Chapter 548: Preparation for the march 2
Although I refused to sign a contract with the dragon named Ledo, I was able to get a rough idea of the movements of the dragon palace through her.
“The size of the palace is around a hundred dragons”
“That includes those flying outside the palace. In our time frame, a trip of a few years doesn’t count as a comin’ and goin”
“Any permanent residents?”
“70……no, except for the old dragons and the cubs, who don’t count in the fight, I’d say about 50”
“……That’s a lot of people”
Considering that Laila’s Palace in the Russell Desert, where she lived alone and Maia’s Misty Palace are extremely depopulated…this may be the first time I come into contact with such a proper dragon society. Dianne, on the other hand, has said she’s going to destroy it with impunity. And I’m afraid that if she gets serious about it, she’s going to make it happen.
“The number of those that are sympathetic to Rainer is about twenty and five……including the ones that were taken out this time”
“So that’s almost half the number……”
“No, not all of the people who came this time are supporters of Rainer. They are a group of young dragons who jumped out of anger at the rider’s careless treatment of the dragon slayer”
“……I wonder if I did something wrong”
In a way, it was a collision of misunderstanding and mistaken identity.
“The fact is that there was a tendency amongst us to place great importance on Rainer being recognized by our fellow Shario and to doubt your qualifications and to try to skin you if the opportunity arose. ……You lack supremacy as a rider. A dragon looks for in its rider the qualities of a hero……and the conviction to do something in the human world. Your demeanor did not have that atmosphere at all. You were chosen by a dragon whose eyes were clouded by emotion. Many people said that you might not be the right person”
“……When you say that, I see”
That doesn’t mean I’m going to tolerate the fact that they were ready to kick my ass, but I’m going to end my life doing nothing compared to Rainer and who can blame them? To become a hero, an elite person on the same level as Neia, requires not only talent but also extraordinary effort. The will and accomplishments that have brought him to this level are no lie. The fact that Rainer, who has become the real ruler of Kalwin, is planning to do something big after this is, from the dragon’s point of view, a 「Quality of a hero」 that deserves a favorable impression. Compared to that, what I’ve been doing so far is gathering girls and doing erotic things with them. And also make detailed crafts.
“Well, it’s not wrong to say that 10-man captain Smithson doesn’t look like a hero at all”
“Hey, Naris-chan, there are things that everyone thinks but doesn’t say
“Ah, no, you’re praising me? I’m not really criticizing him, just a fact, okay?”
Thank you Naris for the decisive blow in the delicate atmosphere. Yeah. I also get in trouble when people say I look like a hero. In fact, I really missed her lack of reserve.
“But now I understand. You are not a nobody”
“No, I can’t do anything. If possible, it would be nice if the great and amazing people were able to do whatever they wanted, including history”
“……But you have, in fact, chosen to fight. You actually chose to fight, even to the point of grinding and shattering your own flesh”
“Well, if you ask me to touch my woman……I’ll do anything”
Hearing this, Ledo knelt down once again.
“And for the sake of your love, you will not give in to anything, you will not give up and you will punch a crack in something no matter how huge it is. Regardless of whether you have power or not, it is that will that will help you defeat the swarm of dragons. I guess that’s what it means”
I don’t like it when a cute girl who I just want to do erotic things ends up feeling pathetic. That’s all. It was the former king Ulysses who nodded with satisfaction.
“As expected of a dragon. If you try to understand, you will find that you are very intelligent”
“No, King Ulysses, you’re trying to make it look cool, but there’s something slightly different about it”
“It’s not different. ……You don’t have to paraphrase in a condescending way. It doesn’t make what you have done and what you will do any less important, does it?”
“……Haa”
I hope everyone is okay with that, but it’s a little uncomfortable when it’s said in such a noble way.
“I’m sure the Presbyterians are fine with that, right? Ray and Emma?
“The faction led by Elder Garam was detained deep inside the palace after a clash with Rainer faction. ……It is anathema to take life amongst dragon brethren, but even without that, dragon fights lack each other’s deadly attack power and rarely lead to life. Hence, no one has lost his life……but Ray and Emma, in particular, resisted so violently that they could not even regenerate themselves completely and now they are almost out of action”
“……I see”
They did a great job, those two. I’ll have to thank them when I see them again.
“……But then……I’m beginning to wonder if I’ll be able to properly suppress the Palace’s dragons with the declaration of war I just made”
Rainer´s group that reaches half of the real head count. The other is the faction that doubts my qualifications and doesn’t recognize in me the heroism of Rainer. The talk stopped with them alone and it became possible that the elder was no longer allowed to speak.
“So, please use me. Many of my people’s words will be heard. You are strong, but if there are further clashes, the Palace side will not let their guard down. Sacrifices will be unavoidable in the future. We must persuade more people to come down. Please”
“…………”
From Ledo’s point of view, she wants to minimize the sacrifices of her fellow dragons. We too had a complete victory in the first round, but we want to continue to make no sacrifices. Our interests are neatly aligned.
“I think it’s okay if I just ask Ledo to go back and calmly talk to them about my intentions again”
When I asked those around me, Lord Bey of the Twin Swords stroked his chin and frowned.
If she goes back alone, won’t she just be treated the same as a Presbyterian?”
“Ah……maybe so”
“As per her wishes, it would be better to have her join the battle line and send her out after the battle has come. Isn’t the messenger already sent the other survivors home?”
“……Thats right”
Personally, I don’t want to leave it too close. I’m a little worried because when I think of dragons, I feel like I’m being pushy.
“Don’t look so anxious, owner”
Then Laila joined the conversation. I don’t know how long she had been there, but I noticed that she was sitting next to Dianne, drinking straight from the bottle.
“I’ll keep an eye on her. As she says, it’s definitely a dragon that can be used”
“……No, well……the concerns are slightly different”
“Ho”
“A dragon that wants me to be its rider is a bit of a pushover”
“Hoho. That’s true. It’s almost like a human courtship. Once you’ve made up your mind, you can’t just flip the switch”
“That may be so, but you know……”
“If you accept my offer, my life and my loyalty for a hundred years will be worth it”
Ledo came closer and closer again. I’m in a great deal of trouble. It is because of such a heavy thing that I don’t want to make a contract with her.
“There is also such a thing as a political marriage in this world”
Tetes is always there to back up Ledo. She betrayed me. Next to her, Sharon nodded her head.
“Even if the reason for the marriage is politics, if it is a marriage with a beautiful person, love will grow later”
“You guys enjoy getting me in trouble, don’t you?”
“No, no”
“If you can see how wonderful our master is, then it’s not too late for us to have more dragons in our ranks”
And while Laila and Tetes and the others are in favor of the idea, Maia is a bit grumpy.
“What do you think, Maia?”
“I don’t feel very good about it”
“Why?”
Maia crossed her arms and turned her face away from the crowd.
“Even though they formed a clique using the Dragon Slayer as a joke, they’re doing great”
“The taboo against dragon slayers is the same all over the world. I’d like to find out”
“I don’t know”
To Maia, who didn’t live through the Fire Dragon War, that one word makes her look like a wobbly, flustered, slack-jawed slut who’ll show her belly as soon as she gets snapped at. Well, I’m a modern human, so I don’t know how dragons feel.
“Well, I don’t think we need to rush to a conclusion. Besides, everyone had a hard time today, with unfamiliar aerial movements and fighting against dragons. Let’s take a break”
Dianne took the lead in announcing the dismissal of the group. It is true that there is no need for everyone to get together and talk any more.
“Hoho, thats right. Here, Randall. Get my bunk ready”
“Haa”
“It’s been a while since we camped”
“We were at Renfangas the other day……Grants-sensei’s knowledge was very helpful”
“Now that I think about it, it seems like you were doing something fun”
The sword saints dispersed and talked amongst themselves, while I was pulled by the female slaves I hadn’t seen in a while by one hand and hugged by all of them in turn.
——————————————-
Midnight. I wander around the encampment, unable to sleep because I feel strange without my right arm (I’ve had the pain magically removed, but the lack of weight on that side itself is a bit uncomfortable). The Sword Saint Brigade, the female slaves and reinforcements from Celesta. There were about 30 people in total. Among them, there are a few who have not yet slept and are heading for the campfire. There, I came upon General Kingfisher and the two Overknights drinking a glass of wine.
“Drinking?”
“Ou, I can’t see much, but it’s Smithson. What’s the matter, you pissing?”
“No, I just can’t sleep, that’s all”
“You want a drink? I’ll have some of that stuff Laila’s sister gave me a while back”
“Bon appétit”
The drink that Laila brought was the old Celesta Ogre Killer. I have been away from Celesta for such a long time.
“It’s an ordinary choice for Laila, but I’m glad it’s ordinary now”
“Kakaka. You drink good alcohol when you can calm down. On the battlefield, normal is best”
“That’s one opinion”
General Kingfisher pours me a glass of wine and we start to drink a little too much.
“I thought you were more of a boisterous drinker, General Kingfisher”
“He can be boisterous at times”
“Haa, how many places are you forbidden to go in Quieca, you drunken bird?”
“I don’t need you to tell me that. How many bars have been blown up by your drunken brawls, you miserable little shit?”
“Not that many. As I recall, about three”
“No, four in total. One is the same store that was rebuilt”
General Vincent clears his throat and General Amatsushima laughs. ……No, it’s bad enough either way.
‘Well, but. At my age, I sometimes wonder how many more drinks I can have on the battlefield”
Generals around 40 years old. It is said that at that age he is at the limit of being able to go on the front line.
“Why don’t you just concentrate on command?”
“I don’t know if I can do that. I have confidence in my lack of popularity”
Well, General Kingfisher is loved by many, but he is not good at giving orders to others.
“……Today. When I looked at you, I remembered an old story from my hometown”
“Me?”
“Yeah. ……Once upon a time, there were twin princes in the land of Birdman”
General Kingfisher recites the story as if he was a parent telling his child.
“The older brother excelled in martial arts and studies and the younger brother was kind-hearted and well-liked by his people. The king was torn between the two and he had to decide who would be his successor. When it was almost time to decide, the older brother, fearing that the throne would pass to the younger, less talented brother, cut off both of the younger brother’s wings under the cover of night”
“……So cruel”
“Just to add to the human understanding, among birders, the ones with the nicest wings are the best looking. Losing wings is a level of life that’s already over. ……On the next day of the audience. Both brothers appear before the king, and the younger brother comes with his wings on his back again”
“……Regenerated by magic or something?”
‘Speak nonsense. ……The feathers were made of feathers that each citizen offered to his younger brother prince. The number of the people who offered the feathers was so great that the wings were as large as the wings of a flying dragon”
“……A single birdman could do such a thing?”
If it were a main body like an ogre, it might balance out…….
“The brother looked at the wings, which were a mixture of different colors, suspiciously and said, 『What are those misshapen wings?』. The younger prince said, 『Of course, they are my wings』, and flapped them to show them. With that one swipe, the elder brother was flung away. With his brother gone, the younger brother went on to become king”
“……Eh. And then?”
“That’s all”
“I mean, how did he get those feathers? Was it hardened with something?”
“I don’t know. Anyway, he collected a lot of them and they became wings. That’s what old stories are about, isn’t it?”
That may certainly be the case though.
“……So, you looked like that younger brother’s prince, didn’t you?”
“……Why is that?”
“When I was told this story a long time ago, I only thought it was a strange story. But I think it might have been someone like you, the younger brother prince. ……He is going to use those many feathers as his own wings to flap his wings. He blew away all of the military skills and studies”
“Ah……”
I felt like I understood what General Kingfisher was talking about. I’m starting to get a little fuzzy from all the booze. General Vincent smiled and commented.
“The truth of the old tale is more hidden than you might think. In a different form. ……Ah, maybe it was something like that”
“What?”
“Okay. I wonder what it is”