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The Tale of the Wizrain Kingdom

Those Who Scream Along the Unchanging Path

Translated by: S3

Treat me to a Ko-Fi to give me more motivation!!!

*****

「This is a very good story.」

An old man clapped his hands together, *pachi, pachi*. Or rather, it was not an old man; perhaps it was a youth. Was it a man? A woman? Even that was impossible to tell. From the other side of a deeply pulled hood, eyes shone with a brilliant, predatory red light.

「I’ll kill you, oh yes, I’ll kill you! Your King will kill you one day!」

With theatrical gestures, the Red-Eyed One pointed a slender finger.

「...Yes. With those words, the younger brother of the Albarul Emperor fell. Those bound by fear are easily swayed by a different kind of fear. Yes, yes. I have also whispered a little something to the nobles... When I told them there was a dragon in Wizrain, even the Emperor grew interested. It is a simple matter.」

*Humu, humu, humu.* They walked through the dark space. With hands behind their back, the slow gait truly looked like that of an old man. However, the voice was vibrant and youthful.

「I knew, of course, that the Emperor did not trust me. In that case, he would surely head there directly. How simple. ...That Emperor trusts nothing but himself. Poor thing...」

They looked up into the void as if in pity, their mouth twisting sadly. But immediately, a soft, beaming smile peeked out from under the hood.

「Wizrain to a sea of fire. Albarul submerged in blood. Marls... oh. I can see it now.」

Forming a circle with their thumb and index finger, they pressed it against their red eye like a monocle.

「Oh, oh, what a skilled spirit user. He has hidden the dragon's reverse scale so well... Unfortunately, it seems I am one step ahead.」

In the Red-Eyed One's vision, soldiers with swords appeared. Every one of them advanced through the mine as if possessed. Before them sat a great orb. It looked like a pearl, yet it was large enough for an adult to wrap both arms around.

A soldier swung his sword down—

「There, *kaaan!*」

The Red-Eyed One also swung a fist down.

In this space, there was no one else but the Red-Eyed One. It was silent, without a single sound. There was no reaction.

「...Now then, I wonder how it shall go?」

They muttered softly. Turning their face as if to someone, they twisted their lips.

「Is there anyone... I wonder, who shall reach the God of Asedona?」

---

『Paisen... um, can I ask something, su?』

Fere pitter-pattered along the ground. The humans were lined up ahead, and to Fere, the way they tore through and tossed aside the attackers was terrifying. His tail felt like it was about to quiver.

『Gonsu?』

The Hamster Spirit, perhaps intending to aid the humans, was practicing swinging sunflower seeds back and forth while waddling quickly on two legs. Fere wondered what use that could possibly be, but since he was dealing with his senior, he kept his mouth shut.

『Um... Paisen, how long are you going to stay by that human's side, su...? You're... coming back, right, su...?』

「............」

*Techi-techi.* The Hamster Spirit kept walking. Fere peered into the hamster's face anxiously. No matter how long he waited, there was no answer. Staring at the whiskers that did nothing but twitch, Fere lowered his face sadly. The sounds of destruction drew closer.

---

「Please, I beg of you, Spirits!」

Unaware of the conversation between the hamster spirits, Ketock brandished his staff. In that instant, a geometric pattern burst before him, and brilliant light exploded. The invading soldiers slammed into an invisible wall and collapsed. Perhaps because they weren't wearing armor—finding it unsuitable for mountain climbing—it proved to be their downfall. Compared to Elna and the others' offensive power, the enemy's defense was overwhelmingly low.

「I exploded just as promised, Lady Elna! How was that!?」

「So when you said you’d explode if you talked to me, *that's* what you meant...? Hmm, as I thought, it’s completely different from the spirit arts I know...」

「No matter how many times I see it, it looks like nothing but magic to me. I feel like I’m being shown a con job.」

「...Won't someone praise my efforts? As expected of me, of me, of me... *uhe, uhehe*... but spirit arts used with the Spirits are so much fun...」

「What a creepy fellow... Hm, as I thought, these are Albarul soldiers. But if they don't know my face, that means...」

Checking the weapons of the fallen soldiers, Rigoberto furrowed his brows. The soldiers had turned their blades against their own Emperor without a moment's hesitation.

「...Are they being manipulated by someone?」

No one confirmed Elna’s whispered words, but no one denied them either.

「Eh?」

*Ha.* Ketock looked up.

「...Is something wrong?」

Seeing Ketock look as if his expression had fallen away, staring at something unbelievable, Elna couldn't help but call out. Ketock did not look at her. He simply stood with his mouth agape in daze.

「The protection I put on the reverse scale...」

「...The reverse scale?」

Was he talking about the dragon's reverse scale he had mentioned on the way here? Elna didn't understand why he was bringing it up now.

A *karari* sound followed; Ketock had let his staff slip from his hand. Without even trying to pick up the staff that had fallen to the ground—

「It broke...」

The shock, strong enough to make the earth shudder, came immediately after.

「...What is this?」

Rigoberto was the first to react. He braced his hands on the ground and looked up at the ceiling. Icicles fell, water shattered, and the spirits fled in all directions, screaming. The shimmering silver mine shook as if it were **splitting**. **And then, through the cracks, the sky peeked through.**

Witnessing a scene that could only be described as impossible, Elna snapped to attention and reached out her hands to the small spirits. The Hamster Spirit and Fere scrambled up her arms to sit on her shoulders, twitching their noses as they looked at the sky.

「This mine is made of dragon bones... Those bones are moving! Quickly, get out of the mine, *hiiiii!*」

「It is already useless. Don't move, you’re in the way.」

Rigoberto deflected a falling icicle with his sword before it could hit Ketock. It was moving. The mine—no, the mountain itself. It was taking the form of the lost dragon.

—*Ooo, ooooo, oooooo...*

The dragon's savage roar slammed into Elna and the others like a blast of wind.

「............」

Elna simply stood there, her long hair swaying in the wind, gazing at the dragon. She looked deeply, deeply sad.

「Why...? The reverse scale should have been hidden... And even if the reverse scale is destroyed, a dragon shouldn't be born from it! What is this!?」

「............」

Rigoberto silently placed a hand on the sword at his waist, intending to brandish it, but Ketock desperately held him back, crying, 「It’s impossible, please stop!」 The strength of a frail spirit user seemed to mean nothing, however.

「Stop.」

Elna spoke the words without turning to look at them.

「I’ll do it. So stop.」

「Lady Elna...」

The dragon roared. The cry shook the earth, making her skin crawl. Yet Elna remained standing straight, looking up at the dragon. She slowly raised her right hand and let out a breath, but the magic-sealing ring on her finger flickered sharply like lightning before the light died out.

「Right. My magic was sealed...」

Faced with Elna’s massive mana, the seal was being broken. But it was just a fraction short.

『Paisen!? Stop it, su!』

As she brought her hand close to her face to look at the ring, a tiny paw was gently placed on her hand. A pink nose was twitching.

「Thank you.」

She gave a soft, gentle smile. Elna extended one hand. Her slender arm was enveloped by swirling fire mana. The flames danced as if alive, eventually condensing into a single point at her fingertip. A vast amount of mana was concentrated in that tiny tip.

「...That thing isn't a dragon.」

She pointed her finger. She aimed for the crown of its head.

「It’s just an empty shell.」

—She fired.

A roar tore through the very air as the fire mana was hammered home. The dragon thrashed and collapsed. Residual mana scorched the surroundings. Elna turned her sky-blue eyes toward the pitiful dragon.

(And yet, you had such lovely eyes...)

Memories of a brief past flickered through Elna’s mind. It must have loved people. It must have loved the spirits. Well then, what about the sky? Did it like to fly? Had it ever carried someone on its back? ...She had wanted to talk so much. But it was too late.

To mourn for those who are gone only brings sadness. In that case, it is much better to live for the "now." ...That, too, was likely a lie.

You want to see them, but you can't. You think you see a shadow and chase after empty space. It would surely be that way for a lifetime. Elna thought that was perfectly fine.

「...Just who are you?」

It was the second time Rigoberto had asked that question. Elna turned around with the spirits still on her shoulders. Her long, apricot-colored hair swayed in the wind.

「...Were *you* the dragon?」

The bones that had been writhing in agony gradually changed shape. Leaving a few holes open to the sky, they began to shine quietly once more. The holes were surely the gaps created in the dragon's ribs.

「Are you Elnalfia?」

Rigoberto asked as he faced her. Ketock, who had completely lost the strength in his legs, jumped in surprise, but Rigoberto didn't even look at him. Only Elna was reflected in his eyes. It was no longer a question, but a confirmation. *You are Elnalfia, aren't you?*

「...I see.」

Rigoberto let out a heavy breath and hung his head. Strangely, Elna felt she could understand exactly what he was thinking.

「...Most likely, I have developed feelings for you. To the point where I think I may never have such emotions again.」

「...Hmph, is that so.」

「I desire the power of a dragon. I want you.」

「Oh?」

「However, our paths shall not cross.」

「That’s right. Definitely not.」

They stared at each other. They both knew it. In that moment, Rigoberto suddenly laughed. As if he understood everything. As if he had given up.

Elna remembered a distant day. The day she saw Vaid off to his death. With a peaceful face, Vaid had smiled. Elna—no, Elnalfia—had held the man’s corpse and wailed with all her might. On that day, too, the spirits were crying.

「Then I shall kill you.」

He reached for his sword. The man's expression and voice did not match at all. Ah, but surely, he wasn't wrong.

「If I cannot have you, I shall kill you. —Die.」

Perhaps I was just exhausted. I was remembering so many things. So, so many things. Since everyone disappears before Elna does, maybe it would be okay for me to be the one to go first for once. Suddenly thinking such a thing, she watched the descending blade and gently closed her eyes.

...You absolute fool.

Someone's voice reached her. No matter how much time passed, the sword never fell upon Elna.

*Hate*, she thought, opening her eyes to see a warm color. The King of the country that prays for rain, with his golden hair. A drop of sweat fell from Cross’s forehead.

「You absolute fool! Were you not the one who told me to die before you did!?」

Catching the blade, Cross shouted. Elna’s eyes widened slowly. Ah, that’s right. She had wished for his bones. That the bones of her beloved were hers. That she would sleep embracing his bones.

「Yeah. That’s right...」

Before she knew it, she was sitting on the ground, looking up at the back of the man she loved, her face twisting with emotion. Why was it? Whenever Elna was in front of Cross, her heart became a little softer. She became weak, she became loose, she felt as if she would crumble. Cross parried Rigoberto’s sword away.

「If you are an injured man, you should be sleeping quietly.」

「...!」

Red blood was beginning to seep from Rigoberto’s arm. As Rigoberto gripped his arm in frustration and glared at his fallen sword, Cross turned cold golden eyes toward him. It was only for a moment. But as if to say the match was over, he returned his sword to its sheath.

「Cross... where did you come from? Don't tell me...」

Gaps in the dragon's ribs stood open in the mine. The sky peeking through felt quite far away.

「Exactly. What, I’m good at coming from the sky, aren't I?」

「...」

「That’s a lie. No, it’s not a lie. Look.」

She looked up at where Cross was pointing. In the blue sky, something small and black was swimming. It was...

「A dragon...?」

Her trembling throat finally managed to weave the words. *It can't be*, she thought, losing any further words. *No*, she wanted to scream. Joy, loneliness, sadness, happiness—so many emotions mingled together that Elna could only look up at the sky.

「It’s not the real thing, though. It’s a dragon made of iron, created with Kyle’s **magi-mechanics**. Apparently, it can fly through the sky for a short time.」

「Magi-mechanics... Ah...」

(It was different,) she thought, letting out a strange breath. Was she disappointed, or relieved? Elna remained sitting with her face downcast, but Cross turned to her and reached out a hand.

「It is a husband’s duty to come to his wife. Isn't that right?」

She didn't answer. Instead, she took Cross’s hand and stood up. 「Hmm?」 Cross looked into Elna’s face from below with an affectionate expression, trying to read her. For some reason, Elna’s cheeks were puffed out, and she had a sulky look on her face.

「You...」

「Hmm? Is something wrong?」

「You cheater! I... I can't believe you rode on the back of a dragon other than me!」

「Ch-Cheater...?」

「Yes, a cheater! I absolutely cannot forgive this! Finding another woman would be fine. That would be better! But this! Just because I can’t fly through the sky anymore... this is an unbelievable humiliation!」

「Wait, I understand your feelings, but even an iron dragon counts as cheating...!?」

She repeatedly swung her fists at Cross, only for them to be caught.

「...Pfft.」

Had he been watching them? Rigoberto, who had sat down at some point and was covering his forehead with one hand, lowered his face and laughed out loud. Ketock, who had huddled small while clutching his staff, shrank even further, and at Ketock’s feet, the Hamster Spirit and Fere had taken refuge.

「Hahaha... You are surprisingly close.」

「Are we not? Unfortunately, we are so close we cannot be torn apart.」

「Don't put your arm around my shoulder! Just a moment ago, I was thinking about breaking off the engagement...!」

Ignoring Cross, who was shocked by Elna’s angry retort as she brushed his hand away, Rigoberto gave a cynical laugh.

「...I understand. Even if I can never have your power, you will not turn that power against the Empire. Your path and mine shall not cross. However, the fact that they do not cross means there is no need for them to collide. Albarul has no need to be hostile toward Wizrain...」

He spoke in a whisper, as if telling himself rather than Elna and the others. Gradually, he stopped speaking altogether. He took a breath and tightly gripped the hand he had against his forehead.

「I shall not apologize for past actions. I cannot overturn statements made in a public forum. ...However, I here pledge as an individual. I pledge that the Albarul Empire shall not take action against the Kingdom of Wizrain unless we receive an attack from your side. Is this response sufficient?」

—*How about forbidding the crossing of the Kingdom of Wizrain's borders without permission in the future?*

That was the proposal made at the meeting where Marls was present.

「Yeah.」

Cross looked down at Rigoberto, a thin smile playing on his lips.

「...It is more than enough.」