The Tale of the Nation That Banished the Saint - Chapter 18

Episode 18: The Final Boss Appears

I executed the rebel leaders, including Robdo.

As the executioners simultaneously swung their blades, ten heads were severed.

The hall erupted into a mix of cheers and jeers, followed by an eerie silence.

Well, the spectators must have mixed feelings.

For the common people starved of entertainment, public executions are one of the few thrilling spectacles they can enjoy.

And—these criminals were the ones who wronged them.

Many feel they got what they deserved.

However, they—these rebels—also fought as heroes representing those who had been utterly exhausted by Zopondort’s repeated heavy taxes.

It’s likely that most people are unsure whether to mourn their deaths or to simply enjoy the spectacle.

Surveying the hall after the executions, I feel overwhelmed by the prospect of what’s to come.

I’ve already announced a reduction in tax rates to 30%, down from the oppressive levels imposed by Zopondort.

But there are many who doubt whether this will actually be implemented, and others who regard the new ruler with suspicion, expecting to endure the same hardships as before.

Earning trust as a ruler will take time.

As I ponder this, I look up at the sky—

“Hmm?”

There’s a commotion.

In the sky above Eires Castle, a colossal bird and dragon are locked in combat.

Despite the distance between us and them, the shockwaves from their clash of titanic forces reach us.

I feel as if I’m being crushed by their overwhelming presence.

In all my monster-slaying endeavors across the kingdom, the largest creatures I’ve encountered were— at most— around three meters in size.

I’ve never seen anything of that magnitude.

Even from afar, they appear to be around twenty meters long.

The wingspan of these two beings in the sky is likely twice their body length.

Their colors are contrasting—the bird shines iridescently, while the dragon is as dark as the void.

The murmurs of the spectators gathered in the hall gradually grow louder—

—and then, in a frenzy, they begin to flee.

The aerial battle undergoes a shift.

The bird begins to lose ground and flees toward the eastern mountain range.

The black dragon pursues, seizing the fleeing bird in the sky before landing in the mountains.

I return to Eires Castle and convene the brain trust, led by Rosalia, in the conference room to assess the situation.

The battle between the giant bird and the dragon concludes with the dragon emerging victorious.

For now, we leave the dead bird aside and focus on gathering information about the dragon.

“So, what was that?”

“Most likely—it’s the ancient evil dragon king, Gartulsia.”

According to Rosalia—

It’s a creature rumored to possess the greatest combat prowess in this world.

The largest known dragons have a body length of five meters at most, with those capable of flight using magic to hover in the air.

They are said to come in four elemental colors: fire, water, wind, and earth.

However, a dragon of such immense size and dark color has only been spoken of in legends.

It’s said that the evil dragon king Gartulsia appears over the territories ruled by foolish rulers to administer punishment.

With its massive body, sharp claws, teeth, and sturdy scales, it poses a formidable threat.

Especially troublesome is the curse imbued in the breath of the evil dragon king—the black flames it exhales burn humans to ashes, leaving nothing behind.

Even an army of ten thousand would stand no chance against it.

Not even the rainbow-colored creature could stand up to it.

Among researchers, there’s a tendency to believe that monsters are more likely to appear in regions where negative human emotions such as war and famine are rampant.

If monsters proliferate, they consume each other, leading to the birth of more powerful monsters.

At the end of this cycle lies the evil dragon king—

At least, that’s the prevailing theory.

While it may not be the evil dragon king, large monsters are beyond human capability to defeat.

If one appears, all we can do is wait for it to pass like a natural disaster.

Despite the occurrence of such powerful monsters, humanity in this world does not perish, thanks to the presence of the saint.

Once monsters, enlarged through cannibalism, have ravaged the region’s inhabitants, they head to the saint, whose barrier purifies their malevolent aura, causing them to disappear.

However, the saint also expends a considerable amount of power and dies prematurely, causing trouble for the saint’s country.

A nation that inadvertently spawns powerful monsters will face lingering disputes with neighboring countries even after the monsters disappear.

“This is bad, very bad—”

“Yes, indeed. Lord Ares, we must evacuate quickly—”

Lilim, a maid serving refreshments, urges us to evacuate from this area.

Once the evil dragon king finishes devouring the bird creature it killed, it will likely turn its attention to the humans in this area.

“Indeed, the danger to our lives is significant, but more importantly—what’s troubling is that this creature appeared shortly after I assumed rulership of this land.”

“Yes, that’s true… As a result of the long years of misrule by the previous Zopondort, the evil dragon king appeared—many will interpret it as a sign that you, Lord Ares, are an unworthy ruler… That’s how they’ll see it.”

Captain Risteen explains my thoughts in detail.

“In that case, I’ll go and defeat the evil dragon king Gartulsia.”

Everyone present vehemently opposes this idea.