Chapter 368

Translator: Kell | Editor: Weasalopes

The End, and the Beginning of a New Era

After receiving word from Silver Face that the Evil Drakon had been defeated, Grucel made his way to Dream Maker’s government office building that housed all public institutions.

To accommodate the army that far outnumbered the original population, the government offices had to be operating. The building was bustling every single day, like it was a battlefield.

『Commander!』

As soon as they saw Grucel, supreme commander of Dream Maker’s army and currently the country’s chief executive, government officials swarmed him.

『Please sign these documents!』

『Commander, we need to talk about our lack of resources to reinforce the walls and the demolition of destroyed houses. We can discuss this at the allied forces’ barracks.』

『Hey, move it! Out of the way!』Gin pushed the people aside.『The Commander will not entertain you when he has that serious look on his face.』he said, then turned to Grucel.『Is it urgent, Sir?』

『I must get in touch with His Majesty right away.』

Gin and the officials tensed up at his words. A Linga’s Quill Pen, an item used by the Adventurers Guild and the armies for ultra long-distance communications, was also installed in this government building. As it wasn’t Dream Maker’s own technology, they feared the possibility of it being tapped, so using it was not recommended. But since it allowed communication with King Doriachi, its usage wasn’t entirely disregarded.

They had only used it twice ever since arriving Grand Dream. Their first message was: “Reclaiming Dream Maker” and the second was “Koukimaru captured.” Doriachi’s reply was the same both times: “Great work. I leave the rest to Grucel.”

Something actually happened that led them to restrict their use of Linga’s Quill Pen.

『C-Commander. What is going on?』

Grucel looked around. He saw the faces of trustworthy people.『The Evil Drakon up north had been slain.』

A deep silence descended, wrapping around the whole building. The voices and the sounds of conversation lulled. Birds chirping outside could be heard. A bunch of papers falling on the floor broke the silence.

Then the people cheered and roared. Some were ecstatic, some asked Grucel if it was true, and some sank to the floor crying.

Gin and the officials—the ones running Dream Maker—knew that the main reason this continent had become almost uninhabitable for humans and infested with monsters was because of the Evil Drakon. They were aware that the monster invasion that forced them to abandon their city was also its doing. That it sent the waves of monsters that had them on the defensive for days on end.

『The battle is not yet over.』Grucel said, and the officials nodded quietly.『But I think it’s all right to celebrate today.』

Cheers erupted once more. Grucel made his way to the basement where the Linga’s Quill Pen was installed. Gin and many officials followed him.

The stone slab sitting on a pedestal stuck into the ground emitted a faint light.

『I need a transcriber.』

『Y-Yes, sir.』

Picking up a catalyst and a pen, one of the officials wrote the words “Starting Transmission.” Ten seconds later the words “Transmission Acknowledged” appeared. Someone back in Ville Dream, a city built right next to Vireocean’s capital, Ville Zentra, checked for any transmission constantly. A messenger should soon be running to call Doriachi.

『Lord Grucel. The message, if you please.』

『The epidemic had been identified and ended.』

They came up with key words beforehand in case the transmission was being tapped. For example, Vireocean was a “medium-sized sailing vessel”, Gerhardt was a “fire spirit”, and the Evil Dragon was an “epidemic”.

Everyone waited for the reply with bated breath. It was taking quite some time. If Doriachi was not around, then it would take at least a few hours.

Then someone yelped in surprise. Words came up in a flash of light.

How is the condition of the commander’s grandfather?

Grucel gasped as he saw the unexpected words. “The commander’s grandfather” was a code for Koukimaru.

They had not yet checked on Koukimaru after learning of the Evil Drakon’s death. Perhaps the man could provide some useful information.

Such an important matter completely slipped from Grucel’s mind. He admonished himself for being too thrilled.

『I’m going to check on Koukimaru. We’ll resume the transmission later.』Grucel walked in huge strides, and Gin followed.

Gin had gone from a carefree senior soldier to a company leader. He was also treated like a senior commanding officer that accompanied the Commander himself.

『Sir, is it true that the Evil Drakon has been defeated? I still can’t believe it.』

『I feel the same. But…』Grucel hesitated.

If he said “Silver Face said so, so it must be true,” it would be taken as “Silver Face killed it.” The masked boy wished to keep his existence secret.

Gin might eventually find out from someone else that Silver Face was the source of the information. Grucel, however, didn’t want the words to come from himself.

『We’re almost a hundred-percent certain about it.』the commander said.

『I understand. I guess I should just be glad.』

Sensing that his commander had his reasons, Gin didn’t press the issue any further. He wasn’t greedy, and didn’t particularly care about power struggles or information gathering.

The two men arrived at the detention center. A soldier stationed inside gave a respectful bow at the supreme commander, but Grucel gestured him to stop.

『How’s Koukimaru?』

『Sir. As always, he doesn’t eat much. He hadn’t touched any of his food since last night.』

『Really?』

『Him eating is actually much rarer.』

『I see.』

Grucel didn’t care how Koukimaru was doing in jail. Or perhaps it might be more appropriate to say that the commander had much more important matters to attend to.

When he visited Koukimaru the other day, he guessed that Koukimaru wouldn’t give them any information that would turn the tide of battle into their favor. But now, with the Evil Drakon dead, he might say something.

『I want to talk to him.』Grucel walked into the jail with Gin and the soldier.

Koukimaru stayed in the same cell as before—in the middle of three cells. No one else was in the other cells, to keep them away from their special prisoner.

A plate lay in front of the iron bars. The food had gone completely cold, with no signs of it being touched. Koukimaru was sitting on the chair last time, but today, he was lying on a small bed by the wall, his back turned.

Did he always have such a small back? Grucel wondered. A small man like this destroyed Dream Maker once?

『Koukimaru.』Grucel called out to him. No answer. He tried a few times, but still nothing.

『He’s not anwering.』the soldier said.『What do we do, Sir?』

『Give me the key.』

Grucel held out his hand to the soldier, but the latter couldn’t decide whether to hand the key over or not.

『Sir. He might be pretending to be asleep.』Gin said.『He might attack you if you go inside.』

『It’s fine. An old man can’t best me.』

『That’s… true.』Gin turned to the soldier.『Do it.』

『Yes, sir!』

Instead of handing over the key, the soldier unlocked the cell himself. Grucel thanked him and entered the room.

『Koukimaru—』Grucel froze.

It wasn’t that Koukimaru did not answer, he couldn’t. The old man was dead. Black goo streamed from his eyes down to the bed. It didn’t take Grucel long to figure out when exactly he died—probably the moment the Evil Drakon died as well.

『Sir? What’s the matter?』Gin asked. He was standing outside with his hand on the door just in case something happened.

『He’s dead.』Grucel turned back and stepped out the cell.

『What?!』The soldier rushed in to confirm the man’s death.

『I-Is he really dead?』Gin asked.

『Yeah.』Grucel nodded and walked away.『Inform His Majesty about this.』he ordered.

『Wh-What about you, sir?』

『I…』As soon as he left the detention center, Grucel realized that he was irritated.『I don’t know. Just going somewhere.』

『Sir.』Gin stopped. He didn’t follow his commander.

Grucel heard his subordinate’s footsteps heading towards the government office building. Where do I even go in this small city? he thought. No, wait. We’re free now. This continent will be developed further. We can even go to the other continent.

Koukimaru was obsessed on this continent, on Dream Maker, on this small country. If he only shifted his gaze, he would’ve seen a much bigger world. Now he died without even knowing that.

What a selfish man!

He was frustrated because they were pushed around by a selfish old man, who killed many and gave them a difficult time. But the person in question had left this world. He probably had some kind of vital link to the Evil Drakon.

Grucel couldn’t even declare to Koukimaru that they had won. That the old man was wrong.

『Now Dream Maker will enter a new era.』

Doriachi, who should have received Gin’s message by now, would be thinking the same thing.

Interaction with the other continent. This continent’s exploration. These were things that were not possible before.

Grucel headed towards the city walls. He had the urge to gaze at the land from somewhere high.