Chapter 1012
“Evidence? Evidence that I harmed Lady Harveti?! What kind of absurd slander is this? Isn’t it enough to have harmed Elder Onyx and Queen Tiamat—
“Seoryu child. However, I believe we must verify the evidence presented by this human.”
“Lady Flamme, how can you say such things? Are you being swayed by a human’s silver tongue, which could spark division among dragons? At a time when we must unite with unprecedented strength!”
“Lady Flamme, to me, this appears to be nothing more than a cunning scheme of the Red Dragons to gain power… How can someone as ancient as yourself be deceived by human tricks?”
Seoryu spoke forcefully.
Karanique nodded in agreement, glaring at Flamme.
At those words, Arev was about to explode with anger, but Flamme had already intervened to prevent his outburst.
She was still smiling.
“If it turns out that Seoryu is not responsible, and if we cannot trust this human’s evidence, then I will refuse to accept any position as elder.”
“Lady Flamme!”
“It’s alright, Arev child. If this human’s evidence is false, then I would be guilty of not only implicating Seoryu but also of dishonoring the deceased Harveti and Zulmek. This is the level of resolve one must have.”
As Arev gasped in surprise, the eyes of Karanique and Seoryu, who had been fiercely attacking Flamme, lit up sharply.
“Is that true?”
“Of course it is.”
Flamme’s response to Karanique’s additional confirmation brought a smile to Seoryu’s face.
The courage that only a confident dragon could possess!
“Very well! Come forward, human! Let me see that so-called evidence you claim is mine!”
With his words, Leeha stepped forward. This was a slightly difficult moment for Leeha as well.
It was a sort of ‘ad-lib’ that hadn’t come up during discussions with Blaugrunn, Arev, and Flamme.
‘But… it should be okay.’
What did it mean for Flamme to speak so decisively? It aligned with the idea that she trusted him.
In other words, if he could overcome this hurdle and if his scheme succeeded—
The temporary peace between the Chromatic Dragons and the Metal Dragons would be established.
“Seoryu, the Black Dragon, is of the Adult-class. As you all know, he cannot kill Harveti and Zulmek by himself. Therefore, he collaborated with humans.”
“What nonsense—
“Seoryu. Let us hear him out first.”
“Keh…”
Karanique stood in Seoryu’s way. However, it was clear that Seoryu, whose honor was being directly challenged, wanted to immediately refute Leeha’s words.
“I obtained this evidence directly from the humans. Please take a look.”
Leeha operated the crystal ball.
Moments later, light emanated from the crystal ball, projecting a video. The crystal ball that Leeha held was an item capable of recording and playback.
It showed the recorded version from Jachung, who witnessed Harveti and Zulmek’s deaths.
The video had no sound.
However, it displayed Seoryu battling Harveti and Zulmek, and the humans aiding Seoryu in attacking Harveti and Zulmek.
The dragons couldn’t fully comprehend the damage inflicted, nor what skills were casted and how, just from the video.
What was visible was merely fragmented. However, it was enough.
The Chromatic Dragons, who moments ago were glaring at Leeha and Flamme, began to shift their gaze toward Seoryu.
“You all don’t believe this, do you? This is preposterous slander.”
“But the video—
“Anyone capable of using illusions could have done this. What do you think?”
Yet, Seoryu remained poised.
The grandson of Onyx was not easily shaken. He defended himself without hesitation.
The Chromatic Dragons nodded in agreement.
“I’m disappointed, lady Flamme. My breath isn’t powerful enough to harm Lady Harveti and Zulmek, yet in that fabricated video, I am clearly seen releasing my breath, implying if it were true, their bodies would bear evidence of it!”
Furthermore, he went on the offensive.
Seoryu was smiling.
Since it wasn’t something he had truly done himself, he couldn’t genuinely take pride in it.
“If you hadn’t prepared that, lady Flamme would have―”
“Yes, there is.”
“―W-what?”
And what about Leeha?
“There is. The unique mark of the Black Dragon’s acidic breath… remains on the corpses of Lady Harveti and Zulmek. It is a trace that cannot be mimicked due to its distinct impact, unlike ordinary magic; it bears the unique imprint of the Black Dragon’s breath.”
“This can’t be happening! How could that be―”
There was no way they hadn’t foreseen this.
From the start, one of the conditions in the discussion between Flamme and Leeha had been to ensure no suspicion of attempted assassination by Leeha.
Leeha had already been considering it at that point.
‘Are you sure they won’t catch us, Black?’
―Hehe… With my current state, it’s possible. A Black Dragon? Having absorbed the sour blood of those creatures…―
He’d confirmed it multiple times with Black Bass.
After verifying with Black Bass, he even underwent tests.
The method was so expertly executed that Flamme could confidently risk retiring with it!
―It’s no trouble to exhale 〈Acidic Breath〉.―
〈Black Bass, companion of Primordial Myths〉
(Untradeable)
Effect: Agility +50
Absorb and emit the 『Attributes』 of the target (limited to one time)
(All additional effects of the existing grade are inherited.)
The secret lay in the additional effects attached to the mythical weapon, Black Bass.
Flamme waved her hand.
From a pocket dimension, two corpses tumbled out. Naturally, they belonged to Harveti and Zulmek, their bodies completely covered with 〈Acidic Breath〉, perfectly concealing the gunshot wounds inflicted by Leeha.
Not only Seoryu but all the Chromatic Dragons approached to confirm the ancient dragons’ corpses.
“It’s certain. This is caused by 〈Acidic Breath〉.”
“And it belongs to the Black Dragon. Truly, Seoryu has…”
“No way… This can’t be happening― it can’t be― it’s not true!”
Even Seoryu, who had remained calm, fell into a panic, looking around frantically.
However, the looks from the Chromatic Dragons gazing at him were already decided.
“Seoryu, child. I know you’ve yearned for the elder position as a direct descendant of Onyx. But to be so blatant, even I did not expect it.”
“Don’t say such absurd things! No, I didn’t do it!”
Seoryu attempted to transform immediately, but the number of Chromatic Dragons around him was overwhelming. With public opinion already against him, there was no way for him to escape.
The White, green, and Blue Dragons swiftly subdued Seoryu.
“Ka, Karanique! Karanique! It’s really not me! I didn’t do it!”
“… Seoryu…”
Seoryu cried out desperately, but Karanique only looked at him with disdain.
Even Leeha calculated that the chances of Karanique saving Seoryu were slim, so he wasn’t concerned.
‘It’s the difference between Onyx’s lineage and those who are not such, like Black Dragons. Hehe, lady Flamme too… the very fact she made such a statement means she wanted it used.’
Leeha had flawlessly picked up the hint Flamme had subtly dropped when discussing the Black Dragon’s hierarchy.
“And, Karanique. I believe that a bloody struggle over power within the Black Dragon circle should never occur again. What is your opinion?”
Flamme spoke quietly.
Karanique wore a distressed expression. Leeha found a certain pleasure in watching a dragon with such a face.
Of course, he could only afford to relax like this at the moment.
“I was aware of Seoryu’s greed. But for this one incident―”
“This one incident? Karanique! Isn’t this an unprecedented internal conflict, causing harm to two Ancient Dragons? As the current senior of the Black Dragons, surely you’re not suggesting you’ll shirk responsibility for this event!”
Karanique found himself without an escape route.
Although he couldn’t be directly punished, it was clear that he had been thoroughly defeated.
‘All the Chromatic Dragons’ hearts are…’
They were drawn to Flamme.
Even if unanimity wasn’t achieved, Flamme would soon challenge Karanique to a duel. There was a method to become an Elder by proving oneself as the ‘strongest’, not just through a vote.
‘There’s no way that dragon, Karanique, would accept that. Even if he might be slightly stronger than Flamme at this moment, he’s already been overwhelmed.’
The first and 2nd rank dragons had been defeated by the much lower-ranked Seoryu. What about him, the third rank?
When they discovered the possibility of actual battle overturning rank, the Black Dragon would no longer be able to act recklessly.
Moreover, the presence of Flamme, who seemed just like a kindly grandmother but whose momentum was fully alive again, served as an obstacle to his actions.
What followed unfolded swiftly.
Everyone agreed that a new Elder needed to be elected as soon as possible to prevent such incidents from recurring, and they also agreed that Flamme was well-suited for that Elder position.
“But, but… what happened to Seoryu, that Black Dragon?”
“They said they sealed all the mana of the Dragon Heart. According to Blaugrunn, it’s as good as dead. It will be in a state where no magic can ever be used again, he said.”
Listening to Kurpke, Leeha responded indifferently. Kurpke coughed briefly.
Not everyone was focused on Leeha’s words.
A few dragons were in an excited state while looking at Blaugrunn.
“No, more than that — how about the Black Dragon’s Breath? How did you manage to execute it? Blaugrunn! Have you already reached such a state?”
“Right! Did you copy another dragon’s breath? Even though I lack talent in mana, I know that’s impossible! How did you do it, Blaugrunn?”
In response to Bailephus and Zelreja’s questions, Blaugrunn gave an awkward smile.
Leeha had deliberately omitted ‘how’ it had been done while explaining.
“No, Bailephus-nim. I didn’t do it.”
“Ha Leeha, you…?”
Alexander, who had suddenly entered the scene, was at the center of attention. Listening to Leeha’s stories, he directed a question at Leeha.
Leeha did not answer. He merely smiled.
Alexander displayed a complex expression as he looked at Leeha’s smile. Ha Leeha had killed two Ancient Dragons.
Not only had he killed them, but he had also crafted such a clever strategy that he pinned it on other dragons.
The ambitious Black Dragon among the Chromatic Dragons would eventually become a threat to the Metal Dragons. So, in a sense, Leeha had preemptively removed three dragons who could have been strong suspects.
The plan was so perfect that even the fellow Chromatic Dragons didn’t notice it.
What’s more astounding was that the entire event took only twenty hours to execute.
What was I doing all this time?
“Ha-ha… Ha-ha-ha!”
Alexander suddenly laughed. The attention previously directed at Leeha and Blaugrunn quickly shifted to him.
“Friend, why are you laughing?”
“Bailephus, I’ve been thinking wrong.”
“Hmm? What do you mean by that?”
“I have realized that by lingering around aimlessly, I was on the verge of turning our journey to uphold the frontline and enforce justice into mere illusions because I left my future to others’ choices.”
Alexander turned his back.
Watching him walk toward the exit of Bahamut Lair, Bailephus also wore a faint smile.
Like Leeha and Blaugrunn, Alexander and Bailephus also had much in common.
Watching the departing Alexander, Bailephus got up from his seat.
“Hyung…?”
“Kurpke, entrust the legacy to the predecessors.”
“Yes? What do you mean—
“I will not become Bahamut.”
That day, a new leader of the Metal Dragons was born.