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Chapter 311 part 1

After witnessing the conclusion of the Magic Festival in the Arkrest Kingdom’s royal capital and enjoying private conversations with Dran and others, Liu Yuu returned to the Ryuuguu Kingdom and reported his return to Ryuukichi, his lord and mother.

In the Ryuuguu Palace, there were several rooms for holding audiences in one’s original dragon form and in human size. At that moment, Liu Yuu was meeting his mother in one of the rooms designated for human-sized audiences.

Among the vassals of Ryuuguu Kingdom were giant cuttlefish, octopuses, whales, and sea giants larger than islands. Some of them had not mastered the art of transformation, hence the need for audience chambers of vastly different sizes.

In the audience chamber, many vassals watched as Liu Yuu stood and bowed deeply before Ryuukichi, who was seated on the throne. Even as mother and child, their primary relationship here was that of lord and retainer.

「Your Majesty, Liu Yuu, the First Princess and Head Priestess of Ryuuguu Kingdom, has just returned from the Arcrest Kingdom.」

「Well returned, Liu Yuu. Raise your face.」

The voices of the daughter reporting her return and the mother responding were imbued with a firmness and gravity that respected their respective positions over familial affection.

「This was your second time observing the Magic Tournament in the Arcrest Kingdom. How impressive was it this year?」

「The enthusiasm and effort of those who will be pivotal to the next generation of that country were palpable, as if striking the skin. Princess Frau, who invited us, was very kind. Inviting Dran as a commentator, I believe, was a considerate gesture towards our relationship with Ryuuguu Kingdom and others.」

「It sounds like they were very thoughtful, which is commendable. The Arcrest Kingdom’s generous treatment of us is appreciated. For us, establishing continuous diplomatic relations with a terrestrial human nation is unprecedented. The presence of Dran makes the Arcrest Kingdom an exceptionally special case, but also a fortunate partner for our first diplomatic relations. Liu Yuu, your generation, which will shoulder our nation’s future, must not neglect efforts to establish proper ties. As the lord of Ryuuguu Kingdom, I understand you’re already making such efforts.」

「Indeed, I shall take it to heart. Your Majesty, may I be so bold as to inquire about our stance in the upcoming conflict between the Arcrest Kingdom and Mundus Carnus? The power of that nation, linked to the lineage of the War God, is formidable. Even with Dran’s presence, avoiding decisive defeat, I fear the damage will be significant. I have heard there has been no request for military support from Arcrest Kingdom, but will we make any offers in the future?」

Ahead of Marzamis, the other demons, and Dramina, at a corner of the frontline between the Demon King’s Army and the Arkrest Kingdom, a pillar of light suddenly pierced the cloudy sky, connecting heaven and earth.

Arkrest Kingdom’s trump card, Arkwitch Merle, was responsible for creating the pillar of light. On the frontline, Merle began battling, surrounded by no soldiers from either side. The Arkrest side knew they would only be in the way, and the Demon King’s Army realized just before the battle that mere foot soldiers would be ineffective, as discerned by Yaheim and other high-ranking members.

The Demon King’s Army’s assessment was entirely correct. No soldier could withstand the highest-level magic that generated the pillar of light. Even a warship fortified with multiple anti-magic defenses would sink.

Had Merle not confined the effect’s range, it would have been a super-wide-area extermination magic capable of obliterating an entire island.

A vast hole, created by Merle in the wilderness, was so deep and hot that any normal creature would die if it got too close. Despite not achieving his goal, Merle, looking down at the huge pit, laughed lightly, finding the situation still enjoyable.

Merle was in his complete magical gear, as worn during a mock battle with Dran after the Competing Magic Festival. When rescuing Sperion and others from Abyss Dawn, he had a second distall, now further modified. The red handle now bore a black diamond-shaped crystal, with a long and short blade extending from the gem.

This weapon, resembling both a spear and a wizard’s staff, is Merle’s unique magical weapon, “Nichtigheit.”

「Hehehe, seems I still need more. You guys are quite strong!」 Merle remarked, his voice brimming with excitement. Initially dreading the summoning as he thought he’d have to kill weaker foes, Merle found joy on the actual battlefield, realizing only he could combat the formidable enemies present, excluding the Barony of Berne. Engaging in full-force combat and exhausting his magical power was exhilarating, allowing him to fight without suppressing his emotions.

Above the large hole, at a height overlooking Merle, was Zandarza, unharmed despite the magic assault, joyously gazing up at Merle.

「Oh, I thought to entertain myself with Romar’s puppet, but Arkrest too has intriguing toys. What a delightful battlefield. Don’t you agree, Tarulu?」

Zandarza spoke, to which a large wrinkled hand gripped the edge of the hole. The hand, resembling dry rock, firmly held the edge and lifted the body that had fallen toward the hole in one swift motion. The owner of the hand, Tarulu, a mighty troll and member of the Demon Six Generals, emerged from the hole, landing heavily.

Tarulu, an old giant and leader of the troll tribe, known for his long white beard, was clad in grey robes and a hood to avoid sunlight, with little skin exposed. His right hand, free from holding the hole’s edge, held a stone club in his left, its beautiful black color resembling obsidian.

「I’m not like you, not from the lineage of war gods. I’ve said many times I don’t find joy in battle. But it’s impressive, a human reaching such a realm. The Arc Witch, identified in our preliminary investigation, must be the powerful user. The Bernese are skilled too, but this face doesn’t match those in Vengitta’s reports.」

Tarulu, supporting his huge body with the stone club as a cane and looking up at Zandarza and Merle with sorrowful eyes, lamented the toll of battle on his old bones. Despite the fighting spirit in both the human witch and the old demon, the strongest troll in the Demon King’s Army found such battles taxing.

「Hehe, I know Dran and the others are strong, but I’m quite strong too, so prepare yourselves, grandpas.」

「Ah, I won’t be careless. Indeed, the world is vast!」

As Merle and Zandarza exchanged remarks, a new color joined the sky, already vividly painted by the clash between true and false dragonkin.

Behind Merle, aiming Nichtigheit at Zandarza and Tarulu below, a huge white magical circle appeared like a halo. Composed of circles, squares, triangles, and countless letters, it greatly aided Merle’s magic.

「Quadra Shooter!」

Around Merle, red, blue, green, and yellow magical bullets of energy appeared, quickly surpassing a thousand. Creating just one such bullet would exhaust a common mage. The residual magical energy and bright light created an almost fantastical scene, deepening Zandarza’s smile and etching deep wrinkles on Tarulu’s brow.

「This lavish ‘test’ is amazing! I’ll return the favor, young lady!」

Zandarza’s three faces beamed with joy as he continuously launched reddish-black magic spears, identical to those he had previously fired at Hausen. The collision of the four-colored magic bullets and Zandarza’s lances caused explosions of magical energy, spreading out like a string of beads.

「I’ve reached the human limit. Not just me and His Majesty, but even Galilius-dono seemed to be enjoying themselves. What is it with human nations, so perilous? ‘Fog, fog, come here, become a robe blocking the moonlight, the misty fog robe’.」

Choosing direct confrontation, Zandarza unleashed a head-on attack while Tarulu, employing ancient troll magic, generated a thick fog overhead, creating a wall to block the descending magic bullets. The fog robe blurred and dissolved any magic bullet it touched, an extremely vicious magic that made tangible objects and magical power nebulous and neutralized them.

「But you’re leaving your feet unguarded! ‘O earth’s logic, you are in my palm, you have no history, you don’t exist, you are nothing, End Earth!’」