9 – The Day of Glory

To get straight to the point, Elian regretted it.

‘Damn it. I can’t do this anymore. No, I won’t.’

Elian felt and reached climax more easily than when he couldn’t see.

He thought he was sensitive because he couldn’t see, but it seemed he was just born with a sensitive body.

Or perhaps he had already adapted to it.

Perhaps because it was right after he regained his sight, his immunity to Kirendis’s face had dropped, and he had reached climax just by looking at his face several times.

Of course, it was partly because of things Elian particularly liked, such as his face right after cumming, or his face as he stared intently, breathing heavily, but he couldn’t deny that it happened because of his face.

‘Embarrassing.’

He recalled how Kirendis had found out about it and confirmed it with a final thrust right after their encounter.

“You like my face that much? Enough to cum just by looking at it?”

Of course, he had immediately denied it, saying he hadn’t cummed, but Kirendis must have known it was a lie due to his heaving inner wall.

‘Damn it.’

He was overcome with self-loathing, wondering if his image could be ruined like this. He always wanted to appear cool and perfect, but he was sad that he couldn’t.

He could manage fine in front of others, so why couldn’t he do the same for Kirendis? He could only sigh.

“You truly are something. I thought you’d run away the moment you regained your sight, but you’re mating with that human again. As if that wasn’t enough?”

Familiar voice, and then he heard something outrageous. Elian’s body stiffened.

He had forgotten about Valterias, who was supposed to visit every day.

He only realized belatedly that he had also completely forgotten about Jade, who was supposed to visit intermittently.

‘No way… he didn’t hear, did he?’

Given how often they did it, it was natural to worry.

“It seems you remember now. If you’re embarrassed, there’s no need. I’m not human, so it doesn’t bother me.”

Indeed, Valterias seemed indifferent, showing no particular reaction. But Elian was different.

Even if he said it was fine, Elian felt like he would die of embarrassment.

Moreover…

“Ah! I told the other humans not to come. I said not to bother me because you’d just be sleeping due to aftereffects. Humans are so concerned with trivial matters, so I specially…”

“Valter!!”

At the voice that pinpointed his exact concern, Elian suddenly hugged Valterias tightly. Valterias, who had been unexpectedly embraced, struggled and shouted.

“W-What is this! To repay kindness with enmity…”

He spoke up to that point, but then he went limp at Elian’s gentle touch.

As Elian stroked him gently as he had before, Valterias seemed to calm down. He was so soft and pliable, like mochi, and incredibly cute.

“Ahem. It’s not that I specifically wanted this to receive your favor. But since you like me touching you, I’ll make an exception.”

The uncharacteritable Valterias forgot his anger and let himself be touched.

Elian knew he wanted something, but he was even happier for it. It was proof that Valterias had opened his heart to him.

“Mmm…”

Valterias, who had been quietly receiving the massage, let out a small groan and furrowed his brow.

“What? Is something uncomfortable?”

There was no issue with the strength of his touch, so Elian tilted his head, wondering why. Then, with a small sigh, Valterias spoke.

“Lion is urging you to come quickly.”

“Ah.”

Only then did he remember that he had promised to see Lion as soon as he woke up. Lion must have sent Valterias in a hurry when he heard Elian had woken up but hadn’t come.

“Sigh…”

“Are you disappointed?”

Disappointed?

Elian recalled the days when he couldn’t see.

It felt like they had just had sex without thinking about anything else. It was the first time he had lived so thoughtlessly.

He had spent his time surrendering to the pleasure right before him, escaping reality.

It had been exhausting doing it so much, but he had also felt free. He felt like he had truly enjoyed the present moment.

“Yes. I guess so.”

Elian nodded with a faint smile. Then Valterias pulled away from his hands as if bewildered and said, “If that’s the case, then that’s that. What strange words.”

“I suppose so.”

“Stop chattering and let’s go. Lion is too noisy.”

It seemed Valterias could communicate even from a distance, as he furrowed his brow.

Elian chuckled and got up. It was time to return to reality.

“You’re cruel. You promised you’d come right away.”

“I’m sorry. I needed time to adjust when I suddenly regained my sight.”

The truth was that he had been with Kirendis for another round, but Elian swallowed his words.

He was so adept at lying that it didn’t show. However, he felt guilty with Valterias, who knew the truth, standing beside him.

“I’ll let it slide just this once, as there were unavoidable circumstances.”

“Thank you, Lion.”

Now Emperor, he stood before Elian as ‘Lion.’

His clothes, his surroundings, his environment, even the people around him had all changed, so he seemed glad that Elian remained unchanged.

Having become Emperor in such a short period, he likely hadn’t had time to prepare himself mentally.

“You’ve been busy lately, haven’t you?”

Elian chuckled and listened to the events that had transpired.

The appearance of a Black Dragon, followed by a Gold Dragon.

Not just one or two, but all the residents of the capital had witnessed it. Not knowing what was happening, the country must have been in an uproar.

Guiding it in the right direction was all Lion’s responsibility. He must have been overwhelmed just by dealing with the aftermath, let alone preparing for his coronation.

“I expected it, but it’s not easy.”

Lion, who seemed quite worn out, continued, burying himself in the sofa.

“The most serious issue is the Ministry of Finance. It was already in a dire situation, and now it’s gotten worse. It’s not just about the budget; there’s a severe lack of personnel.”

That made sense.

The place had been a mess because of Marius, and changing the head wouldn’t fix things overnight.

Moreover, to stabilize the country, Lion’s coronation had to proceed, and to counter Marius, they had to strengthen their military.

All these were incredibly costly endeavors, so Elian could easily imagine the state of things.

“So, about that…”

Lion sat up and pulled a luxurious envelope from a stack of documents beside him, handing it to Elian.

“…”

He could guess what was inside without looking.

“It’s still early, but the situation is dire, so I prepared this in advance.”

With a face that said, ‘Here it comes,’ Elian took out the contents and read them. As expected, it was an appointment letter naming him Minister of Finance, bearing the Emperor’s seal.

“You can just stamp these out like this, even before the coronation?”

He voiced his mild displeasure with a reluctant expression. It was truly a lightning-fast reinstatement.

‘I thought he’d at least wait until after the coronation.’

In such a chaotic situation, it must have been easy to gain the consent of other nobles. They needed to put out the immediate fires to plan for the future.

In that regard, Lion’s choice was brilliant.

He had subtly handled a potentially controversial issue.

“I’m just calling it in a little early, so it’s fine.”

Elian felt troubled, but Lion replied as if it were no big deal. He wondered when Lion had grown into such a magnanimous man.

Despite his unease, Elian felt a sense of pride and tucked the document into his chest.

“It’s the Emperor’s decree, so I have no choice but to obey.”

“Thank you, Uncle.”

Only then did Lion smile brightly, looking relieved. His face was one of eased worry.

“What about Marius? Any news?”

He had made people tremble in fear, but then he had vanished without a trace.

His existence was clearly a national crisis, so the Royal Guard must have started tracking him.

The day he would be summoned was fast approaching, and he had even warned them he would return, so they needed to find even the smallest piece of information.

“I was just about to tell you, but there’s no trace of him.”

“No trace at all?”

The condition for summoning a Black Dragon was Monster blood.

Since it wasn’t complete yet, there should have been some sign of movement somewhere. But the absence of any trace meant…

“He hasn’t made a move yet?”

“If that’s the case, it’s a relief, but I feel uneasy. It’s like the calm before the storm.”

“Hmm.”

Elian fell into thought. As Lion said, it was a sufficiently unsettling situation. A clear danger loomed before them.

But to be unable to grasp even a single clue, how much more unsettling must it be?

“What about you?”

Valterias, who had been quietly resting in Lion’s embrace, asked.

“Me?”

“Yes. What do you think about this situation?”

“I…”

Elian quietly recalled the current situation.

Marius, who had disappeared without a trace.

Elusive clues.

Lingering danger.

All were sources of anxiety, but strangely, he felt fine. He wasn’t anxious.

‘Why?’

Elian couldn’t help but tilt his head.

Humans instinctively fear the unknown, but he wasn’t feeling that way.

‘Is it because I think Marius will reappear in some way?’

If that were the case, he wouldn’t know when he would appear. He should feel anxious about that.

But he didn’t even feel that vague anxiety. He just had a feeling that things would be alright.

“Looking at your face, it seems you have a feeling that things will work out.”

“How did you know?”

Surprised that it was so obvious, Elian asked. Valterias replied nonchalantly, “Why else would you hesitate? If you had sensed danger, you would have given an answer immediately. It’s obvious when you say nothing without a reason.”

It was an accurate assessment. As he said, if he had felt it was dangerous, a course of action would have immediately come to mind.

But nothing came to mind, and he only felt a sense of well-being, so he couldn’t say anything.

“Aren’t you worried, Uncle?”

Lion asked, sounding surprised.

“Strangely, no. I have a feeling everything will be fine.”

If anyone else had said this, they would have been called careless or someone who lived without a plan.

But when Elian said it, it sounded different. Just as he said, it felt like everything would indeed be fine.

“Why?”

That made it even stranger. Elian was always the type to prepare for variables and act, not the type to sit back and say things would be fine without a plan.

But the answer was surprisingly simple.

“It’s because your power of the eyes has strengthened with this incident.”

“The power of the eyes?”

As Elian expressed his confusion, Valterias uttered something incredible.

“Yes. Didn’t I tell you? Those eyes have the power to predict the future.”

Come to think of it, he did say something like that. He had said that if he got used to it, he could predict the future.

“If it was just a vague feeling until now, now that your power has strengthened, you must have reached a certain conviction. When it was vague, you might have thought you needed to prepare, but when you have conviction, you might think even that is unnecessary.”

It was exactly right. Elian felt precisely that way. It was as if Valterias had read his mind.

“How did you know? That’s amazing.”

Elian exclaimed in pure admiration, and Valterias replied, puffing up with pride.

“Ahem. I am inherently a great being. You just didn’t know it.”

He could feel Valterias was more excited than usual, perhaps because Elian had said such a thing.

“You’re amazing, Uncle. Truly an incredible ability.”

“Is that so?”

If what he said was true, it was indeed an incredible ability. Elian had thought so too when he first heard it.

But he hadn’t expected it to be such a vague feeling, which made him a little uneasy.

“Still, just in case, let’s prepare thoroughly. This power might not be omnipotent.”

Elian suppressed his vague positive feelings and offered his advice. It felt like it was shaking the foundation of all his past actions, so he felt the need to be cautious.

“That’s a good attitude. You should never trust anything 100%.”

Valterias nodded in agreement, as if he thought the same.

Thus, Elian discussed many things regarding future plans with Lion.

Although Lion was the Emperor, Elian was far more adept at leading the Imperial Palace.

Directly advising the Emperor on what to do was a very dangerous act, but it was possible during such times.

Once the country was on a stable track, even offering small advice would require careful consideration of the situation.

‘So I should pass on as much as I can while I have the chance.’

Lion was a talented individual. Therefore, he would absorb what he was taught quickly.

After spending a considerable amount of time together, Elian headed to the Ministry of Finance.

He had just received his appointment letter, but there was no time for proper procedures. He had to make it run properly as soon as possible.

“Everyone looks terrible.”

“Grand Duke!”

“Oh my. The Grand Duke has arrived.”

“Oh, my gods. Thank you.”

As Elian entered, everyone was moved to tears. The old men, with their haggard faces, even shed tears, stirring a sense of compassion that hadn’t existed before.

This was not the look he saw when he was in charge of the Ministry of Finance.

‘Seeing them like this is refreshing, after only seeing them tense.’

Whether it was because they were pushed to their limits or because they had grown accustomed to him through his frequent visits and help, they treated Elian more comfortably than before.

“We’ve been waiting. Please sit here.”

Count Cliton, who guided Elian to his seat, spoke with a voice filled with emotion.

From his perspective, it was as if his position as Minister of Finance had been taken away, yet he seemed to welcome Elian, which was strange.

“I apologize. It hasn’t been long since I handed over the position.”

“This position was a burden to me. You are the one suited for this role, Grand Duke.”

“That’s right. Please lead us again.”

“Please push us hard!”

“I want to go home… Ouch!”

The one who blurted out his true feelings at the end was kicked in the shin by the person standing next to him and groaned.

It seemed everyone, with one heart and one mind, welcomed Elian with open arms, driven by the desire to go home.

‘Whatever the reason, it’s good that it’s good.’

Now that Lion was Emperor, the need to be constantly on guard, as before, had disappeared. So Elian decided to take it easy.

A certain level of tension would be necessary, but that could be addressed later.

“Then, let’s start with the most urgent matter…”

Elian thus began his work. The tasks poured in at an overwhelming pace. Knowing this would happen, he tackled them systematically.

Everyone was moved to tears by this.

‘Sniff. As expected of the Grand Duke.’

‘This is it, this is.’

‘It’s finally running properly.’

‘Go home… Go home!’

Thus, everyone plunged into work with one heart and one mind, achieving the feat of bringing things to the verge of normalization in just three days.

“That should cover the most urgent matters. Everyone worked hard. You may leave the palace.”

“Waaaaah!”

“Kwooooh!”

“Finally!!”

Strange cries of joy erupted from all around. Having worked side-by-side for three days, sleeping only in short naps, everyone was genuinely happy.

Not only could they finally go home, which they had longed for, but from tomorrow onwards, they could return home on time without working overtime.

“Then I shall take my leave.”

“Your Majesty should also go in soon.”

“You worked hard.”

“See you tomorrow.”

Unlike before, the ministers each offered a word to Elian before leaving the palace.

Over the past three days, their respect and familiarity with Elian had grown to an extreme.

Those who had found it difficult to even speak to him were now smiling brightly as they met his gaze.

‘This place has changed a lot too.’

Such changes were still astonishing. Just because the Emperor had changed, such a transformation had occurred.

When Marius was Emperor, he had to be in opposition, so he always had to be on guard. But with Lion, he didn’t have to, which put his mind at ease. As he stopped being on guard, his surroundings also changed.

So he couldn’t help but think.

‘Couldn’t I have had this kind of relationship with Marius too?’

His daily life was so peaceful that he had thoughts uncharacteristic of him.

He knew it was impossible because the vicious cycle passed down from the previous Emperor was too strong, but he felt a bitter taste.

‘Enough. Marius has already crossed the river of no return.’

The important thing was that Marius had become a Black Dragon. He would reappear.

Although I couldn’t grasp any clues, I felt a sense that something was moving somewhere, waiting for the right time.

‘I kept getting the feeling that there wasn’t much time left.’

Strangely, that thought kept recurring. Was this also the power of the Eyes of Truth?

Elian, still feeling an inexplicable certainty, closed his eyes for a moment.

Lying on the office sofa, he tried to sleep for the first time in a long while.

‘Come to think of it, I should start looking for a place to live.’

Elian had been staying at the Imperial Palace, so he hadn’t needed a separate residence.

The moment he received the title of Archduke, he should have left the palace, but the former Emperor had allowed him to stay to keep Marius’s faction in check. This had led to the formation of the confrontational dynamic between Elian and Marius.

But now that the cause had disappeared, there was no longer any reason to stay at the palace. He shouldn’t be doing so for Lion’s sake, either.

‘I can’t keep relying on the Duchy forever, though.’

His position was Archduke. It was unthinkable for someone of his standing to stay with another family for an extended period, even if it were just for a short while.

It could potentially upset the balance of power.

He had to maintain a friendly demeanor, but a certain distance was necessary.

‘Kirendis will hate this.’

He could vividly picture Kirendis’s displeased face, asking if it was really necessary.

Imagining that made him miss him.

His body grew heavy, making it impossible to move, but his heart felt like it was directed towards him.

It was then, as he drifted off to sleep thinking of the one he missed so dearly.

He felt a gentle touch tickling his forehead. As he unconsciously furrowed his brow, he felt a soft chuckle and a touch pressing on his brow.

‘Kiren…dis?’

Elian slowly lifted his eyelids. He had fallen asleep thinking of him, and now the object of his thoughts was right before his eyes.

Red pupils and swaying black hair came into view.

‘As expected… he’s beautiful.’

Perhaps it was because he hadn’t seen him in three days, but his beauty seemed to have blossomed even further.

Elian unconsciously reached out and brushed his face. The sensation under his fingertips told him it was reality, not a dream.

But perhaps because he was still half-asleep, it didn’t feel real. He felt like he was somewhere between dream and reality.

So, Elian uttered words he wouldn’t normally say, without thinking.

“I missed you.”

Kirendis’s eyes widened in surprise at the softly spoken words. Then, he smiled gently and replied, “Me too. I missed you.”

His voice was as sweet as honey. What had he done to his voice? It was so sweet it made his lips tremble.

As if sensing this, Kirendis shifted his position and climbed on top of Elian.

He trapped him with his arms and lowered his face, as if accustomed to the action.

Sweet kisses rained down.

Marius, transformed into a Black Dragon, knew instinctively. He knew the time had come, what he had to do, and how to move.

It could be considered fortunate. The trap set by Lion and Elian had amplified his power, allowing him to obtain the dragon’s strength earlier.

‘How foolish.’

Now, there was no one who could stop him. To hasten that time was an act of utter foolishness.

[The end must be decorated in a different way.]

The Black Dragon residing within him whispered a new method.

Now that he knew of the Gold Dragon’s existence, completing the summoning circle using Monsters had become impossible.

The method the Black Dragon suggested was a bit more troublesome and time-consuming, but there was no surer way.

“This is the end.”

—Crack.

The head of a Monster beneath Marius’s feet exploded. Black magic power flowed from the brutally crushed corpse and began to be absorbed.

The chilling magic power felt throughout his body was so dense that it obscured his vision.

But Marius absorbed it without hesitation. Darkness was him, and he was darkness.

Having perfectly assimilated, he felt a fullness that filled him completely. It was an emotion he had never felt before.

He finally felt whole, and this was the power he should have been born with.

‘Ah…’

Marius wandered from place to place, absorbing the blood and magic power of Monsters. The blood and magic power of hundreds, thousands of them, settled into his body. He had become a walking conduit.

‘Now, I just need to sprinkle my blood.’

The new method the Black Dragon had revealed was to imbue his body with magic power and sprinkle his blood in a designated location.

It was troublesome because he had to kill and absorb just enough not to be noticed, but it was indeed a sure method.

He hadn’t encountered any of the Imperial Palace knights, after all.

While it was partly due to moving silently with the Black Dragon’s power, the biggest factor was moving without leaving a trace.

[The time has come.]

As he absorbed the last of the blood, the Black Dragon whispered.

The day he would become the Black Dragon, the day he would become himself, the day he would plunge this world into terror and rule it, was now just around the corner.

He felt no resistance; it felt as natural as if it had always been this way.

“Let’s go. To the place where we must exist.”

Marius, with a satisfied smile, vanished. Where he had passed, a chilling black magic power remained, dyeing the surroundings in darkness.

Finally, the disaster… was about to engulf the sky.

The Imperial Palace began to find its footing again.

With Elian’s efforts, the Ministry of Finance returned to normal, and other departments also found their places.

The one who benefited the most from this was, of course, Lion.

Although there were many voices of concern, as he was an Emperor with no prior experience in politics, those voices quickly subsided when he swiftly appointed Elian to sort out the situation.

Of course, if that were all, Elian would have been the one receiving praise.

Lion skillfully managed the nobles and led the meetings, making decisive judgments and displaying a charismatic presence.

‘He’s so commendable.’

It was possible because Elian had provided support from behind the scenes, but it was Lion who executed it.

Trust and support could not be obtained simply by knowing the answer.

He believed it was possible because it was within his capacity from the start.

“Elian. Are you listening?”

“Huh?”

Elian, lost in thought, was startled and refocused his gaze.

Kirendis stood there, looking thoroughly displeased.

“Now that the Imperial Palace has found its footing, come back to the Duchy. How long do you plan to eat and sleep here?”

“Oh? Uh… Hmm… Right…”

Elian broke into a cold sweat, avoiding Kirendis’s gaze.

He still needed to find a place to live, as he couldn’t stay at the Duchy indefinitely.

But if he returned to the Duchy now, he felt he might want to settle in permanently.

‘That would be problematic.’

Such a situation would not help Kirendis at all.

“What do you mean? I heard others commute to the Imperial Palace. Can’t Elian do that now?”

“That’s true, but…”

Elian still hesitated, his mind racing. Until now, he had used his reinstatement as an excuse to stay at the Imperial Palace and avoid the issue, but now even that was becoming difficult.

Lion would undoubtedly laugh happily if Elian stayed at the Imperial Palace, but that wasn’t how it should be.

The coronation was approaching, and he couldn’t stay indefinitely.

‘Ah, right! The coronation!’

Elian’s eyes sparkled as he came up with an excuse.

“The preparations for the coronation are in their final stages. We must prepare thoroughly until the very end. I’m still busy.”

“I’ve already confirmed with His Majesty. Archduke Esiton has done all he needs to do, and he’s asked you to lead the Ministry of Finance well.”

“Ah…”

Elian let out a small sigh. Although not officially recognized, Kirendis had already begun performing the duties of Duke. That’s why he must have attended the regular meetings.

‘He must have received the situation report there.’

Kirendis was no longer the Kirendis of the past. He could now actively intervene in politics.

This meant there was nothing left he could use as an excuse.

‘If I tell him the truth…’

Elian shook his head. If he told the truth, he would only hear that it wasn’t necessary.

He also wanted to spend time with Kirendis, which would only make things difficult. The temptation would grow stronger.

So, he decided to try a method he had never used before. In the past, he would never have used it, but with Kirendis, it was fine.

“Still… it’s not for long.”

Elian looked out the window with eyes full of unspoken sentiment. It was an expression that suggested he had something he wanted to settle.

It was a method Elian, who had spent so long in the Imperial Palace, could use, and one he could use with Kirendis, who showed his softer side.

“Haa…”

Finally, Kirendis sighed as if resigned and said,

“Only until the coronation ceremony. You must return then. Understand?”

“Thank you for understanding, Kirendis.”

He realized he needed to start looking for a place quickly. The coronation was not far off.

“Then, please kiss me now.”

“…Huh?”

The conversation seemed to be over, but Kirendis boldly demanded.

“Elian is lacking. Quickly.”

“Here?”

This was Elian’s office. Even if no one would casually open the door with a Duke visiting, there were people outside.

“Why are you so flustered? We’ve done it here before…”

“Aaaah!”

Elian’s face turned red as he covered Kirendis’s mouth. It was because the two of them hadn’t ended it with just a kiss that day, in this very place.

‘I’m crazy, I’m crazy. What on earth did I do in the office?’

Elian cursed his past self. Given the location, he had been more excited than usual, and he was incredibly embarrassed.

“How can you say that so loudly? There are people outside.”

“…Elian’s voice is louder.”

Elian flinched and covered his own mouth. He knew the soundproofing was thorough, but he couldn’t help but be bothered.

“Ah, no matter what, it’s not allowed. It’s still working hours, and there are people outside.”

“…We just need to kiss.”

…Did this crazy guy intend to end it with just a kiss?

Elian, struggling to contain his bewildered emotions, helped Kirendis up.

“You’re crazy, absolutely crazy. Go quickly.”

“Huh? Already?”

“What do you mean ‘already’? It’s working hours. If you’re not here to talk about work, leave quickly.”

“That’s too much. I always seem to be the one left wanting. We haven’t seen each other in a while, don’t you miss me at all?”

…Of course, he missed him. Terribly so. If it were up to him, he would keep Kirendis here forever.

‘No.’

Elian quickly shook his head. That was one thing, and this was another.

“What does that have to do with ki…ssing?”

Elian deliberately said the word “kiss” softly, glancing around. Kirendis, finding his reaction cute, smiled softly and pulled Elian into an embrace.

“Wait. What are you doing…”

Startled, he struggled, but he couldn’t move much for fear of making noise that would carry outside.

“Why are you so cute?”

“…What?”

Elian tilted his head in disbelief.

To reiterate, Elian was far from cute. Although he was slender and beautiful, resembling his mother who was a dancer, his cold disposition meant he had never been called that.

“It’s difficult if you keep acting so cute.”

“What’s difficult…”

Elian could only sigh as he spoke up to that point.

“Only you say things like that. It’s only visible in your eyes.”

“You’re not denying that I think you’re cute?”

Naturally. How could he deny it when looking at someone whose eyes dripped with affection?

“Stop talking nonsense and leave quickly.”

That made him even more embarrassed. Elian lowered his head, trying to hide his blushing face, and struggled.

But that too became impossible as Kirendis buried his face in his neck.

“Just a little… I’ll recharge for a bit. This is okay, right?”

“…”

He was truly cunning.

He was clearly acting knowing that Elian was weak to such displays. He must have nine tails.

“Just a little…”

In the end, he yielded to Kirendis and embraced him back.

As his firm body filled his embrace, he felt a sense of being recharged.

“Ah. That’s right.”

Kirendis opened his mouth as if he had just remembered something.

“I came to tell you something, Elian, but I forgot.”

“What is it?”

He braced himself, expecting more sweet words, but entirely different words came out of his mouth.

“Before coming here, I met with His Majesty. He said he had something to discuss with Elian and asked me to bring you to him quickly.”

“What?!”

Elian’s head shot up in surprise. They had already been chatting for an hour.

Lion, knowing their hearts, wouldn’t interrogate them, but that made it even more awkward.

“Ah, really! You should have told me that from the beginning!”

He wondered what Lion had been thinking, waiting for those who were told to come quickly but didn’t.

Knowing Elian and Kirendis better than anyone else, it was all too clear what he must have been thinking.

“His Majesty will understand.”

“He will. That’s precisely why it’s more awkward.”

“Why?”

“Well…”

It was embarrassing.

Elian swallowed his words, his face flushing. He wasn’t used to showing such emotions to others.

It was difficult to show them even to Kirendis, the person involved, let alone anyone else.

“Ah, anyway, tell me such things quickly. Lion is waiting.”

As he evaded the answer, Kirendis looked at Elian with suspicious eyes. He felt as if his thoughts had been exposed and couldn’t meet his gaze.

“Alright. Elian is shy, so I’ll understand.”

“What?”

Shy, from someone known as the Iron Blood Archduke…

The sheer incongruity of the word made his head spin.

It was truly troublesome how he couldn’t maintain his usual demeanor when with Kirendis. His accumulated dignity was being chipped away in an instant, so he really needed to be careful.

“If you didn’t hear me, I’ll repeat…”

“Stop dawdling and come quickly.”

Elian pushed Kirendis away and walked towards the door. Lingering would only lead to him being drawn in further.

But Kirendis did not give up.

“Then, what about the kiss?”

“Be quiet. Everyone can hear.”

“The soundproofing here is excellent. They can’t hear. You know that better than anyone, Elian.”

“That’s… true, but…”

“So, just one before we leave.”

“…”

Elian couldn’t help but stop.

He should have opened the door before hearing those sweet words, but it was too late. His heart was moving according to Kirendis’s intentions.

Elian, with a slightly embarrassed face, reluctantly opened his lips.

“Come here. I’ll give you one.”

“Yes.”

The answer… was indeed beautiful.

‘Of course, his face is beautiful too.’

In the end, Elian, who had fallen for Kirendis’s coaxing, kissed him as if nothing had happened, sharing their warmth.

“It’s finally today.”

The day of the coronation dawned.

Elian, adorned in his finest, felt a sense of reality as he watched the magnificent carriage procession outside the window.

The high priests who would lead the main event of the coronation, as well as congratulatory envoys dispatched from various countries, were arriving one after another.

It was a natural consequence of the dazzling spectacle that painted the sky gold.

‘This kingdom was strongest when the Gold Dragon was its guardian Divine Beast.’

Even after that, Royal Family members with golden magic power were born, but it wasn’t the same as when a colossal being protected the nation.

So, everyone had come to see. To see what the future held.

‘Some of them will even be considering war.’

The Kingdom of Arpen was a weak nation. With the disappearance of its symbol, golden magic power, the light that sustained the nation had completely extinguished.

Despite that, the nation had endured until now because it possessed Sword Masters.

The existence of Sword Masters was that crucial.

Now, with a Royal Family member possessing golden magic power ascending to the throne, other nations could only be wary.

‘Whether they admit it or not, they must feel quite threatened.’

Therefore, this moment was critical.

This nation could only grow stronger from here on, and now, with the change of imperial power, it was in its most vulnerable state.

Even Gold Dragons, not to mention Black Dragons, had been sighted. Most of the military power was gathered in the capital city to stop him.

That meant other places were relatively weakened.

‘Besides, Lion is the Emperor who just ascended the throne.’

Unlike Elian and Marius, he was a figure who ascended the throne solely on legitimacy, without any particular activities.

Because of that, even with attention paid, a gap was bound to appear somewhere.

If one were to widen that gap and enter, wings that were only meant to soar freely from now on could be broken.

‘That’s why my role is important now.’

Elian possessed the Eyes of Truth.

With this power, he intended to glimpse the thoughts of the envoys from each country.

While their thoughts weren’t actually read, based on his past experiences, he could immediately sense whether they were dangerous or not.

Knowing which country harbored dangerous thoughts was enough.

“Sigh. My head hurts.”

Elian was more concerned about the other countries than the Black Dragon.

Judging by the intensity of the danger, the Black Dragon should have been the priority, but strangely, the other side bothered him more. He felt uneasy, as if something bad was about to happen.

“Uncle.”

He turned his head upon hearing a familiar voice, and Lion was entering the room.

“Why have you come all this way when you must be busy?”

“What do I have to be busy with? It’s not me who’s busy, but the people preparing for the coronation.”

That was true. Once the preparations were complete, the only thing left for the person involved was to wait until the coronation ceremony began.

‘Greeting the envoys happens after that.’

Things would get busy from the moment the coronation ceremony concluded.

“Indeed. Come here and sit. You should enjoy your last moments of rest.”

“Don’t say it like that. It sounds like it’s truly the last.”

“Even if you cry, the end won’t become not the end.”

“Huuu……”

Knowing the events to come, Lion slumped onto the sofa with a sigh. Then, golden magic power seeped out around him, and with a pong sound, Valterias appeared.

“You summoned me on time as promised, Lion.”

Though he didn’t know what promise had been made, Valterias was quite excited. He fluttered over to Elian, landed on his palm, and said, “Come now, touch me.”

“What?”

The absurd request made him burst into laughter at the sheer ridiculousness.

“Don’t pretend you didn’t hear me. Do what you’re good at.”

“Ah. That?”

It seemed he had genuinely enjoyed the massage.

“Hnn. Yes. This is it. Lion’s touch is just not firm enough.”

As Elian pressed down with his fingers, Valterias sagged like a soft mochi.

“I did exactly as he asked, but he didn’t seem to like it. He kept scolding me, comparing me to you, Uncle.”

Lion shook his head, complaining as if he had suffered greatly.

Elian found his expression quite amusing and chuckled, saying,

“To receive a massage from none other than His Majesty the Emperor, you were truly spoiled.”

“Hmph. What’s so great about being an Emperor? Lion is just Lion.”

“That is true.”

Elian agreed with his words, a smile forming on his face. Lion, too, seemed pleased with Valterias’s response, a relaxed smile appearing on his lips.

It was a good thing to have someone by his side who saw him as himself, not as an Emperor.

Knowing that, Valterias felt particularly endearing today.

“Ugh. So cute.”

“Aargh! What are you doing! Can’t you do it properly!”

As Elian playfully squeezed and kneaded him with excessive affection, Valterias threw a tantrum.

At that sight, Lion burst into laughter, and they began to chat leisurely, using the scene as a topic.

“Ah, right, Lion. This is just my thought, but…”

As if suddenly remembering, Elian brought up the topic.

“I have a feeling a Black Dragon might appear today.”

“What?”

Despite his calm tone, the content was anything but. A Black Dragon appearing today?

Beyond being out of the blue, it was not something to be said in such a peaceful manner.

“I’ve been bothered by it for a few days, so I’ve already told Jade and Lac. I asked them to prepare thoroughly, just in case.”

“Then, why tell me…?”

“It’s not certain, so what’s the point of saying anything? Especially to someone whose head is already aching from so many things to worry about.”

It was an important matter, but it wasn’t based on solid information.

It was purely Elian’s intuition.

Therefore, all he could do was warn those around him and ask them to be mindful.

However, Valterias didn’t seem to think so.

“If you feel that way, it’s highly likely to happen. It would be wise to be cautious, Lion.”

“It’s just my thought, you know. There’s no evidence of Marius moving. Nor are there any signs of Monsters being subjugated.”

To complete the summoning circle, the blood of Monsters had to be absorbed into the ground. However, no signs of Monster subjugation were found, neither at the planned location nor anywhere else.

Therefore, it was impossible for Marius to appear today.

“Even so, if someone with the Eyes of Truth feels that way, the probability is high. And what harm is there in being cautious?”

“That… is true.”

That was also correct. There was no harm in being cautious. Wasn’t that the very reason Elian had said it?

“Don’t worry, Uncle. You said it yourself, didn’t you? Everything will be alright. I believe in you.”

Lion was also right. Even though he felt a Black Dragon might appear today, he still didn’t feel it would lead to danger.

“That’s right. Everything will be fine. Thank you, Lion.”

Having someone believe in him felt quite good.

“So, about that.”

Perhaps because of that, Elian spoke about another potential danger he had kept to himself.

It was about the envoys.

They listened to Elian’s words seriously, nodding and discussing various matters.

The discussion wasn’t anything grand, but deciding things through conversation with someone felt novel.

Until now, he had always thought, worried, and acted alone.

“It’s a perfectly plausible scenario. I will also keep a close watch. Please don’t overexert yourself.”

“Indeed. Didn’t you agree to use your strength this time? If the envoys are added to that, it might not end in a few days this time.”

At Valterias’s warning, Lion’s eyes flashed sharply.

“Now that I think about it, you’re right. I was too complacent. I’ll handle the envoys, so please just focus on the coronation ceremony, Uncle.”

“Yes, that would be best. Human affairs should be handled by humans.”

“What? Then am I not human?”

“Hasn’t your power surpassed the bounds of humanity?”

“That’s right! Leave this to me, Uncle.”

United with Valterias, Lion began to pressure Elian.

The warning that the side effects wouldn’t end in a few days seemed to have properly hit Lion.

‘He’s clearly doing this on purpose.’

Lion seemed to have spoken in front of Elian, knowing that warning him directly wouldn’t work.

‘Sigh…….’

He had only intended to have a light discussion, but…

He had inadvertently spoken up and had his intended actions preempted.

Still, knowing it was out of concern for him, he nodded.

“I’m counting on you, Lion.”

“I will examine everything meticulously!”

Pleased to have received a mission from his respected uncle, Lion burned with fighting spirit.

His appearance was both cute and admirable.

Elian chuckled again with a complex expression. Thus, the final moments before the storm passed.

“From this moment, we shall announce to the divine Lord Freyon that a new sun has been born in the Kingdom of Arpen.”

—Faaat.

A priest, using divine power, began to bestow blessings upon Lion. Dazzling light erupted.

Everyone watched the scene with enraptured eyes, unable to contain their exclamations.

The coronation ceremony was one of the few opportunities to see a high priest up close.

Elian watched with a pleased expression.

Just seeing Lion receive the blessings with a dignified demeanor filled him with pride.

However, the person beside him seemed unfazed.

“I wish it would end quickly.”

“Kirendis. Your inner thoughts have escaped your lips.”

“I said it for you to hear.”

“If you say such things, the gods will be displeased.”

“I said it for Elian to hear.”

“Me?”

As Elian tilted his head and looked at him, Kirendis slightly raised the corner of his eye and pressed him as if interrogating him.

“You haven’t forgotten, have you? You promised to come to the Duchy after the coronation.”

“Ah.”

Elian’s face showed a look of realization, and he quickly turned his head away.

He was looking for a place to live, but finding a residence in the capital, especially one suitable for a Grand Duke, was extremely difficult.

‘What should I do?’

He was on the verge of being dragged to the Duchy and began to rack his brain.

“With this, we announce to all that a new sun has fully risen in the Kingdom of Arpen.”

Just then, the main event of the coronation ceremony concluded, and applause erupted with magnificent divine power.

Lion, adorned with a splendid crown and cloak, sparkled under the bright light.

—Faaat!

Lion drew out his magic power, turned it into golden particles, and scattered it throughout the banquet hall. Golden light began to fall like cozy snowflakes.

The sight of white divine power and shimmering golden magic power mixing and falling was a spectacle rarely seen anywhere.

“This is the golden magic power of the Kingdom of Arpen I’ve only heard about.”

“It’s so beautiful.”

Everyone forgot their purpose for being there and marveled in pure admiration.

The applause celebrating the birth of the new Emperor continued without pause. Lion shone brightly within it.

“Kirendis. Hurry up and clap, clap.”

Elian nudged Kirendis’s side repeatedly, changing the subject.

Though he clapped with many eyes on them, Kirendis’s gaze remained fixed on Elian.

That gaze was so intense it felt like it could burn him.

‘I’m going to be dragged to the Duchy the moment this ends.’

There was no more way to escape. Elian could predict his future. He had a foreboding feeling that he wouldn’t be able to leave his bed for a while.

‘This is troublesome.’

Why was a smile escaping his lips while thinking it was troublesome?

Elian maintained his composure and watched the coronation ceremony proceed to the next stage.

After the priest’s blessing and the declaration of the new king’s birth, it was time for the envoys from each country to offer their congratulations.

At this point, gifts were presented from each country, and conversations were held with the king. However, as the king had changed in such a short time, the gift-giving was omitted.

Some nobles protested, saying there was no need to omit it, but Lion quelled their dissatisfaction by stating that the Kingdom of Arpen’s prestige would not fall even if such things were not received.

After all, who would dare look down on the contractor of a Gold Dragon?

It was also easy to pacify them because Lion exuded an undeniable, powerful presence as he spoke.

‘I’m so proud, truly.’

Elian, showing off his doting uncle persona to the fullest, nodded. He heard Kirendis sigh beside him.

“I’m starting to feel jealous.”

To his quiet grumble, Elian smiled as if he had no choice and said,

“Alright. Let’s go back together after this. We can have dinner and talk about what we haven’t finished discussing.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“You promised. No backing out, okay?”

“I said I understand.”

“I’m going to talk with Elian all night. Are you really okay with that?”

“Talk all you want. As much as you want.”

“Not just talking, but… oof.”

Elian gently stepped on Kirendis’s foot and quickly scanned his surroundings. Fortunately, no one had heard.

‘He says whatever he wants because I indulge him.’

While this side of him was indeed cute, it didn’t erase the embarrassment and awkwardness.

“That’s too mean. I’m going to get it all back tonight. Be prepared.”

“Whether you get it back or not, be quiet and watch the people. Remember what I told you?”

“Yeeees……”

Elian had already given Kirendis a heads-up.

He wouldn’t leak crucial information in such a formal setting, but one never knew.

Kirendis, being a Sword Master with keen senses and also the protagonist, might discover something.

‘There’s nothing particularly concerning.’

Elian also scanned the envoys without exception. Lion had told him not to worry, but how could he not?

‘I can’t just ignore what I see.’

It wasn’t as if he could close his eyes, so he had no choice, his eyes gleaming. Noticing this, the sensitive Kirendis covered Elian’s eyes.

“Stop it. Don’t stare so intently. His Majesty ordered me to block you if you use your abilities.”

“What?”

Elian looked back at Kirendis in bewilderment. He had no idea when Lion had called him aside to say such a thing.

“No, how can I not look at what I can see?”

“That’s why I’m blocking you like this.”

“People will think it’s suspicious. Take your hand down, quickly.”

“You have an overinflated sense of self. Today’s protagonist is His Majesty. No one is looking at Elian.”

“No, what kind of nonsense is that….”

While they bickered, the envoys’ congratulations had already reached the halfway point.

Elian eventually had to turn his head away.

Still, it felt strange not to look at all, so he peeked occasionally. Kirendis didn’t block him that much.

‘Sigh…… Why am I in this situation…….’

It was absurd, but unavoidable.

As he lamented, the turn of the country that required the most vigilance arrived. It was the Spandia Empire, which bordered the Kingdom of Arpen.

The Spandia Empire was currently expanding its territory aggressively under the leadership of the Conqueror Gaius.

It had unified numerous countries to form the current empire and was still constantly waging war.

‘The most dangerous place.’

Its belligerent nature, coupled with countless years of warfare experience, and the powerful military force to back it up, were clear danger factors.

Therefore, this time, he did not avert his gaze and watched intently.

“I don’t have a good feeling about this.”

Kirendis whispered his thoughts softly beside him. Although the scene appeared peaceful, he, with his keen senses, seemed to have sensed something.

And Elian felt the same.

‘This is troublesome.’

Why did a dangerous scent have to emanate from the very place he needed to be most wary of?

“We’ll have to investigate.”

“Yes, it seems so.”

He remained in his seat until the end, thinking that he would have a lot to do after the coronation ceremony.

The coronation ceremony was nearing its end, with only the royal procession to announce the new Emperor’s enthronement remaining.

“Finally, it’s my turn to shine.”

“Please don’t overdo it.”

Kirendis, no longer able to monitor Elian, sighed and muttered.

Then, Jade, who had been guarding their seats from behind, replied instead.

“I will assist him closely to ensure he doesn’t overexert himself.”

“……I’m counting on you, Sir Roustas.”

While they couldn’t exactly be called on good terms yet, it felt like they had formed a temporary alliance since the day Elian collapsed.

He didn’t know how he ended up being treated like a child left unattended, but if sacrificing himself improved their relationship, it was a welcome development.

‘As long as they don’t growl at each other.’

He didn’t expect them to be close friends in the first place. Just not to be constantly on edge. That would be enough.

“Don’t worry about me, just go quickly. As I said, a Black Dragon might appear, so be careful.”

“Understood. I’ll be back. See you when I’m done.”

“Yes. Go safely.”

Kirendis, heading towards the east gate, grew smaller and smaller. Though he was worried, he knew it stemmed from affection, so he turned his head away.

“Lac also headed towards the west gate, right?”

“Yes. He should have arrived by now.”

Jade replied and gave a brief report.

Currently, Elian had deployed forces in all directions in preparation for Marius’s appearance.

To the east were the Rippen family Knights led by Kirendis, to the west was the Royal Guard led by Lac, and to the south was the mercenary group led by Gren.

Knights Orders led by Sword Masters were deployed on both sides, and the more numerous mercenaries were placed in the south, where the forces were relatively weaker.

‘If necessary, Jade can rush over.’

The Imperial Guard, the symbol of strong imperial authority.

The Imperial Guard siding with the Emperor held great significance and could not be omitted.

However, since the procession itself was heading from the castle towards the south gate, I could make this decision without much worry.

This is because if a problem arose in the south, Jade could rush there immediately.

‘I know it couldn’t be helped, but…’

Jade was the commander of the Knights Order. At the same time, he was the one who had to rush there first if a problem occurred in the south.

The problem arose here: in a crisis situation, the one who had to be protected first was the Emperor.

By law, the commander of the Knights Order had to stay by his side.

“You look good in it. How about returning to this side as well?”

Elian stared intently at the Imperial Guard uniform he wore after a long time and let out a deep sigh.

The blue sash, which only the commander of the Knights Order could wear, felt like ill-fitting clothes.

“Just for today. Today, it can’t be helped.”

The reason Elian was acting as the commander of the Knights Order was not only to allow Jade to move freely in a crisis but also because he had something to do during the procession.

That was to show everyone the appearance of Valterias.

‘It’s most effective to show him now, when the most people are gathered.’

If Valterias were summoned and displayed with golden magic power during the grand procession, much could be gained.

People’s trust in the Emperor would be a given, and it would also serve as an effective warning to other nations.

‘We have the Gold Dragon behind us, so don’t get any foolish ideas.’

By doing this, the probability of stabilizing and protecting the country would greatly increase.

All with just one performance.

“And this position was yours from the start. It was strange that I was holding onto it.”

A position held solely by the power of authority.

Now that the reason to desperately cling to it had vanished, it was right to return it to its rightful owner.

But Jade didn’t seem to think so.

“We are always waiting for you, Lord Elian.”

As if to prove his words, the knights behind him bowed their heads towards Elian. It was a sign of affirmation.

“I know. Still, this position is yours, Jade.”

I understood their feelings well. That’s why I didn’t need the position anymore. Even without being bound by anything, they were already my people.

“Nevertheless, for today, I shall lead the way for you.”

Elian smiled slightly and urged his horse forward. In response, Jade and the others replied with satisfied expressions.

“We will follow, Commander.”

The castle gates opened.

The Royal Guard, the largest in number, walked out first, drawing the attention of the people. The knights in shining armor were the object of everyone’s admiration, so it was effective.

The atmosphere must have been chaotic with the appearance of the Black Dragon, but fortunately, it seemed to have been handled well, as the people’s response was also good.

They were excited by the anticipation of the Emperor and the Gold Dragon who would protect them, rather than by anxiety.

‘I need to do well.’

To meet their expectations, Elian was positioned in front of Lion. Elian, clad in a pristine white uniform with a blue sash, evoked a different kind of response than the Royal Guard.

Having played the role of an antagonist for a long time, the public’s gaze was not entirely positive. However, his appearance and aura suited the grand procession perfectly.

Everyone was captivated by his splendid looks, their gazes following him.

But it would be problematic if he stole the spotlight like this. Elian’s splendor was meant to be for Emperor Lion.

‘Bar.’

Elian glanced back and checked on Valterias, who was perched on Lion’s shoulder.

Seeing him nod as if ready, Elian infused power into the Delstone in his embrace and amplified it.

—Faaat!

A dazzling light burst forth, and the golden dragon soared into the sky as light. As golden light filled the sky, Lion emerged from the castle gates.

“N-No way.”

“That is the…”

“His Majesty the Emperor’s…”

Seeing it up close, its majesty would be even more profound.

Lion walked majestically along the path bathed in golden light, showcasing his power and the power of the Arpen Kingdom to everyone.

The envoys attending as part of the delegation would also be watching this, so he unleashed his power more splendidly than ever before.

Golden magic power scattered and shone with every step he took, making it seem as though the nation’s future would shine as brilliantly as what they were witnessing.

This soon transformed into respect and awe towards the Emperor, which spilled out.

“Waaaaaaah!!”

A cheer erupted, and the procession began. No one was looking at Elian anymore.

They cheered, gazing at Lion, who shone brilliantly from the highest point. They sparkled, looking at Gold Dragon Valterias accompanying him.

‘Fortunately, the reaction is good.’

In truth, Valterias was not in his true form but rather a translucent apparition, so I was a little worried.

However, from the perspective of the viewers, the shimmering form enveloped in golden magic power seemed to be more effective.

This was evident from how they reached out to grasp Lion’s golden magic power amidst the cheering crowd or gazed around with ecstatic expressions.

‘Perhaps if it were his true form, it might have been too much.’

Elian felt relieved and reduced the intensity of his power.

Now, all that was left was to maintain this state until the procession ended. Simply showing Valterias at an appropriate distance would be enough.

This alone would be enough to be talked about by everyone, spreading rumors. How great the new Emperor was, how magnificent the Gold Dragon was.

‘The problem is, I don’t know when Marius will appear.’

The best outcome would be for Elian’s prediction to be wrong. But Valterias had said that if I felt that way, it was likely to happen.

‘Marius… when will he appear?’

I wish I could sense things like that, but I felt nothing. I had a vague feeling that today was the day, but I couldn’t sense any specifics.

‘Right. That would be too overpowered.’

Even this was a sufficiently overpowered ability, so Elian kept his senses sharp. He felt he had to.

“Huh?”

About halfway through the procession, a strange sensation tickled Elian’s nerves. It was towards the west gate, where Lac was guarding.

“What is it?”

Jade, sensing something was amiss, rode closer and asked.

“Something…”

Just then. A sensation like being pricked was felt from the east.

“Something is now…”

It had begun.

That thought flashed through his mind. The moment he felt it, a thick sensation, originating from the abyss, was also felt from the south gate.

“Jade. Prepare yourself.”

Elian gave the order with a grave expression.

The surroundings were still creating a beautiful path with cheers, accompanied by the golden light scattered by Lion. However, he had a feeling that it wouldn’t be the same in the distant areas.

Something colossal was approaching.

—Jiiing.

Something vibrated in Elian’s pocket. It was a single-use communication stone for simple communication, just in case.

The first to vibrate was the one connected to Lac. As he reached into his pocket and grasped it, a hurried voice echoed in his mind.

[Grand Duke, it’s Monsters. Monsters are pouring down from the sky. They’re pouring down continuously, so I can’t say for sure how many, but it seems like thousands. I’ll try to hold them off somehow, so please take care of the other side.]

Thousands of monsters falling from the sky.

It was an ominous sign. The entities capable of creating such a phenomenon were limited.

‘Could it be…’

Elian furrowed his brow. His ominous premonition seemed to be coming true.

—Jiiing.

His pocket vibrated once more. It was the communication stone connected to Kirendis.

[Elian. Monsters are falling from the sky. There are so many, we’ll block them from approaching somehow. Be careful.]

Hearing Kirendis’s news made it almost certain. This was undoubtedly Marius’s doing. And moreover…

—Jiiing.

The last remaining communication stone vibrated. Elian touched the stone, looking up at the southern sky.

Then, the words he expected came from Gren’s mouth.

[Lord Elian! You need to come here quickly! Monsters… a Black Dragon has appeared!]

As soon as the voice was heard, black mist swirled in the southern sky, and something colossal revealed itself.

“Th-That is…”

“A Black Dragon…”

The people also seemed to have spotted the giant entity in the sky, murmuring in a daze.

The boisterous cheers had vanished, replaced by silence.

The black mist gradually expanded, beginning to surround the capital. Monsters poured down from within it.

“Jade!”

Elian quickly called out to Jade, the situation proving more serious than expected. He broke away from the formation and rode south.

Seeing his hurried demeanor, the people began to grasp reality. The reality that their nation was in danger.

Fear settled on their faces, and they were on the verge of falling into chaos.

Before the people could fall out of control, Elian shouted in a loud voice.

“Royal Guard, evacuate the people, and Imperial Guard, protect His Majesty! Do not worry! This is a nation protected by the contractor of the Gold Dragon, His Majesty Lion Arpen!”

His resounding voice spread to everyone.

The people, who were on the verge of panic, quickly regained their composure as they looked at Lion and Valterias, still shining golden.

“Move quickly!”

“Yes!”

Elian, who had taken temporary command, quickly issued orders and turned around.

A hint of tension flickered across Lion’s face, surrounded by the Imperial Guard.

With many eyes watching, he was trying hard not to show it.

Though the change was so subtle that others wouldn’t notice, Elian knew.

“Your Majesty.”

Elian approached and called out to Lion. Then, his gaze, fixed on the sky, lowered.

“Grand Duke…”

Still, the fact that he called me Grand Duke instead of uncle suggested he wasn’t as flustered as I thought.

‘Right. He has to be at least this composed.’

Elian nodded with a satisfied expression and reached out his hand.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

We had made a small plan in preparation for this situation. Fortunately, the procession was halfway through, so the distance to the battle zones was appropriate.

As Lion took Elian’s hand, their bodies floated upwards.

It was Valterias’s power. He lifted them both to gain a wider field of vision.

“I can’t believe this.”

Lion murmured blankly, gazing at the battle zones far away.

Monsters were continuously pouring out of the black mist. Knights and mercenaries were cutting them down.

The battle that had occurred not long ago was so immense that it was embarrassing to call it a battle. If even one of these points were breached, the capital would instantly turn into hell.

“No.”

Lion muttered softly and reached out his hand. As before, golden particles gathered at his fingertips and quickly spread out with a ‘paat—’ sound.

“Ah…”

“This is…”

Everyone watched the scene, letting out small gasps.

His golden hair swayed with the rippling magic power. His eyes also shone golden, saturated with magic power.

The golden particles, spreading like a spiderweb, reached the knights and mercenaries, helping them and fighting alongside them.

For now, this was the only way he could help, but it was enough.

“Lion. The south is being pushed back a bit.”

Elian monitored the battlefield and assisted Lion with his magic control.

Using his extensive experience and the power of his eyes that could see the future, he began to navigate the situation efficiently.

Soon, the battlefield, which had been in a state of emergency, quickly stabilized.

“Hoo.”

Only then did Lion exhale a long breath, seemingly a little relieved.

But it was too early to relax. The boss monster had not moved yet.

[Kuaaaang!]

The Black Dragon let out a long roar. The sound was so immense that the battle momentarily ceased.

Fortunately, the monsters were also affected by it.

The tension returned, given the power of a single roar to strike both friend and foe.

[You’ve prepared many things for me, Lion. But if you thought you could stop me with these, you are mistaken. No one can stop me now.]

A terrible voice echoed in their minds. The voice was Marius, yet not Marius.

‘Has he been… consumed?’

It didn’t seem like he was completely consumed based on the content, but the sensory organs conveying the information screamed that he was closer to a Black Dragon.

‘If so…’

Marius flapped his massive wings and charged forward. The threatening form, cutting through the wind as it approached, obscured the sun.

The capital, now shrouded in darkness, was filled with a scene akin to a natural disaster. The people became frightened and trembled once more.

[If you kneel before me even now, I will spare the lives of the innocent. No, it would be better to show an example of what happens if you don’t follow me.]

He conveyed his intentions to everyone and opened his mouth wide. Black magic power began to pool within his mouth.

It was clearly a very dangerous situation.

“Lion, can you stop it?”

“I’ll try.”

It might be impossible with Lion’s power alone, as he had not fully awakened.

Marius had perfectly summoned the Black Dragon and made it his own, while Lion was not yet complete.

However, Elian decided to trust his gut. It was all he could do now, but he felt Lion could stop it.

[Die! Lion!!]

The magic projectiles shot towards the two covered the sky.

Voices from below, desperately calling out to Lion and Elian, could be heard, but the two did not retreat.

Lion gathered all his strength and created a wide, solid barrier. As the shimmering golden light enveloped the entire capital, the magic collided.

—Kuaaaang!!

An immense sound engulfed the sky. Everyone covered their ears and lowered their bodies, trembling at the thought of the impending impact and death.

However, the shimmering golden light was blocking all the terrifying power.

One by one, they stood up again and looked up at the sky. The source of the light was so bright that the figures of the two were not visible.

But they could clearly see that it was Lion who was blocking that power.

Their king was defending against a terrifying entity, just as when this nation was founded.

Hope surged in their hearts. Everyone looked up at the sky and prayed for Lion.

Whether their prayers reached Lion or the heavens, the golden light began to push back the darkness.

[How can this be? He shouldn’t be complete yet…]

Marius’s muttering reached the two. He seemed to have intended to finish them off with this one blow.

“Lion. Are you alright? Can you hold on?”

Elian asked, looking worried. Sweat poured down his body.

No matter how great his power, it was difficult for him to completely block Marius.

But he tried his best to pretend he was fine, gritting his teeth.

“I’m fine… I can hold on.”

He had to do something. He couldn’t keep holding on like this.

Lion was nearing his limit. The barrier would disappear, and the magic projectiles spat out by Marius would engulf the capital.

Then, it would be over.

‘Think. There must be a way. Otherwise…’

It was a precarious situation. Something had to be done now.

Didn’t Marius think this wasn’t a major crisis?

But as the situation escalated, Elian began to grow anxious. He worried if his intuition was wrong.

He worried about what would happen if the magic engulfed Lion and then the capital, ending everything.

At that moment.

‘Ah…’

A scene flashed through Elian’s mind.

The golden dragon soaring into the sky and fighting against Marius.

‘Awakened…’

It was the future.

A scene from the future. Conviction began to form in his heart.

He could do it.

He could stop it.

‘If I help!’

Elian, having gained enlightenment, looked at Lion. He placed his hand on his shoulder and closed his eyes.

He bestowed the formless power circulating within his body upon Lion.

It was Elian’s power. The power of the eyes of truth that Valterias had told him about.

This power was far more potent than he had spoken of. A power to see the future, predict possibilities, and reveal the truth.

He realized that when this power reached its limit, it could awaken a desired opponent into their true form.

True form.

That was Lion’s future.

“Uncle…?”

Sensing something, Lion turned to Elian. His body was glowing white. The light seeped into his body, creating some kind of change.

“It’s alright, Lion. I’m just accelerating what you already possess.”

Accelerating.

Lion could grasp what Elian meant. The pure white light transformed into golden magic power and began to accumulate.

The overflowing magic power began to strain his body, threatening to shatter it bit by bit. But even that was filled in by the white light, gradually creating a sturdier vessel.

As he repeated the process of blocking when it threatened to break, and blocking again when it threatened to break, Lion realized how inadequate a vessel he had possessed until then.

Lion opened his eyes, feeling the hardening power within him.

[Lion. Summon me again.]

Valterias conveyed his intent. Lion instinctively knew what he had to do.

“Thank you, Uncle.”

He calmly conveyed his honest feelings. With a fwoosh, the golden magic power vanished for a moment.

It was a fleeting moment, and he spoke to Elian as if making a vow before transforming into light and soaring high.

“This time, I will protect you.”

Transformed into light, Lion repelled Marius’s immense power in an instant.

[Kuhuk!]

Marius, struck by the blow, vomited black blood. The black liquid fell like raindrops. People screamed and fled.

‘It’s okay. Lion succeeded.’

He raised his head and observed Lion. He was merely a shimmering golden mass, but he was gradually taking shape.

“Wh-what is that….”

“Impossible.”

Everyone watched the sight, mesmerized. What they had seen during the march was merely a translucent form.

Mysterious, perhaps, but it lacked any sense of intimidation.

But now, it was different. A colossal being with a complete body filled the sky.

As the being, covered in golden scales, flapped its wings, an overwhelming sense of dread washed over them.

This was the true form of the Gold Dragon, Valterias.

The true form of the guardian deity, manifested on this land, having assimilated with his contractor, the Emperor.

[How can this be….]

Marius muttered softly, looking at Lion. He too was bewildered, having never expected Lion to perfectly summon the Gold Dragon.

How on earth had he awakened his power?

As he gnashed his teeth, unable to find the reason, Elian, still glowing white, came into his sight.

[Yes. It’s you again, Elian!]

Marius ground his teeth and glared at Elian. His rage towards him surged to the point where his body felt like it would explode.

—Now. Now is the moment we become one.

The Black Dragon whispered to Marius.

—Remember our wish. Think about why you came here.

Marius remembered. He wished to be free. For him, freedom was power. But something remained in his heart, blocking his freedom.

It was preventing him from becoming one, even after perfectly summoning the Black Dragon.

—We can become stronger. We can tear those guys apart and plunge this world into terror.

His words were true. He could become stronger than he was now. He could become freer.

Marius severed the last resistance he held onto and shouted.

[My wish is!]

It wasn’t about disappearing. It was about becoming one. It was the process of obtaining freedom.

[To tear you, Elian, to shreds and rule this world!]

The moment Marius shouted towards the sky, the two souls began to fuse into one.

—Fwoosh!

Black light burst forth, and the Black Dragon’s body swelled enormously. Immense magic power flowed out, engulfing the surroundings in darkness.

A being that had absorbed a soul of equal standing, becoming even more powerful, manifested on this land.

[My name is Ragniel.]

He was not Marius. Marius’s soul had been absorbed after yielding dominance to the Black Dragon’s soul. Only the minuscule will to tear Elian apart remained, lingering on this land.

[It is the name of the one who will perfectly engulf this land in darkness.]

The Black Dragon, having conveyed its will, opened its mouth wide. A colossal amount of magic power poured out. A black sphere flew towards Lion, making his heart lurch. Fortunately, he easily blocked it and charged forward.

—Kuwang!!

The sound of colossal bodies colliding echoed. Two lights mixed.

Occasionally, the sounds of kuwang—kuwang—indicated that they were fighting.

The speed of their collision was so great that only afterimages of light filled the sky. They could only stare blankly at the black and golden lights that were painstakingly woven together.

They knew this moment was a scene that would be etched into history.

‘Lion…….’

Elian continued to send power, watching. He observed how Lion and Valterias were holding off the Black Dragon.

He tried to find traces of Marius, but there was nothing. He had vanished completely, without a trace.

He didn’t understand why Marius had let go in the end, when he hadn’t let his reason be consumed by the Dragon until the very last moment.

‘Is this also my fault?’

Elian had also heard Marius’s final words. His shout to tear him apart.

It was bitter that he himself had driven Marius into a corner until the very end.

But this was also his decision. It wasn’t a problem Elian could solve by doing anything. Marius had already crossed the point of no return.

If so, what he had to do now was to stop him before he committed greater sins. That was the best Elian could do.

‘So, just a little more…….’

Lion was fully awakened with Elian’s help, but he was not in a 100% perfect state.

Because the vessel had been made so quickly, if he stopped sending power, it was in danger of shattering from even the slightest impact.

It was still the same that it needed time to become solid. It was just that he had been enabled to exert his power in its perfect form with his help.

‘Lion…….’

As time passed, the battle intensified. Magic power covered the entire sky, shimmering. The sight was beautiful, but upon closer inspection, one could see scenes of injury and bleeding.

Both the Black Dragon and Lion were pushed to their limits.

‘Just a little more.’

Elian closed his eyes and concentrated all his senses. His eyes ached, but he endured and squeezed out his last bit of strength.

[Kuwang!!]

Lion roared and bit into the Black Dragon’s neck. He threw it down with immense power and gathered magic power to shoot at the Black Dragon.

—Fwoosh!

Blinding light engulfed the Black Dragon. The darkness was dyed golden and crumbled away.

[Th-this can’t be….]

The Black Dragon muttered in disbelief. But the brilliant golden light swallowed even its voice.

“Ah……”

It was over.

The golden dragon that covered the sky flapped its wings, scattering golden dust.

Light poured down from the sky, now free of darkness, bathing the capital.

—Jiiiing.

A vibration echoed from Elian’s pocket. He unconsciously gripped it tightly, and a familiar voice was heard.

[Grand Duke. Are you alright? We’ve finished cleaning up here. If there are any unfinished areas, respond immediately. I’ll rush over and finish them off.]

He too must have heard the news of Lion’s victory, as his voice was bright.

Elian turned his head with relief. The battlefield where Kirendis had participated was also quiet, suggesting it had been well defended.

‘The south…….’

Jade had gone, but mercenaries were less combat-effective than knights. So, he checked the battlefield with a worried gaze.

Fortunately, it seemed to have been well defended, as the south was also quiet.

—Jiiiing.

His pocket vibrated again. Gripping the communication stone tightly once more, he heard a reliable voice.

[Lord Elian. We have finished cleaning up the south without any issues. Are you alright?]

It was Jade’s voice. Even though he knew it was one-way communication, the fact that he asked about his well-being showed he was quite worried.

The situation in the sky must have been dire. Still, the fact that communication was established must have told him he was safe.

[I will finish up here and rush over.]

With a voice that sounded relieved, the communication ended. Since he had received calls from two people, he inwardly hoped to hear Kirendis’s voice and gripped the communication stone connected to him tightly.

However, the communication stone remained silent.

‘Could it be…… he’s not hurt?’

The moment he thought that, his vision spun.

‘Huh?’

His vision blurred, and his body swayed. With a thump* sensation, the power he had been sending to Lion was cut off.

‘If this happens…….’

Startled, Elian immediately turned his head. Lion and Valterias, who were higher than Elian, separated and began to fall.

“Lion!”

He shouted and reached out, but it was no use. His vision blurred again, and he plummeted downwards.

“Your Majesty!”

“Lord Elian!”

Urgent voices could be heard. But as soon as he heard those voices, Elian felt relieved.

The procession contained not only knights but also mages. With their power, they could save Lion.

‘Then, I…….’

Should I leave it to fate?

An ordinary person could not fully catch someone falling from above. And dividing the mages would mean insufficient magic power. One side had to be chosen.

And in such cases, it was right to choose Lion, the Emperor.

‘So I…….’

He wondered if he was going to die like this, but strangely, he wasn’t anxious.

Thinking if this was also the power of his eyes, he felt a familiar scent and someone embraced him.

—Kuwang!

“Ugh.”

With the sensation of landing on the ground, a small groan was heard. The voice was so familiar that a smile naturally formed.

“This is insane. Are you laughing now?! You were just about to die!”

A voice filled with worry seeped into his ear.

“What would you have done if I hadn’t rushed over immediately?! Did you intend to die like that?!”

He had wondered if he was going to die, but it seemed he wasn’t anxious because he knew someone would come like this.

Elian smiled broadly and reached out towards the blurred figure. When he touched a familiar face, his heart became peaceful.

“I knew you would come like this.”

“Haa… really.”

He seemed to finally relax, lowering his head and touching foreheads. The rustling of his hair felt like it was tickling him, and a laugh escaped.

“Don’t worry me so much.”

“You were worried?”

“Yes……”

“I was worried too. Are you hurt anywhere?”

“As you can see, I’m perfectly fine……”

Up to that point, Kirendis spoke, then suddenly lifted his head.

“Elian, could it be….”

Only then did he notice that Elian’s focus was off, and his face turned pale. Although he couldn’t see clearly, the change was so extreme that Elian could tell.

“It’s not that I can’t see at all. But it’s not enough for me to sort out the situation here……”

After a brief pause, Elian continued somewhat playfully.

“Can I pretend to be unconscious for a moment?”

“Ah, really….”

Only then did Kirendis realize that the condition was less severe than last time, and he lowered his head again. As the warmth from his forehead transferred, his body felt languid.

He had intended to just pretend to be unconscious, but sleepiness washed over him.

Kirendis seemed to sense this too, and whispered in a gentle voice to reassure Elian.

“Leave this to me and rest.”

“Then… just a little….”

After his slow voice, Elian’s steady breathing could be heard. Kirendis lightly kissed his forehead and continued.

“Sleep well, Elian. I love you.”

It was a sweet confession of love that Elian did not hear.