Chapter 200: What is meant by "Tool"

The night sky was filled with twinkling stars among thin clouds. From a fairly wide balcony, one could see most of the Qiezhuran territory, including the buildings lit with crystal light to welcome the Primordial Legacy Festival.

Behind him, the party was still going on quite merrily. The sound of music and the guests’ conversation could occasionally be heard from inside the hall, though most of the Clan leaders seemed to have started enjoying their own time.

And on one side of that balcony, Mercer was standing quietly.

The man rested one hand on the railing, looking up at the night sky with an expression hard to read. No one knew what he was thinking, even when his eyes sometimes moved to follow a few stars in the distance.

’...It’s been so long.’

Mercer drew a slow breath.

He had hardly attended festivals like this in recent years. His work as the leader of the Drazhuel was rather demanding, but now that he finally had the chance to return, the man wasn’t particularly interested in enjoying the atmosphere of the party.

At the very least, he preferred the quiet of the balcony to the bustle inside the hall.

"Lord Mercer."

A voice suddenly came from behind him.

Mercer didn’t turn around right away. He only shifted his gaze slightly, then looked at three Clan leaders who had just stepped out of the hall.

"Ah, so it’s you."

The three Dragons immediately bowed their heads respectfully.

"Forgive us for disturbing your time."

"It’s no problem. Is there something you wish to discuss?"

"Yes, Lord Mercer. We would like to confirm a few matters regarding the plan we discussed before."

Mercer nodded slightly.

"In that case, please go ahead."

Having received permission, one of the Clan leaders finally stepped a little closer. The man made sure no other guests were around the balcony before turning his attention back to Mercer.

"First, regarding the Voidborn that previously escaped from the Drazhuel. Are we still to prioritize its capture?"

"Of course."

Mercer answered without hesitation.

"That is one of our main objectives."

The three Clan leaders exchanged glances for a moment.

They already knew that the Drazhuel were searching for a Voidborn that a human had taken away. But some of them still didn’t understand why Mercer paid such attention to that creature.

After all, if their goal was to subjugate the Qiezhuran, shouldn’t the matter of a single Voidborn be something that could be dealt with afterward?

"Lord Mercer, if I may ask, is that Voidborn truly so important?"

Mercer finally turned his body around.

"...You don’t know what Voidborn are used for?"

"Not entirely. We only know that the race has a very rare ability."

"I see."

Mercer nodded slightly.

"In that case, think of them as a Tool."

"...A Tool?"

"Correct, a Tool that allows us to open Breaches and connect one world with another."

Mercer raised one hand, then made a small motion as if pointing at something in the air.

"As long as we have the right coordinates, a Voidborn can help open a path to the destination we want with far greater precision."

"...Oh."

One of the Clan leaders seemed to begin to grasp his meaning.

"So we could use them to reach other worlds without having to rely entirely on naturally occurring Breaches?"

"More or less."

Mercer smiled faintly.

"Isn’t that very useful?"

The three Clan leaders nodded at once.

For a Dragon Clan wishing to expand its influence toward other worlds, an ability like that clearly held enormous value. All the more so if they could decide for themselves where a Breach would lead.

But there was another problem.

"In that case, don’t we need more Voidborn?"

"Of course. Unfortunately, that race is very rare."

Mercer leaned back against the balcony railing again.

"That is why they must always be bred. We cannot afford to lose something so useful, especially when we don’t know when we would get a replacement."

"...I understand."

"The Voidborn that escaped must be found. And if the Qiezhuran is indeed protecting the human who took it away, you already know what must be done."

Mercer said all this so calmly, as if there were nothing strange about his wish to recover that creature.

The three Clan leaders bowed their heads again.

"Of course, Lord Mercer. We will make sure that Voidborn returns to the Drazhuel’s hands."

"Good."

Mercer looked fairly satisfied.

"Now then, is there anything else?"

"...There is one more."

This time, the Clan leader who had been mostly silent all along finally opened his mouth.

"It concerns the Qiezhuran."

Hearing that name, Mercer’s attention returned to him.

"Continue."

"We have carried out the preparations according to your instructions. Several Clans have also declared their willingness to move at any time. However, we still haven’t received confirmation of the timing of the attack."

Mercer was quiet for a moment.

Then he answered casually.

"One day after the Primordial Legacy Festival begins."

"...One day after the festival begins?"

"That’s right."

The Clan leaders looked at one another.

That answer was actually quite different from what they had expected. With all the preparations already made, they had thought Mercer would order the attack as soon as possible.

Especially since Garph wasn’t in the Qiezhuran.

"Lord Mercer, do we truly need to wait until then?"

"...What do you mean?"

"No particular meaning. It’s only that we could actually begin the attack at any time."

The man spoke carefully.

"If we move now, the Qiezhuran might not even have the chance to prepare its defenses. Wouldn’t that be far more advantageous?"

Mercer didn’t answer right away.

He only watched the Clan leader for a few moments, then slowly turned his gaze toward the hall.

"...I see."

The man’s voice sounded ordinary.

But when he looked back at them, something in his expression had changed.

"So, you think I don’t know something as simple as that?"

"...!"

The Clan leader tensed at once.

"N-not at all, Lord Mercer!"

"Then what?"

Mercer tilted his head slightly.

"Do you mean to say that the decision I made makes no sense?"

"No! I had no such intention at all!"

The man quickly bowed his head.

"I only wished to make sure we don’t miss a good opportunity."

"...Opportunity?"

Mercer laughed softly.

But there was no warmth in his voice.

"You truly think I need your help to know when we should attack a Clan?"

"..."

"If I wanted to destroy the Qiezhuran right now, what makes you think I couldn’t?"

The air around them felt a little heavier.

The three Clan leaders didn’t dare say anything. Even the man who had asked the question could only keep his head bowed.

Mercer looked at them with a cold gaze.

"Do not take my willingness to listen to your opinions as permission to question every decision I make."

"...Forgive us, Lord Mercer."

"If you’re so eager to move now, then by all means."

Mercer smiled faintly.

"But make sure you don’t come back to me begging for help when it all ends badly."

"...!"

No one answered.

For a few moments, the balcony became extremely quiet.

And just as one of the Clan leaders began to feel that he might have made a terrible mistake, Mercer closed his eyes.

"..."

He drew a slow breath.

Then, as if nothing had just happened, the man opened his eyes again with a far calmer expression.

"Ah, sorry. It seems I got a little carried away."

"...N-not at all, Lord Mercer."

"No need to be so tense."

Mercer raised his hand slightly.

"I understand your concerns. However, the decision regarding the timing of the attack will not change."

The three Clan leaders nodded at once.

"We understand."

"Good. In that case, continue the preparations as ordered. I don’t want any problems when the time comes."

"Of course, Lord Mercer."

After receiving that answer, Mercer turned his attention back to the night sky.

The Clan leaders understood that their conversation was over. So, after offering a final show of respect, they quickly left the balcony and returned to the hall.

No one dared to ask why the attack had to be carried out on the day that had been set.

And Mercer himself made no effort to explain.

After those three Clan leaders left, the balcony became quiet again.

Mercer was still standing in the same place, looking at the Qiezhuran territory lit by the glow of various buildings. In the distance, a few Dragons could be seen moving among the streets, while the music from the hall was still quite audible.

’...One day after the festival begins.’

Mercer lowered his head slightly.

In truth, he himself had no especially exact reason for choosing that time.

As the Clan leaders had said, they could indeed move now. The preparations were nearly complete, and there was not much the Qiezhuran could do to change the situation.

But Mercer chose to wait anyway.

He looked up at the night sky once more, letting the wind pass through his hair.

’...Perhaps.’

For a while, the man simply remained silent.

Then a simple thought rose in his mind.

’...I just want to enjoy this festival.’

The Primordial Legacy Festival.

It had been quite some time since he had truly set aside the time to attend it.

And perhaps, just this once, Mercer wanted to let the festival go on first.

Before finally subjugating the Qiezhuran.