Volume 8
Chapter 1
In a dimly lit forest. In front of the collapsed and burned-out remains of a cabin, two figures were facing each other.
One was a young man
with a katana at his waist, Nozomu Bountis.
Dressed in the
white-based uniform of Solminati Academy, he was repeatedly taking deep breaths
with a tense expression.
The other was an old
man with a white beard, wrapped in a robe, Zonne.
He, who had come to
this city as an observer of Tiamat, was staring at the young man in front of
him with a serious gaze, with his wrinkled arms crossed.
A tense atmosphere, as
if they were being pulled taut, filled the space between the two.
Eventually, Nozomu
placed his hand on his own chest and clenched his palm as if to grasp
something.
And the moment he
shook off his clenched hand, a vast torrent of power was scattered in all
directions like a raging stream.
"Guuh!"
Nozomu let out a
pained voice.
Perhaps because the
power of Tiamat was racing through his entire body with intense pain, his face
was tense, and he was clenching his palm until it turned white.
Still, Nozomu
desperately tried to control the rampaging power.
He continued to turn
his consciousness inward, with his eyes tightly closed.
The power that had been
scattered around like a storm was, for some reason, gradually subsiding.
However, Nozomu's
expression was more distorted than before, and eventually, with a cracking
sound, his skin began to tear. Due to the aftereffects of Tiamat's immense
power, self-harm had begun.
Still, Nozomu did not
try to withdraw his power.
Without a care for his
own blood that was dripping and being blown away, he continued to concentrate
his mind.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
A part of the leaked
power let out a groan like a curse, and blew away the small stones and sand in
the area.
And a part of the
overflowing power began to entwine around Zonne as if to strangle him, as if to
represent the will of the master of that power.
But Zonne, without
showing any sign of trying to stop the chaotic light that was entwining around
him, was intently watching the scene before him.
Eventually, after a
few minutes, along with a particularly loud snap!, the blood flowing from
Nozomu's lacerations increased at once.
At that moment, Zonne
opened his mouth.
"That's
enough."
At the exact same time
as those words, Nozomu withdrew the power he had released.
As the invisible
chains wrapped around Nozomu's body, the raging power subsided. At the same
time, Nozomu fell to his knees as if to collapse on the spot.
"Hah, hah,
hah..."
Ragged breaths escaped
from Nozomu's mouth, and from his open wounds, blood was flowing, dyeing the
ground red.
Zonne quickly deployed
a magic to heal the wounds on Nozomu's body, and at the same time, washed away
the blood and smell that had soaked into his uniform.
The purpose of the two
being in this forest was the control of Tiamat's power.
To master the use of
the spirits, the source of the dragon's power, and the power of the elemental
essence.
However, from the
looks of Nozomu, the results were not favorable.
"About two weeks
since the training began. The improvement in the record is about ten seconds
more than the first time."
"For the past
week, it's been... flat..."
To the disappointed
Nozomu, Zonne did not show any particular concern.
"Your body is,
after all, human. As long as you can't control your unique ability, you can't
expect any improvement in your record."
Soul-Sealing
Shackles.
The unique ability
that Nozomu possessed, and the lifeline that was keeping him alive.
Nozomu's goal was to
master this unique ability that was sealing Tiamat.
However, for about two
weeks since the training had begun, there was no sign that Nozomu could control
his own unique ability.
"In the first
place, how do you even control a unique ability?"
"The 'unique
ability' that you possess as a dragonslayer is slightly different from the
'form of what is originally called a unique ability.'
A dragonslayer's
unique ability is the form in which the person instinctively tries to control
the power of the dragon they have taken in. Its nature is rather a personal
unique ability, similar to what you all call an ability."
A unique ability is
basically a general term for the power and ability that a specific race
possesses. On the other hand, an ability is a general term for the ability that
an individual possesses.
In that sense, a
dragonslayer's unique ability has aspects of both.
"However, since
the form of that unique ability originates from you yourself, in reality, you
are the only one who can learn it. In that sense, regarding the unique ability,
you have no choice but to continue to question yourself."
After saying that
much, Zonne cut his words for a moment.
"So, how was the
other task? Were you able to sense the presence of the spirits?"
To try and control his
unique ability by concentrating his mind while his power was released to its
limit. Besides that, another task that had been given to Nozomu was to sense
the surrounding spirits.
The power of a dragon
is the power of the spirits. The power of the elemental essence. The
fundamental power that constructs this world.
To master spirit magic
is nothing other than to indirectly touch this power.
Nozomu himself was
also trying to master spirit magic in order to approach the control of the
power he had taken in from a different direction.
"Not at
all..."
"Hmm, you can't
even sense the surrounding spirits? As a dragonslayer, despite having taken in
a spirit into your body, your body is really just human. At this rate,
mastering spirit magic is probably hopeless..."
The first step in
mastering spirit magic is to first sense the spirits that exist in the
surroundings.
Next, to communicate
with the sensed spirits.
Finally, it can only
be used by transferring one's own power to the spirits, making a contract, and
borrowing their power.
However, Nozomu was
already stumbling at that first stage.
At first, he had tried
to sense the surrounding spirits by concentrating his mind without releasing
his power. However, he could not sense them at all.
Zonne had thought that
the cause might be the Soul-Sealing Shackles and had instructed him to try and
sense the spirits in a state where his power was released, but the results were
not favorable.
There are times when a
very rare person appears among humans who can sense the presence of spirits.
Although most of them are buried in dubious stories such as spiritual intuition
or a sixth sense.
The reason why humans
cannot acquire spirit magic is the second stage. Because humans can almost not
have a clear communication with the spirits.
However, the ki and
magic power that humans use also have the power of the soul, called the elemental
essence, at their foundation. It seems that in the past, there were humans who
could handle the elemental essence in a human body by accumulating time and
training.
Nozomu was harboring
the strongest dragon in his body. It was thought that there was a possibility
that he could use spirit magic, but for now, there was no sign of it sprouting.
A color of
disappointment cast a shadow on Nozomu's face.
"What are you
getting all depressed for? The control of a unique ability, the mastery of
spirit magic. Neither of them are things that a mere human can do overnight.
Until now, as many great people as there are stars have challenged and been
defeated. Did you think that you, who are a half-wit as both a dragon and a
human, could do something about it?"
Zonne directed
provocative words at Nozomu.
Nozomu bit his lip in
frustration. Then, the old man suddenly had a mocking smile.
"Or will you give
up?"
"Don't be
ridiculous. If I were to give up at this level, I wouldn't have asked for
training in the first place."
To Zonne's
provocation, Nozomu immediately retorted.
A powerful light was
dwelling in his eyes.
What's this level?
It's just a dozen or so cuts, a few blood vessels torn.
Even if he were to
vomit blood, he would absolutely control it, he slammed that will, which was on
the back of his short words, at the provocatively smiling old man.
At the sight of
Nozomu, who was staring back straight at him, Zonne quietly deepened the smile
on his lips.
Nozomu also returned a
smile. It was the same feeling as when he had been receiving training from his
other master in the past.
"I know. To learn
is to imitate. And to truly master it, there is no choice but to repeat it over
and over again..."
Nozomu whipped his
tired body and stood up.
He could not master it
with just a little training. He would repeat it until it was literally carved
into his body. And he would learn while imitating. He was telling himself that
it was a repetition of that once again.
"However, you
are..."
"What is it, old
master?"
"...No, it's
nothing."
Seeing the stood-up
Nozomu, Zonne let out a meaningful word.
Although Nozomu asked
what it was, Zonne just gave a vague reply and fell silent.
A strange silence
flowed between the two.
While looking at the
silent Zonne, Nozomu began to speak.
"Hey, old master.
What happened to Tiamat five thousand years ago?"
"Are you curious
about her?"
"To be honest,
about Tiamat, at first, I only thought of her as a troublesome guy. I've been
saved by this power, but at the same time, it's also a fact that I'm causing
trouble for Iris and the others. But..."
"But...?"
The doubt that had welled
up within him. As if to confirm it, Nozomu took a deep breath and closed his
eyes.
And after holding his
breath for a moment and slowly exhaling the air in his lungs, he slowly opened
his mouth.
"Somehow, I feel
like we're similar. Me and her..."
Hearing Nozomu's
words, Zonne stroked his beard as if thinking.
"You, you haven't
seen all of Tiamat's past, have you?"
"Michael... I
only know that he made a country with your son, and that it was
destroyed."
The scene that Nozomu
had seen was the figure of an already destroyed country, dead dragon friends,
and Tiamat, who was suffering from the strange power she had taken in.
And Tiamat was denied
by the Michael she had clung to and had broken in despair and anger.
However, he did not
know the circumstances that had led to that.
But it was certain
that something had happened.
At that time. When he
had synchronized with Tiamat's anger and had turned his blade on Irisdina and
the others, Nozomu had heard the calm voices of Tiamat and Michael.
"However, it
seems that Tiamat herself was betrayed or something..."
However, every part
was fragmentary, and although Nozomu knew what had happened, he had no idea
what the cause was.
"Hmm... I might
be able to talk about it, but to be honest, I can't tell you much. No matter
how much I know about the end of Alharant, in the end, I was an
outsider..."
"Alharant?"
"The name of the
country that Tiamat and Michael created. That name has long since been buried
in the earth and has disappeared from human history..."
Alharant. For Nozomu,
it was a name he had never heard before.
"What do you mean
by... 'outsider'?"
"It means exactly
what it says. If you're going to talk about that, then there is a more suitable
existence than me."
While looking at
Nozomu, who was muttering that name as if to savor it, Zonne casually held his
hand over the ground.
"Well then, let's
go home."
"Ah! Hey..."
"We dragons
certainly sealed Alharant and Tiamat, but if you're going to talk about that,
then there is a more suitable existence than me. Just wait a little..."
Before Nozomu could
raise his voice in protest, countless magic circles danced in the air in front
of him and shone brightly.
The next moment, the
figures of the two had suddenly disappeared from within the forest.
***
When the white light
that was illuminating his vision had subsided, what spread before Nozomu's eyes
was a vast, dim space.
A complex and bizarre
magic character was laid out at his feet, and it was emitting a faint, pale
light.
Where he was now was
the basement of the Martial Arts Garden established in Solminati Academy, a
basement where the magic circle that generated the magic barrier was laid out.
"It seems you've
returned."
A heavy, low voice
echoed through the dim basement. When Nozomu turned his gaze in the direction
of the voice, a middle-aged man clad in silver armor was standing there.
Jihad Raundel.
One of the
highest-ranking officials of the academy, and the person who had provided this
place to Zonne.
Nozomu had learned
that there was a connection between Zonne and Jihad some time after the attack
by Azel.
Nozomu and the others,
who was called to Jihad's office, had learned there that Jihad and Zonne were
in a cooperative relationship.
The Five Scale Stones
that Jihad had shown before had also been provided by Zonne.
After that, a scene of
Irisdina and the others questioning Zonne and Jihad had unfolded, but in the
end, they were convinced and were continuing their cooperative relationship
like this.
And Jihad had provided
this formula room as a relay point for when he was training Nozomu.
For Nozomu to train, a
place with few people was desirable. If so, it was impossible to train in the
city.
However, even if he
were to go to the forest, the current Nozomu felt that every second of training
time was precious.
There, he had proposed
to go directly to the forest from the basement of the Martial Arts Garden with
Zonne's transfer magic.
As a result, for the
past two weeks, he had been coming and going from this Martial Arts Garden
basement to the forest and continuing his training.
Jihad, who had glanced
at Nozomu, frowned slightly, but before Nozomu himself could notice, he had
returned to his original expression.
"Nozomu-kun, good
work. You should go home for today."
"Y-Yes."
Without saying
anything in particular, Jihad urged Nozomu to go home.
Although Zonne's
words, "Wait for me," were stuck in his head, he could not win
against the fatigue that enveloped his entire body, and he left the basement,
stumbling.
After confirming that
Nozomu had left the basement, Jihad quietly approached Zonne and asked in a
suppressed voice.
"So, how was
it?"
"As always, there
is no sign that he can acquire spirit magic. As for the time his power is
released, the record has been updated by about ten seconds in the past two
weeks."
"Ten seconds, huh..."
Jihad repeated the
words "ten seconds" as if to savor them, then let out a deep sigh.
"That's right.
Ten whole seconds."
"That's
phenomenal..."
As if in agreement
with the word "phenomenal" that Jihad had let slip, Zonne slowly
nodded.
The power that Nozomu
Bountis had taken in was not something that could be contained within the frame
of a human.
The reason the dragon
race had gone so far as to create a separate world to seal it was because they
had judged that both its immense power and its quality could by no means be
overlooked.
If one were to
consider that fact, then one could understand just how phenomenal a time as
short as a grain of sand, ten seconds, was.
"The brat himself
seems to be dissatisfied, though. He's a bit impatient, saying that he has to
control his power as soon as possible."
Contrary to Zonne's
and Jihad's perception, Nozomu was somewhat dissatisfied with this result.
He himself probably
also understood that it was not something that could be done easily.
However, the fact that
he had turned his blade on his comrades twice was apparently still weighing on
Nozomu's mind.
"Is it okay not
to tell him?"
"It would be
troublesome if he were to lose his tension by being carelessly placated, and
there is also the possibility that it would be counterproductive. That would be
more dangerous. Since it is necessary to continue his training to the very
limit while maintaining his tension."
Although it might be
leading to Nozomu's own impatience, it was certain that he was in a state of
mind to devote himself to training.
And although Nozomu
had once chosen training for his own escape, from what Zonne had seen, there
was still no sign of the current Nozomu drowning in training.
He had been continuing
this training after facing reality, not some vague delusion.
"As for that,
let's leave the adjustment to the young ladies. That would be more effective,
and the brat would be happy, wouldn't he? As for me, I'm envious beyond
belief..."
"Zonne-dono..."
Indeed, the reason why
Nozomu was currently engrossed in training was due to Irisdina and the others.
Then, they would be more suitable to placate Nozomu.
Although the latter
half of his line was full of personal feelings and didn't really conclude
anything, it was an understandable reason.
"However, the
brat has experienced something like this once before. Although the content of
the training is different, it seems he has grasped the necessary knack."
"As expected, is
that so..."
"Yes, it's not
for nothing that he has acquired such a swordsmanship at that age. His sense of
instinctively discerning the boundary between life and death is excellent even
among the humans I have seen until now."
What even Zonne was
impressed by was Nozomu's concentration during training.
He would discern the
moment just before his body would be fatally wounded by its self-destruction,
and at the same time as Zonne stopped him, he would put the Soul-Sealing
Shackles back on his own body.
"He can be
reckless. Therefore, he is reckless. However, he properly distinguishes the
boundary between life and death. Now that I think about it, I'm starting to get
worried."
"As the one
teaching him, I'm also made to be on edge every single time. Good grief, now
that I think about it, I might have taken on an outrageous disciple..."
While sympathizing
with Nozomu's master, whom he had never met, Zonne let out a deep sigh.
As a teacher, there
were probably few students who would make one worry this much.
"Now then, I
understand Nozomu-kun's situation. I have a meeting after this, so I will be
taking my leave."
"The opening
festival, was it? There's talk of it in the city as well. It seems there are
various events lined up."
"Yes, I hope that
no commotion will occur."
After bowing to Zonne,
Jihad left the basement.
Zonne, who had seen
Jihad off, glanced at the basement floor.
"Tiamat and
Michael. Has time, which was stopped for five thousand years, finally begun to
move again..."
With an expressionless
face, as if to confirm something, he continued to stare intently at the floor.
Eventually, Zonne
raised his face, closed his eyes, and activated his transfer magic.
What was left behind
was only the light of the shining magic circle in the dim basement.
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