Echoes of Destiny 1: A LitRPG Fantasy Adventure, page 12
Without clothes, we fell asleep like exhausted people. I can’t even remember what happened in the end. It was simply a time of bliss.
“You will forget all the blinding light; you are the only one I have.”
“I love you; I love you more than my fiancée. I adore you.”
“I am the worst woman, so you are the only one left.”
Yesterday, I repeatedly uttered those words to His Majesty. Reflecting on it, I feel a pang of guilt. I repeatedly recall it, as though the recollections from yesterday have become etched in my memory.
Lord Glare, Natalie, and Marie are forgetting their parents.
Even for a moment, if you try to recall something repulsive, remember the memory of that act with him and embed in your body and mind the fact that he is the only one for me now.
I wish this moment could last forever. Dawn is approaching. I don’t think he will be able to come here every day because he is the Crown Prince. Until now, he has been under Ya Qingneng's watch, secretly meeting him, so this is the first time he has stayed here. I don’t know how thrilled I am to be able to see the one I have loved for such a long time.
I have been with Glare for a long time.
This is the first time I realized that I did not see him as a lover.
If I could enjoy a blissful time like yesterday, I would not be afraid of anyone leaving me again. My heart must be completely broken. But it doesn’t matter. Because His Majesty is near.
A rose punctured my right finger in the courtyard. The sharp pain tries to bring me back to reality. However, the swamp I fell into is not shallow enough to return to.
“I cannot go back; I am in such a warm place.”
I can’t escape from here; it’s just a little chilly and dim. Even that cruel reality feels like a barrier to love, and my emotions blaze up.
I gently kiss his left hand. The Bulan nobility uses this gesture as a courtship ritual. Women should only do this at weddings. He gave me an important kiss that he never gave to Glare. Exclusively to me.
The Shadow, also known as the Headless Knight or the Undead of the Former Adventurer.
He was once an undead creature of human descent. Throughout his life, he demonstrated extraordinary talent, earning promotion to an A-rank adventurer in his twenties. However, he fell victim to the Eve Kingdom and the Red Dragons' schemes. The Knights of the Kingdom destroyed his group during the capture of the Maze of Death and silenced him by assassinating him. Desperate and harboring intense hatred, he transformed into an undead to reduce the number of sacrifices to the Red Dragons, including himself. On the fourth underground floor of the Maze of Death, he persistently targets and repels adventurers. However, this action is worse than death because those defeated by adventurers cannot die as undead, which is truly abominable.
Even during his lifetime, his swordsmanship was highly regarded, potentially reaching S-rank, and even after death, he honed his talent through battles with adventurers.
Typically, he is a warrior who cannot perform long-range attacks, but he is versatile, able to unleash powerful slashes and handle long-range attacks to some extent.
Regarding Glare, he sympathizes with those in similar circumstances as himself. Though he claims to have a master-slave relationship with him, he truly thinks of him as a younger brother. He is one of the most respected beings due to his adventurer skills and large following.
He and the witch in the same party have a relationship that is neither purely sibling nor lover, but due to their clumsiness with each other, they have ended up in a one-sided love.
Abilities
(Current)
Politics: 15/17
Strength: 98/120
Leadership: 91/100
Magic: 0/0
Intelligence: 69/75
Charm: 80
Principle: 90
(Potential)
Melee Combat: S
Mounted: S
Archery: A
Magic: E
Internal Affairs: E
Diplomacy: C
Conspiracy: E
(Special Skills)
Negate Magic Power/Fire Attack (Additional effect with white silver armor)
Leadership Level 4
??? 2x (Additional effect with treasure sword)
Chapter 30: The Guardian Dragon of the Kingdom & Natalie's Theory
When the dragon landed, a terrifying gust of wind swept over us.
Its goal was to disrupt our defensive formation's balance in preparation for an attack. All of us, except for Bors, were thrown off balance. The massive crimson dragon seized this opportunity.
Its neck recoiled, its enormous body quivering. Then, a massive ball of fire erupted toward us. We maintained a small distance between our groups, but against wide-range fire attacks, spreading out would usually minimize damage. However, we chose to stay close together, believing that the strongest shield is most effective when there are two.
Bors, clad in silver armor, stood in front of us and withstood the fire attack. One of the shields blocked the enormous flames. Even the sacred silver couldn’t be burned through by such fire.
Amidst the flames, a sword slash emerged, cutting through the air and earth, severing the dragon’s front left leg. Blue blood gushed out, and a deep, resonant roar echoed across the battlefield, clearly showing its pain.
Immediately after, Merlin's magic attack struck the dragon’s body, causing it to stagger under the relentless damage. Additionally, Rocky’s transformed self lunged at the dragon’s legs. Its heavily injured left leg buckled, throwing it off balance.
In a desperate attempt, the dragon struck out with its poisoned claws, but Seurat’s strong shield blocked the blow. We countered the poison with more poison of our own. We had learned that we could handle both the dragon’s long-range and close-range attacks. If we continued to restrain its attacks and deal consistent damage, like when we defeated the giant blue monster the day before, we could eventually bring it down.
I didn’t expect us to cause this much damage. Even when I defeated the Bulan hero in that battle, I hadn’t gone this far.
Suddenly, the massive crimson dragon stunned us by speaking in human language. The confusion halted our attacks.
“Hehe, interesting. You use the slime and undead characteristics to block the remaining attacks, allowing those behind you to accumulate damage with long-range attacks. It’s certainly a beneficial strategy. If Ya were a regular monster, this strategy could defeat him. But alas, this is no ordinary monster.”
The dragon then prepared for another fire attack. In desperation, Bors stood at the forefront, trying to shield us. But…
“Don’t be foolish; it’s a waste of time.”
A massive ball of fire shot skyward, losing shape as it ascended. It exploded in the sky like fireworks, with countless flames raining down on us like a volcanic eruption. This did not deter Bors from launching a counterattack. Although it wasn’t a lethal dose, a direct hit would cause considerable damage. The scattered fireballs hit most of Rocky’s transformed selves, causing them to lose their form.
Merlin’s scream echoed. “Damn it. If this continues, we’ll be annihilated.” A flame was near me, and the intense heat was gradually approaching us.
“Sir Glare, are you okay?”
Bors had shielded me.
“Oh, thank you.”
“Gather everyone and retreat. I’ll buy you enough time to escape.”
In his heart-wrenching determination, he felt a resolve similar to the witch he had seen in Bors’ memories.
“How can you do that?”
“If not, you’ll be annihilated. Don’t worry, I’m undead. I can’t die. I’ll face it and run away.”
But I knew it was a lie. This massive dragon would repeatedly unleash fireballs, causing infinite pain. The torment in hell would make him regret not dying. It would undoubtedly fall on his friends.
“Oh no…”
The dragon’s attack was imminent. Bors briefly used his shield to block the attack, but the powerful strike blew him away. I managed to avoid the attack. Looking around, Rocky’s body was the only one that could move freely. The fire attack had even inflicted damage on Seurat, making it move more sluggishly than usual. Bors quickly regained his position and reengaged the dragon, despite being blown away.
What should we do? Should we gather the wounded and move them to the sanctuary? Abandon Bors…
No, no. If I did that, I would surely regret it. I feared that if I only cared for myself, like the Crown Prince, I would ultimately think that I didn’t care about others. Everyone always helped me. I couldn’t repay anything. Running away now would only mean I would need to be rescued later.
I wanted power. I wanted to be strong enough to protect those I love. I wanted the strength to help these people.
“It’s okay; you have the capability. The magic stone will help you.”
The woman’s voice echoed in my head when I first met Seurat.
I did as I was told, grasping the stone in my hand. A dazzling light enveloped us.
- The Royal City (Natalie's Perspective) -
My uncle and I met secretly in a carriage. The Intelligence Bureau had been silent afterward. The Marth case was handled well. We had avoided meeting until things settled down, making this our first meeting in several days. I addressed my uncle.
“Did you discover anything about Senpai?”
“This is still a sensitive area. However, I asked the guild master of the Adventurers’ Association, whom I know, for help. He agreed. Essentially, they do not get along with the government.”
“I’m glad you took advantage of the discord between the kingdom and the Adventurers’ Guild.”
As expected of the Duke. Despite siding with the government, he is a significant political force closely connected with the Adventurers’ Association. I’m pleased you’re on my side.
“Hehe, I work as an internal affairs officer, so my responsibilities are limited.” The guilds, security forces, intelligence bureau, and army have a complicated relationship. They don’t find it amusing when they move freely. They have an information network that doesn’t align with the government. This group poses a significant threat to those who have the power to suppress it.
A free-spirited adventurer can challenge a government organization that prioritizes order. However, adventurers, especially S-rank and A-rank, represent a formidable force. The remarkable thing about top-tier adventurers is that if they are a rogue army, they can inflict devastating damage.
If a disaster-class monster suddenly appeared, it would be a national crisis if the Adventurers’ Guild did not cooperate. Therefore, the kingdom has strongly protected adventurers’ rights. However, security officials do not seem to care about that.
“So, Natalie, do you have any ideas?”
“We have a hypothesis: a specific change is occurring in the area.” The direction of Senpai’s kidnapping corresponds with this area. That’s why I want the Adventurers’ Guild to focus on that area.”
The Duke, slightly surprised, instantly calmed down and inquired, “So, what is the hypothesis?”
I presented my theory.
- Rocky (Clay Doll) -
In the Labyrinth of Death, a clay doll monster is born. Magical power and lingering thoughts create clay dolls, leaving them without parents or friends. However, Rocky has been lonely for years and desires a companion.
He wants to observe human adventure groups from a distance and make friends. As a result, he tried to create a sort of family by mass-producing his altered egos. However, his altered egos were still just versions of himself, unable to be different.
Driven by the desire for companionship, he can create more altered egos than a normal clay doll. The altered egos quickly lose form, but his main body excels in both offense and defense. Although he cannot speak with them, he has an obsession with them as they are important friends he ultimately created.
(Capabilities) Current/Potential
Politics: 1/3
Strength: 78/86
Leadership: 95/100
Magic: 0/0
Intelligence: 73/81
Charm: 60
Principles: 83
(Proficiencies)
Melee Combat: A
Mounted Combat: E
Archery: E
Demonic Arts: E
Internal Affairs: E
Diplomacy: E
Schemes: E
(Special Skills)
Creation of Altered Egos
Leadership Skill
Allied Stats Boost
Chapter 31: The Duke's Awakening & Hypothesis Approaching the Truth
The Magic Stone of the Sun filled me with light. What a great feeling!
“No way… How did you find it? Only the true heir can use it. Impossible.” The enormous, crimson dragon was clearly agitated. I wondered if the magic stone we had stumbled upon was a significant artifact.
My body gradually warmed up. It was a gentle warmth, soothing. It reminded me of my mother, who died when I was young. It felt like being in a mother’s embrace.
Rocky had created a changeling form for me, clearly an anomaly, and was escorting me.
“You fool, are you coming to your senses now!? If we permit this, chaos will envelop the nation. King Ya established this order for the benefit of humanity. We cannot let this happen. We cannot have a true heir.”
The dragon’s colossal body easily flicked Rocky's defensive constructs away, scattering his changeling forms. With the shield protecting me gone, the dragon quickly closed the distance between us.
I did not run. The dragon's speed made it impossible for me to flee. But more importantly, I didn’t feel the need to run.
My left arm flew through the air. The dragon's sharp claws had certainly sliced through it. There was no pain.
"Your claws are filled with a powerful poison that will kill you. It’s enough to kill a person within minutes. Even if you escape, it will be useless. Only the highest-ranked priests can cure this poison. You cannot be the heir. I will die here!”
As I listened to his words, I remembered the conversation I had before entering this labyrinth.
“No matter how powerful a noble you are, you are still a vassal, don’t you understand? Sophie is my woman. You must gracefully accept your defeat and step aside.”
“I understand your point, but the prince denies it. This country has become a place of vileness. You are the eldest son of a foolish duke family who has been violent with his fiancée, and the Crown Prince is a righteous man who rescued a woman from your demon. That would be a classic story. History always smiles upon those in power. Look, you don’t have the power to do that.”
The Crown Prince’s and Barand’s words...
At that time, I was powerless. I had no strength to defend myself. But now, it was different. I had a companion. My friends had always protected me and fought for me. Now, it was my turn.
I decided to fight against the kingdom. The Eve Kingdom had a massive army, a ruthless intelligence agency, and a dragon working for them. The crimson dragon in front of me was one of the barriers I had to overcome. It was just a fleeting obstacle.
If I couldn’t defeat this dragon, I wouldn’t be able to protect my family, my subordinates, and my important friends. How long would I be protected? Before entering this labyrinth, I was the same.
I slowly pressed down on my left shoulder, which continued to bleed. The sensation gradually faded and became dim. But my desire grew stronger.
“Why won’t you fall!? How are you doing this? How can a powerless man like you have such strength? The founding ancestors... their power.”
“I don’t know how difficult it is, but I do know one thing. I want to defeat you, the root of the kingdom’s evil regime.”
By allying with him, the kingdom had defeated the Bulan Kingdom in the Twenty-Year War. To aid him, the kingdom clandestinely collaborated with him, sacrificing individuals such as myself. They might incite the adventurers to move against you and sacrifice you, to purge those like me who know the inconvenient truth.
They aimed the enormous flame at me. The heat was so intense that it melted the massive rock in front of us.
My left arm, the one I should have lost, began to feel hot. It tingled and writhed as if it were another creature. Something emanated from my left arm. And that something was moving toward the massive flame flickering before me.
The fireball dispersed as if it had exploded.
A dragon, long and serpent-like, emerged from my left arm. The golden left-arm dragon, in unison with my will, began attacking the crimson dragon.
- The Royal City (Natalie's perspective) -
"This is just a hypothesis... However, there appears to be an unusual occurrence in the Nolandi area." At the Duke's urging, I continued my story. "I believe that the Nolandi region is under the direct control of the royal family. It's an estate northwest of the royal capital. The directions match... But what's odd?"
"In the past month, the number of missing people has suddenly increased: a group of merchants, a veteran B-rank adventurer party, and members of the Knights. Typically, only about one person would go missing each month. The royals directly control that area, thus stationing a powerful army there. The Adventurers' Guild in the provincial capital is one of the largest branches."
"I see, that is indeed strange."
I learned this information by reading the newspaper. If something unusual was happening, there had to be something there.
"There are very few mountain ranges in that area, and few people go missing due to natural causes, as the majority of it is plains and forests. Adventurers and the army are also monster hunters, so there is little chance for a large number of monsters to gather."
I handed the Duke the Nolandi newspaper I had ordered.
"This is…”
There was an article about sightings of magical beasts, vicious monsters that shouldn’t be in the area, and a call for quests to defeat them. Despite the direct royal control, the ecosystem in that area experiences disruption. In other words, shouldn’t we assume that the vicious magical beasts are not native to that area but have migrated from somewhere else?"
