Book 2: Chapter 238: Symbol of Victory (10)
“Can you go into detail about that?”
Cale asked the baby white snake in a gentle voice.
“Human, why are you smiling like a scammer?”
Raon’s comment made his face instantly turn stoic. ‘I'm trying to act nice and he calls me a scammer?’ Cale looked at the white snake with his usual expression this time.
And the white snake-
“I don’t know!”
‘Hmm?’
Cale's pupils started to shake.
The white snake didn’t care and tilted her head as she confidently shouted.“I don’t know difficult things. I'm still a baby. Mommy said that babies don't need to know much. She said babies just need to eat well and grow well.”
Cale was silent for a moment before responding.
“…That is an excellent mother.”
"That’s right. My mom is awesome!”
The white snake seemed happy about Cale complimenting her mom as she danced around Cale’s shoulder.
Raon mumbled while looking at this.
“I can't tell whether he likes that baby snake or not!”
However, Cale ignored Raon and the baby snake as he organized his thoughts.
‘My mommy told me. She said that the mystical creatures with the qualifications to take the place of the Dragons smell like this.’
‘Mommy said that the destroyed world was trying to ostracize the Dragons from here.’
Aipotu.
There were a few things about this world that were different from the worlds Cale had visited until now.
One was the fact that there was no existence like ‘Xiaolen’ or ‘Central Plains’ here.
There was no conscious mind of the world to communicate with Cale.
‘That is why I thought that this world was destroyed.’
Cale had even considered multiple ways to revive this world.
He had prepared a way to take care of the World Tree that had lost his rational mind because of the Purple Bloods as well as how to right the world that the Dragons had taken over.
‘And it was in a serious state as expected when we got here.’
This was a world where all of the different forces of the world, mana, aura, etc, were suppressed.
They were powers only allowed to the select few.
Furthermore, weird things had happened since the cataclysmic period, resulting in abnormal climate changes.
It was also a world where the Beast people could not go berserk properly.
‘Mmm.’
It was more accurate to say that this world was destroyed.
‘But she said that this destroyed world was trying to ostracize the Dragons?’
Did that mean that this world still existed?
‘Or maybe this world is subconsciously trying to ostracize the Dragons for its survival?’
Cale thought that either option would be positive for him.
‘It at least means that the world is doing something to maintain itself.’
And the direction of it-
‘Is to create an existence that would replace the Dragons?’
That meant that they were trying to create a great adversary for the Dragons.
‘A mystical creature.’
An odd sensation filled Cale’s mind.
He had read about long-living animals when he was Kim Rok Soo.
A story about how an old Tiger became an immortal of a mountain, stories about how a snake that was a couple hundred years old was like a Dragon, stories where the turtles, an animal that lives so long that it has become the symbol of longevity, is like a sage…
‘The qualifications to become a mystical creature…’
Maybe the individuals that this baby white snake reacted to were individuals who were capable of affecting this world as much as the Dragons have.
‘And so far they have been Miss Witira and me.’
The snake had not reacted to Gashan.
Cale was certain that this white snake had its own standards for determining it.
‘I'm sure the answer will come once we meet this kid’s mother.
She said that her mom was ill?’
Cale decided not to think much about it as they would meet her soon.
Of course, he was now certain about something thanks to what this baby white snake just said.
‘This world is trying to survive.’
It was trying to regain its balance.
Cale heard Raon’s voice in his ear.
“Human, why are you suddenly smiling like that?”
He started thinking about something to ignore Raon's comment.
‘Unexpectedly-
This world is useful as well.
And I'm sure that the reason that smell came from me is because I absorbed that imugi’s reverse scale.’
The crown. There was no reason for this white snake to say that about him if it was not for that item.
“Pfft.”
Cale chuckled.
It was obvious.
‘A mystical creature?’
He was neither an animal nor a Beast people.
But he was a mystical creature with the qualifications to take over the Dragons’ spot?
That was nonsense.
‘She’s such a baby that she’s struggling with differentiating.’
Cale lightheartedly stopped thinking about it and opened his mouth.
“Why don’t we teleport back to the castle for now?”
He then added an extra comment for Lock.
“You look after the tribe leader-nim.”
“…Yes, Cale-nim.”
Cale nodded his head at Lock’s awkward response before motioning to Raon with his eyes.
They needed to quickly return to the castle to see that first Dragon they captured… They needed to dig into that bastard for some information.
Paaaat.
There was a bright black light and Cale’s group disappeared.
* * *
In the Central Temple of the Holy Empire…
Pope Casillia was quietly standing there looking at the map of the continent in the air.
As the central spot of the continent, there was a device that marked whenever a law of this world was chaotic or some big change happened.
That device was this map of the continent.
“…….”
Her gaze was focused on the northern part of the continent, by the Erghe Mountain Range.
That place was peaceful right now.
However, different words came out of her mouth.
“What a mess. All of you saw it as well, right?”
Until just moments ago…
The Erghe Mountain Range had not been visible as it was covered by a large whirlwind and warping in multiple locations.
“The twist was so serious that I thought that the laws of this world were about to crumble.”
The laws of the world they were talking about…
That was the new basis for this world that started during the cataclysmic period.
A world where aura, mana, and other forces of the world were controlled…
A world where weapons to fight were lost and the creatures within it could only breathe and survive…
That was the basis and laws of this world.
“Kendall-nim has not contacted us?”
“He has not, your Holiness.”
A small smile appeared on Pope Casillia's face.
“It looks like Kendall has lost.”
Nobody responded to her comment.
The Pope continued to speak as she had not made her last comment for a response.
"I heard that the First Knights Brigade and a portion of the Inquisitors were dispatched to assist Kendall-nim.”
“Yes, your Holiness. That is correct. They should soon arrive at the Erghe Mountain Range.”
“You mentioned that they were using teleportation magic?”
“Yes, your Holiness. They will immediately teleport to the Erghe Mountain Range as soon as they pass through the border into the Haru Kingdom. However, we heard that the Haru Kingdom was moving extremely slowly.”
The smile on the Pope's face became bigger after hearing that.
She then heard another voice.
"We just received contact from Duke Tolz of the Haru Kingdom, your Holiness. His subordinate he planted in the Royal Palace spotted Minister of Foreign Affairs Bailey in the King's Palace. He says that the King seems to be secretly plotting something.”
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bailey.
She was originally supposed to be helping the subjugation squad, leading the subjugation of the Beast people in the Erghe Mountain Range.
However, they just received news that Bailey, one of King Dennis's closest confidants, was spotted at the Royal Palace.
“Pfft.”
Casillia quietly chuckled.
“Duke Tolz is wagging his tail so well.”
A Duke of a nation was showing such loyalty to a foreign nation and doing something that could harm his country without any hesitation.
Casillia looked toward the Haru Kingdom’s territory.
“It definitely looks like King Dennis is plotting something.”
There was this piece of information from Duke Tolz, but…
“I heard that the border between the Empire and the Haru Kingdom is protected not by the Empire faction but by the King’s faction.”
One of the things that the former King of the Haru Kingdom managed to accomplish had to do with the border between the Haru Kingdom and the Holy Empire. He managed to place a Margrave who was loyal to the Haru Kingdom as the General there.
“There should be a reason that the Margrave is doing his best to delay the subjugation squad's entrance into the Haru Kingdom as much as possible.”
Casillia was silent for a moment.
She heard a voice behind her at that moment.
“Pope-nim. The Emperor has stepped forward to contact the King of Haru Kingdom.”
Casillia showed no changes to her expression as she answered.
"The Emperor is such a foolish human.”
The church had more power than the government in the Holy Empire.
Basically, the Pope's position was higher than the Emperor’s position.
However, the Empire, no, the current Emperor, was greedily trying to get more power for himself.
That was why he was doing whatever he could to look good in front of the Dragon Lord…
“It’s useless.”
Casillia knew that the Dragon Lord did not even treat the Emperor as a living creature.
“The Lord just sees humans as a means to an end.”
She just found it funny that the Emperor was flailing around without knowing the truth.
Just take a look right now.
He was doing whatever he could to move before the church made a move, so that he could show the Dragon Lord that he prioritized the Dragons above all else.
He was also trying to show that pressuring the Haru Kingdom was something that he should be doing as the Emperor of the Empire, not something the Pope of the Church should do.
Wasn’t he sending a message to the Pope like this?
“Let the Emperor do as he pleases. Let him handle the Haru Kingdom.”
She then added on.
“Also inform the Emperor about the information we got from Duke Tolz.”
“…Wouldn't that lead to the Emperor severely pressuring the King of the Haru Kingdom?”
The Pope calmly answered the question about whether it would be a proper warning versus just a request.
“That is what I am hoping for.”
The Pope was hoping that the Emperor would do that.
“Wouldn’t that put the world in greater chaos?”
Starting with the Haru Kingdom, if the Empire got involved…
The result would be that all of the nations on this continent would get mixed into it.
“…….”
“…….”
Nobody responded to her comment.
Commotion, chaos…
Destruction…they knew that she desired all of these things.
Knock knock knock.
She heard her trusted subordinate outside the door.
“Pope-nim.”
Casillia’s face slightly frowned for the first time after hearing the message.
“We have received news that the God of Fighting will be visiting.”
The 10 Dragon gods…
Based on their ages, she was the ninth of the group, but based on strength, she was within the top five.
“…I guess Cisco-nim would have heard that Kendall-nim went to the Erghe Mountain Range. She always secretly looked after Kendall-nim, so I'm sure she is curious about what happened.”
Casillia's face turned calm again.
She turned around as she continued to speak.
“I'm sure Cisco-nim will want to go where Kendall-nim is.”
She gently opened up her arms.
“My close friends.”
10 Bishops…
They were all looking at Casillia.
They were all true Dragon half-bloods, ones who have completed their first growth phases and had lives that were like ticking time bombs.
They all showed their agreement for Casillia's wishes.
“Is there anybody who would like to visit the Haru Kingdom with Cisco-nim?”
Casillia smiled.
“Why don’t we open the gates to hell?”
So that chaos fills this land…
“We are already living lives that cannot continue anyway. Because of that-”
It was obvious.
“This world cannot continue either.”
Her eyes looked crazed.
They also carried an endless sea of frustration and anger.
“Pope-nim.”
One man stepped forward at that moment.
He was a bulky man that resembled a berserk Beast person.
“Third Bishop-nim.”
This man who took the third position of the bishops was named Hons.”
“Hons-nim, will you be the one to go?”
“…….”
He silently nodded his head.
He was famous within the church for not speaking much.
Furthermore, he was secretly famous for taking a step back and maintaining neutrality.
A few of the bishops were surprised that he agreed with Casillia’s desires.
“Then I will leave it to you, Third bishop-nim.”
A bright smile appeared on Casillia’s face.
On the other hand, Hons was stoic.
“Kendall. And Cisco… If those two Dragons die or are critically injured, our task will become easier. So Hons-nim, please-”
She extended her hand out.
“Please open the gates of hell.”
Hons silently shook her hand.
* * *
The First Knights Brigade of the Holy Empire who stepped foot onto the Haru Kingdom to subjugate the Beast people in the Erghe Mountain Range…
The first and third generation Dragon half-bloods gulped and their eyes sparkled as they watched what happened in front of them.
And at that moment…
“Hahaha-”
Cale Henituse was laughing as if he was truly amused.
His gaze was directed at Kendall, who was bound to a chair.
Cale looked at him and asked as if he was amused.
“Lower my head? Why? You think you can fuck around because there are no Dragons around?”
There were no Dragons by Cale’s side right now.
Only Beacrox, Choi Han, and Clopeh were with him.
Cale looked at Kendall, whose face was swollen but still looking dignified.
There was no wind but his silver hair started to flutter.
“Ugh, ugh!”
“Ugh!”
The Dragon half-bloods started groaning.
Kendall.
He was releasing a large amount of Dragon Fear.
A pressure that could not be compared to what he released when fighting against Rasheel was flowing out of him.
Kendall spoke calmly.
“Bring a Dragon. I have no intention of chatting if there are no Dragons.”
He added on as if it was obvious.
“Humans are not qualified to speak to me. There is no need to even scare those without the qualifications. You wouldn't be able to look at me anyway.”
Oooooong– oooooo–
The area around them started to shake, as if it was reacting to Kendall’s Dragon Fear.
As for Cale… his smile became thicker.
—
Translator's Comments
Cale's smiling more…we know what is coming.
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