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Chapter 68. 'The End'

In the end, I still don't know what that "end" the Minister of the Interior, Frodil spoke is. I tried asking Jeremiah and Ivy in a roundabout way, but they didn't give any convincing answers.

I thought about telling Jeremiah and the Elixira faction members that Minister of the Interior, Frodil is an enemy, but I decided it was still too early. Jeremiah has a dangerous tendency to charge in as soon as he knows who the enemy is. Despite his seemingly model student demeanor, he can't rest until he clearly distinguishes between good and evil. That's probably why he manifests a grimoire, an ego-driven tool for making moral judgments, straight from his soul.

If grimoires are born from one's ego, Minister of the Interior, Frodil undoubtedly possesses one. In fact, even Princess Elissa, who can somehow discern if someone has a grimoire, says he has one.

"Hmm..."

"Please don't groan while reading."

It was a rare day where I could lazily spend time in the ancient library, so I thought I'd look into that "end" the Minister of the Interior, Frodil mentioned... but such a vague search yielded no results. Within ten minutes, I hit a dead end.

"Oh... the end, huh."

"The end?"

"Yeah. Elixira, the bookworm, what comes to mind when you hear 'the end'?"

"That 'bookworm' remark really irritates me... The end, huh?"

Oh? Hearing the word "end", Elixira suddenly stood up and pulled out several historical-looking books from the shelves.

"Maybe this."

"...I can't read ancient script."

"The illustrations."

Guided by Elixira's finger, I looked at the book's illustration. It depicted something like a black dragon, spewing fire from its mouth, with people fleeing and buildings collapsing below. This is... definitely an apocalyptic scene.

"What is this?"

"It's written in ancient script, so the details are unclear, but it's said to be from the western countries. Even among books written in ancient script, this one was heavily protected by powerful magic."

"But it's in the ancient library."

"This is a copy."

Yeah, I knew that.

"So? Does that mean it could just be a story?"

"Yes. The first person who discovered it thought the same."

That's what everyone would think.

"Do you know about the hole in the center of the western countries' continent?"

"No."

"..."

Don't look at me like that. I grew up with the idea that the western countries are the enemy, that's all. There's no actual world map, you know.

"The western countries are on a continent the same size as ours, but they're divided into smaller nations because of the hole in the center. There's a hole the size of a country in the center, and it's unknown if there's a bottom. Periodically, magical beasts emerge from it."

"That's bad."

"Yes, it's bad. The western countries are united as a nation group to deal with that hole... and they're at war with the Elgrant Empire."

Humans are in trouble, too.

"So, what's with the hole?"

"The place depicted in this ancient book is that hole. In other words... it's said that the gigantic hole was made by a single dragon."

Wow... But isn't that just a common folklore, made up by someone who saw the hole?

"There's a small village near the hole that's existed since ancient times. The village chief has been orally passing down the story of the dragon for generations. That's the 'End Dragon' depicted in this book."

That's on a grand scale. It's like saying the earth is flat and supported by a turtle.

"If the 'end' Minister of the Interior, Frodil mentioned is that 'End Dragon,' then he's just an old man talking mythology."

He's crazy.

"I don't know why Minister of the Interior, Frodil comes into this, but if the 'End Dragon' really exists, humans could easily be wiped out."

Hmm... Maybe the Floedil Interior Minister, through some information network, is certain of its existence and wants to build a nation that can withstand such a being.

Hmph... that's impossible. It's a monster that can create a giant hole in a continent. The red dragon I defeated is nothing compared to it.

"If we ever decipher the ancient script, we might acknowledge the existence of the 'End Dragon' depicted in this book."

"Ancient script, huh..."

Maybe it's not important now. Even if we decipher the ancient script and gain the power to oppose the 'End Dragon,' the Floedil Interior Minister won't stop. He'll probably use that power like a nuclear weapon to intimidate other countries and invade them. Then, he'll calmly say to the citizens, "Thanks to this power, we defeated the enemy with minimal sacrifices." What a patriot... makes me sick.

He's genuinely patriotic. Following his orders would indeed ensure the security of the Kuria Kingdom. But the number of people sacrificed in other countries during that time... is unimaginable. Still, he won't stop. He has the support of the people.

"Shifting your country's misfortunes onto others, huh."

"Yes?"

"Nothing."

I understand what you're saying. If asked to choose between my own happiness or someone else's misfortune, I'd definitely choose my own happiness. Happiness is relative; the more unfortunate others are, the more one's own happiness stands out.

"...It's still irritating."

I can't just go along with everything he says.

"Elixira, there's something I want to tell you."

"...What is it? What's with that suspicious smile?"

Tell Ivy instead.

"It's important. Don't worry... once you hear it, you can't go back."

"That's definitely a bad thing! Please don't tell me!"

"It's okay. I'll tell everyone in the faction."

"Eek!? There's no escape for me!"

Haha! Regret becoming the faction leader.

"...Please be quiet in the ancient library."

Sorry.