Of Springs and Curses

Shortly after noon the next day, we found ourselves facing a vast forest drenched in

warm sunlight.

Behind us, the Furyu mountain range stretched from east to west like a massive wall

of rock. Below was an endless sea of trees, looking almost like a green carpet butting

up against the mountains. Beyond that, to the northwest, the Karyu and Hyoryu ranges

created a near-complete ring of mountains around us.

After our brief rest, we were fortunate to find a route from the subterranean lake to

the upper parts of the cave. We discovered a tunnel above one of the cavern's waterfalls,

and we followed it for some time until it connected to the main path. However, it would

have been impossible to reach the waterfall in the first place without my teleportation

magic. Fortunately, the cavern was well-illuminated, thanks to the crystals scattered

about, which gave me a clear view.

Now that our long journey through the dark cave was over, Ariane, Chiyome, and I

stood side by side at the cave entrance halfway down the Furyu mountain range and

took in the view.

"Well, I'm glad we got out of there before the sun started to set." Ariane sighed in relief

and opened the map Glenys gave her back in the village. "We made it past the Furyu

Mountains. The village will be pleased to hear this."

"Kyiiii…"

"Where is the spring that we're looking for, Ariane?" Chiyome's cheeks had taken on a

rosy hue. I was pretty sure it wasn't just from Ponta playing with the cat ears on her

head.

Ariane looked back and forth between the scene before us and the map, then pointed

toward an area up ahead. "It should be near that mountain's summit."

She indicated a rocky outcropping near a mountaintop jutting from the middle of the

forest. It wasn't far from where we stood, and didn't seem all that tall. However, a

massive tree grew out of the mountaintop, its dense foliage casting the slopes beneath

into shadow. Something about it gave off a very peculiar vibe.

I squinted. "That tree at the top… is that the Lord Crown? I don't see a dragon."

"Well, you can't see him from here. Anyway, if we do run into the Dragon Lord, neither

of you do anything stupid, okay? Just leave it to me. That goes double for you, Arc!"

Ariane tapped my chest plate.

I had no real desire to face off against a dragon, much less one of the most powerful

dragons, so I simply nodded in response.

No paths led down the Furyu Mountains, so we descended by looking for areas where

the slope was a bit less severe, eventually arriving at the trees and shrubs that lined

the foothills.

From there, we headed east, making our way back above the forest. There, we once

again caught sight of the mountain and its massive tree. Now that we were directly

below the peak, the tree seemed even larger.

At the mountain's base was a large, grassy plain. Right at the edge of the tree line, I

saw a large, bluish stone lying in the dark shadow cast by the tree high above.

Immediately after, I noticed a structure near where the plain met the mountain. I could

hardly believe my eyes.

From that far away, I couldn't be sure how large the structure was. Judging by the

height of the nearby trees, though, I figured it was about ten meters tall.

Two large, gray stone pillars with two poles—one above the other, with a space

between them—ran parallel to the ground. The sudden appearance of that very

familiar archway made me swallow hard.

I managed to choke out a few words. "Is… is that a…?!"

"What is it? Hey, Arc!"

Without a second thought, I teleported to the structure. I didn't catch the end of what

Ariane had started saying, but that wasn't important.

What stood in front of me was a torii—the entrance to a Shinto shrine.

Other than the green moss growing around the base of the two pillars, there were no

notable decorations. However, it was undeniably a torii. I hadn't seen anything like

that in any town I'd visited since coming here.

Now that I thought about it, though, Chiyome had wanted to accompany us on our

journey because she was looking for the hideout of the Jinshin clan's founder, Hanzo.

It was apparently located beyond the Furyu Mountains—where we were now.

Assuming that Hanzo was either Japanese, or a person who knew about Japan, the

torii might mark his hideout's location.

I looked ahead and found all the proof I needed. Beyond the archway, a stone stairway

led up the mountainside. It certainly looked human-made. I decided that I should go

back and let Chiyome know immediately. Right at that moment, however, the ground

beneath me shook, and I fell to one knee.

"Wha—?!"

Who dares set foot on my back? You have guts, little runt!

A voice boomed inside my head. The world went black, and I could feel the rocks

beneath me tremble, throwing me high into the air. Gravity soon took over, however,

pulling me—and the heavy armor encasing my body—back to the ground.

As I fell, my eyes fixed on what I'd thought was a blue stone below. It had grown four

wings. A long neck with an enormous, angular head rose from one end. The creature

opened his large mouth and let out a loud roar, displaying rows of intimidating fangs.

The air itself shook, and the birds in nearby trees took to the sky in unison.

I managed to twist my body around as I dropped, rolling as soon as I hit the ground.

Even so, the impact hit me far harder than when I'd fallen at the elven outpost, sending

me into a coughing fit.

"Nnngh! Gah… That hurt…"

I cast a recovery spell on myself before turning my attention to the thing that hurt me

in the first place.

In front of me stood a huge dragon.

Blue-tinged scales covered his body completely, and four large wings protruded from

his back. On top of his head were four long, black horns—two on each side. His neck,

marked with a striped pattern, led down to four powerful-looking limbs supporting

his body. From his snout to the tip of his long tail, the dragon had to be at least thirty

meters long.

Despite his size, however, he was surprisingly agile. He stretched out nimbly, knocking

trees over as he moved, opening up the grasslands even further. It was quite an

intimidating sight.

Was this the Dragon Lord Ariane told me about?

The dragon's eyes narrowed as he glared at me, pupils vertical slits. He let out another

loud roar. The soundwave knocked me backward, although I managed to remain

standing. I shook my head to clear the ringing in my ears.

So, you were able to take that, huh? Well, if you're here to challenge me, runt, a challenge

is what you'll get.

Once again, I heard a voice speaking in my head. The dragon's lip twisted upward

slightly, baring his fangs.

He seemed to be smiling.

The voice came from the Dragon Lord himself, using some sort of telepathy to speak

to me directly.

If I was facing an intelligent creature, you'd imagine we might start our conversation

with introductions. Apparently, however, I'd inadvertently given the impression that I

was here to challenge the Dragon Lord.

How was I supposed to know that what I thought was a rock was the Dragon Lord's

back? I'd been too lost in excitement at seeing the torii to think straight.

From the Dragon Lord's point of view, it might have seemed that I'd stepped on him in

a show of defiance. Honestly, however, I had no desire to face off against one of this

world's strongest dragons.

"Please, wait! I have no desire to fight," I tried to explain.

There will be no discussion! I will show you the folly of your actions! The Dragon Lord's

thoughts boomed through my head as his massive body moved.

He spun around, lashing his long tail like a whip.

For some reason, my mind was stuck on the fact that this was the first enemy I'd met

who came out of the gate swinging, without discussion. I came to my senses an instant

before the impact, grabbing the Holy Shield of Teutates off my back with my left hand,

and taking the blow from the dragon's tail head-on.

The attack reverberated up my arm, causing untold damage, but I didn't have time to

worry about that just then. The Dragon Lord repositioned himself and reared his head.

From where I stood below, I couldn't quite see what he was doing, but I caught a

glimpse of green light growing around his mouth. A tingle ran up my spine.

Anyone who'd faced a dragon in-game would know immediately what attack he was

preparing.

A moment later, the dragon opened his mouth wide, swung his head down, and let out

a massive roar as he shot a glowing energy ball at me.

"Ngruuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!"

The air vibrated as the energy beam rushed toward me, obliterating the few remaining

trees in its path and tearing a trench in the earth. I dodged to the side, but the

shockwave still flung me helplessly through the air. I felt like a skipping stone as I

bounced along the ground, my vision rapidly flipping between earth, sky, and earth

again.

I hit something with a solid smack. Staggering to my feet, I tried to survey my

surroundings, but the world was completely black.

"No… Did the dragon's breath somehow inflict a Darkness status effect on me?"

My heart raced as I reached up to touch my face.

Then I realized what had happened.

"Oh, my helmet just got turned backward."

After readjusting my helmet, I shook my head to make sure it was on properly, then

looked around.

The Dragon Lord's attack had carved a massive crater in the earth—a straight line

through the plains that filled the air with dust. It had blown me far away from the torii,

toward the mountain. The area was littered with uprooted trees. If the attack hit me

directly, I probably wouldn't even have been there.

The title "Dragon Lord" clearly wasn't just for show.

"I probably shouldn't try to take this guy on alone. Heal!"

I wasn't sure how much of my skeleton was damaged, so I used my Bishop-class

healing spell. A warm, shimmering glow wrapped my body, then faded away, taking

the pain with it and leaving me refreshed.

Well, well, well. Not only did you manage to survive my first attack, you even survived a

glancing blow from the second. That's no small feat. Perhaps you are a worthy opponent.

A stiff breeze whipped away the dust in the air, revealing the Dragon Lord in the

distance. This far off, he looked small, but his ominous voice was no less clear in my

head. He spread his four massive wings and took to the air, letting loose another

thunderous roar.

Even if I tried to explain myself, I figured there was no way he could hear me from that

distance. He was already coming in for an attack, so I didn't see any way out.

I could have used Transport Gate to teleport away, but that would have meant leaving

Ariane and Chiyome behind. Given the poor visibility afforded by the surrounding

forest, my only option with Dimensional Step was the open plain, which wouldn't help

me escape the Dragon Lord.

I could use short-distance teleportation to evade his attacks, at least. Getting a flying

dragon off my tail seemed like it would be challenging, though, if not flat-out impossible.

I resigned myself to my fate, looking at the Dragon Lord and summoning my sword

skill.

"Holy Thunder Sword of Caladbolg!"

A surge of purple electricity ran up the blade as it doubled in size. There was no way I

could hold back—not against an enemy like this.

The Dragon Lord floated lazily in the sky, wings flapping to keep himself steady,

stirring dirt across the plain. In the game, he'd probably be classified as a windelemental dragon.

Compared to his massive wings, his body appeared rather small, his long tail curling

underneath him. Still, this was a thirty-meter dragon. Even his limbs, which appeared

tiny at this distance, could easily rip a human in two.

And then, of course, there was me. My sword might seem large when facing off against

fellow humans, but it was little more than a toothpick to a dragon. The sword skill

upgraded it to a skewer, at best.

In the game, the most effective attacks against wind-elemental enemies were earthbased. However, with the dragon flying around, I'd be hard-pressed to hit him with

earth magic.

I recalled the time I tried to use my Rock Shot attack on a swarm of wyverns, and how

easily they dodged. Although the Dragon Lord was a lot bigger than the wyverns, I had

a hard time believing Rock Shot would do anything to him. The Meteor spell, from the

Sorcerer class—one of the highest classes in its tier—might work. Unfortunately, I'd

never used it before. Still, that kind of attack would certainly be useful against an

airborne enemy.

Of course, this was all theoretical. I had no way of knowing if the Dragon Lord followed

the same rules of elemental affinity and weakness as he would have in the game.

Here I come, runt!

The Dragon Lord howled and rushed at me, tearing up the forest below with a massive

whirlwind.

Hmm—another wind-based attack. I held the Holy Thunder Sword of Caladbolg close.

"Dimensional Step!"

The attack destroyed the spot I'd stood in just moments before.

Wha—?!

I'd teleported directly beneath the Dragon Lord. He looked around frantically, trying

to get a bead on me.

The force of the wind beneath him was incredibly strong, but I managed to keep my

balance by hunching and lowering my center of gravity. I looked up, my eyes tracing

the Dragon Lord's long tail to his massive body. Trying to attack him with my sword

was out of the question. Even if I could somehow teleport into the air, the powerful

wind would likely blow me away.

While I contemplated my next move, the dragon spotted me.

When did you get there, runt?!

His tail immediately lashed out at me, as if it had a mind of its own. It slammed into

my sword with a hard, metallic clang—a sound I wouldn't have expected from dragon

scales—and a spray of blood that covered my gleaming armor.

Evidently, even a dragon was no match for a mythical-class weapon.

Nnngruuuuuuuuu!

The Dragon Lord's roar was somewhere between pain and rage. He flapped his wings,

buffeting me with even more powerful winds. I lost my balance, and his long tail

swung toward me once again.

"Dimensional Step!"

The world around me changed in a flash, and I was behind the Dragon Lord, in his

blind spot. After swinging through the location where I'd just stood, his tail immediately

flicked back toward me, although there was no way he could have seen where I was.

"Whaugh?!"

Making a split-second decision, I teleported a third time, moving farther from the

Dragon Lord to give myself a better chance to observe him.

So, you play the same tricks as Hanzo, little runt! I guess there are no more games with

you, then!

The Dragon Lord darted into the sky, flying high over the forest, then dove straight

toward me, hind legs outstretched and large, sharp claws extended. There was no way

I'd be able to defend with only my sword against that speed—and such strength.

I teleported behind the Dragon Lord again. At the same time, I used earth-elemental

magic in the spot where I'd stood.

"Rock Fang!"

The Dragon Lord slammed straight into the rocks that suddenly jutted from the earth.

They shattered with a thunderous crash, sending a plume of dirt into the air. Pebbles

rained everywhere. He flew through the dust cloud, spinning in midair as he climbed.

Unfurling his wings, he sent out a powerful shockwave that instantly cleared the air.

The ground below was a colossal hole.

"He really is the most powerful of the dragons."

If I'd met him head-on, he'd have smashed me to smithereens.

So, you plan to keep running, huh?! Next time you won't be so lucky!

My only chance to incapacitate the Dragon Lord was to use my most powerful Paladinclass attack. However, it would take time to invoke. I'd need to build up to it.

I watched the Dragon Lord loop around above, waving my hands over the destroyed

earth.

"Sutekh, god of storms, I summon you to subdue this infidel who lords over your skies!"

A large rune circle appeared in the dirt in front of me. I poured all my energy into it. It

slowly transformed; wind whipped through the complex runes along its perimeter,

growing into a massive tornado that threatened to uproot the surrounding trees.

The demons available to the Summoner class tended to be overpowered against

humans and monsters, but I didn't imagine that would be the case with the Dragon

Lord.

He rocketed toward me, sparing only a passing glance for the tornado, and not slowing

in the slightest. As he closed in, his body began to glow. It seemed as though he was

about to use his breath attack again—the magical equivalent of carpet bombing. A

moment later, a bright flash burst from his mouth and sped toward the earth. The

ground trembled beneath my feet.

The flash collided with the tornado, dissipating as if it hit an invisible wall.

I'd pulled it off just in time.

A five-meter-tall, human-shaped demon rose from the tornado.

Unlike a normal human, he had squared-off ears, a long, thin face, and charcoal-gray

skin. Oh, and four arms. He looked bizarre, almost like a six-limbed anteater. The

demon wore simple armor marked with intricate symbols, and flashy jewelry that

glinted in the sunlight. He was covered in rippling muscles and armed with a staff, a

shield, and two scimitars. The tornado whipped around his legs silently, lifting him

into the air.

Sutekh was a mid-tier demon who annihilated his enemies with powerful gusts of

wind. I figured that, as another wind elemental, he'd be more than a match for the

Dragon Lord.

Sutekh opened his golden eyes and glared at the Dragon Lord. Light and wind

surrounded him.

What is this embodiment of spirit energy? Is this… is this one of the spirit gods?!

As he collided with the wind-shrouded Sutekh, the Dragon Lord's voice boomed

through my head once again. A sonic boom erupted, followed by a massive blast of air.

Sutekh met the Dragon Lord's claws with his scimitars, and a shower of sparks rained

down, accompanied by an awful, metallic screech.

The two combatants broke apart for a moment before clashing again, sending out

another burst of air that rattled my bones. They broke off a second time, each resorting

to long-distance attacks to keep the other from getting too close.

Sutekh was clearly powerful enough to hold his own against the Dragon Lord.

Unfortunately, even if they were a match for each other, I could only keep the demon

here for so long. I needed to get the upper hand fast.

It was time for the ace up my sleeve.

The game's highest class, Paladin, had only four fighting skills: Executioner, Savior,

Guardian, and Prophet. All the skills were incredibly powerful, almost on the level of

weapons of mass destruction. However, not only were they mediocre when it came to

normal combat, they took at least half a day to recharge. They also used incredible

amounts of magic, so I'd probably only be able to get three attacks off.

I figured that Savior, an earth-elemental attack, would be most effective against the

Dragon Lord. It would also reach him high in the air.

Another gust of wind blasted me as I watched Sutekh and the Dragon Lord slam into

each other.

Using Savior was a huge ordeal in-game, and I had no idea what it would actually do

in real life. The battle between the demon and Dragon Lord was already devastating

the environment. If I invoked Savior, the destruction would likely double. However, I

was out of options.

I lifted my sword and focused my energy on opening a gate. Just then, a wolf made of

water appeared below the grappling wind elementals and let out a thunderous howl.

Chiyome flew out of the forest, executing a beautiful midair flip and landing in front of

me without a sound. She looked at the sky and shouted, "I implore you, Dragon Lord!

Please, put an end to this fight!"

She must have run here in record time. Once again, I was impressed with her ninja

prowess.

The Dragon Lord's eyes narrowed. However, he didn't stop fighting.

Your body… Those clothes… Are you one of Hanzo's followers?

It suddenly occurred to me that, if the dragon had known Hanzo, he was at least six

hundred years old.

Chiyome nodded, clearly taken aback by the Dragon Lord's response. "I am Chiyome,

one of the six top fighters of the Jinshin clan, founded on this very spot by Hanzo. I am

honored to be in your presence."

I see that you have been entrusted with a spirit crystal, even at such a young age. Hanzo's

once-great clan has truly let its standards go.

Surprise washed across Chiyome's face as she looked up at the massive Dragon Lord,

his voice still echoing in our minds.

Another familiar voice chimed in. "Dragon Lord, heed my words. This man is here with

us. I am Ariane Glenys Maple, one of the elves living deep within the Great Canada

Forest. Please allow me to apologize for this man's rashness, and to explain why we

are here."

Ariane ran out of the forest, her white hair whipping in the wind kicked up by the

Dragon Lord.

"Kyii!" Ponta, perched on her shoulder, let out an uncharacteristically cheerful cry, its

tail wagging without the slightest hint of fear.

Ariane spoke in a much more formal and polite tone than I was used to. She glanced

in my direction, her eyes shooting daggers, before kneeling.

At that moment, Sutekh faded away into mist. Apparently, he'd run out of time.

The Dragon Lord's desire to fight had evidently vanished as well. He landed on the

ground, folding his massive wings.

I returned my sword to its sheath.

Ah, the clan from the forest beyond the mountains. My name is Villiers Fim, and I accept

your apology. Now, I would like to hear the rest of your story.

The Dragon Lord snorted, blowing the dust from the area. He sat back on his haunches

and listened quietly as Ariane explained all that we'd been through. After a moment

of silence, he let out another snort.

I see, I see. So, as a sign of appreciation to this armored man assisting on your travels,

you are leading him to the spring to partake in its powers. Yes?

Ariane nodded. "That is correct."

The Dragon Lord focused his reptilian eyes on me.

Ponta had hopped over to its usual place atop my helmet, and was now spinning in

excited circles, wagging its tail. I couldn't help but sigh inwardly at how it picked the

strangest times to be brave. As I reached up to scratch Ponta under the chin, it purred,

rubbing its nose against my hand.

This scene caused Villiers Fim's eyes to narrow even further. He cleared his throat.

Hmph. Well, I suppose I'm not entirely blameless here, either, considering that I

abandoned patrolling the treetops in favor of a nap in the grass. I apologize for jumping

to conclusions.

I couldn't blame him for getting angry. Anyone would be upset if they woke up to a

knight stepping on their back.

I bowed my head. "I apologize as well. I was too focused on the torii, and I transported

myself here without regard for my surroundings."

Ariane spoke up again. "Villiers Fim, I would like your permission to partake in the

power of the spring near the Lord Crown."

As long as you don't plan to mess up my forest, you need not ask my permission for such

things. Do as you please.

Ariane smiled. "Thank you. In that case…"

Just as Ariane was about to stand up, Villiers Fim seemed to remember something.

Actually, wait! While my actions, admittedly, have been somewhat careless, you are not

all blameless, either. If you truly are sorry, well…

The Dragon Lord's long, swooping tail twitched slightly, like that of a small, nervous

animal. The sight was hardly cute, however.

Ariane frowned. "Villiers Fim, what would you like us to do to show our sincerity?"

Well, I… You see… Umm… Someone named Felfi Visrotte lives in your forest. Well, I believe

so, at least. I would like you to request an audience on my behalf. The Dragon Lord's

front claws glowed as he brought them together slowly.

"Do you know this Felfi Visrotte, Ariane?" I asked.

Ariane hesitated, her gaze still fixed on the Dragon Lord. She glanced at me out of the

corner of her eye and responded in a low voice. "Felfi Visrotte is a Guardian Dragon

who lives within the Columbia Mountains at the center of the Great Canada Forest."

The name of the mountain range brought to mind the delightful scent of roasted

Colombian coffee, but I had the feeling it probably referred to the Canadian Columbia

Mountains, to go along with the "Canada" and "Maple" naming pattern.

I recalled Ariane mentioning Guardian Dragons before. Relatively few elves lived in

the forest's depths, but if powerful protectors like Villiers Fim lived with them, I could

see how they kept the overwhelming number of humans at bay.

I took another look at our surroundings, awed by the sheer destruction. Humans

wouldn't stand a chance against a Dragon Lord. Not in the slightest.

"Do you think we can fulfill Villiers Fim's request?" I asked.

Even as the daughter of the village elder, Ariane was still just a soldier. It seemed

unlikely that she'd be able to make any promises.

"Kyi?"

For some reason, Ponta also seemed curious, and looked quizzically at Ariane.

Ariane put her hand to her chin. "I don't know if I can secure an audience for you, but

my elder sister Eevin knows the Dragon Lord personally. So, at the very least, I can say

that your message will be heard. How is that?"

Despite his reptilian features, excitement was clear on Villiers Fim's face. I would be

greatly honored if you would serve as an intermediary. But when you speak with Felfi

Visrotte, please don't be too pushy about my wanting to meet. I'd hate to give a bad

impression. Villiers Fim looked like an overstimulated puppy as he bounced up and

down, completely different from the Dragon Lord who'd just turned the plain into a

wasteland.

"Well, with that settled, we'll be on our way to the Lord Crown."

Ariane offered thanks to the Dragon Lord and turned her attention to the mountain.

I am usually in this area, so there's no rush on the reply.

The Dragon Lord unfurled its wings and prepared to take off.

"Wait, Dragon Lord!" Chiyome said. "I have one question I would like to ask you! Will

you spare me a moment of your time?"

Villiers Fim folded his wings and craned his neck to get a closer look at Chiyome.

Ah, the little one from Hanzo's clan. What is it that you seek? I will answer, if I am able.

"Did you know Hanzo? If so, do you know where his hideout is?"

I looked toward the torii.

Aaah, that. He had already made his home here by the time I arrived. But you will find

what you seek near the spring at the top of the mountain.

Chiyome bowed her head. "Thank you."

Villiers Fim gave a warm nod before once again unfurling his wings and leaping into

the air, soaring toward the Lord Crown.

"Well, it looks like you and I are heading to the same place, Chiyome."

"It seems so. I never thought it would work out so easily." Chiyome turned to me and

smiled. "Now that we have the Dragon Lord's permission, we should make our way to

the peak."

"Kyiii!" Ponta cried in excitement as it wagged its tail.

A short distance away, the gray torii stood stoically at the base of the mountain.

Ariane smiled at me, although there was no warmth in her expression. "That was a

pretty awful thing you did back there, leaving us behind and acting all on your own,

Arc."

There was something rather intimidating about her smile, accented by the vein

bulging in her forehead. I took a few steps back. I could practically see the angry aura

rising from behind her and closing in on me. I dropped to my knees and bowed my

head.

"I-I'm really sorry, Ariane. I saw this structure, and just kind of got… caught up in the

moment."

There was really no good way to explain myself. Sure, I might have gotten overly

excited at the sight of the torii. Nevertheless, I had to acknowledge that running off on

my own, in a place I knew nothing about, was dangerous. If this had been a movie, I

would almost certainly be dead.

Ariane shrugged her shoulders, looking down at me with exasperation. "You're usually

pretty coolheaded, Arc. I swear, though, sometimes you act just like a child." She sighed.

At least it seemed as though Ariane was willing to let this go. In that way, she took after

her mother, Glenys. Still, when she got angry, the look in her eyes was terrifying.

Chiyome butted in, cheeks flushed. "I admit, what you did back there was impressive,

Arc. I'm amazed you could stand up to the Dragon Lord like that." She looked at me

with pure admiration.

"Ah, um, yes," I mumbled, feeling embarrassed under her gaze. "Well, I was pretty much

fighting at my limit."

I wasn't being modest, either. I'd barely held my own against the Dragon Lord. Not to

brag or anything, but most of the skills at my disposal were on the level of weapons in

an international arms race. So, the sight of me going toe-to-toe with someone even

more powerful must have been nothing short of unbelievable.

"The Dragon Lord whom Villiers Fim mentioned, Ariane… is he equally powerful?"

Ariane scrunched her face into a frown. "I've heard that Felfi Visrotte is one of the

strongest Dragon Lords, if not the strongest. But I think Villiers Fim might have

another reason for wanting an audience."

"Oh? Do you think he's scheming something?"

Judging by how happy the Dragon Lord looked earlier, I had a hard time imagining that

he was planning anything underhanded.

Ariane shook her head. "Felfi Visrotte… Well, you see, Felfi Visrotte is female."

Wanting an audience with Felfi Visrotte out of respect for the Dragon Lord's power

was one thing. But the story changed when you added attraction into the mix, if that

was what was going on.

"You mentioned that you'd ask your sister to pass along the request for an audience to

Felfi Visrotte. Are you okay with that, Ariane?"

A man asking a third party to serve as an intermediary to introduce him to a woman

was hardly rare. However, it was also hardly rare for the woman not to return his

feelings, making the situation uncomfortable for all involved.

Ariane scowled. "I mean, I didn't promise that it would happen, so it should be fine.

Still, I'll ask my sister to do her best to convince Felfi Visrotte."

On the surface, the Dragon Lord was a truly intimidating force. Thinking back on his

childlike excitement, though, I couldn't help but see him as an average guy with an

unrequited crush.

"Well, let's put that aside for now and head up to the spring." Ariane brought us back

to the task at hand.

We passed through the towering gray torii and marched up the moss-covered steps

built into the mountainside. They'd been constructed at an easy, shallow angle,

although about half of the staircase had sunk into the earth after being neglected for

so long. Densely forested tranquility stretched all around us, the only sounds rustling

leaves and bird calls. We didn't encounter any large monsters, as we had in the Furyu

Mountains and Great Canada Forest. Honestly, this felt a lot like a weekend hike.

That was undoubtedly due to the Dragon Lord, who made his home on the mountain's

summit, at the Lord Crown. No monster would want to live so close to a fearsome

predator.

In the branches above, I saw a family of squirrel-like creatures, watching with great

interest as strange intruders—the three of us—walked by.

We chopped a path through the low-hanging branches and undergrowth, surprising

several birds and other animals along the way. I could feel Ponta's reaction through

my helmet with every encounter.

We reached the outcropping at last. The trees gave way to gravel and waist-high

shrubs, offering a clear view of our surroundings. In front of us towered the Lord

Crown, its massive trunk almost like a wall, its countless branches stretching high into

the sky, blanketing the mountain's summit in its massive shadow. Looking up at the

Lord Crown, I felt as if I might tumble backward down the slope.

"I never would have imagined a tree could grow so large."

The trees back in the Great Canada Forest were massive in their own right, but this

was on a completely different scale. The Lord Crown reminded me of a gigantic tree I

saw in an anime once, wrapping itself around a certain castle in the sky.

Ariane and Chiyome gaped as well, taking in the Lord Crown's immense size.

Chiyome spoke in a murmur, squinting against the bright sunlight. "It's practically a

mountain on top of the mountain."

"I've heard that there are more like it back in Canada, but I've never seen them." Ariane

pulled her waterskin from her bag, took a swig, and sighed. She wiped the sweat from

her amethyst brow with one arm. "Well, we're almost at the top. We'd better hurry

up!"

With that, Ariane began making her way toward the summit. Chiyome and I followed.

The stone staircase ended abruptly at another, smaller torii, similar to the one at the

mountain's base.

The outcropping was desolate, and mostly devoid of trees, although the area

surrounding the torii was covered in thick foliage similar to what we'd left behind in

the forest below. Only the minimal sunlight broke through the dense leaf cover.

"It looks like that's the way to go."

I stepped through the torii and looked around.

It appeared to have originally been built in a small depression near the mountain's

summit, although the ground had flattened over the years as the undergrowth slowly

took over. Fortunately, I could still see the occasional stone step peeking through the

grass. Ahead, at the end of the path, sat a building that had fallen into ruin.

I couldn't get a sense of the building's original shape, since the wooden roof had

collapsed. The moss-covered stone still stood firm, however, suggesting a design I was

very familiar with.

"That looks like a shrine." Ariane took the words out of my mouth.

She was right. Between the torii and the design of the building, it looked almost exactly

like a Shinto shrine.

A series of windows, placed at regular intervals, dotted the walls on either side of the

shrine's entrance. This particular building differed from the Shinto designs I was

familiar with, since it lacked a donation box or bells of any sort. The entrance stood

empty; the doors had long ago rotted.

"So, this is the shrine where Hanzo lived," Chiyome said. "It looks a lot like the house

where our village elder lives now."

With the massive Lord Crown as its backdrop, the gentle mist floating in the air, and

the silence that surrounded us, the shrine's ruins gave off an altogether mystical feeling.

Chiyome's nose and ears suddenly perked up. She spoke up in a low voice. "I'm

catching the scent and sound of water. But there's something different about it."

"Kyii!" Ponta cried out in agreement.

Since I didn't even have a nose, I instead listened carefully and focused. Just as

Chiyome said, I could hear water flowing. "Is that the spring?"

"It sounds like it's… that way."

Chiyome led Ariane and I past the shrine, down a stone path. We followed in silence.

Behind the building, we met a most unexpected scene.

Warm water burbled from a rocky outcropping, steam roiling into the air. The water

snaked down through a groove in the rock face, then accumulated in a stone-lined pool

built into the ground below. Excess water poured over the sides of the pool, forming a

small waterfall that ran down the cliff.

"Is that warm water?" Ariane's pointed ears perked up.

Chiyome seemed surprised as well. A look of excitement captured her face. "It's an

outdoor bath, and a pretty large one, at that."

She was right—the bath was around the size of two twenty-five-meter pools placed

side-by-side.

The stone basin resembled a large bath at an old-fashioned Japanese inn, although

moss covered the rocks surrounding it, due to the moisture rising from the water.

Trees and other plant life grew close around the perimeter.

"I guess even springs can be heated," I said. "But is this really the one we're looking

for?"

Ariane dipped her hands into the water. "Seems like it."

"Kyii! Kyiiiiii!" Ponta, excited by the sight of the spring, hopped down from my head

and ran to the bath's edge. It leaned over and lapped at the water, its nose and chin

touching the surface. Satisfied, it sat back and batted at its wet fur with its paws,

cleaning itself.

Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined that the spring we were looking for would

be a hot spring. This was quite fortuitous.

I took off my armored gauntlet and stuck my hand into the water.

I felt its warmth seep into my bones. A few moments later, I pulled my hand out to find

it covered in flesh, just like the time I'd used Uncurse on myself. Unlike that time,

however, I didn't feel any strange sensation.

"Whoa! It… it looks like it's working."

Chiyome and Ariane stared in disbelief at the fleshy hand at the end of my bony arm.

Ariane spoke in a low voice. "It really can bring your physical body back."

I'd forgotten that I hadn't actually shown them Uncurse's effects. This was the first

time they'd seen my skin. Honestly, though, it kind of looked like a horror show.

A few moments later, the flesh on my hand faded like mist, leaving nothing but bone

behind. The temporary effect was exactly what had happened before. Either even the

hot spring wasn't strong enough to remove the curse permanently, or perhaps I

needed to soak my entire body for the spring to have any lasting effect.

"I'm going to climb in. Maybe that will cure me."

I took off my helmet and set it down on a large rock next to the water, then piled my

rucksack and the rest of my gear alongside. To be honest, at that moment, I just wanted

to soak my bones in an outdoor bath, surrounded by a beautiful view. Whether or not

the water cured me was of secondary importance.

As soon as I removed my upper armor, a chill ran through me.

"H-hey, don't just strip down in front of us!" Ariane objected loudly from behind me.

I turned to meet her gaze. Her purple ears flushed red.

"I never would've guessed you'd get excited over the sight of a skeleton."

Ariane's fist hit me in the rib. She didn't take to teasing all that well.

"C'mon, Chiyome. Let's go check out the building while Arc here soaks in his precious

hot spring."

With that, Ariane stormed off toward the ruined shrine, gesturing for Chiyome to

follow.

"See you later, Arc." Chiyome bowed her head and ran to catch up with Ariane.

I turned my attention back to the bath, rubbing my bruised rib. Ponta waited patiently,

sitting on its haunches and wagging its tail as it looked at me.

"Oh, you want to join me, Ponta?"

Ponta gave a vigorous wag in response. "Kyii!"

I scratched under its chin.

Already feeling a bit better, I removed the rest of my armor and made my way to the

edge of the water, standing there in all my skeletal glory.

I wondered for a moment about proper bathing etiquette, and whether I should wash

myself off first. However, there were no buckets in sight, and no other people in this

hidden mountain paradise to object.

There was only one thing left for me—and my animal companion—to do.

We shouted and dove in.

"Yeah!"

"Kyiiiiiiii!"

I hit the water with a tremendous splash, popping my head out a moment later, giving

it a shake, and scrubbing my face. Having such a glamorous bath all to myself was

simply magnificent. Ponta doggy-paddled back and forth across the spring.

"Fwaah! I never would've guessed there was a hot spring on this mountain," I blurted

out to no one in particular.

I looked down at my arm and saw muscle-bound flesh instead of bones. I ran my eyes

over my entire body—it was much more muscular than it had been back in the real

world. I cocked my head.

"Huh?"

I'd been a skeleton ever since arriving in this world, so there was really no reason for

my muscles to have developed.

I wiped water from my eyes and looked down at my reflection. The ripples calmed,

and the surface smoothed, revealing my face.

It wasn't my face in the real world.

I looked to be of Arab ancestry, with long, black hair, a stubbled chin, and an altogether

roguish appearance. If I had to guess, I'd say I was in my mid-thirties.

However, the face looking back at me also had deep crimson eyes and long, pointy

ears—both unusual in humans. I reached up and tugged one ear to make sure my eyes

didn't deceive me.

"Is this…?"

I stared at my face for a long moment before I finally realized why it looked so familiar.

It all came flooding back, like a sudden downpour washing through a muddy stream.

"Gwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaugh!"

Immense pain tore through my head, a relentless storm of dark emotions: anger

toward the bandits who'd roughed up those women, hatred for the slave traders, fear

of the vicious monsters, regret and disgust at the human lives I'd taken, and

homesickness.

Everything I'd experienced since arriving here came rushing forward at once. I could

feel the raw weight of all the people I'd killed, and all the feelings I'd repressed, crushing

my heart.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaugh!"

I screamed over and over, although it did nothing to calm the storm.

My body shook uncontrollably, as if I were freezing, in spite of the fact that I stood in

the middle of a hot spring. The pain coursing through my head became so

overwhelming that I forgot everything else. I found myself at the edge of the bath,

where I smashed my fist into the stone again and again until it cracked. The sudden

pain and distress were so intense that I started splashing wildly, choking on the water

that made it into my mouth, and fearing that I would drown. Somehow, I managed to

haul myself out.

"Kyi! Kyiiiiii!" Ponta, no doubt alarmed at my sudden change, came racing after me.

I looked at Ponta's soft, fluffy tail, and then down at myself.

That's when I caught sight of… it, hanging between my legs. It had to be at least one

and a half times larger than what I'd had in the real world. For some reason, that stuck

out to me.

I heard footsteps, followed by a familiar voice.

"Arc, are you oka—hey, who are you?!"

"Kyikyiiii!"

The voice in the distance belonged to Ariane.

I tried to speak, but no words came. Instead, I let out a long, wailing groan, like a

zombie that had crawled out of a graveyard.

Something licked my cheek vigorously, providing much-needed warmth to my frigid

body. I could feel myself slipping away as I lost consciousness.

My world was consumed by darkness, and I felt nothing.

***

Houvan was located in the Rhoden Kingdom, surrounded by the Telnassos Mountains

to the west and Anetto Mountains to the east. The city was relatively prosperous,

thanks to its role as a trading hub between the Rhoden Kingdom and the Grand Duchy

of Limbult to the southeast.

This domain's previous lord, Count Fulish du Houvan, had been executed by his own

people in response to his constant tax hikes and tyrannical use of force. The uprising

threw the town into chaos for a time, although that was quelled when the first prince

dispatched the Royal Army to put an end to the bloodshed. Shortly after, the prince

himself traveled to Houvan to ensure the people's safety and install a new government.

He moved into what had been Count du Houvan's estate and handled the administration

from there.

The castle was still in disrepair due to wanton destruction of the Count's estate during

the uprising, so the prince currently lived in a secondary building. His quarters were

shabby compared to the grand lifestyle he'd grown accustomed to in the royal palace.

Sekt Rondahl Karlon Rhoden Sahdiay, first prince of the Rhoden Kingdom, sat at his

desk, skimming a ream of reports. He brushed his light brown hair out of his eyes and

furrowed his brow as he read.

After suppressing the Houvan uprising, he'd kept busy with a never-ending stream of

administrative duties. Through them all, however, his mind remained fixed on a single

burning question, the cause of the weariness etched on his handsome face.

There was a knock at the door.

Sekt didn't bother lifting his eyes from the documents. "You may enter."

A muscular man dressed in a well-fitting military uniform, not unlike the uniform Sekt

himself wore, opened the door and slipped in.

He bowed his head. "I apologize for the disturbance."

Cetrion du Olsterio had brown hair and a brown mustache to match. He was a man of

few words, which only added to his stern demeanor. Cetrion was one of the lieutenant

generals sent along with the Royal Army to quell the Houvan uprising. He was also one

of Sekt's staunchest supporters, working to ensure that the prince would ascend to

the throne.

"I just received word from Lord Tiocera. Despite previous reports that Princess

Yuriarna was killed, we're now hearing that her forces were seen in Tiocera."

Lieutenant General Cetrion spoke in a clear, almost casual, manner. However, as soon

as he stopped speaking, Prince Sekt threw his papers onto the desk and glared at the

older man.

"So, she really did survive." Sekt's voice was forced, the wrinkles in his brow deepening.

This was exactly what he'd feared.

Princess Yuriarna was the previous queen's daughter, and the other possible successor

to the Rhoden Kingdom. She was supposed to have been killed by Prince Dakares— at

least, that was Sekt's plan when he framed Dakares and had him assassinated.

Originally, Yuriarna had been his only target. However, it quickly became clear that

Dakares planned to assassinate Sekt, which was how they'd found themselves here.

Unfortunately, the group that Sekt sent to assassinate Yuriarna was attacked by

monsters shortly afterward, and forced to flee. Sekt sent a second group to retrieve

Yuriarna's body, but they'd been unable to find the corpse, her carriage, or several of

her guards.

Kaecks Coraio du Brutios, son of Duke Brutios of the seven dukes, had been entrusted

with the assassination. He confirmed Yuriarna's death with his own eyes, but

Lieutenant General Cetrion's report said otherwise.

"I wanted to get rid of Yuriarna by pinning the blame on that buffoon Dakares, but

instead, I advanced her standing. This is the worst and least likely of outcomes… yet it

happened."

Sekt let out a self-deprecating laugh that turned into a heavy sigh.

He'd been given an heirloom necklace that his sister wore every day as proof that she

was murdered. The fact that he had the necklace in his possession meant that, at least

for a time, she'd been unconscious during the attack. Given the ferocity of the

monsters that appeared shortly afterward, it seemed highly unlikely that Yuriarna

could have escaped death's clutches.

Even if she somehow got past the monsters, it should have been impossible for her to

reach human civilization so quickly with the injuries she'd sustained. Yet according to

the report, Yuriarna was alive and well—with no apparent injuries—and had just

appeared in Tiocera, in the Rhoden Kingdom.

The whole situation was difficult to fathom.

"What shall we do, Prince Sekt?" Cetrion broke the silence, and Sekt's train of thought.

The prince took several deep breaths to steady himself. Although he was the one who

sent Kaecks to attack Yuriarna, he hadn't caused her any harm directly. It was possible

that she was unaware of Sekt's involvement. However, if she figured out that he was

behind it, he'd have no choice but to try and assassinate her again, no matter the risk.

Sekt looked up. Cetrion was watching him intently.

"We can't afford to let our guard down. Can we have Yuriarna taken care of while she's

still in Tiocera?" There was an edge to Sekt's words.

Cetrion shook his head. "Unfortunately, Yuriarna is accompanied not only by thirty of

her own guards, but another two hundred men flying the Grand Duchy's flag."

"Dammit! Yuriarna's sister is butting in, too?"

Sekt chewed his lip. Yuriarna's sister had married Duke Ticient, ruler of the Grand

Duchy of Limbult. The sisters were even closer now than when they'd lived together.

"Furthermore, I've heard reports that around thirty elven soldiers are accompanying

Princess Yuriarna."

"What?! Elven soldiers?" Sekt's face contorted in utter disbelief.

The elves lived in the Great Canada Forest, which stretched along the Rhoden

Kingdom's eastern border. Their population was relatively small compared to the

humans, but they lived long lives. Elven soldiers spent their time refining their fighting

skills, particularly skills related to magic and swordsmanship. If thirty such soldiers

protected Yuriarna, Sekt would need a sizable force to break through to her, which

would draw considerable attention. A quick and simple assassination was out of the

question.

Unless…

Sekt knitted his brow and crossed his arms. "Why are elves protecting Yuriarna?"

It was an obvious question. The Rhoden Kingdom had once been at war with the elves.

Even today, relations were tense at best. Not only that, but the elves also escaped

human oppression by hiding deep within the forest, refusing to trade with anyone but

the Grand Duchy. It was practically unheard of to see elves in human domains.

Sekt couldn't be sure why the elves would go out of their way to enter the Rhoden

Kingdom and protect Yuriarna, but deep inside, he sensed that it wasn't a good thing.

He looked back up at Cetrion, the hint of a grin tugging the corners of his lips. "Well,

we've come this far. It's not like we can just sit on our laurels and do nothing."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning we should go greet my sister with open arms, and congratulate her on

escaping Dakares's assassination plot."

Sekt pounded his fist on his knee and looked out the window, a sly smile twisting his

face.

***

Two days later, Princess Yuriarna Merol Melissa Rhoden Olav and her forces entered

Houvan, which was now safely under the control of Prince Sekt. She met her brother

at an ancillary building in what had once been Lord Houvan's castle. Her long, blond

hair curled at the tips, accenting her snow-white skin. Her warm brown eyes were

currently fixed on Prince Sekt, who stood across from her.

Yuriarna plucked up the edges of her skirt and offered a low curtsy. Her movements

were those of a refined royal family member, hardly what one might expect of the

average sixteen-year-old. Sekt's eyebrows rose at the fluidity of her motion, surprised

that she showed no sign of injury.

Yuriarna addressed him in a clear, curt tone. "It's been a while since we've seen each

other, dear brother."

She was flanked by two men. One was Rendol du Frivtran, a young man with delicately

combed brown hair and an angular chin. As the son of Lieutenant General Carlton, one

of the seven dukes and commander of the Third Royal Army, Rendol had been

entrusted with protecting Princess Yuriarna on her journey to Limbult. Rendol, who

should have been the first to leap in front of Yuriarna when the assassins struck, also

didn't have a single injury on his body. In fact, it didn't even look as though he'd been

in a fight.

At his side stood a large, brutish man, about two meters tall. A cloak marked with

strange symbols covered his muscular body. The man had amethyst-colored skin,

elongated ears, and short-cropped white hair. What appeared to be an old scar ran

down the side of his face, giving him an intimidating appearance.

In the interest of security, everyone had surrendered their weapons. Judging by the

way this man carried himself, however, his bare hands would be more than enough to

take out all the humans around him.

Sekt tried to ignore the chill creeping up his spine, covering his discomfort with a

warm smile. "Yuriarna, how great to see you! I was overjoyed to hear that you're alive

and well. The look on Father's face was tragic when he heard the news of your death."

Yuriarna offered a gentle smile in return. "I thought I was done for when we were

attacked. But, somehow, God smiled upon us and allowed us to get away unscathed."

"I was beyond surprised when I heard that Dakares was behind that vicious plot." Sekt

frowned deeply, letting out a heavy sigh.

Yuriarna watched her brother quietly before responding. "I heard you were also hurt.

Are you all right?"

"My arm was injured, but it's nothing serious. I thought I wouldn't stand a chance in a

duel against Dakares, but apparently, it was God's will for me to survive as well." Sekt's

tone was light, joking.

Yuriarna's eyebrows rose slightly. "During the announcement you made in the capital,

about the uprising being Dakares's doing, you also said that I died. Why?" Her

determined gaze bored into her brother, her low voice taking on strange power.

However, Sekt simply snorted, a look of anguish on his face as he let out another sigh.

"Dakares had that heirloom necklace you received from your mother—the one you

never take off. I assumed that meant you were no longer with us."

"But no one had seen my body?"

"No. The remains of a number of your guards, and a large group of bandits, were found

at the spot where we believed you were attacked. You were nowhere to be found.

However, there were signs of animals scavenging in the area."

Monsters ran rampant through the woods, and it was common enough for them to

drag corpses back to their lairs. Many people had disappeared in such a way, and being

royalty made no difference to a monster.

"But my carriage wasn't found either. Correct?" Yuriarna continued her line of

questioning.

Sekt only frowned. "That's also true. I thought that you might still be alive. But at that

time, we had no information on your whereabouts, and no reports that you were safe.

Add to that the fact that the cowards here in Houvan staged their uprising right when

the royal family was at its lowest… Well, I had to make rather hurried decisions to

remind the people of our family's power. If I'd suggested you were alive, I'd have run

the risk of your supporters stalling on sending troops to Houvan. That would not only

have prolonged the uprising, but also placed a vital trade route in limbo. Power loathes

a vacuum. Don't you agree?"

Yuriarna nodded, her face tense. "I suppose I would have done the same in your position."

Sekt appeared satisfied with that response, and brought his hands together, a wide

smile on his face. "I'm so glad to hear that. Now, I have a question for you. How is it

that all these Grand Duchy soldiers, as well as this dark elf, accompanied you?"

Yuriarna cleared her throat. "My sister Seriarna provided the soldiers from Limbult to

ensure my safe return to the capital. The dark elf here is Sir Fangas Flan Maple, a high

elder from the Great Canada Forest."

Sekt regarded the muscle-bound elf. A high elder was quite an important figure. For

him to show his face in the Grand Duchy was one thing, but this was the first time a

dark elf had appeared publicly in the Rhoden Kingdom for many long years.

Sekt's voice was barely above a whisper. "You can't possibly mean… a trade agreement?"

Yuriarna nodded. "High Elder Fangas is accompanying me to the capital so that we can

discuss opening trade between our nations."

Until that time, the Grand Duchy had been the only human nation that traded with the

elves. Since the humans prized magical items for both their quality and utility, Limbult

had amassed a sizable fortune merely by serving as an intermediary between the elves

and other humans.

If the Rhoden Kingdom also became a trade partner, that would destroy Limbult's

monopoly and severely cut into their profits. The fact that Yuriarna was under Limbult's

protection suggested that those details had already been worked out, however.

"What will be subject to trade?"

"First, we will make arrangements for cultivation rune stones."

Sekt swallowed hard. He tried to cover his sudden sense of dread with a cheerful

response. "That will do wonders to help develop our country."

Cultivation rune stones had the power to increase a parcel of land's harvest if crushed

and spread on the soil. However, only the elves knew the method for manufacturing

them. Despite the humans' best efforts to reproduce cultivation rune stones, they'd

come up empty-handed so far.

With all the monsters roaming the land, the ability to increase food production in the

already-cramped human domains could quite literally change a country's fate. If the

people got their hands on cultivation rune stones without going through the Grand

Duchy, nobles throughout the Rhoden Kingdom would almost certainly swear

allegiance to Yuriarna, all but assuring her the throne.

Sekt's shoulders slumped, his mind mulling this over.

Yuriarna looked at him quizzically.

"So, I assume you won't be here long?" Sekt asked, putting on another cheerful smile.

"You must be in a hurry to get to the capital."

"We'll spend the evening here and depart for the capital at first light tomorrow morning."

"I see, I see. In that case, I'll make arrangements for you to stay in another empty

building so that you can rest."

A glimmer of suspicion flickered across Yuriarna's face, but she quickly composed

herself. She thanked Sekt and left the room.

As soon as she was out of sight, Cetrion stepped from the shadows behind the prince.

He spoke in a low voice. "What do you think?"

Sekt dropped heavily into his chair, placing his hands palms-up on the armrests and

slouching. "If we let these trade conversations happen, I'm guessing at least eight

percent of the nobles will support her succession."

"And?"

Sekt shook his head. "We'll have to concede this round to her. If I did anything to

Yuriarna at this point, the whole trade discussion would go up in smoke. We need her

plan to succeed, not only for the country's sake, but for the royal family's sake as well.

I do find it a bit ironic, though, that we've become reliant on a species that barely

reproduces in order to secure a sufficient food supply." An inscrutable smile spread

across Sekt's face. "Besides, I already control Tiocera and Houvan, two major stopping

points for trade with Limbult. I'm not exactly leaving everything on the table for my

dear sister. I'll need to speak with Lord Tiocera, to make sure he doesn't get any funny

ideas."

Cetrion nodded.

"Knowing Yuriarna, she'll almost certainly use the cultivation rune stones on barren

land, which will undoubtedly sow discord among those with fertile land. Yuriarna is

likely aware of that, but there are only so many rune stones to go around. It shouldn't

be difficult for me to win over the nobility who feel neglected. Support may sway

toward her temporarily, but the pendulum will assuredly come swinging back." The

prince's smile grew even more ominous. "No need to worry. Haste makes waste, as

Dakares learned. I plan on leaving the crown to my own son, and that starts with

choosing the proper allies."

Sekt closed his eyes, his smile stretching ever wider.