The next day. The Lord’s Manor. The office.
“A festival?”
The Dusk Bringer, who had come to see me, wore an absurd expression.
“Did you just say a festival?”
“You have good ears, why are you pretending not to understand? Yes, a festival.”
I answered nonchalantly, but the Dusk Bringer’s bewildered expression deepened.
A fall festival.
A festival held around the same time in almost every country around the world, not just the Everblack Empire… similar to Earth’s Chuseok [Korean Thanksgiving] or Thanksgiving.
In the Everblack Empire, this festival is held for three days around September, when the moon goes from the waning crescent to the new moon.
It’s funny how it’s the opposite of Korea’s Chuseok, which is held on the full moon. It’s a dark and gloomy country, just like its name.
‘During the first year’s fall festival, there was a martial arts tournament and a dance festival.’
I remember setting up stalls so Serenade could enjoy various games. I think the Dusk Bringer came to Crossroads for the first time then too.
In the second year, my return from the spirit realm was delayed, and as soon as I came back, I had to leave for New Terra to fight in the Imperial Capital Conquest, so I couldn’t properly take care of it.
But this time, the timing is right. This year, I’ll be able to properly enjoy the fall festival.
‘The defense against the Fly King was exactly from the waning crescent to the new moon… it’s sooner than I thought.’
It’s already been a few days since we defeated the Fly King. There are a little over three weeks left until the next new moon.
As I was estimating the remaining days, the Dusk Bringer slammed my desk with her small hands! Oh my, that startled me. What’s wrong?
“What on earth are you doing? A festival? A festival, when that Night Bringer is approaching… !”
“There’s nothing we can do right now anyway.”
I put my clasped hands behind my head and crossed my legs on my desk.
“Everyone’s exhausted from the continuous battles we’ve fought. It’s better to rest comfortably while the monsters aren’t attacking.”
“But!”
“People, the city, everything is in tatters. Let’s fully recover while the enemy commander has declared a truce.”
There aren’t many times when we can just decide to rest like this.
I can’t even remember the last time I relaxed, put down my weapons, and rested comfortably.
We’ve been in a state of high alert, constantly fighting defense battles and going on free explorations.
It’s time to let loose. For a while, I want everyone to relax and not think about anything.
“…Okay, resting is good. I’ll concede that even holding a festival is fine.”
The Dragon Lady, who is more wary of the Night Bringer than anyone else in this city, and who inherited the blood of the Red Dragon that opposes the Black Dragon, shouted sharply.
“But we must prepare! That Black Dragon is planning to invade the human realm! You’re not just going to ignore it and play around, are you?”
“…”
“We have to defend in two months! Do you have a way to stop him?”
I answered honestly.
“No, I don’t.”
“What?”
“Defense is impossible. We’re going to lose.”
The Dusk Bringer looked blank at my answer. She didn’t expect me to say such a thing before even fighting.
I explained calmly.
“First of all, we can’t repair the south wall in two months.”
So far, the collapse of the Crossroads walls has only been partial.
Whether it was damaged by the Death Knight’s greatsword, split by the Vampire General’s axe, or destroyed by the Goblin Legion’s self-destruction… the basic framework remained.
That’s why emergency repairs were possible.
But this time is different.
The entire south wall has been completely wiped out. It collapsed from the Fly King’s fall and was reduced to dust by the subsequent self-destruction.
This isn’t even a ruin. It’s been reduced to nothing.
We have to build it from scratch.
No matter how much magical construction technology we have from the Lake Kingdom, it can’t be done in two months.
“And even if the wall was intact, it would be impossible to stop the Black Dragon.”
Even if we pour manpower and resources into rebuilding the wall.
Most heroes and soldiers won’t even be able to resist the Black Dragon’s transcendent power.
If they go to the battlefield, they will all be burned to death by the different level of power.
This was verified by the game data. In the battle against the Black Dragon, our numbers don’t matter.
In this situation, there’s no need to keep all the troops on edge. It’s better to give them some breathing room.
“If the Black Dragon advances to Crossroads in two months… we can’t stop him. Crossroads will burn, and the human realm will be destroyed.”
“…”
“So, there’s no reason to push hard to rebuild the wall. There’s no need for heroes and soldiers to train hard either. They’ll all be wiped out and die anyway if we try to defend.”
“Then what are you going to do?”
The Dusk Bringer, who had been staring at me as if she couldn’t believe it, gritted her teeth.
“Are you just going to sit idly by and offer your necks when the monsters come?”
“…No.”
I took a deep breath, adjusted my posture, and sat up straight in my chair.
“I wouldn’t do that, Your Grace. I won’t give up until the very last moment.”
“Then what? What are you going to do?”
“We’re going to invade.”
Now, I put my elbows on the desk, covered my mouth with my clasped hands, and spoke coldly.
“To kill the Black Dragon. Below the Lake Kingdom.”
“… !”
The Dusk Bringer’s shoulders trembled.
Yes. This is how I won against the Black Dragon in the game.
Give up on the hopeless defense and switch to an offensive strategy.
Invade the Evil Dragon’s lair and cut off his head.
That was the only way from the beginning.
“The Black Dragon… is an existence beyond standards. He’s far beyond the ordinary. You’ve met him, so you know.”
“…”
“Do you really have a way to kill him?”
“Of course, I do.”
Right after speaking with a lot of bravado, I corrected myself in front of the Dusk Bringer’s sharp gaze. Ahem!
“…I don’t have it now, but I know what we need to use to harm him.”
He’s a transcendent being, but he’s not invincible. There are several ways to harm him.
The strategy I’ve established is to directly attack him with equipment that can be obtained through any route.
‘Top-tier boss equipment, the Nightmare Slayer, can also damage him. But there’s an even more effective weapon…’
I called out its name.
“Dragon Slayer.”
“… !”
This word, meaning ‘Dragon Killer,’ refers to a weapon that kills dragons.
It also refers to a weapon made by killing a dragon.
There is a definite way to obtain this.
“Among the Black Dragon’s forces, only the Night Bringer is called a ‘Black Dragon,’ but it doesn’t mean there are no other members.”
Why is only the Night Bringer specifically called a ‘Black Dragon’ among the Black Dragon’s forces?
It’s because the others, except for the Night Bringer, are not as complete as their lord. They’re like incomplete Black Dragons.
‘The others are also terribly strong, though.’
They haven’t gone as far as the Night Bringer. If we squeeze our brains and struggle, we can still defeat them with our current squad.
‘When I first visited the ‘Fiery Colosseum,’ I defeated the Black Dragon’s daughter.’
Well, she was just a low-ranking member of the Black Dragon’s forces, with her blood diluted to the extreme.
Anyway, the explanation was long and rambling. To summarize the conclusion.
“So, Ash. Your plan is…”
“Yes.”
I explained calmly.
“We’ll kill the members of the Black Dragon’s forces, except for the Night Bringer, and make armor from their bones and skin, and forge weapons from their magic cores.”
“… !”
“And then, we’ll select the elite who can kill the Night Bringer, equip them with that gear, and attack below the lake to kill him.”
This is the overall strategy I’ll use against the Black Dragon’s forces. A standard tactic.
‘Of course, this alone isn’t enough…’
We need to secure as many means as possible.
It takes more time to secure these ‘means’… so we have to wait anyway.
“Now you know what kind of plan I have in mind, right?”
“…”
“Fighting according to this plan will ultimately be up to our elites, and they all need to recover.”
I looked at the bandages wrapped around the Dusk Bringer’s body. Even this Dragon Lady is injured. What more can be said about the condition of the other heroes?
“We’ve fought for too long, we’re too tired, and we’ve lost so much…”
“…”
“We need time to rest, Your Grace.”
Three weeks and a bit more.
Until the festival, I plan to give the heroes and soldiers a vacation.
Most likely, this will be the last vacation the World Protection Front can enjoy.
After this… whether we defeat the Black Dragon or not, we’ll have to fight until the moment the world is destroyed.
“You don’t have to worry too much. I’m not just going to let them rest. Do I look like a nice team owner? I’m a very ruthless lord.”
“…”
“We’ll steadily rebuild the wall, and we’ll also conduct basic training for the heroes and soldiers. I’m just letting them relax a bit, not giving up everything and partying.”
The Dusk Bringer looked at me with her sunken amber eyes. I smiled bitterly.
“However, at least in their hearts. They need to let go and rest. That’s why I decided to hold the festival.”
“…”
“Now that you’ve seen what’s in my head, how is it? Are you still not satisfied, Your Grace?”
The Dusk Bringer let out a long sigh…
Then, she smiled, revealing her sharp teeth.
“Ash. Do you remember the promise we made before?”
“Huh? What promise?”
“We agreed to compete for control of this front line, with me and my five guards… and you and your five guards.”
“Ah.”
That was the story when I first brought the Dusk Bringer to this front line.
We agreed to fight for control of this monster front line. But the story fizzled out when the Dusk Bringer gave in first while accepting refugees from the Bringer Principality.
“But why are you bringing up that promise now…?”
“Let’s do it.”
“Huh?”
“Let’s fulfill that promise from back then.”
With a flick, she spread her thin, bandaged arm to the side, and the Dragon King of the Evening Glow declared.
“It’s a declaration of war, young prince!”
“… !”
“A vacation until the festival, good. I and my knights, and my soldiers are also tired. We will enjoy the vacation to the fullest. I will not argue about this matter any further. However!”
The Dusk Bringer’s dragon eyes flashed fiercely.
“After that, when we go down below the Lake Kingdom… when we kill the Black Dragon’s minions, and when we invade the Night Bringer’s lair. I will take command then.”
“…”
“I am the Dusk Bringer. I am the sworn enemy of that Black Dragon, bound by fate, and we must fight and kill each other. I should be the one to command the operation to kill the Black Dragon.”
Why is it?
The Dusk Bringer, who is declaring war on me with a stronger attitude than ever before.
“Commander of the World Protection Front. I, the Dragon King of the Evening Glow, formally challenge you for the transfer of command!”
She looked smaller and more fragile than ever before.
“…”
After glancing at the silver crown on her head, which was damaged by the Black Dragon’s attack, I slowly nodded.
“Very well. Dragon Lady. I accept your challenge.”
Immediately, I grinned.
“It seems like… the rules for this year’s fall festival martial arts tournament have been decided.”
Five-person party. Team PVP [Player versus Player].
This year’s fall festival seems like it will be more exciting than ever.
I was still covering my mouth with my clasped hands, chuckling wickedly, and the Dusk Bringer was also spreading her arm to the side, laughing evilly.
Then, we stopped laughing at the same time.
We glared at each other and growled.
“I will never lose, you greenhorn brat prince… !”
“That’s what I should be saying. Your Grace, I don’t know where you’ve been eating your age… !”
The Dusk Bringer turned around and stormed out of my office.
As soon as I confirmed that she had left the mansion, I shouted into the hallway.
“Hey! Summon the entire main party right now!”
Lucas! Damian! Evangeline! Junior! Get over here-!
‘Vacation, my foot! It’s all canceled!’
It’s time for hell training, kyaak-!