-- "Possession of the Living Spirit, Hounds Possession

This is the magic that Nito obtained by reversing the Seance of the Dead (Necromance) that he took from Madame Fran.
It is a magic that invades the opponent's mind and possesses their body.
And then take away the opponent's freedom and control it.
Everything..........

Nit...?

Emperor Ulanos glared at Ivan.
His hands tightened their grip on the throne's armrests and sweat began to trickle down his face.

Then Nito saw someone peeking out from the shadows of the pillar, trembling.

'Are you ... I think you said Lage or something?　It's been a while, hasn't it?　I'm surprised you got away that time. And afterwards, you sent an assassin to me and now my friends are getting hurt because of it.

'Hee!　I'm sorry! .....

Lage was completely hidden by the pillars.

'Ah?　What are you?　Doesn't look any different than before, does it?　Maybe you're afraid of me?

And Nito smiled a thin smile.

'Can I at least kill you and then go home?　Hey, what do you think?

He said this in a joking tone.

Raju shuddered at the words, and tears came to his eyes where no one could see them.
He could barely keep himself conscious.
Most of the people here couldn't understand the fear.
This was the first time they had seen Nito, except for Lage.

Just then, Gazelle Crown appeared behind Nito.

''The head of the rat is mine!

Then he tried to cut at it with his greatsword, which emitted purple waves.

'You're not well trained, are you?　The Emperor--

But right after that, Gazelle's raised sword stopped in mid-air.

''Guh! .....

Gazelle clenched her teeth and let out a ray of sweat as she clattered the sword above her head, which was not moving.
His expression showed agitation.

--'Telekinesis'

Nito's skills.

'I just came to talk to you this time.

Nito said, and waited for the emperor's next words.
Uranos looked at Gazelle's expression and Nito's and replied.

'Lower your sword I will speak with this one.

Nito then grinned at the emperor's knowledgeableness.

'That's the emperor, he knows what he's talking about.

"Your Majesty, let me do it!

But then Jade Gyges interrupted him.
Nito looked at Jade's face as he said that.

You? ...the magic power is a different order of magnitude from the ones behind me.　Is it as good as rage?　What?

"Hecatoncaire-- the Emperor's protector and 'King's Shield' is one of the cornerstones, Jade Gyges!

Hecaton Cale is 'The King's Shield'.
It is known as 'King's Shield' to the general public, but it is properly called 'Hecatoncale'.

I see........does this mean that another one of the countries has been destroyed?

"Stay out of it, Jade, I said I would talk to you.

But the Emperor interrupted Jade and stilled her.
With those words, Jade meekly let go of the sword.

'What the hell are you guys thinking?　Send a spy to destroy a country, and then what? What do you want?

Is that what you mean by "talk"?

No, everything. I want to know everything about this project you've been working on for a long time.

Even after hearing those words, Uranos did not change his expression.

'The nations are aware of this, okay?　That there will be a war soon--

That's all right. That's all well and good for now if you only understand that we are going to bring strife to the world. That is the cause of anxiety. The more ambiguous our purpose, the more chaos in the world.

Then Nito let out a sigh and changed the subject.

'Bottom line. Why did you go after me?　Because they stopped the attack?　I'm just an adventurer, okay?

Ulanos answers without pause.
I can't tell if he's not trying to hide it or if he's trying to deceive me with his tone.

Strictly speaking, no. "Strictly speaking, no. They have no intention of bringing us down in the first place. It was just a publicity stunt. I have targeted you because I believe you are a distraction to my plans, a possible distraction. I don't know who you are, but I don't want you to interfere with my plans.

'I see... well I'll tell you what. I'm not going to do anything about your empire at the moment.

"For now" is an understatement...

'No, I'm serious. If you hurt me and my people any more, you will suffer the same fate as Greberg. That's all I'm going to say to you. Do what you want with the rest.

Grayberg? .....

The words make Uranos feel uncomfortable.

--Why is Grayberg coming up there?

But it was a trivial word, said by Nito without thought.
But he shouldn't have said them.
Maybe this was an overstatement, born of Nito's arrogance.

''You ... are you ... are you the heart of a dragon?''

The eyes of Uranos who said that had become a different kind of glaring object.
It's as if he caught his prey.

But Nito didn't say anything and feigned equanimity.
But inwardly, he realized that he had misspoken.
And impatience, through laziness, turns to anger, which appears in his body.

--The left eye was red and shining miserably.

''That eye........the eye of a fool.......''

Do you know him? .....

I see...Nito the Adventurer is an abyssal man. It's no wonder Raju can't win. I can understand why he's so frightened.

Then Uranos let out a sigh of approval.
Then, as if to relax, he sat back down deeply on his throne.

'So that's the way it is ... slowly, but I'm beginning to understand you, Lord?

Uranos was extremely analytical, perhaps because he was an emperor.
He was good at detecting the other person in the few conversations he had.

'I don't care what happens to me. But you must get out of my hands first. Otherwise, I will destroy this country. I will return the entire castle from this world without a trace.

Hmmm... just like Graysberg.

Then Uranos leans forward in his throne and asks.

'How is the Black Dragon?　Hmm? ...How's that?　Is Kagetora still alive?

The first time I saw him...



.........




-- Astonishment.



Nito stilled, with his eyes wide open.

Astonished, he turned his thoughts to full speed, recalled what Uranos had just said, bit by bit, word by word, and then confirmed it.
But he couldn't let the upset rise to the surface.
It was too late, but Nito tried to remain as calm as possible.

'Kagetora...?　How do you know that name?

After asking this question, Nito immediately refrained from speaking.
And in my heart, I regret that I should have used a different word.

It's not a good idea to talk about something as easily as we do when we don't know what the other person's intentions are.
Nevertheless, I didn't expect the name of 'Kagetora' to come out of the current Emperor's mouth.
Nito didn't look away from the expression on his face so that he wouldn't realize it, but he didn't look away from his thoughts.

''Hahaha! You're upset, aren't you?　It's Nitto the Adventurer?

But in this kind of exchange, Nito was inexperienced.
He would immediately get the idea.
Uranos also has a look on his face that says "I'll do it".
But even that expression has a false feel to it, as if it were somehow played out.
Would a foolish man have seen the amiable king?
No, it's not.
Ulanos doesn't always show an opening.
He deliberately raises the tone of his voice and shakes the opponent's mind.

''Hahaha!　Oh, yeah, right!　Is the adventurer Nito's true identity as the Abyss ... and the Heart of the Dragon!　Hahaha!

--I was wrong.

This was Nito's mistake.
A mistake born of arrogance.
Nito was overconfident that he was the strongest with his power in his hands, and he talked too much of an unnecessary thing.
He's not the strongest in terms of brains and spirit.
And he is not as penetrating as the emperor.
It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

--It's not just a matter of time before you're ready to go.

"I'm not the 'heart of the dragon'...

'Hahaha! ...Really?　Then why did you react as if you were a party to it?　Why did you speak as if you were the one to do it?

The emperor spoke in an inflected tone, as if he was mocking Nito.

''Huh ... the little boy.''

But when the smile disappeared, the square said in a low, snarling voice.

--It's not just a matter of time before you're ready.

He saw that Nito's "inexperience" was not enough to manipulate the word, and he saw the essence of Nito's character.

A child? .....

That's what you said.　Isn't it?

At that moment, Nito's expression changes wildly.

''Now!　I could destroy this country!

And Nito foolishly fell into the Emperor's scheme.
He lost his composure and opened his mouth in a fit of emotion.

'Do what you will?　If that makes you happy, all the better.　But you admit it, don't you?　I suppose you are willing to admit that you are an immature little boy at the mercy of my words?

Ulanos understood the man Nito was in this short time.
He is obsessed with winning and losing and hates to be made fun of. And childish.
That's what Nito is.

Since he has power, he should just kill him before threatening him with words.
But.....

Nito took the power in his hands and realized that he was the strongest.
And by thinking so, he gained confidence.
But gradually, being the strongest became a natural part of him.
This gave rise to arrogance, and before long he began to believe that he was the strongest not only in power, but in everything.
But now it has been exposed.
When Nito realized that this was an illusion, he suddenly became conservative, not wanting to let go of his strongest.
And that is what makes the idea of killing it so hesitant.

'What have you come here to do?　Hmm?　What have you come here to talk about?

Then, unlike earlier, Uranos let his nerves and guard down and asked, "What do you think of this?

Nito suppressed his anger.
And he was a bit stubborn, saying that if he messed with him here, the emperor would have his way.
He was so stubborn that he didn't even realize that that was what the emperor wanted.

''Beast Country is it true that you have this country under your control?''

Still, Nito somehow managed to keep his composure and continue talking.

Then Uranos stroked his chin and looked down at Nito.

'Ho ... where did you hear that?　That's supposed to be information that's not out there in the world.

Answer me!　Is it true what they say about oppressing beastmen!

Uranos smiles in response to the question.

'You'll know it when you see it, won't you?　That's why it's an empire!　It was only because he ruled the Beast Nation, and then gained the power of the Beastmen, that the Empire was born!　No, let's just say I've got my power back!　What about it?　Is that what you're talking about?

What would you do if I told you to let them go?

Nito asks, fed up with Uranos' tone of voice, suppressing his anger.

'Of course it's impossible, isn't it?'

Then Uranos stood up.
And for some reason, he sent instructions to the Commander and the doctors to leave the hall.

And all that remained there was Uranos, then Lage and Jade.
The rest of the king's guards were the only ones standing like ornaments.

'Whether you are the Heart of the Dragon or not, it doesn't matter at this time. But I believe that you are involved in more than a little. So I will ask you....

And the next words that came out of Uranos' mouth were, again, unbelievable to Nito.

''-- Kagetra the Dragon Slayer, Zephyr the Eater Red (Shokubeni), Shaoan the Serpent King, Adolf the Earth-Mad, Caliph the Bewitcher. Do these names sound familiar to you?

How far do you.....

Nito couldn't hide his surprise at the names that kept popping up one after another.
Then Uranos laughed, as if he could see through Nito's reaction.
And it wasn't the kind of smile that had been poised earlier, but a more pure and unclouded smile.

--What the hell is this guy?　How do you know so much about it?

Nito could no longer keep up with the idea.

How did Uranos know so much?
The Heart of the Dragon is supposed to be an adventurer who disappeared from the world hundreds of years ago.
They are supposed to be names that were erased from history as if they never existed.
How did Emperor Uranos know that?
But Nito would never understand.

'Well, you know... well I see... well that's just it.

Uranos asked one question after another as he folded, and then convinced himself that he was on his own.
Nito couldn't even open his mouth anymore.
If you talk about something easily, the information will come out again.
The very mouth is a recipe for disaster.
Otherwise, it would be read out.
Nito has never placed so much importance on 'information' as this.

'No way........it's a hell of a find. So it's only natural, considering that...

Ulanos is mumbling and alone and convinced again.

Nito can't say the next word.
He asks again, "How do you know? "Should I ask?
But that would mean admitting it.
What will you say next?　Nito couldn't even decide that.

But what was he thinking?
Uranos slowly began to tell the full story, as if he had no intention of hiding it.
It was as if he had no intention of hiding anything.

''One day, the Heart of the Dragon was erased from history, and day after day, I searched for them relentlessly!　But no matter how much you look for it.　There was no trace of it anywhere. As a result, we found the Heart of the Dragon, a different organization altogether. But even the Heart of the Dragon was missing!　No matter how hard we look for it, we can't find the dragon's tail, and it won't even show itself!

Uranos indignantly said as he did.

'The description said. I was convinced that all the others, except one, were of the superhuman race and that they were still alive somewhere in the world, but I could not find them. But I haven't been able to find them. Nothing but speculation and conjecture and hypothesis ensued. But the truth remains to be found in nothing...

There was no room in that expression of Uranos' that he had earlier.
It looked as if he was in a hurry.
He looked like a bandit who was drooling because he couldn't wait to see what was in the box right in front of him.

What do you know, Nito?

His tone of questioning was calm.
But the two eyes were glazed over.

'Answer me!　Where are they?!


Why is Uranos so desperate to ask for it?
Nito had no idea.
But there was one clue in Nito's mind.
Nito sought the truth there, along with his doubts.

-- that it was the Heart of the Dragon that had destroyed the country of Dahmskale in the past.

And an empire that continues to reign under the same name even after hundreds of years have passed.
And the fact that the empire is seeking the "Heart of the Dragon" that drove Dahmskale to its downfall.

What they want...the Dragon's Heart?

But if so, I don't know why.
Then what is the Empire sending spies to other countries for?
Why are we trying to start a war?
It was stuck.

'Answer me!　Where are they?　You're alive?　Or ... "I'm not going to answer your questions.

Nito said, interrupting Uranos' words.
Then Uranos regained his raging temper and his tone gradually regained its calmness.

''The Dragon's Heart is a relic of the past. But it still exists in the present. Why is that?　What is the heart of the dragon that still exists today?　That organization, of course, should not be a part of the past. But it is certainly one that knows a history that has been erased. I don't know if it is the Kagetora or someone else. No matter how much I try to think about it, I do not know. But I was able to decipher the account, and that led me to a theory. And it coincided with our purpose!

Then, as if to please Uranos, he asked with a grin.

'Nito what do you know about it, my lord?　Hmm?　What is the dragon's heart?　Who's there?

It was as if those eyes were not looking at Nito.
They are eyes that seem to be staring at the 'heart of the dragon' in the back of Nito's head, its true identity.

But Nito feigned boredom and replied.

''If you guys won't release the beast race, then I'll change my ways too.

Nito ignored the question and told his story.
But Uranos seemed unconvinced by the answer.

''...............................You mean that we can take that as a declaration of war?

'You can go about your worldly affairs in peace now. I won't hurt you. In return, stop sending assassins to me. There will be more bodies.

Why?　Why do you care so much about the beasties?

At that moment, Ivan's body flashed red-black.

Because I don't want to ruin my world.

Uranos could not believe his ears at the answer.
Then, after a moment of questioning, he grinned as if he had answered the question himself again.

'I see........you're mad too, I see.

But Nito couldn't understand the heart of Uranos' words.

''What do you hold in your hand in the Beast Country?''

If the race of beastmen could be the nucleus of building an empire, then the fact that the Beast Nation was under control was inexplicable.

-- Nito thought so.

It is I who ask the questions. Do you want to be the first to answer it?

I told you.　I don't want to deal with your story you answer my question.

Then the conversation is over. I have a job to do, and I don't have time to spoil my children.

Nito sighs and reacts in disgust.

'Well I'm going to go ahead and tell you, I'm a blabbermouth, okay?

Do what you want, but I haven't told you anything you don't want me to know. Don't get me wrong.　You look like an adventurer. You are of little consequence. You're no match for the Empire, and that means you're an ant.

We're done here. I'm out of here.

'Hahaha!　How rude of him to show up out of nowhere, ask, and then leave unilaterally. He has no common sense!　That's why they say you're a little boy!

I'll give you one last piece of advice.

Nito starts to cut him off calmly.
But Uranos doesn't change his expression from his condescending stare.

'Don't sully my world?　Human--

As soon as Nito finally said that, Ivan's body suddenly expanded and then burst.
Then there were chunks of flesh and blood splattered on it, and Nito's presence was already gone.

''Hahahaha! "Do not soil my world" is a very big deal. Your arrogance, your overconfidence you are a child of immaturity!　Lage, don't worry about it!　His red eyes are but a lie!　They are not worthy of our vigilance!

Ulanos laughed vigorously.

He smiled vigorously, "I do not feel any magic. He's probably an abyssal fool, but he's a total disappointment. He's just a goofball!　Hahahaha!

Uranos laughs eerily.

'Father? .....

Jade and Lage were puzzled by the situation.

'Interesting...'

Ulanos laughed so boldly that it almost echoed outside the hall.
And then he muttered a little afterwards.

But Ulanos was sweating his hands while he sneered and scorned Nito as a child.
What on earth did that mean?
Only he knows that.

Uranos is the only one who knows.