I reached out to Milan right after the match details were announced.

I contacted Milan at the factory estate.

“Want to ally? With me?”

Milan narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms.

“Blizen... no, there’s also Lismond the twin. Why insist on allying with me?”

“That’s because Selene will try to ally with your brother.”

Selene wouldn’t pick a three-year-old outside the seventh rank.

The seventh rank was so firmly established that there was a huge gap between them and the other three-year-olds.

The seventh rank list was as follows:

[Erilot, Selene.

Lismond, Joshua, Balzac.

Milan, Loreina.]

Excluding Selene and me, who were participating, five remained—and three of those were my siblings.

Ultimately, Selene’s choices were narrowed down to two:

Milan and Loreina.

Loreina’s Gaho was , a perfect offensive type.

“But what this battle needs is a special type.”

Since there were already soldiers with powerful offensive abilities, adding another offensive soldier wouldn’t help much.

Therefore, Milan, who had the special Gaho , was suitable.

“Above all, Milan is the son of Uncle Hernan, who allied with Selene.”

Explaining, Milan nodded.

“Yeah. I get that Selene will ally with me. But why me? You have Lismond, who’s on par with Selene.”

“Milan, brother, you can catch Selene off guard with your Gaho.”

The troublesome part was Selene’s barrier and amplification.

But if Milan uses ?

“Selene will just lose soldiers like that.”

No matter how strong a king is, without other chess pieces, one can’t win the game.

Selene, with her tenacity and mental strength, would never give up easily.

“I have to make a situation where winning is impossible.”

For that, I needed Milan’s Gaho.

Milan groaned and gave a crooked smile.

“Why should I help you?”

“I’ll help Milan, brother.”

“How are you going to help me?”

“I’ll help Aunt divorce Uncle Hernan.”

“...What?”

Uncle Hernan seemed like a kind youngest brother on the surface but was a complete mess at home.

Four girlfriends in a row.

Two illegitimate children from them.

Buying mansions inside the Zodiac and Astra estates for the girlfriends, paying huge monthly living expenses.

Yet, at home, he ruled like a tyrant.

“Aunt is a good person. She’s been managing Hernan’s territory until now. Milan also respects Aunt very much.”

“...”

“She can’t divorce because of you, brother.”

“...So?”

“I’ll persuade Grandpa so I can take ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) Milan after the divorce.”

Milan flinched.

Aunt’s family wasn’t very powerful.

If divorced, she wouldn’t be able to take her son, so the two good people would be separated.

That’s why she endured her crazy husband all this time.

“But persuading Aunt is Milan’s role.”

“My mother...”

“Yeah, she wouldn’t want to trouble her precious son. But, brother.”

“...”

“You don’t want to see Mother suffer anymore.”

As a child myself, I understood Milan’s feelings.

No child wants to see their parents suffer.

Their hearts hurt and grieved at their parents’ pain.

Milan looked at me with a troubled expression.

“I can help you, brother.”

“I know. You’re the princess of the dragon-bearing Astra, Grandpa’s most beloved granddaughter.”

“I never break promises.”

“I’ll give you time to think.”

Two days later, Milan answered.

“Keep your promise.”

And so we shook hands.

Now,

Milan put his arm over my shoulder and smiled at Selene.

“Sorry, Selene.”

“You...”

“But it’s Erilot. Princess of Astra? If the princess offers her hand, how could I refuse?”

He smiled slyly, and Selene bit her lip tightly.

“Retreat!”

She shouted, the barrier broke, and Selene’s mercenaries started fleeing in confusion.

“How dare you.”

Milan clenched his fist tightly, and light chains appeared again, freezing the mercenaries.

“Grrr...!”

The mercenaries’ eyes bulged with veins. Most of Selene’s mercenaries were completely immobilized, bloodshot red.

Only a few mercenaries who were more than one kilometer from Milan’s range avoided his Gaho and quietly retreated.

Then my mercenary leader Kali stepped forward.

He tensed his entire body and forcibly broke Milan’s chains.

“Is it our turn now, captain!”

Milan clicked his tongue.

“It’s humiliating for the caster when their chains are broken so easily.”

Then he glanced at me.

“Shall I show you real binding instead of this little act?”

“Enough. You know that someone with Kali’s magic can easily break your chains.”

“Then it’s a challenge.”

“Don’t waste your strength. Just hold him tight.”

I stepped lightly toward Selene.

“Sis, why don’t you stop wasting strength and surrender now?”

“You planned to use Milan from the start to create this situation?”

“Yes.”

“Then there was no need to kidnap the boy soldier. You worked hard to make it a perfect act.”

“Well... I had other intentions.”

I shrugged with a casual expression.

“Anyway, I hope you surrender quickly. No need to be more troublesome.”

“You overlooked one thing.”

Selene glared at me.

“I’m called the strongest in the Holy Realm not because of my Gaho. It’s because my magic power far exceeds other Holy Realm users!”

Selene quickly threw something.

It hit the floor and shattered, releasing smoke all around.

“...!”

I quickly covered my nose and mouth with my sleeve and stepped back.

‘No poison. Just an ordinary smoke bomb magic tool.’

Selene quickly retreated in that moment.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Luka, who leapt powerfully from the ground, ran toward Selene.

But he was soon stopped.

“It’s a barrier!”

‘What the hell is that ? Isn’t it cheating?’

Not only did it enhance allies’ physical abilities, it set up a barrier, and now even a barrier field.

Selene shouted,

“Those who can move, come inside the barrier!”

Those unaffected by Milan’s Gaho hurried inside.

I stomped the ground loudly, annoyed.

“This is why Holy Realm Gaho users are top-tier...!”

The Holy Realm was classified as highest for its incredible versatility.

Selene’s magic power was also enormous.

Holy Realm Gaho users originally had much more magic power than normal Gaho users.

But Selene had double that amount—almost as much as a father’s.

I couldn’t just let Selene escape with her mercenaries.

‘With that guts, she’ll run until the end time.’

Until our mercenaries run out of magic and can no longer use Gaho.

Besides, they brought a bunch of magic tools.

Using those, they could easily sap the strength of our mercenaries.

If we timed it until our mercenaries were completely exhausted, even if we couldn’t win, maybe we could force a draw.

‘That’s why I wanted a quick victory.’

“Attack! Don’t let them escape!”

Kali swung his axe at the barrier.

Bang! Bang!

The barrier shook violently as the axe struck with magic power.

Selene’s archers fired arrows at Kali.

My mercenary Kendal quickly raised a gust of wind, blocking the arrows.

From behind, Selene’s mercenary leader Cabi shouted sharply,

“Attack! Don’t stop! Cover Selene and get out!”

“Milan, what are you doing!”

I said, and Milan tugged the chains.

Cabi let out a painful scream.

It was a fierce battle.

Erilot’s side attacked, while archers and ranged fighters inside Selene’s barrier defended.

Selene struggled to maintain the barrier, unable to retreat quickly.

“Surround the barrier, allies!”

“Don’t stop shooting arrows. Keep making wind over there!”

The spectators watching the magical scope swallowed dryly.

“Is this really a kids’ match?”

“I knew Astra’s level, but...”

A fight between a tier-1 mercenary group and mercenaries made of former central knights.

It was not a fight that could be called a kids’ match.

“Selene’s Gaho is truly amazing.”

“Erilot is amazing too.”

The watchers gripped their hands tightly.

Joshua smiled seeing nobles with their mouths agape.

“Inviting guests was a good call.”

Lismond chuckled.

“Neither Erilot nor Selene will lose in evil.”

“This is the perfect stage to showcase Astra’s power.”

Both had outstanding abilities, but the greatest advantage was personality.

Selene and Erilot’s stubbornness was unmatched among the three-year-olds.

Bastina eyed the duke and loudly declared,

“Look at our Selene’s Gaho. Even without mercenaries, she’s carrying the fight alone!”

Balderic and Sylvain agreed.

“Selene’s skill already exceeds the three-year-old level.”

“Of course. A child with this kind of Gaho deserves to be the original illustration...!”

Then someone muttered,

“But in terms of the match, Erilot is...”

Bastina’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“What did you say?”

“Ah, nothing!”

“Erilot can’t even face Selene alone!”

Marquis Debussy lightly stroked his chin with his index finger.

“Finding a mercenary group led by a central knight commander who even the emperor rejected, having Milan under command, excellent judgment, and foresight several moves ahead.”

Debussy glanced at Bastina.

“As a commander, her skills are top-tier, better than most adults.”

“Marquis Debussy─!”

“Admit it, Bastina.”

“Hey!”

“Selene is making a last desperate attempt. In terms of content, Erilot is overwhelming victory.”

Duke Astra couldn’t take his eyes off Erilot.

A brilliant mind and excellent skills.

“I can’t believe she’s only ten.”

Selene endured with grit.

But Erilot...

“She’s reading the moves.”

“Yeah. Considering the risk if Selene escapes now.”

Then someone said, “Huh?”

“But Erilot’s soldiers—none are hurt, right?”

What?

People watched the magical scope.

“Kendal, spread the wind to three o’clock.”

It was true.

Arrows that almost hit Erilot’s mercenaries lost direction and fell elsewhere.

“Unbelievable.”

“Even now, they’re protecting their soldiers.”

The original illustration means the source of the flame.

The source of fire (soldiers).

Protecting soldiers is their first duty.

Marquis Debussy chuckled.

“My goodness. Seems the lady was seeing what we didn’t.”

Ultimately, this match was about “who is more worthy to be the original illustration.”

“Not only aiming for victory, but complete victory in content too?”

Debussy looked at the duke, whose gaze was fixed on the magical scope.

“Impressive.”

No one had ever stolen the duke’s attention so much.

The other three-year-olds also watched Erilot with mouths agape.

“Impressive as I thought...”

“Yeah. It wasn’t just the monster she commands that was impressive...”

“Erilot, good job!”

Not only the three-year-olds.

Invited boys and girls of Erilot’s age were also completely mesmerized.

“Erilot! Wow!”

“Well done! Back, no, no! Twelve o’clock...!”

Everyone admires the strong.

This match proved Erilot was a perfect strong.

Then, at that moment.

“What’s that?”

Someone moved behind the chaotic battle.

A man with a blue shoulder band proving he belonged to Selene’s mercenaries.

He approached the boy tied with ropes.

‘Isn’t that Cabi, Selene’s mercenary commander’s son?’

Moby.

The man who secretly approached was untying Moby’s ropes.

The nobles clicked their tongues.

Not helpful at all, rescuing Moby who was just trembling tied up.

“That idiot...”

“Even now, Commander Cabi ordered to rescue his son?”

“Selene wasn’t perfectly controlling her mercenaries after all.”

Cabi kept glancing at his son.

Only when Moby was freed did he sigh.

“Ugh, ugh, aah!”

Moby panicked and tried to rush out of the battlefield as soon as he was freed.

He seemed utterly terrified.

“Hahaha!”

“Look at him run!”

As people burst out laughing, Bastina clenched her skirt tightly.

‘That crazy bastard...!’

Selene’s reputation was already sinking, and the mercenary commander was acting foolishly, casting doubt on her control.

Then something strange happened.

Erilot’s eyes widened as she looked behind her.

“No!”

She shouted, and the soldiers and Selene’s gaze flinched.

“What?”

“Why?”

“Why now?”

Why would they suddenly care about the escape of a mere boy soldier while facing Selene?

Even Conrad, watching the magical scope with a pleased expression behind the duke, furrowed his brow.

“What is happening?”

The boy soldier wouldn’t escape anyway.

Erilot had prepared many barrier magic tools for the match.

She took shock-inducing barrier magic tools in case her base was attacked and anyone touched the barrier.

‘That boy should be ordinary.’

Unless he could wield a powerful Holy Realm barrier like Selene, it was impossible for a normal person to escape.

Suddenly, a conversation I had with Erilot flashed in my mind.

“Aileen’s Ideal is no good!”

“Eh?”

“Not there. Never. Recommend another place. Even a tier-2 is better.”

The reason they didn’t choose Aileen’s Ideal as mercenaries.

‘If that’s not because Aileen’s Ideal is run by Selene’s father’s family and they avoided it for that reason...’

“Moby, stop! If you cross there, you’ll─!”

Erilot shouted, but the terrified Moby jumped into the barrier.

Kagagagagak─!

Moby collided with the barrier and convulsed like he was struck by lightning.

Then he collapsed.

“Moby!”

Cabi, mercenary commander and Moby’s father, shouted.

Erilot ran to Moby and pulled up his shirt.

There was a jewel embedded in the boy’s chest.

“Could that be...?”

Someone murmured, and Liantin, knowledgeable in magic tools, shouted,

“An amplification stone!”

A forbidden magic tool by the state.

A magic tool implanted in a person to resonate with monsters.

“Then...!”

As someone shouted, dark clouds gathered inside the magical scope.

Bang─!

Lightning struck, and dark clouds gathered above Erilot’s position.

[Avoid─!!]

What appeared from the dark clouds was a gigantic monster.

Eyes of strange shapes sprouted all over its body, with no limbs.

The children who saw the horrifying monster hugged their shoulders and shivered.

An indescribable feeling.

Breath was suffocated by instinctive fear.

The monster was so huge, people looked like matchsticks beside it.

Liantin, who covered his mouth, trembled violently.

“...”

“What? Liantin, what did you say?”

“It’s an ancient monster, ...”

Balzac suddenly stood up.

“Those crazy bastards. They were weak for tier-1, but they were using amplification stones to control monsters!”

They were using The Void for war and monster hunts.

Ancient monsters are called ancient beasts.

The Void was one of the weaker ancient beasts, but still had power unlike normal monsters.

Even Astra’s direct lineage stiffened, not knowing what to do.

“W-what do we do now? The Void?!”

“We have to head to the abandoned forest! If the Void leaves the forest...!”

“W-what do we do?”

Duke Astra ordered with a grim face.

“Daymond, take your brothers to the abandoned forest─”

Only someone as strong as Daymond could manage this.

But—

“I tried to stop this from happening...”

Erilot sighed deeply inside the magical scope.

Then, seemingly resigned, she took out a wooden whistle from inside her collar.

Piiiik─!

Blowing the whistle, Erilot shouted,

“Ragon─!”

This was the first occasion where royalty and nobles from all over the world would clash over Erilot Astra.

It was the historical first appearance of the ‘Magic Dragon Ragon.’