Chapter 602
The next day. At the lord''s mansion. In the office.
"Festival?"
Dusk Bringar, who hade to see me, wore an incredulous expression.
"Did you say festival just now?"
"Why pretend you didn''t hear me when you have such keen ears? Yes, a festival."
I answered calmly, but Dusk Bringar''s baffled expression deepened.
The Autumn Festival.
A festival simr to Earth''s Thanksgiving or Harvest Festival, held around the same time in almost every country across the world, not just in the Everck Empire.
In the Everck Empire, the festival takes ce for three days, from the new moon to the full moon around September.
It''s funny that it''s the opposite of Korea''s Chuseok, which is held on the full moon. Fitting for a country as dark as its name suggests.
The first year''s autumn festival had a martial arts tournament and a dance festival.
I remember setting up stalls for Serenade and others to enjoy various amusements. Was it Dusk Bringar''s first time in Crossroad then?
The second year, my return was dyed because I plunged into the spirit realm, and as soon as I got back, I had to head to New Terra for the imperial capital conquest battle, so I couldn''t properly attend.
This time, the season aligns. I''ll be able to fully enjoy the autumn festival this year.
The defense against the King of Flies was exactly from the new moon to the full moon... not much time left.
Several days had passed since we defeated the King of Flies. Just over three weeks remain until the next new moon.
As I was estimating the remaining days, Dusk Bringar mmed her small hands down on my desk with a bang! Ah, you startled me. Why do you do that.
"What on earth are you joking about now? A festival? With Night Bringer approaching...!"
"There''s nothing we can do right now anyway."
I leaned back with my hands sped behind my head, and crossed my legs on top of my desk.
"Everyone is exhausted from the continuous battles. It''s better to rest easy while the monsters aren''t attacking."
"But!"
"Both the people and the city are in tatters. Let''s fully recover while the enemymander has dered a truce."
It''s rare to have a period set aside just for rest.
I can hardly remember thest time we couldy down our weapons and rest easy.
We''ve been in a state of high alert, defending and exploring without rest.
It''s time to let go. It would be nice if everyone could rx and take it easy for a while.
"...Alright, resting is fine. Even holding a festival, I can concede that much."
Dusk Bringar, who is more wary of Night Bringer than anyone in this city, having inherited the blood of a dragon that opposes the ck Dragon, shouted sharply.
"But shouldn''t we prepare! The ck Dragon is nning to invade! You''re not nning to just y and ignore it, are you?"
"..."
"In two months, we''ll have to defend! Do we have a way to stop him?"
I spoke honestly.
"No."
"What?"
"It''s impossible to defend. We''re bound to lose."
Dusk Bringar looked stunned at my answer, clearly not expecting me to say such a thing before even starting the fight.
I exined in a calm voice.
"First off, we can''t repair the southern wall in two months."
The copse of Crossroad''s walls had been partial up until now.
Whether it was damaged by the phantom knight''s greatsword, split by the vampire general''s axe, or crumbled by the goblin legion''s self-destruction... the basic structure remained.
That''s why emergency repairs were possible.
But this time it''s different.
The southern wall waspletely swept away. It copsed due to the King of Flies'' crash and turned to dust in the subsequent explosion.
It''s not even ruins anymore. It''s gone to nothing.
We have to start from scratch.
Even with magical construction technology from the Lake Kingdom, it''s not something that can be done in two months.
"And even if the walls were intact, stopping the ck Dragon would be a far-fetched idea."
Even if we pour all our manpower and resources into rebuilding the walls.
Most heroes and soldiers won''t be able to properly resist in front of the ck Dragon''s transcendental power.
If they go into battle, they''ll all burn to death against an opponent with apletely different level of power.
This has been verified with game data. In a battle against the ck Dragon, the number on our side is meaningless.
In such a situation, there''s no need to keep our forces on high alert. It''s better to give them some breathing room.
"In two months, if the ck Dragon marches on Crossroad... we can''t stop him. Crossroad will burn, and the realm will fall."
"..."
"So, there''s no reason to desperately rebuild the walls. The heroes and soldiers don''t need to train to death either. If we''re going to be swept away and die in the defense anyway."
"Then what do you propose?"
Dusk Bringar gritted her teeth, looking incredulous as she stared at me.
"Just sit with our hands folded and quietly offer our necks when the monsterse?"
"...No."
After a long sigh, I straightened my posture and sat up properly in the chair.
"You know I wouldn''t do that, Duchess. I''ll never give up until thest moment."
"Then? What exactly do you n to do?"
"I''ll invade."
Now, resting my elbows on the desk and covering my mouth with my sped hands.
I coldly stated.
"To kill the ck Dragon. Down to the Lake Kingdom."
"...!"
Dusk Bringar''s shoulders trembled.
Yes. This was the strategy I had formted in the game to defeat the ck Dragon.
Abandoning the hopeless defense for an offensive.
Invading the dragon''sir to cut off its head.
It was the only option from the beginning.
"The ck Dragon... is an entity beyond standard. It exists far outside the norm. You would know since you''ve met it."
"..."
"Do you truly have a means to kill him?"
"Of course, I do."
Right after saying this with full bravado, I corrected myself in front of Dusk Bringar''s sharp gaze. Ahem!
"...I don''t have it now, but I know what can be used to inflict damage on him."
He may be a transcendent being, but he is not invincible. There are several ways to harm him.
Among them, the strategy I established involves attacking him directly with equipment that can be obtained through any route.
Top-tier boss equipment. Meaning, the Nightmare yer can damage him. But there''s a more effective weapon...
I called out its name.
"Dragon yer."
"...!"
This word, meaning dragon killer, refers both to a weapon that kills dragons and to a weapon made from a dragon that has been killed.
There is a definitive way to obtain this.
"There may only be one called a true ck Dragon among the ck Dragon Legion, and that''s Night Bringer, but that doesn''t mean there are no other members."
If it''s a ck Dragon Legion, why is only Night Bringer specifically called ck Dragon?
That''s because the rest of them are not asplete entities as their lord. They''re like unfinished ck Dragons.
The rest of them are damn strong too.
But they haven''t gone as far as Night Bringer himself. With some brainstorming and desperate effort, our squad as it is now could manage to take them down.
I even killed the daughter of a ck Dragon when I first visited the zing Colosseum.
Well, that one was, strictly speaking, of the lowest rank in the ck Dragon Legion, its bloodline diluted to the extreme.
Anyway, after a long-winded exnation. To summarize the conclusion.
"So, Ash. Your n is..."
"Yes."
I exined calmly.
"We''ll kill the members of the ck Dragon Legion, excluding Night Bringer, make armor from their bones and hides, and forge weapons with their magic cores."
"...!"
"Then, we''ll select the elite capable of killing Night Bringer, equip them with that gear, andunch an attack to kill him."
This is the overarching strategy I will use against the ck Dragon Legion. A conventional tactic.
Of course, this alone won''t be enough...
We need to secure as many means as possible, however small.
And securing these means... will take more time. It''s a waiting game now.
"Now you know what strategy I have in mind?"
"..."
"The ones who will fight ording to this strategy are our elite, and they all need to recover."
I nced at the bandages wrapped around Dusk Bringar''s body. Even this dragondy had been injured. Not to mention the state of the other heroes.
"We have fought too long, are too exhausted, and have lost... terribly."
"..."
"We need time to rest, Duchess."
Three weeks and a bit more.
Until the festival, I intended to give the heroes and soldiers a vacation.
Most likely, this will be thest vacation the World Guardian Front can enjoy.
After that, whether we repel the ck Dragon or not, we''ll have to fight until the very moment of the world''s end.
"You don''t need to worry too much. I won''t just let them rest indiscriminately. Do I look like a kind-hearted club owner? I''m quite the ruthless lord."
"..."
"We''ll steadily proceed with rebuilding the walls, and the basic training of the heroes and soldiers will continue. Loosening up a bit doesn''t mean giving up and indulging in revelry."
Dusk Bringar looked at me with her sunken amber eyes. I smiled bitterly.
"However, at least in their hearts. They need to put everything down and rest. That''s why I decided to go ahead with the festival."
"..."
"Now that you''ve peeked into my mind, what do you think? Are you still not satisfied, Duchess?"
Dusk Bringar let out a long sigh...
And smiled, showing her sharp teeth.
"Ash. Do you remember the promise we made before?"
"A promise?"
"The one aboutpeting formand of this frontline, between you and your five closest allies and me and my five royal guards."
"Oh."
That was the conversation when I first brought Dusk Bringar to this frontline.
We had agreed to a contest formand over the monster frontline. It became a moot point when Dusk Bringar backed down first, epting refugees from the Bringar Duchy here.
"But why bring up that promise now?"
"Let''s fulfill it."
"Excuse me?"
"Let''s carry out that promise we made back then."
Whoosh-
Spreading her thinly bandaged arm to the side, the dragondy of the dusk dered.
"A deration of war, young prince!"
"...!"
"Take your vacation until the festival, fine. My knights, my soldiers, and I are exhausted too. Enjoy the vacation to your heart''s content. I won''t argue about this matter anymore. But!"
Dusk Bringar''s draconic eyes zed fiercely.
"When we go down to the Lake Kingdom afterward... when we kill the minions of the ck Dragon Legion and invade Night Bringer''sir. Then, I must hold themand."
"..."
"I am Dusk Bringar. Fated nemesis intertwined with the ck Dragon, sworn enemies destined to battle to the death. Themand of the operation to kill the ck Dragon rightfully belongs to me."
Why is it?
Dusk Bringar, dering war on me with more determination than ever before.
"Themander of the World Guardian Front. This Dragon Lady of the Dusk formally challenges you formand!"
Seemed smaller and more vulnerable than ever.
"..."
After ncing at the silver crown on her head, tarnished and dented from the ck Dragon''s assault,
I slowly nodded.
"Very well. Dragon Lady. I ept your challenge."
Then I smirked.
"It seems... we''ve just decided on the rules for this autumn festival''s martial arts tournament."
A five-person party. Team PVP.
This autumn festival is going to be very, very entertaining like never before.
Still covering my mouth with my sped hands, Iughed sinisterly, "Muahaha," and Dusk Bringar, too, spread her arms to the side andughed wickedly, "Kukukuku."
Then, stopping ourughter simultaneously,
We red and growled at each other.
"I will not lose, you greenhorn, you princely brat...!"
"That''s my line. Your Grace, who seems to forget his age...!"
Dusk Bringar whirled around and stormed out of my office.
As soon as I confirmed she had left the mansion, I shouted toward the hallway.
"Hey! Assemble the main party immediately!"
Lucas! Damien! Evangeline! Junior! Out youe-!
Talking about a vacation, huh! Cancel all that!
It''s straight into hellish training!
--TL Notes--
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