Battle War; Magic, Sword and Dragon

Death isn't Punishment

The clear sky.

"...ah. I want to go to a remote island. Bury myself alive.."

Riku raved like crazy in the middle of the city streets.

His handsome face became a disaster for thinking he was a noble who had just broken up and wanted to commit suicide.

Maybe it's not wrong to mention Riku's current condition. He's stressed because of Silvye. It's not that he hates her or doesn't like her coming to the capital.

but didn't I promise to pick her up?

He sighed deeply. Silvye's arrival made the situation complicated. At least, Riku was not prepared yet.

He entered a small restaurant that was rarely a visitor. He then headed to one of the rooms that were designed for visitors who wanted privacy.

There was a young man who had sat down and enjoyed a meal of spaghetti with a bright red sauce.

"No matter how much I look at it, I still don't understand why you like spicy food, Yuuya."

"Spicy food makes us realize that in this world there are things more spicy than our lives. With this we will see the world more positively."

"That's just your view, right? Instead of spicy, why not choose bitter foods like bitter melon? I think it's more suitable to describe our world."

The young man replied with a smile.

"simple. I hate bitter food. Spicy may be upset stomachs, but have you ever heard of any famous food using bitter ingredients?"

"Famous food exists. Somewhere."

"Haa. forget that. I've prepared a special menu similar to yours."

Yuuya patted her hands. A waiter arrived with a plate of red spaghetti with a smoldering red sauce. The smell of spaghetti was so nose-piercing that it almost made tears drip.

The waiter left after putting spaghetti in front of Riku.

"If you have a grudge against me, don't use this kind of means to retaliate."

"Uncle, I have absolutely no grudge against you. Like I said, I prepared a meal similar to yours. Your life is worse than mine, so isn't it natural?"

"I hate to admit it, but it's not wrong at all."

It might sound strange if Yuuya calls Riku uncle, but that's the truth.

Yuuya Yamato's. The crown prince of the Houou empire who would someday become emperor.

Riku himself is the eldest son of the Kagami family. So both of them are entitled to know the secret of the relationship between the two families and the truth about the identity of their parents.

When you know the truth, it takes time to accept. As a result, as the two had been familiar since childhood, the relationship between the two ended up becoming strange.

"The question is, do I have to eat this? Honestly, this food can kill a human."

"You're not human, so it's gonna be okay."

"..."

Although technically it was true, but hearing it was a bit piercing.

"Forget it if you don't want to, I invited you because there's something I want to talk about."

"Yes. I also want to ask you a few things. First, why is the most important person in the elf country in my class?"

If the students of Class B heard what Riku said about Silvyie, they would all definitely instantly change attitudes.

Silvyie's true identity was not only an ordinary elf, but she was a High Elf. Unlike the ordinary elves, High Elves were elves born from the world tree which was the source of life for the elves. It was not strange that the High Elves could be equated with the nobles in the elf country.

But that's not the only thing that makes Silvyie's identity so special. She was also a World Tree Queen, a person who made a contract with the world tree.

People as important as Silvyie should be in a safe country and instead go to another country, anyone who saw it can certainly guess if something happened.

"Hm... Started from that? Is that why you asked?"

"..."

Yuuya smiled.

"I don't really want to care so much about your personal affairs, but since it concerns diplomatic relations with the elven country, I should interfere a little."

"You know that far...?"

Riku doesn't feel so weird. With his identity as the crown prince obtaining information that became one of Riku's greatest secrets was not difficult.

"so. That's why I hope you don't treat Silvyie at will. I've been messing around with Dragonia, so I don't want to add any more trouble."

"I understand, but it still hasn't answered my question."

Yuuya gave a small sigh. He occasionally held his head with a complicated expression.

"Yes, you could say what you think right now is not wrong. Something happened in the elves. One month ago, their forest was attacked by a mysterious group."

"That's impossible."

It was impossible not because it could not be attacked, but to enter the elven land, one had to enter a special barrier. The barrier is not physically visible and will give the effect of an illusion that makes a person lost forever in the forest.

And not only that, the effect will also affect thousands of people at once. So attacking the elf country was quite impossible. This was the reason why the elven country could still survive even though they did not make much contact with the outside country.

"Maybe... If the enemy uses the usual means. You forget that in this world there are some things that allow us to do something more by relying on some tool."

"What technology can now go that far?"

"not now. I could have done that a long time ago. It's just that maybe this is when they use it."

Yuuya sighed deeply.

In the last 10 years, magic technology and science have developed so quickly that it has left governments confused.

Confused because technology can now be used in the wrong way, but if not deployed, they will be labeled as a lagging country.

In the end, the government is still using the same policy. Deploying new technologies with close supervision.

Unfortunately, that does not mean that the new problems of advanced technology are reduced. Due to limitations by the government, many parties are ordering from other countries by illegal means.

"Forget it now. The attackers used a wide variety of technologies to traverse the protectors and eventually invade the elven land. The result is as you already know."

The elves still used their old culture and rarely communicated with the outside world. It was not strange that the protectors and magic they used were still using the old ways.

This gap was eventually exploited by the enemy and it made Riku an unexpected arrival of guests.

"I understand. That's something that can't be changed. But the mysterious group attackers. Isn't that too often the end of this?"

Yep. One more thing that made Riku feel strange. Yuuya's mention of the enemy.

"That's because the enemies who attacked the city of Horuse and who attacked the country of the elves were from the same group."

"!?"

Riku was surprised not to play, but Yuuya was so relaxed as if it was none of his business.

"For Horuse's city, I'll deal with it immediately. After all this was not the first time they had used this trick to attack the empire."

"...this isn't the first time?"

Yuuya.

"Even before the war, many places of the empire were attacked. It might be more appropriate to be robbed or stolen. Because they always appear in unexpected places, it is very difficult to track them. And more annoying, when caught they will immediately blow themselves up. You know, thanks to that, we have absolutely no proof that this fucking country is behind any of this."

"..."

"And now, my only uncle the imperial Prince of Harem managed to obtain the most important figure in the elf country. Uncle, what should I do to reduce this stress?"

He had not expected to get so many complaints from Yuuya.

"You really work hard. I'll be happy to help you with this as long as I can."

"Oh great. If not, I'm gonna have this to granny and I think it's gonna reduce the stress I feel."

Riku's face instantly pale.

He's always to be reminded not to be like his father who always seduces girls wherever he goes, but it seems blood can't lie.

"Just tell me what you want and we'll end this sad conversation. I don't know why, it also stresses me out. "

 

Riku came back after he finished talking to Yuuya. Honestly, it wasn't a pleasant conversation.

"War..."

Riku stared at the night sky filled with stars. The two moons in the sky became the main decorators.

Two years ago, he went to Dragonia to visit his father's friend, Princess Diana and also the Wind Dragon King, Shapira to ask for blessings from him.

At that time Dragonia was so peaceful and there was no sign they would start a war on the neighboring country.

Riku did not understand at all what reason made Dragonia do that. But he can't just shut up.

He forcefully broke through the barrier and finally asked Princess Diana directly.

The answer he received made Riku unable to say anything. War is not good, but there is no peace that lasts forever.

Dragonia starting a war is just starting one day it will happen.

And that's when he made his decision. Whatever their relationship, when they meet on the battlefield they are enemies.

Only, he had not expected Dragonia to use such an unpleasant way. Riku did not want to interfere in the war, but it seemed that the situation made him have to intervene faster.

While having all of that, Riku finally reached home. Upon entering, he was surprised that no one greeted him as usual.

But that thought changed as he headed for his room located on the second floor.

In front of the room door, she saw Silvye kneeling on the floor with a pale and desperate face. Meanwhile, Lunaris stood in front of him with a powerful killing aura. His right hand had even completely turned into a dragon hand with long claws resembling a sword.

Riku slightly flinched from being completely unaware of the killing aura before approaching, but it seemed like it was intentional to make Riku startle.

That way it works. Riku was silent, but in his deepest heart he was so panicked. If he could, he wanted to leave that place as far away as possible.

But whatever he's gonna do. He knew he could not escape the responsibility he had to do as a man.

"I think you're finally home. You know, just now when I was chatting with Silvyie, she said 'in terms of making a child with Riku, she's also experienced for having done it 100 times over'. As your lover, your fiancee, the future mother of your son, after hearing all that, is there any reason I shouldn't kill Silvyie?"

Lunaris said in a flat tone and filled with smiles, but anyone could see that there was a great anger behind it all.

But behind that anger, Riku knew, there was a great sadness.

Not because of what Riku and Silvyie had done, but because of Lunaris herself.

"I can't give you a reason, but if I can I want you to hear everything I've been hiding from you."

Riku wanted to tell her everything at the right moment, but it couldn't.

"About the second biggest mistake of my life. And also a responsibility that I have to do. After that, you can do anything to me or to Silvyie."

He knew the answer he gave was unfair to Lunaris. But he knows Lunaris is not someone who will easily lose control, especially when it comes to relationships with him.

----___

Three years Riku traveled the world. He did so not only because of seeking experience, but it was the only way to control his strength.

More precisely, he traveled the world in search of an existence that could help control his power. The figure he was looking for was the Dragon Kings and getting blessings from them.

Luckily, because her parents had relationships with several Dragon Kings, she was able to get blessings from Ruby, Shapira and Emera. For the other Dragon Kings, he had to obtain blessings with his own efforts.

In order to obtain the blessing of the fourth Dragon King, he went towards the elven land located in the Gedbang forest.

The elves were known as a solitary race and stayed away from other races. It is not strange that ordinary people find it difficult to enter the land of elves.

Luckily, thanks to his parents' relationship with the elders of the elf country, Riku was able to enter easily and had no significant difficulty meeting the Wood Dragon King, Grenia.

Just like the existence of Shapira in Dragonia, Grenia is a Dragon King that protects the elf country from enemies and also as well as the protector of the World Tree.

But that does not mean its existence is inferior to the World Tree.  Both are important existences that maintain the balance of the world.

In order to obtain the blessing from Grenia, Riku had to pass the test. This was the first time he did it because of the blessings he had received before he could only.

The test he received was to conquer a labyrinth found in the land of the elves. The labyrinth was one of the labyrinths with the highest level of difficulty, so Riku could have lost his life there.

After knowing that, it did not make Riku retreat. He's getting more excited.

He had several times conquered the labyrinth, so he already understood what danger would await him. Merely, he did not expect the labyrinth in the elven land was one of the most dangerous.

The appointed day arrived. Riku had already prepared for the test to be conducted, but before it started, the Elf elder, Fea Forestia Barlan had Silvyie take part in the exam together with Riku.

Of course Riku was initially opposed, but Fea explained that sooner or later Silvyie would also take the test given her position. It's better to be with Riku than to do it alone.

Riku finally agreed. If he could help Silvyie, he would do so with great pleasure. Silvyie is not weak.

Then the exam began. The labyrinth in the land of the elves was named Desolate. Riku understood why it was given such a name, but the statement was answered upon entering the labyrinth.

Upon entering, they were immediately greeted by a vast and dry field with no life. The air was so dry that it made it difficult for Riku to breathe. Everything in front of him was inversely proportional to the green and full of life Gedbang forest.

Both step forward. In order to complete the test, they had to defeat the monster boss who was on the bottom floor of the labyrinth. But the top floor alone was already this wide, it would take a lot of time to do so.

And that was not all they were worried about, monsters finally appeared.

The monsters that first appeared were rabbit-shaped with long canine teeth resembling daggers. His entire body was black with a dangerous aura. Even Riku who was often faced with new monsters first felt such pressure.

But that was not all that surprised Riku, as he slashed the rabbit, he felt like he was slashing iron. Even the impact he gave off was so shallow.

It takes time to defeat a rabbit. If people find out about this, Riku will be embarrassed to death.

That's when he realized. If the rabbit monster alone was this difficult, how long would it take to defeat the monster boss? Will he be able to defeat him with his current strength?

And most importantly, was it an ordinary monster?

Silvyie told me that in the labyrinth, the monsters there are called Chaos Beasts. A monster created from miasma that only wants destruction and hates life.

Riku jerks. This was only the first time he had known of such a creature in the Orladist.

Silvyie again explained that the existence of the Chaos Beast was wiped out from history because its existence threatened life.

Riku understood the reason, but he did not understand how the Chaos Beast could never appear in life. There seems to be a big secret behind all this.

Then they continued the exam. For 3 weeks they were finally able to head to the next floor. During that time, they were dealing with a Chaos Beast which was quite troublesome.

On the second floor, the Chaos Beasts that appeared started getting stronger and attacking with the group. Riku was able to defeat them thanks to Silvyie's help.

Time passed and the two did not know how long they had been in the labyrinth. 

During the test, they grew stronger. And because they can't do anything, they can only rely on each other and trust each other. Thanks to that test, their relationship was undoubtedly getting closer.

Riku's greatest growth was the control of the level two Dragonoid's strength that was becoming more and more perfect. If it used to take him some time to activate it, he could do it in an instant now.

Not only Riku, Silvyie's growth is also no less amazing. As a spirit art user, Silvyie had always been slow in using magic, but this time she was getting faster and stronger. Especially when facing the Chaos Beast, arguably the impact given by Silvyie's attack was greater than Riku's attack.

It is not without reason. Spirit art itself is not so strong when compared to magic arts commonly used by magicians, but instead, spirit arts have a greater impact on Chaos Beasts. It was more appropriate that spirit art was a natural enemy of the Chaos Beast.

With the development of Silvyie, the test went easier. They finished one by one the floor and finally arrived at the bottom floor.

A big door greeted them. It was like a gate to another world. Behind that door, the last and most powerful enemy greeted them. If you win, the exam will be over. But if you lose...

Both of them do not want to imagine things that do not necessarily happen. The enemy was indeed getting stronger, but they also grew during the test.

With the same determination, they finally opened the door and faced the final enemy.

What greeted them was a big surprise.

The Chaos Beast that was in the room was in the form of a human with a body of more than 2 meters. The powerful killing aura as well as the miasma were so condensed as if the figure was not from this world.

Both aware. That figure was different from the Chaos Beast that they had defeated all along. 

And more to their surprise, it turns out that the figure has intelligence. They can even communicate with them.

That Chaos Beast figure even had a name, Degan.

Despite being surprised by Degan's figure, Riku and Silvyie quickly calmed down. From the experience of the fight they went through, panic would only get them in trouble.

The battle that was not spared finally began.

Riku just directly activated the power of a level 2 Dragonoid. While Silvyie summoned her strongest spirit to help Riku.

The fight was fierce, but both were aware. Both attacks were completely ineffective. The impact they gave off was too small and the regeneration that Degan had was so quick. Degan's attack was also deadly.

If this continued, let alone finishing the test, they would die if it continued.

Riku finally made a decision. He didn't want to use powers he couldn't control, but there was no other choice.

Dragonoid level 3.

After activating that power, Riku got stronger. His attacks were also effective and had an impact on Degan.

But even though the path of the fight has improved, Riku is aware that the time he has is limited. If within 3 minutes he did not defeat Degan, he would have to use the power of a level 3 Dragonoid for longer and that would mean allowing that power to take over his body.

A fighting figure only relied on instincts no more than a ferocious beast.

But it seems that Riku must be a beast to win and survive this situation.

The fight between Riku and Degan lasted over an hour. Both sides carried out deadly attacks with the aim of killing each other's opponents. Their fight was more appropriate if it was referred to as a fight between two monsters rather than a fight conducted by humans.

Meanwhile Silvyie could not do much and could only see the fight from afar. Even though he had strength on par with Master rank, the fight between Riku and Degan was on a different level.

All he could do was prepare if things got worse.

Thank goodness that bad thing didn't happen. Riku finally started to excel and managed to defeat Degan.

Silvyie was happy because the fight was over. Although the path of the exam was slightly off the mark than it should have been, it was better than falling victim.

But at that moment something strange happened to Riku. Normally after a big battle that eats up power, Riku will return as usual, but currently Riku's form is still when using Dragonoid power.

And what surprised Silvyie the most was that the bottom of Riku that was supposed to be fast asleep was now rising like a holy sword that was ready to wield evil.

At that moment Silvyie was conscious. Riku was currently nothing more than a ferocious beast. There were three basic instincts that a savage beast possessed. First, survive. Two, eat and the third, breed.

As the only woman who was in that place, what happened next was predictable.

After three days and three nights, Riku finally regained consciousness and returned to his normal form. At the same time he finally saw what he had done to Silvyie.

He managed to clear the test, but he also made the second biggest mistake of his life after nearly killing Lunaris.

¬¬¬

After hearing the story behind Riku and Silvyie's relationship, Lunaris urges in.

"I'll call mom and after that kill you 100 times."

"I've died 2,000 times because of that mistake and now you want to add to that?"

"..."

If others heard Riku's rebuttal, they would have thought Riku was joking. But Lunaris and Silvyie know that Riku is telling the truth.

The great mistress in the Kagami family is a magician capable of using time magic. Returning Riku from death is easy.

The toughest punishment in the Kagami family was not to be killed thousands of times.