Chapter 29

The king stood at the highest point in the capital, overlooking the city he ruled.

"Is this what that man called 'easy'... I truly misjudged him – to think he would resort to such forceful means."

From the castle's spire, the state of the capital was as clear as day.

As far as the eye could see, black smoke billowed, homes and churches were engulfed in flames, and the marketplaces were in ruins.

Countless buildings had been destroyed, and the sounds of intense battles still echoed from all directions.

Suddenly, a massive shadow appeared in the sky – the [Disaster Dragon].

The king silently etched its form into his mind.

That man –

The ruler of the Magic Empire, Emperor Delidas III.

The last words that man spoke during the recently failed negotiations.

The king, while gazing at the dragon before him, reflected on those words.

"– There's no way I can accept giving over all the 'labyrinth resources' produced by the kingdom."

It was tantamount to putting an end to the thousand-year history of the Kingdom of Creus.

Compared to the neighboring three countries, Creus was a small nation.

Its territory was less than a tenth of the others, and it was poor in water, minerals, forests, and all other resources.

In such a situation, the only important resource was the world's oldest [Labyrinth of No Return], where ancient relics and magical artifacts were discovered and traded, enriching the national treasury and maximizing the use of the mostly agricultural land to maintain the small territory.

The capital, known as the "Holy Land of Adventurers" due to the [Labyrinth of No Return], was the foundation of the kingdom's establishment and remains the center of the economy and human interaction.

Most of the citizens have greatly benefited from these resources.

– To hand over all of that.

It would not only shake the livelihoods of all the citizens – if this were to happen, the country would inevitably collapse sooner or later.

That man knew this and still made the demand.

That man is driven by greed.

Until recently, he wasn't that bad.

While he made unreasonable demands, he knew where to draw the line – at least, he was an emperor who balanced ambition and reason.

But – that man has changed.

And not for the better.

He has annexed neighboring countries with labyrinths, diligently studied the ancient relics and magical artifacts produced there, and successfully replicated them.

From that point on, that man changed –

He no longer hid his greed or ambition.

He must have thought that with the power he gained, there was no need to.

The other two countries also resonated with that country's actions.

The three countries formed a military alliance – and began to encroach on and absorb the surrounding small countries.

To gain more resources and acquire greater power through invasion.

"– Do you really want power that much –"

The source of the Magic Empire's power, at the center of the three countries, is undoubtedly the "labyrinth resources."

Indeed, among the important relics discovered deep in the labyrinth, there are many that would be incredibly convenient for invading other countries.

If there were technology to replicate them, invading other countries would probably be easy.

That's why they want the [Labyrinth of No Return] so badly.

Using it, they would gain even greater power.

– But, what good does it do to use such power for this?

Power is meant to make the people happy.

It's also a form of wisdom to manage overwhelming power strictly and refrain from using it when necessary –

When the king said this, that man laughed mockingly.

"Because of your attitude, you remain the king of a small country. You are not fit to be a king," he said.

And then –

"– It's easy to crush your country with force. If you don't accept the terms to spare your people, be prepared," – that man really did what he threatened.

The king had anticipated it.

He knew that man was dangerous.

But he was too naive – to think it would happen so soon.

And on such a scale, without hesitation.

– Deep down, he had underestimated that man.

Thinking he only wanted the labyrinth underground.

That the people, culture, and history above it were irrelevant.

That man had clearly stated it in words.

Perhaps, as that man said, he was not fit to be a king.

He was a simple, unpolitical person.

He was more suited to swinging a sword without thinking than to commanding his vassals.

Just a moment ago, the king himself dealt with the sudden appearance of monsters, slaying three Goblin Emperors rampaging in the city.

But with his aged body, that was all he could do – he left the rest to the prince and his vassals, and from the spire of the castle, he focused on coordinating and giving instructions to manage the battle situation.

Now, everything at the scene is practically being handled by his son, Prince Rain.

Since his coming of age at 15, he has been given experience as the next ruler of the country – handling the intelligence department and internal affairs – and he quickly achieved results beyond expectations.

Impressed by this, he was given command of the [Six Holy] led [Capital Six Armies] and sent to slay the thunder dragon, and he completed the mission with unparalleled efficiency, beyond imagination.

That son is now far more capable than the king himself –

The country would run smoothly even without him.

The early detection of this crisis was impressive, and the evacuation orders were executed with impeccable speed.

Human casualties were minimized, and the handling of the monsters that appeared, though challenging, was steadily progressing and turning in their favor –

Yet, the king, who should be the heart of it all, is in this state.

"All of this is my mistake – I cannot even ask for forgiveness."

The worst outcome due to his missteps in negotiations with the emperor.

– That is the [Disaster Dragon] now looming before him.

A symbol of destruction widely spoken of across the continent, a manifestation of despair itself.

The king, while gazing at the massive shadow, thought, if only the [Six Holy] were here now.

[Sword Saint] Sig.

[Shield Saint] Dandarg.

[Bow Saint] Mianne.

[Stealth Saint] Kallu.

[Magical Saint] Oaken.

[Healing Saint] Sain.

They were vassals who fought alongside him in battles that determined life and death – and good friends.

The most trusted companions.

If they were all here, it might have been different.

But now, the [Six Holy] are scattered throughout the capital.

To quickly quell the chaos in the capital, they are dispersed, each commanding their respective areas.

– It's different from the past.

They are now important roles within the framework of the state.

They cannot be concentrated in one place.

Moreover, this series of disturbances, with the capital engulfed in flames, was likely a large-scale diversionary tactic to disperse the main forces of the Kingdom of Creus – the [Six Holy] – but that was obvious. To protect the lives of the citizens, they had no choice but to comply.

Therefore, the king ordered them to scatter and deal with the situation, and he has no regrets about it.

The enemy was simply more skilled.

– But, to attack without hesitation and without mercy to this extent.

"– I truly did a terrible thing."

He feels truly sorry.

To the citizens who followed this foolish king.

To his son and daughter, to whom he could not hand over the beloved country.

And for ending the long history of the country.

The king, deeply regretting that his mistakes have brought everything to this crisis, drew his long sword and quietly took a stance.

"Though it may not atone for my sins – at least, I will take one eye."

The eye of the [Disaster Dragon] celebrated in legend.

If he were to challenge it with his life, he could probably achieve that much.

He may not be able to defeat it – but at least, he can leave a mark.

Even in the face of death, the king felt his blood boil.

It was a nostalgic feeling from when he was a simple adventurer, exploring the labyrinth with his companions.

When he realized this, the king smiled wryly.

– Indeed, he was not fit to be a king.

He was much more suited to standing with a sword in hand.

Even as a foolish person, he could still repay this body with a single strike.

His grip on the sword tightened.

To deliver the final blow, the king took a step toward the edge of the balcony.

But –

The [Disaster Dragon]'s jaw opened wide.

When he saw the light glowing inside, the king stopped in his tracks.

"– I thought at least one strike, but even that is not allowed, it seems."

What the dragon was about to release was the legendary 'Breath.'

The 'Light of Destruction' that is said to have blown away mountains, burned countries, and turned cities into plains.

It was not something to be dismissed as mere legend.

The abnormal density of magic power was visible, distorting the surrounding space.

If it were to be released directly, not only his body but the entire capital would be in danger.

– What it would bring is absolute destruction, as the legends say.

No matter how many magic barriers were layered, it would be futile.

The king instantly gave up on resistance.

"– I'm sorry, Leen."

In the face of death, what he was concerned about was his daughter, Leen.

His son, Rain, seemed to have decided to send his younger sister to Mithra, where she had studied abroad as a child –

Even if Mithra managed to escape, many difficulties would await.

His country was also allied with the Magic Empire. It would be only slightly better among the three neighboring countries.

The path of a royal family from a fallen nation was predictable.

But, that man – the man who received the 'Black Sword,' Noll.

If she were with that man, perhaps –

The prince must have thought so too.

He sent her with [Divine Shield] Ines, who had been her protector since childhood.

He hoped that at least his daughter could survive and live a happy life. That was all he could think about.

– It was absurd.

At a time when the country was on the brink of destruction, the leader of the nation was only worried about his daughter.

Indeed, he was an unworthy king.

"But, at least for the last time – I must be faithful to my duty."

The king discarded his favorite long sword and gripped the [Shattering Magic Sword], one of the labyrinth relics, pouring all his magic power into it.

To put everything into the next strike.

The king prepared to leap into the dragon's mouth.

– Even if he couldn't take an eye, he would stop the activation of that Breath at the moment of his own demise.

The path ahead would surely be opened by his excellent son and vassals.

– He believed this.

"– Come. I will show you the stubbornness of a human."

As the dragon's mouth glowed intensely and the surrounding space distorted –

The legendary [Disaster Dragon]'s [Light of Destruction] was about to be released, at that moment.

Something flew into his field of vision.

"– What is this –?"

It flew straight toward him silently,

and with incredible speed, it was absorbed into the [Disaster Dragon]'s head –

"Pa-rii"

Suddenly, the dragon's neck jerked upward.

At the same time – the vast magic power condensed in the [Disaster Dragon]'s mouth turned into a beam of light, released into the sky over the capital.

The beam of light tore through the clouds, drawing an arc in the sky, and fell like a meteor onto the distant plain, turning the surroundings white with light.

The delayed shockwave followed.

An incomparable gale, capable of blowing away even stone buildings –

Houses made of wood and brick were instantly crushed and collapsed.

But, amidst the raging light and wind, the king saw.

The dragon, with its head pointed downward, falling to the ground – and the figure of a man, whom he recognized from somewhere.

That man