The Villain has Perished



Before Baizamu could continue to pester Sol, his personal servants came and took him away. 

This wasn't the first time Baizamu was creating a commotion in a drunk state. 

So, fortunately or unfortunately, Baizamu's servants were trained in the art of extracting him before he could do irreversible damage.

Cluck—!

The servants placed Baizamu on the bed and left the room after making sure he was asleep. 

Suddenly, a magic circle appeared on the floor inside the room. Its function was to detect and terminate any eavesdropping devices inside the room.

A few seconds later, Baizamu woke up. However, his demeanor was unlike the useless, lecherous prince everyone knew about. 

He spoke in a cold and authoritative tone.

"How are the preparations?"

A shadow appeared inside the room. Its arrival was so natural that one would think it had been there since the beginning.

"The preparations are almost done, my lord."

Klein, the true identity of the shadow, looked at Baizamu who was now training inside the room. 

Baizamu no longer seemed drunk. His actions of training during his free time showed his diligent nature, which was contrary to the title he was famous for 'The Genius Deadbeat'.

Shaking his head, Klein opened his mouth. "My lord, was it okay to reveal the information to the second son of Duke Lionel?"

Baizamu had secretly placed a slip inside Sol's pocket when he was talking to him. It didn't look like Sol had noticed, but he would sooner or later find the slip and read its content.

"It doesn't matter. I don't think the white knight and the black fiend can help us. However, it doesn't hurt to try. After all…."

Taking a deep breath, Baizamu retracted his Saint rank pressure.

"Tonight, the Illusive Dragon King will take over the Imperial Capital."

…

..

.

'...What?'

I re-read the words written on the slip that I found in my right pocket.

———

The Illusive Dragon King is planning to attack the Imperial Capital.

———

'The one who slipped this inside my pocket was Baizamu.'

It didn't take me long to reach this conclusion.

Baizamu was a genius. He must've noticed Setsuna's behavior changed suddenly a few weeks back when she regained her memories. 

She then entered the Holy Knight Order. 

Why would Setsuna join the Holy Knight Order when she had the Imperial Knight Order and the Imperial Army under her command?

To gain freedom. 

Joining the Holy Knight Order would allow her surveillance-free movement. Baizamu would've realized Setsuna was searching for something, or someone.

Later, Setsuna brought me and Jae-sung to the palace.

'In short, Setsuna's careless actions attracted the attention of a troublesome person.'

I thought while going through my soul book and checking my stats.

Invasion of Illusive Dragon King?

I don't know why the prince was telling me about this, but there was no way this bluff would work on me. 

My actions couldn't have brought a butterfly effect of this magnitude. 

After all, the location of the dragon kings' seals were not even told in the novel, and to open their seal one would need to have the strength of Emperor rank at the minimum.

The dragon kings were themselves at peak King rank. 

It didn't make sense for an Emperor rank, a being with continental level strength, to go out of their way to help someone who could blow up a city or two with their strongest attack at best.

'Baizamu is probably trying to stir a reaction from me.'

If I hadn't read the novel, I would've believed Baizamu. Too bad bud, you are out of luck.

"Sir Sol?"

Jae-sung called out to me. While I was checking my soul book on Floor 0, to him I would have appeared as staring into empty air.

When I left Floor 0, he passed me a note.

"This is a letter Lady Setsuna told me to give you after you wake up."

"Where is she?" I asked while taking the note from his hands.

"She said she is going to take the treasure in the Forest of Silence."

'...!'

Instantly, my nerves jumped but I remained calm outwardly and asked Jae-sung.

"When did she leave?"

"...Four days ago."

I felt like cursing. Four days ago meant she should've already entered the Port. However, I recalled something.

I could track Setsuna roughly if I concentrated. And that was what I did.

Closing my eyes, I tried to focus on the soul bond I could feel deep inside my mind.

It didn't take long for a reaction to come. I could sense the direction of her current location.

'She hasn't entered the Port yet.'

The Port connects to other dimensions. I wouldn't have been able to sense her if she had entered the Port.

'I don't know why she is doing this, but I need to stop her.'

Jae-sung and I could clear the Port due to our unique abilities. However, Setsuna didn't have anything like that. She would definitely die if she set foot in that world.

"Sir Sol, before you leave, you should read the note Lady Setsuna left."

Narrowing my eyes, I read the note's content. It only had one line written on it so it wouldn't take long.

———

The Dragon Kings have awakened.

———

"..."

While I was frozen stiff, Jae-sung opened his mouth.

"A few days ago, a report came in. The Capital of the Caliburn Kingdom has been erased from the map. A strange mist has covered the entirety of the Kingmaker Kingdom and enslaved its people. While the Haltozai Kingdom has disappeared completely."

Earlier I believed that Baizamu knew of the dragon king from a history book. 

But from Jae-sung's explanation, I could tell which dragon king attacked which kingdom. There was no way a history book had such detailed explanations of their abilities. 

Moreover, there was Setsuna's note.

She must've left it knowing I wouldn't believe that dragon kings have awakened so early. 

I finally understood why she left in a hurry. 

The only way of having a fighting chance against the Dragon King of Light was inside the Port connecting to the World of Ancients. Setsuna left to get it.

A sigh escaped my lips. 

'I see. So, this is the reason behind everything.'

Jae-sung didn't regress, dragon kings awakened months earlier, I was caught on Baizamu's radar, the horror story where Jae-sung was talking about an evil god inside me.

But looking at everything again, I realized what was happening.

'This is a dream. I'm having a bad dream.'