Chapter 226

Chapter 226 - A Hero of Troubled Times

For ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍a moment, silence settled over the banquet table.

“It ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍is a phrase used since the distant past, but in an age like this, it always comes to mind.”

A ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍hero of troubled times.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍emperor rolled over the words the Youngest Son had uttered.

“Originally, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I have never been especially fond of the phrase. But in a situation like this, that is a different matter.”

Once the war ended, a hero of troubled times became a problem difficult to dispose of, and a king naturally had to worry about the hero’s influence, which had grown as large as it possibly could.

But if that hero had come from the East, things were different. All the hero had to do was return to the place he had come from.

“So that was why you mentioned a marriage. To create a connection with the East in a war where one of the great families of the East and West will be destroyed.”

“That is half-right and half-wrong. Can you fill in the remaining half as well?”

Of course. It was not difficult.

“To create a connection with the East, where a blood relative you supported even before he became Family Head would have become Family Head. Am I correct?”

“Perfect.”

The emperor smiled as though he was satisfied. Even if one broadened one’s view beyond the East to include the Empire, the North, the South, and the West, the blood relative before him was an exceptional man.

That was what the emperor thought, and the Ancient Dragon, who had been quietly listening to the conversation beside them, agreed.

“I can see that an extraordinary figure has emerged from the human race. But did you just say that one of the great families of the East and West would be destroyed?”

“It is a war that has escalated to that degree.”

At the Youngest Son’s answer, the Ancient Dragon let out a faint sigh.

“Now I understand at once why the Fire Dragon wanted training.”

“…….”

Had Kairos not spoken about that part either? A look of concern settled on Alicious’s face.

“Fire Dragon. Did you seek from me a method to cultivate your strength in order to kill your own kind?”

“I did.”

“And that was a decision you made because of your master.”

“I would burn anything that threatens my master’s life. It is the oath I swore when he saved my life and drew my mind out of the abyss.”

Even in the Ancient Dragon’s golden eyes, the Fire Dragon’s blood-tinged crimson eyes blazed as if aflame.

“This time, that target merely happens to be my own kind. I harbor not the slightest malice or ill intent.”

“…Even without your saying it, I read all of that in your eyes.”

The golden eyes that had been staring at the Fire Dragon soon turned away. He filled a nearby glass with wine and drank it down, yet a voice could still be heard.

More precisely, only the Youngest Son heard it.

―Listen, master of the young Fire Dragon.

―I am listening.

When he responded in the same manner through telepathy, a strange light entered the Ancient Dragon’s eyes. Even so, he nodded ever so slightly and spoke within the Youngest Son’s mind.

―From the moment I first saw you, I sensed an inexplicable aura of authority about you. You are indeed no ordinary human.

―I am grateful.

―I am sincere, so there is no need to brush it aside. You may accept it as it is.

The Youngest Son felt he knew where that sincerity had come from.

‘So the title I obtained while teaching Kairos was useful at times like this.’

The title Scales Teacher made it possible, in its own way, to converse with dragons, who arrogantly looked down upon all things.

It seemed that the effect applied even to Alicious, an Ancient Dragon. That Ancient Dragon gave advice to the human who seemed reasonably intelligent.

―The Dragon Heart of the Fire Dragon beside you is anything but ordinary. This must be your work.

―The only thing that could replace the Dragon Heart that had been corrupted, damaged, and rotted away after being eroded by demon followers was the treasure I received from the Queen.

―I am not blaming you. I mean that it holds power beyond your imagination.

―…Beyond my imagination?

Did the Bloodstone have another secret? Or had another secret emerged because it had come into contact with a dragon?

Alicious said.

―I can only sense its potential myself; I cannot guarantee anything. Who else would be a dragon that used the Queen’s treasure in place of his heart?

It was so undeniably true that he found himself nodding. Kairos was not merely a Fire Dragon but a Blood Fire Dragon, and Kairos was the only Blood Fire Dragon.

Therefore, a Blood Fire Dragon had a method unique to Blood Fire Dragons, and the Ancient Dragon had noticed that method.

―Since you saved the descendant of my old friend and helped the Imperial Family continue its line, I, too, shall repay you in my own way.

―I thank you for doing so.

―Listen closely. Kairos now possesses the vampire trait of growing stronger through blood. The key point is that the blood is limited to dragon blood.

―In that case….

The Youngest Son sank into thought. It lasted only an instant, and in that instant he reached a conclusion. Alicious nodded slightly.

―If you must face his own kind, target the dragons whose affinity suits the Fire Dragon first. Then have him drink their blood. Each time he does, he will gain power that transcends the passing of years.

―Thank you for the advice. You have saved my life.

―You would have learned it naturally in time.

The Ancient Dragon spoke as if it were nothing, but there was a great difference between entering battle knowing this and entering battle without knowing it.

It had saved him a great deal of time.

In the banquet hall, where a quiet meal was proceeding on the surface, the Youngest Son’s thoughts grew numerous. At that moment, the emperor spoke once more.

“I believe I have given you ample time to consider. Will you use the Empire’s backing in order to become Family Head?”

Ah. So that was the matter he meant. He had finished considering that side of things earlier as well. He told the emperor the answer he had reached.

“I must respectfully decline.”

At that, the Crown Prince started in surprise and asked back.

“Do I not seem trustworthy to you?”

“No. How could the Crown Prince of the Empire possibly be untrustworthy?”

“Then why did you make such a decision? With the Empire’s support, your faction’s influence and your immediate power would both grow tremendously. Things would become easier from now on.”

Everything the Crown Prince said was correct in every detail. Thus, he nodded, but his answer remained unchanged.

“That is precisely why I cannot accept.”

“…Precisely why you cannot accept?”

The emperor remained still, and the Princess did not seem particularly interested. Only the Crown Prince’s large eyes grew even wider, as if he were about to tear up.

Before he could fully start crying, the Youngest Son spoke.

“Millesdusk is a far, far more stubborn group than the Imperial Family realizes.”

No matter how many times one repeated the point about Millesdusk’s stubbornness, it would not be enough. From the Family Head of that group to his children, their obstinacy was extraordinary.

Becoming the leader of such stubborn people was no ordinary matter.

“It is true that Millesdusk is the freest place on the continent, but that does not mean I may draw in anyone I please and rely on their backing.”

“With the Empire’s power, even voices of dissatisfaction like that could be silenced.”

“Perhaps. But when it comes to the method of becoming Family Head, I must follow the East’s royal path. Then there will not be even the slightest possibility of discord arising.”

“Is the East’s royal path different from that of other places?”

“It is different, but it is nothing complicated.”

At the question from the emperor, who had been listening quietly, the Youngest Son smiled. He curled his pale hand into a fist and raised it.

“The strongest one is king.”

The Crown Prince looked blank. The emperor, having understood, quietly nodded, and the Princess murmured.

“I can understand a little why the West calls you a group of madmen.”

“I have no intention of making excuses. Every last blood relative of the East is gracefully mad.”

“…Are you one of them as well?”

“How do I appear to you?”

The Youngest Son’s bloodshot eyes and the Princess’s golden eyes met in midair. Before long, they parted, and she quietly said.

“You do not seem gracefully mad.”

[Her face is beautiful, and her eye for people is accurate as well. Those eyes are not large for nothing.]

At the Princess’s discernment, which drew Enad’s fierce agreement, the Youngest Son laughed silently.

In addition, there was something for which he needed to ask permission from the owner of this land.

“Millesdusk will soon head for the West. Until then, I intend to remain here and join them midway. Would that be acceptable?”

“Stay as you please. Will Raymond’s Mansion continue to suffice as your residence? I can prepare a separate place for you to stay.”

“That is all right. Raymond’s Mansion is comfortable for me, so there is no need to trouble yourself further.”

It was comfortable on his end. But would it be comfortable for them?

It was a question worth pondering, but he had too much to think about at present, so he set it aside. In the meantime, the emperor threw him one more matter to consider.

“You said our airspace would do, did you not?”

“Yes. The neutral zone will suffice.”

“Is it acceptable, or do you simply not need it?”

“The former.”

“Then do you intend to proceed with a new agreement with me over this?”

The ears of the business-minded blood relative perked up.

“I will hear you out.”

“In exchange for your use of the supply routes that Wisdom established in the Empire, arrange a meeting with the Family Head of Millesdusk.”

***

The Demon Head Palace within Millesdusk’s Mind Demon.

The blood relatives of Millesdusk assembled before the Family Head. From the First Son to the Youngest Son, all of them knelt on one knee.

The only irregularity was that the Youngest Son was not his main body but a Clone, yet it was not something worth quibbling over.

The Family Head and the Messenger beside him looked at the blood relatives before them.

[I have no doubt that this moment is one of history’s crossroads.]

The Family Head’s voice resounded through the Demon Head Palace.

The direct-line blood relatives, lined up in a row, listened to their father’s voice and felt the reality of it sink in.

We were going to the West from now on. We were going to the West we had only heard about. We were going to the West, a place far warmer and sunnier than here. We were going to the West, where mages lived.

We had heard plenty of curses and rumors about the West, but this would be our first time going there in person. Thus, the Family Head spoke.

[There live mages who have trained in magic through a power called mana. Our enemy lives there, and humans live there as well.]

The Family Head placed emphasis on the final words. Naturally, they listened closely, and naturally, they found themselves turning those words over. The Fourth Son asked in return.

“Do humans not live in the East as well, and everywhere else on the continent?”

The Family Head nodded from beyond the darkness.

[That is precisely it. I am telling you not to forget that fact.]

“You mean we must not forget the fact that humans live everywhere on the continent?”

[You have lived seeing more corpses than humans. It has been that way since you were children, and even now it is not greatly different.]

At the Family Head’s words, the blood relatives could say nothing.

Indeed, whether they had been at the foremost boundary or within their own domains, they had rarely seen humans with flesh still attached to them.

That was why the Family Head of Millesdusk emphasized this to the blood relatives who were about to set out on a long journey.

[Those who stand against us are the enemy. However, you must know how to embrace the humans apart from them, and you must recognize that they are no different from you.]

It was the first time in their lives the blood relatives had heard such words. Yet they were also words that had to be made clear.

[Ransis. Recite it.]

“Understood.”

The Messenger who had been standing behind the Family Head came forward before the blood relatives. The Messenger had, unintentionally(?), become someone close enough to exchange outright curses with them.

Tension naturally settled over the blood relatives’ faces, and Ransis spoke solemnly.

“Our purpose is not a war of extermination. Nor is it the annihilation of every living creature in the West. It is eternal victory over Wisdom in the West. That is all.”

The Messenger’s words seemed obvious at first glance, and the Family Head’s words were the same. Yet the difference was unmistakably there.

“Indiscriminate slaughter shall be prohibited. Pouring curses upon those who raise both hands above their heads shall also be prohibited.”

One by one, the Messenger bound the blood relatives’ hands and feet.

However, sorcerers like ravenous ghouls could tear into an enemy’s flesh even if only their mouths were left free.

“The increase of our legions by turning enemies into undead shall be limited solely to mages.”

SWISH—

At those words, the First Son raised his hand. As if he had expected it, the Family Head jerked his chin.

[I will not accept objections.]

“Even so, please hear me out. Even if we act with such moral restraint, there is a very high chance the enemy will not. So why must only we do this?”

If they turned not only the mages but every resident and citizen of the West they came across into part of their legions, their military strength would increase greatly.

Yet limiting the targets to mages would instead greatly erode the East’s advantage.

The Family Head spoke quietly.

[Hiler. Do you think this war will end with the West?]

“…….”

The First Son fell silent. It was a sign that his thoughts were continuing, and it did not take long.

“Creating legions indiscriminately would accelerate the intervention of the other great families, so this is meant to control that.”

[It is.]

His gray eyes naturally turned toward the Clone Son.

Unlike the First Son’s, the Clone Son’s eyes were as calm as ever.

The Clone, who shared thoughts, sight, and plans with the main body, did not so much as twitch an eyebrow at the Family Head’s words.

The Clone already saw it. The Youngest Son had already foreseen it.

[The war with the West will later lead to war with the other great families as well.]