze before a great storm.
The real war to come would surely not end so easily.
Noemi and Anonymous stood on the magic circle, looking at each other with grim faces.
With a blue light, the figures of the two instantly disappeared from the desert.
As if the astonishing sight from a moment ago was nothing but a mere mirage.