The Strongest in Our Neighborhood - Chapter 78

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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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The Strongest in Our Neighborhood (78)
A short while later, Meiruji entered the forest, now a ruin laid waste by demons and demonic beasts, and bowed respectfully to Jang Gain before speaking.
“Today, the eldest son of Pendensial, a marquis from the neighboring Domain, came with this Communication Crystal, saying that the Crown Prince is looking for me.”
As Meiruji produced the Communication Crystal, Jang Gain’s expression grew puzzled.
“Why would he send it through a neighboring Domain instead of contacting you directly? Ah—don’t tell me you’ve lost the Communication Crystal that connects to the central government?”
“Yes.”
“I see. Well then, what did the Crown Prince say?”
“He said he wanted to speak with Dragon and asked me to establish a connection for him, but since I couldn’t make that decision on my own, I brought it to you, Lord Gain.”
“I understand. If I channel Aura into this Communication Crystal, I can speak with the Crown Prince of this nation?”
“Yes.”
As Jang Gain infused energy into the Communication Crystal, light emanated from the crystal and an unfamiliar face appeared.
-I am Birok Tramus, Crown Prince of this Empire. Are you Lord Gain, Dragon’s companion, as reflected in this Communication Crystal?
“Yes. I am Gain, Marquis of the Smed Kingdom.”
-The Smed Kingdom is a very small realm beyond the Crerarion Mountain Range to the north—so why does its marquis find himself in Sapir?
“I heard that a Gate had opened in Sapir and Demonic Corruption was spreading, so Dragon and I came to close it.”
-Ah, I see. To travel alongside a Dragon suggests you share quite an extraordinary bond.
“Yes, well. We have various connections, I suppose. But why are you searching for Dragon?”
-The ruler of this Empire, His Majesty, grew somewhat displeased when he heard that Sapir had become Dragon’s Territory.
“That’s why I tried not to accept the Territory in the first place. And then?”
-However, His Majesty, being magnanimous, has graciously permitted Dragon to become lord of Sapir and hopes that you will resolve a small matter our nation has been unable to settle.”
“A matter? If the Kram Empire cannot resolve it, it doesn’t sound like a small problem at all.”
-It is a great problem for us, but a small one for Dragon.
“Hmm! A small problem for Dragon, you say. Very well. What is this matter?”
-Are you aware that beyond the Homal Strait, the Bermuda pirates—or rather, the Bermuda Maritime Union Kingdom—have been at war with our nation for several years now?
“I’m not very familiar with it.”
-What! You don’t know? How can you be ignorant of such a grave affair?”
“Though I have become a Marquis of the Smed Kingdom, I still know very little about the kingdom itself.”
-What are you saying? How can one become a marquis when they know so little?”
“There were various circumstances that led to it. I became a marquis governing a few small baronies and some minority tribes in the Crerarion Mountain Range. The details are rather awkward to explain over a Communication Crystal.”
-Regardless of how small the kingdom, a marquis should at least… Sigh! This is not the time to quibble over such matters. In any case, several years ago, a sea-bound Dragon created an extremely thick Sea Fog around the Quardo Coast, which is the gateway from our nation to the Homal Strait.
“Sea Fog? And then?”
-Because the Sea Fog was created by Dragon’s magic, only Dragon can dispel it. So His Majesty wishes for Dragon, now that he is lord of Sapir, to come and remove this Sea Fog.”
After hearing the Crown Prince’s words, Jang Gain fell silent for a moment before speaking.
“Dragon is away at the moment. I will relay your words to him when he returns.”
-Meiruji mentioned that Dragon has been absent for quite some time now. Is there no way for you to contact Dragon, Lord Gain?
“I tried to reach him yesterday, but he didn’t respond—he seems to be in a deep sleep.”
-Then we have no choice but to wait. Very well.
“If there’s nothing more, I’ll end the call.”
-Wait, wait a moment!
“Yes?”
-But what connection do you have with Dragon?”
“I don’t think I need to regale the Crown Prince with such trivial details.”
-What! Are you, a mere marquis of the Smed Kingdom—smaller than even a county of our realm—truly finding my question tedious?”
Jang Gain’s expression shifted to one of bewilderment.
From the start, he had been bothered by how Dragon was treated with respect while he was spoken to as if he were a subordinate.
“You just asked what connection I have with Dragon, correct?”
-I did.
“That Dragon and I have fought before. I was severely wounded, and Dragon lost fangs and claws, and scales were torn from his body.”
-What! You fought with a Dragon? Are you perhaps a Dragon yourself?
“No. I am human.”
-A human can fight a Dragon and survive? It would be impossible unless you are something that has transcended humanity—
Jang Gain gazed steadily at the Crown Prince through the Communication Crystal.
Ever since the mention of fighting Dragon, the Crown Prince’s demeanor had changed markedly.
“You asked what connection I have with Dragon, so I told you the truth. Believe it or not—that’s your choice.”
-…….
“But usually, when someone resolves a problem you couldn’t, don’t you greet them with thanks first?”
-I’m claiming the removal of the Sea Fog as the price for letting you keep Sapir, so I don’t suppose thanks are in order. It’s simply a fair exchange.
“Do you have no gratitude for saving Sapir from Demonic Corruption, when the Gate opened and demons and magical creatures poured forth?”
-Didn’t you gain Sapir in return for that?
“Weren’t all the people of Sapir subjects who paid taxes to this nation? I’m asking whether you have no gratitude for Dragon and myself saving them.”
—Ahem. I’m grateful for that. Better late than never to say thank you.
“It doesn’t seem like a simple thank-you is quite enough, though.”
—What do you want?
“Since what I want and what Dragon wants may differ, I’ll discuss that with Dragon when he arrives and report back to you.”
—Understood.
“Regarding the Sea Fog as well, I think I’ll only be able to give you an answer once Dragon comes. I’ll contact you through this Communication Crystal when he does.”
—Understood. I’ll be waiting for word.
“Yes, then.”
After ending his communication with the Crown Prince, Jang Gain asked Meiruji about the actual state of affairs in the Kram Empire, but she knew little of value either.
* * *
Upon receiving the Crown Prince’s report, Emperor Sok Tramus summoned the Foreign Minister, who oversaw diplomacy with neighboring nations, and ordered an investigation into Cairoks and Dragon.
The Foreign Minister contacted a spy he had planted in the Smed Kingdom and commanded an investigation into Dragon and Jang Gain, and today at last he received his answer.
When the Foreign Minister Praktio Mernon submitted a written summary of what his spy had reported, the Emperor read it and his brow furrowed.
“So this fellow Jang Gain truly fought a Dragon! And not only survived, but has now become intimate with it! I never knew such a person existed in that pathetic little Smed Kingdom.”
“The report doesn’t include this, but apparently the clash between Jang Gain and Dragon left hundreds of casualties, and roughly a third of the royal palace buildings collapsed.”
“If Dragon had rampaged in his true form, that’s to be expected. But this report says Jang Gain is a Sword Master—are Sword Masters truly strong enough to fight Dragons?”
“Looking at our own Sword Masters, they’re nearly gods of war on the battlefield, so yes, they are formidable.”
“Then our Sword Masters could also stand against a Dragon.”
“That’s something we’d need to ask the Sword Masters directly to know for certain.”
The Emperor nodded, then ordered his chamberlain to summon Ilmaserk Alberto, one of the Sword Masters. He then relayed to him the story of Jang Gain, the marquis who had fought a Dragon and survived.
After hearing the Emperor’s account, Ilmaserk Alberto tilted his head thoughtfully before speaking.
“It’s surprising there’s a Sword Master in such a pathetic little kingdom as Smed. I myself have never encountered a Dragon, so I’ve never fought one. But if he fought a Dragon and lived, then I and the other Sword Masters should be similarly capable.”
“If the Dragon also took grievous wounds, then surely two Sword Masters could capture one.”
“It’s quite possible. But Dragons are adept at magic, and if they decide to flee, they’re difficult to catch.”
“What if a Mage stood beside you to prevent escape? Couldn’t you capture it then?”
“Ancient texts record that many knights and mages combined their strength to capture Dragons. However, Dragons have since learned human combat methods, so it’s best to assume they’re difficult to catch now.”
“I see. Hmm, if they decide to flee, it would certainly be hard to stop them. But I’m puzzled by one thing—if the Dragon is merely that strong, why hasn’t it cleared the Sea Fog on the Quardo Coast?”
The Emperor’s gaze fell upon the Mage Haritia Domar, who shrugged.
“Strip away a Dragon’s magical ability, and it’s merely a flying monster with a large frame. Its magical power is so overwhelming that neither I nor other mages can dispel the Sea Fog.”
“So the Sea Fog can only be dispelled by a Dragon with magic on par with whoever created it.”
“Exactly so.”
“Speaking of which, it hasn’t been long since those Bermuda dogs fled into the Sea Fog on the Quardo Coast, has it?”
“Roughly fifteen days have passed.”
“In the six months of fighting we’ve done, have they ever gone quiet for this long?”
“Never. The longest period before this was three days.”
“Duke Ilmaserk severed Cairoks’s arm in the last engagement, didn’t he? The Bermuda pirates’ Sword Master?”
“Yes. I also cut his flank, but Cairoks—he’s crippled now.”
“Could that be why they haven’t dared provoke us again? The Bermuda pirates only have two Sword Masters, and one of them is now disabled.”
“I was thinking the same as Your Majesty.”
Gleam, gleam, gleam…….
Just then, the Communication Crystal beside the Emperor began to glow.
The Emperor, who had been conversing with his ministers, noticed the light from the Communication Crystal and activated it through his chamberlain.
—Father, it’s Crown Prince Birok.
“Yes, what is it?”
—I’ve just received word from Sapir. The Dragon who became its master says he will meet with the Dragon who has cast the Sea Fog on the Quardo Coast and give you an answer.
“Hmm? He’s not going to lift the Sea Fog himself—he says he’ll meet with the Dragon who created it and then give an answer?”
—Yes. He says he’ll ask the Dragon who created the Sea Fog for his reasons, and if there’s no legitimate reason, he’ll order it lifted. But if there is a legitimate reason, he cannot force the matter, even as a Dragon himself.
“Hmm! A legitimate reason……. So he’s asking us to give up Sapir in exchange for lifting the Sea Fog. That’s disappointing. He seems reluctant to oppose a Sword Master—perhaps he’s a weak Dragon for one.”
—If he was reluctant to oppose a Sword Master, he’s likely only recently emerged from his hatchling stage.
“Tch. I had hoped for more. Well, if he’s still young, there’s nothing for it. Have him proceed as planned.”
—Understood. Oh, and the Dragon also said that if you have business with him, contact him directly.
“Directly with me? Understood. I can reach him through this Meiruji, the acting lord of Sapir, yes?”
—Yes.
“Then I’ll attempt to establish communication there.”
—Yes.
After concluding his call with the Crown Prince, the Emperor activated the Communication Crystal linked to Meiruji.
Light appeared in the crystal, and after a moment, the figures of several people became visible.
“I am Sok Tramus, Emperor of the Kram Empire. Which of you is Dragon?”
—I’m Dragon.
“Through the Crown Prince, I heard that you intend to meet with the Dragon who created the Sea Fog, listen to his reasons, and then decide whether to lift it or not.”
—heard what I said? Listen here, Emperor. Just because I’m wearing a human form doesn’t mean you should mistake me for human.
“What are you suddenly talking about?”
—A mere human who can’t even live a hundred years has the audacity to use that tone with me! The fact that you’re emperor of this empire doesn’t give you the right to speak to me like that.
“What—what did you say! No matter that you’re a dragon, I am Emperor of a great empire… This is far too presumptuous!”
—Hah! How should I even react to this? A human calling me presumptuous. Do you have a death wish?

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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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