We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The Ryumine Disturbance.
“Elnea.”
I turned around to the person who called out to me as I descended from Nimia.
A body as robust as bronze, with silver hair. The upper half of his body was bare. His shoulders, neck, back, chest, and arms down to his hands were covered in silver scales. His fingers were sharp, and his bare feet were deformed like a dragon’s.
“Zan, you grew a tail too.”
It was Zan who called out to me.
From Zan’s back, large wings, similar to a wyvern’s, sprouted, just like Mistral’s. And unlike Mistral, a thick, long tail had appeared from his backside.
The skeletal structure of his wings and tail were also covered in silver scales.
“Since Zan uses fire, I really thought you’d have red scales. Perhaps all the members of Mistral’s tribe have silver or light gold scales?”
I tried to speak cheerfully.
After all, not just those who had transformed into human-dragons, but even the villagers who had gathered were looking at us with serious expressions.
I understand the reason.
They are worried about the decree concerning human-dragon transformation, aren’t they?
“Mist, it’s not advisable to expose your bare skin for so long. Please borrow a room and change quickly.”
Ruiseine urged Mistral with an exaggerated tone.
“When you transform, you all get wings, don’t you?”
“Yufi, look. There’s someone like a chicken dragon.”
“H-hey… don’t touch me so casually…”
“No… I am a proud celestial dragon…”
“Formation, everyone!”
“Guaah, what? My body is moving on its own…”
Everyone, please control yourselves.
The Twin Princesses were touching the transformed people without reservation. And then, for some reason, Lyra activated her ability towards the transformed Northern Dragon Race.
Surprisingly, Lyra’s ability seemed to be effective, and the Dragon Race people began to line up on their own, regardless of their will.
I understand everyone is being considerate of the Dragon Race people, but it’s too much.
“Elnea, come here for a sec.”
Zan pulled me along and we went deeper into the village.
When he brought me behind a deserted house, Zan looked at me with a serious expression.
“Judging by Mistral’s clothes and your appearance, I’ve mostly understood.”
“Yeah. I only found out a little while ago.”
Zan shook his head silently at my words.
“Just let me say this one thing. Mistral isn’t at fault. This was a decree of the Dragon Race.”
“I received a proper explanation from Mistral about that too.”
“…Aren’t you angry? Did you accept it?”
With an exaggerated gesture of surrender, I sighed at Zan.
“I kind of expected it, and now that Mistral has transformed, my heart, or anyone’s heart, isn’t shaken. The Dragon Race still has a long way to go. They haven’t grasped us yet.”
“You say that, huh.”
Zan gave a bitter smile at my dramatic words.
“More importantly, it was tough.”
Although I wanted to relax upon meeting a familiar face after so long, I first had to fulfill my duty.
As I was about to report to Orta, Zan stopped me with his hand.
“If you’re going to talk about it, do it in front of the main people. Repeating the same story would be troublesome, right?”
Zan and I emerged from behind the building and headed towards the building where the meeting was to be held.
On the way, Zan dispelled his human-dragon form. The scales disappeared, his wings and tail retracted. His eyes returned to normal.
Watching him with interest, I asked a question that bothered me before we returned to the plaza.
“Hey, Zan. Will you be angry if we interfere in the Dragon Race’s conflict?”
Zan snorted without looking back at me.
“If anyone dares to complain after seeing you and the women, I’ll beat them to a pulp.”
After the battle with Orta, everyone’s clothes were stained and torn to some extent.
“Those who insult warriors who fought with their lives are not Dragon Race. You are all our splendid companions.”
“Thank you.”
“Besides, if you were wandering around here, you probably already heard quite a bit from Cornelia and took action, right?”
“Yeah. I came back yesterday and heard about it at the Moss Garden.”
“Then if Cornelia sent you out, no one will complain.”
They came back yesterday and are already doing something different today. What busy people, Zan chuckled.
In the village plaza, several Dragon Race warriors were still making a commotion with Lyra and the Twin Princesses. We bypassed them and entered a slightly larger building.
“It has been a while, young Dragon King.”
“Elnea, weren’t you on your honeymoon in the East for a year?”
Who spread the rumor about me being on my honeymoon!
I denied it with a “No, that’s not it,” and exchanged greetings with the people I hadn’t seen in a long time.
The first person to speak to me after entering the building was one of the Dragon Kings, Sleny. His hair was thinning, as usual. Being elderly, he had more dignity than the others and seemed to be the leader of the Dragon Kings.
Next, Yakushion, with his muscular build and tanned skin, spoke with a strange suspicion. He was also one of the Dragon Kings.
Ah, so it’s Yakushion’s fault that Zan, who was supposed to be guarding the village, is now on the front line.
Zan admires Yakushion, a Dragon King who is also skilled in combat.
“I didn’t realize you were a Dragon King… I apologize for my past rudeness.”
“Ah!”
Upon seeing the man who greeted me more modestly after Sleny and Yakushion, I let out a small exclamation.
It was a familiar face.
“Ranissem-san, long time no see. How is your sister? And you weren’t a Dragon King back then, you know.”
A year ago, when I went with Asher and Nimia to exterminate a Rotten Dragon that appeared in Ryumine.
We encountered a group of Dragon Race people who were targeting the Rotten Dragon.
The Rotten Dragon had unfinished business in this world. He loved a Dragon Race woman but was betrayed and his life was targeted by the Dragon Race.
The woman the Rotten Dragon loved was Anemone, and her brother, who was one of the group targeting the Rotten Dragon, was Ranissem.
Ranissem had misunderstood. He thought the Dragon Race was targeting his precious sister. And for the sickly Anemone, he intended to steal the Dragon Jewel by defeating the Rotten Dragon.
With the knowledge I have now, I can realize that there were misunderstandings and mistakes there.
The Dragon Jewel is the crystallization of the Dragon Race’s feelings, so it cannot be obtained simply by defeating a dragon.
And not everyone can receive its power.
My thoughts drifted off.
We were enemies for a brief moment, but Ranissem is a truly good person who cares deeply for his sister. We had reconciled after the misunderstandings were cleared up. It’s been a year since we last met, though.
“Actually, my sister heard about you and insisted on helping.”
As I shook hands with Ranissem, a woman cheerfully ran in from the entrance of the building.
“Elnea-kun, long time no see! Do you remember me? It’s Anemone!”
Anemone threw herself into my arms.
“I couldn’t help but rush over when I heard Elnea-kun was the leader of the Ryumine Alliance!”
“W-wahh!”
Anemone, now completely recovered, clung tightly to me and cried out with joy near my ear.
But you know.
As a man, I am happy to be hugged by a woman…
“Elnea?”
“Elnea-kun?”
“Elnea-sama!”
“The secret woman.”
“A new woman.”
Faced with the cold glares of the women who entered after Anemone, my face twitched.
“No, it’s a misunderstanding. Here, Nimia. You remember too, right? Please explain.”
“She made me cry when no one else was around, nyan.”
“Uwah! That’s cruel talk that invites misunderstanding!”
Anemone cried because she learned the true feelings of the dragon who fell into darkness. And she wept for the miracle of her frail body improving thanks to the Dragon Jewel!
I desperately tried to explain.
Their gazes of “Hmm,” were painful, but I meant no harm.
Really!
“Well, Elnea’s family is lively,”
“I’m so envious.”
The two Dragon Kings laughed. The people inside the building also watched our chaotic scene with amusement.
“Th-that’s not it, more importantly!”
Let’s move on to Orta’s report quickly. I urged them on, while the Dragon Race people insisted on resting a little longer.
Your break is about enjoying my misfortune, isn’t it…
We will discuss why the Northern Dragon Race attacked. Whether there was any coordinated movement with Orta.
Perhaps my plea finally reached them, or maybe the women finally accepted my explanation.
As tea was served to everyone, a meeting to exchange information began.
Incidentally, even while I was in a standoff with the women, Anemone was still clinging to me.
She has truly recovered, hasn’t she? Or rather, her strength has become too great. It must be because of the Dragon Jewel…
In the simple room with only space, without desks or chairs, everyone began to settle into their preferred positions to start the meeting. Suddenly, the outside became noisy.
Did the northerners attack again! Tension ran through everyone inside.
All eyes turned to the entrance of the building.
“Well, Dragon Race people are quite noisy.”
“Hey, enough. I won’t tolerate your rampage here.”
Everyone held their breath at the sight of the young man who entered the room first, unfazed by the tense atmosphere. Immediately, they imbued themselves with dragon energy and entered a state of readiness.
“Oh my, scary?”
“Of course! Understand your own race and position.”
The one who entered next, looking flustered, was Wol, one of the Eight Great Dragon Kings. And the young man whose shoulder Wol was grabbing was Ruilala, from the Demon Race.
“Hey, Elnea-kun. And Dragon Princess. I’ve come to pick you up.”
“Huh?”
“His Majesty has summoned you.”
The sudden turn of events left not only me, but also Mistral, the Dragon Race people, and the Dragon Kings speechless.
“W-what is going on?”
I managed to ask a question in a choked voice.
Ruilala seemed to be enjoying our confusion and looked on humming a tune.
“Everyone, I apologize. I will explain the situation.”
Pushing aside Ruilala, who lightly brushed off the Dragon Race’s killing intent and bewilderment, Wol stepped forward apologetically.
Wol has a youthful appearance, which could be described as that of a young Dragon King.
Dragon Kings are titles bestowed upon Dragon Race individuals who have earned respect through their strength and achievements. Consequently, they are usually older or mature individuals.
However, Wol’s appearance only suggests he is slightly older than Zan or Mistral.
But that’s not the case. Wol is accomplished in dragon arts, combat, and swordsmanship, and his actual age is a bit older than he looks.
Furthermore, after the incident in the western village, he descended to the Demon Race’s country and acted as a mediator between Ryumine and the demons.
And now, he appears with Ruilala, a viscount subordinate to the Demon Lord, the Giant Demon Lord, the oldest of the Demon Lords, who is said to rule the demons.
What business could that Demon Lord possibly have with Mistral to summon him?
Everyone inside the room listened carefully to Wol’s words. Then, a shock ran through them.
“Everyone, please listen. Actually, demon forces have infiltrated Ryumine from the west.”
“What…!”
“Ah, please don’t misunderstand. It’s not my country’s army. It’s the army of Demon Lord Kusharilla from the north.”
“As far as we can confirm, the undead army led by Demon General Goldoba numbers over ten thousand, along with the armies of Beast Demon General Neritz and Great Evil Oni Yan, each numbering over ten thousand. A total of over thirty thousand demons have invaded Ryumine.”
“No way…”
“Those northerners… did they really team up with Kusharilla…!”
“But why would they side with demons?”
“Wait a minute. How does that information connect with the Dragon Princess being summoned by the Giant Demon Lord?”
“The one connecting the northern demons’ movements with the Dragon Race is Orta. It is regarding that matter that the Giant Demon Lord is summoning Mistral.”
As expected, Orta was involved behind the disturbance engulfing the entire Ryumine.
We all exchanged glances.
“Because of that, we’ll borrow the Dragon Princess. Ah, Elnea-kun, I’d like you to come too. Shall we have another swordsmanship match?”
Ruilala smiled at me, oblivious to the atmosphere of the room.
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