The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 105

Having navigated the mountain range, a five-day stretch of red undulations, the scent of the sea grew stronger with each breath.

This was the Blade Peninsula, home to the Papal State.

Located in the southeastern part of the Arkrad continent, the terrain’s shape resembled a blade, hence the name Blade Peninsula.

The northern part of the peninsula, influenced by the mountain range and its continental climate, housed six city-states. To the south, the Dunos Dynasty, founded by hardy seafarers, held sway.

The Red Mountain Range to the north and the sea, which embraced the land on three sides, shaped the diverse lifestyles of the peninsula’s inhabitants.

A blessed land where mountains, plains, and sea harmoniously blended through distinct seasons; every time I saw it, I understood why so many artists were born here.

For example, the Harimun School, renowned for its sound-based techniques, also had its base here.

“Peach, look! This is the Blade Peninsula!”

“Blade, blade, blade.”

Kasena, whose heart always fluttered at the word ‘adventure,’ couldn’t contain her excitement upon entering the Blade Peninsula.

Over the three-day journey, she had become inseparable with Pipi (the Corn Divine Art was indeed potent), and they were constantly together, except when sleeping at the inn.

It was my second time here, but… I couldn’t help but smile wryly, remembering my own wide-eyed wonder from my first visit.

– Rin, this is the Blade Peninsula!

It was so different from the books… I was mesmerized by the scenery, thinking, ‘A place like this truly exists.’

– We’ll be meeting another companion soon, so be ready to greet them.

– Who is it?

Then, Friede, while playing with Pipi, exhaled cigarette smoke and chuckled.

– A very scary drunkard. If you mess with him like you do with me, you’ll get a good beating, you know?

I distinctly remember thinking that at the time. If the world were normal, how beautiful this peninsula would be….

‘I had hoped to see it properly this time.’

However, a heavy monsoon front, as if poised to swallow the sky, created an atmosphere eerily reminiscent of the world’s end 300 years ago, filling me with unease.

If it had rained, I would have been thrilled by the sight of the rainy peninsula, but for five days, the sky remained a gloomy, oppressive presence without releasing a single drop.

It was as if the world was waiting for something.

And perhaps it was my imagination, but the wild grass and trees, swept by the low summer breeze, seemed to tremble.

“What! Why do you still have that grumpy look on your face after coming all this way?”

“I’m sleepy.”

“Then sleep!”

“You told me not to sleep and to look around earlier….”

While we exchanged these pointless remarks, the carriage continued its journey for two days, finally reaching the city of the Divine Dragon, within the Papal Territory.

The wide stone bridge, easily accommodating ten four-horse carriages side-by-side, marked the border. On either side, majestic wyverns with gleaming golden scales stood guard.

Kasena, witnessing a scene straight out of a storybook, exclaimed ‘Wow’ and waved. The golden dragons responded by puffing air from their nostrils.

‘Seeing that the legion’s strength remains unchanged, there’s little to worry about, I suppose?’

My tension eased slightly. It seemed almost nothing had changed in 300 years….

I had two purposes for coming here.

To monitor Valencidice, and to take the opportunity to examine the note Rista had left on Rin’s corpse at Bel Querious.

‘But is there a barrier in the Papal State?’

There almost certainly is. A massive barrier that I wouldn’t even dare to try and interpret.

‘Then it might be hidden by that, and I might not be able to see my corpse….’

Should I interpret it and dispel it?

No, doing so would immediately brand me as a black magician, plunging me into the abyss. Should I wait until I graduate and see it officially….

But my curiosity was overwhelming. What on earth did Rista leave for me?

“You’re from the Page family.”

“We have been notified by the Cardinal.”

The guards conducting border crossing inspections in the middle of the stone bridge were all Dunos people.

Having received approval to establish their kingdom due to their unwavering loyalty to the Light Dragon, they had faithfully served as the Light Dragon’s henchmen to this day.

As the guards lowered their spears, the carriage resumed its journey… and after passing through the long border, the Tower of the Divine Dragon, the heart of the Papal State, came into view, piercing the sky.

“Wow….”

“Oh….”

Until now, Kasena had been the sole source of excitement, but this time, even Rein gaped in awe, mirroring Rin’s earlier reaction.

One of the seven holy sites established by the gods in this world, the Divine Dragon’s Nest [a sacred place] reaching towards the heavens, also known as the Sky Castle.

The elegant ivory-colored outer walls spiraled around the tower, disappearing into the distant clouds.

The Papal State boasted two hundred and thirteen floors (a feat of engineering that even the demi-humans marveled at), and at the very top, closest to the sun and moon, resided ‘the radiance that looks down on the world, the Light Dragon Haraderiman.’

After staring blankly at its majesty for nearly an hour, the carriage procession arrived at the Papal State, traversing the city.

The procession halted in front of the stables to the right of the entrance. The guardian knight of the Page family dismounted, and the Page family’s guards opened the carriage door.

Even the coachmen, receiving the reins from the soldiers and leading them into the stables, were guards clad in gleaming armor.

Kasena, who had been smiling with sparkling eyes, suddenly spoke in a voice tinged with faint memories.

“I used to have dreams often….”

“……?”

“Dreams of going directly to the Light Dragon and asking him to fix my legs… but I don’t need it anymore! Rein fixed them for me!”

Kasena chuckled innocently, but I could only shrug awkwardly. Did she learn some kind of black magic that tugged at people’s heartstrings when she smiled….

“You’ve arrived just in time, though it was a close call. The schedule will begin in 30 minutes. Would you like to prepare your vestments separately?”

A priest with a cold demeanor approached and inquired. Since wearing the uniform was customary, Kasena and I took turns changing our clothes inside the carriage.

Leaving the family guards behind (only those with permission could enter the Papal State), we followed the priest, and soon the main gate of the Papal State loomed before us.

On either side, about a hundred guards stood in formation, and at the end and center of that line stood Valencidice.

“……?”

Having only received notification of a special guest’s arrival and orders to await their entry, I wondered if our plan had been discovered. But what was this?

Valencidice, meeting Rein’s eyes, blinked in confusion, a stark contrast to his usual composure.

‘You shouldn’t be here right now…’ After requesting understanding from a nearby guard, which was closer to an order, I was about to rush towards Rein when it happened.

「Where are you going in such a hurry?」

An old man blocked Rein, who was preparing to tease Valencidice. At that moment, all the guards simultaneously knelt on one knee and prostrated themselves.

He was… too noble to be human, radiating a halo. The skin on his arms, visible beneath the fluttering sleeves, was covered in golden scales like a dragon.

Above all, majestic golden horns rose from his head, and a long, elegant dragon tail extended from beneath his robes, wriggling gently.

“……!”

While some writhed in embarrassment and others in awe, only one boy smiled brightly and called his name softly.

“Yoshhar… ?”

If there had been priests or guards nearby, they would have undoubtedly raised their spears, denouncing it as blasphemy.

Why wouldn’t they?

The figure before them was the True Dragon Yoshhar, one of the five cardinals of the Papal State.

Yoshhar, the individual in question, chuckled and exchanged glances with Pipi perched on Kasena’s head, then simply gestured for Rein to follow him.

‘What is going on…?’

‘The Cardinal himself…?’

It was an unprecedented situation, and everyone present blinked in disbelief, but no one dared to question the Cardinal’s actions.

* * *

Dragonkin often assumed human forms to approach humans in a friendly manner, avoiding fear.

This was known as Dragon Personification [the act of a dragon taking on a human form].

The wyverns, being the most numerous and of the lowest rank, possessed appearances quite similar to humans. True Dragons, however, exhibited distinct features, making their Dragon Person form easily identifiable.

Like Yoshhar before my eyes.

「Many things have changed, but the bond of your soul remains the same as it was 300 years ago, Rin.」

Guided by Yoshhar, Rein entered a deserted prayer room on the first floor and nearly collapsed, stunned.

“You knew….”

It was a different kind of shock and emotion than when I had reunited with Pipi.

We weren’t close enough to share tears of reunion, but if Rista had been here instead of me, she might have broken down.

Yoshhar was like a father to Rista. Having nurtured that soul’s power, it was no exaggeration to say he was a spiritual father.

「The Great Light Dragon, Haraderiman, knows everything. Even that you came here at the age of nine and regained your memories.」

It was something I had anticipated, but hearing it confirmed was still shocking. He must possess tremendous divine power.

“Then, did you perhaps send me this too…?”

Taking out Rin’s diary, one of the few personal items I had brought on this journey, Yoshhar nodded.

「I, Yoshhar, did it. The Light Dragon opposed it, though.」

“Why?”

Yoshhar, who had maintained his majestic smile since our meeting, suddenly gazed towards the window, where golden dragons were depicted in a colorful mosaic pattern.

「It is to allow you to prepare.」

“For what?”

「Do you know? The age of dragons is coming to an end.」

“……?”

「The Light Dragon’s divine power is not what it used to be. Something unknown… a powerful abyss is veiling the Light Dragon’s eyes.」

A powerful abyss capable of corrupting the Light Dragon’s divine power? Understanding the gravity of that statement, a chill ran down my spine.

“I caught a few black magicians. They all had my face… do you perhaps know their identity?”

「I know, but I cannot answer.」

“Why?”

「Because your tender heart cannot yet bear that truth.」

The truth?

What truth could it be?

No, wait. Now that I’ve met Yoshhar like this, it seemed like many things could be easily resolved.

“Yoshhar, Rista left me a letter, didn’t she? Is that right?”

As I asked, I felt my heart clench. I feared something, and a deep sadness welled up within me.

What if there was no letter?

Even if there was a letter.

Could I, who failed to keep my promise, ever bear the weight of Rista’s emotions, Rista who kept her promise until death?

After a brief silence, Yoshhar nodded slowly.

「That is so.」

My lips felt parched.

Rolling my tongue, pronouncing each word felt agonizingly slow.

“Can I see it now?”

I expected to be led somewhere and tensed up, but Yoshhar shook his head with sad eyes.

「It is not possible.」

“……?”

「This is something the Light Dragon has forbidden; even I, Yoshhar, cannot dare to violate it.」

I felt as if I had been slapped, and my mind went blank.

“Why? Why?!”

「He foresaw a future where a disaster would befall the world when you confront your old body.」

What was he saying? I couldn’t see the letter?

I felt utterly drained, on the verge of collapse.

Then what was the point of entering the academy? Was there any reason to maintain my top rank until my third year? It felt as if the string that had been guiding my lonely life had been severed.

「However, I, Yoshhar, can allow you to meet Rista.」

Rein, who had been staring blankly at the ground, suddenly snapped his head up, doubting his ears.

Rista?

Meet Rista?

For a moment, I was so confused that I couldn’t even speak. But my mouth opened on its own, stammering.

“What did you say…?”