kscans

CHAPTER 7 CHALLENGE TO THE LABYRINTH – Episode 6 The Dragonoid (Part 2)

4

When Bard and the others entered the royal capital, an emergency council of high ministers was immediately convened. The one who explained the situation before the king was Count Rischionel. He had previously served as the king’s secretary during the First War of Nations six years ago. He was likely one of the individuals that Julelan had nurtured as a close aide. His youthful features had matured, now exuding a dignified presence. His calm demeanor and keen intellect remained unchanged.

The count provided a concise explanation of the events.

“It happened on June 2nd. Ten Dragonoids appeared, each riding a Yent Nada (flying dragon). They flew in and landed within the castle grounds, then asked where the king was. The knights and soldiers surrounded the Dragonoids, but strangely, any knight who was glared at by the dragonoid would suddenly collapse unconscious. Though many knights rushed in, a battle was narrowly averted. Upon hearing the report, His Majesty wished to meet the Dragonoids. However, the close aides unanimously advised against it, and in the end, it was Count Quol who met with the Dragonoids as the king’s representative.”

As Bard later learned, this Count Quol was married to the king’s cousin and had acted as a negotiator with the royal family.

“The Dragonoid representative introduced himself as Cantonoscano, an emissary from Totorunostoto, and stated that Teriya had sent them. Totorunostoto, he claimed, sought the divine beast-harboring sacred sword, and had learned that it was in this country. Therefore, they demanded that we hand over the sacred sword and its wielder.

Count Quol inquired which of the many magical swords they were referring to. Cantonoscano replied that it was the sword that had repelled the horde of demonic beasts that attacked the human lands five years ago. The famous defense of Lordvan Castle, where General Bard had wielded the magical sword to drive back the remnants of the demonic beasts, had clearly informed Quol that they were referring to Sir Rowen and his sword. However, Quol did not openly state this, and instead responded that their demand was outrageous and that we had no obligation to comply.

At that moment, the steadfast Count Quol suddenly collapsed. I was standing right behind him, and he fell as if he had simply fallen asleep while standing. In a drained, flat voice, he said that the object of their desire was the frontier knight Sir Bard Rowen and his sheathed sword. Sir Rowen lived deep in the remote frontier, closely tied to this country but not a vassal. However, if the current king commanded it, Rowen would obey.

As soon as Quol said that, he crumpled to the floor. I hurriedly went to support him. Then Cantonoscano let out a booming voice. No, it was not a voice, but a resonating presence felt within the mind. Not only those of us present, but everyone in the royal palace could hear it.

Cantonoscano declared, “O king of this land, hand over Bard Rowen and his sacred sword. If he is too distant, we give you until January 1st of next year. At that time, we shall return. If you do not comply, we shall destroy this castle and all who dwell within.”

With that, Cantonoscano and the other Dragonoids departed. Afterward, Count Quol remained in seclusion. He said that when the middle eye of the Dragonoid glowed, he was entranced. He could see and hear what was happening, but his body was no longer under his own control. He himself was moving his body and mind, believing that obeying the Dragonoid was the right thing to do.”

One of the other ministers then took over the discussion from Count Rischionel.

“We held a senior ministers council meeting on this matter. I suggested that since this is an issue between the Dragonoids and Sir Rowen, we should summon Sir Rowen, and when the Dragonoids return, have him meet with them. Then let Sir Rowen and the Dragonoids negotiate.”

Another minister objected.

“That cannot be done. Sir Bard Rowen is a knight of great merit to our country, a benefactor one could say. His reputation is too high. He has become a great general, the sole Wajd Entrante in history. To submit to the threats of these sub-humans and hand over Sir Rowen would be a blow to the nation’s honor.”

The first minister argued, “But it has not been determined that the Dragonoids’ demands are inherently violent. Since they wish to meet with Sir Rowen, we should facilitate that. What happens after can be dealt with then.”

“But they did not ask to meet with Sir Rowen. They demanded that he be handed over! Doubtlessly, they intend to claim the magical sword as their own and impose something on its wielder, Sir Rowen. However, that is not the issue. The problem is how this will appear to the outside world. No matter how one looks at it, Parzam will seem to have given in to the Dragonoids’ threats and handed over Sir Rowen and the magical sword. That would mean the loss of our nation’s credibility.”

The two senior ministers argued back and forth. Bard realized that this was not simply a conflict of opinions, but the ministers were giving voice to the underlying sentiments within the council. The first minister then summoned the knight Leek.

“Summon knight Leek here.”

Knight Leek was immediately invited into the hall.

“Sir Rowen, this is the person who witnessed the Dragonoids and their flying dragons up close. Knight Leek, describe your impressions of them.”

“Yes, sir. The Dragonoids were about a head taller than a human. Their entire bodies seemed to be made of twisted steel, with their heads and arms appearing especially formidable. The strange thing was their eye power. They have three eyes, and when the middle one glowed, any nearby knights or soldiers would suddenly collapse unconscious. I cannot say for certain how powerful they are in battle, but they exuded a terrifying strength.

The flying dragons had a wingspan of over twenty paces across. Their torsos were at least three times the size and weight of a warhorse. Their heads jutted out like hammered metal, with a rocky, unyielding texture. Their thick, hard legs had sharp claws. The sight of them carrying the Dragonoids through the air filled me with a tremendous sense of threat. Their mass and speed are enough to make one shudder just remembering. I imagine that even watchtowers would crumble under a single strike from those dragons. If they were to launch repeated assaults, I fear even this castle would have difficulty withstanding them.”

“Enough! Your duty is to prevent such an occurrence, not speculate about it. Say no more.”

The minister’s expression had hardened, his face frozen white. Meanwhile, the minister who had argued against handing over Bard looked on with a perplexed gaze. Bard realized then that the ministers who had actually witnessed the Dragonoids were the ones advocating surrendering him. They believed that the Dragonoids’ forces were too overwhelming to resist. Their fear was understandable. The enemy could attack from the sky, and arrows would be the only real defense. Moreover, the Dragonoids’ combat prowess and destructive power seemed to defy human comprehension. They believe that they should not go to war with the dragonoid.

On the other hand, the ministers who had not seen the Dragonoids did not share that level of crisis awareness. They viewed the Dragonoids’ intrusion into the royal castle and outrageous demands as the issue.

Then Julelan spoke up, addressing Bard, “Sir Rowen, I’m so glad you arrived so quickly. The mere existence of these Dragonoids is astounding. What could they possibly intend to do by obtaining your magical sword? And why do they need you in person as well? Do you have any idea?”

Bard paused, considering how much he should reveal in this setting. The fact that his magical sword, Stavros, had emitted mysterious light on at least two occasions. During the defense of Lordvan Castle against the demonic beasts and the battle against the General of Greed on the Golt Plains. That was already known to the royal court. It was clear that Stavros possessed extraordinary powers beyond an ordinary magical sword, and this was common knowledge in the kingdom. However, the knowledge that the ancient demon sword was a sword that housed a divine beast, and that the General of Greed’s lifespan, body, and power were obtained by absorbing the sword’s power, remains confined to only a few individuals. The mystery is one that Bard himself is currently in the midst of investigating, and it would not do to expound uncertain and fragmented information on the matter here. It would only invite needless confusion and greed.

So Bard prefaced his remarks about the Dragonoids by saying that he had heard the story just the other day from the hero Yemite of Jameen, and explained his knowledge about Dragonoids.

In the ancient days before the spread of humans across this land, the Dragonoids had dominated and oppressed all other races, even using them as food. Their combat prowess was formidable, with only the Gerkaast able to barely oppose them. But the ‘Great King’ had driven the Dragonoids beyond the great barrier. Bard said they should inquire of the Gerkaast for more detailed information on the Dragonoids.

The group seemed unusually struck by the fact that the demihumans were passing down the ancient history of the era before the rise of the nations of the Central Plains. Finally, Bard said.

“I shall go to the Gerkaast. I am on good terms with Lord Engdahl of the Zoe Clan. I shall explain the situation and bring him here. Perhaps we should first inquire of Lord Engdahl about the true nature of the Dragonoids. There is still time. How we should deal with the Dragonoids can then be discussed based on what we learn.”

The council accepted this proposal as reasonable and adjourned. Bard led the group towards Lordvan Castle.

5

Lord Dusselburne of Lordvan warmly welcomed Bard, and he stayed there for two nights. It is strange that this remote castle was much more comfortable than the city of Mithra or the royal palace of Parzam. No, it can no longer be called a remote castle. Its prosperity was astounding. When Goriora Empire first took possession of this castle and Dusselburne was sealed here, he heard that hardly any nobles showed interest. For it was far from the capital and a barren land lacking in resources. It may have been an important defensive outpost, but that was all it was thought to be. However, as its role as a trade hub became clear, merchants started visiting, and eventually major merchants placed their agents here. Not only the goods from Parzam, but the items brought to Lordvan Castle and then on to the Goriora Empire were sold at shockingly high prices. Spices, textiles, precious stones, specialty wood products, and a wide variety of alcohols gradually became indispensable to the capital. In addition, Goriora exported its rare and exotic furs, weapons, and medicinal herbs, which were also highly valued in the south.

When the trade volume exceeded a certain level, the nobles and major merchants of Goriora began bringing large quantities of goods to Lordvan Castle to find trading partners. The caravans would stay there for weeks or months, selling to the merchants of Parzam. And they would also purchase goods from Parzam to bring back to the capital. Previously, such long-distance trade did not yield much profit, as they only transported goods with a guaranteed or promising market. But now the trade volume has increased dramatically, and the merchants of both countries are coming and going so frequently that the transactions are completed with hardly any waiting time. Lordvan Castle is now becoming a major trade city. To accommodate the nobles who begged him for assistance, Dusselburne set a condition. He needed people. The nobles then sent peasants, and the clever ones relocated skilled craftsmen. The population of peasants and craftsmen has now reached 2,200, but it still cannot keep up with the swelling demand. The vast Lordvan Castle has become cramped, and plans are underway to build two adjacent towns.

In truth, Lordvan Castle’s importance as a military outpost has diminished. So the capital had planned to cut off aid once it became self-sufficient. However, with the bustling caravan traffic, they cannot avoid reinforcing the knight order to provide escorts. The Goriora Frontier Knight Order, which was to be reorganized in the small Myrao Castle, has instead been reestablished at Lordvan Castle, tripling in size. While this Frontier Knight Order is not directly under the control of Lord Dusselburne of Lordvan, it will wield significant influence. In any case, with this newly formed Frontier Knight Order making Lordvan Castle its base, the castle’s military power will increase dramatically. In other words, Count Dusselburne, who was once sealed in a remote defensive outpost that could not stand on its own without aid from the capital, is now trying to rise as a powerful lord with formidable military and economic might.

Incidentally, the vast western and southern regions of Lordvan Castle fall within the sphere of influence of the Kingdom of Gaineria. Passage through this area requires paying a certain transit tax. The impoverished Foreign Minister of Gaineria once proposed,

“If we set a fixed amount of annual tax, it may be a big burden on the economy of Lordvan Castle.　How about we receive one-thousandth of the annual tax that Loadvan Castle collects from merchants?”

At the time, the projected tax revenue of Lordvan Castle was only a meager amount from the transit tax alone. Both Goriora and Parzam readily approved this remarkably ungreedy proposal. But now, that one-thousandth amount has become a staggering sum. After all, most of the trading is conducted within Lordvan Castle, and the transactions are enormously lucrative. In addition to the entry tax, Lordvan Castle also collects a tax based on the transaction volume. This one-thousandth tax has gradually swelled to an amount that makes the accountants under Dusselburne turn pale. Nowadays, the patrol knights of Gaineria use Lordvan Castle as a supply base, using the lodging facilities and food supplies to offset a portion of the one-thousandth tax. This tax revenue is a substantial income for the small country of Gaineria, whose capital is reportedly thriving. And from Gaineria’s perspective, it was the efforts of the Storm General Jog Ward that secured this vast territory within their sphere of influence. Jog’s reputation seems to be rising without limit.
Bard and his companions left Lordvan Castle and headed towards the Gerkaast settlement. At first, they could not communicate with the Gerkaast they encountered and nearly came to a battle. However, Bard was eventually able to make them understand that they were guests of Engdahl, and Bard was reunited with Engdahl after a long time. That night, there was a banquet attended by the warrior acting as the tribal chief, Yanzengo, Meritoke, and many other Gerkaast. The livestock called Yatsu was indeed remarkably delicious.

Engdahl asked, “Did that man called Seifert not come?”

Bard replied that he had died, killed magnificently in battle against a formidable enemy. Engdahl simply said “I see,” and silently offered a cup to the moon.

6

The day after drinking all night, Bard brought up his business. Having heard the circumstances, Engdahl said,

“Dragonoid has broken the ancient pact. They are not to be involved with humans. They should stay out of the Great Barrier as much as possible. That was the pact made between the ‘Great King’ and Dragonoid. By making that promise, they were spared from destruction. If they are to violate the pact, we will punish them. Bard Rowen. Take us to the royal capital of Parzam.”

Fifty elite Gerkaasts led by Engdahl were to accompany them. Unfortunately, the warrior Yanzengo was left behind. Meritoke was one of the fifty selected and looked smug, only to be struck down by Yanzengo.

The group first entered Lordvan Castle. To head to the royal capital of Parzam from here, they had to pass through several towns no matter what. Since time was precious and they were heading directly for the royal capital instead of going through Mithra, the number of towns they had to pass through increased. Additionally, they had to go through Gaineria’s territory.

As expected, immediately after leaving Lordvan Castle, they encountered Gaineria’s knight squads. They seemed to be patrolling widely in separate squads. Still, to have found them so accurately in this vast desert. Could it be said that Gaineria’s knight squads had developed an animal-like sense of smell since Jog Ward took command? At first, they were surprised to see a group of Gerkaasts in such a place, but fortunately, the other party recognized Bard’s face. Most of the knights had participated in the defense of Lordvan Castle, so this was only natural. They treated him with great respect and a nostalgic demeanor. Additionally, since they had an identification document issued directly by the King of Parzam, they were able to get through this without difficulty. The problem would be when entering towns. While they had a travel permit issued by the King of Parzam, it was only for Engdahl alone and did not account for a force of fifty Gerkaasts. Moreover, each city had its own autonomy and would not easily allow the passage of suspicious individuals, Bard thought. This turned out to be an unnecessary worry. Upon arriving at the town, Taranka shouted,

“This is a party headed for the royal capital under royal command! The commander is the former Union Marshal Bard Rowen! We are accompanied by fifty brave Gerkaast warriors to forge a friendship! Please grant us swift passage!”

In every town, the guards alone could not decide, and a person in charge had to come out, but Bard’s name seemed to be surprisingly well-known, and they said things like,

“Oh, Bard Rowen is escorting Gerkaasts to the capital. I see! As expected of Lord Rowen,”

and without even properly checking the travel permit issued in the king’s name, they let them through. Still, they could not simply travel through the uninhabited wilderness, and by the time they arrived at the royal capital, it was already October.

7

An important senior ministers council meeting was immediately convened. Engdahl spoke of what he knew about Dragonoid, and finally said,

“Dragonoid looks down on other races. If they break the ancient pact and lay their hands on the human race, what is it for? Their desire for the magic sword, what is it for? It’s decided. It’s to gain power. What will they do with the power they gain? It’s decided. To once again rule over and dominate other races. They use a mysterious art to control the hearts of other races. Only we Gerkaasts can resist this.”

The decision of the important senior ministers council meeting was made. Lord Bard Rowen and his magic sword would not be handed over to Dragonoid. Even if it means resorting to force.