Dark Mage Vol 1 Chapter 16

“The existence called dragon is said to be the strongest living being on the Truvania continent.
They have an extremely long life span, and they can live up to ten thousand years.”

Dok-gosong’s mouth fell open.

“Hyaa!(TLN: whoa!) Ten thousand years?  They live for a very long long time.” (TLN: he says long twice, not a typo)

“Indeed.  They have a tremendous amount of destructive power that is well matched by the dragon’s enormous body.  It could be said that the dragon’s outer skin is harder than any metal in this world.  Therefore, armor made from dragon bone is considered to be a high grade item.”

“Bone is called bone here.” (TLN: =.= author said 본(bone) is called 뼈 – so english translation is bone is called bone…Dok-gosong is speaking so he is equating the other world’s term to his world’s term)

“Yes.   The dragon is an existence that is made out of similar material of bones and hide.  If compared to a young dragon then the hide is not that strong.  However once it ages to a certain point, the entire hide turns into a substance similar to the bones.  Therefore, you cannot face it with a normal method.  There is only one way to pierce the hide.  If it isn’t a sword master’s aura blade then it’s impossible.”

“When you say aura blade…do you mean sword energy?(TLN:검강-gum gang, i’ll replace that with sword energy – in this genre, gum gang is like a formless energy that forms around a weapon)

“I do not know what your continent calls it.  In this place, aura blade is when a sword master trains and imbues a sword with mana.  The formless energy is increased to simultaneously protect the body of the sword, and it pierces through any material, no matter the toughness.  It is the ultimate sword art.  To say it again, the sword is imbued with mana and it can be made into any shape. Any technique that could do that is t.i.tled aura blade.  This is the only way to pierce a dragon’s skin.  There are no other ways.”

“Mmm.”

Dok-gosong cleared his throat.  According to his explanation, aura blade is a designation that includes both sword energy and sword spirit.

(TLN: 검기(劍氣) & 검강(劍岡)- I changed it to sword energy and sword spirit. As said before, sword energy covers the weapon and you can change the shape of it.  It’s more of a reinforcement.  What I refer to as sword spirit is more of a sword emitting energy. i.e. you take a swipe, energy released from sword, hits distant target )

Of course when his body was whole, he was an expert that could raise his strong qi to the 3rd level in one breath.  He was able to extend the 10 steel nails of Hojo to the length of a ladle.

(TLN: Hojo was his weapon, steel gloves with metal claw like extensions – he is saying he could imbue aura blade into the claws and form  claws as long as a ladle)

However this was in the past.  In his current condition, he wouldn’t even dream about using the sword spirit or the sword energy.  Dok-gosong could feel his sad emotions rise up so he changed the subject.
“It is very surprising that the organisms called dragons have such strong strength.  Of course in Zhongyuan, we also have an existence called dragon(TLN: he used the korean term for dragon) that is comparable to the dragon(TLN: he used the western term for dragon).  However in our world, it is common to call a long-lived monster serpent(TLN:이무기 E-moo-gi) a dragon.  The monster serpent has to go through many years of training before he can ascend.  Occasionally one would show up in the world and make a mess. The people would call them evil dragons.(TLN:악룡(惡龍)ahk-ryong) Of course I have seen these evil dragons on few occasions, and I had even hunted them before.  However, I have never seen a true dragon.”

G.o.d dragons(TLN: 신룡(神龍) s.h.i.+n-ryong) are what one would cla.s.sify as true dragons, and no matter what happens, they do not show up in the human world.
Dok-gosong was able to realize from the facts Shrekheimer was telling him that the dragons were an existence that was incomparably stronger than the evil dragons.

‘According to this man, even if it was a G.o.d dragon it would be weaker than the dragons here.  Not only are there creatures called monsters here, but they also have such fearsome being in existence here…’

Dok-gosong was briefly lost in his thought, then he heard Shrekheimer continue speaking.

“Even if we were to account for everything, the real scary part about a dragon is their magic.”

“Magic?”

Dok-gosong had heard a rough explanation so he had a grasp of what this sorcery(TLN: he is referring his own world’s form of magic. It is different from western form of magic. I’ll just call it sorcery) called magic was.  The black arts he had learned was mostly used to trick the eyes, and it was called the Mi-hon technique. Magic was unimaginably more outstanding compared to his sorcery.  The black arts that brought him to this place was magic.  Dok-gosong already had a deep curiosity about magic.

“You are saying that dragons could use as much magic as the humans?”

Shrekheimer gave a bitter smile as if the words he spoke was absurd.

“Originally, magic was the exclusive property of the dragons.”

“……….”

“In the distant past, a dragon that had befriended the humans broke several taboos, and taught them magic.  That is how the magicians originated in this land. Therefore, the originator of magic was the dragons.”

Dok-gosong was shocked.

“With the stolen magic learned from the dragon, you were able to increase your levels to a point where you were able to cross dimensions?”

“That is correct.  Humans have a different advantage compared to the other races.  It is the ability to pa.s.s down knowledge.  The magician that learned magic long ago from the dragon was able to compile his knowledge and his enlightenment.  He pa.s.sed it down to his students.  The students also researched the inherited knowledge and they were able to develop it further.  Then they were able to pa.s.s it down to the later generations.  The humans were able to make rapid progress in magic using this method.  We were even able to cross dimensions.  However even after taking everything into consideration, the humans are no match for the dragons.  Of course, in all aspects of magic.”

“That is very surprising.”

Dok-gosong could not hide his surprise.  A new world had opened to him before he had realized it.  This world had a completely different history and background compared to Zhongyuan…..  Shrekheimer’s face hardened when he saw Dok-gosong shake his head.

“From now on, I’ll explain the event that lead to you being invited.  I believe it’ll be more helpful if you experience this for yourself through the magic stone.”

Truvania’s human magicians risen to the stage where they were able to store their memories in a magic stone.  Shrekheimer used this method to show Dok-gosong the meeting that was held by the monarchs.  This was the meeting where they decided they’ll invite a warrior from a different world.

If one would ask the people, which country in Truvania was worthy of being called the strongest then they would definitely pick the country of Ikarot.  They had the longest history, and they were also the only country in Truvania that had a vast number of population. Also on par with their lofty reputation, the capital of the Ikarot kingdom called Feldrian was the largest city on the continent.  The city housed the most people in the continent, and most of the n.o.bles were concentrated there.
The defensive fortification of Feldrian was beyond one’s imagination. It didn’t fall in 1st race wars or the following war against the army of darkness.  The importance of the city was unimaginable.  However, the city’s reputation brutally fell not too long ago when a series of event led to a theft in the center of Feldrian.  A small number of the orc’s special forces and a dragon infiltrated the city and stole the most important treasure of the humans.  If the truth was known then the disturbance that would be caused would be beyond imagination.
Of course, this event was kept as a secret from the normal citizens. However, it was an impossible task to seal everyone’s mouth from the beginning.  It was spread through word of mouth that the human’s Oath gem was stolen.

Bang!

“What are we suppose to do about this? Of all the things that could happen, why?”

The person who was yelling with his fist clenched was a gray-haired old man.  He wore a fancy cloth trimmed with gold and he had a crown embedded with a lot of gems.  One could probably guess the ident.i.ty of this person.

Rosengart III.

He was the 17th Emperor of the Ikarot kingdom, and he was the most influential man who fought in front against the army of darkness.  They were all kings, but they wouldn’t dare to raise their heads in front of him.  He was that kind of absolute being.  The emperor of Ikarot was expressing his anger, which was like fire.  The courtiers in front of him couldn’t even breath, while casting furtive glances.

“There is no one that can take care of this matter.”

Suddenly, he rose up.  The end of his white beard was trembling and just by look at him, one could guess what he was feeling.  He reiterated the same remark with a groan.

“Why does these events continuously happen during my ruling period?”

In the past, he was a brave general who personally led the soldiers against the army of darkness.  From Rosengart III’s figure, the vitality, which was seen when he was commanding in battle, exuded out of him.

“What did I tell you? Didn’t I say we had to kill everyone who knew the secret to shut their mouths?”

“B, But.”

The middle-aged official, who just finished give a report, looked around to gauge the mood before carefully opening his mouth.

“The people who found out about the secret was mostly the holy knights from the Belhazel church.  As you know, even the power of the emperor cannot interfere with the ecclesiastical authority.  It was unavoidable.”

“Shut up.”

The anger of Rosengart made the middle-aged official close his mouth in fright.  The emperor shook his and sighed after seeing this.  Even though he angrily scolded them, Rosengart III knew that his orders were orders that couldn’t be carried out from the beginning.

“I don’t want to even see the sight of you.  You are dismissed.”

The officials returned with a relieved expression after facing the wrath of the emperor.  Even after they were dismissed, Rosengart III panted for a while, because he couldn’t hold back his anger.

“Those church b.a.s.t.a.r.ds.  They are useless free-loaders always asking for meals…”

At the time, there was a major conflict between the emperor and the Belhazel church.  Of course if it was 50 years ago even the emperor of the Ikarot kingdom wouldn’t have dared to put those words in his mouth. However, their ecclesiastical authority was severely weakened from the long war with the army of darkness.  Belhazel did not save anyone, and that was the first reason why it was weakened.
Inversely, the royal authority became uncontrollably large.  The people who felt disappointed towards Belhazel instead chose the route to become loyal to the king.
Therefore, unlike the past, there weren’t many monarchs that were absolutely pious towards Belhazel.  This was caused from the pride formed when they blocked the army of darkness with their own strength, and also from the support of the citizens that refused absolute obedience towards Belhazel.  Of course, Emperor Rosengart fell under that category.

“The Oath gem itself isn’t that important.  However, the symbolic significance of the Oath gem is more important.”

Emperor Rosengart thought about the race wars that ended 50 years ago.  It was a bleak time when they were inferior to the orc army in every aspect.  The human soldiers were barely able to persevere using the castle walls.  No one thought they would be able to win.  However after news that the enemy’s Oath gem was stolen was spread, their att.i.tude was markedly different from what it was up until that time.  Every soldier redoubled their courage and fought against the orcs.
It was obvious from just seeing that  situation.  Even though the  ecclesiastical authority fell to a pathetic degree, most of the populace still mentally relied on Belhazel.  Only the n.o.bles and the successful citizens were able to escape the ecclesiastical authority.  Most of the normal citizens and the low ranked soldiers were still devout believers of Belhazel.  Therefore, they had to recover the Oath gem by any means to escape from this crisis.

“It is in the palms of the dragons so how…..”

Rosengart IV(TLN: author s.h.i.+fted to IV instead of III, must be a typo) shook his head as if no answer was coming forth.  Right then a hesitant voice of a servant was heard.

“His majesty emperor.  The preparation for the meeting has finished.  All the monarch of each kingdom is a.s.sembled in one place, and they are waiting for his majesty to come.”

After hearing those words, Rosengart IV stood shakily.  He had a duty to partic.i.p.ate in the meeting where every monarch, who were tasked to defend the fate of human kind, was a.s.sembled in one place.

The wide hall was fancily decorated and many people were a.s.sembled there.  Everyone one of them were wearing a fancy garb.  There were some middle-aged men present, but most of them were old men.  They were the monarchs of the kingdoms scattered all over the Truvania continent.  They were the best leaders of each region, and they were a.s.sembled in one place.  Until now, there had only been two meetings of this kind.    It happened 50 years ago in the race wars and 10 years ago in the battle with the army of darkness.  Other than that they had no reason to come to the Ikarot kingdom.  However, the human realm was facing a desperate danger. Once they had pulled together each kingdom’s military strength, they would be able to resist against the newly active orc race.  They had decided to band together once again to fight in the battle that will decide the destiny of the humans.

“The emperor of Ikarot kingdom, Rosengart IV, has arrived.”

After the servant’s words rang out signaling the entrance of the emperor, all the monarch hurried to their seats.  Rosengart IV and a middle-aged man with a striking gaze entered the hall together.

“It’s been awhile.  Has it been 10 years?”

“Yes.  It’s the first time we’ve met since the darkness war.”

The monarch of Dispania kingdom, which was fairly close to the Ikarot kingdom, gave a polite greeting.
Rosengart IV gave an informal reply before he took his seat.

“Let us start the meeting”

Before Rosengard IV’s words could end, someone came forth and opened a chart.
It was the middle aged man with a striking gaze.  It was the person who came in with Rosengart IV.