We live in the Foothills of Dragon Peak.
**Dots and Lines**
The journey through Dragon Peak with the Dragon Race was very comfortable and smooth.
As the one appointed as guardian, I kept a slight distance from everyone, riding on the back of an Earth Dragon. My job was to take care of Priscilla-chan as we moved.
From this high vantage point, looking down at everyone walking ahead was a magnificent view. I felt like a cruel king, thinking, “Walk, you ignorant masses!”
“Meow.”
Lyra, who was still feared by the Dragon Race, looked at me and Priscilla-chan with envy, glancing back occasionally.
Lyra is inherently honest, kind, and a wonderful girl, so it’s a shame she’s feared by the Dragon Race. Eventually, when she understands and can control the full extent of her powers, I’ll let her ride on a dragon’s back many times.
“Meow is fine, meow.”
“Yeah. When Lyra says she wants a ride, please give her one.”
“I’ll make a deal with snacks, meow.”
“I don’t care if you get fat from eating too much.”
“Um, Nimia, if you get fat, you won’t be able to fly. So Priscilla will eat them for you, okay?”
“No, meow. I’m really big, so I can eat a lot, meow. So I’ll eat Priscilla’s share too, meow.”
“No, that’s not allowed. What’s Priscilla’s is Priscilla’s. And what’s Nimia’s is also Priscilla’s.”
“What kind of logic is that?”
I burst out laughing at Priscilla-chan’s outrageous logic.
“Priscilla, you’re mean, meow! I won’t give you a ride anymore, meow.”
“Waaah. I’m sorry.”
Priscilla-chan petted Nimia to appease her. Despite her gluttony, her friendship with Nimia comes first, huh? It’s good that they’re close.
Still, traveling with the Dragon Race is safe and secure. Not only a single dragon, but because we were traveling as a group, even fierce monsters wouldn’t dare approach. And if any monsters did appear, the Dragon Race would instantly annihilate them. We also encountered other members of the Dragon Race, but they didn’t interfere unnecessarily.
However, I was the one who interfered first!
Zan and the others returned to the village ahead to establish a cooperative relationship with the Dragon Race. There would likely be discussions, but since I had already created a fait accompli, I don’t think anyone would object now. If they did, they’d be too insensitive to the danger on Dragon Peak.
Amidst all this, I continued to persuade every member of the Dragon Race I encountered. The dragons who hadn’t heard about the attack by the cursed Wyvern and the warriors in black armor riding them were suspicious of my story. However, with the help of the Earth Dragon leader who accompanied me in my persuasion, I succeeded in securing the cooperation of a considerable number of dragons.
“But still…”
“It seems a bit excessive.”
The Dragonkin walking smoothly ahead of us turned around, their faces contorted.
“Elnea-kun. There’s a limit to everything, you know?”
Ruiseine placed her hands on her hips, looking up at me on the Earth Dragon’s back with a troubled expression.
“Uh, is this my fault?”
I tilted my head cutely, but everyone shouted back in unison, “Of course, it is!”
Sigh. How did it come to this? I slumped my shoulders and looked around.
Around me now were…
A herd of Earth Dragons marching in formation. Around them were Dragonkin resembling giant lizards, serpentine Dragonkin, other Earth Dragons, and tortoise-like Earth Dragons. In the sky, Wyverns and Winged Dragons of various colors soared, and many other species of Dragonkin followed.
A dragon expo? What is that?
Every time I persuaded a dragon, a few representatives from their group would follow me. And before I knew it, a diverse collective of Dragonkin had formed around me.
Yeah, no incompetent monsters would dare to mess with such a bizarre group! And if any monsters did appear, they’d surely be instantly annihilated.
Looking at the group I had apparently created, I felt a headache coming on.
No, no. I shouldn’t look. This is a bad dream. There was no truth to any of them showing interest in me, or Priscilla-chan having summoned them. It’s all in my head. I told myself this and focused on entertaining Priscilla-chan.
This isn’t escapism, you know!
“Meeeow.”
Nimiah, being petted by Priscilla-chan, looked at me with a disdainful expression.
Just then, the Wyverns and Winged Dragons flying in the sky scattered in a panic.
“What is it?” I wondered, when a familiar roar echoed from a distance. Hearing the roar, the dragons on the ground also started to panic.
“What was that!?”
The Dragonkin’s panic made the warrior candidates wary. But I, being accustomed to this roar, calmed everyone down.
“It’s alright. That’s the Tyrant’s roar!”
“What!?”
“The Tyrant, you say!”
Everyone panicked and began to hide behind trees and rocks. The Earth Dragons on the ground also cooperated, forming a strong barrier.
This only increased the panic!
I made a mistake. That’s right. The Tyrant was still perceived as a dangerous being by many inhabitants of Dragon Peak. Unaware that the Tyrant had reformed, everyone was flustered and panicked, fleeing in all directions. And as this was happening, the Tyrant appeared in the sky.
A colossal body, nearly twice the size of a Wyvern, flew low overhead. It was a brief passage, but I and the Tyrant definitely exchanged glances. After flying past once, the Tyrant landed a short distance away from us, intimidating the scattered dragons in the sky.
“Everyone, it’s alright.”
I dismounted from the Earth Dragon and approached the Tyrant. The Tyrant, while looking suspiciously at the mixed group of dragons, acknowledged me and remained calm.
“Revalia will no longer do bad things!”
Then, I conveyed to everyone that the Tyrant had reformed. The Dragon Race and the Dragonkin listened with initial skepticism, but seeing that Priscilla-chan could climb onto the Tyrant’s back and play without it acting up, they were somewhat convinced.
“I thought there was a strange group and approached, only to find it was your doing.”
The Tyrant looked down at me with a bewildered expression. Ah, even you look at me that way.
“Actually,”
This time, I explained the current situation to the Tyrant.
“The cursed Wyvern from that time?”
The Tyrant groaned irritably after hearing my story.
“Eek!”
At the Tyrant’s groan, one of the warrior candidates turned pale. Even after being told it was alright, they couldn’t instantly feel at ease. This wasn’t because the man was weak-kneed; it was a testament to how feared the Tyrant was.
“But, it’s a little different.”
“What’s different?”
“The presence, or rather…”
I compared the Wyvern attack and the time I was attacked with the Tyrant, recalling the memories.
“When I was attacked with you, it was truly eerie and terrifying. It felt like my soul was shriveling just by looking at it.”
In fact, even the Tyrant, though injured, was terrified.
“These ones this time… They were indeed cursed like before, emitting a creepy Dragon Energy, and they had a swordsman in black armor on their backs. But now that I think about it, they weren’t as creepy as last time, and the black armor looked different too. Most importantly, even though they were cursed, the Wyverns weren’t discolored to a dark black.”
Their abilities were also different. If it had been the knight in black armor from before, even I now would have been no match, and the Wyvern would have moved more agilely.
After my explanation, the Tyrant groaned again.
“It’s unlikely there would be so many of that caliber. As you say, it’s likely different from those we encountered.”
“But, even if the creepiness and ability were different, the situation was similar?”
“Perhaps it’s the difference between a leader and subordinates.”
The Tyrant said, looking back at the herd of Earth Dragons who had dispelled their barrier but remained vigilant. I see, so it’s like the difference between a particularly large leader of the Earth Dragon herd and its kin.
“So, the one you encountered was the captain, and these ones were the subordinates?”
This confirms the Dragonkin’s initial speculation: the one I encountered was definitely Orta, and these ones were cursed for some reason, just like Orta.
And if this incident is connected to Orta…
Orta, who is likely resurrected. The conspiracy unfolding in the human kingdom and the incident Listea is pursuing. The clans secretly active within Dragon Peak. Laza-sama’s village and the western village that were attacked. And the missing people from the western village and the cursed individuals are all connected. Though not yet confirmed, the demon race’s attacks and machinations must also be connected.
The dots are connecting. I shuddered at the magnitude of it all.
“I understand your movements. I will also keep a careful watch on Dragon Peak.”
“Oh, you’re doing your job properly!”
The Tyrant glared at me with dislike as I grinned.
“Now that I’ve understood the cause of this chaotic group, I should be going.”
The Tyrant also felt uncomfortable lingering for too long while being viewed with suspicion. After a brief farewell, the Tyrant set Priscilla-chan down and flew away with a fierce flap of its wings. Its parting roar, like a threat, was unforgettable.
“I’d like to add a note that *we* are not the chaos, *you* are the chaos.”
The leader of the Earth Dragons said, looking at me with a weary expression. Everyone, please stop looking at me that way.
Sigh. I slumped my shoulders and, hugging Priscilla-chan, returned to the Earth Dragon’s back.
“Uh, to reiterate, the Tyrant won’t do anything bad anymore, okay?”
“Having witnessed the exchange just now, we shall believe your words.”
“However, our grudges have not vanished.”
Another dragon said.
“Yes, of course, I understand that perfectly. But if we keep seeking revenge based on emotions, there will be no bright future for anyone. So, for now, please witness the Tyrant’s atonement.”
“If you say so.”
“We’ll take your word for it.”
Although some of the Dragonkin seemed reluctant, they appeared to believe my words and follow them. That’s good, that’s good. While the Tyrant itself must make the greatest effort in its atonement, I also want to help where I can. I hope that gradually, the Tyrant’s reform and atonement will spread throughout Dragon Peak.
After the Tyrant departed, the Wyverns and Winged Dragons began to return to the sky. I explained the recent exchange and about the Tyrant to one of the Wyverns that descended to observe. The Wyvern was also surprised, but seeing that the Tyrant hadn’t attacked, it seemed convinced and flew up to inform the other flying Dragonkin.
“This is absurd.”
“I thought so from the start, but it seems this human boy is peculiar.”
“I’ve never seen or heard of such an unusual person.”
Aaaagh…
I’ve received more bewildered stares, this time from the sky. It’s sad to be looked at with bewilderment rather than admiration, longing, or envy. I don’t need these kinds of stares!
As I was feeling dejected, Priscilla-chan and Ares-chan patted my head.
“There, there.”
“Cheer up, Older Brother. Priscilla is here for you.”
“Yeah, thank you. You two are the only ones on my side.”
I hugged Priscilla-chan and Ares-chan close and nuzzled them.
“Elnea-sama is engaging in perverted acts!?”
“Oh my, oh my.”
Lyra and Ruiseine looked up at me with sighs.
“W-whatever the case, let’s depart.”
Pulling myself together, the Dragonkin started walking again. Following them, the massive procession of dragons continued.
And so.
Ten days later, upon arriving back at Mistral’s village, behind me and in the sky, a collective of dragons had formed, so large that I felt we could conquer the capital of Armēdo as it was.
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