Past Arc ②
"Who are you? A fool who dares abduct a dragon's child?"
"Current status: under investigation."
At the emergency meeting convened by the president of the Dazdoridia Nation, the leader groaned, clutching his head.
"Damage?"
"For now, only a warning has been issued. But if the investigation fails to progress, the consequences... are unclear."
"Is the investigation progressing?"
"Apparent leads remain nonexistent."
"In the end, it depends entirely on the dragon's mood."
The president exhaled heavily.
The conference room was thick with tension.
The incident originated from an urgent request for aid delivered from an allied nation across the sea.
It stated: "The dragon may become unstable. Dispatch reinforcements."
Dragon.
It is the apex species in the ecosystem of this world.
Superior intellect to humans, superior strength to humans, longer lifespan than humans, and above all, mastery of magic—a mystical technique beyond human capability.
They surpass humans in every regard, yet seldom interfere with them.
Something nearly nonexistent is occurring.
The situation was clearly abnormal.
When questioned about the circumstances of the nation offering emergency aid, they revealed that a summons had been received from the Dragon.
The child of the dragon was abducted by human hands.
Hand over the culprit immediately and return the kidnapped dragon child unharmed.
This is a summons from the dragon.
The allied nations, upon receiving the announcement, were thrown into utter chaos.
A matter of waking to a sudden shock, and above all, the opponent being utterly unsuitable.
Dragons are inviolable beings. They are never to be approached or challenged.
It was a universal axiom among humanity. The idea that someone would defy it had not entered anyone’s mind.
Yet, in reality, a summons had arrived from the dragon.
A report, unfathomable in its nature: someone had abducted a dragon’s offspring.
“Then, President. Will you dispatch reinforcements?”
The Minister of Defense spoke with a heavy voice.
If the President confirmed the deployment, the Minister—commander of military forces—would be compelled to act.
“Impossible!”
The President silenced the Minister’s concern with a sharp rebuke.
“Dragons. Have you forgotten the tragedy of Tetomia? If the dragon were to go berserk, sending reinforcements would serve no purpose. Only the damage would expand.”
The tragedy of Tetomia.
A rare event in the past—when a dragon had been provoked to fury.
The nation known as Tetomia succeeded in developing a new type of bomb—and, by some unforeseen turn, dropped it upon a dragon's habitat.
The bomb's power was undeniable.
It possessed the force to alter maps.
Yet it became known as a tragedy, and a catalyst for reaffirming the dragon's terror, because the damage the dragon inflicted afterward surpassed anything the bomb could achieve.
No one knows the truth behind Tetomia's actions.
Tetomia vanished from the map entirely within the same day the bomb was dropped.
A creature that remains unshaken by a bomb capable of reshaping maps—and then unleashes a force so great it erases an entire nation from the map.
That is what a dragon is.
“But sending troops is out of the question. Still, we can’t do nothing. Send a suitable contingent from the Investigation Bureau. Have them join forces with local personnel and assist in the manhunt.”
“Will they accept that?”
“Pride of the investigators? Let the dragon devour it. Inform them plainly: if they lack willingness to cooperate, they may act independently. The matter may not remain confined to their nation. What does formality matter now?”
The Director of the Investigation Bureau responds with assent to the President’s order.
“Regarding their side, that arrangement is acceptable. But we must also secure our own defenses. Strengthen surveillance at every airport and port. Absolutely prevent the dragon’s offspring from entering our country. Even if inspections become rough—so be it. Hold back anyone suspicious. And be vigilant against illegal entry as well.”
The assigned official wears a weary expression, responding to the rapid succession of orders.
Dazdoridia is a superpower composed of an entire continent, a single nation.
Air travel and ports are therefore numerous. Monitoring every one, including civilian and illicit entries, is not feasible.
Yet failure is not an option. If the dragon’s offspring are smuggled in, the nation risks becoming the dragon’s target.
There is no choice.
That is why the president must issue even the most difficult orders.
"……And leak this information to the Salyera Association."
The president speaks with hesitation, yet clarity.
"Are you certain we should disclose classified information to a private charitable organization?"
"Unimportant."
The president answers immediately, without pause.
The one who asked understands as well.
If a dragon truly breaks loose, only the Syriela Order can stop it.
More precisely, only the head of the Syriela Order.
The Syriela Order is a charitable organization unaffiliated with any nation.
Its activities are diverse.
Protection of flora and fauna.
Support for hospitals.
Relief for impoverished populations.
Even mediation in wars.
It is said to conduct every activity one might imagine under the banner of charity.
That is the Syriela Order.
There is a persistent rumor about the Syriela Order.
The rumor claims the head of the Syriela Order is not human.
No one in this meeting room knows whether this is true.
Yet one fact is certain: the head of the Syriela Order can stop a dragon.
That person subdued the rampaging dragon during the tragedy of Tetomia.
The actions of the Syriela Order are unknown. But informing them cannot be harmful.
The Syriela Order conducts charitable activities.
Moreover, their work is purer than that of any other organization.
They operate as if entirely devoid of human desire, dedicating themselves solely to relief.
Countless individuals have been saved through their efforts. Countless wealthy patrons have been inspired to contribute.
In truth, the Syriela Order was formed solely by those inspired by the会长’s actions, existing only to support the会长.
Not the会长 herself, but the Order established to support the会长.
As long as the会长 does not commit wrongdoing, the Syriela Order will not either.
And to the President’s knowledge, the会长 would not misuse information regarding this matter.
After all, the rumors in the streets call her a goddess—such is her purity.
“Bowing to the dragon’s mood, clinging to the goddess’s mercy. Truly, nothing goes as planned.”
No one replied to the president’s complaint. The meeting concluded in silence.