Another Space (4)
Yeomra, the Imperial City.
Shirone knocked on the gate of Yeomra flanked by the earth dragon Gaitan and the white dragon Aslaiker.
Before the guards could even verify their identities, the gate sentries stood frozen, mouths agape.
My gods—such a beauty... the white dragon Aslaiker.
Her appearance, which had reached the pinnacle of allure for all living things, left not only the soldiers but the officials standing dumbfounded.
"I am Shirone, one of the Five Greats of the Ivory Tower. We have come to see His Majesty the Emperor of Jincheon…"
As everyone's gaze locked on Aslaiker, Shirone cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Um—ah, we've come to see His Majesty the Emperor."
There was no answer.
Used to this sort of thing, Shirone sighed. Aslaiker opened her mouth herself.
"This is one of the Five Greats of the Ivory Tower. May we be granted an audience with His Majesty?"
"Eh? Ah—yes! Please wait a moment!"
Even Yeomra's famously rigid gatekeepers gladly complied—such was the overpowering presence of the white dragon.
Three minutes later, a small but luxurious carriage arrived at the gate with palace guards.
The same scene played out as before; even the attendant maidens were entranced.
…I shouldn't come to crowded places.
A few words were fine. But if Aslaiker spent more than five minutes talking to a specific person, things got serious.
I might have to risk my life.
Countless kings, leaders, artists, scholars, and clerics throughout history had gone mad and died of lovesickness. More chilling was the will of a king who'd taken his own life 1,400 years ago.
He'd said it was better to die now knowing her than to live forever without knowing her.
Such was the terror of the white dragon who toyed with souls.
When they reached the inner court, Jincheon's supreme commander, O Ryong, was dueling atop a raised platform.
The combatants were Yu Cheong, called the Incarnation of the Sword, and Hwang Iseong, nicknamed the Demon of Tyranny.
A close match.
Shirone paused to admire the dazzling dance of sword and axe. That the duel continued despite the arrival of one of the Ivory Tower's Five Greats spoke to the Jincheon Empire's pride.
"Taha!"
Hwang Iseong hefted his axe and charged with the force of a breaking wave behind him.
Yu Cheong thrust his sword like a flash and cleaved the surge, and a gale swept the platform.
Gaitan stood with folded arms, indifferent, but Aslaiker's expression grew steadily colder.
These people...
Were they deliberately ignoring the Messiah who had come to save the world?
She glanced back at Shirone and said, "Are all Jincheon generals this rude? I'm a little disappointed."
"Ah—our apologies!"
Though they were the empire's top commanders, the officials immediately fell into place.
I can rely on them.
Showing weakness in front of Aslaiker was a fate worse than death.
"General!"
The man dropped his scholar's tone, deepened his voice, and loudly issued a formal proclamation while saluting.
"Shirone, one of the Five Greats of the Ivory Tower, has arrived! You must show proper respect!"
Yu Cheong and Hwang Iseong froze mid-motion.
Are they mad?
They had known Shirone would visit. Yet halting the duel of Jincheon's Five-Dragon Generals—the symbol of the empire's might—was something even the emperor rarely dared to do.
"To stop a warrior's duel is—" Hwang Iseong frowned with his axe on his shoulder, then his expression softened.
"Huh?"
The moment he looked straight at the woman, he felt his spirit soar.
Who is that woman?
Hwang Iseong was blunt by nature. Even though his wife, Princess Yeon, was the Mun Kingdom's greatest beauty, he couldn't ignore the thrill of such extreme presence.
I'd like to speak even one word to her.
His throat tightened. Yu Cheong beside him couldn't take his eyes off her either.
"Ah—!"
Hwang Iseong belatedly offered a salute.
"I was so absorbed in combat that I failed to notice. I am General Hwang Iseong."
Not to be outdone, Yu Cheong barked while brandishing his sword.
"I am Yu Cheong, Five-Dragon General of Jincheon. Please forgive our rudeness. In matters of the blade, we brook no compromise…"
Shirone only wanted to enter the inner court.
"No, it's fine. We only came because there is urgent news for His Majesty the Emperor."
Aslaiker added, "Thank you for the kind reception. Please, continue your training and do not concern yourselves with us."
"Oh, yes—then..."
When the two generals resumed their duel, Shirone moved toward the inner court.
Perhaps because they were conscious of Aslaiker, the clash of steel rang out far louder than before.
She's watching.
Aslaiker, passing the platform, slowly turned and watched the duel.
She's looking at me.
Yu Cheong and Hwang Iseong, thinking the same thing, drew every ounce of strength they had.
A thunderous roar echoed through Yeomra.
"Yahaa!"
Yu Cheong was driven back by Hwang Iseong's blow; his face flushed bright red.
Gah!
Aslaiker's gaze still pressed on them.
What humiliation is this!
The thought that she might consider him so small made him ache.
"Hwang Iseong! Do you take me for a fool!" The duel escalated into murderous intent; Hwang Iseong unleashed a trump technique in reply.
In a scene where a single mistake could mean death, Shirone abruptly stopped.
He didn't have to turn to picture the duel from the sounds alone.
"Go, Yu Cheong!"
As a killing blow aimed at his comrade, Aslaiker watched impassively.
I will win! What I will win is her love—
Just as cold steel sought to shatter flesh, a blinding light exploded—so fierce it nearly blinded the eyes.
"Kuk!"
Everyone nearby felt their hearts calmed and subdued by an inexplicable force.
"Hah! Hah!"
The two grand generals barely halted their blades and panted in a daze.
What is this? Why did I—try to kill my comrade?
When the two men, suddenly realizing what had nearly happened, turned their heads, Shirone stood directly before them.
"Aslaiker."
At the cold voice, her shoulders flinched.
"Yes, Messiah."
"I told you clearly, didn't I? Never fixate on a particular person for a long time."
A white dragon's very existence is a weapon.
Merely staring at someone could set their hearts alight.
"I'm sorry. I didn't consider how much the Messiah sacrifices; I let my pride get the better of me…"
Shirone understood the sentiment, but if this continued, the unification of humanity would be in jeopardy.
"Someone nearly died. If you think strength alone gives you the right to do anything you wish, then you don't belong by my side."
As Shirone's stern words landed, Aslaiker's face went pale.
"I'm sorry! I won't do it again!"
"Let's go."
She trailed behind him sullenly, and the onlookers gaped.
A similar scene had happened on the inner platform earlier, but this time she avoided meeting anyone's eyes.
When they reached the audience hall, Jin Gang spoke.
"You have come?"
Jin Gang, Emperor of Jincheon. His steely gaze remained, but everything else about him looked precarious.
He was skeletal, drained of the natural vivacity any living person should have.
"I came to speak."
"If it concerns the demonic realm, we've already been briefed. The Empire's physicians are preparing a full response."
Jin Gang let his glance sweep over the two apostles standing at Shirone's sides.
Aslaiker met his eyes, but Jin Gang showed no change of expression.
What a spirit.
Shirone felt sorrow.
He's alive, but not living. There's nothing left to squeeze from him.
Any parent would feel the same imagining their child writhing in eternal torment.
"We will enter the Otherworld."
For a moment, a light returned to Jin Gang's eyes.
"If we purify Hell, the demonic realm will be annihilated. Preparations are underway in the Kingdom of Tormia."
"…I see."
He didn't ask about Seongeum's condition—presumably because he still wore the mantle of emperor.
"We cannot save her. But if Hell is purified, we can free her from suffering."
Jin Gang's eyes reddened.
"Seongeum is a mage who pulled humanity out of the mire of despair. Because of her, we were able to fight this far. If we meet her in Hell, I will take responsibility—I will kill her myself." He forced himself to say it.
The emperor must be a ruler of all, not a man bound by private filial love.
"We will enter the Otherworld soon. Before that, I came to request permission for Seongeum's eradication."
Shirone already knew why he was asking.
"…If my daughter disappears, the spiritual seal will open again."
"Yes. Of course, if Hell is purified, there will be no problem. But if a situation arises where you must choose between the two…"
Purify Hell—or erase Seongeum.
"I would choose to liberate Seongeum, even if it means the spiritual seal reopens."
Now it was the emperor's turn to answer.
"Then Jincheon will fall. Humanity along with it. You expect me to abandon the Empire and save my daughter?"
"It is His Majesty's decision." Heavy silence fell.
"You knew Seongeum's fate and still chose. Do you regret sending your daughter away like that?"
"Regret...do I?"
Jin Gang turned his head, recalling the feelings he'd had—but he said no more.
"If you cannot choose, I will."
Just as Shirone was about to lead the apostles out, a hoarse voice cut in.
"If it were me…"
Jin Gang rose.
"If it were me, I don't think I could have done to my daughter what I did."
Then, bowing deeply with a formal salute, he spoke to Shirone.
"Free Jincheon's hero."
"I will do my best."
With that, Shirone turned for the door, and all the ministers bowed and cried out in unison.
"Please free Jincheon's hero!"
Isn't the sight of a living human burning more beautiful than any fire...?
For a moment, such a mad thought flashed through his mind.
"Rian!"
If life could be seen, would it not be burning in that very form?
Even standing and breathing, even crawling on the floor, the flame always reached upward.
She's lit. What should I do now?
Rian wandered aimlessly, endlessly regenerating a body made only of pain.
It was harder than he'd expected.
The thought that death would be better swelled and overwhelmed his mind.
Krrrr!
He swore he would not scream.
Rian resolved that, and believed he had kept his vow to the end.
For three hours he rolled on the floor and howled until Tess's tears fell.
"Rian! Rian!"
Two hours longer—until Klump bit his lip until it bled.
"Uaaaaa!"
Rian told himself he had never screamed.
"Shirone! This is the limit. He's going to go mad! Let him rest for a moment."
Shirone shook his head coldly.
"If we stop now, we'll have to start this process from the beginning. This is the right way."
At Rian's shout, Tess covered her ears.
"Please! Please stop!"
—Kekeke.
At the sound of Rian's laugh, Tess turned and found he had already risen to his feet.
"Hehehe! Hehehehehe!"
At first she thought he'd lost his mind.
But the voice he used, fixed on some point in the distance, had no tremor.
"I can see it, Shirone."
Every time the flames licked, countless landscapes—none of them from this reality—overlapped and superimposed.
"In—"
In Tess's retinas, devouring monsters screamed.