We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Our three attendants are on standby on Yugra’s back.
With Friel stepping forward, things are moving forward at a rapid pace.
Royalty, and princes at that, are truly amazing. I was made to realize that and to, once again, truly appreciate what a significant thing it was for the Twin Princesses to be by my side.
After all, I feel like everyone around me is exceptional.
Sleigsta (Old Man), the Guardian Dragon of the Dragon Forest and a legendary dragon. Mistral, who holds the highest title among the Dragon Race. Ruiseine, a Miko with Dragon Eye, and Laira, who possesses the ability to control dragons. Nimia (Female), one of the Ancient Dragon Species, and Priscilla-chan, the next chieftain of the Mimicho Race, and Ares-chan, the Spirit Tree Spirit. And then there are the Twin Princesses, the first and second princesses of the Armēdo Kingdom.
Even now, not only as acquaintances of Friel, but as those connected to the Twin Princesses, we were receiving treatment beyond our wildest imaginations.
The Dragon Knight Friel had exchanged greetings with was the lord of Kad Fortress and its surrounding cities.
Kad Fortress is a crucial point on the border, and it’s said that Dragon Knights from noble families have served as lords there for generations.
The port town of Kad and the port town on the Armēdo Kingdom side on the opposite bank are the junction of the main road connecting east and west, and they are the most prosperous among the cities facing the great river. Consequently, their economic power is also very high, and the interior of Kad Fortress, contrary to its appearance, was built like a luxurious palace.
And within it, we were guided to one of the most luxurious rooms, which is only used when royalty or high-ranking nobles visit.
It’s surprising to find a room made of beautiful wooden material inside a robust stone fortress. The floorboards, polished to an amber hue, shine so brightly that I hesitate to even step on them. Calm furnishings are arranged along the walls, and the arrangement itself seems like art.
The low-legged, flat tables and sofas for receiving guests are all made of wood, making the room feel like a different dimension and, conversely, uncomfortable.
As soon as we entered the room, Priscilla-chan and Ares-chan jumped onto the sofa.
Did they intend to play like they do on a bed, bouncing around? However, their bodies sank deeply into the sofa, and they looked at us with surprise.
Why are expensive things always so fluffy? Seeing Priscilla-chan and the others sink into it, I even hesitate to sit on the sofa.
However, unlike us, the Twin Princesses didn’t seem bothered and sat down to relax with Priscilla-chan and the others. As expected of princesses. They must be accustomed to this level of luxury.
We, with our commoner values, stood awkwardly in the room, unsure of what to do with our hands.
As if to add to our discomfort, someone who appeared to be a servant brought fruits, sweets, and drinks into the room. We exchanged glances and managed bitter smiles.
“This is certainly awkward,” Fiorina said.
“This is at a regional fortress, so thinking about being in the Royal Castle makes me feel heavy-hearted,” I replied.
Mistral and Ruiseine were at a loss in the corner of the room.
Ruiseine, the Miko, is naturally modest, and Mistral, a Dragon Race person who prefers simplicity, also doesn’t seem accustomed to this level of luxury.
I’ve been to places with this kind of luxurious atmosphere a few times, but it’s not something you get used to.
We can only pray for Friel to return soon.
We were shown to this room because Friel was meeting with the Dragon Knight lord.
Friel, who was on his way back to the capital city due to the king’s critical condition, needs to obtain an official pass. This is because even as he flies east, there are Dragon Knights stationed at various key points, and this is to prevent problems like the current situation.
If it were just Friel, I believe a mere appearance would suffice, but we are accompanying him. To avoid having to explain us each time, we planned to get a transit pass and head straight east.
Since the only ones traveling through the sky are members of the Wyvern Knight Order, I have a feeling that if the unfamiliar Tyrant and Yugra were to appear in the sky, there would be problems even before presenting a transit pass. However, this unfounded fear was resolved by the Twin Princesses.
“In Yorttenitos, there are also dragons who have finished their service,” Revalia said.
“Dragons who have been freed from Dragon Knights are promised freedom within the country afterward,” Fiorina added.
“The transit pass we are obtaining now will guarantee freedom within the Yorttenitos Kingdom,” Revalia continued.
“But if they cause harm to people, it will be confiscated,” Fiorina finished.
Oh, I’ve never heard this before.
Dragons captured and trained by humans become servants of Dragon Knights and are controlled. However, they are not worked to death; they are apparently released after fifty to a hundred years. And after their release, a transit pass is issued to guarantee their status.
It seems Dragon Knights’ dragons can sense dragons with transit passes. Therefore, when a dragon notices them, it informs the Dragon Knight, allowing them to pass without issue.
Incidentally, even the Twin Princesses didn’t know how they sensed each other or how they communicated.
Friel is not with us now because he is obtaining transit passes for the Tyrant and Yugra.
Friel must also want to head to the capital city quickly, but even if it seems roundabout, it’s better to get the transit pass, so we have no choice but to wait.
Mistral, Ruiseine, Laira, and I wait awkwardly in the corner of the room. The Twin Princesses, Ares-chan, Priscilla-chan, and Nimia enjoy the food and drinks brought in while waiting for Friel.
As a side note while waiting.
Priscilla-chan and Nimia are in disguise, as they were before. Both a young girl of the Mimicho Race and a dragon who can speak human language are beings unlikely to be seen in human-dominated prospering areas. Already attracting attention with the Tyrant and Yugra, we want to avoid drawing even more attention with rare sights.
It seems Priscilla-chan and Nimia like their disguises and followed my instructions without complaint.
These matters should now be resolved.
What worries me are Rim and Fiorina.
Fiorina resembles Yugra, and Rim resembles the Tyrant, but their physiques are like those of young dragons. In a country that captures and controls dragons, a seemingly weak appearance like that of young dragons feels extremely dangerous.
Therefore, I warned them never to go to a place where the Tyrant and Yugra’s eyes cannot reach them.
When we were guided to this room, they were grumbling, but they have to endure it.
Of course, we can ensure their safety, but the Tyrant and Yugra would worry.
I’m sure they are waiting obediently on the rooftop of the fortress on Yugra’s back right now.
As I was thinking this, the atmosphere on the rooftop suddenly became noisy.
And then, the Tyrant’s intimidating roar echoed through the fortress.
“What was that!?”
We exchanged glances.
“Only you can stop Revalia,” Mistral said.
Upon hearing Mistral’s words, I hurried out of the room. Everyone else followed me out of the room.
A tense atmosphere permeated from the rooftop.
Something problematic is definitely happening!
“Approach me, and I’ll turn everything into cinders.”
The dragon heart is reading the Tyrant’s enraged will, which should be on the rooftop.
The soldiers and merchants are surprised as we run through the fortress corridors, but we don’t have time to care. We have to get to the rooftop before an irreparable situation occurs!
We repeatedly turned through the intricate passages of the fortress, ran up the stairs leading upwards, and burst onto the rooftop.
“Um, Lady Revalia, please calm down.”
On the rooftop, Friel was facing the Tyrant head-on. Behind Friel, soldiers including Dragon Knights were cowering.
“Prince, what’s wrong!?”
In public, I cannot call him by his given name. But to draw everyone’s attention, I shouted with a commanding presence.
“Ah. Elnea-kun!”
Friel turned around, his face filled with confusion.
“What in the world is going on?”
I rushed to Friel and looked up at the Tyrant.
The Tyrant was glaring intensely at the Dragon Knight who was the lord.
Following the Tyrant’s gaze, I looked at the lord’s hands. The lord was holding a silver chain.
“I was trying to attach the transit pass to Lady Revalia, but she wouldn’t let me get close,” Friel said with a distressed expression.
It seems the silver chain the lord held was the transit pass.
“That chain is imbued with a curse. Who would wear something like that?”
The proud Tyrant. Wearing a cursed chain might be seen as surrendering to humans. Even if it were just a transit pass.
Besides, before even wearing it, the Tyrant isn’t the type to let people approach casually.
Even so, I know the Tyrant well. That’s why I understand the reason for its anger.
I moved away from Friel and approached the Tyrant.
The Tyrant, who wouldn’t let even Friel close, let alone the lord and the soldiers, glanced at me for a moment, but then went back to glaring at the lord and his chain.
“Let’s calm down for now. I’ll handle this.”
I stroked the Tyrant’s neck.
The Tyrant continued to purr deeply, but it seemed to trust me and suppressed its aggressive aura.
“Does this transit pass chain absolutely have to be attached to the dragon?”
The Dragon Knight, the lord, snapped back to attention at my question.
Even Dragon Knights feel some trepidation in front of free-willed dragons. And the opponent is the Tyrant, so it’s understandable.
“Th-the rule is to wrap the chain around the ankle,” he stammered.
“Is it that it won’t function as a transit pass if not worn?”
“No. The curse on the chain informs distant dragons of the pass’s existence, so it will function even if not worn…
“In that case,”
I moved away from the Tyrant and prepared to receive the chain from the lord.
“This Wyvern is the proudest being in Dragon Peak. Therefore, it will absolutely not wear anything human-made. If the transit pass can be something that doesn’t need to be worn, I will receive it and possess it. Is that acceptable?”
The lord, looking back and forth between the chain and the Tyrant, wore a troubled expression at my proposal. Friel added,
“The Winged Dragon I ride is a golden dragon who was active with the first King of Yorttenitos. It would be disrespectful to wrap a cursed item on him. Therefore, I will keep the chain for my uncle.”
It seems Yugra also dislikes the transit pass. Although it stood quietly unlike the Tyrant, it exuded an aura of complete refusal.
“My uncle and I will always act together. And since Lady Revalia and Elnea will also be with us, there will be no problem if we possess the transit passes,” Friel said, his tone carrying a slight hint of unwavering authority.
The lord, showing his willingness to follow the prince’s words over convention, then instructed his subordinates to shorten the chains so they would be easier for us to carry.
It seems the chains would still function as transit passes even if cut.
A soldier who received the chains from the lord hurried back into the fortress.
“Revalia, this is fine, right?”
“Hmph, you meddlesome fellow.”
“No, no, we’ll be in trouble without the transit pass. If Revalia doesn’t want it, I have no choice but to hold it.”
“Good grief. Such a hot-headed fellow. Consider a more peaceful method.”
“Be quiet. Old man, just do the babysitting.”
Such exchanges between the Tyrant and Yugra are commonplace, but to those without dragon hearts, they appeared as a Winged Dragon and a Wyvern growling and glaring at each other, and a sense of apprehension spread across the fortress rooftop, wondering what new problem had arisen.
Ah, you two. Please be a little more considerate.
I’m getting tired just watching without doing anything.
Afterward, Friel and I received the shortened transit pass chains and tied them around our waists. Now, finally, we can head east safely.
It was a very noisy entry into the Yorttenitos Kingdom, but I hope the remaining half-day of travel will be peaceful.
Having obtained the transit passes, we immediately mounted the Tyrant and Yugra separately.
“Excuse me, but may I ask your name?” It was the lord who spoke to me as I was about to mount the Tyrant.
“I’m sorry. My name is Elnea Eris. I apologize for not introducing myself sooner.”
Originally, we should have all introduced ourselves much earlier, but in the hurried development of events, I had forgotten various things.
“Elnea-kun, are you also a Dragon Race person?”
Ah, there’s a misunderstanding.
Friel returned from Dragon Peak, and no humans live on Dragon Peak. Perhaps I, who accompanied him, was mistaken for a Dragon Race person.
“No, I’m not. I am a fifteen-year-old human who lives in the capital city of the Armēdo Kingdom.”
The lord’s eyes widened in surprise at my smile. However, I never learned what that surprise meant.
“Come on, let’s hurry,” Revalia said.
“Even for you, Reva-chan, if we don’t hurry, we won’t reach the capital by night!” the Twin Princesses, riding on the Tyrant’s back, urged me.
I thanked the lord and said my goodbyes, then mounted the Tyrant.
Once everyone was mounted, the Tyrant and Yugra soared into the sky.
