Chapter 258

Chapter 258 - Entering Act 2

Reports ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍from the scouting unit reached Sky Island at regular intervals, and their contents remained consistent.

“They ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍say the enormous Skeleton Horse, Black Floating Castle, and black airship believed to be Millesdusk Main Force are coming from the same direction as the intelligence reported.”

At ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Master of the Tower of the Sky’s words, Ryan stroked his smooth, hairless chin.

“It ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍is rather too late for them to change direction now. They truly are charging between Towers of the Sky 34 and 37.”

“So ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the information from that collateral blood relative was true.”

“Shall ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍we proceed with the rest of the Tower of the Sky deployment?”

“Yes. Let us hurry now.”

Because they could not fully trust the intelligence, the deployment of the Towers of the Sky had only been half completed.

They had concentrated the Towers of the Sky in the direction indicated by the intelligence, but the formation had remained loose enough that they could withdraw them at any time.

But now, there was no need for that. Millesdusk was flying straight toward them, cutting across the neutral zone.

“Master of the Tower of the Sky. Concentrate the deployment in the direction from the information, but that does not mean you should keep your eyes only on this place.”

“Of course. We will leave behind the minimum number of towers necessary for visibility, so please do not worry too much.”

“Yes. I am not greatly worried, but…”

Pia’s face, as she let her words trail off, was far from at ease. The blood relative who knew the reason slowly approached her.

“The Sky Mages will be on standby in the Towers of the Sky, and they will spread a double surveillance net using both the naked eye and mana. Thanks to the Wind Dragon, the sky is clear too. Relax your shoulders a little.”

“That is correct, Second Daughter. Moreover, thanks to the Family Head supplementing the personnel for the Towers of the Sky, we will be able to notice even if the enemy comes from underground.”

Wisdom’s defensive line was more ironclad than ever. Even so, she could not erase her unease.

Pia, who was effectively the commander of the Towers of the Sky defensive line in place of the First Daughter, voiced that unease.

“The enemy has been charging in one direction the entire time, and we have confirmed through intelligence that the direction is correct. But this frontal charge feels like nothing more than a flashy distraction.”

“Then what are the enemies trying to gain by smashing their heads directly against us? There are no separately confirmed troops either.”

“…I do not know that either. Why did Millesdusk, why did that cunning Fifth Son choose such an obvious frontal breakthrough?”

“Hmm… In my opinion, perhaps this is exactly what he was hoping for.”

The Master of the Tower of the Sky cautiously added from the side.

“When a person who seems least likely to attempt a frontal breakthrough does attempt one, that alone confuses the opponent’s mind. Exactly as it is doing now.”

“Then we might end up failing to stop the frontal breakthrough itself. Noona, you know this too, do you not? Just because an opponent casts a spell in full view does not mean that spell is weak.”

“I know.”

The First Daughter was exactly like that. The spells she favored were not particularly advanced, specialized spells.

With spells only a little beyond the basics, she toyed with the geniuses of Wisdom.

Was the Fifth Son of Millesdusk trying to behave like Eldest Sister now? If that was truly the case, even by the slightest chance…

“Ryan. Let us make sure we never fall for it.”

“Of course. So you should rest now, Noona. You have not slept for the past few days.”

“…Yes. I will.”

“You say that, but you are still not going to sleep, are you? Fine. I will leave after I see you enter your bedroom.”

Pia was dragged away by her younger brother, who had grabbed her by the wrist.

Even as he pulled her away, her head was filled with the Fifth Son who had chosen a frontal breakthrough.

She could not shake the thought that there had to be some hidden dagger.

***

A recall order was issued to the scouting unit. The same was true for Cos.

However, even without such an order, Cos returned on her own and shut herself inside her room at the Master of the Tower of the Sky’s residence.

Though she would not be staying on Sky Island for long, the First Daughter had brought equipment from the main family estate, and she placed the Dark Elixir among it.

The equipment was for research, and the scope of her research did not distinguish between living things, nonliving things, knowledge, wisdom, or riddles.

Whatever appeared on the First Daughter’s worktable was whatever interested her that day.

And the 2nd process Dark Elixir now placed on the table fit that one and only rule perfectly.

“I felt this when I first saw it as well, but it really is far purer than it was during the 1st process.”

After separating a small amount from what she had brought in the Potion bottle and examining it, she found that her first impression had not been wrong.

“At this rate, the expected results I wrote on the parchment in the conference hall were almost entirely correct.”

She muttered to herself, filling in her research log with one hand while her eyes refused to leave the Dark Elixir.

At the sight, the Wind Dragon Ventus, who was lying nearby, laughed quietly.

“If your father knew you were using the word pure for that thing, he would fly into a rage.”

“There is nothing wrong with the word. The problem lies with the person who receives it.”

“Oh…”

Ventus let out a puff of breath that was neither large nor small.

“You speak far more boldly than before. In the past, even if you had doubts about the family system or Family Law, you would simply nod and let them pass.”

“I have not changed. Even then, I was just as curious and doubtful.”

“But you did not express it.”

“I am thinking from multiple angles.”

“Like that human called the Fifth Son?”

Instead of answering, Cos held out the Dark Elixir she had dropped onto an experimental glass dish.

“His way of thinking created something capable of breaking the balance between the West and the East. If he did it, then I should be able to do it as well.”

“Then do you want to restore balance? Or do you want to create something that breaks the balance in the same way and occupy the East in return?”

“That is… I do not know yet. I do not particularly enjoy even mock battles, let alone war.”

The Wind Dragon Ventus nodded.

“You dislike fighting others. When you hurt someone, you feel guilty. Is that not why, even with heaven-sent talent, you trained defensive magic instead of true Wind Attribute magic?”

“It was fun too.”

“Wind-Attribute Magic is wind, first and last. The defensive Wind-Attribute Magic you use is only a very small part of the Wind Attribute’s potential.”

In the middle of speaking, the Wind Dragon suddenly sprang upright.

“Cos. Follow me, even starting now. If I stay beside you and teach you for just ten years, you will become a living typhoon.”

He was serious, but the First Daughter laughed softly.

“A living typhoon? I will decline.”

“Anytime is fine. I have many years left to live, and my heart is always open.”

“I appreciate the sentiment. But if I have to kill someone, no matter who it is, I will hesitate a little.”

“Did you not tell the Fifth Son earlier that you would not forgive him if he touched your family?”

Cos set down the journal in her hand and nodded heavily.

“I still feel the same way. If Millesdusk makes my family bleed, then I will have to do the same. But I cannot help this.”

She placed her hand on the chest where her heart was. This weak heart was still afraid of many things.

Among those frightening things, the Fire Dragon, who could turn even a 7th Circle mage into prey, had now been added.

“…Lord Ventus. More importantly, can you win?”

“Against that Fire Dragon?”

“Yes. He may look young, but the heat, fighting spirit, and killing intent I felt from him were absolutely not something that could be ignored.”

The Wind Dragon snorted, but he could not strongly deny it or shake his head.

“I have not seen many Fire Dragons, but if he is at that level, he would not be pushed back in firepower anywhere.”

“So can you win?”

“Yes. I will win.”

With a mischievous smile in his eyes, the Wind Dragon raised his thumb.

He was clearly older than the Fire Dragon beside the Fifth Son, and he was the same kind of dragon, yet somehow he inspired so little trust.

If that could be called a talent, it was certainly a talent.

Perhaps he had read that doubtful look in her eyes, for the Wind Dragon smiled slyly and lay back down in midair once more.

Floating lightly, he waved his hand back and forth as he continued speaking.

“Dragons grow stronger even if left alone, but for that to happen, time is absolutely necessary. You know? Time. I mean time. They need that time.”

“I know what time is too.”

“Time applies equally to you, to me, and even to that fly over there.”

“You mean that the Fire Dragon lacks that time.”

“Exactly.”

The Wind Dragon nodded with a smile, then extended his index finger and swept it through the air.

SNIP—

With a sound like scissors cutting paper, the fly in the air was split in two and fell.

Looking at the thing that had been alive less than a blink ago, Cos spoke quietly.

“A Wind-Attribute mage who had lived at least fifty years longer than me could not defeat me. Keep that in mind as well.”

“Hahaha.”

The Wind Dragon laughed aloud.

“That was the result of the difference in talent manifesting as a difference in efficiency within training and practice. Dragons do not train. No, they cannot.”

Unable to find any particular words to refute him, Cos’s amethyst eyes returned to the Dark Elixir.

“I have always wondered. Dragons are born with the same sort of talent I have, so why do they not train?”

“Because they are born with it. If they had gained it after not having it, they would have known how precious it was.”

“The same must be true for that Fire Dragon.”

“Of course. Since he is a Fire Dragon, that laziness must be especially bad. Fire Dragons have pride a level or two stronger than the firepower of their own flames.”

Fire Dragons were lazy. The Wind Dragon who said so drifted idly like a cloud.

When he became hungry, he ate. When he became sleepy, he slept. Who was he calling lazy?

“Still, if you think you are going to die, run away.”

“Oh~. Are you worrying about me right now?”

“Then die.”

“You little thing. What a way to speak. You should run away too if you think you are going to die.”

“I will. Though I do not know whether that will happen.”

The First Daughter of Wisdom treated the Wind Dragon’s not-quite-worry as nothing significant and focused on her research again.

The 2nd process Dark Elixir. It had been refined beyond the 1st process and changed so that more people could consume it.

Did that “more people” not include westerners as well as easterners?

“Hmm.”

Cos let out a faint breath. It was a breath containing a little hesitation before she carried out the thought that had come to mind.

“Fifth Son. If we are the same kind and you thought from multiple angles, then there is no way you made this limited only to sorcerers.”

“Hm? What are you talking about?”

“The more processes it goes through, the more you will develop it so it suits more people. That way, you can gain more money and more allies.”

She raised the bottle. The black contents reflected in the light swayed inside.

“…Wait, wait. What are you thinking right now?”

“The most certain experiment is experimentation on a living body, after all.”

“Have you finally gone mad?”

“I will not die. If my body becomes too cold, please take me to Pia.”

The 2nd process Dark Elixir was the worst variable they would face in the near future.

To eliminate that variable, experiencing it directly was best.

Rather, being able to experience the variable when there were no enemies around was an extraordinary stroke of luck.

“…You will not listen even if I stop you, will you?”

“Of course not.”

GULP, GULP.

The 2nd process Dark Elixir quickly revealed the bottom of the bottle.

***

The Youngest Son came out onto the deck of the Black Ship, which was moving slowly but steadily forward.

Even if it was slow, the wind was fierce because they were high in the sky, but such wind was no problem.

After learning to some extent magic, which was far more systematic than sorcery, he had naturally come to understand Non-Attribute Magic as well.

Non-Attribute Magic could be used in various situations according to the mage’s discretion. One example was Shield.

When a translucent gray shield wrapped around his surroundings in a circle, the wind no longer touched him, and sound could barely be heard.

Only the night sky, with far denser stars than the East, caught his eye.

The Milky Way crossing that night sky was so vast that even stretching both arms wide could not begin to span it.

Looking at the silver current poured across the sky, the Youngest Son took out a bottle of alcohol and a glass, then sat down on the deck.

GLUG, GLUG, GLUG—

The glass filled with a pleasant sound.

[Why are you wallowing alone like that?]

“I was holding a little celebration of my own.”

[What celebration?]

The Youngest Son only smiled and did not answer. Even if he answered, Enad would not understand.

The system window that had appeared before his eyes just before he fell asleep was more than enough reason to raise a slightly early toast.

[Act 1 has ended.]

[You have entered Act 2 in earnest.]

[Congratulations.]

But although the congratulations were nice, something else drew his attention.

[You may select a Survival Perk to use while proceeding through Act 2.]

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