Dekan Wants to Create the Red Legend

A small town in the northern part of the empire.

Today, the town is filled with cavalry and honor guards of the Ninth Army stationed outside, as if to welcome or send off some important figure.

More than a month ago, this place was temporarily requisitioned by the Ninth Army to give the Severe Injury former Empress Ikatinos a chance to recover.

Finally, at a certain moment.

The earth rumbled! The ground outside the town, stretching all the way to the sky, seemed to be covered with a thin layer of golden mist, like twilight.

The clouds seemed to swirl in the sky, but even though the air pressure was so high that it was hard to breathe, the Imperial Army stationed outside showed no fear. Instead, they immediately reorganized their troops, retreated, and prepared to welcome them.

Sudden.

A pale golden thunderclap descended from the sky, growing stronger and stronger, stirring up layers of air currents and snow mist.

After they dispersed, three figures finally appeared.

Then, the Imperial soldiers' unison shouts of "Welcome back, Your Excellency the Elector Duke!" startled Dekan, who was at the head of the group.

Although it seems like every time I return using the [Spatial Leap Gate], it's accompanied by a grand spectacle.

But this time is better than the last.

This is clearly a match made for a righteous and important figure!

Soon, Dekan saw Clay and Mie waiting for them ahead.

Clay sat in the front of a chariot like a coachman, while Mie stood in front of the open door, smiling as she awaited the return of the three.

This is the highest-spec tank used by the Imperial Army, but instead of being marked with the insignia of a certain army group, this tank is engraved with a coat of arms woven from a code of law and thorns.

Dekan felt that this design looked somewhat familiar.

It has a strong sense of copyright infringement; this legal code looks exactly like his gospel no matter how you look at it.

Before Dekan could even ask a question, a figure stepped out from the Imperial army and quickly approached Dekan.

This guy was none other than Pritzker, the Abyss Mage and commander of the First Army.

Dekan had already guessed that he would be chosen as the one to see the empire off.

"Your Elector Duke, for your convenience, Her Majesty Olivia has officially conferred upon you the title of Honorary Duke of the Salon Empire. Your family crest, formal attire, and other items have all been prepared and placed inside your chariot."

Pritzker bowed slightly and explained to Dekan.

Dekan nodded upon hearing this.

He had instructed Isabel not to publicize any relationship between herself and her servant, to honestly play the role of emperor, to consider everything rationally, and to keep a low profile.

Isabel has only given him an honorary dukedom, which is quite good.

Seeing Dekan nod, Pritzker continued:

"As for the war criminal Adair, he fled to the front lines immediately. But rest assured, if he dares to escape back into the Empire, I will personally locate and capture him."

"The former High Priest of the Church of Calamity Cosmo, has now been sent from the Imperial Prison to the Norton Kingdom. The recipient is your friend, Mr. Croix. As a dark Astrologer, Cosmo is believed to be able to help you and your friends quickly locate Adair."

"On your recommended return journey, the Empire's intelligence department has also located Mr. Avalon's current residence. When you arrive in the former Northern Nations, you will soon pass by Mr. Avalon's location."

"Due to the subsequent ceasefire and friendly agreements with the various kingdoms, we withdrew all intelligence personnel stationed within the kingdom's territory. Therefore, we sincerely apologize for not being able to provide you with complete information regarding the kingdom. However, if you require it, we will send intelligence personnel as your entourage to return to the kingdom..."

Pritzker explained these important matters concerning Dekan one by one.

Dekan was very satisfied with the Imperial service.

Even the matter of "wanting to see Avalon," which he had only mentioned casually to Clay, was fulfilled by the Empire's utmost efforts after Clay mentioned it to Mie.

Avalon, a former ninth-tier Card Crafter of the Kingdom Association and one of the few top-tier Card Crafter capable of creating Crimson Epic cards, originally resided in the Northern Kingdom.

After the fall of the Northern Nations, Avalon was also captured by the empire.

Fortunately, the Empire treated Avalon exceptionally well.

A month ago, when the war was declared over, Avalon was immediately released.

However, Avalon is different from other ninth-tier powerhouses or nobles; he has a very Buddhist personality and is almost without desires.

Both before and after the war, the residences he chose were secluded places that were difficult to find on a map.

After Pritzker finished recounting the information, Pritzker bowed to Dekan again, and also bid farewell to Ikatinos and Sion behind Dekan, before stepping back to make way.

"Well..."

Dekan looked at Pritzker, hesitant to speak.

He had assumed that Pritzker's respectful attitude was out of fear of Dekan's true power or out of obligation, but he hadn't expected Pritzker to be so genuine, with no trace of pretense.

After all, on that day in the cathedral and Colosseum in the capital, Pritzker could be considered a super tool who was completely manipulated by Dekan from beginning to end.

Even considering Puser of the Abyss's personality, he should have been somewhat angry upon learning the truth that he had been tricked.

Are you having any doubts?

Although Dekan's expression didn't reveal anything, Pritzker quickly sensed what Dekan was thinking.

"You seem a bit different."

Dekan shrugged and shared his thoughts.

There's no point in lying to this person anyway.

"Perhaps you have misunderstood me. While I, Pritzker, am fond of assessing situations, my loyalty to the Empire is absolutely unwavering. Similarly, you may see me as a petty person, even speaking the truth only out of a sense of duty. But you do not know that I have always prided myself on my sincerity."

Pritzker bowed again, speaking with exceptional sincerity.

His attitude was clear: he was sincerely grateful to Dekan for eliminating the most evil forces for the empire and for bringing the struggle for the throne to a happy ending for all.

Dekan was slightly taken aback by Pritzker's expression.

At least in his memory, when the demon Puser of the Abyss, in the Holy Kingdom and the Demon Realm was forcibly given the name "Sincerity," the veins on his forehead were still bulging.

Indeed, good and bad are not predetermined; things are determined by human effort, and some things will eventually change.

Dekan had originally intended to pat Pritzker on the shoulder as was his habit, but he paused slightly before extending his hand towards Pritzker.

"It's a pleasure to meet you again, General Pritzker."

"It's my pleasure, Mr. Dekan."

Pritzker also politely shook Dekan's hand.

As Dekan and Pritzker bid farewell and entrusted him with some important matters of the Empire.

On the other side.

"So, what's the use of an honorary duke? Does he/she give out money?"

Clay sitting at the very front of the chariot, turned his head and asked Mie, who was standing to the side.

As far as he knew, an honorary duke had neither land nor titles; he was merely a duke in name only.

"Logically speaking, apart from the emperor and dukes, all other citizens of the empire should bow to an honorary duke. Also, sometimes the certification of territorial lords requires the personal presence of marquises or higher-ranking nobles, in which case an honorary duke would also qualify..."

Mie explained earnestly.

"Besides these, what else makes them different from ordinary people?"

Upon closer reflection, Clay realized that aside from the impressive-sounding title, the honorary dukedom of Dekan was actually quite useless.

Mie was also asked by Clay, and despite his vast knowledge of astronomy and geography, Mie couldn't figure out what use an honorary duke could possibly be.

Finally, it seemed she could only find one answer:

"Very high-class."

Clay: "..."

One month later.

Within the territory of a small country in the Northern Nations.

The setting sun still carried a hint of warmth in the mountains, the river's flow had gradually decreased, and thin ice floated scattered on the surface.

On this once quiet, natural land far from any town, the wind rustling the flowers and grasses on the cliffs and the approaching sound of animal hooves became increasingly clear.

Finally, the tank came to a stop as if it had reached its destination.

Several tens of minutes later, the sky became completely dark.

Inside a large wooden cabin nestled in the mountains, firewood burned in a fireplace, occasionally accompanied by the crackling sound of the wood.

Smoke and the aroma of dinner wafted from the house.

Although it is not as luxurious as the mansions of nobles or wealthy merchants, the warm-toned wood furnishings and soft lighting seem to dispel all the chill in this winter.

Sitting indoors, I'm sure I'll soon find myself dozing off.

Although the Northern Nations, formerly part of the Kingdom Association, do not experience winters as cold as the Empire, it is now late December, and without proper precautions against the cold, they are still susceptible to frostbite.

Inside the room, a simply dressed man in his sixties generously offered food to travelers passing through.

The travelers were naturally Dekan and his companions, who were on their way home.

The owner of this mansion is Avalon, the top- Card Crafter that Dekan was looking for.

He is currently still renovating the new house, as he is still wearing work clothes as a base layer and a thick vest.

Although he may be much older than he looks, his upright posture suggests he must have been very handsome when he was young.

Although the visit of Dekan and his group seemed somewhat deliberate, Avalon and Sion were already acquainted, so Avalon treated them as guests in a very friendly manner, even though he could tell at a glance that there was an alternate version of the former Empress among the visitors.

Dinner time passed quickly, and after Avalon arranged rooms for everyone, he returned to the reception room.

Dekan also returned to this place with Avalon.

Avalon seemed to have known all along that Dekan wanted to ask him a question, so he brewed fruit tea and gestured for Dekan to sit opposite him.

"Mr. Avalon, I had Sion perform a divination; legendary materials are not a prerequisite for creating legendary cards."

Finally, Dekan exhaled a puff of white mist and slowly spoke to Avalon.

"Um."

Avalon seemed unsurprised, as if he had known the answer all along.

This convinced Dekan that Avalon knew more than he did.

After all, Avalon, the human Card Crafter has gone the furthest on the path of card making in the world today, has experience that I cannot yet match.

From the moment he saw Avalon, Dekan had a fleeting feeling that Avalon was already capable of creating Red Legend cards, but he just hadn't done it yet.

"Mr. Dekan, do you think that 'creating the Crimson Epic's is a prerequisite for 'creating the Red Legend '?"

Avalon asked Dekan with a smile.

He didn't seem to regard Dekan as a younger man several generations his junior, but rather as an equal friend.

I think so.

Dekan answered affirmatively.

It was precisely because after creating the Crimson Epic that he clearly realized that "he had met certain prerequisites for creating the Red Legend, but was still missing some key points."

"The craftsmanship and material utilization of Crimson Epic and Red Legend are completely equivalent, because that is the limit of Magic Card."

Avalon calmly explained the conclusions he had drawn from his long career in card making.

"In a sense, the Crimson Epic is Red Legend, but it is Red Legend that lacks 'legendary color,' so it ultimately remains at the epic level."

"So, how exactly should we understand this 'legendary' quality?"

Dekan frowned, feeling he understood Avalon's meaning, yet still caught in his own confusion and dilemma.

He always felt that even if he poured his soul into creating another Crimson Epic, it would still be something lacking.

It's as if his so-called "legendary" aura isn't complete, or is far from it.

As the struggle dragged on, Dekan became even more uncertain about what he was still lacking.

Avalon handed over some snacks, and while waiting for the tea to be brewed, he began to tell Dekan his story.

Many years ago, the human card-making genius Avalon honed his card-making skills to perfection at a certain age.

However, it was precisely because he moved too fast that he reached a bottleneck area that few Card Crafter could reach, and he was trapped in a predicament where he could not take another step forward. Later, he was tormented to the point that his mind and body could not bear it.

Avalon finally found the answer by seeking it from Sion.

The only difference between the Crimson Epic and the Red Legend is "a lifetime".

At the time, Avalon's understanding was that a legendary life needed to be etched onto the card.

By upholding their beliefs and pouring their souls into their work, the Crimson Epic could have transformed into Red Legend, but despite repeated attempts, they still failed.

Avalon even began to doubt whether his life was too ordinary to be worthy of the title "legendary".

A long time passed.

After years of experimentation and reflection, Avalon finally discovered that his understanding was correct, but still somewhat lacking.

His life can be described as having many brilliant achievements.

But whether it is truly legendary or not, should that be left to the judgment of the world, the gods, or world history?

After traveling to many countries and witnessing countless stories, Avalon finally understood.

Whether something is legendary or not should be decided by oneself.

Even a love story unknown to anyone, if it embodies the soul and even the entirety of Card Crafter, is enough to be called a legend.

"Correspondingly, I finally understand why my legend has always fallen short. It's simply because a legend needs to be perfect, just like any step in card making, it needs to have a beginning and an end."

Avalon continued speaking,

"Noble beliefs, inescapable missions, promises more important than life itself—I had none of those. My own legend is simply dedicating my entire life to pursuing the Red Legend."

"But this seems to create a paradox: I'll always be one step away from the finish line. If the legend isn't complete, I can't create a legend; but to achieve completion, I need to create a legend."

Avalon calmly recounted his story.

The fruit tea was ready, so I poured half a cup for myself and Dekan.

Dekan pondered for a moment, then raised his fruit tea to drink it all in one gulp, only to find it was too hot. He put it back and asked:

"Actually, Mr. Avalon, if I'm not mistaken, you should already be able to create the Red Legend, right?"

Avalon sipped his fruit tea and nodded slightly.

"When I finally became at peace, as if I had untied a knot in my heart and was no longer obsessed with creating Red Legend, I suddenly felt that I might be able to make Red Legend."

He casually recounted the ending of his long story.

"But for me, who has truly let go, whether or not I produce this 'Red Legend' is no longer important."

Seeing Avalon's nonchalant demeanor, Dekan's lips parted slightly, as if he was about to say something, but then he closed his mouth again, revealing a somewhat relieved smile.

There's no need to feel sorry about it.

On the contrary, Avalon's condition even made Dekan genuinely envious.

If Avalon had not truly reached this state of mind, and thus seemingly drawn a perfect conclusion to its legend, it would not have been able to truly reach the realm of legendary card creation.

Seeing Dekan's condition, Avalon felt that there was no need to say anything more.

However, Avalon didn't like to only say half of what he was saying, so he finished recounting their conversation while sipping his tea:

"So you get it now, right? You're almost ready to create Red Legend, without having to go through so many detours like I did, getting stuck in self-doubt and inner turmoil."

"Your skills have reached the Crimson Epic, and you already know in your heart what is most important to you. However, you seem to have something unfinished, something that makes the story you want to write into a legend just a little bit short of perfection."

"Judging from your nonchalant attitude, this last step should actually be quite simple."

"Go and complete this step, and when you want to do it and feel you can do it, your Crimson Epic will reach the Red Legend."

"Such an opportunity may only come once in a lifetime, because you will use your entire life as material, your will as the marker, your heart and soul as the ink, and write your own legend, or a legend you wish to dedicate to someone else, with a perfect ending drawn by your own hands."

******

Author's Note:

This chapter might still have some minor phrasing, grammatical errors, or typos that need revision, but I'll have to do it tomorrow. I just can't stay awake any longer... Ugh, I cough after just a few words, I really can't take it anymore...

Also, it's worth mentioning that the Red Legend that Dekan is about to create is related to Cornelia. However, Master's ancient storyline is not yet finished, so Dekan cannot successfully create a legendary Master for the time being.