Chapter 358 – Ancient King Ignatius

“Let us speak in the audience chamber first. In this great hall, there’s no guarantee monsters won’t enter.”

After saying this, Lazaro returned to the audience chamber. We followed after him. Upon entering the audience chamber, Lazaro turned to face us.

“Shouldn’t you tell us about your origins?”

“Though it feels rather late to mention after we’ve already crossed blades…”

When Rosemary asked Mildred, she smiled wryly as if finding it somewhat difficult to bring up. Yet perhaps feeling she should share after being asked by Rosemary, Mildred bowed and addressed Lazaro.

“Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Mildred Calvare, from a family line said to be descended from Lord Lazaro. Though I’m from a branch family, I should note.”

“Descendants, you say. As I am but Lazaro’s shadow, it would be somewhat presumptuous to call myself your ancestor, but I understand.”

Lazaro nodded to the bowing Mildred.

“I too have devoted myself to training. Like Theodore, I find myself astonished by the strength of today’s magicians and knights. Indeed—this is exactly what I had hoped for.”

Lazaro said this with what seemed like genuine pleasure.

It was precisely because he wished for peace in future generations that Lazaro now found himself here. Those who would surpass him, or attempt to do so, must be welcome sights from Lazaro’s perspective.

“Therefore—I shall accept a rematch anytime you wish.”

“Then I shall certainly take you up on that someday.”

Mildred placed a hand over her chest, responding with an expression full of fighting spirit.

Having felt the gap and differences between herself and Lazaro, she would now dedicate herself to training with a clear goal in mind… Given Mildred’s personality and skills, she would likely improve significantly. And that too would probably be something pleasing to Lazaro… wouldn’t it?

“Hm. Someone’s coming.”

Sheila and Irmhild turned toward the entrance of the audience chamber. The figure ascending the stairs came into view. Recognizing the silhouette, Lazaro performed a subordinate’s bow.

The person entered majestically from the front. They had likely teleported from the stone monument before the fortress. The past—King Verdgar. Or rather, his shadow? No, but this…

“Have you awakened, my lord?”

Should this be described as resembling but differing from a Lizardman? Possessing wings and a tail, walking on two legs… it was a dragon closer to human form. Though not particularly large as dragons go. While similar to the transformed forms of King Eberhart and Zadias, it was also different. The long jaw beard and the attire of a robe with a khakkhara gave a somewhat softer impression—perhaps the most significant difference.

“Good. Be at ease. I am but the king’s shadow. Nothing worthy of such reverence.”

The dragon-person laughed at our subordinate bows.

“Originally, I should have awakened a bit later—simultaneously with the opening of the Sealed Door… but it seems there’s been quite some commotion this time.”

Hmm. As one who performed the sealing, it wouldn’t be strange if he could perceive events occurring in other Spirit Halls through some means. That must be why he awakened early.

“First, I should introduce myself. I am the shadow of the king called Ignatius. This form—you may think of it as a dragon homunculus with Ignatius’s consciousness transferred into it.”

…A dragon homunculus, of all things. Considering Lazaro’s situation as well—it must be a shadow created by transferring King Ignatius’s consciousness into a magical creature made using materials provided by the Water Dragon Pernas and Invel.

“I am Theodore Gartner. Appointed by His Majesty Melvin as the Otherworld Ambassador, with full authority over matters concerning the Labyrinth and demons.”

“Oh my… How bold. If Lazaro has opened the way, then you must be the right person for the role.”

“Theodore has defeated me. A magician who uses magical power circulation. His power likely rivals that of high-ranking demons.”

“Could it be… you’re connected to those magicians?”

“It seems so. I suppose that would make me a descendant, in a way.”

“What an extraordinary fate! Then that would make you a very, very distant relative of Ignatius from his lifetime!”

Upon hearing these words, Ignatius widened his eyes before laughing heartily.

It seems… he’s quite the bold character. There are many things I want to ask—but first, let’s finish introducing everyone.

“In the end—human bodies and human spirits cannot endure the passage of eternal time.”

Ignatius explained his form in such terms. There are several methods if one merely wants humans to become long-lived.

For example, becoming a vampire would be a quick way to achieve immortality. The demonification that Zadias pursued was similar. If Zadias dreamed of eternal youth and immortality, then demonification—which also brings power—must have seemed attractive. But Ignatius and Lazaro had different goals from the start. That’s why they chose to preserve only parts of themselves.

“The role of passing down rituals to future generations is necessary. But ambition and changing hearts are unnecessary, I believed. So I conceived of a vessel extremely close to a dragon. Capable of sleeping for decades, possessing a body that doesn’t decay even through eternity. Most importantly, having a completely different appearance from humans is good. Precisely because one has human form, unnecessary desires emerge.”

Meaning that having human form leads to wanting to dominate humans… That… might have some truth to it. He must have feared the possibility of causing harm to future generations through changes of heart or the emergence of ambition.

Certainly, if a king praised as a wise ruler were immortal, it wouldn’t be strange for those around to elevate him, and it’s quite possible the individual themselves might harbor ambition… but if that form were a dragon, the circumstances would change.

“In my case, there weren’t enough materials to take the same method as Lord Ignatius. A different approach was taken.”

“Such loyalty to me… should have been sufficient during your lifetime alone.”

Ignatius sighed, then smiled faintly and shook his head.

“That the heart cannot endure it—the Moon Folk likely share that opinion. Measures have been taken for me as well, so that I won’t change even through long periods of time.”

“The Labyrinth Lord… I’ve heard some of the circumstances from the Water Dragons Pernas and Invel. I must apologize for burdening you and your labyrinth—you who avoid humans—with additional debts.”

“It’s fine. Our goals are surely the same. And avoiding human eyes is something from just a little while ago.”

Claudia closed her eyes. In response to her words, Ignatius quietly bowed his head.

Ignatius must have deliberately avoided contacting Claudia. Well, if they met, it wouldn’t do to not exchange greetings either.

But… a dragon magical creature, and a queen consort who was a magic engineer associated with the Seven Sages.

“By any chance, would you happen to know about this staff?”

I showed Ouroboros to Ignatius. Ignatius took Ouroboros with interest and examined it, but eventually shook his head.

“Unfortunately, I don’t know it. A magic tool incorporating a dragon-like magical creature, perhaps? You might have thought it came from my queen consort… My apologies for being unable to help.”

“No, it was just something I was slightly curious about, nothing that important.”

Hmm. A swing and a miss. I thought we might learn Ouroboros’s origins.

Just because Ignatius doesn’t know doesn’t eliminate the possibility that it was made by the former queen consort… but Ouroboros itself remains quiet, so that guess might be wrong. When our eyes met, Ouroboros made a small throaty sound.

Well, this was a miss, but he seems to know various things about that time… We might be able to hear about demons and the Seven Sages.

“Having long conversations in the Blazing Fortress is rather trying. First, I’d like to create an enclave in Termwills to allow for some flexibility.”

So said Claudia.

“I’ve also spoken with Lord Lazaro about this. There’s no reason why shadows should be bound solely to the labyrinth. I’ve promised Claudia that I will definitely free her from the labyrinth someday.”

“Oh! You would extend a hand to us as well? Quite the amusing person, aren’t you?”

At our words, Ignatius laughed with apparent delight.