Chapter 40 : Stranger -2
Two thousand in total, one thousand men and women each.
Although Zodiac was a small nation, this number was too small to say the fate of a nation hung on it.
Even if Reichart's momentum had been tilting recently, it was not to the extent that they couldn't handle two thousand tributes.
"If the tribute is prepared as you say, what happens to them?"
"They will be offered as sacrifices in a ritual commemorating our awakening from slumber. Afterwards, they will become ingredients for a banquet for us."
"……!"
However, at least for Redin, this was not a matter he could pass over saying two thousand innocent territory people could be handled somehow.
'The Family Head eventually chooses a decisive battle with the Sub-Dragon.'
Checking Redin's momentum changing ominously, I bit my lip firmly.
In my previous life, Redin refused Valdano's proposal to prepare two thousand tributes and chose a fight to the death.
Afterwards, thanks to Redin's dazzling performance, Reichart barely managed to succeed in defeating the Sub-Dragon pack led by Kelbes, but.
'In that process, the family suffers damage close to annihilation.'
Reichart, which had already suffered fatal wounds due to the Alcala group, fell into a practically moribund state after the battle by pouring all the family's remaining strength into the fight with the Sub-Dragons.
Eventually, Reichart, having lost all strength to resist the noble alliance's schemes, acted as the nobles' puppet just like that, facing the fate of disappearing into the back alleys of history along with the fall of Zodiac.
'Now that the Alcala calamity has been suppressed, there is no major loss to Reichart's military power. No, rather, it is correct to see it as stronger with the addition of me and the Haken Knight Order. However…….'
I quickly entered the calculation.
But an answer did not come out easily.
Anyway, I had only seen the war Reichart fought with the Sub-Dragon pack through documents and had never faced a Sub-Dragon directly myself.
If a fight broke out…….
'I must calculate excluding myself as a mage. Since my identity must not be revealed to the world yet. Then it is difficult for Reichart to repel those guys without suffering fatal damage.'
Having finished the calculation, I took one step forward.
And right before Redin gave an answer to Valdano,
"Ridiculous nonsense……."
"You, did you say one month later just now?"
I threw a question at Valdano first.
"Who are you?"
"That's not an important issue. Answer what I asked rather than that. Did you say just now that the one you serve will wake from slumber one month later?"
"That is correct."
"Then does that mean the tribute is also needed only after one month?"
"Yes. The one I serve is very merciful. So thinking you guys might need time before making preparations befitting him, I, who woke up first, came to find you."
Perhaps hoping I would be moved by the fact he gave a time of one month, Valdano spoke with an expression fully intoxicated with himself.
"So I tell you once again, you must make preparations lacking nothing to serve my lord one month from now."
"Understood. Since I understood your meaning well, come back in one month."
"Young Master!"
"Young Master!"
At my answer, Bolpar and the knight commanders looked at me with startled expressions.
In fact, the act of me stepping forward to negotiate without receiving Redin's permission was itself an excess of authority infringing on the Family Head's authority.
Nevertheless, the reason none of them stopped my action was thanks to the appearance I had shown in the recent year.
However, my action right now had an excessive part even considering the trust formed over the past year.
"Stop!"
If Redin had not raised his hand to stop them, someone among them might have run out immediately to cover my mouth.
"Can I take it that you will follow my order?"
"If you are curious, come back in one month. You will know what answer we will give you when that time comes."
Even in that midst, the negotiation between me and Valdano was proceeding.
"I tell you once again to exercise mercy, but it would be better not to make a foolish choice. If we really had an appetite and needed tribute, do you think we would be satisfied with merely two thousand?"
Valdano's pupils stretched long once again, and his forked tongue licked past his lips.
"If you do not listen to our command, we will show you clearly what price your foolishness brought."
Fwoosh!
Instantly, hot flames leaked from between Valdano's molars, and the scales lined up long on the back of his hand stood up sharply.
"If that happens, even tens of thousands, not two thousand, of your people torn apart by our claws will not be enough."
"I should have told you just a moment ago? If you are curious about the answer, come back in one month."
Like that, I promised a month later without giving a definite answer to Valdano.
"Keep in mind. That there is no second chance."
Valdano, having finished all he had to say, changed his appearance to that of a Sub-Dragon and flew toward where he came from.
Right when no one could open their mouth hastily due to the shock the stranger left behind, Redin asked me.
"Was the reason you confirmed the time of one month to buy time?"
It was an attitude as if he didn't even consider the option of offering tribute and begging for peace from the start.
"That is correct. No matter what decision you make, Father, we need time."
My calmness, unbefitting the situation, was the same.
"I ask just in case, but are you also considering complying with their will as a plan, Father?"
"No. As long as I am the owner of Axion, there will never be an instance where Reichart succumbs to such presumptuous threats and hands over the lives of the territory's people."
"Understood, Father."
I was the one who asked the question, but Redin's answer was clearly conveyed to everyone gathered in this place.
Confirming that Redin's choice had not changed in this life either, I nodded and said.
"Father, I have a request."
"Speak."
"I think I will have to vacate my seat for a few days; would you grant permission?"
***
Clip-clop clip-clop.
That night, I was running along a deserted forest path with a horse.
"Whoa!"
Neigh.
'If I came this far, I don't have to worry about being detected, right?'
Having stopped the horse after running for a long while, I carefully examined the forest where pitch-black darkness had fallen.
'It seems there's no one sticking to me, let's prepare around here.'
I took down the sack tied to the saddle, scattered the blue powder inside it on the ground, and shouted the activation word.
Vwooooom.
Then, the blue powder scattered on the ground dispersed in a constant direction, formed a shape, and started twinkling.
Now, if I just input specific coordinates, the spatial movement magic would be completed.
Running a long way to hide that I was a mage who reached a state capable of using simple spatial movement magic, I was lost in thought looking in the direction of the inner castle.
'By now, a heated debate must be taking place in the inner castle.'
About whether to risk great damage and wage resistance against the Sub-Dragon pack, or grant their demands and obtain the peace 'permitted' by the Sub-Dragon pack.
Of course, the Family Head Redin had already revealed his intention to fight to the death.
However, not everything could be done by the Family Head's arbitrary decision.
There would be a significant number of people who could not accept Redin's decision and opposed it.
'Those who believe everything can be solved with money and think the lives of two thousand worm-like slaves can be given up anytime for their own safety will oppose the Family Head's opinion.'
Recalling the faces of some people I had become familiar with now, I smiled faintly.
'Dealing with worm-like guys is something the Family Head will take care of, so I must focus on what I have to do.'
In fact, Hein of the previous life, that is, Alexar, had a deep interest in dragons and the ruins they left behind.
Therefore, although they occupied the lowest seat of the dragon race, he had investigated with interest the incident caused by the Kelbes group, who were descendants of dragons.
So I learned various information that the people of the world did not know.
For example, something like the fact that a stone tablet with the key to repelling the Sub-Dragon pack existed.
'According to the records of the fragment I read, when the first apostle opens its eyes, the stone tablet recording their seal also reveals its appearance. First, secure the intact stone tablet.'
Regrettably, Alexar of the previous life noticed the existence of the stone tablet too late, so he could not see the intact stone tablet and could only confirm some debris.
But there was a fact that could be known sufficiently even through some records left in the debris.
'It is certain that records about the weakness Kelbes harbors, the secret he possesses, remain on that stone tablet. If I can just find the stone tablet, minimizing damage and repelling them is not impossible.'
Vwooooom.
I input the coordinates of the place where I discovered the debris of the stone tablet in the memories of my previous life.
Then, a much stronger light poured out from the magic circle.
Soon, the light that became much clearer wrapped around me, and a moment later, I disappeared instantly.
***
Vwooooom.
'It seems I arrived properly.'
Confirming that I moved to the designated coordinates, I recited a simple spell and operated mana.
Then, a blue glint poured out from my eyes.
'Let's see. It must be around here somewhere.'
In a remote place where no sign of human presence could be found, filled with giant trees soaring as if to touch the sky, I diligently examined the surroundings with a mana detection spell activated.
'Found it!'
A moment later, a space that seemed strangely distorted entered my sight.
I moved to that point immediately, formed a hand seal, and recited a spell.
"NjǢǒƤ."
From my mouth leaked the Dragon Tongue, distinctively different from the spells I usually used.
Of course, my Dragon Tongue did not carry power in the language itself like a dragon uses, but this much was enough to wake the ancient memories that had been asleep for thousands of years.
Crackle-
As if responding to my Dragon Tongue, the space distorted.
A moment later, light condensed for thousands of years began to pour out like a giant wave through the opened gap.
After the wave that seemed like it would pour down endlessly for a long time stopped,
I moved my steps through the distorted space.
What entered my sight first was a stone tablet floating gently in the void while surrounded by a soft light.
'Found it!'
I hurriedly approached the stone tablet.
This stone tablet had been receiving damage little by little from the moment Kelbes's apostle opened its eyes.
Therefore, Alexar, who found this place only decades after the Sub-Dragon's attack, could only see its debris.
With renewed emotion, I read down the stone tablet in a breath.
"……!"
Having finished reading the stone tablet completely from beginning to end, I immediately read it once more.
The content of the stone tablet was more interesting than I thought.
And finishing the complete reading twice, I smiled.
'Interesting.'
I brought my hand behind the stone tablet and recited the Dragon Tongue once again.
Then, as the back of the stone tablet crumbled, a single jewel sword revealed its appearance.
Bringing the jewel sword in front of my eyes, I was lost in thought.
'So it means a princess whose body was stolen.'
The smile hanging on my lips became much deeper, and soon my sharp gaze headed to the Dragon Tongue engraved on the jewel sword.
I read down the Dragon Tongue engraved on the sword in a low voice.
"Sherazade. The betrayed Princess of Sub-Dragons."