Chapter 195
“Your Holiness!”
“Your Holiness, what are you saying!”
The nobles were in an uproar, chasing after the Pope. Even the Gold Cardinal seemed to have never heard of such a thing.
“Why did you agree to such conditions?”
The right to approve imperial succession is too important. How do they think we’ve been suppressing the Imperial Family until now?
With that authority of the Pope, they’ve been putting Emperors they like on the throne and making countless Princes watch their every move.
Even if one was appointed Crown Prince through their own merit, they couldn’t become Emperor without the Pope’s approval in the end.
It’s not for nothing that so many Princes have shed tears of blood and submitted to the Papacy and Pope over the long years.
“If you give up that authority, the Imperial Family won’t have to watch the Papacy’s face.”
Then the Pope spoke as he sat down.
“It’s fine. They won’t be able to bring the Sacred Dragon anyway.”
“!”
The Pope sneered lightly. He made such a condition knowing it was a fight he would win from the start.
“Meeting a Sacred Dragons is a difficult task to begin with.”
But his close aides looked uneasy.
“Forgive me, but didn’t Isaac Eshua say he could bring one in two days? It’s too specific a date to be just a bluff.”
“There are some aspects I can guess.”
“Then are you saying the Crown Prince really has a Sacred Dragon?!”
“No.”
The Pope smiled as if it was ridiculous.
“That’s a bluff. It’s a scheme to shake up the nobles.”
“Then did he say he’d bring a dragon that doesn’t exist in two days?”
The Pope tapped the armrest of his chair.
“Recently, there was a rumor that a Sacred Dragon entered the Julius Kingdom disguised as a merchant.”
“!”
They immediately noticed what that meant. Julius is half a day’s distance by riding the Imperial Family’s lesser dragon.
“Then does he intend to bring that dragon…”
“He won’t be able to bring it anyway. That dragon has already left that country.”
The Pope chuckled.
At that laugh, the Gold Cardinal seemed to recall something. He had thought the Pope’s recent strange order was odd.
“So that’s why you sent the Gold priests rushing to Julius.”
“Yes, Sacred Dragons are creatures that disappear like ghosts just by smelling the scent of the Imperial Family and priests.”
“Indeed, Sacred Dragons extremely despise and hate the Hella Imperial Family and priests.”
It’s not for nothing that they haven’t been able to find even a trace of them for decades.
Just as sharks smell blood, they leave at even the slightest energy. Especially with priests, it’s impossible to even be in the same place, let alone talk.
But what? Isaac Eshua has a Sacred Dragon? It’s repairing the barrier? It’s a blatant lie that can’t possibly be true from the start.
“So you noticed the lie right away and made that bet.”
“Can’t you imagine the sight of those staking their lives on a hope that seems within reach?”
Does staking their lives on hope refer to Shablis?
“That guy can never become Emperor. I won’t let it happen.”
I make the Emperor of this country. Do you think I’d put someone who dares to defy me on the throne?
“Sacred Dragons will never take their side.”
This bet was already decided. So it was rather fortunate.
“It’s a golden opportunity to deal with Eshua as well.”
“…!”
The Pope smiled. He had been very annoyed by the rising Blue and Isaac anyway.
“Only Elai will be pitiful for having such a foolish grandson. He must have been full of dreams after finally deciding on a successor, but now he’s about to lose that precious successor.”
But meanwhile.
“Hey. You idiot. Guide me.”
“Kuhek!”
Isaac, who had left the banquet hall, immediately kicked the half-dragon. The half-dragon, who had transformed into Isaac, protested as if asking what this was about.
“Guide what!”
“Are you asking because you don’t know? Guide me to your leader.”
“Why! You said you’d arrange to meet at midnight in the suburbs!”
Isaac rubbed his ear.
“Ahhh I don’t have time for that now. Forget it, I’ll grab them by the hair and drag them here myself. So guide me to your leader’s house.”
“What did you say?!”
The half-dragon widened his eyes as if that was absurd.
“Know that it’s already more than you deserve to let you meet the leader! How dare you try to go see them directly… Ugh!”
Isaac trampled the half-dragon as if telling him to shut up.
“You brat. You should be grateful I’m going to meet them directly. Before I catch your kid and go to the Imperial Family, guide me obediently.”
“Heuk?!”
“You’re a half-dragon so you have no connection to Shablis’s contract, but if I disassemble you moderately, you should become usable.”
“Uwaak!”
Isaac flashed his eyes as if asking if he understood.
“How long does it take to get to where the leader is?”
“The leader… is in a very far place.”
“Ah, I’m asking how long it takes.”
The half-dragon rolled his eyes.
“If we fly from now, 30 days…”
“Do you want to die? Where are you rolling that reptile head? Who said anything about flying? Do you want your wings torn off? Use magic like a proper dragon.”
“Kughk!”
The half-dragon whimpered.
No, what kind of priest has such a foul mouth?
But regardless, Isaac brushed up his bangs.
“How long does it take by teleport?”
Just because it’s teleportation doesn’t mean it connects directly to the leader’s house. Various forces are intertwined and colliding in the human world, so one could accidentally become a dimensional orphan.
Moreover, the more important a place is, the harder it is to get to as a basic defense. Even if you’re a direct subordinate, you shouldn’t be able to freely go to the base of someone at the leader level. If you become a hostage like this, their base would be breached in one go.
Well, if you’re the homeowner, you might have a direct teleportation stone, but not now. That’s why Isaac set it at two days.
The half-dragon rolled his eyes.
“Umm… Teleportation isn’t omnipotent, so with a maximum distance of 50km at once, it would take about 15 days…”
Isaac’s eyes turned fierce.
“Hey, are you kidding? That’s the lowest grade teleportation.”
“?!”
“Use a 1000km one.”
“Ah, no.”
“2000km!”
“Ah, no. That requires materials! It’s expensive!”
Isaac smiled as if it was detestable. This bastard, how dare you try to cheat with magic in front of the Skeleton King?
“The materials are just low-grade rubies, right? Are you kidding?”
The half-dragon trembled as if flustered.
What the hell, how does this bastard know so specifically about magic materials?!
“And dragons need materials? Sitting there with the plague! You guys who extract magic power from the atmosphere, what bullshit about materials!”
Damn it! How does he know?!
“Lead the way before I cut off your tail.”
“Ughh! Yes sir!”
* * *
‘Damn it…! To think we came all the way here!’
Sand desert.
The half-dragon who finally flew to the leader’s residence by high-grade teleportation hit the ground. He was about to go crazy.
‘That crazy bastard!’
The half-dragon had been flustered when Isaac said to go to the leader’s house by high-grade teleportation, but on the other hand, he thought it was fortunate.
That’s because, high-grade teleportation?
‘Do you think a mere human could withstand that?’
Magic has increased risk in proportion to its convenience. And as teleportation goes higher grade, the compression ratio between dimensions increases, so the burden increases.
Dragons might be fine, but humans would lose consciousness from motion sickness even with just a 500km one, and if they use over 1000km, their mind can’t endure and they almost die.
So humans use teleportation within 50km range or move slowly with intervals.
High-level magicians greatly increase the speed and distance, but anyway, it’s hard on the body.
But, what’s with this guy!
‘I deliberately ran without rest to kill him, but!’
His trembling pupils turned towards Isaac. The half-dragon had used high-grade teleportation without intervals, saying let’s see a human dare mention high-grade teleportation, let’s teach him a lesson.
But why is he fine?!
Even I, as a half-dragon, find this distance difficult! How!
“Did we finally arrive?”
How can you yawn?!
“Haah. Well, it’s a bit slow, but. This much is fine, I guess.”
This is slow?!
That’s not all.
“Shab, are you okay?”
“Other than feeling sluggish like a snail because I’m slower than Master, no problem.”
Why is the woman who came along fine too?!
Looking at the half-dragon who had fallen into mental breakdown, Isaac clicked his tongue. Well, it seems he was planning to mess with them with high-grade teleportation.
‘Stupid guy. You think the Skeleton King and a True Demon would fall for this?’
To the Demon King standing at the pinnacle of magic, and the highest-ranking demon of those right below him?
Anyway, Isaac only brought Shabnak, leaving the others behind. First of all, given the timing, there was no leisure to come slowly.
No one else could withstand high-grade teleportation anyway, and if the opponent was a dragon, it might lead to a magic battle, that is, an all-out war. Moreover, Shabnak liked being able to reveal her power.
Given the bet, they need to resolve this in one go.
‘Well, I borrowed a sacred relic from Leia just in case.’
Leia, who had the origin of God’s hunter, could kill even dragons. If it’s an object she imbued with her power, it should be able to inflict a fatal wound even on the dragon leader.
‘Well, since hunting isn’t the goal, I hope it doesn’t go that far.’
No matter what, if we drag in a blood-soaked dragon, it would be a bit awkward to present it in front of the Pope and nobles, wouldn’t it?
So Isaac entered an entrance hidden among white trees. It was a passage leading to an underground labyrinth, with very long stairs.
“It feels like a secret hideout. Is this really the place?”
“Yes… It’s the leader’s secret place, but they spend more time here.”
‘Well, it doesn’t seem to be a lie.’
As they went down the stairs, the energy of light spirits like fireflies and Sacred Dragons was thick in the air.
Judging by the considerable energy felt, it’s not just an ordinary dragon. No wonder they’re called Sacred Dragons, it was a very holy energy.
Unlike other dragons with strong magical energy, they hated evil and darkness, and loved peace, fitting their reputation.
‘If I had to say, are they close to White Faith?’
As if feeling something similar, Shabnak whined that it was troublesome.
“I expected it, but at this level, if it goes to an all-out war, the deal might not be easy.”
[This is troublesome. If we’re exposed as demons, it’s over.]
At Whisper’s words, Isaac also frowned.
Right. As expected of those who terribly hate demons, it’s so clean without demonic energy…
[Master! It’s Master!]
…Huh?
Something that shouldn’t be in a Sacred Dragon’s nest was seen.
[Master!]
Huh???
A pale white object came running from the darkness.
Right, a pale white bone…
Huh? Bone??!
Isaac and Shabnak’s expressions turned strange.
[Master!]
What appeared before them was none other than a baby skeleton.
Yes, the baby skeleton that was summoned to the Holy Empire during Blue’s Pentagon before and that Isaac sent back!
Even Whisper seemed dumbfounded.
[Why is a demon here?]
That’s what I’m saying.
But whether it knew or didn’t know that feeling. The baby skeleton happily clung to Isaac.
[Master came! You came!]
Isaac picked up the baby skeleton, dumbfounded.
What’s going on??
This is a real skeleton?
Why is it in a Sacred Dragon’s nest? And it’s well-managed too?
But it was then.
Thud!
“Master!”
Suddenly, magical power of a different dimension pressed down on Isaac and Shabnak. It’s completely different from the magicians they saw near Hella, and ordinary dragons.
At this level, it’s among the strongest they’ve ever seen…!
“What. Who are you that this child welcomes?”
“!!”
An unfamiliar voice was heard behind Isaac and Shabnak.
The two were startled.
Forget himself, they caught Shabnak from behind?
Although Shabnak deliberately didn’t reveal her power, she was a stronger being than they thought. This might need to be confronted at full power from the start.
“Master.”
At the opponent’s killing intent, Shabnak immediately became wary.
Standing there was a peerlessly beautiful woman in human form. Her fierce golden eyes were glaring at them very unpleasantly.
And they could tell at a glance.
Surely this must be the Sacred Dragon Leader they were looking for. The overwhelming energy and power proved it.
Right. But…
“You, what relationship do you have with the Skeleton King?”
…Why black hair?
