The Strongest in Our Neighborhood - Chapter 110

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Our Neighborhood’s Strongest (110)
—I was quite worried because communications kept failing. When I asked the Emperor of Kram, he said you were injured quite badly while fighting Demonic Beings. How are you feeling now?
“Thanks to the dragon’s treatment, I’ve recovered completely.”
—Ah, thank goodness. When I heard that the Duke had suffered serious injuries, my heart sank. Honestly, I didn’t understand from the start why the Duke, who went as the representative of the wedding congratulations delegation, would suddenly leave to close a Gate connected to the Demon Realm, and I’ve been worried sick the entire time.
“I didn’t go of my own volition—the dragon insisted, so I had no choice but to follow.”
—If the dragon insisted, you couldn’t very well refuse.
“Exactly. Sigh! The battles with the Demonic Beings were so fierce that I genuinely thought I would die right there. There was a grave crisis, but thanks to the dragon’s treatment, I’m better than before now. And through fighting for my very life, I’ve gained new insights. All in all, the gains far outweigh the losses.”
—Ho! If you’ve gained new insights, have you perhaps become a Grand Master?
“That distant realm is utterly beyond my reach.”
—What? You used to boast that you could catch a dragon if you met one… What changed? You seem to have lost confidence after this crisis.
“I haven’t lost confidence. Rather, through this experience, I’ve learned to view my abilities objectively. Seeing a true Grand Master showed me just how inadequate my strength really was.”
—If you mean a true Grand Master, are you referring to the Marquis Jang Gain?
“Yes. The Marquis Jang Gain is a true Grand Master.”
—Though you were defeated by the Marquis Jang Gain, you’ve gained insights, so you’ll catch up to him soon enough.
“I don’t think so. No matter what I do or how I train, I don’t believe I’ll ever match the Marquis Jang Gain, who can fell a dragon with a single strike.”
—A, a dragon? Felled with a single strike? By the Marquis Jang Gain?
The King’s voice rose in surprise.
“I witnessed it with my own eyes—the Marquis Jang Gain felling a Wyvern-class Dragon with a single strike.”
—That’s, that’s impossible! Surely the Wyvern-class Dragon was weak?
“A Wyvern-class Dragon is strong enough that ten Sword Masters like myself would need to swarm it just to have a chance.”
—Yet the Marquis Jang Gain defeated such a Wyvern-class Dragon?
“With a single blow.”
—That, that’s…
“Your Majesty, I have an audacious request, but one you absolutely must grant.”
—What request is that?
“Please contact Queen Olivia Herset and urge her most strongly never to become enemies with the Marquis Jang Gain. I’ve already warned her, but she seems to be taking it lightly, and I’m deeply uneasy about that.”
—Ah! Yes, of course. I’ll contact her at once and impress upon her the utmost importance of this.
“And from now on, you must devote even greater effort to maintaining favorable relations with the Smed Kingdom.”
—I will bear that in mind as well.
Duke Flarua Noid, who had been speaking with the King, quickly ended the call as Jang Gain and the dragons flew toward him.
“Your Majesty, I’ll contact you again later. Since the dragons are arriving, I must end our communication now.”
—Understood. Please, take care of yourself.
“Yes.”
* * *
“Oh! The Marquis Jang Gain. Where have you been?”
Emperor Sokh Tramus watched the mages installing a Spatial Teleportation Magic Circle to return to the Imperial Palace, when he caught sight of Jang Gain and the dragons flying toward him from afar and tilted his head curiously.
Moments later, Jang Gain descended beside the Emperor, nodded at the magic circle, and spoke.
“The mages are setting up a Spatial Teleportation Magic Circle. Your Majesty, it seems you’re preparing to return to the Imperial Palace.”
“Now that the Gate connected to the Demon Realm is closed and the war is over, we should head back. But where were you and the dragons off to? I heard thunder rumbling from beyond that mountain and some tremendous explosions…”
“Ah! I was just conducting a bit of Hierarchy Establishment. It seems it was rather loud.”
“Hierarchy Establishment?”
The Emperor tilted his head in confusion, and Jang Gain shrugged.
“These dragons and I have shared life and death together in battle against the Demonic Beings, so I felt it necessary to clarify who stands above and who below.”
The Emperor looked at the three dragons beside Jang Gain, noting their slightly bitter expressions, and could not hide his bewilderment as he asked,
“Ah! So the dragons established hierarchy among themselves.”
“No. I established the hierarchy between myself and the dragons.”
Jang Gain pointed at the dragons and made a downward gesture, and the Emperor’s eyes went wide.
“Marquis Jang Gain. You’re surely not saying your rank stands above the dragons?”
“Yes. I’ve confirmed that I now stand above these three dragons.”
“My goodness! Noxscasarsis. Is what the Marquis Jang Gain says true?”
“Hmm, Jang Gain is indeed stronger than us.”
“I, I can’t believe it.”
“Neither can I. A human becoming this strong…”
The Emperor fell silent for a moment, then after some time, collected himself and asked again,
“By the way, where did Mayarbanta go?”
“Oh, my father went to an urgent meeting because of a Duke-class Demon’s spatial separation ability.”
“Ah! Then what about the payment?”
“Just give my father’s share to me. But that Spatial Teleportation Magic Circle—it’s awfully crude.”
“Even if it seems crude to a dragon, it’s a reasonably functional magic circle that can reach the Imperial Palace in a single jump.”
“It can reach the Imperial Palace in one go, but the number of people it can transport at once is too limited, and after about ten spatial transfers, the whole thing looks like it’ll collapse.”
“That is the limit of what a human mage can accomplish.”
“Why didn’t you use Demon Beast Cores in that Magic Circle? You collected quite a few this time, didn’t you? With those, I’d think you could transport several times as many people at once.”
“They haven’t been refined yet, so they can’t be used in the Magic Circle.”
“I’ll refine them for you. And I’ll make some adjustments to the Magic Circle as well.”
“If you would do that, I would be nothing but grateful.”
“It’s not free. Pay me.”
“Pardon? Ah, how much should I give you?”
“Suit yourself.”
“Understood.”
As the three dragons headed toward where the mages were drawing the Magic Circle, the emperor turned to Jang Gain with a casual question.
“Marquis Gain. The dragons closed the Gate connected to the Demon Realm for us, so we’ve agreed to give each of them one million Gold as thanks. That should be fine for you as well, yes?”
“One million Gold each? When was that discussed?”
“We talked about it yesterday. Didn’t the dragons mention it to you? We agreed that both the Kram-Bermuda Alliance and we would each bear half the cost.”
“They didn’t mention it. And they have some nerve. The dragon closed the Gate connected to the Demon Realm—why should they be paid for it?”
“Hmm? What are you saying? Didn’t the dragons close the Gate connected to the Demon Realm?”
“The dragons did exert themselves, but it was the dragon descended from the Heavenly Realm who actually killed the Duke-class and Marquis-class Demons and closed the Gate. So one million Gold is excessive. If I add in my share, that’s four million Gold—wouldn’t that strain the finances of both Kram and Bermuda?”
“The long war has consumed our resources, so both sides are struggling financially. But what can we do? We have to offer recompense. Oh, and there are four dragons, so it’s five million Gold, not four.”
Jang Gain frowned and called over the three dragons. Then he asked them if they had really agreed to receive five million Gold.
“That’s right. Kram and Bermuda each agreed to bear two hundred fifty thousand Gold.”
“But the dragon from the Heavenly Realm closed the Gate connected to the Demon Realm. Aren’t you asking for too much money?”
“The dragon did accomplish a great deed, but we nearly died too. So we deserve that much payment.”
“Both kingdoms consumed vast wealth in that prolonged war. And no matter how I think about it, five million Gold is simply too much.”
“Then how much do you think we should receive?”
“Take one hundred thousand Gold each. If Mayarbanta had killed the supreme-tier Demons and closed the Gate, then I’d say you’d deserve that amount. But that’s not what happened. The dragon that came to kill me also killed the Demons and closed the Gate, so you don’t deserve such a large sum.”
“One hundred thousand Gold is too little. We nearly died too, but you nearly died as well, didn’t you? So how can you ask us to take just one hundred thousand Gold?”
“Nearly dying doesn’t mean you did work worth that much money. And isn’t closing Gates connected to the Demon Realm part of a dragon’s duty?”
“Even if it’s our duty, we should still receive compensation from those who caused the problem. And if we only accept one hundred thousand Gold, humans will think nothing of the fact that their war opened a Gate connected to the Demon Realm.”
“From what I can see, you’ve already suffered enough and you’re reflecting on your actions. So just take one hundred thousand Gold. Besides, in exchange for accepting less payment, I have a separate request to make of the Kram-Bermuda Alliance.”
At Jang Gain’s words, the three dragons tilted their heads in confusion.
“A separate request? What is it?”
“I became a marquis of the Smed Kingdom in order to stop slave traders and mercenaries from the kingdom from capturing the Heterogeneous Races and Minor Tribes living in the Crerarion Mountain Range and selling or enslaving them.”
“Right. That’s something I’m already aware of.”
“I want the kings of Kram and Bermuda to do the same. So instead of paying so much money, I want them to create and proclaim an edict prohibiting the capture and enslavement of Minor Tribes and Heterogeneous Races.”
“Gain, I understand your heart, but will that even work? Even if the kings create and proclaim such a law, do you really think mercenaries or slave traders will obey it? Not to mention, the nobles who are their customers will oppose it fiercely.”
“And the kings won’t want to create such an edict in the first place.”
After hearing the dragons’ words, Jang Gain turned to look at Sokh Tramus, the emperor of Kram.
“Your Majesty, what will you do? Wouldn’t it be better to create and proclaim a law prohibiting the hunting of Heterogeneous Races and Minor Tribes instead of paying two hundred fifty thousand Gold?”
“Hmph! If I could reduce two hundred fifty thousand Gold down to twenty-five thousand Gold right now, I’d be delighted. But even if I create and proclaim such a law, as the dragons say, it won’t be enforced, and the nobles will resist strongly.”
“Then you plan to pay the two hundred fifty thousand Gold?”
“Let me consult with my ministers and see what we can do.”
“Very well. I’ll give you time to consult, so please let me know the result.”
“Understood. But if things don’t go the way Marquis Gain wants, what happens then?”
“Whether Your Majesty proclaims such an edict or not, I will do my best to prevent the Minor Tribes and Heterogeneous Races from being hunted.”
“Doing your best means you’ll attack the mercenaries and slave traders who hunt them, correct?”
“I cannot speak for other regions, but in my territory within the Smed Kingdom, I will do so. And if I have the capability, I intend to expand that scope to protect all the Heterogeneous Races and Minor Tribes living in the Crerarion Mountain Range.”
“Can you really monitor that entire vast mountain range alone?”
“I won’t be able to do it alone, but with the dragon’s help, it should be possible. Noxscasarsis, you’ll help me with this, won’t you?”
“Of course I will. I have hundreds of Chimeras capable of surveying the entire mountain range, so they’ll be a great help to what you’re trying to do.”
“You heard that, Your Majesty?”
“Y-yes, I did.”
“I don’t wish for the mercenaries and slave traders who come to hunt Heterogeneous Races in the Crerarion Mountain Range to die without understanding why. If Your Majesty creates and proclaims an edict, they’ll know the reason, and even if they’re caught and killed by me, at least they’ll know why. And well, if this continues to happen, eventually fewer people will come to the mountain range to hunt slaves.”
After hearing Jang Gain’s words, Emperor Sokh Tramus couldn’t hide his uncomfortable expression before finally nodding.
“I’ll consult with my ministers and do my best to reflect Marquis Gain’s wishes.”
“Thank you. Oh, and please also convey my wishes to the rulers of Bermuda.”
“Very well.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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