Episode 822 World Conference (6)
Dragon Sword, Magras.
The first sword made of dragon, said to have been created by an old dwarf who used up all the large quantity of dragon bones he found by chance one day.
The history of over a thousand years ago is like a tattered mess, damaged and worn down again, yet nevertheless, the records of the Dragon Sword remain in the history handed down.
The dwarves, coveting special technology, and the humans and beastmen, desiring immense power, repeatedly competed over the Dragon Sword for a time.Then, about 800 years ago, the Dragon Sword completely disappeared from history.
As expected, although the exact circumstances are unknown, the story that he disappeared after being swept up in the war of the transcendents was considered the accepted theory.
This is the known whereabouts of the Dragon Sword, Magras.
Going deeper, according to the records annihilated by the Ruas Theocracy, Emperor Xerion possessed the Dragon Sword, but even the first Necromancer, a party to the War of the Transcendents, did not know where it went afterward.
But that Dragon Sword was discovered right now, of all times?
Verden pushed the gray hair that was shimmering before his eyes to the side.
It is such a coincidence.
It is to think that the ancient king’s weapons have been mentioned at the point where his body parts have fallen into the hands of the Ruas Theocracy and the Glory of the Corpse, respectively.
“Could it be that the Leader of the Iderat Alliance has some kind of connection to the Glory of the Dead… No, if that were the case, there would have been no reason to reveal the information in the first place. It is most advantageous to get my hands on the Dragon Sword without anyone knowing.”
I do not want to dismiss this as mere coincidence, but there are no suspicious circumstances at the moment.Even if I gather clues and speculate, there is absolutely no significant connection between the Iderat Confederation and the Glory of the Dead.
If that had been the case, the Ruas Theocracy and the Darkwarton Magic Tower would have moved long ago.The First Necromancer, who had been operating behind the scenes, also gave no prior notice.
I have no choice but to listen to what they have to say for now.
Questions poured in from all corners of the Senate and the House of Representatives directed at League Leader Iderat.Some tilted their heads in confusion.
“To think you’ve found the whereabouts of the Dragon Sword.”“M-Magras? What is that…?”“No, you mean that legend was real?”“Heh.”“A sword that disappeared 800 years ago.”“…….”
While quite a few people knew about the Dragon Sword, there were also quite a few who did not. How many people would be willing to take a deep interest in a span of 800 years?Those who valued only reality wore troubled expressions at the enthusiastic reactions around them.
The Ruas Theocracy and the Darkwarton Magic Tower showed a calm reaction, but Verden and Adrian noticed the interest they could not hide.
Even though the Provider did not step forward, the atmosphere quieted down on its own.The attendees had also already adapted to the world conference.
“As I mentioned earlier, I have not yet secured the Dragon Sword, Magras. I haven’t even seen the actual thing. If I had, I wouldn’t have gone out of my way to reveal it publicly, haha. Nevertheless, the reason I can tell you this is because I have valid grounds.”
Iderat, the leader of the federation, cast his gaze toward the entrance.
I will now escort the witness.
If you notify the organizer of the world conference in advance, you can bring in a reference person to support your opinion regarding minor and representative agendas.
The door to the main conference room opens.
An old man in sophisticated attire walked in, supporting himself with a cane. The chain hanging from his elegant glasses jingled.
Verden was a figure I was seeing for the first time, but his physical features were not particularly unfamiliar. Anyone well-versed in celebrities recognized who he was at a glance.
The Magic Lord, Celester Raven, and the President of the Magic Association of the Magic City Virente, Orders Evendra, opened their eyes wide in surprise.
“Lennon Bernard…….”“To think the author would come to a place like this.”
Only then did Verden realize the old man’s true identity.
Indeed, is that old man a world-class appraiser?
A figure from the magical world who left an assessment of the [Second Circuit], the artificial artifact of the Bohemian Magic Tower that Verden used to achieve the Reversal of Heaven.Lennon Bernard’s professional explanation and handwritten signature, placed in the bottom right corner of the [Second Circuit]’s storage box, still remain in memory.
“I heard he has a reputation for being unrivaled not only in magical items and artifacts but also in archaeology. Furthermore, since he never stays in one place and always wanders, he is not a mysterious figure you can find just by wanting to.”
I wondered what connection Lennon Bernard had with the Iderat Alliance Leader that he appeared as a witness.There were more than a few things I was curious about besides the Dragon Sword.
… … Swoosh.
Lennon Bernard, standing in the center, slowly spun around once. His eyes behind his glasses took in the attendees from the House and the Senate.
“Some I am seeing for the first time, and others for the first time in a long while. Transcendents, humans, elves, beastmen, and dwarves. It is good to see you all. I am Lennon Bernard, here as a reference for the Dragon Sword, Magras. I have made appraisal my profession my entire life.”“It is surprising. To think you would show your face at an official event.”
Lennon Bernard smiled as he saw the artificial eye filling the right eye of Medrant Keden, the Lord of the Ostea Magic Tower, and stroked the beard that reached down to his neck.
“If it is worth it, I may show myself anywhere. This content will suit the tastes of the Ostea Magic Tower very well… Now then, may I speak toward the World Council?”“Do so.”
The Provider affirmed.
Whether he was more impatient than he looked, or simply disliked wasting time, Lennon Bernard got straight to the point before anyone could stop him.
“Several years ago, I received a commission from the Iderat Confederation to decipher an ancient document. It was written in a script that is particularly difficult even among ancient languages, and it was damaged and distorted in many places, making it little more than a rag. However, I ultimately succeeded in interpreting it… In that sense, let me ask you.”
Lennon Bernard took out a very old piece of paper from his pocket.
“Do you believe in prophecy?”
* * *
“prophecy?”
The oath-taker frowned at the unwelcome word.
What is prophecy?
Generally, the essence of fatalism is that the cause and effect of everything are predetermined, and prophecy is precisely the act of glimpsing that destiny.Astrology, which involves observing the stars, and divination, which predicts the future through various peculiar methods, are also branches of prophecy.
And the Oath-taker, Yurion, does not believe in fatalism. Any transcendent being would be the same. This is because they consider themselves pioneers.
“About 400 years ago, there was a poet and prophet named Baaren Moru. Most of you probably don’t know him. His abilities as a seer were exceptional, but he was busy crossing between the Beastmen and Human factions, and they say he died young before he even reached the age of thirty.”“Ah, Baaren Moru. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard that name.”
The Water King stroked the wolf’s jaw.It was an unexpected reaction.
Lennon Bernard let out a hollow laugh.
“Does the Water King know about this as well?”“I have encountered it in the legends of the former king. It is said that a young human named Baaren Moru displayed astonishing foresight for the Beastmen, helping them avert various dangers. And he did so by composing poetry. He even went so far as to foresee the war between the races that would take place 100 years later.”
King Su grinned.
“So he was killed by the former king. Advice is one thing, but he crossed the line. They say the Beastkin eventually submit to some being of human origin.”“…….”“They say his corpse was shared and eaten by some Beastkin who coveted his precognitive powers. Well, naturally, there was no way one could have gained such abilities just by consuming blood and flesh.”
In the distant past, a very small number of beastmen practiced cannibalism.It is a custom that has now disappeared.Among beastmen, the general sentiment is that killing humans is welcome, but eating them is repulsive.
“…….”
Serendia, the guardian of the World Tree, furrowed her fine brows slightly. Elves are a race far removed from the wildness of beastmen.
King Su continued speaking.
“But in the end, the war between races came to an end to the Transcendent One, the first adventurer. Come to think of it, does that prove Baaren Moru’s foresight was extraordinary? However, how do you know about a fellow who died like that? There should only be rumors that he vanished one day.”“I am a magic appraiser and a seeker of history. As long as records and legends remain, it would be neither strange to be unaware nor strange to be aware. Just like Baaren Moru’s collection of poems and prophecies here.”
Lennon Barnard unfolded the book of prophecies that the Iderat Confederation had commissioned for interpretation.Over the faded or erased ancient text, traces of Lennon Barnard’s attempts at interpretation from various angles remained conspicuously visible.
There are three themes contained within this. I will present them in order.
Lennon Bernard recited an ancient poem.
A shadow flies in.Do not cry,my child.Your dazzling breath will burn away the sorrow contained in your tears.Rather, laugh.So that the dragon may laugh.So that the dragon’s mouth may tear open.
A pitch-black coffin hanging in the west.In Mother’s cold yet warm embrace.In that pool.The entire body of a blood-soaked dragon will rise.
Put your ears to the world.Put your cheeks to it.Put your eyes to it.Attach your organs.Become one with the world.Before a giant foot casts its shadow over your eyes.
As soon as Lennon Bernard finished reciting the poem, I got goosebumps for some reason.The surroundings fell silent.
Verden also shared in that silence.
‘If that is a prophecy… the first and third poems overlap with Molgarn’s future mural.’
The first poem could refer to the dragons breathing out toward the earth—perhaps Sarkandra, which wiped out several cities a hundred years ago and disappeared into a demonic realm.
The third poem is about giant humans.
“Indeed, considering there are more than a few prophets who have glimpsed future destinies, it is not surprising that such a book of prophecies exists. Moreover, it seems they share the same thoughts as me.”
Emperor Zeracl and Arnark’s sword, who are keeping the mural of the Great Demon in the basement of the Imperial Palace, keep their mouths shut with heavy eyes.
Eres, the captain of the Ark who is sealing a giant in Frostium with the bloodline of the sacred sword, and the Watcher of the North, also have a serious face.
The 7th Demon King, Vangelis, asked.
“Does the first poem refer to Sarkandra, the Red Dragon that attacked humanity about a century ago and vanished?”“Probably. The landscape of that time and the setting described in the poem feel remarkably similar.”“The second must be the Dragon Sword, but what is the third?”“I interpreted the third poem, but I couldn’t quite grasp its meaning. However, the second poem was relatively easy, so I finished interpreting it quickly. This poem is divided into a total of three meanings. Let’s break them down one by one.”
Lennon Bernard raised his voice slightly.
“A pitch-black crown hanging in the west—what do you think this means?”“An annular solar eclipse.”
Verden answered immediately.
Harkan Dajest, who established the theory of celestial magic, was highly knowledgeable in astronomy, and Dahit Wesroel was his only disciple.And Verden remembers all the knowledge Dahit learned.
“The west signifies the direction where the sun sets, and the pitch-black crown signifies darkness itself. The phrase ‘darkness obscuring where the sun sets’ can only refer to an annular solar eclipse, where the moon blocks the sun.”“You have a deep understanding of celestial movements. It’s no wonder the word ‘star’ is included in the epithet ‘nova.’ Indeed. The first phrase refers to an annular solar eclipse. Then, what is the second phrase?”
In my mother’s cold yet warm embrace.In that puddle.
Keeper, Acetro Oldin immediately recalled the map of the continent.
Hiaremar Inland Sea.
Between the Western and Central continents, in the middle of the cold northern lands and the silent desert, lies a landlocked sea. It is called the Inland Sea of Hiaremar.
“Prohas is coldness, the desert is warmth. As for the pool in its embrace, there could be nothing else.”
Lennon Bernard gave a small round of applause.
“That’s the correct answer, Keeper. And the last phrase, ‘The blood-soaked dragon’s entire body shall rise,’ refers to Magras, the dragon sword formed from countless dragon bones that has slain many lives. I can swear on my honor that I am certain. To summarize, it is this.”
On the day of the golden solar eclipse,a Dragon Sword appearsin the Inland Sea of Hyaremar .
“The cycle of an annular solar eclipse in a specific region is decades or centuries… According to my calculations, the cycle for an annular eclipse returning over the Inland Sea of Hyaremar is next year. This means the prophecy could be fulfilled starting tomorrow.”
Lobelyn asked.
“Do you know how it will manifest?”“I cannot know for sure at this moment. It could be that someone accidentally retrieves it, that an island embedded with the Dragon Sword rises to the surface, or that the Dragon Sword literally shoots up all by itself. Since it is a prophecy, I cannot make any definitive conclusions.”“That is why I stated that the Iderat Alliance alone cannot handle it. It is impossible for a single Alliance to search the entire Hiaremar Inland Sea. However, if those of you here join forces, who knows? That is why───”
The leader of the Iderat Federation proposed a small agenda.
We, the Iderat Federation, propose a global exploration.
Joint exploration surrounding the Dragon Sword.
“Can you truly believe that book of prophecies?”“If you do not believe it, you do not have to participate.”“Hmph, so you’re saying it’s entirely up to the individual.”
Transcendents interested in the treasures of the past, wizards driven by curiosity, and those deeply interested in the powerful force contained within the sword itself revealed their desires.
… … Crunch.
The woman guarding King Ronia habitually bit her nails slightly,receiving no attention from anyone.
* * *
The attendees are talking with their bodyguards or political colleagues, each covering their mouths.
Adrian covered the corner of his mouth.
“My Lord, will you join the exploration?”“Well…….”
Verden thought for a moment, then closed and opened his eyes.
“The timing is perfect. I lack sufficient evidence, but something feels ominous. However, it feels unsettling to simply turn a blind eye.”“In that case, I will go myself.”“There is a high probability of violating the rules of the Transcendents. It would be fine as long as I don’t get caught, though.”
A voice came from behind.
“Then I’ll go.”“Senior, me too!”“I’ll stay by the head of the household.”
Besides Adrian, Junia and the Ruler also showed enthusiasm. Among the Aspects of Eon, there were many talented individuals suitable for individual activities.However, since there was absolutely no information, it was not a matter of blindly sending out exploration missions.
What should I do?
Every choice comes with responsibility.
Verden was lost in thought, imagining the absolute worst-case scenario.
Meanwhile, the Provider moved his fingertips.
“Voting on the sub-agenda regarding exploration is meaningless, so no vote will be taken. If the prophecy proves wrong, I will bear the full cost of the wasted time and effort. Only those factions wishing to proceed with the exploration are to raise their hands in five minutes.”
For agenda items that do not require a vote, only a short amount of time is allotted for discussion. Without even that level of decisiveness, one was not qualified to express an opinion.
Soon, five minutes passed.
People started raising their hands here and there.
Magic Autonomous Alliance.Delharun.Arnach Empire.The Nine Great Magic Towers excluding the Lefragium Tower.Theocracy of Luas.Iderat Confederation.Adventurer’s Guild.Arcenad Magic Kingdom.Highlandia.Beastmen.Temple.Gargant.
And Eon.
If you are anxious, just replenish it.
Verden possesses more than one or two artifacts at present. If he sends them out, he should be able to escape even the worst-case scenario.
The exploration forces for the Hiaremar Inland Sea have been finalized. Intervention by any other forces is prohibited, and further details shall be discussed after the World Conference. Lennon Barnard, step down.
Lennon Bernard bowed politely and left the meeting room with the book of prophecies.
“Next proposer, Kingdom of Din-El. Speak.”
Under the providence, the minor rites proceeded step by step without interruption. The moment of voting to conclude the first minor rite is drawing near.
* * *
Even while the World Conference was in progress, the leader of the Ark and Sheorn Kernoden monitored and scouted Gargant, searching for the unidentified entity that had attempted to attack Verden.Since they could reunite immediately, the two were inspecting different sections.
And so, the leader of the Ark entered a secluded alley.
“Who are you?”
In the corner of the alley, a wretched, massive old man wrapped in rags sits, wearing a golden cross around his neck that is unbelievable for a human skeleton.
The old fanatic said.
Do you believe in the light?
