Chapter 112 – Master (1)

Solitude.

The venom of countless venomous creatures, sealed together in a single vessel, forced to devour each other until only one remained, its poison the culmination of all.

The world was a crucible of solitude.

Trapped within, unable to escape, forced to wage a brutal war until all other races perished.

The Age of Chaos.

That was our era. And we clung to existence with feral desperation.

The Demons, for the descent of their Evil God.
The Angels, for the descent of their Heavenly God.
The Humans, for the descent of their Sun God.
The Elves, for the revival of their homeland.
The Dwarves, to preserve their heaven-sent technology.
The Spirits, for the World Tree.

And we, for survival.

Amidst wars fueled by ambition and avarice, we carved a path of victory, expanding our territory.

By the time I became Grand General, we ruled the central continent.

But the war raged on.

As if stoked by some unseen hand, a new upheaval emerged.

Unique powers began to manifest—the ability to materialize one’s inner essence into the world.

No one knew the reason.

The will of a world reveling in conflict?
The culmination of unchecked greed and ambition?
The death throes of a dying world?

The answer remained elusive.

But we knew what we had to do with this newfound power: end the war, and survive.

And so, another great war erupted.

The Demons’ dark energy sharpened.
The Angels’ wings soared higher.
The Dwarves’ cannons blazed hotter.
The Elves’ spells blanketed the earth.
The Spirits’ magic raged.
Humanity’s advancement became unstoppable.
Our fangs grew longer, sharper.

It began with the Angels, their white feathers raining down as they incinerated the Dwarves’ cannons. Then the Demons joined the fray, shattering the Angels’ wings. The Elves erased the Demons’ dark energy. The Spirits consumed the Elves’ territories.

We, too, entered the carnage, tearing at throats and rending flesh, leaving no race unscathed.

And when the cannons lay silent, the feathers settled upon the earth, the dark energy dissipated, the forests burned to ash, and the Spirits retreated to the World Tree…

…the Dragons awoke.

Their magic was more potent than the Demons’.
Their wings, stronger than the Angels’.
Their breath, hotter than the Dwarves’ cannons.
Their words, more potent than the Elves’ spells.
Their ancient magic, more intricate than the Spirits’.
Their bodies, tougher than our own.

With their overwhelming power, they scorched the continents and silenced the skies.

And we fought them.

We tore at their scales, ripped their muscles. We leaped skyward, defying their magic and words, carving scars into their hides.

The blood of my kin became my armor. The blood of my enemies, my weapon.

But we couldn’t kill them. We weren’t strong enough.

As we fell, one by one…

…Humanity, who had been quietly amassing their strength, rose up, united under the banner of the Sword of Victory.

They neutralized the Dragons’ magic, deflected their breath, shattered their words and ancient spells.

But Humanity, bound to the earth, could not reach the Dragons who ruled the sky.

We could.

With our powerful bodies, we could reach them.

And so, we made a pact with Humanity. A simple promise: when the war ended and peace returned, they would ensure the survival of our remaining kin. A small, easily broken vow.

But I believed in them.

And I soared into the sky.

To rip the wings from those arrogant beasts. To crush their smug faces into the dirt. For the survival of my proud kin.

Smiling fiercely, I threw myself into the crucible of solitude.

Srrrk. Srrrkk.

The soft sensation enveloping me stirred me from a hazy slumber.

“Mmm…”

Rustle. Rustle.

“St-stop…”

Srrrk. Rustle.

“Ahh… T-tickles…”

Brush. Brush.

“Hee… Hya! That tickles!”

Something soft and fluffy nuzzled against my back, urging me awake.

What is…?

[Sleep well?]

“Mm…?”

[You were supposed to faint for a bit. Not a whole week.]

Cartia’s voice, laced with uncharacteristic concern, echoed in my mind.

“…A week…?”

[A week. Didn’t even stir. I guess I can’t blame you. After all that…trauma…fighting like a rabid dog…it’s understandable.]

“…Huh?”

[This won’t do. Doggie, slap her awake.]

Rustle. Srrrk.

“Huh?”

Rustle. Smack!

“Ow! What the—?!”

[What else? Your pet dog.]

“Dog…? Oh…Carpeng?”

Wiggle. Wiggle.

A tail wagged enthusiastically between my thighs, tickling relentlessly.

[He was incredibly protective while you were out. Wouldn’t let anyone but Rubia near you.]

The diligently wagging tail stretched out and brushed against my neck. Oddly soft, fluffy, and warm…

“Fur…?”

Rustle. Rustle.

“Hm…? No?”

Srrrk.

“So…it’s just your energy mimicking fur…?”

Carpeng’s energy quivered, then vibrated intensely.

Srrrk. Srrrk. Srrrk.

A vigorous affirmation.

[Well, look at that. You two are communicating now?]

“It’s not like that…it’s just a feeling… Anyway, where’s my greatsword…?”

Swoosh. Clatter. Clink.

“Uh…th-thanks…?”

The blood energy, as if it were nothing, dissipated with a soft rustle.

[What did it just say?]

“Um…something like, ‘It’s nothing…’”

[Huh…Yeah, I guess so…]

Still slightly dazed, I gripped the greatsword Carpeng had retrieved. The room snapped into focus.

A luxurious inn room, a large, comfortable bed. A crackling fireplace on the far wall. A plate of meticulously arranged apple slices, shaped like bunnies, on the nightstand. And in the corner, my clothes, neatly folded.

“Huh…”

Clothes…? Folded…?

“Wait…why are my clothes…? How…?”

[They were torn to shreds, filthy, and full of holes. They were repaired. Why the blush?]

“Oh…r-right…”

My face flushed again. I burrowed deeper under the covers.

“But…um…where’s Rubia?”

[Oh, about that. She’s—]

“You said I’d wake up in paradise…”

The blanket was soft and comfortable against my bare skin. The aroma from the nearby table was pleasant. The crackling fireplace was soothing.

It was…nice.

But being held in Rubia’s arms was more than nice. Her scent was intoxicating. The sound of her soft, sometimes uneven breaths, the steady beat of her heart—that was paradise.

I’d expected to wake up in her embrace, as usual.

“Hmm…”

I considered expanding my senses, but hesitated. If I saw her, chatting and smiling as if nothing had happened, I’d probably just feel worse.

[She was just here.]

“Don’t lie… The blanket barely smells like her…”

[Whoa…you can even tell that? Is that some kind of Carpeng-related kinship thing?]

“No, it’s not…”

I tossed the greatsword aside and pulled the covers over my head.

A faint trace of Rubia’s scent lingered. She’d been gone for maybe three hours.

[Anyway, about Rubia—]

“It’s…it’s fine.”

[No, listen—]

“No.”

[Are you sulking?]

“No.”

[Fine, be that way. But you’ll regret not hearing this.]

“Still no.”

I curled up, hugging my knees. Something felt…empty.

I wanted something to hold. The pillow was too small, the greatsword too cold…

Rustle.

“…Huh?”

Rustle. Rustle.

“A tail…?”

Srrrk.

“…You want to be hugged?”

Wiggle. Wiggle.

A tail suddenly materialized, wrapping around my legs and wagging enthusiastically.

“…Can you be a little warmer…?”

The tip tilted, then straightened as the tail gradually grew warmer.

“Oh…ohhh…”

I poked it with my finger, then stroked it gently, finally pulling it into a loose embrace.

It didn’t feel exactly like fur, but it was warm and comforting.

…Fine.

Rubia can have her fun. I’ll play with the tail and Cartia.

[I’m not playing with you.]

…Just the tail, then.

Cartia scoffed.

[By the way, that artifact you asked Serr for is under the bed.]

“Oh? Really…?”

[Yeah. She went through a lot of trouble to magically conceal it, even though you asked her to keep it a secret.]

“Ooh…!”

I immediately abandoned the tail and threw back the covers. The tail drooped dejectedly before vanishing.

Unfazed, I crouched by the bed and grabbed the greatsword.

Just as Cartia had said, a faint magical shimmer emanated from beneath the bed. A box, barely perceptible even with focused senses.

“Finally…!”

[You put the Tylant Fragment in there, right?]

“Yes!”

[So? Another bracelet? A ring, maybe?]

“Hee hee… Want to see…?”

[The way you’re asking makes me not want to.]

“Ugh, rude…”

I stuck my tongue out at Cartia’s ghostly form, then turned back to the box.

It required two hands to open. Reluctantly, I set the greatsword down and grabbed the box.

“Alright… Here we go… Drumroll, please…”

A tingle on my wrist indicated Carpeng’s return, curiosity piqued.

I continued the “drumroll,” drawing out the suspense until…

…Cartia sighed in exasperation. Just as I opened the box with a click.

[Wait… What the—]

“Ta-da! It’s a necklace!”

I held it up triumphantly.

But…hadn’t I heard another click besides the box?

Just my imagination.

[Noah, your greatsword—]

“So? What do you think? See, it even has Rubia’s name engraved. Usually, that spot’s for the owner’s name, but I guess they do things differently here… Anyway, the design is exactly what I— Oh, right. The greatsword. The greatsword.”

I assumed the design would be to my specifications, but…

…it was always best to double-check.

I reached for the greatsword.

And then…

“Huh… Rubia…? When did you…?”

There she stood, a blank expression on her face.

She stared at me for a moment, then reached for my wrist.

Clink.

“What…what is this…?”

[Oh, fuck.]

Not a soft, fur-lined bracelet…

“…Handcuffs…?”

She’d handcuffed me.

And as she did…

…my strength drained away.

The Bracelet of Verdure…

Clatter.

…slipped from my wrist and fell to the floor.