Ch.194Dream (4)

# Dawn Guardian Subjugation Battle

Before the approaching dawn, we made our plan.

It wasn’t elaborate enough to truly deserve being called a plan, but…

For quick resolution, we distributed roles according to each person’s strengths.

The Lord and I would head to the central plaza to hunt the “Seed.”

Meanwhile, Neria would deal with the specters in the outskirts.

It was a classic diversion tactic.

‘Despite our overwhelming advantage… I shouldn’t let my guard down.’

The situation favored the enemy.

Thanks to the underground city’s geographical features, the Dawn Guardian’s weaknesses were completely compensated for.

Not only that, it was accumulating energy from citizens trapped in nightmares.

The Seed charging from countless living batteries.

The Dawn Guardian was approaching Phase 3.

‘How annoying.’

Normally, this would have taken at least a month.

However, the kingdom as a stage created perfect synergy with the Dawn Guardian.

The nightmares mixed into the city were ready to fully bloom in just one day.

As mentioned in the original work, a Phase 3 Dawn Guardian is considered nearly invincible.

Unless specific conditions are met, it reaches a level where subjugation becomes impossible.

Even for someone like the Lord, it would be a formidable opponent.

‘They’ve prepared quite thoroughly.’

Perhaps the kingdom was destined to collapse today.

The Lord would certainly dominate in battle, but the cultists would have won the war.

It seems Baob’s side had really sharpened their teeth.

‘Well… it doesn’t matter anymore.’

I mutter while adjusting my sleeve.

Before my eyes, the remnants of brutally torn specters were floating.

We step forward, dealing with the approaching specters one by one.

Forms burst apart at the casual flick of my fingertips.

“Hmm.”

Have the cultists been doing research all this time?

The chimeras taking the form of specters seemed much more troublesome than before.

They were at a level that could easily devour ordinary Academy students.

Of course, they were still just morsels to us.

I lightly flick my finger.

“The cultists have improved significantly.”

Slash-!

Following that, one of the specters circling around disappears.

Not even a trace of Demonic Energy remained there.

Only the faint smell of blood lingered.

“Tsk tsk… How brutal.”

“That’s rich coming from you.”

I scan behind the Lord.

Behind his leisurely tone, a blazing light was hidden.

All the specters were thoroughly scorched.

The old man speaks with a slight hum.

“Chimeras… these seem quite useful in their own way.”

“It seems Baob’s side hasn’t just been playing around.”

“After resolving this situation, perhaps the kingdom should make things like these too.”

“You’re saying things you don’t mean. Someone who radiates killing intent at the mere sight of Demonic Energy, let alone chimeras.”

“Isn’t that description a bit too violent? I’m an open-minded person.”

“Perhaps we should put down the head in your hand before continuing this conversation?”

“Oh my.”

The old man casually puts down the head.

The flesh that had been sizzling in his hand bursts like a balloon when it touches the ground.

The floor around us was covered with intestines and brain matter that had spilled out.

They were all black magicians who had charged at us.

A smile never left the Lord’s face.

I couldn’t help but fill my calm gaze with contempt.

“…Your tastes are quite something.”

“Why don’t you try it yourself?”

“I respectfully decline.”

“You could decline rudely too, I wouldn’t mind. But it’s a shame you don’t know this true satisfaction.”

“I suppose it’s fortunate that your terrible taste only activates against cultists.”

“Isn’t this also love? A heart dedicated only to them.”

“The Church would grab the back of their necks if they heard that.”

Meaningless small talk passes between us.

Yet, our steps busily cross through the city.

Perhaps thanks to Neria drawing the attention of the specters on her side.

We were able to advance without any particular obstacles.

“I feel disappointed though.”

“Hmm?”

While tearing apart another specter, the old man running beside me suddenly speaks.

The unsettling smile from before had somewhat subsided.

“I wanted to have a conversation with that child after so long.”

“…Surely you’re not talking about the Vice Captain.”

“Who else would I be talking about?”

“Ha.”

“My, what a frightening look.”

“You seem to lack a bit of shame.”

“Shame, conscience… those are just empty formalities for the weak.”

“You show not even a hint of guilt for what you did to Neria.”

I furrow my brow.

During the time when Neria was known by the epithet “Disloyalty.”

The Lord subjected the girl, who was only 11 years old, to severe torture and brainwashing.

All for the purpose of controlling her and making her his subordinate.

He was clearly a villain by position.

“Is that really necessary?”

However, the old man didn’t hesitate to answer.

“You sometimes expect too much from villains. I wonder if you’re mistaking me for some kind of helper.”

“……”

He wasn’t wrong.

The Lord was neither a helper, nor a comrade, not even a friend.

The role assigned to him by this world was simply that of a villain.

He was just being true to himself.

“Let me give you one piece of advice.”

“……”

“Don’t trust anything too much. You’ll certainly be betrayed.”

“By ‘anything’… I suppose that includes you as well.”

“Of course. You never know when I might stab you in the back.”

“When that time comes, I’ll personally kill you.”

“That’s the most welcome thing I’ve heard.”

The Lord laughs slyly.

His snake-like golden eyes still made his intentions unreadable.

We simply continued running through the specters.

“Well, it ended up sounding like a joke… but I’m serious about not trusting.”

“It didn’t sound like a joke at all. But what exactly are you telling me to distrust so much?”

“There are various things. People, situations, beliefs… sometimes even faith itself.”

“What a healthy teaching, to distrust everything in the world.”

“I’m not saying distrust. I’m saying don’t be certain.”

“That sounds like mere wordplay to me.”

“Heh heh… perhaps it is.”

Bang-!

The old man bursts the head of the specter he was holding.

The blazing light burns even the Demonic Energy.

The Lord brushes off the scattered remains.

He continues speaking tirelessly.

“For instance… yes, the Academy.”

“You’re suddenly bringing up the Academy.”

“Just hear me out.”

Sharp sarcasm in response.

However, the Lord showed not even a hint of wavering.

“Haven’t you ever wondered?”

“Wondered what?”

“That child… Neria was living in a remote northern frontier. A village located geographically opposite to the kingdom. How could the kingdom have discovered her? A child who had been hiding for years.”

“……”

“Who could have tipped them off about her existence?”

“…No way.”

“Gaston Gallimar.”

A name returns, confirming my suspicion.

A name all too familiar.

I momentarily lose my composure.

“Gallimar Academy. More precisely, its headmaster.”

“The headmaster… you mean he leaked information about Neria?”

“Didn’t I advise you? Don’t be certain.”

Faith is such a futile thing.

The Lord adds quietly.

On the other hand, I had unresolved questions.

I wanted to ask him about them, but the Lord who was running ahead stopped.

We had arrived at the central plaza.

“Let’s leave the details for you to hear from the person involved… shouldn’t we prioritize the situation at hand?”

“…Let’s do that. The conversation can wait until after we’re done.”

“If we survive this place.”

“What a pointless joke.”

Before us stood a purple structure.

A structure that was grotesquely writhing in the shape of a heart.

It was about 30 meters tall.

A subtle light enveloped the surroundings.

“What an unpleasant appearance.”

“I agree.”

None other than the Seed.

Inside it would be filled with people’s accumulated nightmares.

The structure looked precarious, as if it might explode at any moment.

We each draw up our output and light.

Step, step-.

Footsteps approaching the Seed.

In front of the squirming heart stands a shadow.

A woman wearing a neatly draped blood-red veil.

She had her hands clasped as if in prayer.

“.uoy dnuof evah I ,sbmal tsoL”

An eerie, reversed echo.

Through the fragmented words, I could barely understand the meaning.

The Dawn Guardian. It seemed she had been waiting for us to arrive.

The Lord sneers at her audacity.

“Hmm… what a bold woman.”

Despite the killing intent pressing down on the area, the woman continues her prayer.

But through the veil, I could feel her gaze.

Eyes steeped in blood and evil.

“.rats nettogrof eht ,■■■■”

Boldly pronouncing four characters.

It wasn’t surprising anymore.

Like the other apostles, this one must know too.

I don’t know how they know that name, but…

I retort with a hint of emotion.

“It seems the apostles know me. I never dreamed I’d be so popular among vermin.”

“.uoy wonk lliw eH .ecruos lanigiro eht ton era uoY .soahc laidromirp fo sbmal tsoL”

“Well… with that distorted voice, it’s not easy to understand you.”

“.dlrow eht etaercer lliw ecnesse dna ecnatsbus ruO”

Swish-.

A breeze circles around the woman.

I was simply watching.

The atmosphere was ominous.

The pulsating Seed’s beats slowed, and cracks began to form on its surface.

Through the cracks, pitch-black darkness was slowly seeping out.

The Dawn Guardian gradually rises from her kneeling position.

“.sgniht lla fo rehtaF .doG ym ,hA”

The noise subsides.

Silence settles.

The meditation is like a lullaby.

Grotesque yet cozy, alive yet like death.

Purple flashes beside the Dawn Guardian.

I knew about this precursor.

“.ereh si dlrow eht rof denitsed enO ehT”

The Seed germinating, the Dawn Guardian on the verge of awakening.

It seems time was on their side.

Madness-filled joy shines.

“,thgin lufgnol eht htiw eldarc eht lliF”

Thwack-!

The Lord, sensing something wrong, belatedly strikes the ground.

Intense light cuts through the darkness, piercing straight through the woman’s heart.

But.

“.lufituaeb os ,hA”

The Dawn Guardian, perfectly alive.

The invincibility judgment had been applied.

That meant their Phase 3 had begun.

Meeting the woman’s eyes, the Lord smiles as if in dismay.

“Oh my…”

“.thgin laidromirp eht ,emoC”

—-!

The heavily cracked Seed finally explodes.

Following that, a black mist surges like a tsunami.

It embraces the moment and brings darkness.

The last thing I hear is the woman’s lullaby.

“.peels ot og ,sbmal tsoL”

The next moment.

The world covered in pitch-black uniformly goes dark.

Consciousness rapidly fading away.

The Lord collapses in place.

Thud-.

It was no different for me.

Suddenly on my knees, with consciousness barely holding.

I didn’t resist the gradually crumbling consciousness.

I simply muttered with drooping eyelids.

A single phrase of satisfaction.

‘According to plan.’

A smile flickers on my lips.

The primary objective I had set when coming to support the kingdom.

It was the moment when my solitary plan was realized without the slightest deviation.

I closed my eyes.

‘Neria.’

Thinking of the girl who would be left alone.

I completely let go of consciousness.