Chapter 63: Diplomacy (1)

"Master, I apologize for asking, but what do you mean by revealing your identity..."

"It is as I said. Not immediately, but after resolving what needs to be done first, I plan to reveal my identity rather than hiding."

Upon hearing the Absolute Ruler of Darkness, all Five Swords of Calan harbored doubts.

That's because their Master had never once wished to reveal herself.

Thus, they were curious about what change of heart their Master had, but without resolving their curiosity, they all bowed their heads and replied,

"We understand."

At least to them, the Master's words were divine command, and they intended to obey her decisions without question.

"...Then, may I ask what needs to be done before you reveal your identity?"

Loriel enquired about the tasks ahead.

"Firstly, starting internally, I plan to deal with those who bear hostility towards me."

The Absolute Ruler of Darkness began to inform the Five Swords of Calan about the tasks, saying so.

And a short time later, after the five Swords of Calan had heard the Absolute Ruler of Darkness and left the underground cavern,

'...Ultimately, his refusal to accept me was not just because of my infamy but also because of those who are hostile towards me.'

The Absolute Ruler of Darkness recalled the plan she had reviewed dozens of times until yesterday.

'The first thing to do is not clean up the outside, but the inside.'

'I need to draw out those who are hostile towards me internally and either re-educate or deal with them.'

'And once the interior is all sorted out, then I will finally reveal my identity and step outside to-'

"Deal with all those who are hostile towards me from the outside."

Rin muttered, clenching her fist tightly.

"......"

In fact, the Absolute Ruler of Darkness could have continued to operate within the shadows of the Calan Kingdom, dealing with those hostile towards her as she had done until now.

No, that would have been an easier method for the Absolute Ruler of Darkness.

However, there was only one reason she chose to come forward and make herself a target.

"......"

The Absolute Ruler of Darkness looked at the 'Title Change Right' she held in her hand.

The memory naturally replayed upon seeing it.

'You know, I remembered that you disliked that title.'

Gritting her teeth!

Upon recalling that, Rin unconsciously clenched her teeth.

Feeling foolish and pathetic for having hurt his feelings with her petulance, she felt like crying.

Thus,

'I will prove it.'

The Absolute Ruler of Darkness had resolved.

'With action.'

By making her title known to the world.

'I will definitely prove it.'

To show that she was proud of the title he had given her.

'And after proving it with this-'

Squeeze-!

...Rin stared intently at the title change right.

'I will make it certain.'

Soon after gripping it firmly, the Absolute Ruler of Darkness began her official activities within the Calan Kingdom.

"...So,"

Adria, after hearing all of the Guardian's story, said,

"So, to summarize the story, you were the hero of Lartania's Lord ten years ago, right?"

"That's right."

"So, the Lord of Lartania, who disappeared ten years ago and was never expected to return, has reappeared just like that..."

Adria said this while glancing at the photos filling the room,

"...and you liked that."

"Right..."

Adria looked at The Great One, who was blushing and nodding shyly, with a newfound expression.

It was the first time she saw her displaying such a variety of emotions and facial expressions, especially positive changes, even though she had seen her when they first met the Lord and then others.

Therefore,

"Now, the task ahead is clear."

"Hmm?"

"You should go meet him directly. The Lord of Lartania,"

Adria said, but,

"Oh, no!"

Following the Crimson Dragon's words, Adria spoke with a face full of questions,

"...Why?"

"Well... the Lord might dislike me."

"...Wouldn't you know only if you meet?"

"But, still, it's scary... Honestly, I'm satisfied with how things are now..."

The dragon spoke with a somewhat gloomy expression, tightly hugging the photo in her hand.

"But you can't stay like this forever, right?"

"Well, staying like this forever might... uh, surprisingly be okay...?"

"...?"

"I can see the Lord like this... hehe- I mean, looking at the photos, he's always smiling... I can see him from afar too... hehe..."

Seeing the dragon laughing creepily while looking at her own photos, Adria unwittingly made a peculiar expression and spoke.

"Even so, don't you want to return...?"

"But, I've made many mistakes...? What if the Lord says he dislikes me to my face...?"

Seeing her eyes well up with tears just at the thought, Adria quickly said,

"Then, instead of going right now, how about subtly finding out what the Lord thinks?"

"Probe the Lord?"

"Right, since the Lord doesn't yet know I'm associated with you, maybe we can subtly probe?"

Adria suggested.

Upon hearing this, the Crimson Dragon stopped her teary eyes and nodded, but soon spoke with a gloomy face,

"But, even if we probe now, it's not like I can leave right away..."

"Huh? Wait, why is that?"

"...I have to stay here for another year."

"What? Why?"

"That's the condition for me to get rid of my half-dragon, half-human lineage and become a full dragon."

Upon hearing the Crimson Dragon's words, Adria looked puzzled but soon recalled what the Lord of Lartania had said.

He had said he only knew of 'half-dragon, half-humans', not of any dragons.

But Adria felt puzzled.

That's because the Crimson Dragon in front of Adria seemed more dragon than half-dragon, half-human to anyone who looked at her.

She had two horns, unlike the half-dragon, half-humans who have no horns or only one, and despite having a human form, she had a dragon's tail, which half-dragon, half-humans do not have.

So, as Adria was about to ask with a puzzled expression, the dragon spoke,

"I made a contract. With the Dragon Lord."

"...Dragon Lord?"

"Yes, I'm currently undergoing a ritual using 'Dragon Speech' to transform from a half-dragon, half-human into a full dragon."

"So, this space is..."

"This is the space where the ritual is being performed. You, being human, might not see anything. But for the next year at least, I can't leave here. That's the 'restriction' in exchange for becoming a dragon... Well, there are other things too."

The Crimson Dragon, looking at her own wrist and murmuring, soon whimpered,

"...Had I known it would be like this, I wouldn't have become a dragon in the first place."

Seeing the dragon murmur as if depressed, Adria asked with a puzzled look,

"If you decided there was no need to become a dragon, then why...?"

"As a half-dragon, half-human, I couldn't use... dimensional magic... so..."

"Dimensional magic?"

"Humans might not know... but I heard that becoming a dragon allows the use of dimensional magic. That's why I made the contract..."

"The reason you wanted to learn dimensional magic, could it be...?"

"I heard from the Dragon Lord that the Lord might be in another dimension... so-"

"...You plan to go to another dimension to seek forgiveness...?"

"Huh? No, that's not it..."

"What? Then...?"

"If I can open a door to another dimension, I can watch... Then, I don't necessarily have to hear anything unpleasant from the Lord directly."

"......"

Adria involuntarily closed her mouth upon hearing the dragon's words, which were a curious mix of eeriness and creepiness.

After a moment, Adria, holding her slightly dizzy head, nodded.

"Firstly... I've grasped the general situation."

"Yeah..."

"But, you can't keep this up forever, right? It would be somewhat regrettable if you couldn't meet the Lord even after becoming a dragon in a year."

"I'm fine just looking... though."

The dragon spoke with a lack of confidence.

Seeing her like that, Adria, with a realization, opened her mouth to speak,

"From what I know, there were other heroes in Lartania's domain ten years ago, besides you. Those heroes might actually get closer to the Lord... Wouldn't that be too unfair to you?"

Adria spoke up to give a bit of courage to the deeply withdrawn dragon.

However,

"I think those madwomen don't deserve to be by the Lord's side..."

"...???"

At the sudden dark words from the dragon, Adria was puzzled, thinking,

'Huh? What did I just hear?'

"Yikes...! The Lord was so nice... and if they look at the gifts he gave as if they're not pleased, if I meet those guys, I'll kill them all-"

Seeing the murderous intent gradually fill the dragon's eyes, Adria quickly spoke up again,

"If that happens, it would be unfair, so let's start building up favorability over the next year...!"

"Favorability?"

"Yes! Since you can't leave right now and it's burdensome for you to reveal your identity immediately, let's start slowly building up favorability. I have a plan."

Soon, the dragon was drawn into Adria's words and began to focus.