Counterattack – Part 02

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Translator: Kell | Editor: Ryunakama


We reached Altaria before nightfall and met up with Gouda, who was waiting in front of the open city gate.

It wasn’t just the castle that was old, but the city as well. The walls surrounding it was made of wood.

“Either the arrival of technology here was delayed because of the island’s remote location, or materials were not available to begin with,” I muttered as I surveyed the city.

“Both,” Gouda replied sharply, his back turned. “Moreover, Altaria is far from the sea. Unlike Nordis, it couldn’t engage in large-scale trades.”

“I’m surprised it didn’t fall.”

“Well, we managed somehow. We built a modest port far from the castle and invited merchant ships. Rare medicinal herbs and plants grow in the Forbidden Land so people would stop by while trading with Nordis.”

War was not just about killing, but also about how you could procure resources. The reason why the two kingdoms stayed in a state of war for so long on this small island was probably because it was difficult for them to obtain materials, preventing them from launching large-scale battles.

“Are you done with the preparations?” the princess asked in an imperative voice, as if telling Gouda to drop the idle talk.

“Yes,” he replied flatly. He didn’t even look fazed by her tone—though he pretty much always wore a frown.

“In keeping with tradition, we have placed all the offerings we could on the altar on the cliff.”

“And the whistle that calls the dragon?”

“Here.” Gouda pulled out a black vertical flute from his pocket. It had fine carvings and was ornamented with gold and gems.

“That looks like a very expensive flute.” I gave my honest impression.

“Hush, brute!” Gouda shouted, looking extremely offended. “No one asked for a sleazebag’s opinion.”

I gave a shrug.

“This is a flute passed down in the royal family of Altaria. Its timbre can summon the dragon, apparently.”

“Apparently?”

Gouda averted his gaze. “I-I don’t know, okay?! The ritual is old. Those who had summoned the dragon are all dead. The last ritual was perfromed three hundred years ago!”

It had been passed down as a legendary tradition, but no one really knew about it. All the more so when Altaria’s king and prince were dead.

“Do you know the melody?” the princess asked.

“Yes. I found a sheet. It’s not a complicated tune.”

“Good. We will begin preparations for the ritual immediately.”


Following the path that led from the back of the royal castle, we came to a sheer precipice. Clinging to the edge of the cliff was an old stone altar, large enough for a giant dragon to land on.

All in all, there were thirteen sets of stairs leading up to the top of the altar, and right in front of it stood the mountain where the dragon lived.

On the sides of the stairs were sculptures of dragons, standing out eerily in the darkness as the bonfire illuminated them.

“I’m not really comfortable about this,” I said. “I know it’s a trap to lure the dragon, but still.”

Various offerings—deers, boars, and fruits—lay on the altar. In the center was a chair with a silk finish where the princess sat alone.

She had undone her hair, taken off her monocle and armor, and was wearing only a simple white dress, which from a distance made her look like a helpless sacrificial woman.

The princess was holding a knife with Raul’s blood in her hand. She said that she would use the strongest spell in her arsenal. I wondered what kind of spell it was.

“Are you worried about the princess?” Zero asked.

I frowned. “I’m more worried about myself, really. If the princess fails, the dragon will go ballistic.”

“There is no need for concern. I am here.”

“Then why don’t you just take her spot?”

“The princess is the ruler of this country. Her heroic deed, acting as bait to slay the dragon, will be the key to uniting the kingdoms. That is probably what she is thinking. In that case, it is best for me to stay in the sidelines.”

“Maybe.” Leaning back against a tree trunk, I looked around at the altar. The Magic Corps were on standby below, nervously preparing for what was to come. I wrinkled my nose and twitched my whiskers. “Looks like it’s gonna rain.”

A high-pitched, clear sound echoed in the night. It was coming from Gouda, playing the flute from under the altar. There were three types of melody— high, low, and in-between. He blew one note at a time, carefully and prolonged, as if to verify each note.

There was a momentary pause. A melody so gentle and pleasant to the ear began to drift through the night.

The wind was blowing from the cliff towards the mountain. Perhaps it would carry the sound of the flute with it. The tune made me sleepy in a good way. I stifled a yawn.

A roar coming from the mountain rocked the air. I pricked up my ears and quickly shifted my body to full alert.

A moment later, my ears caught the sound of wings flapping. In the darkness of the night, I could see the silhouette of a dragon flying in from the distance.

Glowing scarlet streaks ran like cracks across its black body. The closer the dragon got, the hotter the air became. It was probably bringing with it the hot air from the volcano.

“The dragon’s coming!” someone from the Magic Corps shouted.

Gouda was still blowing his flute, while the princess remained motionless in her chair. Under the altar, soldiers were shouting, waiting for the right moment to unleash their Magic on the incoming dragon.

The dragon arrived at the front of the altar and landed in what seemed like a routine manner. It gazed at the princess and the offerings, sniffed them, tilted its head slightly and slowly opened its mouth.

“Whoa, whoa. We’re not just gonna sit here and watch her die, are we?” I leaned forward, anxious.

The princess stood up and brandished her dagger.

Gouda stopped playing the flute. “Pin it down!” he ordered. “Don’t let it move from the altar!”

The dragon was about to devour the princess when the Magic Corps surrounding the dragon unleashed Steim all at once. Groaning, the creature retreated. It lost its footing and fell from the altar, but regained its balance mid-air and soared up.

It tried to turn and leave, but the Magic Corps didn’t allow it. The soldiers were using Magic to restrain the dragon and keep it near the altar.

“Now that’s a kingdom who fought in a Magical war for you.”

They were expert in using Magic in fighting. The dragon’s furious roar rang out, but none of them faltered at the presence of the creature, whose claws were as big as an adult-sized human.

The princess opened her mouth and began chanting. “Hectseid nedfrad ista tum di haria.” She drew a diagram in the air with her dagger and raised it to the sky.

“What’s going on with the clouds?”

They were gathering above, as if answering to the princess’s call. A thunderclap, loud as the roar of a ferocious beast, rumbled from the clouds, shaking the very air.

“That is Adwecris, from page ten of the Chapter of Hunting!” Zero exclaimed. “That is highly-advanced Magic!”

“Is it really that incredible?” I asked.

“I have explained before that the Magic contained in the Grimoire of Zero becomes more powerful and more difficult to control the further you go into the pages. The most powerful Magic that the lass back at Wenias can cast is Flagis, a spell from the sixth page. Now do you realize how reckless the princess is being?”

“Will she be all right, then?”

“I do not know.” Zero’s voice quavered, and she gave an unusually tight smile. “Latent ability is a terrifying thing. I can see why Argentum wished to entrust her to me. She is dangerous.” There was terror in her voice.

A sudden scream ripped through the darkness, and a person fell. What’s going on? More screams followed.

“Mercenary, what was that?”

“I don’t know, but something’s wrong. Sounds like they were attacked.”

Would bandits come out in this situation? Or was it wild animals? I peered into the darkness. A white blade flashed. Black cloak. Jade hair.

“It’s the adjudicator from Dea Ignis!”


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