* * *
“...”
Rose sank into thought.
The seven dragons had wielded psionics as naturally as breathing. They had created the Seventy-Two Martial Schools only to pass those methods on to humans.
And if Limon were placed on the same level as the dragons, it could not be considered impossible for him to unconsciously learn how to wield psionic essence. That also explained why playing music, of all things, had become his method. In the form of swordsmanship or martial arts, the intent of the Dragon-Slaying Sword could clash with Dragon Psionics.
Besides, if the Violin of Deepest Black had awakened his Dragon Psionics, playing it would also have been the most effective way to wield them. In other words, it was the best solution his Sword Master instincts had found.
“Of course, all of this is only my conjecture.”
It was merely the conclusion she had reached while pondering on her own why Limon possessed Dragon Psionics, not something supported by any clear evidence. Rose gazed steadily at Li Qingyu as she explained this with a bright smile, then finally sighed.
“... I admit it is the most logically plausible theory.”
Dragon Psionics had lain dormant in Limon for nearly a thousand years, only awakening now through a combination of coincidences. It sounded absurd, but there was no other adequate explanation for the reality before her. At least it was more convincing than the hypothesis that Limon had suddenly acquired Dragon Psionics.
“But Li Qingyu, that does not prove your innocence.”
There were two problems. First, there was no guarantee Li Qingyu had not known all along. Especially considering that she had maintained the world-peace plan even while selling off nearly half the shares in Leviathan, it was more reasonable to assume she had known from the start and orchestrated everything.
And the other problem was...
“Whatever the case, it is a fact that you have kept the eighth Dragon Psionics hidden until now, is it not?”
Her expression stern once more, Rose pressed Li Qingyu. The eighth Dragon Psionics were tied to the long-cherished ambition of the entire Seven Dragons Society. Normally, the moment they were discovered, she should have convened the Council of Seven Dragons, informed every princess, and discussed how to handle them going forward.
But if she had concealed this fact? That was an utterly unforgivable betrayal. Even if she was a princess of the Seven Dragons Society... No, precisely because she was a princess.
“I certainly have no excuse for that.”
“Why did you conceal it?”
“Well, why do you think?”
Li Qingyu smiled, then asked again in a playful tone.
“Why don’t you tell me, Rose? What reason could I have had to hide it?”
There was a blade at her throat, yet Li Qingyu remained so composed that she seemed entirely unaware of its presence. Rose’s delicate brows knitted—not because she was appalled by her audacity in joking at a time like this, but because the matter was that important.
Perhaps the Gold Dragon Princess might have done such a thing without reason. But if Li Qingyu, the most cunning member of the Seven Dragons Society, had done this even at the risk of her clan’s annihilation, she must have had a compelling reason. And Rose had an idea of what that reason was.
“... Were you worried about greed?”
“That was one reason, yes.”
Li Qingyu nodded once, then continued calmly.
“The Sword Lord is the first bearer of Dragon Psionics discovered apart from the seven of us. He may also be the last.”
“There is no guarantee that will be the case.”
“Isn’t there?”
“...”
Rose remained silent.
The Seven Dragons Society had spent nearly a thousand years trying to create an eighth Dragon Psionics. Yet neither the geniuses of the great clans nor master-level experts who had inherited a strong concentration of dragon blood had even approached psionic essence. And if Li Qingyu’s conjecture was correct, that result was only natural.
“If psionic essence truly can be obtained only through the founders’ blood essence, then over the past thousand years, only three people besides us could have done so.”
“You mean the three Sword Masters who fought the founders?”
“Yes. But the other two passed away long ago.”
The Sword Emperor, the first Sword Master, who had led his two disciples against the seven dragons and finally died after slaying three dragons in the last Great Sword-Dragon War.
The Sword Demon, the Sword Emperor’s foremost disciple and the worst Sword Master in history, who had slaughtered a tenth of humanity and plunged the world into terror.
With those two dead, the Sword Lord was now the only survivor who had been drenched in dragon blood essence. Even if they searched for another thousand years, there would be no other human who could obtain psionic essence. After stating this matter-of-factly, Li Qingyu added a question.
“If we knew that no other bearer of Dragon Psionics could ever appear, would we still be able to discuss the matter peacefully?”
The seven princesses of the Seven Dragons Society. The leaders of seven clans that had been the world’s largest criminal organization before becoming its foremost corporate giant. As one of those leaders, Li Qingyu smiled.
“Or would we tear into one another to get our hands on the last item before it sells out?”
That fear was by no means unfounded. Though grouped together as the Seven Dragons Society, they were originally separate organizations, perfectly capable of opposing one another as circumstances demanded. All the more so when an eighth Dragon Psionics was at stake.
Even so, Rose did not hesitate to answer.
“That will not happen.”
“Why not?”
Li Qingyu tilted her head.
“Because I will prevent conflict within the Seven Dragons Society.”
“Can you really do that?”
“Even if it is impossible, I will make it possible.”
Li Qingyu’s expression turned strange at Rose’s resolute words. It was such a reckless, outrageous undertaking that even the Gold Dragon Princess would not lightly promise it. Yet she finally nodded.
“Rose, you really might be able to do it.”
The Blue Dragon Clan was the conscience of the Seven Dragons Society. Their righteous nature and uncompromising character often brought them into conflict with the other clans, but the trust they had earned ran deeper still. If Rose, the princess of that clan, stepped in to mediate, perhaps the worst could be avoided.
But Li Qingyu added one condition.
“Provided the other princesses share your current misconception about the eighth Dragon Psionics.”
“... What misconception?”
“It’s quite simple.”
Li Qingyu smiled and offered a casual hint to Rose, who was watching her suspiciously.
“Of the Seven Dragons Society’s seven founders, the Wise White Dragon Lord of Wisdom was the first the Sword Emperor challenged and defeated single-handedly.”
“...?”
For a moment, Rose wondered why she was mentioning such an obvious fact. Then her face stiffened. Something felt strangely wrong—a troubling sense that she had overlooked something terribly important.
Retracing everything Li Qingyu had told her from the beginning in search of the reason, Rose suddenly felt as though she had been struck by lightning.
“...!!!”
“Have you finally realized?”
Shock.
Disbelief.
A shudder.
Fear.
Excitement.
Li Qingyu chuckled as she watched Rose freeze, countless emotions mingling into an indescribable expression. Then she looked straight into her lake-blue eyes and asked,
“Rose, can you still guarantee that you can persuade the other princesses?”
Rose was clearly the one holding a sword to Li Qingyu’s throat. Yet she looked as though an unseen blade had pierced her own heart. Pale-faced, she moved her lips without speaking, then bit down hard on them.
She had finally understood. If Limon’s secret became known, conflict between the princesses would be unavoidable. No, they would be fortunate if it ended at mere conflict. In the worst case, not only would the Seven Dragons Society be torn apart, but they might begin slaughtering one another.
“So... that is why you kept the Sword Lord’s Dragon Psionics hidden? To prevent the Seven Dragons Society from tearing itself apart?”
“Though that isn’t the most important reason.”
“What could be more important than that?”
“The person who would suffer most if the truth about psionic essence became known.”
Rose fell silent for a different reason this time. The moment she heard those words, she knew whom Li Qingyu meant.
Of course, he was strong. Strong enough to have fought the Seven Dragons Society for hundreds of years and always won. But that was when the Society fought normally.
What if the entire Seven Dragons Society cooperated to attack him, disregarding even their clans’ survival and prepared to sacrifice absolutely everything? Even if he won, he could not emerge unscathed. Especially in this modern society, where money and power had become so important.
“Rose, can you reveal the truth knowing all these risks?”
“...”
Her former self would have answered firmly regardless. Nothing took precedence over the Seven Dragons Society’s long-cherished ambition; what they needed to consider was not whether to hide this fact, but how to prevent conflict.
But now?
A complicated expression on her face, Rose suddenly lowered her gaze. She stared at her own right hand holding the sword—specifically, the back of it—then spoke in a stiff voice.
“... I was the only one who recognized them as Dragon Psionics. But every master-level clan member in London felt his psionics themselves.”
“So they did.”
“I have ordered my clan to keep quiet, but you know as well as I do that it will be of no use.”
“I suppose not.”
Li Qingyu nodded. She had already anticipated this. When Limon had used the Violin of Deepest Black to ‘predict’ an attack by the Liberation Brigade’s ghosts, Yo U-in, who had been present, had also sensed Limon’s psionics and been dumbstruck.
Had he realized they were psionic essence as well, he might have suffered a heart attack or fatal backlash outright.
And London was the heart of the British Empire, a strategic location where every clan had stationed master-level experts. That meant information had reached the other princesses, however fragmentary—information about Lee, a violinist who wielded psionics through a method entirely different from the Seventy-Two Martial Schools.
In truth, that alone was reason enough for the Seven Dragons Society’s princesses to show their greed.
“In the end, it is only a matter of time.”
“I know.”
“And you know perfectly well what will happen when the other princesses learn the truth.”
Li Qingyu smiled at Rose’s rigid expression as she replied,
“They’ll try to tear me to pieces.”
“... At least they will not tear you apart alive.”
“Are you sure?”
Rose could not bring herself to answer. The other princesses would never believe Li Qingyu. They would assume she had known everything from the beginning and deceived them. She was the Black Dragon Princess, after all. Rose knew all too well how furious they would become if that happened.
Because...
“At least, you looked as though you wanted to.”
“... What do you mean?”
“Be honest, Rose.”
Li Qingyu raised her hand. As though caressing a splendid work of art, she slid a finger along Rose’s sword, still pointed at her throat, and quietly asked,
“Have you truly never thought, not even for a single moment, that you wanted to cut me down with this sword?”
“...”
“Wasn’t part of your reason for visiting me in secret the hope that you might be able to ‘dispose of’ me without anyone knowing?”
It was an outrageous accusation, an intolerable insult to the Blue Dragon Princess, who valued honor and pride. Yet Rose could not utter a single word in protest.
The moment she had realized Limon’s identity and sensed his Dragon Psionics, the very first thing she had done was suppress the urge to tear Li Qingyu apart on the spot.
“There’s no need to be ashamed. It’s only natural for a princess of the Seven Dragons Society.”
Rose’s sword trembled, nicking Li Qingyu’s finger as it traced the blade. But she was not startled. She merely curved her lips slightly as she watched her blood flow along the blade.
“To feel jealous of me, I mean.”
