Chapter 714: Conclusion of the Evil Dragons
Maia carries the carriage and hurries to Rainer’s gravesite. The grave is nothing more than a sword. The only marker of the place was a silver dragon that was crouched over the grave as if guarding it.
“At last!”
Shario, still in her dragon form, says in a tired tone.
“What, you sound like you’ve been looking forward to it”
I looked up at Shario and said so, and she paused for a moment.
“……I’ve been waiting for you in a way. How long must we continue to listen to these troublesome sisters squabbling?”
“You were fighting, Leyla and Corti”
“You’re the one who started it”
There was no emotion in her voice……just a disgusted tone. One of her paws still hasn’t healed. It was still the same as when it was hit by the Flash Sword and still seemed to be unable to regenerate.
“How should we send each other off so that we can come to an agreement? They’ve been arguing day and night, thinking about it”
“……I see”
“Whatever. I’m not interested in them anymore. I don’t think Rainer-sama is too worried. I’d like them both to be taken away if it will quiet things down”
So that’s how long the discussion went on and on. ……I’m curious about Shario’s arm. Is it because she knows that a dragon that has been hit by a dragon slayer can also be healed by Polka? No, there’s no reason to save Shario, let alone Leyla and Corti yet. Don’t get me feeling strange. ……But.
“Shario. ……Do you want to heal your arm?”
“……I don’t”
For a moment, she looked at me as if to ask what I was talking about, and then she rejected me.
“Do you want to satisfy your desire to dominate by forcing your gratitude on me?”
“……Not really. I just thought that you didn’t have anything in particular to resent”
“I’m sure Rainer-sama didn’t hold a grudge against you either”
“You tried to touch my girl. That’s about it”
“…………”
“Is that enough to kill you, Shario?”
“……It’s over now. I have no intention of getting into a meaningless argument with you”
When she seems to have a foothold, she pulls back. Shario is not easy to deal with.
“I know. I know you want to say that this is all the result of Rainer-sama’s stubbornness and arrogance”
“I have no intention of preaching such a worthless lecture. I don’t think it will impress you even a grain of sand”
“……Right. I know that”
“I just have a soft spot for beautiful women”
“……?”
Shario gives me a dubious look……no, the face of a dragon body doesn’t move enough for me to recognize its expression, but it gives me such a sign anyway.
“If a beautiful woman is crippled, I’d at least like to show you how to fix it”
“……What are you talking about?”
“Polka’s miraculous spring cures injuries, illnesses and even curses. My Laila was hit in the chest by a dragon slayer and had a hard time healing the wound, but she’s healed now. You can come and visit us too. You can still be a grave keeper after that”
Leda, Emma, and Neia all look surprised at what I’ve said.
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re even going to show warmth to Shario!?”
“Smithson-san!”
“You three stay quiet. I never thought Shario should die”
I know it’s hard to get her to go along with that.
“The time for fighting is over, isn’t it? Then why not? You can continue to guard the grave after you’re healed”
“What I’m doing is not grave-keeping. This is a slow martyrdom. Dragons believe that it is also the duty of a mount to take the time to grieve the death of her Lord……”
“Don’t get me started on explaining dragon values and all that tedious stuff. I’m not interested”
I said and pointed to the tip of Shario’s nose.
“I only speak in terms of human values. Don’t impose your dragon values on me. That’s what a dragon rider is for, isn’t it?”
“That’s……”
“I’ve told you again and again that I don’t want you to die, evil dragon Shario. So let me declare that you can at least heal your injuries. As the Dragon Rider of the winning side”
“……What’s the point of all that? Why are you sticking your neck out for us so much?”
“Because I don’t understand why you can’t do what you want to the extent that you want to, while everyone else is calling me the greatest of the great”
I’m getting a little tired of the dragons’ stubborn attitude. This is how it all comes full circle, and I’m questioning their willingness to end the conversation on their own terms by deciding on their own punishment as well. Dianne encouraged me, and now, after talking to Shario, it takes shape.
“Don’t finish on your own. Don’t end the conversation by ignoring me because of my pride. Are you saying that my principles are cheaper than your code, your pride, in the end? I said it’s fine. That should be enough to be allowed”
“……That’s”
“I don’t understand how you can agree that a dragon rider can defeat evil but not forgive it. It’s just that they pretend to be obedient, but they are simply the convenient spokespersons for the dragons. If the dragons are sincere in their code, then show us that it is not a fraudulent system. If you can’t prove it, then I despise you with all my heart, because you have nothing to be proud of”
The question of the world of dragons taking shape. I then chased down Shario with a flurry of words.
“Uh……b, but……”
“If Rainer said the same thing to someone else, how would you argue with him to shut him up? Think of it as a story”
“……Kuu……uu”
Shario clammed up and glared at us. If I wasn’t used to dragons, I might have peed my pants just from that. But that didn’t work on me now. ……After a while, Shario looked away and transformed into a human.
“I won’t tolerate…….the pride of a dragon being……ruined”
With her left sleeve still open, Shario looked away awkwardly and spoke in a low voice. Leda and Emma were stunned to see her.
“……Amazing”
“Shario……persuaded”
“I wasn’t persuaded……but if I let him say whatever he wanted, he would look down on my resolve, my actions, and everything else……”
You call that persuaded, right? Everyone must have wanted to say that, but fortunately no one was here to say it as it was. Beatrice, who seemed to be the only one who would have said it, as usual said, 「Emm……what do you mean?」 and thank goodness she wasn’t following along subtly. Then, Leyla and Corti appeared from somewhere.
“……Shario”
“You guys……”
The three servants of Rainer exchanged glances, looking very awkward. Then, the sisters looked at me with those awkward expressions on their faces……Leyla cleared her throat.
“That……we are Rainer’s dragons after all, and we have no intention of changing that. With that in mind, there is something I would like you to hear”
Why are you blushing, Leyla? ……Corti is blushing, too, when I think of it. Is she trying to say something embarrassing?
“Would you like to add Corti and me to your line of female slaves?”
“……Uh”
……Time stops. What. Why did that happen? I think everyone on our side was probably shaking with the same look on their faces. After about twenty seconds, Dianne turned to me. She was a little stiff.
“Andy. ……What did you do?”
“I explained it to you!”
I explained everything that happened last time. I’m sure I did.