Akatsuki Translations

This happened before the incident of the Dragon-Devoured City, Uuga occurred.

――――Investigate the Caraleigh faction in the City of Sin, Gradol.

Lark, the commander of the Sun Knights in the City of Sin, Gradol, accepted the order from Yuri Seira Bluesky, one of the Seven Heavens known as the 【Heavenly Sword】, with a tense expression. Although his opponent was a girl half his size, she was the top of the Order of the Sun Knights in all cities.

She was the 【Heavenly Sword General】 who was directly appointed by the Wise Heavenly King. For some reason, without anyone noticing, she appeared incognito in a private room of the Order of the Sun Knights of Gradol. Moreover, she came to order him to monitor the royal family of his own country, Gradol.

It made no sense at all.

――――It was you who sent the accusation of Gradol’s corruption to Proudia, wasn’t it?

Lark nodded fearfully, albeit with a slight surprise. He had no intention of leaving any traces that could identify him. But there was no doubt that he was the one who sent that accusation.

Gradol was corrupted.

Currently, corruption and irregularities were deeply prevalent in the City of Sin, Gradol. In the Temple that governed politics. In the place meant to serve and offer to the gods, money was exchanged among the priests and attendants. The system of official ranks indicating a high affinity with spirits was easily tampered with, and it ended up being just a tool to fatten up vice. The sloppy offering of prayers weakened the barrier of the Sun God. However, because the land had few monster appearances, the citizens felt no sense of crisis and were cheerfully fattening up while smacking their lips at the abundant food from the production cities.

When did Gradol become like this?

Gradol was a country with a deep history that had continued since before the 【Great Dungeon Flood】, back when people lived all over the continent. Many people had a strong sense of pride and dignity toward it.

However, having a deep history also carries the risk of becoming a breeding ground for corruption and collusion. Gradol was unable to overcome that risk and turned into an old and rotten great power.

Only its dignity swelled greatly, but results did not follow, and it did not recognize itself becoming even more distorted.

The result was the reckless mass production of satellite cities that exploited the Nameless as if they were slaves.

An overly arrogant mass production plan where the Nameless were made to work with the bait of residential rights, but in reality, they were used up as slaves in name only in the underground facilities of the city. Such a miserable method that anyone with a decent sensibility would turn away from was being carried out as a matter of course.

Lark, the commander of the Sun Knights, was disgusted by such tyranny of the city, the corruption that even reached within the Sun Knights, and while his heart ached for the victims, he had no means to fight back. Although there were comrades who shared his thoughts, those people were unable to advance in their careers because of that. Sincerity was nothing but a negative in Gradol.

Unable to gain position or power, unable to change the situation from within, if one tried to simply stop the injustice, they would be looked at coldy and stones would be thrown at them. The situation was a dead end.

The accusation letter sent to the 【City of Sin, Proudia】 where the Wise Heavenly King resided was a desperate move.

Even though this world is under the unified rule of the 【Temple】, it is a completely different place divided by dungeons, with separate actual rulers. Furthermore, there is also a physical distance. The fact that the authority of the Wise Heavenly King does not reach there is a big reason why injustice prevails. Therefore, hope was slim.

He never thought that the top of the Sun Knights would come directly.

――――As a prerequisite, Proudia will not actively intervene in Gradol.

In terms of national power, Proudia is superior to Gradol. However, even though the country of Gradol is rotten, it is still a great power, and that power relationship is based on a delicate balance.

No matter how many problems occur, if forceful intervention is carried out, it will surely create friction and cause a great tragedy. That would be putting the cart before the horse.

―――― Without a cause for Proudia to act, our intervention is impossible.

A cause?

When asked that, the Heavenly Sword turned a cold gaze toward him. As if to say, what an obvious thing to ask. Lark also clearly understood the cause she was referring to.

――――Investigate for traces of connection with the heretics. Only then will Proudia move.

The heretics, the one and only enemy of the temple, the one forbidden to even come into contact with. Her words directly suggested the possibility that Gradol harbored the huge malady of the heretics.

Lark couldn’t laugh and say, “No way, that can’t be.” When he saw his superior naturally stuffing a sack full of money into his pocket without even trying to hide it at the selection for serving God, he stopped holding any convenient illusions about his own country.

I will deal with it appropriately.

――――Very well, I have high hopes.

He could tell that she had no expectations for him at all. But even so, the fact that she went out of her way to give him a warning and advice showed that she was conscientious.

――――I have the duty to monitor 【Gluttony】, so I will take my leave now. I await good news.

With that, she left the room. As she said, this warning was probably just a side note. She left like a storm. In his private room where no one was left, Lark even felt as if what had just happened was a daydream or something.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to say that the situation surrounding Gradol has greatly improved. She can hardly be called a backer. But at least the goal and the means to reach it were visible.

In any case, he had no family to protect. He had no hope for advancement. Then he would just do it–

――――I forgot to mention.

Oh!?

Ignoring Lark’s surprise, the 【Heavenly Sword】 returned with a somewhat bored and slightly dissatisfied look on her face for some reason. Honestly, her face looked like a young child throwing a tantrum. But he definitely didn’t say that out loud.

――――If, by any chance, a situation arises that you can’t handle on your own, ask the 【Hero】 for help.

The Hero? The one from the Seven Heavens?

――――That one is more nimble than us because they have no power. Make good use of them.

Her way of speaking was strangely careless, and she only verbally explained the means of contacting the Hero. She then left for real this time.

To be honest, Lark didn’t have a good grasp of the existence of the 【Hero】. Of course, he knew that they belonged to the Seven Heavens. And that they formally belonged to the Sun Knights, just like Lark and the 【Heavenly Sword】. But he didn’t really understand the actual situation. There were even rumors that they were acting as a mercenary in each city. Or that they didn’t actually exist and were just a name.

That’s how the information about her was treated among Lark and the others.

But anyway, they were definitely an existence far higher than himself. If he could get help from the Seven Heavens, he didn’t care what form it took. Lark immediately contacted the Hero. Soon after, he received a reply, and although it was only through letters, he succeeded in establishing a connection.

Since then, Lark had been feeding information about Gradol to the Hero, albeit one-sidedly.

It might not have any meaning, but just in case, if he were to fall halfway through his ambition, he only had the hope in his heart that there might be someone who would take over for him.

It was in the midst of that when he heard the rumors about 【Uuga】.

As someone who was gathering information on city construction, he immediately realized that the city was abnormal compared to other satellite cities under construction. Certainly, Gradol, which currently has multiple city constructions, is experiencing a chronic shortage of priests. But it was too abnormal to say that there was only one person who could properly fulfill the role of a priest.

There were also other things, such as the selection of the priests’ attendants, which could only be described as deliberately choosing incompetent people, and he was able to immediately realize that “there’s something going on here.”

And in fact, it happened.

The dragon’s attack on Gradol, the accompanying summoning of gold-ranked adventurers, and the curse that spread to the satellite city under construction. Naturally, the alert was focused on the City of Sin, Gradol, but Lark read that the one that needed the most attention was 【Uuga】. The center of this incident was here.

Therefore, he himself participated in the “Dragon-Devoured City, Uuga Purification Operation”. With the faint hope that he might be able to obtain evidence to show to Proudia if he was lucky.

And as a result, traces of corruption and irregularities were found.

But he found too many. Far beyond his expectations.

                     ◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

                    ◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

                    ◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

City of Sin, Gradol, Gradol Order of the Sun Knights.

They were now surrounding Uuga, the “former” satellite city of the City of Sin, Gradol, which had turned into a giant monster due to the dragon’s curse, the 【Dragon-Devoured City, Uuga】, for its “purification”. At the command post directing the encirclement, the Order of the Sun Knights was discussing how to resolve this unprecedented incident.

“This is unacceptable…! Isn’t that a massacre?!” -Lark

“I’ve already explained that, haven’t I, Knight Commander Lark?”

However, it was doubtful whether the discussion was actually taking place, and the atmosphere of the place was the worst.

In the tent that was set up, the knights who were entrusted with the responsibility for this matter had gathered. The top brass of the Gradol Order of the Sun Knights, as well as the priests dispatched from the Gradol temple. The core members of the City of Sin, Gradol were all present.

“How noisy. And I was just fostering up my spirit…”

“How filthy it is outside the city, in a place without the protection of the Sun God.”

“Hey, you. Why don’t you learn to respect your elders a little more?”

However, contrary to their impressive titles, there was no sense of spirit among the people gathered here.

The knights who had long since stopped wielding swords and the priests who were exposing their sloppily fattened bodies were listening to the young Sun Knight’s petition with a look of annoyance.

Lark, who was in charge of the field command, was terrified by the fact that his words were not reaching them at all. Now was definitely not the time to be complaining about the fatigue of the journey.

“We were told that this was a purification operation of a city under construction that was contaminated by a dragon!” -Lark

“That’s right. The workers involved in the construction also had to be purified because they were strongly suspected of being contaminated. We have not erred in our duties at all.” -Sun Knight

“Killing those who fled without even checking their condition is purification!?” -Lark

Up to that point, he could understand the necessity of the current encirclement operation to deal with the contamination of the Dragon-Devoured City. He was a Sun Knight in the service of the Temple. He never looked down on the curse of the dragon itself.

But there is a limit. Unilaterally slashing down non-combatants who had no resistance and no means to fight. This was definitely not something the Sun Knights should be doing.

“Moreover, there are those mixed in with the troops who are not even knights of Gradol! I was not informed of anything!” -Lark

“Mercenaries. This is a very dangerous case. We needed someone to take the brunt of it instead of our precious priests and Sun Knights.” -Sun Knight

“You gave the Crest of the Sun to those who are neither priests nor knights…?!” -Lark

Lark was at a loss for words.

This case was too abnormal. That’s why he had volunteered to participate in this operation, but Lark was starting to regret his decision.

“Well, even if the attendants of Uuga die, there’s nothing to be concerned about. The ones sent there were all incompetent.” -Sun Knight

“Wasn’t it said that the families who sent the attendants were half trying to get rid of them?” -Lark

“Unexpectedly, their families might be happy that by dying here, they were able to avoid spreading the dragon’s curse and the family’s shame.” -Sun Knight

These people who were talking and laughing about the dead were crazy.

They had no regret or shame for killing. And they thought it was only natural for it to happen. Their morals were fat and rotten. He thought he knew, but when he saw it firsthand, it gave him a headache.

But what was even more incomprehensible was that they were not “surprised” by anything.

The dragon’s attack on the City of Sin, Gradol and its surrounding countries was an abnormal situation. An entire city turning into a monster and slashing down non-combatants contaminated by the dragon’s curse was a major incident that no one had ever experienced. One would be hard-pressed to find a similar case even in history.

But what is with this calmness in response to that?

No matter how much their hearts are stagnant and black, there is no one who does not fear a dragon’s attack. Even more so for those who live in the city and the priests of the Temple. Because it is the only malice that threatens the peace and power given by the Sun God.

Yet they don’t show a single bit of fear.

They knew about this situation. They knew it would turn out like this.

“…Excuse me.” -Lark

Lark gave up on preaching morality to them and bowed his head.

He was convinced that the epitome of Gradol’s current corruption was here. Then, at the very least, he had to grasp what was happening here and obtain even the slightest clue to strike down this vice–

“Ah, wait a moment, Commander Lark.” -Sun Knight

“Huh?” -Lark

Lark turned around with a dumbfounded voice when called out by his superior, who made no attempt to hide his attitude of not caring about him.

And he witnessed a sword piercing his stomach, threading through the gaps in his armor.

“–Wha!?” -Lark

In front of him was a man wearing the same Sun Knight armor as him. He had crept up silently and stabbed him. Lark couldn’t react at all.

“I arrest you as the one responsible for slaughtering the attendants who fled, ignoring our restraints.” -Sun Knight

He was set up.

He realized it far too late. Rapidly losing strength in his body, Lark collapsed on the spot.

                    ◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

“–So? I assume the rat was caught successfully?”

“Yes, yes! Of course, Aesula-sama!!”

The Order of the Sun Knights’s battalion commander, who was the nominal representative in charge of the encirclement, was reporting the results with a fawning smile to the man who was the true ruler of this place.

An elegant appearance, a beastperson with long, scarlet hair. Aesula Shinra Caraleigh. The next head of the Caraleigh family, the royal family of Gradol. The top commander directing the encirclement of this 【Dragon-Devoured City, Uuga】. And also the true mastermind behind this incident.

“How foolish. To think he would wag his tail to Proudia of all places.” -Aesula

They had already grasped the machinations of the Knight Commander, Lark. They were just letting him swim. In the end, he didn’t leak any decent information, so they couldn’t really investigate Proudia’s movements, but in the end, he served as a convenient sacrificial pawn.

It’s often said that all things have their uses when they are used in the right way.

“How shameful. To think such a fool would emerge from the Knights Order…”  -Battalion Commander

“After all, the Order of the Sun Knights itself is a system that receives interference from Proudia. When I become king, I will have to remake the Order itself.” -Aesula

“Oh, as expected of you!” -Battalion Commander

The Order of the Sun Knights is an armed organization directly under the Temple, and of course, it is never allowed to arbitrarily change its structure without the instructions of the Wise Heavenly King.

There was no one here to blame him for saying that as a matter of course. And they had the conviction that there would soon be no one left in the world to do so.

“The silly farce ends here. The preparations for the 【Sacred Beast】 are progressing, right?” -Aesula

“Y-yes! Of course!” -Battalion Commander

For a moment, the battalion commander stumbled over his words at the term “sacred beast”.

“According to the caster, it has already entered the stage of 【Emergence】. Using the large amount of stored magic stones as material, the ritual formula is running and will activate.” -Battalion Commander

“How long?” -Aesula

“About half a day from now.” -Battalion Commander

“Wonderful…” -Aesula

Aesula smiled at the report with an ecstatic expression.

In contrast, the battalion commander wore a flattering smile, albeit with a slight grimace. But that was only natural. The gruesome transformation of the ‘former’ satellite city of Uuga, visible even from afar, gave rise to hesitations about dubbing it a ‘sacred beast,’ indicating that the commander’s sensibilities were still somewhat intact, at least to a minimal extent

The next king of Gradol, who called it a sacred beast with an ecstatic expression, had a deranged sensibility.

“Once the sacred beast is completed, all the impurities in the area will be burned away. Including the foolish Hero who serves the Wise Heavenly King and the stain on the Caraleigh family. What a joyous day it will be.” -Aesula

“Oh, absolutely… But won’t the Hero try to interfere with the completion of the ritual?” -Battalion Commander

He asked, probing a little.

They also recognized the threat of the Hero. It was the only remaining concern in this situation.

One of the 【Seven Heavens】, compared to the other Seven Heavens, the monsters granted the protection of the Wise Heavenly King, the Hero was still relatively better, but no less undesirable.

Running around and crushing monsters, threats, hotbeds of injustice and corruption in various places. In other words, the Hero was the most undesirable existence for them.

“We received a message from the ‘Dragon that Devours the Sun’ that the false dragon is guarding the central point of the ritual… But if it’s not a real dragon, won’t it be no match for the Hero?” -Battalion Commander

“What a trivial concern.” -Aesula

However, Aesula laughed off the battalion commander’s concern.

“If the completion of the magic activated by the enormous amount of magic stones accumulated using the entire city is stopped halfway, even the Hero should know what kind of result it will produce.” -Aesula

“Wh-what will happen…?” -Battalion Commander

“It’s a vast amount of magical power gathered by the monsters that appeared, imitating a dungeon. It won’t end with just Uuga being blown away. The Hero, by virtue of their position, cannot make that choice. How ridiculous.” -Aesula

A city-scale magic technique, a vast amount of accumulated magic stones, if they try to stop it when the technique is already near completion, what will occur is a collapse involving the entire surrounding area. The battalion commander imagined that and quickly turned pale. They were frightened. They realized that the collapse might affect them as well.

“Do not worry. As long as you have my protection, you will not die.” -Aesula

“Y-yes, of course!! As expected of you!” -Battalion Commander

Even after hearing Aesula’s words, the battalion commander’s expression was not good. He was dripping with sweat. It seemed he had not been able to fully recognize the danger of what they were doing. Aesula was watching his state with a bored look. But before he could say something, his personal soldier, a Sun Knight, appeared and knelt down.

“My king. Excuse me.” -Sun Knight

“What is it?” -Aesula

“A monster attack. It seems to be a third-rank, 【Flame Orangutan】.” -Sun Knight

Flame Orangutan. A mighty great ape clad in flames.

Beastly agile movements and flames enveloping its body that burn everything it touches. Furthermore, it has an extremely rough and belligerent temperament. Once it goes on a rampage, it transforms the surrounding area into a sea of fire, a formidable monster.

『ＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＮＮＮＮＮＮＮＮＮＮＮＮ！！！！』

“Eek!?” -Battalion Commander

At the same time, a tremendous beast’s roar echoed. The battalion commander was visibly shaken. This place was outside the city, constantly harboring the possibility of being attacked by all kinds of monsters. It was only natural when people gathered. The battalion commander didn’t seem ready to deal with that threat either.

On the other hand, Aesula snorted, completely uninterested in the beast’s roar.

“How trivial, you guys can handle it, right? What’s the big deal?” -Aesula

“I thought it was a good opportunity to show them the king’s power.” -Sun Knight

Saying that, the Sun Knight glanced at the battalion commander. It was a look of contempt. Although he was supposed to be a subordinate of the battalion commander by position, he didn’t seem to have such an attitude at all. It was only natural, so to speak. He was part of Aesula’s personal army. They only obeyed Aesula.

The battalion commander, who had been in an unsightly state of confusion, twisted his face in displeasure at his gaze. But before the battalion commander could say anything, Aesula moved.

“Ha.” -Aesula

Sitting on the throne, he snapped his fingers. That’s all he did.

But the next moment, a tremendous shock ran through the place. The battalion commander screamed and looked around in surprise. But Aesula and the kneeling Sun Knight didn’t move an inch.

“Wh-what was that!?” -Battalion Commander

The battalion commander rushed out of the tent. And his eyes widened.

Outside, a “giant” had appeared that didn’t exist until just now.

It was a giant. A giant of earth and rock, dozens of meters in size. It even looked as if a mountain had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. The giant, tall enough to look up at, seemed to have stopped with its arms, thicker and larger than a large tree, stuck in the ground.

It took the battalion commander some time to understand that it had crushed the Flame Orangutan that had been at its feet with its fist.

The blood spreading around the giant’s fist told the story. The battalion commander shuddered, then hurriedly returned to the tent and knelt unsightly in front of Aesula again.

“O-oh, oh, oh! A-as expected! As expected of you!” -Battalion Commander

It was different from the deliberate flattery earlier. He was desperate. He was oozing sweat and fear. He realized that the man in front of him was a monster who could turn his existence into a lump of flesh just by snapping his fingers.

Hearing the praise spewing from his miserable state, Aesula twisted his face in satisfaction.

“Oh!! Our Shinra!! The one granted the power of the【Spirit of the Earth, Urigandin】!!” -Battalion Commander

The man beloved by the embodiment of the Earth laughed, convinced of his own victory.