#122

The devastation left by Yurisis only began to subside with the dawn. Those who had fled their homes, leaving behind their very lives, could only stare, unable to go anywhere, as an entire territory collapsed. No one could tear their eyes away. Duke Renon’s castle, which had once pierced the sky towards the Imperial Palace, was now nothing but fallen stones.

Only after the land had sunk and been gouged to the point of being irrecoverable did Kiyen’s shield vanish. Lasano’s divine power was insufficient to heal all the injured, so the group divided the wounded and entrusted some to Arne as well. Among the evacuated villagers were Common Priests, whom they assisted.

After dividing into groups, Cullen began to plan. In this state, the South would be unable to recover for quite some time. Once he was certain that the Magic left by Yurisis had disappeared, they could salvage items from the debris, but survival would be difficult without aid. There were too many people. So many people had nowhere to go.

As the situation gradually calmed, the villagers began to speak one by one. Among them were nobles.

“You said the one who saved us was that Guardian… Dragon, didn’t you?”

They were faces Cullen had never seen at the Imperial Palace. A group, including a woman with short green hair, stood together. Cullen decided to confirm whether they were connected to Zarkas or if they were visitors to the territory. Seeing as they didn’t recognize Kiyen, it was unlikely, but from now on, he had to be even more cautious.

When Cullen remained silent, the woman asked again.

“If it is a Guardian Dragon, I understand it to be the Dragon of the continent that guards the Imperial Palace, as heard in legends. Seeing as you are accompanying such a being and the High Priest, I presume you are not of ordinary status. Would you permit me to inquire about your station, despite the intrusion?”

“Before that, I must hear your answers. Why were you here, and what is your relationship with Duke Renon?”

The way they spoke of the Duke without honorifics seemed to clue them in on something. Even if they didn’t guess they were royalty, they seemed to assume a high status. The woman who spoke first introduced herself.

“I am Viscount Reeferd of the South. I manage a small merchant guild, and I was visiting the Duke’s territory for the harvest season exchange.”

Following Viscount Reeferd, a man with disheveled, golden-brown hair stepped forward. They all appeared to be in their early thirties, just past youth.

“I am Baron Wester of the western coast. We are all part of an exchange group centered around young nobles. Since not many merchant guilds travel as far east, we were trying to forge trade routes in the South and the Northeast region by clearing those paths….”

Baron Wester trailed off, looking at the ruined castle. Cullen, observing the shock and bitterness on his face, asked again.

“What was your business in the city’s salon?”

Though uncertain, he asked with a firm tone. The man seemed surprised and replied,

“The salon is a place where nobles and merchants gather to hold auctions and conduct various transactions. Each floor has a different purpose, but in Duke Renon’s territory, trade has been managed through this place for a very long time.”

Viscount Reeferd intervened, blocking Cullen’s interrogation.

“Excuse me, but are you interrogating us right now?”

Instead of answering, Cullen met Viscount Reeferd’s gaze with a cold look and continued his questions.

“How much do you know about Duke Renon?”

“The Duke is not someone one can meet carelessly. We primarily conducted our transactions through Junon, the representative of the salon.”

Ulli, who had been sitting, exhausted, reacted to the name Junon. Her animosity towards Junon, stemming from her dealings with Pantel, had risen sharply. With a sudden fierce demeanor, she spoke to them.

“How well did you know that woman?”

Seeing Ulli, with her slender frame, effortlessly lift the heavy Pantel, they flinched back in surprise. Baron Wester quickly said,

“Well, it’s been at least six years. That place was always managed by her….”

“Are you close?”

Ulli’s eyes sharpened. Viscount Reeferd and Baron Wester exchanged glances and shook their heads.

“We were unable to meet her privately. She was always a busy person….”

“You’ve answered well.”

Ulli said, then swiftly drew her greatsword and pointed at the castle.

“The woman you call Junon is the one who turned this land into this mess.”

At her words, the nobles murmured.

“What? But Junon wouldn’t do such a thing, would she?”

“That’s right. This is the land where she operates, and a person… to do something so absurd…”

The nobles’ murmuring stopped there. A wind sound, close to a roar, swept over their heads, and Kiyen descended to the ground amidst a swirling sandstorm.

With a thudding sound, everyone except Cullen was pushed back. Kiyen, who had created a vortex of wind, had a blank expression, no different from when he had flown up.

Looking around with eyes devoid of emotion, he spoke.

“Junon is not human. She is a Demonic Beast.”

Having said that, Kiyen asked Cullen.

“You have protected this place as you wished. What do you plan to do now? If you are to chase Yurisis, you must depart immediately. He too must have lost something by using the power of an Artifact. Humans do not possess the strength to wield divine weapons.”

Kiyen was right. As always.

However, Cullen gazed at the people surrounding him and those with hollow, lost expressions, having lost their homes. He knew that feeling very well. Mount Tesnia, where he had to find a way to survive on his own, with no one to help him, had been his home.

“Yurisis is looking for an Artifact. And Ruena knew about it. Since they left without obtaining the information, if we pursue that Artifact, we will eventually confront them. If Kiyen-nim is alright with it, I will…”

Kiyen answered for him.

“You mean you wish to sort this place out.”

His lips twisted dryly beneath his unsmiling eyes.

“Do as you please.”

As Kiyen turned to leave, Cullen held him back.

“Kiyen-nim, please don’t go. Everyone wishes to express their gratitude to Kiyen-nim.”

At his words, Kiyen paused. His eyes, now regaining some of their blue hue, looked at Cullen with confusion. Then, Arne, who had been treating the patients, quickly called out.

“Kiyen-nim, thank you! Thanks to you, so many people were able to live!”

At her words, everyone’s gaze simultaneously shifted to Kiyen. He was impossible to ignore. His massive wings, mixed with golden scales, his overwhelming height, and his perfect, inhuman appearance captivated the crowd.

Murmurs began to spread. They seemed astonished by the appearance of a Dragon, which they had only heard about, and couldn’t believe that the terrifying being known only for slaughter could be so beautiful.

Is it true? Could it be… he looks more like a Demonic Beast? Is a Dragon this small?

A thought, once held by Cullen, spread quietly. Kiyen’s slightly crooked smile faded. As Cullen watched him turn to leave again, he shouted.

“Didn’t you see? The power that blocked the debris pouring down towards you from up there.”

His powerful shout silenced the murmuring.

“Judge by what you saw, not by what you heard and was passed down. Don’t be swayed by others; look at what Kiyen-nim did for you.”

Saying this, Cullen took Kiyen’s hand.

“Some might have thought… I am Cullen Larkan, a descendant of the Imperial Family, but I am not here to rule over you. From now on, I will discuss the foundation for rebuilding this place with Kiyen-nim, and for those who have nowhere to go… I will order Duke Ruffellon to grant them asylum.”

At Cullen’s words, the people wore expressions of confusion and fear. Some looked disbelieving, but those who had witnessed Kiyen’s power seemed to believe Cullen’s words to some extent.

Just then, someone bravely shouted.

“But no matter what disaster occurred, the Imperial Family has never helped its people.”

“That’s right. How can we believe what you say?”

Then Ulli replied.

“You’re seeing it now.”

She looked around the crowd and said, small but clearly.

“If he were the Emperor you imagined, this Imperial descendant would have left long ago. He wouldn’t have even thought of protecting this place through a Guardian Dragon.”

Ulli’s words brought silence. Arne stepped forward.

“Now is not the time for this; I think it’s time we all work together to find a way to live. Doubt and distrust…”

Arne said, looking at the ruined castle.

“Are of no help, to the living or the dead.”

A long silence followed as each person fell into thought. The first to speak was a young girl Cullen had saved, named Rica.

“Thank you for saving me, Warrior!”

At being called a warrior by Cullen, Ulli let out a small laugh. Cullen silently watched the child. Then, following Rica, her parents stepped forward.

“Thank you. If it weren’t for you all, so many people would have died. And…”

As if recalling Cullen’s words, Rica’s parents slowly approached Kiyen. Despite their fear of his inhuman wings and appearance, the couple bravely stood before Kiyen.

Then, they cautiously reached out their hands. Unable to bring themselves to hold Kiyen’s hand, they instead held Cullen’s wrist and bowed their heads.

“Thank you so much, Guardian Dragon.”

Starting with those words, more words were gradually added. Words of thanks, people kneeling, and then…

“I only learned today that the Empire truly has a Guardian Dragon!”

“That’s right. Now we can believe it!”

As Cullen heard these words, he tightly grasped Kiyen’s hand. He hoped Kiyen would hear the greeting he had never heard from anyone before.

Hearing the expressions of gratitude pouring towards him, Kiyen closed his mouth. He wore a look he had never shown before. A face that was pained, distressed, yet at the same time…

A face that had found a sliver of solace.

After the long procession of thanks ended, Cullen called his companions. Kiyen, instead of responding to his call, excused himself, saying he wished to look around elsewhere. As Cullen couldn’t fathom his thoughts, he let Kiyen be. He temporarily set aside his desire to be with him.

Fortunately, none of his companions were injured. Ulli was quieter than usual, perhaps still shocked by the incident with Pantel, but she was in better condition than during the battle. The sun had risen directly to the center of the sky.

Cullen, looking up at the sky, said.

“It’s fine for now, but after this full moon, autumn will begin. Winter will arrive quickly, so we cannot leave them here. It would be best to send a messenger to Duke Ruffellon to find a place that can accommodate them as much as possible. Reconstruction will only be possible once someone responsible for this place appears.”

“Is Duke Renon truly dead? So meaninglessly?”

It was as meaningless as her words. That he, who had built such a powerful territory with his ambition, could be so easily destroyed and disappear.

Moreover, he was, after all, a confidant of Kihelene. With Duke Renon gone, it was unknown how Kihelene was faring at the Imperial Palace.

She would continue to be alone. The nobles who had filled the palace had left due to the various incidents in the territory, and there wasn’t even a clone of Kiyen. Seeing as Kiyen hadn’t been summoned immediately, it didn’t seem like she was under immediate threat, but…

As he thought this far, Cullen realized an important fact. Heading south, they had believed Zarkas’s base to be here, and that Duke Renon was plotting and scheming for rebellion. Because of this, weren’t they more worried about Kihelene’s life or death?

But now his territory was destroyed without a trace. Whether Duke Renon or Zarkas had wanted it, if rebellion was the main objective, there was no reason to destroy a place with troops and resources.

At that moment, Yurisis’s last words flashed through his mind.

“I have no home. There is only one thing I desire. That all who turned their backs on my father die.”

He who wished for all who turned their backs on his father to die. He denied Duke Renon’s territory as a base and destroyed it. That meant Duke Renon was involved in his father’s death.

Then, was he… a child of Iris? A child of Duke Jenix?

If this speculation was correct, then Ruena’s attitude when speaking of Yurisis was somewhat understandable. For him, Yurisis must be a very complex being.

His thoughts began to spiral. While Cullen remained silent, Arne asked something.

“Um…”

Arne met Cullen’s eyes. He was smiling with a calm expression.

“Master… you couldn’t bring him back, could you?”

Despite his smiling face, his voice held a quiet sadness. Cullen closed his mouth. It was something they had to face, but the moment it was spoken aloud was bitter.

“…I’m sorry. I couldn’t save him.”

“No, it’s alright. I know you did your best, Cullen-nim! Please don’t apologize.”

Arne, instead, comforted him and looked apologetic. Ulli, watching this, showed guilt on her face. Knowing her struggles, Cullen also pondered. He didn’t want to cause Arne pain, and sometimes, it was better not to know certain truths than to know them.

But they were companions. Was it truly right to let only Arne remain ignorant of the truth? Especially since he was Arne’s master.

Lasano stepped forward in place of the troubled Cullen.

“Arne, your master had to die. Someone else killed him… but he was the enemy who killed Cullen-nim’s parents. We couldn’t let such a person live. Cullen-nim continued this journey for revenge.”