40-40 Throne Room (1/2)

How long had I been unconscious?

As long as I didn't look down, I'd be fine... My naive idea of flying was soon shattered.

It shook more than I expected.

It was much, much scarier than I had expected.

As long as I kept my eyes shut and only looked upward, I could at least manage to keep my eyes off the ground.

Still, I held on.

I could hear people talking around me, but my heart was beating so fast that I couldn't understand what they were saying.

But I managed to hold it together until the middle.

But then something happened.

The dragon suddenly began to plummet.

I was so scared I can't remember what happened next.

When I came to, there was a bright light in front of me.

”Oh...?

I knew immediately that it was dangerous.

It was more than just the light the dragon had spat out.

The red light that burned the dragon...

It was much more powerful.

Why was it like that?

It was as bright as the sun.

If it swallowed us all...

We'll all be burned like that dragon.

”Teacher...

Lean was saying something to me.

But there's no time to answer.

I shut my eyes and took up my sword...

I kicked the dragon in the back with all my might and jumped into the light.

Just by getting close to the light, my skin is quickly burned.

He couldn't even keep his eyes open.

But...

”Parry!

I forcibly pushed the light up with my black sword.

Then I felt a strange response in the handle of the black sword, and even with my eyes closed, I could feel the light recede into the distance.

I fearfully opened my eyes in midair to check, and saw a thick pillar of light climbing up to the sky.

Thank goodness.

It seems the dragon was spared a direct hit.

As it ascended through the sky, the huge light scattered in various directions and fell to the ground in a tail like a swarm of meteors.

It was an eye-opening and fantastic sight...

But before I could take my eyes off the scene, I remembered that I was high in the sky.

Immediately, my body stiffened.

And so, with all the momentum of my leap, I approached the tallest building in front of me...

I plunge headfirst into it.

I was barely able to use the sword I was holding as a shield, which was a good thing, but a tremendous shock hit me.

But it didn't stop.

Wall after wall of massive construction came at me, each time forcing me to defend myself with my black sword.

I kept doing this, smashing through several walls, rolling across the floor, and before I knew it, I was in a large room.

Thank God. I stopped.

Somehow he managed not to fall to the ground.

We're lucky.

But where am I? ......?

As I look around, I see a familiar golden old man.

He was seated in a fancy chair with the same shiny finish, surrounded by soldiers in dark purple armor.

The armor was similar to the armor worn by the soldiers he had just seen, although there were some differences in appearance.

That means that the group must be soldiers of the Imperial Kingdom.

If that's the case, we may have come to a bad place.

But there's something wrong.

The soldiers didn't pay attention to my presence, but surrounded the old man and drew their swords while shouting something.

It seemed as if they were about to slash at him.

I thought I heard that the old man was the emperor of the empire,......, but maybe he's not?

Prepare yourself, ......!　For the sake of the survival of the empire you will die here.

Don't... don't... save... me!

Your Majesty. We, the Ten Guardians, will take over your duties. Please rest in peace.

And now... I'm sorry.

One of the soldiers in armor swung a large curved sword at the old man.

That's dangerous...

I stepped in front of the old man and...

”Parry!

I reamed out my sword and flicked the swords of everyone in the room.

”What? What?

The swords, large and small, left the hands of the soldiers and pierced the walls, floor and ceiling.

”Huh...

The old man cowered at the sight of me.

The old man cowered at the sight of me. One of the soldiers, perhaps startled by my sudden interruption, shouted out.

Who are you, you...!　You're trying to protect him!　Because of this stupid emperor!　Because of this foolish emperor, our country...!

I don't know what's going on, but calm down.

I don't know what's going on, but calm down.

They also took out black cylindrical objects of various sizes and pointed them at us.

These are also weapons I've seen before.

Magic bullets flying at us all at once.

”Parry!

I swung my sword wide and repelled all of the magic bullets.

This is nothing to worry about.

But there's too many of them.

They don't seem to be listening to me.

I may not be able to protect the old man at this rate.

”Old man. Get down.

I thought it would be best to stay as low as possible for now, so I quickly grabbed the old man's head and pushed him down to the floor.

But I was a little too strong.

The old man's head plunged deeply into the floor.

Oh, shit. Will he be okay?

Oh my god...

...... Thank God. ...... He's still breathing.

Apparently he's still breathing thanks to his sturdy helmet.

”You... .......

I don't know who you are, but you're not doing yourself any favors by pledging your allegiance to this man at this time.

”Yes... this man has irreparably damaged our country.

He needs to pay for it with his life.

Get out of there.

I don't understand. Can't we just talk about it?

You know what I'm talking about!

If I did, I'd have done it a long time ago!

”Die...

The soldiers surrounding us didn't want to listen to us, but still attacked us at once.

They had daggers, whips, double swords, claws, shiny sticks that I couldn't understand... they had all kinds of weapons in their hands and they were swinging them at the old man.

”Parry.

I flicked their weapons again.

Fortunately, they weren't moving too fast.

Fortunately, they weren't moving too fast, since they were trying to attack an old man. ...... I guess they weren't too confident in their skills.

They seemed to be able to handle it on their own.

Who are you? .......

You're not from the Empire, are you?　From the looks of you, you're an adventurer for hire.

If you have that much power, why are you working for such a man? You can't expect to get paid for what you've done. ......?

Wait a minute.

What are you talking about?

I'm sure you've made some kind of mistake...

Shut up!　That man will pay for this with his death...!

A slender soldier threw something at me, screaming.

A flash of light...

It's a bomb.

Oh no.

The blast can't be covered by [Palii].

I quickly kicked the old man in the side of his head, which was still stuck in the floor.

”Egg!

The old man was kicked away by me, and with too much momentum, he was thrust headfirst into the wall, with only his lower body hanging down.

Oh, no. Did I kick him a little too hard?

No, it's probably not a problem.

I was more careful than I was when I sunk him into the floor, and that shiny gold armor is very sturdy.

I'm sure he's not dead.

But still...

”Why?

Why are you doing this?

You're dealing with an old man.

And isn't that your emperor?

That was... a man.

But that's over now.

Stay out of this.

That man... must die.

If we don't kill him now with our own hands, he'll never show it.

As he finished, the tallest man in the group hurled several bombs at the old man.

Fast...!