Chapter 363
20 minutes before the conclusion of the operation.
We were reexamining our strategy one last time.
“The operation itself is very simple. Kill the red dragon sleeping in a building owned by the Italian mafia in Florence. This is all.”
Looking at my father standing to my left, Adela, Sunchan, and Miss Stella in turn, I summarized the outline of the operation as briefly as possible.
“Father, you can deal with the Destroyer. If the destroyer is not on site, you can assist me.”
Father nodded slightly.
Destroyer’s mana is very annoying.
Unless you are a father who has fought in the past, it is difficult to perfectly cope with a first sight.
“Adela take care of Roper’s partner. Likewise, if you do not have loafers, you can attach them as my assistant.”
“yes.”
Roper, the leader of Anti Magia.
True to the name Anti Magia, magic does not work on him.
The only one who can stand against him is me or Adela.
If Adela doesn’t take care of the loafers, the operation itself won’t work.
“And Sun-chan, I will ask for the rest of you except for the two executives. Are you fine?”
“It’s okay, but… … . When I think about it again, it’s just me, a very modest role.”
Destroyer and Roper.
In addition to the two strong enemies, the opponents who would have been deployed in the building were to be left to Sunchan.
“It may not stand out, but it is an important mission that everyone has to support. You are the only one who can fulfill this role.”
At the same time as a defense-specialized magician, he is the only space attribute magic user.
Soon-chan’s ability to control space has risen to an unrivaled level.
If it was Sunchan now, he would be able to control the entire building and provide support at the right time.
“aha. So, in chess, that means I’m a player?”
“Similar.”
Soon-chan’s job is to coordinate the entire board.
If Sunchan errs in judgment, the four of us are in danger.
“… … Hearing that makes me suddenly start to worry.”
“are you okay. It’s not like I entrusted you with such an important mission because I trusted you.”
“huh?”
It is said that Sunchan’s skills are improving day by day.
I’m still not good enough to control the entire board.
“It’s not you that I believe in, but Aslan-sama.”
But now Sun-chan is not alone.
As long as Aslan-sama is attached, there will be no problems caused by erroneous judgment.
“So, don’t be burdened for nothing and just do what Aslan-nim tells you to do without your brain.”
“… … He is my friend, but he speaks beautifully.”
Sunchan smiled and clenched his fists.
“That’s right.”
“Couldn’t you have expressed it a little prettier, even if it was the right thing, friend?”
“I expressed it as beautifully as possible. You’re an idiot who doesn’t even think about it, so you didn’t just follow orders like a machine.”
“This bastard… … ?”
Sunchan’s eyelids trembled. I’m going to beat me up right now. It was such a willing response.
“really… … It’s right before the operation is executed, so bear with it.”
Soon-chan who goes through this.
The expression has become considerably softer.
‘good.’
Only the right tension remained, and it became the best expression to carry out the operation. If that’s the case, I don’t think you need to worry.
I looked away from Sunchan and finally looked at Stella, who was standing to my right.
“Lastly Miss Stella… … .”
The expression “dark” couldn’t be better suited for this depressed expression.
The guilt that comes from not having been of any help in preventing the collapse of France, and the feeling of helplessness that I would not have been of any help if I had been there. Other than that, all sorts of negative emotions gathered together and made a mixed expression.
The sense of emptiness and emptiness in his eyes is frightening.
As I looked into those eyes, I was at a loss for words.
“… … successor. Is he okay?”
Mimir, who had been quietly waiting for my operation briefing to end, quietly spoke to me.
Seeing Stella’s condition, he must have been very concerned.
“I think it would be better if the four of us just let them rest… … .”
“… … .”
Mimir’s opinion also makes sense.
There’s no point in taking him if his condition is this bad.
If you take it, it will only be a burden. It’s okay to leave it as it is.
‘… … Originally, I would have done that, but this time around, Miss Stella’s strength is absolutely necessary… … .’
However, this time around, I can’t.
Stella’s presence is important for this operation.
I don’t want to leave it for too long.
“Miss Stella. No, Stella.”
I slowly moved to my seat in front of Stella and met her eyes.
“How are you feeling right now? I do not know. Because I haven’t experienced anything like that yet.”
No one knows what Stella feels like.
How can we understand the feelings of a person who lost his country, friends, and family in an instant?
Saying you understand is just hypocrisy.
“There is nothing I can say to you right now.”
I can’t even say cheer up.
Saying to cheer up for someone who is really having a hard time won’t sound like encouragement, but only as a sarcasm.
“If you say it’s too hard. I’ll leave it.”
Stella’s presence in this operation is very important.
But what is needed is Stella with will, not Stella who has lost all will.
If this is the case, it’s best to just leave it alone.
‘I thought he was burning with vengeance.’
I knew that if Stella woke up, she would of course participate in the operation.
In order to avenge the villain who destroyed France, I thought that I would bring out the will that I didn’t have and strengthen my resolve.
However, that was my mistake.
Stella, far from burning her vengeance, sat down as it was.
As soon as I heard that France was destroyed, it was broken like a doll whose thread had been cut.
“… … Now, I have nothing left.”
said Stella in a dying voice.
“After my mother passed away. Following her mother’s will, she worked hard to make the Binosugar one of the world’s best knights. For the well-being of my country… … I bet everything.”
It was as if despair were singing.
“however… … . They are all gone. Mother, Binosugar, and Binosugar’s family. Even my country.”
A tear fell from Stella’s eye.
“I have nothing left.”
A face devoid of all emotion.
Despair, as if death were embodied.
“I am… … Is there any reason to live?”
In the past, there was a much greater despair than Captain Charles, who was dying in despair over Sophia-sama’s death.
“Even if you take revenge… … . What will be different?”
Stella’s face was filled with despair.
“… … I’m exhausted. nothing now… … I don’t want to… … .”
The death of the mother, the extinction of the family, and the collapse of the motherland.
Early to mid 20’s.
It must have been an unbearable despair for Stella, who was still young.
It is a very heavy ordeal for Stella, who has just overcome her mother’s death.
“… … okay.”
No matter what I say to Stella now, it seems to be of no use.
You need time to organize your thoughts and overcome despair.
“okay. Then, Stella, you are resting.”
The current Stellar is not in a state where it can carry out operations.
It is right to rest.
“I am resting. I’ll be right back.”
I stroked Stella’s hair as kindly as I could.
Stella bowed her head.
As if he had no face to look me in the eyes, he clenched his fists and stared at the floor.
“sorry… … . but… … .”
“know. I can’t say more. Because I understand.”
I patted Stella on the shoulder and looked at the other three.
“sorry. It’s been a long talk. I think you are already familiar with the other things, including the movement line, so I will omit them.”
Before I could even check the three faces, I turned my gaze back to Mimir.
“Mimir. Please prepare Umbra.”
“okay.”
That’s how Mimir tuned in to my nerves, and it was time to prepare for Umbra.
“Well, as for what to do with Miss Stella’s vacancy… … .”
Adela said in a small whisper. It must be paying attention so that Stella doesn’t hear it.
The two eyes looking at me are filled with worry.
“You don’t have to worry about that. Because there are other ways.”
Stella’s vacancy is painful, but it’s not impossible to carry out the operation at all.
… … albeit a bit risky.
“Adela, don’t think about anything else, just focus on defeating Roper.”
“… … yes. all right.”
Adela paused for a moment with a suspicious look on her face, then nodded helplessly.
“Then I know there are no more questions. I will really move.”
I glanced at Mimir again.
Mimir gave a small nod, synchronized with my nerves, and moved mana.
“Umbra.”
‘Umbra.’
And the next moment, the four of us were sucked into Umbra’s shadow.
* * *
Florence, Italy.
The entrance to a high-rise building owned by the Mafia.
“Adela. how is it? Can you feel it?”
“yes. I can feel it. It’s inside. It’s very similar to the vibe I felt at the Rid furniture factory.”
“… … okay. Then this must be the dragon’s mana.”
Adela and I captured the energy of the red dragon nestled inside the building through the Shin Eye and Mind Eye, respectively.
“Can you detect it?”
“uh. It works.”
Adela asked with a slightly surprised expression.
He must be thinking of the Rid Furniture Factory.
At that time, my eyes didn’t understand the dragon’s existence, so I must have thought that I wouldn’t be able to grasp it this time either.
“why… … ?”
“I didn’t expect to see either.”
To be honest, I was also surprised.
I thought I wouldn’t see it again.
“Unlike the guy I met last time, is it because the gap between the soul and the body isn’t that great? It looks blurry.”
Adela’s expression stiffened.
“That means… … Are you saying that the dragon above me is stronger than the dragon I met before?”
“maybe.”
The gap between the soul and the body is not great. This means that the soul and body are in a state of harmony to some extent.
It’s definitely stronger than the entities we’ve encountered before.
“… … Can I win?”
We felt the strength of the dragon with our own bodies.
The guy I met at the Rid Furniture Factory was also that strong, but I can’t believe he’s stronger than that. Adela’s anxiety was understandable.
“If you’re in perfect condition, you won’t be able to win. But like I said, the red dragon up here is probably not in perfect condition.”
The fact that they haven’t shown any movement yet is proof of that.
The red dragon hasn’t fully recovered its strength yet.
“I can take it down now.”
He used up all his strength in France.
It can be dealt with now.
‘The key is how much strength he has recovered, but… … .’
It’s clear that the red dragon hasn’t recovered to 100% strength yet.
But, that’s the only thing you can be sure of.
It is unknown whether he recovered 30%, 50%, or 80% of his strength.
If the guy has recovered more than 50% of his strength, it might be a bit difficult.
If you’ve recovered more than 80%, there’s no other way but to run away.
“Have the location of the Destroyer and the Roper been confirmed?”
my father asked me
“yes. Both are inside the building.”
Mana appears to be two on the top floor of the building.
“… … Right.”
The father’s eyes shone sharply.
Two and a half years ago, Destroyer, who couldn’t win, can finally compete.
The mistakes of the past can be washed away.
He seemed to be delighted with that fact.
“Then, is there any change in the plan?”
“yes. I hope you can move as planned.”
“Right.”
After his father nodded, he moved Mana.
“Then you won’t have to wait any longer. I will start right away.”
The mana in my father’s body rotates at a maddening speed.
“yes. One big one. Please.”
At a much faster mana rotation speed than when I saw it half a year ago.
Concentrates even greater mana into the right hand.
“I will begin.”
That mana was soon compressed into a single black mass.
“Black Core.”
and straight away.
“Distortion.”
Distorted.
Ki-i-i-!
A twisted black hole began to crush and engulf the building.