Mount Bephemus overlooks the capital of the Borvat dynasty. The mountain's surface was colored in silvery vermilion, glaring at all around it with the dignity of a king of the mountains. Its elevation stretched high into the sky, piercing through the swell of clouds. It was as if it was suspended by a thread from the sky itself.

　In the past, this mountain range produced a great deal of gold, silver, and magical ores, and fattened the whole of Borvat, but now that the benefits of this mountain range have been lost, its majesty is still revered as a sacred mountain by those around it.

　The fact that it was once the stronghold of the dragon tribe may have added to the many tales of the mountain's divinity.

　The capital of the Borvat dynasty was established at the foot of this mountain because the founder, who had no legitimate bloodline, considered the majesty of the mountain to be an alternative to the crown.

　In the heart of that great mountain, there it was.

　Gorgeous scales glittering in obsidian. Wings so large they covered the sky. They emitted majesty and created wind with the slightest movement.

　The great demon Vriligant lowered his body to Mount Bephimus, as if his existence was now part of the mountain range. His eyelids were tightly closed, and the sky jumped as his body moved up and down.

　Even though he was in a deep sleep, many creatures left at the first sight of his presence. No bird, no beast, not even a demon would dare to come near him.

　Among them, there was only one shadow that stared at it. His breath was muffled and his eyes were shaking incessantly. The shadow said, its lips moving with a wag. It's not human, it's an ancient language.

"Really ...... really Vriligant's back. He's back, isn't he?

　The shadow trembles as it hides behind a rock face, struggling to keep its fangs from clenching together.

　It was a dragon with reddish bronze scales. It is not as huge as Vriligant, but it is certainly not a flying dragon that has no wisdom and is occasionally used by humans.

　They dominate the sky with their mighty wings and glare at the earth with their breath, but despite the strength of their race, many of them have left the land.

　Some had lost their lives in the wars with humans in the past, while others had faded away, unable to survive in the land after Vriliganth's death.

　But Shadrapto the Red Copper Dragon was different. Shadrapto did not die, nor did he decline. The only survivor from the age of myths. He retains his former majesty. That's why he understood the truth so easily.

　--Vriligant would kill me.

　My scales quivered and my insides convulsed. Shadrapto knew that the great, yet cold-hearted king would never forgive him. And that he would never be able to match him in strength.

　Vriligant was the great dragon king who had dethroned Zebraeliris when he was the One God, along with the Titan King Hrimsrath. Power will never reach him.

　Shadrapto was terrified. To Vriligant, to the sound of death, to everything. Yes, once upon a time she was afraid of everything. That's why she's still alive.

　Once upon a time, Vriligant and nearly every dragon tribe roared their war against the human king Althea. But Shadrapto was scared, scared, scared.

　So he ran away. He disguised himself as a small insect so that no one would find him and he escaped.

　They were relieved to hear that Vriligant had been defeated, but now the time had come for them to fear humans. They began to expand their dominion over the land, extending their reach into every detail.

　Many magical beasts were slain, demons were exterminated, and demons were no longer the champions of the continent. They were forced to live outside of the human sphere.

　Even then, Shadrapto escaped. He never tried to fight.

　They ran, and ran, and ran. Scared, afraid, afraid. Sometimes even changing form, Shadrapto kept running.

　Even now, he survives here on Mount Bephimus, unseen, unnoticed, lest anyone think he has a dragon.

I'm going to be killed...... I'm going to be killed...... No, no, no!　I don't want to die!

　Perhaps because he had been alone so much, Shadrapto had become a habitual soliloquist. He said he was going to be killed, he was going to be killed, and he turned into a bird and flew through the air. He was desperately trying to find a place to escape to.

　Vriligant had been killed by a human. So should he mimic humans to survive? But now the humans are being crushed by the vrygant. It is clear that Verriganth has a deep resentment towards humans. If we just mimic humans, the day will come when we will be killed.

　Then he would have to ask for help from someone greater and better.

　I can only imagine Althea. The human king who once ruled over spirits, giants, and dragons. Shadrapto flew through the air, sniffing.

　I can smell Althea's scent nearby. Somehow, the smell was slowly approaching him. Perhaps he had come to kill Vriligant once more.

　Shadrapto flew towards it with a speed that was impossible for a bird. I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　This is the first time I've ever seen such a thing. I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.

　Of course, this is not something that can be easily accomplished by joining forces with heraldry. If there is a way, the key will be how well we can work together with the demon-threatened countries. That is the perception of General Mastighios and many others in the army.

　That's why it's hard to describe the shock Mastighios felt when he received the message. It made his minions shiver.



　My gaze slips as I follow the words engraved on the parchment.

"This is ...... this is about sincerity?　How can this be possible?

　This is the first time I've ever seen such a thing. He hesitated neither to refute nor to affirm his words.

　After a beat, the second-in-command, Hind, stepped forward and spoke.

I can't say for sure, sir. But the fact is that our scouts have found burnt villages.

　Hind said with a hint of bitterness in his usual grim face. The quiet report was filled with uncontrollable emotion.

　The parchment was sent by one of the Round Table sorcerers who still remained in the capital of Borvat and was in charge of protection. A sorcerer whom Mastighios trusted deeply.

　The contents inscribed on it are too difficult to understand. The fate of the dynasty of Borvat.

　After the Bolvart dynasty was overrun by demons, a faction of sorcerers swore allegiance to the demons. By taking orders from the demons, they were able to influence other sorcerers and rapidly expand their power. If any sorcerer disobeyed them, he would be sent to the place of execution in the name of the sorcerer.

　The method of execution was beheading after stripping the magic mechanism.

　The magical mechanism that a sorcerer manufactures by remaking his own body is now melded with his soul. It was easy to imagine the unimaginable sobs and pain that would be inflicted on the magician if he were to detach it. There would be people who would lose consciousness and go insane just from that.

　Originally, there was only one crime for which such an execution was permitted in the Borvat dynasty: treason against the state. It's not something that's used once every hundred years.

　And now, the document says, it has been done countless times.

　Villages were burned and innocent people killed to please the demons. 20% of the villages in Borvat territory are now burnt to the ground.

　The sovereign who was supposed to protect us has been usurped and executed. A young prince has succeeded to the throne, but he is treated as if he never existed.

　It was difficult for Mastighios to read everything and still understand it.

　It had only been a few months since he had left the country. And yet, how could he have predicted such a sudden change in the situation?

　Clenching his fists so hard that they bled, Mastighios said.

...... Who is this Kiel sorcerer who has stabbed us, or rather the Borvat dynasty, in the back?

　What the hell were we fighting for? Forcing down the emotions that he wanted to spit out, Mastighios raised his gaze.

　The name of the faction's ringleader, Kiel-Bazarov, did not sound familiar to Mastighios. If he had been an accomplished sorcerer, he would have heard of him, but no matter how many times he traced his memory, he could not find him.

　The second-in-command, Eirene, said in a swarthy voice.

There are no names in the military register, sir. Probably a civilian or researcher.

　It is customary in Borvat for all outstanding sorcerers to belong to the military in name only. If the ringleader is someone who has no name on it, then we can assume the identity of the faction.

　Mastighios gulped and said.

All right.

　It was too heavy a fact to swallow with that one word. But it had to be swallowed. It is the role of the general to show the way. Looking around the camp, Mastighios opened his mouth.

We have to get rid of this traitor before we can coordinate with the rest of the country. We can't just leave innocent people to die.

　A message from the Round Table wizard. The army of Borvat began to march towards the village mentioned in the document as their primary destination.