The Foreigner on the Periphery

The Lord was overcome with emotion.

To think I'd see this sight again even after my death.

Jenkinson wanted to retort to the voice in his head.

Strictly speaking, the one seeing this sight is me, not you. And to be even more precise, you aren't even completely dead yet...

But he soon wondered what the point was. It was true that Jenkinson's fractured personality perceived itself as the Lord.

If everyone looked at him and called him Jenkinson, yet he believed himself to be someone else entirely, was he truly himself?

Was identity determined by society's acceptance or by one's own perception?

Let's put aside the complex thoughts for now.

Jenkinson turned his head.

More gathered than I expected. The agenda we leaked beforehand was quite provocative, after all.

The Lord was silent for a moment. He still seemed lost in reminiscence.

Haven't you seen scenes like this countless times in your life?

The fractured personality released a fragment of memory.

But of all of them, this was the first.

It was the sight the Lord had seen when he first joined the war.

A memory from over a thousand years ago.

Dragons of all colors and kinds—a race originally uninterested in anything but their own affairs—gathered in unity for a single purpose. Kindred pooling their strength for the war against the Ancient Race.

At that time, the Lord harbored a doubt. Even after the war ended, even if their common enemy disappeared, would dragons ever be able to pool their strength again?

We might find out the answer to that soon. Perhaps in a very tragic way.

Jenkinson muttered gloomily.

We might end up uniting not before a common enemy, but before a common master.

The Lord replied.

Still, we must avoid the worst-case scenario. Isn't that why we're standing here?

Jenkinson agreed. He then looked out at the gathered audience.

This was a vast underground space located near the narrow strait between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. It was large enough for hundreds of dragons to gather and debate, even in their true forms. A venue prepared in one of the world's major cities solely for the Balaur Council.

Jenkinson had invited Earth's dragons here.

The turnout was a success. Since only the Dragon Lord could issue a mandatory summons, strictly speaking, none of them had any obligation to attend today. Nevertheless, the attendance rate was excellent.

The Lord's personality studied their faces with complex emotions. He soon identified the few absentees.

Where did Raymond Wong go? There's no way he would miss an event like this. Moreover, isn't this his territory?

The de facto ruler of Hong Kong, that Ancient Dragon, was nowhere to be seen.

Because their memories had also torn apart when the personality split, the two were unable to interfere with each other's memories even now.

Jenkinson explained what had happened after the Lord died.

He has gone missing.

What?! He's even older than you are. How could someone like him go missing?

It makes no sense. I thought he was just secluding himself in his Lair, but that wasn't the case. When they couldn't reach him for too long, another of his children—not the son who was taken by the Committee—came all the way to Hong Kong to check personally. And to their surprise...

Wait, what does that mean? Raymond's son was taken by the Committee?

Ah, come to think of it, the Lord wouldn't know about Leo's situation either.

Jenkinson didn't think this was the right time to tell that story.

I will explain later.

Ugh, what in the world is going on...

Jenkinson cut off the mental chatter and spoke aloud.

"I thank all of you, my kindred, for sparing your precious time and attending despite the sudden summons."

The gazes of hundreds of dragons poured onto him.

The Red Dragon felt the various colors of emotion in the air. It didn't seem like everyone had come to take his side. This was especially true of the young dragons.

Regardless of their reasons for coming, the common thread was that they were all staring at him with such intense focus that it was hard to even hear anyone breathe.

Jenkinson silently absorbed their attention and spoke.

"I stand here to testify to the misdeeds of two dragons and formally accuse them. The names of the two who have committed acts that would outrage the heavens are Kaien and Asisphael."

Discontented murmurs rippled from the young dragons.

A rumor had been circulating among them lately—that a conspiracy by the Ancient Dragons was behind the disappearance of Kaien, who had championed the rights of the young dragons.

As long as that rumor floated around like a ghost, the shadow of a boycott would never fade. Jenkinson did not want that.

"If you trust in my honor as Jenkinson, you know that I would not spout empty lies before my kindred. However, to handle this matter completely, I have invited an eyewitness."

Jenkinson turned his head and called the witness's name.

"Kentius, if you please."

A tricolor dragon stepped up to the podium.

His usual signs of lethargy and depression were nowhere to be found. His expression was energetic, confident, and even tinged with a hint of arrogance.

He was the dragon who had acted as the opinion leader for the hatchling boomer generation before beginning his reclusive life. The murmurs of the young dragons grew louder at his appearance.

"Yes, thank you, Jenkinson." He turned his head toward the audience. "I will testify to what I recently experienced, without adding or subtracting a single detail."

He made eye contact with the crowd and spoke.

"Starting a few months ago, Kaien persistently requested to meet with me. His stated reason was to ask me to lend my support to the movement boycotting the Dragon Lord Election. He must have done so knowing the influence my words hold over the dragons of our generation. However, I continuously avoided meeting him."

A few dragons nodded.

It was common knowledge among those in the know that Kaien had been persistently trying to recruit his half-brother.

"The reason I refused to meet him is simple."

It was indeed a simple reason.

Dragon-phobia, induced by his severe depression.

However, Kentius gave a different answer.

"Because I believed it was right for a new Dragon Lord to emerge as soon as possible. But Kaien eventually forced his way into my Lair regardless. Just the two of them, with Asisphael. I expressed my refusal all the same. He must have realized his approach wouldn't work, so he confessed a secret to me."

The words that followed contained a truly shocking revelation.

"He was not disrupting the vote to see his own ideals and justice realized. Kaien was being manipulated by someone else."

This was information Jenkinson had extracted after waking up and interrogating Kaien and Asisphael in a manner akin to torture.

Yet Kentius described it as if he had heard the story straight from Kaien in his own Lair.

This is how you want it, right?

The tricolor dragon exchanged a glance with Jenkinson.

In exchange for taking the witness stand and telling this story, Jenkinson had promised Kentius one thing.

Just as some psychiatric patients showed a deep dependence on medication, Kentius was addicted to the Divine Power of the 'youngest'.

Whenever feelings of depression and frustration gathered in his head like dark storm clouds, a single wave of that child's hand would clear his mood entirely.

Jenkinson had promised to lend him the youngest whenever he needed him in the future.

For a price like that, I can at least do this much.

Remembering their deal, Kentius continued his testimony.

"Kaien's unidentified backers supposedly promised him a 'reward of immense financial value' in exchange for delaying the election. I was shocked to hear that. Kaien was sabotaging a crucial event that would determine our kindred's fate purely for his own profit."

The critical phrase, "Dragon Heart," was never mentioned.

Kentius didn't even know about the incidents surrounding it to begin with.

"The reason he confessed to me was because he needed my cooperation. As you know, not every young dragon agreed with Kaien. It seems he wanted me to throw my weight behind him. His backers were apparently pressuring him, threatening to void their contract if things continued as they were."

Kaien's crime had to be made known to everyone.

He needed to attack the messenger to strip away the legitimacy and persuasiveness of the message itself.

However, Jenkinson didn't think the crime necessarily had to be broadcast truthfully.

"Kaien knew my nature, and he knew a method I wouldn't be able to refuse. Like any dragon, I absolutely love wealth. I love it to a terrible degree. So Kaien tried to lure me in with the very same bait he had fallen for."

Kentius added grave weight to his voice.

"But I know how to distinguish right from wrong. So I ventured a guess. Who would want to delay Earth's Dragon Lord Election?"

Tension and anger flared in the dragons' eyes.

"Who would mobilize a sum of wealth large enough to blind Kaien, secretly approach him, and scheme? Who possesses the capability for such a thing?"

Someone muttered.

"...The Committee!"

"Therefore, even while talking with Kaien, I realized I had to report this and ask someone for help. But the Lord's seat is vacant. So I reached out to the Ancient Dragon considered closest to that position."

Jenkinson took over.

"Thanks to his call, I immediately traveled to Kentius's Lair. However, Asisphael caught wind of that attempt."

"That's right. I was clumsy. In the end, the two of them destroyed my Lair and fled."

Low groans rippled through the crowd.

It was already a widespread fact that Kentius's home had been collapsed.

"I tried to track them, but regrettably, I failed."

Someone voiced a doubt.

"Two young dragons evaded an Ancient Dragon's pursuit?"

"You all know I've been in a state of pseudo-seclusion these past few days. The truth is, I wasn't inside my Lair; I was secretly tracking them."

He carefully hid the fact that he had been struck by Magic and lost in a deep dream.

"But I couldn't find them. How could they manage that with their own abilities? In the end, my suspicion only solidified. They had joined hands with the Committee."

"The reason I gathered you all here is because I need your consent to verify these charges."

"After Kaien and Asisphael vanished, they did not show themselves near their Lairs again. It seems they noticed my surveillance."

"Whether one is young or old, intruding into another dragon's Lair without permission is forbidden by the Dragonic Code. However, now that they have been missing for days, I propose we search their Lairs under the supervision of the Ancient Dragons to prove their guilt."

A heated debate followed among the dragons, but public opinion swayed exactly as Jenkinson intended.

A few of the Ancient Dragons already seemed to know Jenkinson's intentions and threw their support behind him.

Jenkinson could predict exactly what would happen next. Gathering their consensus, the Ancient Dragons would search Kaien and Asisphael's Lairs, and there they would find evidence that the young dragons had colluded with the Committee (or rather, the aliens presumed to be them).

Of course, unless Kaien was a complete idiot, there was no way he would leave such evidence lying around an empty house. It was fake physical evidence that Jenkinson had manufactured using the "cooperation" he extracted during his rough interrogation.

With this, Kaien's claims will lose all their power.

The young dragons will feel ashamed of the fact that they were used.

I suppose I can just make the excuse that the Committee ordered the election delayed for the sake of their "secret experiment"?

I actually believe that to be true. From those 'dragon spiders' alone, it's a fact that the Committee was trying to pull off some strange things on Earth. Leaving the Lord's seat vacant would naturally give them more room to maneuver. The dragons would just go back to not caring about anything but their own business.

Once the Committee's conspiracy came to light, Jenkinson would persuade them once more. He would argue that they needed to vote quickly to expose and put a stop to the Committee's plot.

But in truth, Jenkinson's reason for wanting to become the Dragon Lord quickly was not strictly to keep the Committee in check. This was especially true if the primordial race was destined to win the war anyway.

Nor was it because Jenkinson wanted to absorb the Lord's heart quickly. Regardless of how fast he became the Lord, this heart had to be left exactly as it was until 99 days had passed since the Lord's death.

Although Jenkinson had been caught once in the incomplete Magic, thankfully, the spell hadn't vanished. It was still progressing toward completion.

Then why was Jenkinson rushing the vote at this juncture?

Will this method really increase our chances? In the worst-case scenario, will we at least be able to save the dragons of this planet?

At his question...

The voice in his head replied.

Shouldn't we grasp at whatever straws we can?

...You're right.

Then, the Lord spoke in a firm tone.

So steel your resolve. Kaien and Asisphael, those two dragons, must remain known as fugitives seeking asylum with the Committee. The Dragon Heart must continue to be known as remaining inside my corpse. If word gets out that the heart is in your hands, it will just attract more flies buzzing with greed.

Don't worry about that.

Jenkinson murmured, his gaze flashing with a rare, murderous intent.

Those two thieves will never see the sun again.

*

A dimension far removed from Earth.

In the quarters prepared aboard the command ship, Minjun questioned Dell.

"Dell, I'll ask you one last time."

His tone, at least, was no different from his old self, bringing Dell a slight sense of relief.

"Are you really going to refuse?"

Minjun had just made a certain proposal to Dell.

Dell considered it a favor from Minjun. However, in her position, it was an unacceptable gift.

"No, I can't. I've already lost the right to represent the Endelion. In more ways than one."

Anticipating the post-war situation, Minjun had asked if she would take on an important position. In Dell's mind, it was an impossible prospect.

She muttered inwardly.

What will the surviving Endelions think of me after the war ends...? To them, I'm just a traitor. Furthermore, this body can't even be considered an Endelion anymore.

Dell was simply not worthy of receiving their goodwill and respect. That was why she refused.

Minjun stared quietly at her face for a moment.

Then he spoke softly.

"...Alright, then it can't be helped."

Just then, a presence was felt outside the door.

=O avatar, it is Yumtus. I have brought them as ordered.=

The door opened, and the priest entered. He bowed to the god and the holy mother in turn. Dell was puzzled to see the lumps attached to his back.

"Why those children?"

Three of the Endelion children had followed Yumtus inside.

Minjun replied to Dell with an inexplicable remark.

"Because it's best to start education early."

"What?"

Instead of explaining further to Dell, Minjun looked at the children and spoke.

"I hear you're afraid of me."

=...=

"This is what I instructed Yumtus: instead of pointing anyone out by force, bring me volunteers who raise their tentacles on their own. Did he say that to you?"

After a brief hesitation.

Sshk! A few tentacles squirmed up from behind Yumtus's back. They stretched out like vines wrapping around rafters, and then a round, single eye peeked over his shoulder.

Three pupils cautiously stared at Minjun.

One of them spoke.

=Yumtus did say that... sir?=

Minjun followed up with a question.

"So, are all three of you here of your own free will, and not because someone singled you out?"

The children were still cautious. They hadn't fully shaken off their instinctive fear of him.

However, they didn't seem so terrified that they couldn't respond.

=Nobody forced us... sir?=

Minjun nodded.

In that case, it was safe to assume those three were the most fearless out of the 168 Endelions.

The three who were somewhat free from the terrible, cowardly disposition etched into their genes.

If so.

"...!"

At Minjun's next words, Yumtus's jaw dropped as if it would dislocate. Dell's eyes widened in sheer shock.

Compared to them, the three children weren't greatly agitated. They were merely puzzled. This was because the specific word Minjun mentioned was sometimes used to mean "it" in their children's games. Or perhaps to signify a unique role opposite to "it".

Either way, in the context of play, it was a familiar word.

However, contrary to the children's misunderstanding, Minjun's declaration held this meaning:

He intended to grant absolute authority to one of the children, and that authority would be protected by the god.

"I am going to choose a 'king' from among you three. Who wants to be it?"

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