Chapter 28

"Uwaaaaaaaah!?"

I soared up into the sky at an incredible speed. The wind blowing against me and the gravity I felt were quite intense.

Before I knew it, I was high above the Ref Magic Empire, at about the same height as the Red Gate.

*Huff.* There's no time to enjoy the journey through the sky.

"I-I know. In the direction of that light!"

I was now on the back of a dragon, a massive body that could easily carry ten people and was flying steadily through the sky.

The solution to closing the Red Gate was to shut down three or four functions of the "Labyrinth of Nine Emotions." It was better to stop the dungeons with the largest energy output, so I was riding the dragon toward the "Labyrinth of Fear."

The red dragon, known as the "Flame Dragon," quickly believed in the solution I proposed.

*Roar.*

Near the Red Gate, two dragons, one blue and one green, were flying and casting magic at the crack. The blue "Sea Dragon" used [Water Magic], and the green "Tree Dragon" was a user of [Flower Magic]. The scale of their magic was incomparable to what humans could use; the ice blocks and massive trees they launched hit the sealing bone directly, successfully stopping it.

The two purple "Shadow Dragons" were heading toward the labyrinths I had instructed them to, the "Labyrinth of Drowning Love" and the "Labyrinth of Adoration," to destroy the control rooms at their cores.

"Here it is!"

It was close in distance, and flying through the sky, it was a short trip to the "Labyrinth of Fear." Spotting the entrance to the labyrinth on the cliff, I jumped from the dragon's back. Using [Wind Magic], I could easily reach the entrance.

*I will head to the "Labyrinth of Sorrow."*

"Thank you."

The labyrinths that had already been cleared had absorbed a great deal of emotional energy. Therefore, shutting down these four should definitely close the Red Gate.

"Thank you very much."

*No need for thanks. This is a matter among mediators... but.*

The dragon, which had been hovering, hesitated as if trying to say something.

"But, what is it?"

*No... never mind. Go, Child of Calamity. We are incompatible beings.*

"!"

The flapping of the dragon's wings grew stronger, and a strong wind blew toward me.

"Hey! What does 'Child of Calamity' mean!?"

*—Place your hand on your chest.*

"!?"

The dragon ascended and flew toward the "Labyrinth of Sorrow."

"Place my hand on my chest?"

I placed my right hand on my chest, but it felt the same as always. I had no idea what it meant.

Could it be—some past life from before I was in Japan? I tried to use the [Covenant of Separation] talent and absorb [All Things] but it didn't work. My Skill Holder must be between 12 and 22, so it should be 16, considering both my past and present lives.

"I don't get it!"

I entered the "Labyrinth of Fear." There was a shortcut, so I should be able to reach the control room immediately—

★ Lark ★

"What is he doing!?"

Lark couldn't help but exclaim. Suddenly, five dragons appeared. The dragon he had seen in the capital of the Ahnbach Duchy was so fierce that if five of them came and wreaked havoc, the city would surely be reduced to ruins.

However, the dragons began attacking the Red Gate, and one of them even took the boy on its back and flew away.

"!"

A clashing sound of metal nearby caught his attention. Dante was using a large shield to block the mediator's attacks.

"Don't look away, 'Black Sky Pirate'! The dragons are concerning, but we need to deal with this first!"

Compared to the End Fang, the mediators were easier to fight, but they were by no means easy opponents. Moreover, knights and soldiers were mixed in, and the mediators were taking advantage of the chaos, potentially leading to friendly fire.

The mediators seemed to be targeting the strongest individuals, and Lark was one of them.

"Sorry! By the way, my name is Lark."

"What?"

"My name is Lark! Didn't you ask the boy!?"

"—Lark, got it."

Dante nodded but was puzzled by "the boy."

Lark and Dante stood side by side.

The mediators had blended in with the soldiers, slashing and causing chaos everywhere. It was a dirty way to fight.

"We should fall back."

"I agree. But who has the authority to give the order?"

"—It's me."

"It's me."

The tall knight Friedrich from the Kingdom of Light Knights and Glenzeed from the Holy Kingdom of Curvaan arrived.

"I will have the other knights fall back. I will face that one one-on-one. Is that acceptable, former Holy King?"

"Are you kidding? That's my prey. The one who caused all this chaos. You should be the ones to step back."

"What did you say?"

"Huh?"

Friedrich, with a furrowed brow, and Glenzeed, with his arms crossed and glaring, faced each other. Glenzeed was a large man, but he was about 10 centimeters shorter than Friedrich.

Dante, realizing they were nobles, panicked.

"P-Please stop fighting... Sirs..."

"You guys are energetic. Just do it together. As long as you take him down, it doesn't matter."

Dante, who understood the social hierarchy despite being an adventurer, was shocked by Lark's words.

"..."

"..."

Friedrich and Glenzeed looked at Lark, then at each other.

*Huff.* The words of a child can be true.

*Working together isn't bad, either.*

They both turned to face forward.

"—Knights, listen! From this moment, Friedrich Berger will take up his sword and defeat the enemy! Fall back and do not interfere!"

"Knights of the Holy King! Fall back! It's my order!"

Their loud voices echoed across the battlefield, and the knights from both countries began to retreat. The soldiers of the Keithsgran Federation also fell back.

The only one left in the center was the mediator.

Friedrich and Glenzeed, weapons in hand, walked confidently toward the mediator.

"Let's go, former Holy King."

"Right, the big one."

They both ran toward the mediator at the same time.