Chapter 100

"The envoy from the territory of the demons, what a strange story it is."

The day after the entrance ceremony.

I was visiting the headmaster's office on the top floor of the main building.

Facing the small, elderly dwarf woman, I said,

"The demons are the enemies of the empire, and we have no formal diplomatic relations with them. On the other hand, there is a de facto ceasefire as there is no prominent conflict at the moment. Moreover, they are not a single nation but are divided into many races and tribes. Although they formed a coalition army during the time of the Demon King, they have never become a nation... What kind of representative from them would come here, and for what purpose, especially to a place like Rodnea, not the capital or a border town?"

"...Stop asking what you already know."

The headmaster answered with a bitter expression.

"Such things are just formalities, of course. To take the daughter of the hero..."

"Yes, that's probably it."

"But... the fact is that the demons did visit this city. Of course, not as envoys."

"Yes... they must have come to kill the hero, just like two years ago. It's pitiful that they are still used in human plots even after their deaths."

"......You, huh?"

I replied with a faint smile.

"Well, what are you talking about?"

"...Never mind. That's not important now."

The headmaster said in a stern voice.

"As you can see, Duke Greenville used the demon attack and their deaths, which the court was aware of, to fabricate a reason to kidnap that girl. Even though you understand this... why did you come here? To blame me for letting a student be taken away?"

"No."

I said, lowering my eyes.

"I just want to know why Amu was taken."

"..."

"How can Duke Greenville... want to eliminate the hero with such unreasonable reasons? I don't understand why a noble who bears the responsibility of the state would deliberately destroy a potential hero and give up the advantage over the demons."

"That's... no..."

The headmaster started to say something but stopped immediately.

"I'm not a military expert. I'll refrain from saying uncertain things. But one thing I can say is... the empire is not a monolithic entity."

"..."

"Rampelg, if you are a noble, you should understand. The court, parliament, academy, cities, chambers of commerce, and among the nobles, there are various factions. Among them, there are factions formed by academy graduates. Understand, Rampelg. The fact that the academy has a hero means... they have a powerful force at their disposal."

"..."

"There are those who do not like this."

After a brief silence, I spoke.

"Would you betray your country and compatriots... to kill a hero... a single girl, for such a trivial reason?"

"No, that's not it. That's not it, Rampelg."

The headmaster said as if trying to reason with me.

"They are not driven by simple desires. There are hardly any such people. Politics is complex. They act for their clan, comrades, and the empire, in their own way. Last night's violence... probably..."

"Yes... yes. I understand, sir. The political struggles I've seen so far have been the same."

But that.

Has nothing to do with my or Amu's situation.

"Rampelg, don't think too much."

The headmaster called out as I turned to leave.

"Right now, we are working on the court from all sides. Such violence cannot be tolerated no matter what their intentions were. They probably acted without proper preparation. Just wait for good news. Surely, that girl will be..."

"What do you mean by 'don't think too much,' sir?"

I continued to ask with a faint smile, to the silent headmaster.

"Are you afraid I'll go alone to rescue Amu?"

"Rampelg, you..."

"That's impossible. I'll wait for good news as you said. ...By the way,"

I continued to ask.

"How long will it take for your efforts to bear fruit? Can you ensure she will be rescued before she is tortured to insanity or poisoned in her food and killed mysteriously?"

"..."

"I apologize for asking such a malicious question. I know you are doing your best for Amu, and I am grateful and supportive. Please do your best, sir. Goodbye."

I turned and started to walk away.

This time, there were no words to stop me.

****

The sun was setting.

The sky, which had been purple, was now a deep indigo.

"---All rulers seek the justification for their privileges in something other than power."

In the deserted schoolyard.

I gazed at the sky in the world growing dark and muttered.

"Legitimate bloodline, noble law, or faith and the people's approval... because they are of the royal family, because it is stipulated by law, because God said so, because everyone recognizes it... they claim they have privileges. They claim they can impose taxes, set rules, and take away someone's freedom. I am amazed at how convenient they can think... but perhaps it is because people believe in something more noble than power that they can live together without constant conflict... But, Yuki, they often forget."

A floating humanoid figure appeared before me as the invisibility was canceled.

"Such things are merely illusions---"

I opened the door.

"---everything can be taken away by a greater power."

*Summon---Lung*

A long body with greenish-blue scales stretched out from the distortion in space.

The dragon ascended into the night sky and began to thrash, trying to shake off the clinging spirits.

I infused my voice with magical power and said,

"Look, dragon. Look at me."

The Lung continued to thrash.

"Am I not enough for you now? Dragon."

At that moment, the Lung suddenly slowed its movements and turned its head toward me.

With eyes like blue jewels, it stared at me intently... slowly lowering its massive body in front of me.

When it was near the ground, the spiritual power it emitted caused the gravel and leaves on the stone pavement to float.

I muttered, unable to help but click my tongue.

"Truly, a troublesome demon... despite having no great power, it is so haughty."

Still, it could easily destroy a city in this country.

"Seika-sama."

Yuki said from above my head.

"Permit me to speak. If you are determined to live cunningly in this life---you should give up on rescuing that girl this time."

"Let's hear your reasons. Why, Yuki?"

"In this life, you decided to live without revealing your power to avoid getting involved in political struggles again. The hero is just a shield for that. It would be counterproductive to expose yourself to the wind and rain to protect a shield."

"What are you saying, Yuki?"

I said quietly.

"There is no replacement for the shield you speak of. There is no replacement for the hero. What can I do if I don't act now? The wind and rain---I can clear away the clouds themselves."

"..."

Yuki was momentarily speechless.

"Seika-sama... do you understand? The ones you are about to use your power against... are the very people who run this country. Didn't you say it yourself? If they notice your power... you might suffer the same fate as in your previous life..."

"So what?"

I said to the speechless Yuki.

"I said before, this is a time to act. The hero is alone. There is no other way to achieve my goal than to rescue her... those who see my power can be eliminated."

"However... the enemy is at the heart of this powerful nation. It won't be that simple..."

"How many difficult tasks do I face when I can solve them with power?"

"That... is..."

"Listen, Yuki... in this world, just like in my previous life, there are many countries. What---"

I said.

"---would it matter if I destroyed one of them?"

"Seika-sama..."

Yuki said, pained.

"The hero is not the goal but a means... for you to be happy in this life."

"Of course, I understand."

"Then... why..."

A small, strained voice.

"Then why are you so angry...?"

To my silence, Yuki said,

"Will you reconsider?"

"...Enough already."

I asked in a low voice.

"Do you, a mere demon, still intend to give me advice, Yuki?"

"......No."

Yuki answered unexpectedly firmly.

"If Seika-sama has decided... there is nothing more for Yuki to say."

"...Don't show your head. You'll be blown away."

I stepped onto the dragon's head, standing on the airborne spirit.

I muttered to myself, slightly lifting the corners of my mouth.

"Well... let's see the skills of the politicians of this world. Can you truly defeat the strongest?"

I told the dragon,

"Head west. Dragon."

The spiritual power surrounding the dragon intensified.

The head, carrying me, turned toward the west, where the stars were twinkling.

The massive body writhed.

The wind howled.

The water dragon, once the guardian of a sacred lake in Japan, now soared through the sky of a different world, heading toward the capital.