Chapter 135: A talent too early for this world

After knocking the Lightning Emperor unconscious, the two of them stripped a passing knight of everything he had—armor, cloak, insignia—and disguised themselves as patrol knights.

Once transformed, they abducted an arrogant-looking researcher who happened to wander by. Through methods best left undescribed, they persuaded him to reveal the location of the archive room.

And now, inside one of the research facility’s chambers, a rather low-level discussion was taking place.

“So, Ryu Arden… can you understand any of it?”

“Nope. Not a clue. But I can tell it’s impressive.”

“Agreed. It is most likely extremely impressive.”

Even the two of them could not comprehend the airship blueprints at a glance.

Zekkai noticed a name written in the lower right corner.

“Designer’s name—Saionji? That’s quite an unusual name.”

“It’s probably written as ‘Saionji.’ I’ve seen the same name in Hinomaru literature.”

“Hinomaru literature… then that means…”

“The designer of this airship is likely one of the Heroes. The only other possibility—slim as it is—is that a researcher from Hinomaru came here. Those are the only two options.”

“The latter seems unlikely. The royal family of this kingdom isn’t open-minded enough to entrust their future to someone from Hinomaru.”

She was probably right.

Ryu rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“So this is a hybrid blueprint—this world’s magic engineering fused with another world’s science. No wonder we can’t understand it.”

“…This Saionji is a terrifying existence.”

“Yeah. A prodigy far too early for this world.”

“He should be assassinated immediately… perhaps.”

“But with talent like that, assassination would be exceedingly difficult.”

(Unless he’s personally supervising construction on the front lines—which I doubt—the kingdom’s most important figure wouldn’t expose himself so carelessly. The royal family would never allow it. He’s probably issuing instructions from somewhere secure.)

Geniuses like that tend to survive.

That was simply how the world worked.

Both of them sensed it instinctively.

Ryu had mentioned science from another world. It was widely known—thanks to Hero legends passed down for a thousand years—that while the other world lacked magic, its science had advanced to astonishing heights. That knowledge had spread across the continent alongside the tales of summoned Heroes.

…Though the blueprint seemed like something from a distant future, there was one detail Ryu happened to grasp.

(That tiny black speck drawn at the center of the airship—so small you’d miss it unless told. That’s the core I’m after… the heart of the airship.)

Even if they couldn’t assassinate Saionji, the kingdom’s brain—

—stealing that would suffice.

There was still a path to victory.

Zekkai packed the documents into the item bag Ryu handed her and secured it beneath her cloak.

They left the archive room together.

“From here on, we split as planned.”

“Are you certain? I can assist with destroying the airship.”

“You want to start a war while carrying priceless documents? What if the blueprints get soaked and turn to pulp?”

“…True. Splitting up is optimal. One last question—when you spared the Lightning Emperor earlier… was it to pin the coming crimes on him?”

“Yeah. If an S-rank adventurer is blamed, it’ll create friction between the kingdom’s upper ranks and the Adventurers’ Guild. And it keeps my identity hidden, doesn’t it?”

“Y-Yes… that it does…”

(How dark this man’s heart truly is…)

They parted ways.

Ryu headed for the airship.

Zekkai made for the exit.

◇◇◇

Ryu walked the corridors, playing the role of a patrol knight.

(To build a factory of this scale underground… remarkable. It really makes you appreciate the power of magic.)

From time to time, he silently harvested the lives of researchers he passed.

The earlier chaos in the dungeon area hadn’t been noticed because few were present—but killing in these main corridors would soon raise alarms.

Still, once he secured the core, he intended to rampage anyway.

There was little point worrying now.

…He arrived at the airship construction site.

Researchers and craftsmen debated as they worked.

(Up close, it’s even bigger. And none of these researchers look like Heroes, nor do I sense that distinct mana. So the Hero isn’t here after all.)

Then he noticed something.

(Hm…? It’s floating…?)

Despite being incomplete, the airship hovered roughly one meter above the ground.

No use pondering from afar. He approached.

One researcher shot him a suspicious glare.

“New knight?”

“Yeah.”

“This area is restricted to authorized personnel. Leave immediately.”

“I was dispatched to guard this site. Seems a rat from another nation slipped in.”

Right then, a scream echoed from somewhere.

Likely someone had discovered one of the corpses Ryu left behind.

“!?”

“See? Lord Lightning Emperor will surely handle it. Until then, I’ll guard this area.”

“I-I see… then please, be vigilant.”

“Leave it to me.”

Security knights rushed down the corridor toward the commotion.

The researcher muttered, “First the Imperial mage, now this intruder… it’s been dangerous lately. Hard to focus on construction.”

“Agreed. By the way, the airship’s floating up close. Any reason?”

“As if I could tell you. Classified.”

“…Because of the core at its center?”

“Y-You—how do you know that!?”

“So it is. Thanks for the confirmation.”

“Don’t tell me you’re the intru—”

His head fell before the sentence could finish.

While those nearby stood frozen in shock, Ryu slipped inside the airship.

“H-Hey! Someone stop that knight!”

“Call more guards!”

Inside the vessel—

“Ohhh… so this is the core. Quite mystical.”

A fist-sized mineral floated in place, rotating slowly, radiating a deep indigo glow.

(If I had to name it… ‘Levitation Stone.’ An ultra-rare mineral excavated from a deadly dungeon. Long stored in the kingdom’s treasury, until the Hero stumbled upon it and saw the airship’s potential. Something like that?)

He reached out—

—and was repelled with a sharp crack.

“I see. Difficult to handle, too.”

(I’d prefer to take it intact. But if necessary, I’ll destroy it.)

From arm to fingertips, dense silver scales spread.

──The arm of a Silver Dragon.

He reached again—

—and forcibly seized it.

The Levitation Stone began flashing frantically, as if in distress.

“Easy now. The item bag’s quite comfortable.”

He poured his own mana into it.

“…Good.”

The stone returned to its serene glow.

He tossed it into the item bag.

Immediately, the airship dropped to the floor with a thunderous crash, the interior shaking violently.

“Well, that was expected.”

Without the stone’s power, it couldn’t float. Obvious.

Ryu stepped outside.

And there—

More than a hundred kingdom knights awaited him.

“Prepare to die, intruder!!!”

“If you wanted to kill me that badly, you should’ve come inside.”

“We can’t risk further damage to the airship, you idiot! Get out here!”

“Then I’ll just go back in.” He took a step.

“Y-You bastard—!!”

As he taunted them—

“I FOUND YOU!!! YOU IMPERIAL DOG!!!”

──Behind the knights stood the Lightning Emperor, seething with rage.