Chapter 27

The prince had been running around the capital without rest.

Dozens of 'threats' that had been lurking in the capital had become a reality. Starting with the appearance of one of them when the investigation team's [Concealment Removal] was activated, powerful monsters began to emerge one after another, plunging the capital, which had been calm until this morning, into great chaos.

Fortunately, troops had already been dispatched to most of the hiding places, and the members of the [Six Holy] led [Six Capital Battalions] and the 'Adventurer Mercenary Corps' organized by the Capital Adventurer Guild were scattered throughout the capital, dealing with the monsters that had appeared.

The battles in various places were tough, but without the information brought by Lean and that man, Noll, the situation would have been much worse. Because they were able to form parties with pre-planned countermeasures, they were able to put up a good fight. There were a large number of injured, but thanks to the timely dispatch of [Cleric] class personnel, fortunately, there were no fatalities yet.

So far, there had not been such a large-scale damage. Even if hundreds of buildings were destroyed, the castle walls were breached, and many churches were demolished – as long as the people remained, the capital could be rebuilt. The losses were not that great.

– Not yet.

"But it's not over yet. There's still more to come –!"

Most likely, this attack so far was a feint, a setup for the next move – if that were the case, they would attack here. They would launch the next big wave when our forces were confused, exhausted, and worn out.

– I know that.

The problem is that I can't see what it is.

"Where? From which direction are they coming –?"

The prince desperately tried to think. He had been giving orders to his subordinates without a break since last night and had been running around to gather information.

But he couldn't figure it out.

The information just wasn't coming in.

At the moment, the secret troops led by [Hidden Saint] were frantically searching the surroundings of the capital. They were conducting reconnaissance at an incredible pace and had already searched almost all the land around the capital.

– But still, they found nothing.

They were highly likely to attack.

But from where –?

Where were the enemies positioning their forces –!?

The prince was at a loss and looked up at the sky – at that moment, he noticed something.

"– What is that –?"

It was just a slight – sense of unease.

A part of the sky seemed to be slightly distorted.

The sense of unease seemed to be growing rapidly.

"– Could it be from the sky –!?"

He thought, "Damn, I shouldn't have been running around on the ground."

He hadn't completely ruled out the possibility of an attack from the sky.

He had given orders to be on alert.

But only up to a certain height in the visible range.

Beyond that –

There were no – countermeasures.

The enemy was sending something from far above the alert range.

"[Concealment Removal] –!"

The prince quickly used [Concealment Removal] to peel off the transparent film covering that 'something' to see the enemy's form.

Then –

A huge shadow fell over the capital in an instant.

"What –?"

Looking up, he saw the shadow of a single creature.

It was something everyone knew about – something no one had ever seen – but something no one should ever see.

"Could it be – that –!? No – that can't be –!!!"

The prince couldn't immediately believe what he saw with his own eyes. No – even though he understood that what was in front of him was real, his instincts refused to believe it.

Because its presence there meant –

– the destruction of the capital.

"Unbelievable –!? What are they thinking!? To use such a thing – such a thing –!! Are they really sane!?"

The prince shouted in confusion. It was no longer possible to think of the enemy as sane.

No – they must be mad.

If they weren't mad, they couldn't do such a thing.

"Could they really – use such a thing –!"

The prince, looking up at the sky, fell to his knees weakly. The existence floating in the sky, the despair coursing through his body – it even robbed him of the strength to stand.

For those who knew what it was, this was a natural reaction.

It was – the [Disaster Dragon].

A living legend that has lived for thousands of years and is spoken of in countless legends.

But it was undoubtedly a real, supernatural creature.

A nightmare-like fairy tale that truly exists in reality.

The numerous mountains that had been gouged out, the plains that had once been great cities and were leveled overnight, the villages that had been gouged and transformed into lakes – all these were evidence of its history.

"– Why is this happening now –?"

But the prince wondered.

According to records, the [Disaster Dragon] had been sleeping for only about 150 years.

It should still be in its active period, and it should sleep for at least another 200 years.

– Which means.

"Could they have – awakened it – by human hands? They haven't – learned anything from the tragedies of the past –"

Most likely, the dragon had been awakened.

By human hands.

– What a foolish thing –

– What a foolish thing –!!

"That is something that should never be touched by humans –!! Why don't they understand such a simple thing –!?"

The tragedy that occurred hundreds of years ago.

The dragon, disturbed from its sleep and raging in anger, rampaged for ten years, turning the area into a wasteland.

Although there are no living witnesses, it is a history that everyone should know, passed down as numerous legends and anecdotes.

To prevent the repetition of such foolish acts –

People carefully passed down the stories.

And yet.

– And yet –!

"To use it – just for human conflict – what a foolish thing –!!!"

– It is something that cannot be handled by human hands.

Encounter means death.

Its appearance means the destruction of the area.

The huge dragon, known as the [Nation-Crushing Dragon], has countless tales of destroying entire countries.

Such a legendary existence – a taboo among taboos that should never be touched by humans – is now calmly flapping its wings in the sky above the capital, heading towards the castle where his father remains.

"– It's over, everything –"

The anger that rose in the prince's body was quickly swallowed by despair.

This is the end of the capital.

There's nothing that can be done.

There is no being that can handle such a situation – anywhere.

– There shouldn't be.

This is reality, not a fairy tale.

"No – no, I must calm down –!"

The prince, using the last of his will – somehow managed to stand up.

– It's not over yet.

There are still things that can be done.

There is something that must be done at this very moment.

The prince gave orders to the liaison officer who had been standing by, frozen in shock.

"Immediately evacuate all the people gathered in the shelters – outside the capital.

Even if some want to stay, forcibly remove them and take them out –

Understand? Don't leave a single person in the capital –!!"

"– Yes –!"

The liaison officer, having received the order, immediately ran to deliver the message.

At the same time, the prince, to give his own orders –

Feeling the huge shadow above his head, ran with all his might.

It was no longer a battle to protect the capital –

– but a battle to abandon the capital and survive.