─……
“It was strange. They talked about the migration plan, yet they never mentioned the ‘real’ successors.”
As seen from the ‘Knot of Light’ observed from the Earth, dimensional migration wasn’t limited to the Dragon Kings.
In fact, the Dragon Kings undertook the migration at the cost of their own lives.
It wasn’t so much to ensure their survival but rather to preserve the very species known as ‘Dragons.’
Although it was a migration that came close to failing, a handful of dragons were inevitably required to remain for the species’ survival.
Not the cadavers of dragons or successors derived from Dragon Hearts, but the ‘real’ successors.
Anima trembled as if swaying.
─…Yes. That’s right. They do exist.
“Why did you hide it?”
─As you know, we succeeded in the migration at a great cost. During that process, we managed to save only the Hatchlings.
Anima said that the migration at the time was an uncertain journey.
For a dimensional migration that lasted nearly five thousand years, a tremendous amount of life force and power was needed.
With the Dragon Kings in a non-normal state, their power was woefully insufficient.
Eventually, as time passed, they had to draw on the strength of the Mature Dragons under their protection as well.
─Our king, Sharurodo, had urged us not to intervene, but… after he fell, there was no one left to stop us.
If we continued as we were, it was obvious we’d all die and wander the void.
So, the dragons decided to save only the Hatchlings who were in a dormant state deep within.
Even if everyone else perished, they had to ensure the young ones survived.
─Just when the last remaining dragon, holding on, died and hope faded, we discovered Teshiniria. It was a miracle.
“…Indeed.”
─Had we been just a little later, even the Hatchlings would have perished. Thanks to the remnants of thought I left behind along with Seriphed, we barely managed to protect and seal the Hatchlings deep underground. After that, you all know the story.
The Dragon Kings were buried or vanished into oblivion.
The carefully prepared Challenger lost control, and the successors born with the powers of the Dragon Kings drove the world to the brink of destruction.
Had Anima’s successor, ‘Life,’ not sacrificed itself, this place would have been destroyed long ago.
Thus, as time passed, the long-sleeping disasters began their rampage once again.
On top of that, even the Challenger, Reverse, wasn’t fulfilling its role this time around.
If I, Leo, and Yena withdrew our hands now, destruction would be inevitable.
─…Light’s Human. Savior of the Humans and the Dragons.
“I’ve given up on that.”
─I know. Although quite some time has passed since that day, I’ve been watching over the successor from behind.
I was watching over.
Your kindness.
“……”
─The heart that cherishes and loves life is deeper and more noble than anyone else in this world. This is acknowledged by me, Anima, who holds the power of life.
“I told you to stop.”
It’s been a while since I quit being a Saintess, and even longer since that guy’s ‘Savior’ gig, so why is this happening?
I looked at her with a sulky expression, but I knew very well what she wanted to say.
The response I was currently giving off was simply due to not being trusted.
Anima lowered her head.
─…I apologize for my audacity.
“You know well.”
─Could you assist us just one more time? The decision-makers in Sharurodo’s cradle are now just me and Seriphed, so I will stake the name of ‘Lord.’
“Lord, huh…”
─Under Seriphed’s corpse, the children are sleeping. Please subdue those who are violating this land so they can rise on their own. Then…
“The purified land will be newly occupied by the young dragons?”
─……
“Be honest with me, Anima. I can’t help you if you don’t tell the truth.”
Dragons are basically good.
They are a race that stands at the pinnacle of beings, unlike ancient beasts, who are singular entities typically limited to a few. Dragons, on the other hand, maintain a ‘race’ with a sufficient population.
Since they live in groups, they don’t commit ruthless destruction or slaughter.
That’s why, unlike ancient beasts, the ‘Dragon Race’ has never once been placed into the Space of Despair.
They didn’t surpass the ‘threshold’ that would warrant being sealed within my soul.
‘There was no other way to save Sre.’
From the start, Sre wasn’t even in a sealing state like other ancient beasts.
─…That’s…
But does that mean dragons are truly akin to saints? That’s another question altogether.
Like most creatures, the top priority for dragons is naturally other dragons.
To them, saving ten dragons is far more important than the death of a thousand different beings.
“I understand the sentiment of saving your own kind better than anyone. I’ve been in that situation myself—how can I judge anyone?
There were days I’d circle the stars multiple times just to save a single life.
In moments when my body was falling apart and my soul was shattering, I’ve thrown myself into danger to save lives.
And in that process of ‘saving,’ my top priority was, without a doubt, the same person.
At the moment I saved a hundred people, on the other side, five hundred goblins in the goblin settlement were slaughtered by the Celestial Race.
At the moment I saved ten thousand people, the World Tree was burned by the upper Demon Race, and the same number of elves turned to ash.
The elves of numbers turned into a handful of ashes.
But how could I say anything to the dragons?
─……
“Do you wish for them all to die? Because they are not real?”
Anima and Seriphed do not want a successor.
To be more precise, they did not want the seven disasters wandering the surface.
They are beings reborn through the corpse of the Dragon King and the Dragon Heart, causing bizarre phenomena.
Those reborn were neither dragons nor anything else.
“Just a collection of attributes like ‘Earth,’ ‘Darkness.'”
Aside from power, there was no connection to the Dragon Kings whatsoever.
─…Dragons must remain as dragons. That was our purpose. The result of our sacrifice. The buds we’ve fought so hard to protect.”
“……”
─I am the one who enlightened the sage about ‘the separation of power.’ I could barely split that feeble power after much effort. But I’ve ultimately failed, so I’m asking you for this.
“Are you saying to bury everything in the ground?”
─The children are sleeping deep underground. Though I slowed down the flow of their bodies with a freezing spell, at this rate, there will be no hope.
The introduction is long.
This was only natural for Anima, who finds it difficult to intervene any further, but Anima’s determination to persuade me was clearly evident.
As a Dragon of ‘Life,’ it naturally would feel more for living beings.
─Seriphed preferred a clean resolution, so I hesitated to disclose this to you. No matter how much chaos the fake successors cause, they wouldn’t allow them all to be killed.
“Well, that’s…”
If it doesn’t exceed the threshold, then yes.
None of the seven successors would have exceeded the threshold.
Even now, ‘Life’ has a history of sacrificing itself to block disasters.
─But my thoughts differ. I wish for even those fake successors to live.
“What if?”
─Just as I did with ‘Earth.’ Completely separate the power from them. You can take all that power for yourself. You would use it wisely, wouldn’t you?
“If it’s ‘Earth’…”
That wouldn’t be difficult.
After all, I had planned to distribute or seal the power of all six disasters like ‘Life’ from the beginning.
In that process, I will also deal with the impaired challengers, so this land will eventually become the land of dragons.
The long-held dream of the Dragon Kings will finally come true after nearly ten thousand years.
“Is it okay if I don’t share it with the true successor? It would be quite something if we all gathered.”
If the powers of the seven Dragon Kings were all gathered, it would rise to the highest level among the upper tier.
It would be enough to surpass the Celestial Being Ertarn, the strongest in multi-dimensions, and even have a fair fight with Lasty.
With such power, it wouldn’t be strange for Teshiniria to rise as the king of dimensions.
Anima shook its head with a faint smile.
Done.
─…It’s a power that cannot be controlled. It’s far too overwhelming and arrogant for young children to bear. If you really want to give it back, please wait until the children have all grown up.
“Ah, then should I give it to Seriphed?”
─You should never give it to that crazy one.
Anima firmly opposed this, and I nodded, understanding.
There was really no reason to refuse, whatever it was.
I didn’t necessarily need the power of dragons, but agreeing to this request would bring in monumental rewards systemically.
‘This is probably the end.’
Together with Blodia, this would be the final episode of Teshiniria… or perhaps a prior episode.
Since I hadn’t caught the Grim Reaper yet, there hadn’t been a refresh, but if I did catch him, the chances of receiving additional rewards were high.
“Then shall we go?”
─?
I opened the Space of Despair.
The Anima in front of me was a thought that would soon vanish, but if I forcibly held onto it and put it into my soul, I could maintain it.
Since it was in such a faint state, it wouldn’t be able to come out or use any power, but I supposed it could sustain its life.
Anima shook its head.
─I appreciate the sentiment, but my soul has long since crumbled in that distant universe.
“Still, let’s go. There’s Sugarado and many gathered monsters, so you won’t be lonely…”
─Really, I’m fine. Unlike Seriphed, I don’t have even a handful of soul left, so it has no meaning anymore.
Above all…
─I just want to rest now. I’m tired.
“……”
─Thank you. Please tell Seriphed to suffer a little longer.
The space began to collapse.
Anima’s thought scattered, and I silently watched the spectacle.
I could have caught it.
I had a fairly deep connection with the dragon tribe and had received plenty of help.
But I had no choice but to let go due to her small mumble.
“…My friends are waiting.”
There is no such thing as hell.
There’s a space after death created by the Demon King or the Eight Seats, but that’s a place only for the dead under their influence.
There may be reincarnation, but the reality of this world is that there is no hell.
‘But what if it truly exists?’
What if there’s a ‘real’ afterlife beyond the Celestial Race and Demon Race?
Indeed, are they waiting for me there?
“……”
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