Chapter 282: Heaven Above Heaven (4)
Isi2vElizabeth was thinking about how to enter Zveta.UZikyze
SsBPV“Let’s disguise ourselves as imperial soldiers. We just have to kidnap three.”ZaIneDx
Jnc0That was Gott’s proposal, while Gorio thought of another method.393dH8j
ibzZnfr“What if we go in pretending to be prisoners from the detention camp?”3knP
BdWBd“Isn’t that too risky?”Gzr4s
PbBQTGV“But it would be more natural.”GXgFS
KGqWbKElizabeth couldn’t decide easily. In any case, the risk was high.IPji
1wGsSN“You two.”HYnwy
kYm1ZF“Yes.”t9d
PUp3O“Yes.”B3w
4pAvxZ“I’ll go alone. You wait outside.”2w8ugtA
D4QKUFElizabeth thought that was the best option.R1e
SDdUnfortunately, both of them lacked the necessary skill to move with her.8950
RS99FGott shook his head.cxaDNtT
j5Anol“No, I’ll go with you, Lady Elizabeth. As someone from Briol, I can’t just sit back and do nothing.”keS6sg
WukcMfmAs president of the Briol Comrades Association, Gott felt great anger toward the detention camps for foreigners that the Empire had set up.AHI8Pat
X2BAE2UHe clenched his fist and expressed his determination.BonuYKF
kDR“I’ll risk my life to accompany you.”bwJZXe
eUJFDe6Seeing that Elizabeth was uncomfortable, Gorio stepped in to stop Gott.kFfl
cUD“Gott, in this Lady Elizabeth is right.”9OBdLSt
V78“Are you telling me to just stand by and watch?”mAMKR
T2CC“Reality is different from ideals. We would only be a hindrance. You have to accept what is.”tPPJ
apj9“Tsk…”AUCCj
qwsK0Elizabeth valued Gorio’s judgment highly. Even on the way to Zveta, she had received much help from him.SGy30Mt
nM4VlThat realism was surely what had made him the boss of the underworld.oszR
ifTFCAz“Do you understand?”EYh
rw92HAY“Yes…”pjo
Rr6OAYzGott let out a long sigh and nodded.YqMCC8
jyQSx“Alright. But it’s frustrating… that I’ll only be a hindrance.”KX9
ppbL“Everyone has their time. Yours is not now.”fglsy6h
i18LD7O“Lord Gorio…”3HK8o9A
gfhAUV“When this war ends, you’ll have plenty to do. So take care of yourself. If you wear yourself out beforehand and aren’t there when you’re truly needed, that will also be a serious mistake.”4ToKhrW
ZBZfV“I understand.”w6Y
65el7gWith his experience leading an organization, Gorio knew how to move people’s hearts.4IbPex
VvYhFThen, he turned to Elizabeth.spuHui
bkY“But we should help at least a little. Lady Elizabeth, may I give you my opinion?”VtoA49
dxrMK“Of course.”8CCF
8LnDr6Q“If you’re going in alone, it will be easier to disguise yourself as an imperial soldier, as Gott said. So at least we can help lure some soldiers.”8p9SZY7
XZ2“Thank you.”zzBUdI
QeYLM5They searched for a suitable target.l05
nzstThe soldiers guarding Zveta’s surroundings were not ordinary. All had been modified by black magic and seemed as strong as a trained knight.ndcuAkB
KunEl3But Elizabeth was one of the Ten Greats.CtdZ
tzqBoZD“Hey, you! Who are you? Stay right there!”Sm4yKdp
mVvThey saw three soldiers patrolling a bit away from the wall.40Gi
DAUfmFollowing the plan, Gorio and Gott leaned on each other, pretending to be injured as they hobbled toward them.lJh
TNMk4The soldiers drew their weapons and approached cautiously.Izbiz
u3pR8hL“Don’t move. Stop there.”gvHuCd
KsH“We’re imperial citizens. We were walking along the road and were attacked by a beast…”cEZ212
TIUvL“Shut up and lie face down. Hands behind your back.”5BYBo7
UNeThey were following the standard protocol for detaining unknown intruders.pWO
RsUTVXQ“Face down, hands behind your back!”j5s
68k“It hurts…”5kxz5
AX4rnZ“You bastard…”iTh2qM
AKlpa“I’m sorry, I’m injured…”THGBp3B
41SLX“If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll kill you right here.”A27ay
fziLj“Alright!”4wbWpQ
d3tWhile they were talking, Elizabeth suddenly appeared and killed the three soldiers in an instant.YfWj0
VHa5XI1She decapitated two with a single swing and broke the third’s neck.ym33e
sIrBMShe did it this way to avoid staining the uniform with blood.uM0vq
U3FThe soldiers died without being able to utter a single scream.Zp2Qsnf
1cN4U“This one has a build similar to mine.”ihTy
w7vKThanks to her skill, the job was easy. She stripped the corpse of its uniform and put it on.7kN93kN
xTuOnce she lowered the helmet properly, her face was hidden, and she looked like a real imperial soldier.xfkh9
ZXBQMl9“Ready?”Q1Sq
qb0IX“Yes.”TbO
SiWaF“Then let’s move to the next phase.”9Lz
5L9t“Understood.”SEChBaL
GgaNfGott and Gorio nodded seriously.XSleK
WYC9ZTheir final task would be to create a distraction so Elizabeth could enter without trouble.DBUz
7cWP3HL“I wish you luck.”wBK
QEsNElizabeth returned their look.Hnmp
D3I“Thank you.”Mq5I
PFo“Come back safe.”U4Jf3gH
ksYThey separated.klr
w8NDEShe headed to the least guarded part of the wall, a place she had already located.O3nV9LB
tSFcFZveta, turned into a detention camp, gave off an ominous energy even at a glance.bee7HY
acxMHX“Hoo…”qQXFhI
iGaMJQVWaiting for her companions to do their part, she hid in a corner.y8m
Vwe7Shortly after, the commotion began.Tmr
9Fcl“Fire!”3gxvKC
VkNs6G“There’s a fire!”jkba
nx6N4aThey had succeeded.asFL
ab6The imperial soldiers shouted at the sudden blaze.G7u34k
OWYKKBf“Fire!”QpCvBa
ZBIFsr“Fire!”uQzPmF5
lQf2But something in their voices sounded strange. Perhaps because of the emotional numbness caused by black magic, there was no real urgency in them.NkGl
rt86BkIt seemed they were shouting only out of formality.vjTADxW
v8xeTACElizabeth gave a bitter smile.UO5Lp2
lXruJox“Black magic should never have been allowed here…”WKiJ
WtMWYfhThe inside of the wall began to stir.hno
GNYbIt was time.OKm
oMnOfShe ran to the wall and quickly climbed it.PxDlS
APbxCThe soldier in the watchtower, who was looking toward the fire, didn’t see her pass.WBRyAC
eOcMElizabeth joined a group of soldiers running and pretended to follow them.Fnz2
h0Em“What are you doing there? Go put out the fire! Find the arsonist!”TyqscG
hVa4“Yes!”DCD
umOszFollowing the soldiers, she saw an opportunity.xGaC
BOS5Between two aligned buildings was a path she could use to advance.hRT
V4YvLBKTaking advantage of everyone being distracted, she darted in and continued running toward the back of the detention camp.500KFAa
ndgShe moved between the buildings quickly and silently, avoiding prying eyes.i9g
MAU8LSoon she hid in a shaded area and regulated her breathing.LcrcHj
eV6oOq1“Huff…”4Eh4M
Wuo764nHer target was the black magic sorcerer and, if Cedric was there, she would kill him too.uP1n
Swxlu9HSo far, everything was going well.ytM
MJ0wnOvPeeking out, she saw a huge building that dominated the entire prisoner camp.9RP6G
6OsElizabeth stepped out and began walking as if she were just an ordinary soldier.Nfg
pFM5Bw1Suddenly, she ran into someone.vEO
09d33It was a short man with a hood pulled low, limping as he approached.ypf2X
mVuElizabeth tried to pass by naturally.lZYM
Wh6PNBiBut.z9u0q3M
UupK“You… you… who are you?”sX16IM1
9H78The man suddenly pointed a finger at her.4iuc
YES8v“Take… off the helmet.”jq4YS9
49RhPjlIn that instant, she realized she had been discovered.p9xOD2
tWbYFaShe planned to quickly knock him out and flee.P5d
OnMOAt that moment—f8FyTjM
vleSXp[Voice of Authority — kill.]Hi6KB
I73With strange words, an unknown force seized Elizabeth’s body.xl4
teBIt was a sensation she had never experienced before.3Mg6Gp
sCmdLA will as red as blood tore at her mind and body.ObJ
yWzhsGHer consciousness plunged into the deepest depths.GbJ
H490Elizabeth drew her sword, struggling desperately not to collapse.s4fgE
SNfDb“So you’re an intruder.”JXVelH
jtk“Y… yes.”3ypAJno
IGGOqqWThrough her fading consciousness, she heard another voice.biwBZGR
I34KElizabeth’s eyes flew open and she swung her sword, but without strength, it was stopped immediately.NRuQVN
PRfSQThen, a heavy blow shook her head.Mv6Q1
QmvwbJust before losing consciousness, their voices reached her distantly.v362bXW
CV4c5oe“Take her too… as an offering… Throw her into the pit.”ktyLLl
bZK“Understood.”HVNW
VH8***WIP
ONNKCruar spoke.43F
No1jj“This may be the first time in history that all Ten Greats take part in a war…”iEl
m77QbbShe was standing next to Sidherst atop the Magic Tower, gazing at the distant horizon.39U
RuD2FOnly clouds floated in the blue sky, but both could glimpse the fierce battle taking place beyond.GTPQw
jjcwSidherst stroked his beard and smiled.C7I
l9I“Hahaha, but you’re here, Lady Cruar.”DPg
jko“My body is here, but from behind I am greatly influencing this war. Perhaps I should chew up and spit out any foolish old man who doesn’t recognize the true nature of the great dragon Cruar…”c6YqNM
iVZ5ug“Ahem, ahem…”RoA
loIMBqSidherst pretended to cough to hide his discomfort.BM7f
2FkPolymorphed into human form and dressed like a noble lady, she appeared to be an aristocrat of great beauty, but within her dwelled the last dragon of the continent and one of the Ten Greats—Cruar.kABuBh
z5fSidherst asked,lGkIFIO
cUzP“Are you sure you shouldn’t go?”s5xDQ
AA2aLQ“I would like to go right now, but that pact forces me to stay here. I can’t help it…”6vC
8YAh3YK“What if you simply break it?”GEguZ
4Je“A dragon cannot do that.”b1idY2b
IkY“I see.”h21LW
M9FThe dragon race was whimsical, but also very pure.i8F
orNq51Asking them to break a promise was like asking someone with vertigo to walk a tightrope high in a tree.D9gc7ww
G8ugkNCruar made a gesture of annoyance.fTY
Ki6qKJ“In any case, Yuri Briol… that human will succeed.”PTnMrNb
aP5n“Have you given the prince of Briol any teaching?”pZgVD1
5dKY“No.”HBCB
WD0b“Then what do you mean by indirect influence?”eIa1H8
yyh“It’s not teaching, but the opposite. If I give him adversity and, thanks to that, Yuri Briol manages to win this war, will he thank me or hate me for it?”nAYi
NO6G8Xl“That depends on the kind of adversity.”E4UUP
V2OTv“Exactly.”6gWfu
8yUV15She sighed.AMI
zo7mJ“It wasn’t my intention from the start, but in the end it turned out this way.”Aw1DVC
FXWukca“Will humans be able to win this war?”xh8
F8freXk“Who knows. The sky is opening.”1UTm
MUUCruar looked up.R2JKDx
DCNBeyond the blue sky, she could see the gate to outer space beginning to open.GlOC8Z
oUsztEYShe still didn’t know what kind of being Cedric would summon.iIK
is6“It will be very difficult, but even so, it must be done.”VgEQpk5
ZlnRThe sky was clear, as if none of this mattered.W7bC
UmVRMKPerhaps this moment was the last peace the races of the earth would enjoy.Cxw
sPc8tF“Lady Cruar.”sX00LWj
o7DyEPSidherst’s voice turned grave. He asked with a serious expression,o7Oa7C
AG01“What if, for ordinary people, the new world Cedric wants to create would be better?”kYY6
HYbl1Cedric saw humans as mere monkeys.riiYeB
3JupbQIt was a perception that could be considered insulting.uT1kbf
YDUBut for those monkeys, oppressed under an unjust balance, perhaps the impartial administration of a transcendent being that would not be swayed by emotions would be better.XZYY1F9
W8HrwBA world without wars.J9yY
KcicyWithout hunger.Ly8f
KJLmWhere criminals were punished and those who contributed to society were rewarded.cM5CPn
c4dEEverything functioning efficiently, without the slightest waste.oDm
J1SDThat was Cedric’s plan.VKbN
val“Sidherst.”c1qgf
x2SbxsCruar, who had listened in silence, smiled faintly.OH1
b6hS9“I am a dragon, so I will tell you from my perspective.”JrT6Ka
Af4F“Yes.”gxZfY2V
Gxh“A dragon cannot live like that.”ALeR
MkRUnder that gaze that saw him as a child, Sidherst felt calm.L575r
n9UHe released his beard and returned her smile.h7VvqXA
cYO1“I suppose you’re right.”R1R0
0rYeQ“I am not human, and I am the last dragon, but even so, I could not live like that.”5HGz
kzt0CBlack magic was a powerful tool, but to use it, human lives had to be sacrificed.qO3
NkyThe world Cedric would create would be beautiful, but under that radiant stage, there would always be a handful of victims suffering in silence.6dpe1
yVylqJHA dragon’s conscience was firmer than that of a human.e4Aru
yfFNL6oSidherst said,It29Gdj
dXu4“You may think that way, but humans will gladly ignore it.”UsrXoo
WhixcXf“I don’t think so.”5hNBbpS
WFWWi“I think they will.”Eihv
i20lRFN“Have you become disappointed in humans, Sidherst?”3lG
RsMt4p“It’s just that, living so long, one ends up seeing many things. Hahaha…”OWS1w
R3wCq“It’s because you’ve lived long but not long enough, you naïve old man.”qwa
hgf4jHO“Hmm…”HFCHu5A
lvqYe“To live long means to reach my level. And a being forced by the world to carry so much time eventually realizes something.”y8YZ
ZQnGONRCruar turned her gaze toward the horizon.kXYg
YYkG“That this world is full of wonders.”yyM
NZxy“I didn’t expect you to say something like that.”NrNAVh
53OABgS“Oh, you didn’t?”ZSs0ygO
txfgCruar smiled.bEA
BtzE“Well, some would call it wonder, others would call it chaos.”t620c9
BBkiDThe language of a dragon was power in itself.KDVCmxu
yJKThrough words, it conveyed internal images that could not be shared otherwise.MTCa
O4i9yeIt was the purest magic that connected two beings.trxbFpn
w2uR6Cruar’s words, turned into power, reached Sidherst.FGooGz
5oDRVmg[Because this world is full of chaos, it was possible for someone like Yuri Briol to exist.]AA8b6
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