novelraw Chapter 280: The Queen's Husband
Chapter 280: The Queen's Husband
Looking at the text inside the ring, Fischer's expression appeared somewhat surprised. The reason he said this text felt both familiar and unfamiliar was because he had once seen this type of text within the Demi-Human Girl Completion Handbook.
He stared at the text inside the ring, then took out the Demi-Human Girl Completion Handbook from his embrace and rested it upon his lap. Flipping open the title page of the book, situated squarely right beneath that epic world-ending prophecy, was the golden signature personally written by the owner of this Demi-Human Girl Completion Handbook.
That line of text above was completely square and blocky. Both its font and structure appeared incredibly bizarre in Fischer's eyes; it looked far more like some sort of symbol rather than a language he was familiar with. Although he didn't understand the specific meaning represented by the font, the Demi-Human Girl Completion Handbook considerately performed translation work for him, allowing him to decipher the codename used by its author.
【Contributor: First of All, I am Not a Demi-Human Girl Con (Original Text)】
Looking at the row of blocky font situated behind the Contributor tag, Fischer proceeded to compare it with the 【Karasawa Asuka】 inside the band of the ring. He simply felt that the structure of these two texts was extremely similar, yet still slightly different.
According to his previous speculations, the script used by the owner of this Demi-Human Girl Completion Handbook was an analytic language that utilized symbols to express meaning. In other words, this language didn't undergo morphological inflections like Fischer's Naris language. It possessed an exceptionally complex system of single-symbol ideograms and combinatorial arrangements.
Fischer hypothesized that this language formed words and sentences possessing distinct meanings through different symbols—in other words, the arrangement and combination of texts. This was vastly different from the Naris language he currently used, though it did share a similar approach with the ancient Fafnir Dragon Court Language. It was just that the script of the Demi-Human Girl Completion Handbook appeared far more minimalist, though whether this was the result of a certain period of development and evolution remained unknown.
As for the author of the Soul Completion Handbook, Caleb Woods, he used an entirely different language entirely—one highly similar to the Naris language Fischer used. This caused Fischer to suspect whether these Transferred Persons from other worlds were highly likely people hailing from entirely different nations... Or, to be bolder, it was even possible they originated from entirely different worlds.
Bringing the topic back to the text upon this ring, this text exhibited characteristics highly similar to yet subtly distinct from the text used by the author of the Demi-Human Girl Completion Handbook. This instantly caused Fischer to suspect the true identity of the owner of this ring.
It was highly likely that the owner of this ring was a Transferred Person who shared the exact same identity as the owners of the other Completion Handbooks. It was also possible that they were the descendants left behind in this world by the owners of other Completion Handbooks, assuming they had actually borne offspring at all.Furthermore, he had completely no idea what the text upon this ring ultimately meant. Going by common sense, he could only deduce that it was highly likely either the name of the blacksmith, or perhaps words detailing the ring's function.
Fischer placed the ring in his hand back down. Suddenly thinking of something, he laid a piece of paper down right before him and proceeded to write down the texts from both the Completion Handbook and the ring. Subsequently, he turned his gaze toward Eimhart upon his shoulder,
"Eimhart, do you recognize either of these two types of texts?"
"Uhm..." He floated over, painstakingly sweeping through the vast repository of knowledge recorded within his belly. But clearly, there were absolutely no contents that could correspond to these exceptionally bizarrely beautiful symbols right before his eyes. Upon realizing this, he shook his head and looked at Fischer before him,
"Is this text, or some sort of magical symbol? I've absolutely never seen such an incredibly bizarre script in my entire life! I've seen the writings of countless demi-human species in the past, yet this particular one eludes me completely."
Fischer proceeded to write down the text written by Caleb Woods onto the paper and asked,
"Then what about this one?"
"This looks exceptionally similar to the script of your Naris! Are you absolutely sure you didn't just casually make this up to string me along..."
He intimately and meticulously evaluated it for half a day. Even after scraping through his belly's inventory a second time completely bare, he still failed to discover anything whatsoever. Left with no other choice, he could only speak to Fischer with intense regret.
Fischer nodded. He didn't feel too regretful either. After all, the Completion Handbooks were already exceptionally mysterious in the first place; it was incredibly ordinary for outsiders to completely lack any knowledge concerning the information inside them. If he ever had the opportunity to obtain other Completion Handbooks in the future, he might stand a chance to uncover more information concerning these Transferred Persons.
Alternatively, he could perhaps inquire for more information from the Creator's Society. There was a 【Lord of Fate】 currently maintaining a temporary cooperative relationship with him right now. Since she wanted him to find the Magic Lord, he correspondingly had a perfectly justifiable reason to obtain information regarding this former President of the Creator's Society.
He temporarily put down the ring in his hand, his mind pondering god knows what entirely.
But what remained absolutely undeniable was that the Flying Fish enveloped within the curtain of night was growing increasingly distant from the Patroshen Islands, sailing furiously toward the faraway Northern Border's Sardin Woman's Country.
At this very moment, Sunset Valley, situated at the southernmost tip of the Southern Continent right next to the ocean, was also slowly sinking into the deep curtain of night. However, entirely unlike the absolute silence resting upon the ocean, Sunset Valley appeared exceptionally lively and bustling right now.
Sunset Valley was the base camp for the 【Bat-kin】 demi-humans. According to Southern Continent legends, the Bat-kin had always been the most loyal guards of the Fafnir Dragon Court. Even during the unimaginably long years following the Dragon Court's resounding collapse, they continued to maintain their profound respect for the Dragon-kin. This was exactly why they were entirely willing to accept the South Branch Dragon-kin who had departed from their own homeland.
At this moment, the towering mountains flanking both sides of Sunset Valley were entirely illuminated by the glow of firelight. Countless demi-humans hailing from different regions and different races spontaneously stood around the open clearings on both sides. Regardless of whether they were old or young, their gazes were entirely completely fixed upon the troop steadily approaching from afar within the dark of night.
"Lady Raphaela has returned!"
"The Dragon Queen has returned... Wait, they brought the Centaur-kin back with them?!"
Within the ranks of the troop constantly advancing through the dark night, quite a few sharp-eyed demi-humans spotted the Centaur-kin following closely behind the rear of the Dragon-kin's army, inevitably cheering out loud in joy.
The Centaur-kin had always been a race that came and went without a trace. Not even the humans of the Western Continent had managed to grasp their tails. Yet now, they were actually willing to follow the Dragon Queen back to Sunset Valley, this newly emerging demi-human gathering place! For the demi-humans staying put in the base camp, this couldn't help but make them intensely exhilarated.
Countless demi-humans cast heavily passionate gazes upon the red Dragon-kin girl riding a massive 【Ramagan】 at the very front of the troop. Compared to the unimaginably colossal, horse-like monster beneath her, her figure appeared exceedingly thin and frail. Yet even a monster like that could only obediently and docilely submit beneath her, serving as absolute ample proof of this Dragon Queen's majestic prestige.
There were still countless Dragon-kin within Sunset Valley who had faced defeat in battle and ultimately joined the 【New Dragon Court】. Seeing Raphaela right now, who appeared as blindingly dazzling as a sun even beneath the moonlight, caused their gazes to become incredibly completely complex.
On one hand, their lives had undergone unimaginably intense, drastic changes entirely because of Raphaela. On the other hand, they simultaneously bore witness to the lives of other demi-humans who had been completely uprooted and forced into destitution entirely because of humanity. These demi-humans were profoundly grateful and indebted toward Raphaela. Such emotions touched them more or less, causing their current feelings toward this newly appointed master of the Dragon Court to become exceptionally mixed.
The Dragon Court, huh...
That was an incredibly distant noun. It was originally supposed to remain eternally asleep beneath the soil of the Southern Continent, completely never to awaken again. In fact, even the Dragon-kin themselves didn't believe that anyone could possibly re-establish such a great and mighty country ever again.
However, the instant they laid eyes upon Raphaela, such thoughts dissipated as it should be, because she was simply far too dazzling.
She had already rallied three branches of the Dragon-kin tribes together; only the North Branch residing near the north remained unvisited. In places entirely unnoticed by humanity, her absolute name had begun to spread across the mouths of all demi-humans, as if the Dragon Court that had long since been buried in the graveyard had unexpectedly unfurled one of its wings, gradually shrouding the entirely of the Southern Continent within its shadow.
Watching the firelight spreading across the entire mountain range, the Dragon-kin girl sitting upon the Ramagan gently reached out a hand and waved it toward the darkness. Immediately, two entirely soundless shadows descended from atop the mountain peak. It wasn't until the two shadows landed squarely in front of Raphaela that their true appearances were fully revealed.
As it turned out, they were two demi-humans whose faces were littered with a considerable amount of black hair. One male and one female, though there wasn't much of a profound difference in their specific appearances. Two fleshy wings connecting their arms to their bodies grew out from where their hands should have been, making their physique appear incredibly colossal. However, their eyes presented a bizarre grayish-white hue, looking entirely completely lifeless as though they had lost their pupils.
These two were precisely Emre and his wife Ekes, the clan leaders of the Bat-kin. They were also the leaders who initially accepted the South Branch Dragon-kin. They recognized the absolutely limitless potential resting upon Raphaela's body; she was exactly the Dragon-kin their race had spent countless years waiting for. It was precisely because of this that they resolved to devote the absolute entirety of the Bat-kin's power toward assisting Raphaela in establishing the New Dragon Court.
"Lady Raphaela, you've returned."
"Has the matter regarding the other Dragon-kin tribes been resolved?"
Sitting atop the Ramagan's body, the paired horns upon Raphaela's head glowed crimson red. She shot a glance at the countless Dragon-kin compatriots within the troop behind her, who were entirely shell-shocked by the grand formation before them. She nodded and said,
"The East and West Branches have already been annihilated, and their clan leaders are dead. I brought the remaining compatriots back. The North Branch tribe heard of my offensive, and their clan leader delivered a letter of surrender to me; they are also in the troop behind me. On the way back, we also ran into the Centaur-kin migrating in the wilderness, so I brought them back along the way... Faxir, Kexir, I'll leave the arrangements for these Dragon-kin to you two. I have matters to discuss with Emre and the others."
As Raphaela spoke, she suddenly thought of something. Leaping down from the Ramagan, she landed right in front of the two Bat-kin. Behind her, Faxir and Kexir, who were sitting atop Fischer's carriage, nodded their heads consecutively, expressing that they had received their orders. Right behind them, Lar blinked her eyes. Just as she was about to jump off the carriage to follow Raphaela, she was abruptly interrupted by Raphaela suddenly turning her head back,
"Also, Lar, help me bring the carriage back to the place I rest first, then go help Faxir and the others out."
Lar's movement to dismount the carriage momentarily froze; even her tail behind her drooped down feebly. She twitched her lips, shooting a glance at Faxir and Kexir who were secretly snickering right in front of her. Subsequently, acting entirely weak and feeble, she raised the dagger in her hand and replied,
"Mhm, I know, Lady Raphaela..."
Raphaela nodded in satisfaction. Following behind the Bat-kin clan leaders, she walked toward the caves located deep within Sunset Valley. The places where the Bat-kin resided were all incredibly dim, situated deep within underground caverns, but this didn't mean they never moved around outside the caves. In reality, they were a highly dexterous and perfectly capable race, and they were also incredibly skilled at combat.
Countless buildings erected along the way for the demi-humans and Dragon-kin fleeing from disaster had been built entirely by their hands. If not for the fact that their eyesight was simply far too abysmal, rendering them incapable of finding suitable minerals underground, the problem regarding their weaponry would have long since been completely resolved by now.
However, with the addition of the Centaur-kin, they no longer needed to worry. The Centaur-kin migrated everywhere and maintained fairly good relationships with demi-human tribes scattered all over the land. Whether or not they could establish the New Dragon Court depended entirely completely on them.
"Lady Raphaela, why do you insist on constantly carrying that carriage around? It doesn't look like a carriage designed for warfare. Furthermore, it is a creation of humanity after all. I worry it might provoke criticism from the other demi-humans."
"The demi-humans will not engage in criticism purely because of the type of carriage I use. As long as I can continue to achieve victory, they will place their trust in me and the New Dragon Court... That carriage is precisely the key to my victories."
"Is that so..."
Ekes nodded her head. Although she failed to comprehend the specific underlying reasons, seeing Lady Raphaela acting incredibly confident caused the worries in her heart to settle entirely.
"Oh right, Lady Raphaela, it seems you have already collected all four branch sigils. According to our records, these four sigils are precisely the keys to unlocking the ancient Dragon Court's royal palace! It's just a pity that the location of the royal palace has been lost to areas even deeper underground... Legends speak of the existence of Demon-kin there. Do we need to contact the Demon-kin to inquire about the specific location of the royal palace?"
"The Demon-kin are immortal existences; they definitely know the location of the royal palace. It's just that dealing with Demon-kin usually requires incredibly precious items as exchange, we..."
As Raphaela continued strictly listening, her expression gradually became a little peculiar. She gently slipped a claw directly inside her chestplate, pulling out a genuinely archaic-looking scroll from deep within. It was precisely the 【Fafnir Dragon Court Ruins Map】 that Fischer had gifted her right before his departure.
"Take a look at this. Is the location recorded on this map possibly the location of the royal palace?"
The two Bat-kin paused their footsteps slightly. After shooting a glance at one another, Emre eventually reached out to accept the scroll she handed over. Consequently, their throats began to pulsate gently, seemingly emitting some sort of soundwave entirely inaudible to the human ear.
The soundwaves slowly blanketed the entire length of the scroll. The ink painted upon it and the grooves of the paper were entirely completely absorbed into their minds. Following a singular second of total silence, Ekes's expression shifted into absolute shock,
"This blueprint is precisely a map created by the ancient Dragon Court's 【Central Palace】! It looks extremely highly probable... You might not be incredibly clear regarding the history. Because the Southern Continent is simply far too vast, in order to better govern this land, your ancestors established Branch and Leaf Dragon Courts in the four cardinal directions of the continent, which are precisely the predecessors to the four branch tribes of today."
"And the four branch sigils you collected today are exactly the tokens the Central Palace issued to the Branch and Leaf Dragon Courts back in the day. Whenever unforeseen circumstances struck the Central Palace, the four Branch Dragon Courts could wield the tokens and return to the center to defend the king and open the royal palace! However, looking at the current situation, something unimaginably massive must have absolute transpired within the center back then, causing the four branches to entirely abandon providing reinforcements..."
"This map is an incredibly precious item! I actually originally thought that every single genuine Dragon Court relic originating from the Central Palace had already entirely completely faded away across the incredibly long river of time! To think that an inherited artifact was actually left behind in the South Branch Tribe... this is truly..."
Hearing this, Raphaela failed to display an expression of joy whatsoever. She merely stared at the unfurled scroll, looking slightly stunned. Only after an incredibly long time did she shake her head with a smile and say,
"Regretfully, my tribe did not preserve such a treasure."
"This item was precisely gifted to me by my husband when we parted ways."