('Hey, Father.')
"What is it, Mordred?"
('...Why didn't you pass the throne to me. If it wasn't out of grudge or hatred, then why...')
"...I see. I should have told you."
('...')
"You only thought about 'becoming King.' The throne is not something where obtaining it is the end; rather, it is something that begins only after taking the seat. Something to govern the country. —You were so focused on becoming King that you didn't think at all about 'how to govern the country.' —Britain sought a King who would heal and save itself. Relying only on your prestige, power, birth, and position, you lacked the awareness to shoulder the responsibilities of a King. That is why—I rejected you."
('...')
"Another reason is... 'You did not understand the value of human life.' ...That is not just your problem. It is also... my limitation."
('—That's why you favored that bastard Bedi.')
"—Telling you now won't change history, and the rift between us won't be filled. But—hoping for smooth cooperation should be permissible."
('...Yeah. Father... thank you. For telling me.')
"I know nothing of your lamentations. Because I am a King who does not understand the human heart. But... well, being obstinate should be kept in moderation."
('—Yeah! But Father... watch your neck while you sleep!')
"I accept your challenge. Rebel without hesitation. I will execute you openly."
"Hmph, precisely because it is an impossible second life, one glimpses a dream... is it? However, under their rule, I doubt I would last a day."
(If you last half a day, I'll pass down the legend.)
—Britain... Ah, come to think of it, Merlin called Fou 'Cath Palug'?
(Actually, that's my stage name. Fou = Cath Palug! Isn't it cool?)
—Ah, then maybe I'll become Air = Lemegeton?
(Actually no! No stage name! Air stays as Air, okay!)
—Y-Yeah!
(Now then, the title granted by the King of Demon Gods... what kind of karma will it spin?)
Chapter XXXIV: The Beast Network
[Beast Network]
"MY GREAT DEED!!!!!!!"
"Prince, not yet————!?"
[Network 'Babylonia']
('...I pray, that I don't have a turn...')
('Mother...?')
Chapter XXXV: The Evening Bell Tolls for the Dragon
[The Angel of Death and the Dragon of Dialogue Face Off]
Mountains that refuse intruders and living creatures. High peaks reaching for the clouds, the embodiment of beautiful yet harsh nature.
The sky was endlessly blue, spread with white clouds. Tremendous wind pressure constantly battered the armor, and the sound of cutting wind pierced the ears.
[Uhya—...! Cooold!]
Riding the Dragoon, Ritsuka leaked her thoughts as she ran through the sky. A solitary march with no one else. A Wicked Dragon and Pegasus dancing in the heavens.
The pitch-black armor guarded and protected her life. If she deactivated it even once, altitude sickness from air pressure and lack of oxygen would be immediate, an extreme environment where freezing to death was certain.
Glancing down, she caught glimpses of the pitch-black abyss opening its maw to invite her. All of it was nature as it is, never permitting survival. The majesty of extreme nature where humans and life were not allowed to exist.
Who would believe it? In this cluster of peaks where even veteran climbers would resolve themselves to lose their lives...
[Over there, Dragoon! I can hear it! It's getting closer!]
That a mere girl was running through the sky, challenging it, and traversing it—such a tall tale.
Converting mud into magical energy to secure her survival. Strengthening her body, adapting to the environment, overcoming death.
To cope with changes in temperature and air pressure, she continued to generate mud on the surface. Pushing up and discarding the mud that froze and ceased to function, while successively generating new mud and converting it into armor.
She applied the same to the Dragoon. A Pegasus of mud refined into the shape of a horse to ensure stability and functionality rather than flapping wings.
(I've never done horseback riding but—I feel like I can do it!)
Ritsuka said it was an imitation of her Mother... but in fact, this was her Mother, Raikou... no.
[Yes. Mother will always be your aid... Yes, always...]
The divinity 'Ushi Gozen' lurking deep within Ritsuka was lending her aid. All techniques related to martial arts were receiving the blessing and protection of her Mother, Raikou.
Calling out to her Mother upon departure had worked. With those words, Ushi Gozen woke up, and Ritsuka was receiving her Mother's love without even realizing it.
[Alriiight! Let's keep going! Dragoon! Let's go! Like the wind! Hi-yo!]
Ritsuka ran. The sound of the bell reaching her ears—
Following the guidance of the Evening Bell reaching her ears, gentle yet solemn, she simply advanced.
Ritsuka felt it. 'It is calling.'
It is calling me, inviting me.
Is it a warning, a welcome, or a notification of death? She didn't know.
She didn't know, but—there was only one thing she knew.
(Someone is calling me! That much is certain!)
Someone is waiting for me.
Someone is watching me.
Then I will go, then I will run.
If someone is calling me, I simply want to answer it.
Even if what awaits is death.
Even if a place of death awaits.
I just run to carry through my way of life.
putting strength into the hands holding the reins, making the Dragoon run.
To not run away from being me, let's have a 'Dialogue' with whoever is calling me.
[—! I see it! Over there!]
Ritsuka pinpointed it. Between the mountains, refusing the sun, shining exceptionally strong... she pinpointed the pitch-black space.
[—Kh.]
The sound of the bell resonated more strongly and solemnly. Her skin broke out in goosebumps, and her heart beat like an alarm bell.
Swallowing saliva down her parched throat, she spurred the Dragoon harder.
[Something is there—Mother, everyone. —I will definitely return!]
Rousing her resolve and determination, she made the Pegasus run through.
She slipped into 'That Place', a blind spot in every sense between the mountains, in one breath.
[—Hah!]
Manipulating the reins with divine skill to avoid crashing the Dragoon, she slipped through the gap in the mountains.
Driving the Dragoon with delicate rein handling, she ran through like a raging wave, grazing the hard mountain surface.
[——!!]
The mountain surface in front 'suddenly narrowed.' However, recognizing a gap that a single person might barely break through, Ritsuka acted instantly.
[—Hah!!]
Standing upright on the Dragoon's back, using it as a stepping stone, she 'jumped' with her body alone.
[—Khhh!!]
With the momentum, she deployed her wings. Wrapping her body completely, 'transforming her body like a drill', she screwed her body into the gap.
[Dragoon!!]
Using the mud constituting the Dragoon's body for reinforcement, she 'pierced' the hard mountain surface, spinning and shaving it away.
[Haaaaaaaah!!!]
And—broke through. Prying open the slight gap, breaking through—
[—Zuhuuuu!!]
Digging in her legs and left hand's claws and palm as brakes, scattering sparks gyari-gyari, killing the momentum and decelerating.
[—Safe...]
Without breaking anything, without crashing, she grasped her survival and raised her body.
[—...]
She looked around—and immediately looked up.
—The bell was tolling.
No longer just in her ears. Above the head of the 'Mausoleum', the solemn and stern structure in front of her. It was ringing its sound from the sky.
[—Quiet...]
Ritsuka voiced her impression. Other than the sound of the bell, a silence where one could not even perceive a breath, creating the illusion of pain.
Too silent, too flawless. Not a single 'Life' could be seen there. Animals, plants. All life trembled, shuddered, and would never try to approach that place.
—The bell was tolling.
This was the legendary place handed down among the Mountain People and the Old Men of the Mountain. No one sets foot here. No one should be here.
Because—only [Death] exists here.
The Mountain People consider even approaching it, let alone reaching it, a foolish act.
For an Old Man of the Mountain, the current Hassan, to reach here is synonymous with repentance, accusation, and receiving 'Death.'
—I am unqualified to be an 'Old Man of the Mountain'—
A foolish act equivalent to declaring so, and the one to judge it is here.
[—!]
The door of the mausoleum opened solemnly.
[Death] manifested. Its majesty and dignity were worthy of such a description.
Ritsuka's body finally displayed its warnings to the maximum. Her throat became parched, her underwear soaked, and the trembling of her limbs increased to an unusual degree.
[—Do not be afraid, Dragon of Dialogue. Dragon who roars to save the world. My sword acknowledges your struggle and fighting spirit.]
The [Death] before her resonated his words. Gashari, the earth screamed as he stepped on it, the atmosphere trembled, and the heavens lamented.
[I have no name—but to the Dragon who, hearing my Evening Bell, did not fall, did not fear, and stepped into this mausoleum alone—I must name myself.]
[Death] itself manifested. The 'Angel who announces Death' bringing peace and salvation equally to all.
The [Sword] gripped in his right hand. The pitch-black shield gripped in his left.
There stood the extreme, the pinnacle of [Assassins]. —Death itself, bestowed with the [Grand] title.
—Even the Primordial Mother would tremble and lament at his existence, the origin and pinnacle of Assassins—
[My name is Hassan-i-Sabbah. The Assassin bearing the [Grand] title, who feasts death upon all the living—]
The Hassan who kills Hassans. The 'Old Man of the Mountain'... exposed his form before Ritsuka's eyes—
[—...]
Contrary to her body's reaction, Ritsuka's spirit was calm and serene.
She remembered. She remembered this sensation feeling her whole body.
A sensation like abandoning, giving up, and letting go of all life and hope.
She even thought it nostalgic. —This was a sensation she hadn't felt in a long time.
...It was exactly like the sensation of giving up on everything and living day to day before meeting Guda-shi in middle school.
That is why, that is why. Ritsuka was able to spin words.
[—Was it you who was calling me?]
To Ritsuka's words, a voice like dignity given form responded.
[The Evening Bell was assessing your destiny. It was casting a question to the contradiction of being an Evil born of humanity yet trying to protect humanity. —The Evening Bell became a warning bell, and also guided you.]
He said. Though destiny is not fixed, I was assessing you.
Assessing the way of being, the truth of the existence of one who became a Dragon despite being human, trying to wield her all for the future.
-------------------------------
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