Chapter 238

There is no precedent, and it’s unlikely to happen in the future either.

For example, no one has a plan for a situation where mountains come alive and start moving.

No one built structures with that in mind,


and no one prepared evacuation plans for such an event.

No one thinks that the mountain behind their house will wake up and move the next day. But the situation has already arrived, and ignoring reality won’t change anything.

If we deny reality, reality will come find us,


and force us to face it head-on.

[So, you’re saying the entire Arctic will come alive and move soon? Who can stop that? No one can stop it. Not even a dragon! Even if all my kin were together, it would still be impossible. It just can’t be done!]


“That’s not something we need to worry about right now. Given its size, it might take time for it to fully awaken, or there might be some other reason…”

Perhaps the Arctic’s cold is freezing its body and slowing its metabolism. What’s preparing to move right now isn’t that massive thing, but something smaller—the one beneath the Kalkanmir Mountain Range.

It’s not an easy opponent, but at least there’s hope. Even if we can’t defeat it, we might be able to save people from it.

“What’s awakened now isn’t the Arctic one, but the one right beneath us. This one is highly active and could rise at any moment, even tomorrow.”

To put it in human terms, it’s like waking up but still lounging in bed. It’s certain to get up, but when it’ll throw off the covers depends on its mood.

[So, you’re saying this mountain range is really alive and moving? Is it possible that my fight with Epirna woke it up?]

Roka, pale-faced, asked, but I shook my head. If the Beast King Battle had taken place on the Kalkanmir Mountain Range, there might have been a slight possibility.

But the Beast King Battle happened far from here, in the duel arena built by Epirna. That battle was grander than any I’ve seen, except for cases like Grimudo or the Phoenix. Still, it’s nothing compared to the scale of the Kalkanmir Mountain Range.

This mountain range, called the barrier between the Arctic and the continent, is that massive. If it fully awakens and starts moving, its footsteps alone will cause earthquakes. Such a being wouldn’t wake up from a small disturbance.

We just didn’t know,


but this thing has been here for a long time,


and its sleep cycle is almost over. What was meant to happen is happening.

If it wakes up and stays curled up, that’d be the best-case scenario, but we can’t bet countless lives on such a slim chance.

We must prepare now.

If it wakes up and moves north, toward the Arctic,


that’s relatively better, but we’d still face significant damage. Wherever it goes, the ground will shake, increasing the risk of earthquakes and volcanic activity. If it crosses the sea, waves will form and sweep nearby coastlines.

The worst-case scenario is if it rises and moves south,


sweeping across the Eastern Plains and advancing into the continent. If that happens, the Death God’s problem will seem trivial.

[Even if the continent remains intact, everything on it will be crushed like eggshells… It’s physically impossible to fight something like that!]

As they said, the Death God’s army and the empire would be wiped out in one go.


A living mountain wouldn’t distinguish between friend or foe, good or evil.

Trying to stop it with force is impossible. Not just nearly impossible—it’s outright impossible.


As Roka said, we don’t have the power, and even if we somehow gathered it, that thing wouldn’t just let us stop it.

[Is there really, truly a way to stop it?]

There’s one way.


If it’s a night when the Milky Way blooms, it might be possible.

The first time I used it, I couldn’t even defeat the Demon King, but the second time, I defeated the King of Monsters and still had energy left. I can’t gauge the full power of the third use, but it definitely has the potential to destroy this mountain range.

But if I use it, I’ll have no time left.


Is this mountain range the end of my journey? Will destroying it bring hope to the world?


If that’s truly the case, I have no regrets, but is that why the Lord chose me?

I’ve already seen the Arctic from the dragon’s back.


There was despair there, of an unknown origin…

‘If there’s hope, it’s probably in a place like that.’

The moment I faced that despair, I saw something else. I saw what’s been holding that massive being back, giving us time.


I thought the Demon King was my destination, but perhaps he was just a stop, not the final goal.

“Azahadaka, I need you to do what I asked earlier, and quickly.”


[I can do it, but will it mean anything? Even if we create a gate to the Capital and try to escape the mountain range, it has legs now. If it heads to the Capital, where will we run then? Running forever isn’t a solution.]


“Buying that time isn’t entirely meaningless. I’m sure of it.”

If we can evacuate the beastfolk of the Eastern Plains to the south, only barren wasteland will remain between the Kalkanmir Mountain Range and inhabited areas.


Even if the mountain range targets humans immediately upon awakening, there’s still some time before total devastation. We must complete our journey to the Arctic within that time.

It feels urgent, but it’s not as rushed as it seems. Psychologically, it feels pressing, but we do have some time.

“Roka, I have a request. It’s difficult, but it’s something that must be done.”


“Anything!”

The child nodded with sparkling eyes, but Roka likely won’t be able to keep her position as Beast King.


…She might even be happy about it.

*****

[You all go ahead. I need to have a ‘meeting’ with that gray wolf.]

As the dragon left to ‘greet’ the wolf, we returned to Roka’s office. Chancellor Rambus was busy with paperwork, and next to him, the Princess was leaning against the wall, taking a nap.

“Where have you been all this time! While you were gone, there were three earthquakes in a row. The people are anxious, and you’re out sightseeing!”

He looked displeased the moment he saw us. While we were riding the dragon back, earthquakes had shaken the people’s morale.

Fortunately, the earthquakes weren’t strong enough to kill anyone, and while some were injured, they were minor. Still, earthquakes in a place that’s never had them before, right after Roka’s coronation, led people to strange conclusions.

“At the very least, you should’ve inspected the affected areas and reassured the people. Whether you meant it or not doesn’t matter. The people just need to think you care. It wasn’t that hard, yet you missed a big opportunity.”

But when I heard about the earthquakes, the first thing I thought of wasn’t public sentiment but the awakening Kalkanmir Mountain Range.


Roka seemed to think similarly, as I heard her gulp. At this stage, it’s like a person tossing and turning in bed, reluctant to get up.

Once it reaches this point, it’s only a matter of time before it fully awakens.


I grabbed the angry chancellor and explained everything we’d seen in the north. Of course, he didn’t believe it easily. He looked at Roka and me suspiciously and shrugged.

“Are you two drunk? You don’t seem drunk, but…”


“I know, it sounds like drunken nonsense.”


“It sounds more like you’re high on something. I can’t believe it, but…”

Honestly, if someone told me the mountain behind my house was alive, I’d think the same. Especially if it’s the Kalkanmir Mountain Range.

“But if everything you’re saying is true… this is no small matter. I see why you’re telling me and asking for cooperation.”

“As a beastfolk myself, it feels like I’m smearing mud on my own face, but convincing and persuading them won’t be easy. Alright, I’ll trust you this once.”

The Princess, awakened by our chatter, yawned and asked what was going on.


After I explained, her sleepiness vanished. She believed every word I said.