“Keep the herbs burning well. You know what those dragons will do if the fire goes out, right? You don’t want to die, so hold on well.”

But she could no longer keep the smoke going. At this rate, Clementina would lose consciousness. She had to extinguish the herb pile fires while some reason remained. Even after extinguishing all the herb fires, it would take quite a while for the smoke on the ground to clear.

So Clementina had to escape before the demonic beast dragons regained consciousness.

What if the demonic beast dragons woke up and left Diahart Island? What if they went to Drasia and attacked the villagers?

She didn’t know.

Clementina had no strength to think about what would happen after extinguishing the fires. First she had to hold onto her sanity.

She extinguished one herb fire. When she poured water on it, black smoke rose. The acrid smell grew more toxic. Fearing she’d lose consciousness first with this method, she found a thick branch and dug up the herb pile to scatter it. The remaining ashes rose into the sky. Come to think of it, she realized no wild dragons were visible in the sky above where the demonic beast dragons nested.

Was it because of the herb smoke?

Clementina blinked and dozed briefly, then collapsed to the ground with her eyes closed.

‘Ah…… I’ve only put out one.’

Extinguishing all eight herb fires had been impossible from the start. The awakened demonic beast dragons would surely devour her.

Clementina didn’t want to give up. But she hadn’t eaten enough, hadn’t slept enough. Staying up all night not knowing when the demonic beast dragons would wake wasn’t just a day or two.

‘I don’t want to die……’

That was the thought Clementina had before losing consciousness.

Dion’s knights split into armies heading to Southford in the westernmost Ronakia Empire, Issiliad summer palace in southern Derin, Lonzstone Abbey in the southwest, and Setia.

Issiliad summer palace received support from Jihelona Kingdom. The knights of the Kingdom of Paco joined Lonzstone Abbey. And each lord of the Ronakia Empire led their knights toward Setia with the Gold Dragon Order.

But support from other kingdoms all took time.

Dion’s order had no worries for now. They just had to push forward according to the given plan.

The problem was Issiliad summer palace. Too few troops were where the Emperor and Empress were. This was a complete mistake. No matter how excellent the imperial knights were, they’d be disadvantaged if the enemy attacked with numbers.

Though it didn’t show, Dion grew anxious too. The Emperor was weak toward the Umbarot Queen and her younger brother. The Emperor said not to worry since Umbarot Kingdom was family, but in Dion’s view, that was precisely the reason to be most wary.

Jerbek Sichenti wasn’t someone who could become Emperor from the start. His vessel was small and he lacked the virtues an emperor should have.

The Emperor was a good monarch but weak toward blood relatives. One could tell by looking at Dion. The Emperor sent Dion to the capital to deal with the Akarti Kingdom, leaving the imperial knights behind, saying Umbarot Kingdom would protect him.

Dion opposed to the end but couldn’t disobey the Emperor’s command. So he secretly left two dragon riders behind.

Only by quickly subduing the Akarti Kingdom and settling the situation could he see Clementina.

“We left only minimal forces in Drasia. Since all the dragons are out anyway, even if they occupy that place, we just need to retake it quickly.”

Lillian spoke matter-of-factly. But anxiety was felt in her tone. She too worried about Clementina just the same. If she’d known this would happen, she shouldn’t have left only physical training to Dimint. Lillian herself should have paid more attention and at least taught the Duchess swordsmanship.

“The people mustn’t be hurt.”

One might lose the small to gain the large. But if Dimint’s mother Aiba living in Dicon village, the good people who casually offered Dion drinks, the old man and young men of Sheaf Village, or the Hunts siblings’ younger brother from Windmill Village got hurt, that was a different story.

They were all people he knew well. He couldn’t vaguely call them “my people.” Once they became known faces, one’s mindset changed.

“Kentlen Palace is a complete mess.”

Berche spoke to Dion from the side. The atmosphere had changed quite a bit from Kentlen Palace until now. The palace, beautiful in white and gold, had become covered in red blood and damp mud. Even the splendid garden had been occupied by the Akarti Kingdom’s dragons and become ruins. For dragons, one day was more than enough.

Fortunately, the Akarti Kingdom only had four dragons. The dragon originally known as the Monk Principality’s dragon had long been revealed to belong to Sue. The absence of Sue’s dragon now also confirmed Dion’s guess.

‘D*mn it, Clementina really was dragged away by that crazy woman. Why does she keep targeting her?’

“We’ve confirmed Langston is in the Emperor’s ceremonial chamber.”

‘She’s not trying to kill her. She needs her alive.’

“The occupied points are the west wing, east wing, and north wing. They haven’t entered the south wing where the mages are yet.”

‘What does that mage claiming to be from the Monk Principality know about Clementina?’

“In my opinion, we should approach the south wing and attempt contact with the mages.”

‘Then she definitely knows about Caroline too. Without Caroline, there’s no way to know about Clementina.’

“Duke?”

Despite Berche’s report, Dion only thought of Clementina. The order’s vice-commander seemed to vaguely understand what the Duke of Drasia was thinking. Though it was a completely unlike-him appearance.

“We go straight into the west wing and take Langston’s head first.”

“……Understood.”

Berche turned back without objection. He organized the army and gave operation instructions to the remaining four dragon riders.

Dion had no intention of attacking slowly. Quick decisive battle—the Akarti Kingdom had swiftly taken Kentlen Palace, so there would be many weak points. As always.

Berche and Arakan took the lead. Behind them, Lillian and the Hunts siblings flew up on dragons. In the very last line, Dimint and Jeremiah went together. Lili no longer hesitated to fly. Rather, he was busy releasing the power he’d been holding back.

“First we destroy the bridge connecting the west and east wings.”

“What? Destroy the bridge? But isn’t that bridge where His Majesty the Emperor drinks tea with Her Majesty the Empress? What if you get scolded later for breaking it needlessly?”

“He sent me here, so he must have been prepared for that much. I don’t know why he sent me here when I don’t even have a dragon.”

Dion kicked the ground with a displeased face.

The bridge connecting the west and east wings connected from the highest floor of both buildings. Thanks to this, it was a place overlooking all four buildings of the palace. One could view even the magic department’s tallest tower from close by.

The Emperor and Empress liked drinking tea and chatting there.

“Tell him to build a new one. He’ll like it better.”

Dion raised his hand and waved it back and forth. Then the dragons quickly flew up with Arakan in the lead. Thousands of knights followed behind.

It seemed Kentlen Palace would burn down. To catch one mouse, they were destroying Kentlen Palace. The knights thought the Duke of Drasia had gone thoroughly mad.

In front of Kentlen Palace, barbarians of the Akarti Kingdom were stationed.

A strong smell came from them. Familiar yet different. Similar to wild ginger that masked foul odors, but stronger. Then Dimint dry-heaved.

“Ugh! The smell is exactly like those who appeared at the Siara mountain range. What did those Akarti bastards eat? Ugh!”

The Akarti Kingdom’s barbarians had been burning herbs given by Sue for quite a long time. So a strong herb smell hung around Kentlen Palace. Even without burning it directly, one couldn’t know what effect the smell might have.

The Gold Dragon knights cut down every visible barbarian without leaving one.

Blood spurted and flesh burst open. Shouts were heard everywhere. Even trying to attack while avoiding the people wasn’t easy. It wasn’t just the Gold Dragon Order. True to being a barbaric nation, the Akarti Kingdom took the Ronakia Empire’s people hostage.

Naturally casualties continued.

Still, they had to move forward. It was unavoidable to cut off Akarti’s Langston Twiz’s head.

For a full fifteen days, corpses of Akarti Kingdom barbarians piled into mountains in Setia. The people who barely survived offered meals to the Gold Dragon knights.

But the knights’ priority wasn’t resting their bodies. The sl*ughter they’d already tasted made their blood boil. The smell of herb had faded in the smell of blood, but fortunately the effect on the Gold Dragon Order had been directed at the enemy. To cool this heat, a perfect end was needed.

Dion stood at Kentlen Palace’s main gate on horseback. Black smoke rising from Kentlen Palace was visible in the sky above. The fire still hadn’t gone out from the bridge Lillian and Vance destroyed. At that level, the magic department must have done something too. They’d bought time, so now their lives were theirs to protect.

He couldn’t guess how much those who’d only sat at desks researching could do, but Dion no longer wanted to worry about such trivial matters.

Things had been delayed more than expected.

Dion’s sword shot toward the sky. At that signal, Arakan breathed fire and melted Kentlen Palace’s main gate. Barbarians poured out and the sound of flesh being sliced rang loudly.

Blood and flesh splattered on Dion’s beautiful face, and his glossy brown-gold hair was soaked in blood.

Dion re-gripped his sword. He couldn’t remember when he’d last let go of his sword.

‘Soon now, very soon. It’ll end now.’

Dion was tired. Blood dripped from his fingertips gripping the sword.

The door to Kentlen Palace’s west wing audience chamber was right before his eyes. Then dragon rider Ray Luium suddenly rushed in. Seeing his face, one side of Dion’s chest grew cold.

Why was a dragon rider who should be at Issiliad Palace here?

Ray Luium was always relaxed, but this time his steps were completely unlike him—hasty.

News flew from Issiliad Palace.

News that the Emperor had passed away. The cause of death was poisoning.