◆Overlord◆ Chapter 103: Public's Fantacism! New

Loud voices filled the capital of the Dragon Kingdom.

Since early morning, countless people had gathered outside of the Royal Castle to celebrate the Dragon God Festival, and the population easily exceeded a million.

Rumors had already spread that the Beastmen, who invaded the Dragon Kingdom year after year, had been wiped out in an instant.

In just one morning, the object of everyone's fear vanished like a lie, leaving most with a blooming smile, as if they were in a happy dream.

"Everyone!"

A powerful voice rang out, immediately gathering the crowd's attention.

All eyes turned to a single spot, at the balcony of the castle, where a young girl stood with an elderly man beside her.

"People of the Dragon Kingdom, listen!"

This young woman had the presence of a true monarch—she was Draudillon Oriculus, the reigning Queen of the Dragon Kingdom. Her words instantly hushed the crowd.

No one spoke, and they wanted to catch every word she spoke.

"There is something I must tell you all!"

Taking a deep breath, Draudillon continued.

"The enemy who has invaded the Dragon Kingdom every year—the Beastman Country—was destroyed two days ago. Those monstrous creatures who treated humans as mere food and threatened our very existence have finally been judged! The impossible has been accomplished! One person's power has saved the Dragon Kingdom!"

Draudillon paused, letting her words sink in, and the crowd held its breath, waiting for her to continue.

"The three cities that were taken away by the beastmen are currently being restored. Once the restoration is complete, those of you who once lived there will be able to return home. For those of you who have endured hardship all these years, I decree a three-year tax exemption. This is the least I can offer, though I apologize that it may not be enough to repay all you've suffered."

With that, Draudillon lowered her head to the people. Her knights looked at her in astonishment, though the Prime Minister beside her understood her actions well.

Draudillon's heartfelt apology moved the people to tears.

They felt gratitude toward her, who had always strived to protect them and put their needs first.

"Do you know why I have called you here? It is to tell you all that the one who saved the Dragon Kingdom is none other than the 'Dragon God' who has descended into this world. He promised to protect the Dragon Kingdom from danger without asking anything in return—and he kept that promise."

People began murmuring loudly, some curious, some convinced, while others seemed unsure. But Draudillon, as if expecting their reaction, continued speaking calmly.

"The Dragon God revealed that the founder of the Dragon Kingdom—our ancestor—was his loyal servant since ancient times. I, the Queen of the Dragon Kingdom, vouch for this truth. Through the mercy and blessings of the Dragon God, our kingdom has been saved from countless trials and suffering, and that alone stands as proof. But I know this may be hard for some of you to believe, so I have prepared something more."

Draudillon lifted her gaze toward the sky above the royal castle.

——Krooooaar!

As if on cue, a dragon's roar echoed from the clouds, and soon after, a massive figure emerged from the clouds, illuminated by the sun's rays that reflected off its scales, shining with an almost divine brilliance.

The crowd gasped in awe as Brightness Dragon Lord soared down, outstretched its wings, and approached Draudillon. Then, slowly, its huge body began to change, transforming into a human man.

Such a transformation from a dragon into a human left everyone in stunned silence.

"Allow me to introduce you!" Draudillon announced. "This is the Brightness Dragon Lord, the founder of the Dragon Kingdom—Arcadia Oriculus!"

Brightness Dragon Lord’s piercing blue eyes looked down upon the crowd, and his white hair, mirroring Draudillon's own, swayed in the wind as he spoke in a deep voice.

"Greetings, my descendants. Your ancestor has returned."

......

The Brightness Dragon Lord—the founder of the Dragon Kingdom and Draudillon's ancestor—now appeared in the capital in his human form and was welcomed by all.

People praised him with reverence, as he was a legendary figure they had until now only heard about in rumors.

"Wowaaaaa!!"

A thunderous cheer echoed through the capital, and the Dragon Kingdom’s flag proudly fluttered in the breeze.

"I, Arcadia Oriucurs, Brightness Dragon Lord, declare this truth! The Dragon God has indeed descended upon this land!"

He was holding a crystal orb, which he got from Aurelius himself for today's show. So once he got everyone's attention, he raised the crystal orb that was glimmering in the sunlight high.

"This is the 'Dragon God's Jewel,' a sacred treasure bestowed by the Dragon God. It preserves a record of the divine punishment he inflicted upon the Beastmen."

Pausing, he spoke with conviction.

"See this proof! Witness the divine punishment the Dragon God visited upon the Beastmen!"

All eyes turned toward the orb, which instantly created a huge holographic screen showing a moving scene of the Beastmen Country's capital.

In the sky above it, a handsome man with white flowing hair appeared, exuding an otherworldly presence.

With a magic circle that seemed beyond human comprehension, he summoned those Demon Gods like entities that brought hell upon earth on the Beastmen Country.

In an instant, destruction reigned.

None even had the strength to even retaliate before they were perished. Not only those in the capital, but the Beastmen across all regions, including their royal family, met the same fate—extinction.

The citizens saw the full scope of the Beastmen's destruction through the crystal ball.

Everyone felt the same way: the strength of one overwhelming presence completely destroyed the Beastmen nation.

After seeing it with their own eyes, a heavy silence settled over the crowd, and they could barely believe it. But they had to believe, and so the first emotion that filled their hearts was not awe, but fear.

Fear of this God who could summon such terrifying beings.

However, before this fear could take hold in people's hearts, Draudillon's people, who were mixed in the crowd, began frantically cheering for the Dragon God.

The sudden joy was infectious, and it tipped the scale of the intense emotions that were overwhelming people, turning their fear into fury at the long-suffered resentment.

At last, they all shed tears of joy rather than tears of blood. Their deep-seated thirst for vengeance against the Beastmen was finally fulfilled, and the negative fear turned to gloating over the Beastmen's misfortune.

They felt no pity for them.

The Beastmen had invaded the Dragon Kingdom and taken innumerable innocent lives, and the punishment they received was completely just.

The atmosphere around the royal castle swelled with fervor and built up like a roaring inferno.

"—Wowaaaaa!!"

The cheers erupted once again, even louder than when the Brightness Dragon Lord had made his appearance.

People's unrestrained joy surged forth like a waterfall. Praise for the Dragon God resounded and multiplied one after another.

"All praise the Dragon God, Aurelius Nova Lucifer! Serve the Dragon God! May the Dragon God watch over the Dragon Kingdom for all eternity!"

"Long live the Dragon God Aurelius Nova Lucifer!"

"Praise the Dragon God!"

"Our God!! Guide our souls!!"

The people's shouts continued without pause, more unified than ever. The echoes of their voices spread and returned in endless waves.

Seeing people's devotion to Aurelius dissolved the little anxiety she had about how it would all go, and she nodded in satisfaction.

Now she could put Aurelius's plan forward more boldly.

She turned her head as her gaze met the smiling Brightness Dragon Lord, who, sensing her presence, looked upon Draudillon with a gentle gaze.

Now was the time for the final act.

To complete this last step, the power of the Brightness Dragon Lord was crucial.

"Ancestor, it’s time for the final stage."

"Yes. Let's begin."