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Chapter 351: Observers (1)

“…Kin?”

Oscar blinked, staring at Edna.

In his mind, a syllogism naturally formed.

1. Edna Sol Laplace is a dragon.

2. Therefore, her kin are dragons.

As his thoughts reached that point, Oscar’s eyes narrowed.

‘Those bastards came down?’

Naturally, his feelings toward those lizards were far from good.

Weren’t they the ones who abandoned the planet without a backward glance the moment the demon race launched their full-scale invasion?

If they had helped humanity and fought alongside them against the demons, the course of the war would have been drastically different.

‘Of course, non-intervention is the stance of observers in any matter….’

But that didn’t make it any less unpleasant for someone who had suffered like hell on the battlefield.

Perhaps because of that, the voice that slipped out was sharper than usual.

“What the hell are they doing coming here? With what face?”

“I-I don’t know that much either….”

“Hm.”

Why had those bastards come to this planet?

Stroking his chin, Oscar asked,

“Only two came down?”

“So far, from what I’ve sensed, yes.”

Two, huh.

Basically, dragons are OP by species.

It simply means the race itself is strong.

From the moment they crack out of their eggs, they can chew up most mid-tier knights or mages.

Ah, and by “chew up,” that’s meant literally.

A typical hatchling is a giant with a total length of 10 meters.

“Location?”

“I don’t know their current position, but the last place their presence vanished was near Mount Tuhullin.”

It wasn’t that far.

Even if they were dragons, if he and Sasha brought Mad Fiend along, they could subdue them without variables.

Looking at Edna, Oscar asked carefully,

“Do you want to stay here?”

“Do you not trust me?”

“Hey, why wouldn’t I trust you? It’s just that the scene might get a little… violent.”

Even if they had split ways due to differing views, they were still kin.

Moreover, given how few dragons there were, they would inevitably be distant relatives or neighbors.

He was simply being considerate, wondering if seeing them get beaten up might make Edna uncomfortable.

“It’s fine. I’m also curious why they came.”

Ah, if it’s about satisfying curiosity, then it can’t be helped.

Oscar nodded.

* * *

Mid-slope of the sparsely populated Mount Tuhullin.

A boy with green-dyed hair took out a notebook as he looked down at the world, now fully in spring.

“Let’s see… mana density, atmospheric composition, and temperature are all within standard values.”

After reviewing past records, the boy nodded.

“Well, it’s only been 21 years. It wouldn’t have changed that much.”

No matter how fierce a war had been, it was difficult to alter a planet’s environment.

Snap.

Closing the notebook and slipping it into his chest, his eyes gleamed.

“Then, it’s about time to begin the investigation… hm?”

Strange mana signatures were approaching him at a fairly fast pace.

Rather than leaving, he simply watched them with shining eyes.

“Oh, what the—there really is someone?”

“What did I tell you, boss? I said I saw him.”

“But those clothes look pretty expensive… are you perhaps a noble?”

Eight rough-looking men.

Each with vicious blades at their waists, they questioned him, but the boy shook his head.

“I’m not a noble.”

“Really? That works out nicely.”

Shiiing!

In an instant, the bandits drew their weapons and threatened the boy outright.

“Hey, kid. If you want to cross this mountain, you’ll have to pay us a toll.”

“A toll?”

“Yeah. First, strip off all the clothes you’re wearing.”

“Hm, I see.”

Nodding, the boy pulled out his notebook and began writing something down.

“Due to the aftermath of the war… civilization is presumed to have regressed significantly… degeneration of human intelligence also likely….”

“What the hell is he doing?”

“I-I don’t know?”

At his useless subordinate’s answer, the leader clicked his tongue and jerked his chin.

“Boys! He’s still young, so it might be hard for him to strip himself. Help him out!”

“Yes!”

At the command, the bandits approached the boy with swaggering steps.

“Kid, do adults’ words sound like a joke to you? When we tell you to strip, just quietly take off your clo—”

“Break.”

Crack!

The arm of the bandit reaching for his shoulder twisted in a grotesque direction.

As everyone blinked at the surreal sight,

Snap!

Closing his notebook, the green-haired boy lazily stared at the bandit leader.

“You’re tall?”

“W-what?”

“I don’t like it. Something like an insect dares to look down on me.”

In an instant, his gaze turned cold.

“Kneel.”

Crack! Crack!

The bandits’ legs twisted all at once, forcing them all to their knees.

Only then did the leader realize he had chosen the wrong opponent, trembling as he spoke.

“A-are you a mage? S-sorry for not recognizing you.”

“A mage? Hah, it’s been a while since I’ve been insulted like that.”

The boy snorted.

To him, mages were no different from the bandits before him.

Just as bandits steal others’ possessions, weren’t mages the ones who stole dragons’ magic?

“Listen well. I am—”

The moment the boy’s green eyes glowed and split vertically like a reptile’s,

the air above tore open, and a figure burst out, crashing down on top of him.

“Ghk, what the—get off!”

Despite his shout as he struggled beneath, the figure didn’t budge.

‘My dragon speech doesn’t work?’

The boy’s pupils trembled.

Dragon speech—the language magic of dragons that makes the world realize phenomena simply by speaking.

It was clearly the origin of magic and the reason dragons were called the balancers of the world and demigods.

“Well done, Mad Fiend.”

The one who offered praise was a man who fell from the spatial tear right after.

The man—Oscar—looked around and frowned.

“…So you start off by threatening innocent humans the moment you arrive.”

“Ugh, get off me!”

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Shouting at the top of his lungs, the boy seemed to realize this wouldn’t work and widened his eyes.

“Fine. If you won’t get off on your own….”

Then he would have to force him off.

Just as he was about to undo his polymorph and return to his dragon form—

“Seiro?”

Edna, who had come through the portal, murmured softly.

At that voice, the boy’s eyes widened as he turned his head.

“A-Aunt Edna?”

“Aunt?”

“Aunt?”

Oscar and Sasha stared at Edna in shock.

Even Mad Fiend, seemingly interested, slightly turned his head while still sitting on top of the boy.

“Yes. He is my older sister’s son.”

“Aunt! Stop just watching and help me!”

As the dragon called Seiro shouted, Edna quietly folded her arms.

“I have severed ties with the clan. We are no longer relatives.”

“Th-that….”

“And first, I will ask one thing. Why were you harassing humans?”

“I wasn’t harassing them! Those guys told me to take off my clothes first!”

“Is that true?”

Edna looked toward Oscar.

Reading the flow of the surrounding wind, he nodded reluctantly.

“Well, doesn’t seem like a lie.”

“Then….”

Edna looked at the bandits with a contemptuous gaze.

“They are worse than beasts—deviants driven by base desires.”

“T-that’s a misunderstanding! We’re just honest bandits!”

Startled, the leader hurriedly explained.

“His clothes looked expensive, so we just planned to take what he had and chase him off. Please believe us.”

“Hoo.”

That too was true.

Letting out a faint sigh, Oscar waved his hand lightly.

At that, the kneeling bandits vanished in an instant.

He had tossed them one by one near the mountain entrance, so they wouldn’t die.

“So.”

Oscar bent down slightly and looked at Seiro.

“What brings a dragon here?”

Only then did Seiro properly look at the humans, including Oscar, and his body trembled slightly.

‘T-these humans… are strange.’

He had learned that dragons were superior to humans, and thus stronger.

But among the three present, there wasn’t a single one weaker than him.

Among them, the woman standing farthest back—who looked smaller than him—was especially monstrous.

“Hm. I don’t like that dragon’s gaze.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It feels like he’s looking down on me… anyway.”

Surrounded by humans who were hostile to him, Seiro swallowed hard and raised both hands.

“I-I surrender. I’ll tell you everything, just don’t kill me.”

“You’re easy to talk to. Mad Fiend.”

At Oscar’s gesture, Mad Fiend finally got up.

Freed, the boy cautiously straightened his upper body.

“So, what do you want from me?”

“First, a question. Why did you come here?”

Oscar asked in a serious tone.

More than anything else, determining the purpose of the dragon’s visit was the top priority.

Glancing at Edna, Seiro carefully opened his mouth.

“…It’s just a reconnaissance mission. I was told to check whether the war has ended.”

“Hah.”

Letting out a hollow laugh, Oscar snapped without thinking.

“Why the hell would you care whether it’s over? If it is, were you planning to send a gift to the winning side?”

“D-don’t mock me. I don’t know that much either.”

Now the target of pure anger, Seiro shrank his shoulders and muttered.

Watching him, Oscar calmed his boiling emotions and asked,

“Edna told me you came with a companion. Where is he?”

“Uh, I got separated from Elder Valterion while breaking through the atmosphere.”

He pointed north.

“He went that way. From the start, our mission was to check both north and south.”

“….”

“If it’s north, does that mean he went to the Demon Realm?”

“That’s right. We each check our assigned areas and regroup where I am in two days.”

Two days, huh.

Oscar nodded, looking at the young dragon before him.

“Good. Until then, you move with us.”

* * *

A fortress filled with ash-gray in every direction.

At its highest watchtower, a man stood with his hands clasped behind his back.

“You’re late….”

But only for a moment.

KWA-A-A-A-ANG!

A massive dragon descended from the sky, crushing the castle walls as it appeared.

Yet, there was no commotion.

Because the only demon in this fortress was the man.

-A demon.

The red dragon, staring at him with yellow eyes, muttered.

-The aura you give off is considerable. Who are you?

“The Emperor.”

-Nonsense. The Emperor I know did not look like you.

“Ah, that’s probably the first one. He’s dead. I’m the second.”

-…….

That overwhelmingly powerful Emperor was dead?

Unable to believe it, the dragon asked,

-Who on earth killed him?

“He died together with the White Mage.”

-Oscar Sage.

The White Tower Master of that time had not possessed such skill.

Which meant that through the war, he had ascended to an unfathomable peak.

The dragon slowly nodded and spoke.

-Then, has the war ended?

“To be precise, it’s a ceasefire. For 21 years.”

-Hm… then do you perhaps know of the pact our clan made with the first Emperor?

“I heard about it from the counts.”

-That’s fortunate. We have kept our promise, and our clan will soon return to duty.

“Return to duty? Ah, you mean observing and recording all things in the world?”

The Emperor smirked and nodded.

“Do as you like. But can I ask you one thing?”

-What is it?

“If it weren’t for the pact with the first Emperor, whose side do you think you would have taken?”

-We are observers of the world. Our principle is not to intervene in any matter.

“I know, I know it well. But according to a rumor I heard, you were planning to side with humanity. Isn’t that right?”

-…….

The dragon was silent for a moment.

-At the time, opinions within the clan were divided. One thing is certain—by far the majority believed we should not intervene, in accordance with our original stance.

“And the next largest opinion was to side with humanity?”

-……Why do you ask that?

“Guess I’m right, since you can’t answer.”

The Emperor smirked and muttered.

“Hm. But that’s a problem. Even if you return, it doesn’t really benefit us, does it?”

-Whether you benefit or lose is irrelevant. We have fulfilled the pact, so we will return.

“Sure. Coming back is your choice. But….”

Srrrk! A strange sound rang out.

Like a massive tree being cut down.

-Wha, you—.

The dragon’s shocked voice cut off weakly.

Thud!

The red dragon’s head fell to the ground.

“Eliminating variables is my choice as well, isn’t it?”

The Emperor smiled faintly as he looked at the severed head of the dragon he had just been speaking with.

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