Chapter 234

“Oh ho, indeed, you are of royal blood. It seems you haven’t missed out on home education. You did exceptionally well for a first-timer. I’ll be counting on you often from now on.”

The Chancellor, with a beaming smile, praised her. The Princess, already exhausted, collapsed into her chair, unable to respond.

It wasn’t physical exhaustion. She had endured rigorous training before, mastered the conversion of magical power into stamina, and even enhanced her body with Firefly Meringue. Her body wasn’t complaining of fatigue.

But she wished it were just physical exhaustion. Panting like a tired dog, sweating profusely, would have been more bearable.

‘I’m really not cut out for this kind of work.’

Now she truly understood why her father always looked so burdened. Ruling wasn’t something to be taken lightly. To govern properly, not just enjoy power, a monarch had to be prepared to sacrifice both body and mind.

Of course, the Beastman Kingdom was in such disarray that it required hands-on governance from top to bottom. The workload was heavier than usual.

“You said you’d go home early today…?”

As evidence, the sun had already set, and the moon was high, yet Chancellor Rambus, who claimed he’d go home early today, hadn’t even started packing. Hearing the Princess’s words, he chuckled.

“Early, indeed. Normally, I leave at dawn and return by morning. Today, I might make it home before sunrise, so I’m quite satisfied.”

The Princess, who had been inwardly discontent, grew solemn. If what he said was true, he must have genuinely sought her help to survive. She couldn’t fathom how anyone could live like that.

“Do you even get enough sleep?”

“Lack of sleep can be made up with naps during the day. It feels like my lifespan is being shaved off in real-time, but at least I’m not starving. And with no time to spend money, my savings grow. Not bad, right?”

Whether it was enlightenment or resignation, his response was shocking. Yet, it carried a strange sense of wisdom.

“There are people who work from dawn till night and barely earn enough to eat. Compared to them, how fortunate am I?”

Watching the Chancellor laugh, Ardein couldn’t say a word. In her naive past, she might have mocked his words, but now she knew they were true.

Even at her lowest, she couldn’t compare to those who, though not ill, lived more miserably than the sick. In a chaotic world where many scramble for a penny, the value of human labor can sometimes fall below that of cattle.

She sincerely wished for the world to find peace soon.

*****

“Whew! I finally feel alive! All that frustration is gone.”

Roka let out a big shout, laughing as if she had spat out all her pent-up emotions. Despite the fierce wind forcing my eyes shut, she seemed to enjoy even the breeze brushing past her. We were now quietly sailing through the distant skies.

[I used to fly like this before. Not me, but Bimoon. Hmm, it feels good to fly again after so long.]

The dragon, having regained its body, seemed to enjoy any physical activity, its expression brightening lately. It was like a paraplegic standing and walking again.

I couldn’t even imagine the magnitude of that joy. If a human could feel that way, how much more a dragon who had lost its body?

I regretted not giving it the Firefly Meringue sooner.

“Master, look! Epirna’s royal castle is in sight!”

The dragon’s speed was incredible, covering in moments what had taken us a day to travel. Still, Roka calling it “Epirna’s royal castle” instead of “my royal castle” showed she still saw the Beast King title as a burden.

“Look, look! The Beast King is riding the Guardian Dragon!”

“The Guardian Dragon has returned to its true form! Everyone, come out! This is a sight you can’t even pay to see!”

Below, beastmen swarmed out, their eyes wide at the astonishing sight. Honestly, if I heard a dragon had appeared, I’d rush out too. Especially if the Emperor was riding it—I’d gladly pay to see that.

Roka, as the Beast King, held a status here that rivaled the Emperor’s. Though monarchs’ standings vary by national power, to those below, Roka’s status surpassed the Emperor’s.

“Long live the Beast King! Long live! Long, long live!”

When someone cheered, others joined in chorus, their praises loud enough to reach us high above.

This would be a good time to wave and win hearts, but Roka instead covered her face and bowed her head, her cheeks burning.

“Please, don’t do that.”

[It sounds pleasant. What’s the matter?]

“…I have a lot to say, but I won’t.”

Luckily for Roka, the dragon was so fast it soon left the Beastman Kingdom behind. The cheers of the beastmen were soon drowned out by the wind.

[Do we need to go further north?]

“Yes. We need to go further to find it.”

[Hmm, tell me if it gets cold. I’ll lower the altitude. Humans are fragile compared to us dragons.]

As we headed further north, snow began to fall. Flakes danced in the wind, some settling on us.

Those that touched my face melted instantly from body heat, but those on my hair or the dragon’s scales lingered longer.

“You won’t feel cold. I’m here.”

Roka took the chance to hug me from behind. She must have drawn on the Power of the Sun, as it felt pleasantly warm, like sunlight on my back. When I thanked her, she smiled contentedly.

How much longer did we brave the snowstorm? Ahead, the mountain range we had crossed before came into view.

Stretching like a wall, those towering peaks made any human-made fortress seem like a crude toy.

The famed Kalkanmir Mountain Range. The wind blew steadily from there. Though we were already high, compared to the Kalkanmir range, we were only at mid-height. The summit was still out of sight.

[An incredibly vast mountain range. Is that the Kalkanmir Mountain Range I’ve heard of? But do we need to go further north?]

I needed to answer, but words failed me.

Gulp.

I swallowed without realizing.

This can’t be. This shouldn’t be.

“Master? Are you okay? Master?”

[Huh? Do we need to go further north?]

Why is it that further north…

Can such immense vitality be felt?

I glanced at Roka, but she only looked worried, sensing nothing unusual. Azahadaka also urged me impatiently for an answer.

…Do they really feel nothing?

Such a massive presence of life?

[Hurry up and answer! Is it further north?]

“Not north… up. Can we go higher?”

[Higher than this? Surely you don’t mean to the sea of stars? It’s possible, but I’d rather not.]

Absolutely not.

Much lower than that.

Still within what can be called the sky.

…I hope its outline appears by then.

[Hmm, shall we ascend to a higher altitude? I’d like to see the summit of this mountain range too.]

Whether what I’m seeing is real or an illusion, I can’t be sure now. I only hope my worries are unfounded.

Please, let its outline appear by then.

If not, its size would be… beyond my imagination.

*****

In the swirling curtain of cold, he quietly reached out his hand. Feeling the chill, his hand froze solid before he pulled it back.

Even the invincible Black Steel and near-infinite magical power couldn’t prevent his arm from freezing. The Demon King nonchalantly shattered the frozen arm and removed it.

“Was that really the best choice?”

He didn’t even groan, having essentially severed his own arm. With a monster’s body, losing an arm was within recoverable limits.

Instead, he clicked his tongue and spoke in a regretful tone. Having lived through ages, the Demon King had met countless heroes.

Among all those heroes, the one who contributed most to extending the world’s lifespan paid a price beyond his achievements. No matter how much he shouted, the hero likely wouldn’t hear him.

What even gods aren’t permitted.

If a human attempts it, they are doomed to ruin.

“Perhaps it was so for you.”

Yet, even after paying such a price, all he could do was delay.

What a pity. Truly.