Chapter 255

Chapter 255 - Reason for Existence

Former ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Grade 1 Agent of the Intelligence Department and current official Head Maid of Fifth Son’s faction. Mirea Rara.

She ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍woke two hours earlier than anyone else aboard the ship.

Excluding ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍her superior, who did not sleep at all, she was always the first to wake, tidy her bedding, and leave her bedroom.

She ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍washed herself briefly, had tea and biscuits for breakfast, and changed clothes.

Now ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it was time to begin the day.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍main force of Millesdusk’s new-generation blood kin, which had advanced through the night without rest, had now left the Empire’s territory.

Just as they had first departed from one neutral zone, they had now entered another neutral zone. The difference was that this was land the Empire shared with the West.

RUMBLE—

The Head Maid boiled water for tea to serve the guests who would visit the Black Ship for the morning meeting.

There would be quite a few guests today, so the amount of tea water was considerable as well.

“It was a good thing I borrowed a large kettle from the Forest Witch.”

Muttering to herself, she removed the tea leaves. After preparing golden-hued tea in that manner, she also took out as many teacups as there were people.

“I will need to make Fourth Son’s separately.”

For that purpose, she had something she had received from Fourth Son’s Chief Secretary. It was powder for making hot chocolate.

SHHHHH—

Even though she would pour the water later, simply filling the cup with powder sent out a sweet fragrance.

Alongside Fourth Son’s hot chocolate, she also prepared refreshments to replenish the blood sugar that would drop in real time during the meeting.

The other Chief Secretaries and Butlers would probably bring something as well, but this was the Black Ship.

Furthermore, the Black Ship was the symbol of Fifth Son’s faction. In other words, it was the territory of the master she served.

“If I do well, my lord’s dignity will also be upheld.”

The conduct of an attendant was the face of the master.

“I must never fall behind when compared to the attendants of the other sons and daughters.”

She repeated that mindset countless times and was the first to step into the conference hall.

After she laid out the refreshments and teacups she had just prepared and readied the meeting materials, one person entered.

“Lord Kairos.”

“Head Maid. You are working hard from the morning.”

“My lord is the one who is working hard. Compared to him, who does not even sleep, I still have a long way to go.”

The Fire Dragon smiled gently.

“Half of our master is not human, and the other half has inherited the blood of a powerhouse who is hardly human either. Do not compare yourself with a body that is guaranteed a long life.”

“I know that. However, are you not also overworking yourself in a way that makes your birth as a Dragon seem meaningless, Fire Dragon?”

“It is nothing significant.”

“For something insignificant, the area near your room is sweltering. Akiell, who was in the room next to yours, could not endure it and moved rooms.”

Kairos gave an awkward smile.

“If so, I have done something regrettable. It seems my control was lacking because I was practicing the training method the Ancient Dragon taught me while in Polymorph form.”

“It is all right. There is no one with a bedroom around you anymore, Lord Kairos.”

“Ahem. What were you doing? I would like to help as well.”

“This place is fine. If you truly wish to help, could you wake the Forest Witch?”

“Do I simply need to wake her and bring her here?”

The Head Maid thought for a moment, then nodded.

“She sleeps heavily in the morning. Simply waking her will not be an easy task.”

The Fire Dragon laughed refreshingly.

“Do not worry. I may look like this, but I am still a Dragon.”

“I believe in you.”

“I will return soon.”

Fire Dragon Kairos left the conference hall and headed toward the Forest Witch’s room.

Around the Forest Witch’s room, there was always a scent of the forest, just like her epithet.

It should have been a clean scent, like a forest where warm sunlight shone down under clear weather. It should have smelled like that.

“...This is...”

Kairos felt a sting in his nose. The closer he got to the Forest Witch’s room, the stronger the stinging smell became.

The problem was that the smell was familiar, yet it filled him with intense revulsion.

“Wind Dragon...”

Although the Fire Dragon had never once seen the owner of the scent since his birth, he recognized its identity.

CRACKLE— CRACKLE—

The sound of a bonfire burning spread from the Fire Dragon. It was the sound of the Dragon’s mana within his human body catching fire.

CLACK—

He opened the door to the Forest Witch’s room. Without even a lock, the doorknob turned as soon as he grasped it.

Had the Wind Dragon entered through such a lax door as well? The Fire Dragon’s mind became as complicated as his nose.

“...The smell is even stronger.”

In truth, the Wind Dragon’s scent was so faint that it seemed about to be buried at any moment beneath the Forest Witch’s unique fragrance and the smell of her workshop.

However, a foul odor was not called a foul odor for no reason.

Even that faint smell drew his attention enough that he could not leave his nose alone.

“They said Wisdom has many Dragons, so the Wind Dragon likely came from Wisdom.”

Muttering that, he focused all his attention on his sense of smell. He tried to catch only one scent among the dozens spreading through the room.

Then his eyes naturally turned toward the ceiling.

“...The vent. Was that the gap?”

The Fire Dragon’s red eyes naturally narrowed.

After confirming the cause of the problem, the next question was what that problematic Wind Dragon had done here.

Once again focusing on his sense of smell, the Fire Dragon realized the scent had formed a path.

“It came out of the vent, walked through the room, and reached... here.”

The Fire Dragon arrived before the Forest Witch’s cauldron. It was currently empty.

However, there was still a lingering scent in the cauldron, and this scent was also familiar.

“Dark Elixir. The Wind Dragon sent by Wisdom was aiming for the 2nd process Dark Elixir.”

Just as he completed his deduction,

SWISH—!

Vines lashed in from the ceiling and floor like whips and bound his limbs.

Then they pulled taut, but the Dragon’s physical strength held firm without being dragged away.

“What is this...?”

In the meantime, the Forest Witch woke while rubbing her sleepy eyes.

“...That is what I would like to ask. Did you set a trap?”

“Mm...”

Whether she was answering or still half asleep, the words scattered into the air.

The Forest Witch, whose dark green hair was uncombed and disheveled because it was morning, swept it back, threw off the blanket, and rose.

She wore indoor slippers and pajamas, but she pulled deeply over her head the round-brimmed hat hanging on the outer wall.

“I thought... haam... a thief had come in. Huaaah...”

She yawned once every time she spoke.

“What did they steal?”

“My potion bottle. And this is just a hunch, but I think they also took a little of the Dark Elixir I had been boiling in the cauldron.”

“So it was indeed that.”

The Fire Dragon became certain that his deduction was correct. But before that,

“Could you release this?”

“You are a Fire Dragon. You could burn my branches with a single breath.”

“A single breath would be impossible. Your vines and branches do not burn easily even in my fire.”

“How modest.”

The Forest Witch chuckled and gestured with her hand. The vines that had wrapped around the Fire Dragon loosened and naturally disappeared.

Now free, the Fire Dragon looked at the cauldron again.

“I think that thief was Wisdom’s Wind Dragon. The scent is very strong.”

“What scent? I do not smell anything.”

“It seems to be a scent imprinted into my genes. I have never smelled it before since I was born, yet I could identify exactly what it was.”

“That is interesting.”

With that brief impression, the Forest Witch took off her hat and crawled back under the blanket.

“Why are you going back in? The meeting is soon, so prepare quickly.”

“Aah...”

“If you do not come out the door before ten o’clock, when the meeting begins, we will find out which is more tenacious: your vines or my fire.”

“...You were not a thief. You were an extortionist.”

The Forest Witch wriggled on the bed like a caterpillar living on a branch and eating leaves.

The Fire Dragon let out a faint sigh and left the room.

The Forest Witch was one thing, but he had to report what he had just discovered to his master.

***

9:47 in the morning.

CLICK—

“It is done.”

The cube was completed thirteen minutes before the meeting began.

FLASH—

The completed cube shone with a clear blue light and formed a message.

The contents were a date and a location.

“Four days from now.”

First Daughter’s cube was an invitation to meet.

[You are not thinking of going to meet her, are you?]

Enad spoke in a voice filled with disbelief.

As could be seen from the fact that she had entered the Black Ship and left only the cube behind, this was unlikely to be a trap either.

“First, I need to put out the immediate fire.”

Since the meeting would begin soon, he put on the clothes the Head Maid had prepared and stepped into the corridor.

“Master.”

“Kairos. Were you waiting for me?”

“There is something I must tell you urgently.”

Kairos explained what he had seen moments earlier. It was a conclusion he had reached by combining the traces of the Wind Dragon and the Forest Witch’s testimony.

“It seems Wisdom’s Wind Dragon entered the ship and stole the 2nd process Dark Elixir.”

“So the First Daughter was not the only one who came.”

“...First Daughter?”

“Then again, there was little chance that the First Daughter, who receives the attention of Dragons, would have come alone.”

Youngest Son nodded and placed the completed cube into his Spatial Artifact.

“Did you already know, Master?”

“I did not know there were two culprits, nor did I know that something had been stolen.”

“Then is this not serious? I heard the Dark Elixir is a major combat asset.”

“The Dark Elixir is indeed a major combat asset.”

As Youngest Son answered, he recalled the cube he had just placed into his Spatial Artifact.

A smile naturally appeared.

[Can you smile right now?]

“Can you smile right now?”

The Magic Sword and the Fire Dragon spoke at the same time and in exactly the same way.

“I can smile quite well.”

Youngest Son left his room and walked toward the conference hall, with the Fire Dragon following behind him.

“I cannot smile. Why can you, Master?”

“The culprit who stole the 2nd process Dark Elixir. If things go according to plan, she will become the next Family Head of Wisdom. But that person does not even know the secret of the 1st process.”

“...So you mean that even if she took the 2nd process, there will not be any major change.”

“That is roughly what I mean.”

There were a few more reasons, but he omitted them because they required knowing the sort of person First Daughter was.

Besides, there was a more urgent fire than First Daughter right now.

CLACK—

“I apologize. I should have arrived first.”

Youngest Son opened the conference hall door and entered. The seats inside were filled without a single gap.

“No, no. The host always arrives last wherever one goes, does he not? I would have done the same.”

Fourth Son’s words were exceedingly warm, but his expression was not so at all.

The reason for his cold face was the three people seated in front of him. Furthermore, the reason he was not crushing them to death with the Index finger of the Skeleton Colossus was purely because of the hot chocolate.

Second Daughter moved her lifeless lips.

“Youngest Son. Could you explain why the blue-haired one has to be included in the meeting? And please also tell me why the other empty-headed clever fools are here.”

Third Daughter was naturally quiet, but today, First Son was just as taciturn as Third Daughter.

Scratch. Scratch.

Aside from placing his gray sword on the conference table and rubbing the blade with his hand, he was quiet.

“Before I answer my older brothers’ and sisters’ questions, I will first address the purpose of this meeting and the means by which that purpose will be achieved.”

Youngest Son naturally stood at the center of the table.

In truth, there was no center to a round table, but because the pure mages and the sorcerers were divided, a center that was not truly a center had formed.

Standing between them, Youngest Son spoke.

“We have already entered the enemy’s field of vision, but the Black Ship will disappear before their eyes. The mages will not even be able to detect it.”

“...Huh?”

“How?”

“…….”

Curiosity was layered over the blood kin’s discomfort. His pale hand pointed toward the reasons.

“This has become reality on the basis of the three people here. If we judge by contribution, Josephine, whom my older brothers and sisters called blue-haired, has contributed the most.”

Josephine did not dare lift her head properly before the blood kin of the East.

She probably would not be able to lift it until the meeting ended, but Youngest Son placed a crown upon that bowed stalk of rice.

That was because he knew that the more he did so, the more the real crown would settle atop his dark purple hair.

“The Black Ship will vanish from the enemy’s sight and become an unseen dagger that pierces the enemy’s heart.”

TAP—

His pale index finger stabbed one place on the map of the West.

It was the heart of the Western front line, commanding one hundred floating towers.

RelatedRelatedRelated