Chapter 63 : Select (2)

If one were to name the race that loves peace the most in the world, most would choose them.

Dragons.

Three thousand years have passed since the first king of the Unified Kingdom, Flare, united all races.

During those 3,000 years, dragons have become known as lovers of peace, protectors of balance, and a race that rarely interferes with others.

But before the age of unification, dragons were more warlike than anyone.

A land of ceaseless battles, where dragons tore each other apart every day.

Endless wars of conquest to expand their territories.

A place where the massacre of one race by another was an everyday occurrence—this was the land of the dragons.

Once, they were the most aggressive, the most ruthless, and the most arrogant beings.

That was what dragons were.

And now, the Empire was witnessing firsthand the return of those dragons from the past.

[Kneel.]

With just one word from the man with heavy, jet-black hair—

Boom!!!

“Urgh!!”

The emperor and all the nobles in the conference room were slammed into the ground.

“…Y-You scoundrel…!! How dare you… in front of me…!!”

The emperor, still dazed but trying to assert his authority, was approached by a red-haired man who walked forward, step by step.

[Put your head down.]

“…!!”

With a smirk, he forced the emperor to bow.

Then, placing his foot on the emperor’s head, he slowly pressed down.

“This bastard just doesn’t know his place, does he?”

“Ughhh!!!”

Surtr laughed mockingly as he pressed down on the emperor’s head.

Behind him, Hader watched with satisfaction, while the nobles who witnessed the scene trembled in fear.

And amidst all this—

Another presence emerged from the hallway outside the conference room.

Though walking slowly, the sheer terror and pressure of their presence were unmistakable.

Surtr and Hader stepped forward and opened the door.

Then, their eyes fell upon a man dressed in pure white.

Golden embellishments adorned his white robes.

His gleaming white hair flowed down smoothly.

And his burning red eyes entered the room.

The moment he stepped inside, he let out a derisive chuckle.

“Oh my, if it isn’t the so-called great and mighty emperor of the Empire.”

Albinus spoke as he approached the emperor and patted his head.

[Skill: Intimidation Activated!]

“…!!!”

The air around the emperor froze in an instant, and he collapsed, clutching his throat.

“…It seems the Empire has gone unchecked for far too long.”

“You are not the true rulers of this world.”

Albinus smirked as he crossed his legs and sat on the emperor’s throne.

“I’ll give you a choice.”

“Will you face a grand and spectacular downfall, or will you surrender the beastmen’s lands to us and free all beastman slaves?”

At Albinus’ words, a noble seated at the farthest end of the table tried to object.

“That’s outrag—!!”

[Explode.]

-Splaaat!!!!

Before he could finish his sentence, he burst apart with a single whispered command from Hader.

Blood and flesh splattered onto the table and onto the nobles’ heads.

Albinus watched the scene with amusement and grinned.

Then, after laughing madly, his face turned cold, and his crimson eyes gleamed.

“Make your choice.”

“Hand over the beastmen. Or end up like him, and we’ll take everything ourselves.”

“…I’m only keeping it this mild because I came for my daughter’s birth celebration.”

The emperor lay unconscious, having wet himself.

The nobles, drenched in blood, hurriedly answered.

“…We will surrender them.”

“W-We will never be disrespectful again!”

They couldn’t even fully grasp why they were being punished, but they bowed their heads to the ground.

The atrocities they had committed were so immense that they could only submit.

‘…Just how much do they know…?!’

Shaking with fear, they could only wait for this moment to pass, dreading just how much the other side had uncovered.

[The contract has been signed!!]

[As of this moment, the Beastman Autonomous Territory has been incorporated into the Unified Dragon Kingdom!]

[Additionally, all beastman slaves have been transferred from the Empire to the Unified Dragon Kingdom.]

[The Empire can no longer claim ownership over them!]

[The temporary master of the slaves has been designated as King Albinus Laskaris of the Dragon Kingdom.]

Albinus looked at the notification window announcing the contract’s completion with a dissatisfied expression.

“…How dull.”

Clicking his tongue, Albinus stood up after receiving the nobles’ apologies.

Then—

—CRUSH!!!!!

—CRACK!!

—SPLAT! CRACK!!!!

“!!!!”

“…?!”

Without hesitation, he stomped down on the unconscious emperor’s head, crushing it into an unrecognizable mess.

The emperor’s remains were ground beyond recognition.

Seeing the flesh and blood that had splattered onto his clothes, Albinus clicked his tongue in disgust and immediately cast a cleansing spell to erase the filth.

“Now this is what I call punishment.”

“Do you have any idea how much my daughters suffered?”

“My firstborn endured wounds for hundreds of years, and my second daughter was subjected to horrific torture.”

“…This much is necessary for you to truly understand their pain, don’t you think?”

He spoke while looking at the nobles, but it was the two elders standing behind him who responded instead.

“Your words are absolute, Your Majesty.”

“Let’s go.”

With satisfied smiles, the two elders escorted Albinus away.

The nobles, paralyzed with terror, held their breath and dared not move until they had completely left the room.

That day, the world map was redrawn once again.

—

Dad had left, and at home, it was just Mom, me, and our adorable dog, Bell.

And, for some reason, my two older sisters, who were absolutely furious.

“…Minho, that was so mean.”

Emila hugged me tightly, puffing out her cheeks in frustration, burying her face in my hair as she complained.

—Glance.

I turned my head to look at Yuri.

“…Hmph!”

With a huff, she turned away, clearly sulking.

She was really mad.

Mia— no… Mia—

“…Hmph!!”

“…I’m not playing with you anymore, Minho.”

“What.”

Even when I tried to apologize, she refused to listen.

She claimed she wouldn’t play with me anymore, yet held me even tighter.

“…How could you do that, Minho?”

“Minho must not think we’re important.”

“…Is that how it is?”

At Yuri’s words, Emila’s expression crumbled, her eyes welling up with tears as she looked at me.

“No! You’re important! You two are the most important to me!”

“…Then why did you do it?”

Once again, she slumped dejectedly.

The reason for all this? Hide-and-seek.

Apparently, my sisters had spent a long time searching for me, panicking when they thought I had disappeared, and turned the entire castle upside down looking for me.

But during that time, I had been in Dad’s office—just slightly outside the boundaries we had agreed upon.

In short, they were upset because I left the game without telling them.

“…I’m sorry…”

“Sorry for what?”

“For, uh… playing alone?”

“You don’t even know! Don’t talk to me until you figure it out.”

“Ugh…”

That… wasn’t it?

I looked at Emila, who was still hugging me tightly, silently pleading for help.

“…Hmph.”

“Ughhh…”

Emila, still pouting, turned her head away with a troubled expression.

If you’re struggling that much, just say so…

I looked to Mom for help, but—

“Oh, our Bell is such a good boy.”

“Pant pant!”

“Shake!”

“Heehee.”

“Good job!”

She was too busy playing with Bell, training him like a foster puppy, and completely missed my pleading gaze.

‘W-Wait, Mom’s not even looking at me…!’

That meant I had to resolve this crisis on my own.

“…Sister… sister.”

Weakly, I tugged at Emila’s sleeve.

I felt sorry, and the thought of being hated was painful.

—Glance.

Emila peeked at me, our eyes meeting for a brief moment.

I didn’t let that chance slip away.

“…I love you. I won’t do it again.”

I quickly whispered into her ear.

“…Hing. Minho’s such a good girl.”

She beamed and started gently patting my head.

But this wasn’t over.

I had to act fast—her heart was softening now.

I had to seize the moment.

It pained me to push away her hand, but…!

“…Minho?”

“Sis… I love you~”

“Ugh!”

I endured my embarrassment, raised my short arms, and made a heart shape.

With that, Emila practically coughed up blood and collapsed.

“Minho, you’re the best. You’re the best little sister ever. I love you too.”

“Heehee.”

Still smiling, Emila continued to ruffle my hair, a bit of blood lingering at the corner of her lips.

‘Mission complete!’

It was a bit embarrassing, but it didn’t feel bad.

With this, the mid-boss was defeated.

I gulped and turned to look at Yuri, who was still sulking.

She had her back turned, huffing in anger.

Leaving the dazed Emila behind, I approached Yuri.

“Sis.”

I called out from behind, and she mumbled something in a small voice.

“…What?”

“…Give me.”

“Huh?”

“Me… too.”

I couldn’t hear her well, so I leaned in closer.

“Do it for me too!!”

“Ahh!”

With a nosebleed, she pounced on me.

“Let go! I can’t breathe!”

“Not until you do it!”

“Kyaaaah!”

“Come here!”

And so, I had to act cute ten more times.

…It was autumn.