We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
What is the true meaning behind that?
What in the world am I doing?
The demon race is closing in. Beyond the sturdy fortress, from the north, war cries, the roars of wyverns, and the sounds of intense explosions and screams echo.
We rushed to save the capital city from crisis, and by extension, humanity’s crisis. And yet, what am I doing?
I can’t keep up with what’s happening before my eyes. I’m just standing there, a pathetic figure. While I was stunned, the situation moved on, leaving me behind.
What happened? Immediately after Duranel roared. A crimson winged dragon, terrifying just to look at, bared its ferocious fangs and attacked Duranel.
I could only watch.
A colossal winged dragon, making Duranel seem like an infant, unleashed its killing intent and lunged at Duranel.
I could do nothing.
I instinctively felt Duranel’s death.
I don’t know what kind of interaction occurred between the dragon race. All I know is that Duranel touched a reverse scale of the crimson winged dragon.
It’s over.
Duranel is dead, and I, standing frozen, have lost my dragon mount.
It’s not just me. Everyone must have sensed Duranel’s imminent death.
In fact, not only me and Listea, but even the Prince of Yorttenitos and the Golden Winged Dragon were unable to move.
However.
Alone.
There was someone who intervened between Duranel and the crimson winged dragon.
The one who was there in the corner of my vision just a moment ago moved with a speed faster than an blink. And astonishingly, they stood directly in front of the crimson winged dragon’s wide-open maw.
The heat haze from the crimson winged dragon’s throat made my vision waver as it shimmered and rose.
“Revalia, no.”
The one who stopped the crimson winged dragon’s movement, spread out like a starfish, Elnea says with a cheerful smile.
Why can you smile there?
If the crimson winged dragon moves just a little more and closes its mouth, you’ll be reduced to a pulp. You know that, right?
Just by raising the temperature slightly, you’ll be charred to a crisp.
And yet, why can you gaze at that terrifying dragon with such gentle eyes?
Id told me a long time ago. I heard about it from Kiiri and Inea.
That only-cute Elnea, at some point, earned the title of “Dragon King” and was working hard at it.
Dragon King.
Id, who possesses overwhelming power that could be called sheer violence. The strong men who descended and flew away swiftly moments ago, they are also Dragon Kings. And Elnea is one of them.
I had heard about it and knew. I accepted it because Id and the priestesses said so. But, in truth, I hadn’t understood.
What is a Dragon King? I hadn’t tried to understand the reason why Elnea, the only human to achieve that title among the dragon race, which possesses intellect and physicality far surpassing humans, had earned it. No. I had been looking away.
Elnea is a Dragon King? Then I can control dragons, at least.
What utter arrogance.
While returning to Armēdo from Yorttenitos, I repeatedly failed in my attempts to train Duranel with Id’s help. But, he’s of the dragon race, so it can’t be helped. Each time, I thought, “Next time, for sure.”
Though I couldn’t train him, I proudly summoned him when I reunited with Elnea. To show you that there’s nothing you can do that I can’t.
Well, of course, it was partly with an eye towards the upcoming battles, but the primary purpose was to show Duranel to Elnea.
But look at me now. Not just Elnea, but even the twin princesses and Ruiseine gave him a wry smile as a young dragon.
Should I have realized it then? Immediately after, I was dumbfounded.
The Wyvern Knight Order, arriving from the east. In the imposing bodies of the winged dragons that descended as their representatives, I understood the meaning of their wry smiles. Furthermore, the other dragon Elnea summoned from the shadows, like I did, was a highly intelligent species capable of human speech. And seeing Elnea interacting familiarly with the pinkish-white dragon that spoke human language, the black-scaled winged dragon, and the Golden Winged Dragon, I should have known.
Why did she pull out the wyvern knight’s dagger stuck in Duranel’s neck? I should have considered Elnea’s words.
Now, facing the crimson winged dragon baring its ferocious fangs, Elnea’s smile made me realize it.
Elnea doesn’t doubt it even slightly. She believes that if she stands between the dragon, the crimson winged dragon will stop moving. She has unwavering certainty that the winged dragon will absolutely not attack her.
What was Elnea trying to convey to me and Duranel? She never spoke the answer aloud. But from the very beginning, she had shown everything through her actions.
Dragons are not terrifying beings. They are beings with whom one can communicate. Not beings who brandish short swords with dragon-slaying properties and hold lives in their hands to threaten. If we approach them with hostility, they will also show hostility. It’s the same with humans. Elnea, by her actions, showed that one should interact with them familiarly as equals, even if they are of the dragon race.
The reason I couldn’t realize it, despite being shown it again and again since our reunion, is my own foolishness.
And now. She was teaching me with her entire being that if deep bonds are forged through mutual understanding, they become an irreplaceable, absolute trust.
It was as if an electric shock ran through my entire body.
I understood.
What a Dragon King is.
The man named Elnea, the Dragon King.
She entered Dragon Peak alone, a place even seasoned adventurers avoid as dangerous, and forged friendships with the dragon race. She communicated with dragons and rose to a level recognized by the people of Dragon Peak.
She was no longer the just-cute Elnea I knew. She is the heart of Dragon Peak. The center of the dragons. And a man who stands at the center of the dragon race and the Dragon Kings.
Seeing the crimson winged dragon, angered and now appeased through Elnea’s mediation, I felt this acutely.
I was mistaken.
I viewed Duranel as an object. I mistook him for a subordinate or some kind of horse.
No.
Duranel may be a young dragon, but he is a proud race with intelligence and power far surpassing humans. I treated such a being with a condescending attitude. It’s natural for him to react with resistance.
I feel like vomiting at my own foolish values and thoughts, which I am only now realizing.
“Uaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!”
I let out a roar towards the sky where Elnea and the crimson winged dragon had flown off, a roar that felt like it would tear my throat apart.
Since arriving in the capital city until now, how much have I regretted my own foolishness?
Control dragons? What utter foolishness.
Dragon Knight? Unworthy of me.
Hero’s partner? Someone as foolish as me?
I feel sorry for Listea. I can’t face Creacio. I’m ashamed before my companions.
“Slaton?”
Listea looked at me with surprise in her eyes.
“I’m sorry, Listea.”
I closed my eyes tightly for a moment, gritting my teeth. Then, I took a deep breath and exhaled, as if expelling all my arrogance and foolishness.
“……Duranel.”
I opened my eyes and walked over to Duranel.
“I’m sorry. I was foolish. I’m sorry for trying to intimidate you into obedience.”
Duranel, perhaps not yet having recovered from the ferocity of the crimson winged dragon, looked at me with only his eyes.
Being a Dragon Knight, I don’t care anymore. I lack the magnanimity and ability to control Duranel. And there’s not a shred of trust between us. I was mistaken.
“Please forgive me. Duranel of the dragon race.”
I bowed my head deeply. It was the most sincere apology I could offer right now. And it was my only wish.
“It’s okay if you don’t forgive me. But please, just for now. My human nation is in crisis. Will you lend me the power of the dragon race, Duranel?”
Humans are weak. Even if the opponent were a low-ranking demon, we would be overwhelmed. No matter how hard the hero Listea and I fight, only a handful of lives can be saved. But Duranel is different. Duranel is of the dragon race. A race with fighting power that surpasses even demons. So, just for now. Please lend your power to humanity?
Foolish race. No, it’s my foolishness, but there are things I want to protect. My family and companions. And those I love. Please lend me the power of the dragon race to protect the many precious things that I cannot grasp with just my palms.
I bowed my head deeply and pleaded. What is Duranel thinking? Is he mocking me as a convenient tool? Is he angry about the past grievances? I am incompetent. I cannot communicate with dragons like Elnea. I am powerless. Without relying on someone, I cannot protect what I want to protect. But this is who I am now. That is why I plead. That is why I yearn. This is the only sincerity I can show to the dragon race. But please, cooperate for the sake of humanity.
As I repeatedly bowed my head deeply and uttered my pleas, something suddenly grabbed the collar of my clothes.
“Uwah!”
And then, I was lightly tossed into the air. While flustered, I regained my balance and landed.
I was on Duranel’s back.
Duranel let out a roar towards the sky, just like I did.
Somehow. Not because I understood his intentions, but I understood the meaning of Duranel’s roar.
“Thank you…”
I crouched down and gently stroked Duranel’s back. The rough, black scales felt different in my hands than ever before.
“Oh, Slaton and Duranel are really fired up!”
At that moment, a familiar girl’s voice rang out energetically.
“Naomi! And Kiiri and Inea too. Creacio, what brings you here?!”
The girls, my separated companions, had rushed to the plaza in front of the northern fortress.
“What are you saying? We are Listea’s companions, you know.”
“Listea, please let us stay by your side.”
“The Great Shrine is fine. Ruiseine came over.”
“Honestly. Slaton is only half-competent without me, you know.”
Creacio’s complexion was still not good. Nevertheless, the smiling girls filled me with motivation.
“Duranel, I have a favor to ask. Could you also let Creacio ride on your back? He becomes defenseless when casting sorcery. If he’s on your back, he’ll be completely safe.”
Duranel, with a growl, walked over to Creacio. He gently picked up the slightly apprehensive Creacio with his snout and placed him next to me.
“Thank you.”
I stroked Duranel’s hard scales once more.
“Whoa! Slaton, you’re controlling Duranel now after not seeing him for a while?”
“Hahaha. That’s not it. I’m not controlling him. I’m asking him for a favor.”
At my words, Naomi and Kiiri and Inea tilted their heads in confusion.
“Fufufu. Elnea-kun is no ordinary person.”
Cerise, who had been watching everything, smiled. Creacio wordlessly patted my back with a thud and smiled happily.
“Alright, everyone is here. Well then, shall we get back to our roles too?!”
At Listea’s call, we, the Hero Party, all let out determined war cries.
The dark clouds began to swirl ominously, and the raging wind foreshadowed a winter storm.
