Chapter 536
“Beric, you damn fool! Get down here!”
Romandro shouted at the top of his lungs, but there was no way Beric could hear him. Beric glanced down briefly, then, irritated, he tugged at the dragon’s neck from side to side.
“This thing’s got a stubborn streak, huh? Hey! Just listen to me!”
“Get down! You crazy bastard!”
“What am I supposed to do if he won’t come down? I’m not a mage, and if I jump from here, I’m dead!”
“We all know you don’t die, you idiot! Come down! Everyone inside is watching, and if you don’t stop, Ian’s going to give you hell! This isn’t about whether you’ve eaten or not!”
“Ugh, this is how you treat me, huh?”
Beric scratched his ear but didn’t ignore the warning about Ian’s scolding. After a moment of thought, he patted the dragon’s forehead repeatedly—a signal to come down.
“Alright, alright, I’m coming down!”
“Raaaaargh!”
“Oh, so now you’re talking back? You bite my neck once and act like this? Huh? If you’re mad, why don’t you bite me back?”
The dragon whipped its tail fiercely, and Beric dodged nimbly, only to have the dragon bite his neck again. The dragon’s eyes bulged wide, and its wings spread out as if goosebumps had risen. Another round was about to start.
At least the dragon wasn’t flying out of the garden. Whether it was thanks to the mages’ magic or just a bit of common sense, it stayed within bounds.
Either way, it was a headache. Romandro shaded his eyes with his hand and stared helplessly at the distant sky. What on earth was he supposed to do with that brat?
“Romandro, sir!”
“Ah, come quick! Beric’s lost it. He’s finally lost it!”
“Beric, don’t you know what day it is today?”
“I do! That’s why I came to the banquet hall—to eat meat!”
“Come down! We’ll catch you!”
“You expect me to trust you? You think I’m an idiot?”
“Ha. Watching you act like this, you really are an idiot!”
Ziiing! Ziiing!
Ta-at!
The mages, realizing the situation, rushed urgently into the backyard and then took to the air all at once. Finally, Hale tossed his cigarette to the ground, rolled up his sleeves, and began casting a spell.
“Binding.”
Swoosh!
Romandro, standing nearby, flinched and stepped back. He had seen this spell many times before and recognized its form and aura instantly. But Hale’s version of “Binding” looked a little different from Ian’s.
“Rope?”
Unlike Ian’s spell, which sent a pillar of light down from the sky, clinging to the ground and walls, Hale conjured something like ropes and shot them out. The other mages in the air did the same.
They wrapped ropes around the dragon’s neck, legs, wings, and tail, then pulled with all their might. It was heavy and difficult, but they persisted.
Swoosh!
“What’s this? This spell wasn’t supposed to be like this.”
“I haven’t been slacking off for ten years, Romandro.”
“Modified it, huh? Impressive. Guess all that hardship up north paid off! Need a hand?”
“When the dragon comes down, you can tear Beric’s hair out.”
“Don’t worry about that! I’ll handle it!”
“On the count of three, put all your strength into it!”
“Understood, captain!”
“Tommy’s on the left wing, Nakina on the right?”
“Yes! But this dragon’s no joke.”
“On three, pull the wings in opposite directions! We can’t handle the weight otherwise!”
Ziiing!
Having spent most of their lives together, they moved in perfect sync. At Hale’s command, the mages took their positions and readied themselves.
“One, two, three!”
Kahng!
The dragon struggled, but with its wings tied, it couldn’t move properly. Slowly, inch by inch, it descended, finally lying on its back as if conceding defeat.
Thud!
“Ugh! I’m crushed!”
Beric, clinging to the dragon’s back, struggled under the weight. He barely managed to stick his face out to breathe, but shadows loomed over him—mages grinning wickedly.
“Hey there.”
“Hey? Heeey?”
“It’s not my fault. That thing just suddenly took off.”
“Whether it flew or not, why did you climb on it?!”
“Ah! Wait, I’m crushed! I’m crushed!”
“Shut up! That’s why we’re beating you!”
“Ugh! I remember now—agh! Ow!”
The mages swarmed, grabbing Beric’s hair, cheeks, and nose mercilessly, venting their frustration. Beric was helpless, forced to endure it. Romandro tried to squeeze in and help, but the mages were too fierce and pushed him aside.
“Enough, everyone.”
“Huff, huff…”
“I haven’t even hit Beric yet.”
“Man, this is exhausting. Beating someone up is hard work.”
Following Hale’s order, the mages exhaled heavily and slumped down. They were already drained from maintaining the perpetual daylight spell, and this extra effort was infuriating.
Hale lit a new cigarette and looked down at the sprawled dragon.
“This one’s no pushover.”
The dragon wasn’t unconscious or frozen in fear. It knew its own weight was pinning Beric down, so it didn’t move, letting Beric take the punishment. Definitely not an ordinary creature.
Even now, the dragon noticed Hale talking about it and turned its head, blinking its eyes rapidly in a cute, almost playful way.
-Kyuu?
“Ugh. What was that? You made that sound? For such a big guy, where do you get off acting all cute—”
-Kyuuuu?
“Ah! My back, my back’s breaking!”
The dragon shifted its body, pressing down on Beric, and the mages just watched before flopping backward. Beric reached out to Romandro for help, but Romandro turned away, pretending not to see. He thought it was about time Beric got a taste of this.
Realizing no one would help, Beric could only cry out, voice trembling.
“Ian!”
Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the banquet hall was quite different. The dragon’s illusion darted frantically between the second floor, ceiling, and floor, making it feel like a carefully staged performance.
The vivid movements of the dragon, the wonder of it flying through the sky, the mystery of seeing such a strange creature up close—all of it swept through the hall at once.
Amid the commotion, a mage hurriedly pushed through.
“Ian, shall we cut the magic?”
“Should we keep showing it?” The mages looked flustered by Beric’s unexpected appearance.
But Ian raised a hand to stop them and motioned for patience. He quickly read the chaotic reactions in the hall.
“Beric? Is that the royal palace’s elite swordmage?”
“Yes. Ian brought him in from outside.”
“I heard he eats like a monster, but he looks nothing like I imagined. What’s he shouting about? Sounds like yelling, but I can’t make it out.”
“No idea. Can’t hear a thing.”
“Did they set any safety measures?”
“Pfft, he’s a swordmage. He doesn’t need that.”
“Good grief, such boldness. Must be fearless.”
“Impressive! Really impressive!”
Fortunately, the crude chatter from the garden didn’t carry inside. From appearances, Beric, the royal palace’s elite swordmage, was skillfully handling the unfamiliar dragon, soaring freely through the sky, which was a fresh shock to the audience.
Ian covered his mouth and whispered to the mages.
“We’ll cut it when I give the signal. Prepare to divert everyone’s attention. Captain Hale?”
“He’s already out there, ready to respond.”
“Good. Positions.”
“Yes, Ian.”
The nobles laughed and joked, treating the dragon as entertainment, but Repin frowned, stroking his mustache in displeasure. He had tried to find fault for not bringing a proper tribute, but that ship had sailed.
And now this spectacle—not just a simple display, but a full presentation of the dragon’s majesty and mystery.
“Tch.”
“But why is the elite guard riding the dragon?”
“Yeah. Not sure about that part.”
“Maybe a mistake? The mages’ movements look unusual too.”
“Hmm? Really?”
Repin’s eyes darted around at his attendant’s words. Ian Hiel, Minister of Magic, showed no change in expression, but the scattered mages seemed a bit unsettled.
‘I hope he falls and dies right there!’
Silently, Repin prayed for the red-haired man to be dropped. If that happened, Bariel’s reputation would be ruined, no different from death. Losing the best asset would be a bonus.
As Repin cursed while watching the dragon illusion, he suddenly felt a cold gaze. Turning slowly, he found Jin watching him, chin resting on his hand.
“…!”
“Isn’t it a sight to behold? Truly an impressive tribute.”
“Y-yes, Your Majesty. If it pleases Your Majesty and you find it impressive, we are grateful.”
Then, as the dragon illusion reached the center of the hall, beams of light shot out from all directions, swiftly binding the dragon in place.
Soon, a group of mages appeared, soaring around the dragon. Beams of light radiated from their hands, weaving intricate patterns throughout the banquet hall. The sight was both intense and breathtaking.
“Oh my, it’s the mages!”
“Wow, are they flying in the sky right now?”
“Look at the dragon, completely immobilized. Amazing. No matter what kind of monster comes, they’re no match for the mages. I’m really looking forward to their role in the war!”
“Yes, the tide of battle is clear as day! Victory will surely belong to Bariel!”
As the mages moved in perfect unison to subdue the dragon, the nobles erupted in admiration once again.
This wasn’t just a simple showdown between mages and a dragon. The dragon was a different kind of monster—an enemy from a foreign land. It symbolized Luswena, Burgos, and even the Rift itself. No matter how great the threat, as long as the mages stood, the nobles agreed there was nothing to fear.
“That’s enough.”
Ian signaled to the mages with a gesture, and instantly, all the magic was withdrawn. The image of the dragon plummeting vanished in an instant, leaving only a scattering of flower petals in its place.
King Cliffford, who had been watching with keen interest, stood up proudly and applauded.
Clap, clap, clap!
“Magnificent! Bariel’s strength is truly impressive!”
The entire Cliffford delegation rose to their feet, joining in the applause, and the Hwawan Kingdom envoys seated nearby added their own praise. The nobles gracefully lifted their hands in appreciation for the entertainment.
Ian placed a hand over his chest and nodded slightly before stepping down from the dais to conclude the audience.
“Envoy Repin.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“All the precious gifts have been inspected. You may withdraw and enjoy Bariel’s festival.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
With a wave of his hand, Jin signaled that no further time was needed, and the audience came to a close. As the Luswena envoys began packing up their items, Ian approached the Cliffford side and gave a slight bow.
“Your Majesty, thank you.”
To wrap things up smoothly, the applause and cheers from the audience were essential. Ian could have prompted it himself, but having a third party like Cliffford take the lead made the atmosphere feel more natural.
King Cliffford’s cheeks flushed with excitement as he beamed and chuckled.
“Splendid, splendid! So, the dragon was red because you chose Beric, with his red hair? Quite the keen eye. I have one suggestion: if you show that during the send-off ceremony, the soldiers’ morale will skyrocket.”
“…”
Ian hesitated, studying the king’s face for a moment. Beric’s appearance had been a mistake—did the king not realize? Cliffford’s eyes sparkled as he handed Ian a glass of wine, which Ian accepted with a sly smile.
“I’ll give it some thought.”
“Good, good! Ha ha ha! Ah, what a spectacle! It was truly a delight to watch.”
“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”
Ian gave a small nod to the mages who were watching him with concern, signaling that everything was fine. Then, with a bright smile—knowing many eyes were on him—he gave his order.
“Bring Beric here.”