The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations Chapter 793

Episode 793: This is good for persuasion. (2)

It was easy to guess why the Demon Realm had moved faster than expected:
the presence of the Saintess.
From their perspective, they needed to seize the opportunity before the Saintess became the center of the human union.
Of course, the Saintess wasn’t the only reason.
The Salvation Church had also learned that the Pope was gathering the Holy Stones. The Pope’s reason for collecting the Stones
was, of course, to subdue the Demon Realm. Even if the Saintess hadn’t awakened, the Pope’s invasion was already planned.
The Salvation Church, still unable to find their king, had no choice.
Moving faster than their opponents and inflicting significant damage was their best option.
“Kaaaah!
” The group gasped as they saw the sight Arterion had shown them.
Within the crimson ruins, they saw hairless, gray humans.
No, they were too hideous to be called humans.
These monsters, with long arms and red eyes, possessed sharp, long teeth, claws, and toenails.
Their numbers seemed endless. Their numbers were so vast that they could not even be contained by the eye, spreading out in all directions.
Unlike Jiselle, the group had never seen the Rifters themselves. They had only heard the legends they’d heard. ”
Keep going!”
A gigantic beast appeared among the Rifters.
Its muscular, gray body clad in golden armor, it bore numerous blue horns on its head.
Blue smoke flowed from its mouth, filling the surroundings.
Jiselle knew what it was.
“Equidema, the vanguard of the apocalypse.”
It was a monster that created a territory for the Rifters to operate in.
However, there was a slight difference from the future. ”
The fog hasn’t yet filled yet, but the Rifters are moving.”
It was a movement that defied Jiselle’s common sense. If that were the case, the Rifters’ range of activity would be far wider than in the future.
As she’d heard from Erenes in the future, it seemed to be due to the proximity to the Demon Realm and the stronger permeation of the Demon God’s energy.
“Still, it’s okay for now.”
Until their adversary appears, they too cannot open the massive rift. The power of the Demonic Realm has its limits, and so the movements of the Cracklings will eventually be restricted.
Equidema will expand its territory, but humanity will also fully prepare in the meantime.
Unlike the future, this era has always been prepared for war with the Demonic Realm.
And the most powerful lifeforms that never existed in the future exist in this era.
Krrrrrrrr… … .
Suddenly, the sky burned red.
Soon, something enormous appeared, tearing through the clouds above the ruins where the Cracklings were gathered.
Krrrrrr!
The red dragon’s roar shook the heavens and earth.
As its massive mouth opened, flames boiling from its heart poured out like an explosion.
The dragon’s breath resembled a crimson storm pouring down from the sky.
Kwakwakwakwakwakwakwakwakwakwakwa!
The flaming breath fell like lightning, engulfing the horde of monsters. The flames spread in all directions, burning everything.
The Cracklings were evaporated without a trace by the intense heat. The earth was twisted into a black black.
Those who witnessed this sight couldn’t help but gasp in awe.
Dragons, the most powerful living creatures and supreme beings, were with them. Normally, they were objects of fear, but when on their side, they couldn’t be more reassuring. The
rippling space returned to its original state, and the scenery there was no longer visible. But that alone was enough to understand the situation.
Arterion spoke to the group.
“The dragons guarding the Demonic Realm will be blocking the monsters’ advance. However, the fact that the Demonic Realm has moved means that an unimaginable number of monsters have been prepared.”
His gaze returned to Giselle.
“A little more time and those monsters will spread in all directions. The Human Union’s army must be ready before then.”
Giselle agreed. They
must persuade the Pope and unite humanity while there is still time.
Arterion continued with a displeased expression.
“I’d like to help you more, but I can’t. I have received an official request from the Pope.”
“If it’s a request…”
“Yes, regardless of the stone, I requested the return of the saintess. I heard they sent a ship and personnel to fetch you. And… they also requested that you no longer interfere with the affairs of the Yulien Mercenary Corps.”
“I see.” ”
In any case, I need to stop the other dragons and the advance party of the Demon Realm and buy humanity time. So, you have no choice but to resolve the matter with the Pope.”
“Understood. Thank you for your help so far. We will handle it now. Don’t worry too much.”
“I hope you succeed in persuading the Pope, as you say. No matter how strong you become, fighting the Empire will be impossible. If it’s really dangerous, take the saintess and hide. After we stop the advance party of the Demonic Realm, I’ll speak with the Pope again.”
“I’ll keep that method in mind,”
Giselle replied calmly.
This much was expected. It was natural for the Pope to block the dragon’s intervention first.
Mediation and negotiation would come later. The Pope would want to conclude this matter under his own leadership.
After finishing the conversation, Giselle immediately summoned Dark.
Before moving in earnest, she wanted to issue a few orders to the members of the Yulien Mercenary Corps at each kingdom’s branch.
Arterion looked at Dark, his expression filled with curiosity.
“What is that? You don’t seem like an ordinary spirit.”
Even the usually squeamish Dark lowered his eyes to the side and muttered.
“I am the Spirit King… Hmm…”
Even for Dark, dragons were too terrifying. So, I hadn’t even come out yet, just chatting with Astion in my mind.
Arterion’s gaze changed in an instant. It was as if he wanted to capture it and experiment on it.
Sensing that cruel gaze, Giselle immediately sent Dark flying into the sky.
“It’s nothing special. It’s just a strange spirit.”
“Hmm, really? We should talk about that spirit later.” ”
…Well, if I get the chance.”
Dark flapped his wings desperately, not wanting to feel that sticky gaze of the dragon any longer.
Paaaaaaah!
Dark, who had flown high into the sky, soon split into several swarms. They had quite a few places to go.
With Dark gone, the group began to pack their bags in earnest. They each grabbed a spare weapon from Arterion’s warehouse.
Having handled various weapons in the warehouse, everyone had already made a mental choice.
Giselle briefly looked around the warehouse and then asked Arterion,
“Can I take two?”
“Go ahead.”
Giselle readily agreed and picked up a small hatchet. It was an extremely luxurious hatchet, engraved with gold leaf.
Arterion tilted his head at the sight.
“It’s a good hatchet, but isn’t it a bit lacking as a weapon?”
“It’s good for connecting with others.”
Giselle muttered, slinging the hatchet at her waist. She then searched the storage again and selected a spear with a dull, monotonous appearance.
Of course, it was no ordinary spear, as it belonged in the dragon’s storage.
Giselle asked Arterion,
“What is this spear’s name?”
“Kardnach, which means the spear that brings death. It’s an artifact made from the bones of a black dragon and inscribed with several magics.”
“Good. I’ll take this one.”
“You really have a keen eye for weapons. But do you know how to use a spear?”
“Yes, I used to use
it quite often.” Giselle looked around the spear, then muttered something else, this time incomprehensible.
“It’s good for persuasion.”

* * *

The imperial delegation reached Arterion’s Lair.
Since they had officially arrived in the name of the Pope, they were able to reach the Lair without any monster attacks.
Arterion ignored the prostrate imperial delegation and spoke to Deneve.
“I will hand over the holy stone I possess to you.”
He reached out and the air began to split.
A rift opened, glittering like cracked glass, and within it, a blue void, like a replica of the abyss of the ocean, rippled.
A jewel, imbued with an imposing presence, slowly rose from within.
Elves and dwarves would draw the holy stone from their sacred possessions.
But Arterion, without any such intermediary, seemed to draw it directly from subspace.
Yet, there was no doubt it wasn’t a holy stone.
No jewel in the world could replicate the divine radiance that burst from within.
“Oh…”
The imperial delegation gazed at the holy stone with a mixture of awe and gratitude.
For them, something they’d never seen before was before their eyes.
Arterion pulled a ring out of subspace again.
Like the other trinkets, it had a small structure attached to it.
Click.
The blue gem was fused into the ring, and Arterion handed it to Deneb.
Deneb bowed deeply and placed the ring on her finger.
Giselle, seeing this, looked slightly bewildered.
‘Juana’s blessing?’
The ring had been lying around in the relic repository of the Juana Church.
Giselle had obtained it from Polisko and given it to Fiote. It was a sacred relic, meant only for those with divine power.
And yet, it was something Deneb had worn!
‘Huh? Then… …’
Other necklaces and bracelets could have had the same effect. Their owners simply lacked divine power, so they weren’t aware of it.
‘Hmm, but it seems like that effect doesn’t exist in this era.’
The necklace and bracelet Deneb was currently wearing didn’t have the same effect as Juana’s blessing.
After obtaining the relic, they practiced moving their bodies a few times, and Deneb had clearly been shocked at that time.
‘Why doesn’t it have that effect now?’
Curious, Giselle asked Arterion.
“There are accessories that fit the relic. What are they?”
“According to old oral tradition, they were made for the priests who performed sacrifices to the heavens to wear. The relics need to be fixed somewhere.”
“Then… do they have any special abilities?”
“It’s true that they were made of precious materials, but they don’t have any special abilities. They only have historical value.”
“I see.”
Since the Dragon Lord had confirmed it, his words must be correct. Giselle thought of a new hypothesis.
‘Will it later become a relic because of Deneb’s divine power?’
She wasn’t sure, but it seemed likely.
Her own necklace was definitely imbued with the divine power left behind by Deneb.
‘If I go back to the original era, it would be good to obtain other relics.’
If other relics possessed abilities like Juana’s protection, they too would greatly contribute to increasing their power.
Giselle asked another question while she was at it.
“I heard there are relics for each race. I’ve seen other things, but what is the Heart of Creation that dragons possess?”
Arterion pointed to his own heart.
“It’s my heart.”
“…Huh?” ”
The wisdom and power that has been passed down solely to the Lord since the beginning of time. That is the Heart of Creation.”
“Aha…”
“And it is the authority, as a dragon, to coordinate and reorganize this world. This power is inherited only by the dragon chosen as Lord.”
“I see.”
Somehow, even in her dreams, she understood why Arterion seemed so much stronger than other dragons.
It must have been thanks to the Heart of Creation.
She became curious about the existence of the adversary who had cursed Arterion, weakening him.
‘If it weren’t for that curse, I wouldn’t have been able to defeat him.’
Even now, the thought sends a chill down her spine. Arterion was the toughest opponent Giselle had ever faced.
Despite the presence of the mightiest warriors and over a thousand wizards, they were nearly defeated.
“If only Alfoy hadn’t been there at the end…”
Jiselle shook her head, shaking Alfoy out of her mind. Just like last time, he kept popping up whenever it mattered.
Meanwhile, the imperial delegation listened to the two men’s conversation, their eyes wide. This was their first time hearing this.
But the important thing to them was the Holy Stone. The delegation kept glancing at Deneb.
Arterion, noticing the situation, looked down at them and said,
“The owner of this holy stone is the saintess, Deneb. Therefore, you must assist the saintess against the demonic realm. This is my will, so be sure to convey this to the Pope.”
“Ah, I understand.”
“If you take it by force, you will be prepared for the dragon’s retaliation. After the war with the demonic realm ends, the oath will also end.”
“I will definitely convey the will of the Great One.”
Arterion deliberately gave the holy stone to Deneb in front of the imperial delegation, to declare that she was the owner of the stone.
This was all he could do.
And he thought this warning would help the Yulien Mercenary Corps persuade the Pope.
If they did not want to see the empire destroyed after the war with the demonic realm ended, then so be it.
Arterion said his final farewell to the Yulien Mercenary Corps.
“I pray that the goddesses bless your journey. I hope to see you again soon.”
Arterion soared into the sky, carrying those he had kidnapped from the Kingdom of Snowbur. Now, he and the other dragons would prepare for battle against the Demonic Realm. With
the Dragon Lord departing, the people of the empire could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Soon, the leader of the delegation spoke to Deneve with a gentle smile.
“We welcome you, Saintess. We will ensure your safe passage to the empire.”
They had indeed treated the Yulien mercenaries with the utmost sincerity.
They always provided the best food and comfortable beds on board. However, the group remained tense.
They were uncertain about what would happen if they met the Pope.
After several days of sailing, when they returned to land,
“Hmm.”
Giselle looked around with a dispassionate expression.
The port city of Tulan was no longer what it once was.
All the buildings and people had vanished, leaving only an empty space, like a plain.
If a battle had ravaged the land, this would not have happened. There was only one reason for this to happen without a battle.
A powerful ruler had destroyed everything and forcibly relocated people.
The imperial envoys kept their distance from the Yulien Mercenaries without saying a word.
And after a while,
“It’s been a while, Yulien Mercenaries.”
Darenz, now one-armed, appeared with an eerie smile.