Frontline at the Gap -1

While we've been discussing, our advance unit has been searching for dragons around the border region.

However, we've found no significant results.

There are truly no traces at all.

It's been a month since we began searching—everyone's focus is beginning to wane.

Dragons seem to be located where there are more black spots.

The border between Nihon and the Kingdom has recently seen an increase in black spots—unusually high, even on a global scale.

There's no doubt they must be here.

Staying in a rented office space in Nihon, I'm lost in thought.

Could I be misunderstanding something? I need to reconsider this from the ground up.

Dragons attack magical beasts to absorb their magical essence. They're searching for magical beasts.

Dungeons...

Magical beasts are born from dungeons and gather within them.

Is there a dungeon around here!?

Unfolding a map, I begin examining dungeons and mining sites in the surrounding area.

However, about 80% of the locations have already been visited by surveyors.

I send orders to investigate the remaining sites as well.

This should definitely lead us to it.

It has to be found...

Really?

Dragons absorb magical essence. That’s almost certain.

But can magical essence only be absorbed from magical beasts?

My usual magic stone appears in my vision.

There's nothing odd about absorbing magical essence from a magic stone. As I think this through, a certain image suddenly comes to mind.

The magic stone quarry located between the Empire and the Kingdom, where I fought Noiman.

That place has been completely untouched, collapsed and ruined.

I've heard it's now abandoned, left completely undisturbed.

Once the thought came to me, I couldn't stop thinking about it. It's driving me crazy.

Where is the dragon? Sweat beads form on my forehead.

Should I go check?

If it's just me, I can move at high speed. I'll head to that mine and assess the situation.

Then...

What were you planning to do with that?! You can't just charge in blindly—this isn't someone you can handle without a plan.

Calm down. Think!

The method to locate a dragon somewhere in the world and lure it into the magic circle...

Night fell, and I felt the need to step outside and breathe in the evening breeze. After thinking all day, my mind was boiling over.

"Hah, still holed up in your room? You never change, Taro..."

Just then, Alek returned from his investigation, appearing right before my eyes.

"This isn't the time to be idling. You two are running around too, so you should know that better than anyone."

"Is that alright? There's a limit to everything. You've gone too far. We come back home at night, so you should rest at night too."

"I'm glad you said that. I really need to rest while I still can."

As Alex had said, I returned to the dormitory to rest. Even so, my mind remained sharp.

The next day

Believing that the constant investigation had taken its toll, I granted the research team a day off.

I just walked through the city streets.

I hadn't suddenly remembered anything.

After all, I had to locate a dragon somewhere in the world from this place.

Was there even a way to do that?

Wondering if there might be a clue, I visited the Nihon research archive I'd used before.

The archive was quiet and empty, lacking the bustle it once had.

A young female researcher, unfamiliar to me, was working alone.

"I'd like to ask something. I believe there was someone named Kisei here—where is he now?"

"Master Kisei has retired."

The young woman spoke matter-of-factly.

"Retirement... yes, that's right."

It wasn't strange at all.

Even when I met him a few years ago, he was already quite advanced in age.

For a moment, my thoughts halted at the sudden announcement of his retirement.

"Hohoh, one must never show weakness, not even to a being such as the Demon Lord."

An old man had quietly appeared directly behind me.

"Wha—!"

I couldn't help but react dramatically to such suddenness.

"Your reaction upon recognizing your opponent isn't exactly impressive."

"I'd be surprised too. After all, you're the former commander-in-chief of Nihon's underworld."

"Hmm, so you've finally managed to uncover that much. Your nation has come a long way, it seems."

After having established my own country just a few years ago, I naturally began extensive investigations into the affairs of other nations.

It was revealed through investigations into Japan that there existed a legendary figure operating in the shadows.

That person was Kisai.

He had quietly supported the young Tenshu and Tōgen all along.

His true profession was not research, but information gathering.

Research was merely the application of existing power.

"If you're really here, please come out openly. It's quite difficult to find you."

It is the highest honor to be highly regarded by someone of your stature, Lord Demon King. Now then, what brings you here today?

"Hmm, I have a few things I'd like to ask."

I relayed the fact that the dragon had not yet been found, and that I was investigating ways to locate it.

"Finding a dragon... Unfortunately, I am unaware of any such method. However, you should know that dragons are particularly interested in magical essence."

"Yes, I've gathered data to my heart's content."

"Then, why not lure it out?"

Lure it out?