Extra 12
―――Now, that concludes the contradictory points about the Earth Dragon and the reasons, as well as the explanation about the other Dragon King species.
Now, let me finally tell you the difference between the Dragon King species and the other dragon species.
Why are only the four species including the Earth Dragon called Dragon King species?
Are there no other dragons called Dragon King species?
Let me explain the reason.
To speak from the conclusion.
There is a clear ‘difference’ between the four Dragon King species and the other dragons.
That ‘difference’ is what makes the Dragon King species worthy of the name.
It is a decisive ‘wall’ that separates the Dragon King species from the other dragons.
That is―――…
Reading up to there, she closes the page.
「Haa… It’s been a while since I read this, but my past work is so embarrassingly amateur.」
She mutters, placing the book back on the shelf.
A plain woman, wearing glasses, stands there.
Her nondescript clothing and average hairstyle make her nearly invisible in a crowd — a woman with such a mundane presence.
Her name is Léna-Lloyd Reynolds.
She is the head of the Reynolds family, one of the Three Great Noble Families of the Borhelic Kingdom, and is known as “The Witch of Reynolds”.
「I wonder if they call this a dark past. Ugh, I want to punch my younger self….」
She groans, collapsing onto a nearby chair.
She’s alone in the room, no one to reprimand her.
「Dragon King species, huh…」
Using the book as a pillow, she closes her eyes.
She imagines the most famous monster on this continent.
The Earth Dragon, known as the ‘Mother of the Earth’ and bearing the name ‘Divine Disaster Dragon King,’ comes to her mind.
She sighs, thinking about its grand and majestic figure.
「Things never go smoothly, do they?」
「What seems to be the matter, Lady Léna?」
「Wah, wha!?」
Startled by a voice from behind, she lets out a strange sound.
Turning, she sees a towering man, nearly two meters tall with robust muscles.
His attire resembles a priest’s, colored blue and white.
Sleek black hair pulled back, half his face obscured by an inorganic mask.
「Rugios… Don’t surprise me like that. You made me sound silly.」
「I did knock multiple times, and I wasn’t trying to hide my presence.」
「Just because you did doesn’t mean it wasn’t surprising! Understand!」
「Haa….」
He seems unfairly scolded, thinking she surely responded when he knocked.
Maybe it was a mindless reply.
Rugios sighs.
Avoiding his gaze, Reyna clears her throat conspicuously before addressing him.
「So, you’re back. Does that mean the other matter is settled?」
「Yes. The rebellion in Nored’s territory and Löwenherz was successfully suppressed.」
「Good job.」
「What do you propose we do as punishment? After all, they dared to rebel against you, the current Prime Minister. Should they not be executed?」
「Hmm? No, just lock them up or something.」
「That’s a rather lax decision, Lady Léna…」
「Well, I honestly don’t care much.」
She genuinely seems indifferent.
Quickly losing interest and picking up another book.
「This country isn’t really functioning anymore. A figurehead royal family with a figurehead Prime Minister doesn’t make a difference. Revolting is pointless, in my opinion.」
While skimming through the pages, Léna-Lloyd speaks disinterestedly.
「The magic stones, our main industry, are exhausted. No matter who rules, the outcome remains the same. The Borhelic Kingdom is finished. It’s over, unfortunately.」
Rugios’s face clouds slightly at her candid declaration.
Even though she is the Prime Minister of this country, her tone is as if she were talking about something else.
「While the national situation is indeed concerning, the bounty placed on those two might be the primary cause of their rebellion.」
「Which two are you referring to?」
Léna-Lloyd tilts her head in confusion.
「The ‘Dragon Slayer’ and ‘World Piercer.’ Especially the Nored family, as their current head was suddenly wanted internationally. They couldn’t accept it.」
「Did I make that decision? I don’t recall.」
「You did. Back then, you said, ‘Oh, Eclair died? Then blame those two. I’m too lazy to handle everything.’」
「Oh… Sorry, I forgot. Honestly, I didn’t care.」
「No, you didn’t care, you…」
Rugios feels an overwhelming urge to hold his head in frustration.
Why is this person so irresponsible?
He wishes to be understood at least a little, that he always ends up cleaning up after the mess.
「Uh…well…rather than that, how’s it going over there? You know, her. Did you find her?」
With the obvious change of subject, Rugios’s face grows even more stern.
「Rias Aurora? We have some information, but pinpointing the exact location is challenging. And there are many skilled people around her.」
「Oh, I see. Well, if you’ve caught her to some extent, that’s fine. But Rias loves to work behind the scenes, doesn’t she? Why is she so fixated on ‘that thing’?」
「That thing… The ‘last Dragon King species’?」
「Un.」
The last Dragon King species.
Among the four species, it’s a dragon referred to as the Dragon King species, not as a race but as an individual.
It is probably the second most famous existence next to the Earth Dragon Jibru.
「I can’t understand it. What could she possibly want with such a thing?」
「Who knows? Well, I can somewhat guess… Hm? Seems like someone’s arrived.」
「Huh?」
Léna-Lloyd closes the book in her hand.
Then, she directs her gaze towards the door.
With a click, someone comes in without knocking, entirely without reservation.
The one who enters is a blond, blue-eyed man in his twenties.
And, hiding behind the man, a small boy enters too.
The man looks around, clicks his tongue lightly, and takes a seat on a nearby sofa.
Léna-Lloyd greets the man with a cheerful smile, waving.
「Hi, Yamu. Long time no see.」
「Hmph, you look busy, witch.」
「I don’t really like being called that. I’d prefer if you called me Léna. But please, no ‘Miss’.」
「That nickname ‘witch’ is just fine for you.」
Rugios looks at the two, exchanging banter, with a puzzled expression.
Who on earth is this man?
「Lady Léna, who are these…?」
「Hm? Oh, you haven’t met Yamu, have you?」
Léna-Lloyd calls this man Yamu.
Rugios rolls the name around in his head, trying to recall.
「Yamū… You can’t mean the leader of the Celestial Dragons, Lord Yamu!?」
Celestial Dragon.
One of the four Dragon King species.
Its leader is called Yamu.
「Hm? Who are you?」
As if he hadn’t noticed at all, Yamu looks at Rugios.
As if to say, were you here? he looks at Rugios.
「He’s my guard. His name’s Rugios.」
“Hah,” Yamu snorts.
「A guard for you? What a ridiculous joke.」
「Come on, leave that aside. Anyway, he’s my precious comrade. Don’t kill him casually.」
「Tch.」
Yamu clicks his tongue lightly.
You were going to kill him? Léna-Lloyd thinks, inwardly throwing a jab.
「Rugios, let me introduce you. This is Yamu, the leader of the Celestial Dragons. Right now, he’s in human form, but he’s definitely a dragon. And the cute little boy beside him is his son, named…」
「Ba, Baal… Um, nice to meet you.」
Yamu’s son, sitting as if glued to Yamu’s side, stands up briefly to introduce himself.
And then sits right back down as if glued to Yamu again.
He seems shy.
Léna-Lloyd thinks he’s adorable and tries to give him candy, but Yamū bats it away.
Tch, overprotective parent.
「…..I’m Rugios. It’s an honor to meet the Lord Celestial Dragon, one of the Dragon King species.」
There are many questions, such as why his master is connected to the Celestial Dragon, and how they came here, but Rugios introduces himself for now.
However, Yamu just glances at him and looks away.
「Enough with the flattery. And don’t flinch, you puny human, you’ll raise the dust. Even a scarecrow can stand without trembling, are you worse than a scarecrow?」
「What?」
At his arrogant words, Léna-Lloyd can’t help but chuckle.
「As arrogant as ever, I see. So, what brings you here today?」
Léna-Lloyd offers him some tea and snacks lying around and asks.
「…I met Jibru. I came to tell you.」
Yamu says, and she mutters, “Oh.”
「Where?」
「Yuguru Great Forest. I was hit by her breath as we met.」
「Haha, that must’ve been a disaster.」
「Indeed. Especially with the feast coming up. That queen is utterly unpredictable.」
「Hmm…so, how was it?」
Grinning, Léna-Lloyd asks.
「What do you mean?」
「Don’t play dumb. Think you can win?」
「It’s impossible.」
Yamu declares this firmly.
「Even with the current me, there’s not a chance in a billion I can win against her.」
「I see. Just knowing that is a gain. So, even you can’t do it now, huh?」
「What about you? What will you do?」
「What do you mean?」
「The Continental Congress. That rat called Rias is moving, isn’t she? Have you made any arrangements?」
「Well, it should probably be okay. It’s not a problem if one or two big countries become enemies.」
Léna-Lloyd says in a voice without a trace of tension.
「Is that so? Then it’s fine. Just don’t get in my way.」
「Don’t worry, don’t worry.」
「That’s good. As long as our interests align, I’ll cooperate to some extent. Cry and thank me.」
「Yay, thank you, Lord Yamu. Waaaah!」
「…..Do you want to die?」
An exaggerated cry from Lena Lloyd makes a vein pop on Yamu’s forehead.
「Ah… you were the one who said to cry and thank you, but oh well, I’ll take the initiative. Rugios.」
「Yes!」
She hands Rugios a piece of parchment she took from a drawer.
「What is that?」
「Hmm, for now, it’s a list of those who might become obstacles in the future. Rugios, you can go ahead and kill all the ones listed.」
「Understood.」
Rugios nods without hesitation.
「How interesting… Show it to me as well.」
The people who might become obstacles, as seen by this witch.
Yamu finds it intriguing.
He snatches the parchment from Rugios, looking at the names written.
Indeed, the names of famous individuals are listed:
Wald Nored, the Dragon Slayer.
Beldi Raven, the World Piercer
Linwu Sousei, the Silver Demon
Aoba Kirishima, the Thunder Slash
Yasha Lau
Kagrias Dir Hà Giang, the Sword Emperor
Orion Karla, the Holy Ark
Hwan Lot, Fire and Ice
…………。
……。
Approximately twenty names are written.
And Yamu tilts his head as he looks at the last name.
「Huh? Hey, witch. Why is this name on the list? This one should be dead by now, right?」
He points at the name while asking.
「No, she’s alive. Definitely. Well, it might be more accurate to say she was resurrected.」
「How interesting…」
A smile creeps across Yamu’s face.
「Exciting. There’s still time before the feast. This will be a good distraction. I’ll hunt this one myself. Witch, you already know where she is, right?」
「Of course.」
Léna-Lloyd spreads a map and points to the place.
It’s a place he remembers.
A place where he once let his prey escape, where he ran and was devoured by Jibru’s breath.
In other words―――Yuguru Great Forest.
「Hah, this is interesting. If it’s that renowned magician, she’ll be just right for a distraction. Make sure you entertain me.」
Yamu crushes the list in his hand.
The name at the bottom of that list reads:
―――Elibel Löwenherz, the Sage
The Fang of Heaven is about to be thrust into the earth.
August 2023 Patron: GoatBeards