Past Arc 21
A dragon suddenly descended upon humanity.
The people, living in peace, now faced existential peril.
Thanks to a savior named Salier, they barely avoided extinction—but if the dragon's assault continued, survival would be only a matter of time.
Yet, as abruptly as it began, the dragon's attacks ceased entirely.
This was not cause for celebration.
The dragons had not inflicted physical destruction alone, but had instead delivered a far more profound annihilation.
To dragons, destroying a star was not trivial—but it was not a significant burden either.
Their presence on this planet had been intentional: to eventually claim it as dominion.
It was natural for the dragons, as supreme beings, to govern the world.
A world incapable of being ruled held no value at all.
Even if one tried to correct the course, the presence of the disruptive entity, Salier, made recalibration impossible. A world already destined for extinction had no meaning to govern.
Thus, actions taken that benefited the dragons were pursued.
For the dragons, that was all. And that was enough to drive the planet toward annihilation.
The star would have perished in a few centuries anyway, without intervention.
Delaying the inevitable by a short span was irrelevant.
Moreover, the prospect of the planet’s inhabitants reaching space was inconvenient.
Eliminating that possibility beforehand served a dual purpose.
Consequently, the dragons seized the planet’s MA energy.
“End of days.”
The president murmured, barely audible.
No one responded.
A suffocating silence filled the conference room.
Dazdordia had maintained its prohibition on MA energy use until the very end.
MA energy is life force itself, and the fact that prolonged use leads to planetary collapse is already common knowledge.
Thus, the sudden arrival of the dragon.
This was explained through the Dragon God Sect.
The Salyera Society issued a similar warning.
Ignored, nations competed in using MA energy, reaping its benefits.
While observing other nations consuming sweet nectar, the president still refused to authorize MA energy use.
Public reaction was harsh. Daily demonstrations demanded the lifting of the MA energy ban.
Yet the president held firm. Those who used MA energy domestically faced severe punishment.
And now, the president is known as the world's foremost steadfast ruler.
The same mouth that moments ago railed in scorn now吐出 praise.
Even so, the frown between the president’s brows did not ease.
“Situation?”
“Anomalies—abnormal weather, among others—are occurring across regions.”
“Civil unrest is frequent. Crimes such as murder are increasing.”
“Suicides are rising. Particularly among followers of the Dragon God Sect, mass suicides have occurred.”
“Food distribution has stalled.”
A steady stream of reports on the unmanageable state of affairs.
Unmanageable, as expected.
The end is approaching, after all.
“…How much time remains?”
No one answered immediately.
No one dared speak, as if afraid to utter the answer.
But silence could not last forever.
“According to Potimas Haifenas, perhaps one year—or less.”
Hearing the name Potimas, the president displayed clear displeasure.
The blame for this situation could not be placed entirely on Potimas.
Yet the origin was undeniably Potimas.
A single man’s obsession had driven the star toward collapse.
Still, only Potimas held the potential to resolve this crisis.
Thus, no matter how much aversion he felt, the president could not detain him.
Given these circumstances, the mere mention of Potimas’s name worsened the president’s mood.
"Moreover, that is merely the maximum time the star can retain its original form. The upper limit for biological survival is even shorter."
"Further clarification: as time progresses, the situation will deteriorate."
Implied: decide sooner rather than later.
Those who had followed the president thus far had resolved to abide by the president’s will.
No matter how unjust the decision might seem, if it came from the president—renowned as the greatest sovereign in the world—they would accept it.
Yet the president, granted authority to decide, hesitated to speak.
Perhaps due to the prohibition on MA energy use, dragon attacks had been rare in Dazdoradia.
While other nations suffered catastrophic damage, Dazdoradia had endured only minor harm.
Moreover, with the president’s reputation, there was no nation left that could oppose Dazdoradia.
Precisely because of this, the president must make a careful judgment.
In Dazdoradia, if Shiro is white, then black becomes white.
“Hmph.”
The president exhaled deeply.
No matter how much they thought, the conclusion remained the same.
As president, as a human standing above the people, one must decide, no matter how unacceptable the choice may seem.
“Is there no other way?”
Not a question, but a murmured confirmation within oneself.
No one answers.
No one can.
A long, long silence envelops the conference room.
“Where is Potimas Haifenas?”
“We have him.”
“Then detain him immediately.”
“Yes!”
“Once detention is complete, begin preparations.”
…Yes!
It was the moment the man widely regarded as humanity’s current representative made his decision.
The faces in the room naturally bowed in response.
The president rose from his seat.
Walked to the wall.
A dull sound echoed.
The sound of the president striking the wall.
“What is, what is the world’s greatest sage? Just a shameless wretch!”
Screaming, he strikes the wall again.
Continues striking.
Again and again.
"President! President!"
A minister intervenes, seeing blood drip from the fist, struck with such force.
Yet the president keeps pounding the wall.
Three men together pull him away from the wall—only then does the self-harm cease.
"Scum! You scum!"
But the words do not stop.
The curses directed at himself do not stop.
"President! President! You are noble! You are no scum!"
The minister speaks from genuine conviction.
But the words do not reach the president.
"Repaying kindness with betrayal. Where is the scum in that? How can anyone call this not scum!? Beast! Beast!"
The president shouts, breathing heavily, then collapses into the chair as if strength has left him.
"My name shall be cursed for all eternity."
"That is not—"
There is. There is. That is why the future must be shaped.
The ministers fell silent in the face of the president’s grim resolve.
I will no longer choose my methods. I will act as filth should—by any means necessary—to protect the people. Until the moment my soul ceases to exist. That is the only thing I, a shameless one, am capable of doing.
Eyes bloodshot, yet imbued with unshakable conviction.
The President declares.
I shall accompany you to the very depths of hell, President Dustin.
The ministers bowed their heads.
The shameless collective, however, stood united under a firm conviction.
And it begins to move.
Potimas's proposed method of stellar regeneration.
The goddess Saliel converted her vast energy into MA energy, employing a regeneration method to restore the lost star.
That was nothing but a command for Sariel to die.
In facing the one who has continued saving humanity from dragons.
Shameless ones—still they do not stop.
They cannot stop.
All is for the sake of saving foolish humanity.