Interlude 4: Bahamut the Dragon King

Back when Ryuu had first been banished by the head of the house.

There were cracks here and there in his room at the villa, and the windows were broken so badly they were impossible to ignore. No matter how much the servants cleaned, the aging of the building was inevitable.

Ryuu had prioritized giving his mother and sister the slightly better rooms, choosing to live in the most dilapidated one himself.

...So that he could rush to his family’s side at a moment’s notice.

"God, it’s cold tonight."

A night breeze whistled through the gaps in the weathered window frame, chilling Ryuu’s hand as he slid his pen across the paper.

Alright. That’s enough for today. Time for bed. I’ve got an early start tomorrow.

He closed his notebook, blew out the lamp, and climbed into bed, pulling the covers tight.

All that was left was to drift off into the world of dreams. But what awaited him was no peaceful slumber—it was a terrifying nightmare created by a certain monster.

When Ryuu opened his eyes, he found himself in a world of absolute darkness.

Where am I? This... this isn't reality. It’s a dream.

A world governed by nothingness and shadow.

He looked around, but there was no one else there. To his right and left, nothing but an endless void of black.

...But Ryuu could feel it. He felt that something was there. His biological instincts screamed, warning him of a monster so powerful it defied words, something truly terrifying.

I need to get moving...!

He tried to take a step, but for some reason, his legs wouldn't budge.

W-Wait, why can’t I move? I have to get out of here. And I can’t use magic, either. What the hell am I supposed to—

In the next instant, the hair on his arms stood on end, and sweat began to pour off him like a waterfall.

...This was Pressure. An advanced technique where one released their mana to crush an opponent. Someone was directing that pressure at Ryuu. A violence so overwhelming was being unleashed upon a ten-year-old boy.

I feel a 'presence' right above me... I don't want to look, but I won't get anywhere if I don't.

Ryuu slowly raised his gaze.

"..........................."

There, he saw the face of a gargantuan monster, glaring down at him. It had black, sturdy scales, demonic eyes that saw through everything, and fangs capable of crushing all of creation. Ryuu knew the name of this creature.

A Dragon—the legendary creature. So they really do exist.

And then, belatedly, Ryuu realized something. This Black Dragon had been sitting right in front of him from the very beginning. Because its body was so massive and its scales blended perfectly into the darkness, he simply hadn't perceived it.

The Dragon’s mouth moved slowly.

"...You finally noticed me, brat."

Though still consumed by fear, Ryuu didn't let himself be intimidated as he replied.

"So Dragons can talk. I’m surprised."

"Hmph... Impudent, for a worm crawling on the ground. Your pathetic language is child’s play to me."

"What even are you? Why are you here?"

"I’ll tell you, as a parting gift for the afterlife. I am the progenitor of the Dragon species, the pinnacle of all living things—the Dragon King, Bahamut. This is the Dark World of my creation. An execution ground, if you will, prepared specifically to bury you and seize your body. I took the liberty of sealing your magic as well. This is your end."

"An execution ground? What do you mean by—"

Before Ryuu could finish, the Black Dragon swung its massive arm down.

"Die—you worm."

"Eh—"

BOOM. With a massive impact and agonizing pain, Ryuu lost consciousness.

He should have been spectacularly crushed into a pathetic heap of meat, yet when he came to, his body had regenerated, and he was standing before the Black Dragon once more.

"Hoh... You stand even after taking a direct hit from me? As expected of the one I chose as my vessel. It would be a bore if you gave up on life so easily. Let us enjoy this a while longer."

Ryuu didn't quite understand what the Dragon was talking about. However, a few things had become clear.

This Dragon was trying to steal his vessel—likely his physical body. And another thing: as long as he didn't give up on living, he would regenerate and stand up again and again.

"It sounds like you’re trying to kill me in this world to take over my body in reality, but I’m not gonna let that happen."

"Hmph... I look forward to seeing how much a worm can endure."

"I’m going through a very important time right now. My family’s lives are riding on mine. To be honest, I’m scared, it hurts like hell, and there’s no way I can fight back. I can’t even use magic. ...But I am never giving up. You said your name was the Dragon King Bahamut, right?"

"To speak my name... the height of arrogance. Die now."

Ryuu was torn to pieces by a strike from the long tail, but he regenerated once again.

"Dragon King Bahamut. Right now—I’m more stubborn than anyone else in this world."

BOOM!

The next morning, Ryuu woke up normally. He wasn't in the Dark World, but in his dilapidated room at the villa.

Huh? I can function normally while I’m awake? I guess he’s just a monster after all.

(I can hear you, brat. The next time you refer to me as 'just a monster,' consider your life forfeit.)

Life forfeit or not, you turned me into mincemeat over a hundred times after that, didn't you? You still couldn't take my life, so just give it up already. You’re just a filthy parasite.

(You...!)

Young Ryuu, as it turned out, was also a master at taunting.

From that day on, a battle between the Dragon King Bahamut and Ryuu began to unfold night after night in the Dark World masquerading as a dream. It was questionable whether it could be called a 'battle' since Ryuu was just being unilaterally slaughtered...

Every day, only at the start of their conflict, Bahamut would answer Ryuu’s questions.

From that sparse information, Ryuu deduced that long ago, the Dragon King Bahamut’s power had become so immense that his physical body was destroyed. His soul was supposed to be sucked into the cycle of reincarnation, but the soul of a Dragon King was anything but ordinary. It continued to wander the world in spirit form, seizing the bodies of other creatures to use as temporary housing.

Of course, those bodies would eventually reach their limits, and once they were destroyed, he would search for a new host. When he stole a body, he would crush the original soul and force it to surrender.

The Dragon King had been repeating this cruel relay of life for ages.

Just to be safe, Ryuu decided to look through some literature regarding the Dragon species.

—Countless varieties of creatures have been confirmed in this world, including humans and demi-humans, but among them, there exists a monster often hailed as being the closest to the pinnacle. That is the Dragon (龍).

Not a generic dragon (竜), but a Dragon (龍).

A legendary, supreme creature beyond human intellect that has ruled the skies since ancient times. They soar freely across the world on massive wings and can destroy any foe with their powerful claws. Because they rarely descend to the ground, it is not even certain where they live.

How many there are, or what magic they use—even that remains unknown. It is a truly mysterious existence. On very rare occasions, one might fly near human settlements, but they don't spare a glance for humans, vanishing above the clouds in an instant. This has led to rumors that those who manage to catch a glimpse of one are granted the protection of the Dragon God.

Such Dragons are considered perfect beings—wiser than any creature, stronger than any creature, and longer-lived than any creature. Among researchers, some eccentrics propose the theory that 'Dragons were originally human,' but that remains unverified—

I don't know why he set his sights on a human like me, but I can't afford to worry about that right now. If he’s going to keep targeting me, I’ll just keep resisting until he gives up.

...Actually, I couldn't care less about the Dragon King Bahamut. Saving up money for the Elixir is way more important than that.

Whether by chance or necessity, Ryuu had become the host of the Dragon King, but he didn't seem particularly bothered by it. He was a remarkably resilient boy. One could say his mental fortitude was insane in a good way.

As long as I don't give up... that’s all there is to it.

However, the Dragon King was persistent. Whether he had taken a liking to Ryuu’s vessel or had become captivated by Ryuu’s own charm was unknown, but their nightly battles would continue for years to come.

Strictly speaking, the battle in the Dark World was a clash of souls between the Dragon King and Ryuu.

Normally, it wouldn't affect reality. But with Bahamut as the opponent, things were different. In exchange for being able to resurrect countless times, scars were slowly carved into Ryuu’s physical body in reality. Ryuu hadn't noticed yet, but several old wounds had already appeared on his back.

◇ ◇ ◇

The origin of the Dragon King Bahamut was a human.

Long ago, when humans first began to build civilization, Bahamut was born into this world as a single human being. He spent his childhood without issues, but as soon as he reached adulthood, he left the secular world. No, he was forced to leave.

Because the power he possessed was simply too great. Humans have a nature that seeks to exclude anything heterogeneous. Being brilliant, he understood this all too well, and before he could be put on a pedestal in a bad way, he vanished for his own self-defense.

Incidentally, the special power he possessed would be given a name thousands of years later... 'Magic.'

As a wanderer, he sought power. He took the power that was already immense and made it larger, then larger still. So that he would never have to care about others again, so that he could soar through the world freely.

He trained and trained, growing greater and greater.

But one day, he became unable to suppress his own power. To calm his rampaging body, there was no choice but to choose death. However, at that moment, a word crossed his mind: 'Evolution.'

'That’s right, I should just stop being human.'

That was his conclusion.

Immediately after making that resolution, everything went black. When he next woke up, he had obtained what he desired. He had gained wings that allowed him to soar across the world without caring about anyone else.

—At the cost of his memories.

He immediately took command of the skies. Small, worm-like creatures called humans were swarming on the ground, but for some reason, he felt like he shouldn't lay a hand on them. He didn't know why.

Later, he discovered a massive floating island above the clouds and made his nest there. As time passed, others like him appeared and became his comrades. Those comrades possessed the same 'Magic' as he did.

As time went on, his followers increased, and before he knew it, he was being called the 'King.'

However, his power grew so immense that even a Dragon’s body couldn't suppress it, and finally, his physical form vanished. He was supposed to be sucked into reincarnation as a single soul, but because Bahamut’s power remained intact even as a soul, he sought out a new vessel with a clear consciousness.

He looked at various creatures, but he couldn't seem to seize their bodies. He could feel it instinctively. If the shape of the soul wasn't the same, it couldn't serve as the 'Vessel of the King.'

...Come to think of it, there was a creature with the same soul-shape as himself.

Those worms on the ground—humans.

Not just any human would do. If they didn't have a certain amount of potential, they would vanish along with the body immediately.

He didn't care if it took a hundred or even a thousand years to find one. He would return as the Dragon King Bahamut as many times as it took. He would devour as many souls as necessary to seize a body. Thus, repeating the cycle of possession and destruction, the Dragon King Bahamut had survived until this very day.

When he succeeded in possession, his routine was to evolve the body into a Dragon form and return to the floating island. Because his subordinates were waiting for him there.

Then, while wandering the world as a soul once more, the Dragon King found the ultimate vessel.

(What incredible size. What incredible strength. This is the first time I have seen a vessel so complete. The soul itself is equal to mine... or perhaps even greater. If I can seize this, I will be able to live for eternity.)

Bahamut dragged the human into the Dark World, as he always did.

"...You finally noticed me, brat."

"So Dragons can talk. I’m surprised."

—Ryuu Ardren.

This boy was the Vessel of the King for this era.

◇ ◇ ◇

And now, in the present.

The other day, Ryuu successfully brought the Elixir back from the capital and managed to completely cure his mother.

Sebas stroked his beard as if praising his grandson's achievements.

"As expected of you, Master Ryuu."

"It’s all thanks to the hard work you and everyone else put in, Sebas."

"It is that humble attitude that makes you so well-loved, Master Ryuu."

"I’m pretty sure there are more people who hate me, though."

"The way you always have a comeback for everything... it’s either quite charming or quite impudent, I suppose..."

"Your true feelings came out at the end there."

The operation this time had been a long and difficult plan: beginning with the assassination of his father, Gray Ardren; followed by counterattacking the Baron Manteister family; then using the seized funds to purchase the Elixir; and finally, completely curing his mother.

Along the way, various irregularities had occurred—A-rank adventurers, royalty, mages, and even a silver-haired female knight who detested him—but Ryuu’s skill had brought everything to a peaceful conclusion.

And today was a precious, precious holiday.

"Well... now that I’ve stuffed myself with breakfast, maybe I’ll go back to sleep."

Ryuu burrowed into his blankets like a snail.

Ryuu almost never took time off, but he was human too. If he didn't rest his body and mind a little, it would start to interfere with his daily life.

To perform his duties perfectly in the future, he needed to transform into a snail for the day.

Currently, Rena was working hard on her studies under an excellent tutor for next year’s exams.

"Teacher, I don't understand this part."

"This is an extremely advanced problem, so you don't have to worry about it."

"But I want to know! If I rank in the top ten for the entrance exam results, my tuition will be waived! So please teach me!"

"Y-Yes, of course!"

His mother was leading her hand-picked subordinates to push forward with territory reforms.

"Oh my. This road has quite a few cracks in it too, doesn't it? I’ll send some craftsmen later, so mark it on the map for me. And you, make a detailed note of the state of the cracks for the craftsmen's inspiration."

Of course, monsters frequently appeared in the Ardren borderlands.

GYAAAAOOOOON!

"Lady Iris, a monster has appeared!!"

"A weakling like that should just be crushed with one hand, like this..."

SQUELCH.

"...See?"

" " " " "HIIIIEEEEKKKK!!!!" " " " "

Sebas was providing servant training to the former slaves of the House of Manteister, who had been vetted by the mother.

"You there. Your clothing is disheveled."

"Okaaay."

"Respond more briskly!"

"Yes!"

"Louder!"

"YES!!"

Stingray was silently practicing 'Envelop' in a corner of the Ardren Knights' training grounds. 'Envelop' was a technique used by the leader of the A-rank adventurer party 'Blood Banquet,' where one shrouded their entire body in mana to enhance their physical abilities.

Stingray let out a sigh and looked up at the blue sky.

"Sigh... it’s not going very well..."

—During Ryuu and Stingray’s journey together.

"Um... Master Ryuu. How can I become even stronger?"

"Hmm... You specialize in wind magic, don't you, Stingray?"

"Yes. Or rather, wind magic is all I can use."

"I see. Speaking of the wind attribute, during the war, an enemy A-rank adventurer was shrouding his entire body in wind."

"H-His entire body in wind magic...?"

"Yeah. His attack power and speed were vastly improved. Apparently, the technique is called 'Envelop' in some circles."

"Envelop... what a cool-sounding name...! By any chance, do you know any tips?"

"That adventurer just kind of wrapped the mana around himself like he was throwing on a cloak."

(Throwing it on like a cloak... I see. Alright, let me try that again.)

She gripped her rapier once more.

A suspicious, hulking man was quietly watching her from the shadows.

(Stingray has shown remarkable growth through her journey with Master Ryuu. But now, it seems she is about to truly come into her own. I don't know what my daughter experienced during that journey, but both her combat ability and mental strength are like those of a different person. As expected of Master Ryuu. I was right to entrust her to him.)

"What on earth are you doing there, Captain Silva?"

"Quiet. If she finds out, she won't speak to me for a while."

"Even so, there’s no need to be so secretive about it..."

Vice-Captain Minerva returned to training with an exasperated expression.

That night, Ryuu took off his clothes to change into his pajamas. Looking at the numerous painful-looking scars reflected in the mirror, he whispered quietly.

"It’s already been four years since I started fighting that guy."

(It’s been a long time, yet it feels so short...)

Ryuu’s old wounds would never disappear, even if he drank an Elixir. That was because they were not just carved into his body, but deeply etched into his very soul.

He pulled on his pajamas and climbed into bed as usual.

He was a quick sleeper, so as soon as he closed his eyes, his consciousness fell into the darkness.

This was the world of dreams—otherwise known as the Dark World.

In front of Ryuu, who stood tall with his favorite blade ready, was a massive Black Dragon.

Demonic eyes that could drive a human to death with a single glare. Wings that could wipe out a sacred mountain with one flap. Powerful fangs that could crush any enemy. Claws sharp enough to slice through the World Tree itself. And a destructive mana that plunged everything into the abyss of despair.

The giant Dragon bent its long neck and brought its terrifying face close to him.

"Today is the day you surrender your body... brat."

"Give it up already, you shitty lizard."

Ryuu smirked defiantly and drew his sword.

Today, as always, the clash of souls known as a battle to the death began.

The name of this Black Dragon was Bahamut. The Dragon King who had ruled the heavens since ancient times.

"You’ve grown strong, brat!!!"

"Thanks to you!!!"

Ryuu parried Bahamut’s claw strikes with his blade while looking for an opening to attack.

Bahamut had been seizing bodies this way since long ago. Most humans until now had been weaklings who flinched at a single glare, offering up both their body and soul. Occasionally there were those who resisted, but they were soon terrified by the difference in power, and their souls were easily devoured.

Of course, Ryuu hadn't been able to win at first either. But he never gave up.

No matter how many times he was torn apart, no matter how many times he was crushed, he rose again like a phoenix. In the pseudo-world created by the Dragon King, one could resurrect as many times as they wanted as long as they didn't give up.

However, the Dragon King’s attacks were so powerful that they affected the physical body through the soul. From Ryuu’s perspective, it was nothing he couldn't handle, though...

The magic that Bahamut had sealed was gradually released as Ryuu grew. Through their battles, Ryuu watched and stole the Dragon Magic Bahamut used, further increasing his own strength.

Bahamut opened his mouth wide and unleashed a roar of lightning.

"<Thunder Cannon—Impact!>"

But Ryuu also raised a hand and activated the same magic, canceling it out.

"<Thunder Cannon—Impact!>"

It was no exaggeration to say that this black lightning magic, in particular, had made him the strongest.

Ryuu had made the various magics that the Dragon King himself had spent long years researching his own.

In the real world, this would be a legendary battle told for generations, yet he had already been continuing it for four years. From Ryuu’s perspective, the A-rank adventurers he had faced in the war were nothing more than gnats.

About eight hours had passed since the start of the battle with Bahamut. It was now just before sunrise.

"Hah... hah..."

Both of them were slumped on the ground.

"Next time... you will surrender it... brat."

"Next time... I’ll crush your soul along with you... you shitty lizard."

When would this quagmire of a battle reach its conclusion?

No one knew—not even the combatants themselves.