Tonight, we were supposed to rest comfortably at an inn… but that seems impossible.
There were large towns along the way, but if assassins had already been sent, crowds in town would be more dangerous. For that reason, we are camping tonight.
I felt guilty making the emperor’s older sister, Sicilia-sama, camp because of us… but she showed no sign of minding.
In fact, her spirits rose with the camping. She had three refills of the choco-vanilla I made, smiled in satisfaction, and immediately boasted to Iris.
Afterward, Iris whined in a tearful voice, 「Next new one, let me eat first! And three cups is unfair!」
The next one will be choco-chip, so I will let Iris have it first.
Now, about that night during camp.
Deep into the night, I suddenly woke and looked around. Everyone slept nestled close together, warming my heart a little.
But I thought I heard a high-pitched metallic clang from outside.
Shiro boasts that during camp, she would notice any enemy approaching even while asleep, so it is probably not a foe.
The current watch should be Seren-san… perhaps training? I peeked outside and…
「Kuh…! You are good!」
「Mmm… You’re in the way…」
……
Before my eyes, Sicilia-sama sheathed her slender sword and faced a certain woman.
Beside her, Seren-san lay with swirling eyes.
And the opponent she faced…
「Haa… What a hassle… I only have business inside the tent…」
A brown-skinned, golden-haired woman in a white dress utterly unsuited to this place rubbed her arm irritably with a languid gaze.
The owner of those familiar large breasts… Cassandra?
Eh, why is she here? Why is she fighting Sicilia-sama?
「That weapon seems quite masterful, but it cannot wound me.」
「…It appears so. Never thought anyone besides that man could withstand 『Thin-Blade Haze』 bare-handed from the front… But I have a reason I cannot yield. I will not break a promise once made.」
「Ah… I get the feeling. Sorry, but… I’ll get a little serious now. If you don’t give up… you might die?」
「No, no. That’s bad. What are you doing, Cassandra…」
If Cassandra went all out, even Sicilia-sama would have no chance.
After all, she is an earth dragon.
The current chief of the earth dragons.
More importantly, why are Sicilia-sama and Cassandra fighting!?
「Ah, ally. Good, you are safe.」
「Safe… Well, yes, I am…」
「I had business and came to meet you, but you kept heading west, so I worried. Honestly. Do not wander off on your own. I thought you were kidnapped and rushed to help.」
「Ah, you were worried. Thank you, but…」
For now, I explained the situation to Cassandra and told her we are heading to the empire.
I also explained to Sicilia-sama that Cassandra is an acquaintance…
「I see… That is why Shiro and the others did not wake.」
「Well, I was not giving off killing intent. I considered the possibility she was not an enemy, so I did not kill her.」
「No, you were clearly annoyed at the end…」
「Well, it stings even if it does not cut. Adjusting strength is hard… Ah, that girl over there was screaming so loudly, I held back properly. You can praise me.」
That girl is Seren-san, right?
Her forehead is swollen red, and she is down on Sicilia-sama’s lap… Held back…? Well, for an earth dragon, that probably counts as restraint.
Come to think of it, she said before she hates noisy things.
It seems she reproduced it: stopping her middle finger with her thumb and flicking… Yep, a forehead flick.
But even from this distance, the wind pressure lifts my bangs. If she did that to me, my head would probably burst, so please never do it.
「…So, who is this? I thought only the one called 『Makoto』 among adventurers could withstand my 『Thin-Blade Haze』 with bare skin…」
Eh, Sicilia-sama knows about Makoto?
Ah, right. Sicilia-sama is registered as an adventurer too. Perhaps he has been to the empire before.
「Me? I am the chief of the earth dragons, Cassandra. I am bound to my ally by covenant and have given him my blessing. A kind dragon oneesan.」
「…Earth dragon?」
「Yes. Earth dragon.」
Sicilia-sama’s eyes asked what that meant.
At this point, I have no choice but to explain the situation…
But I will keep it brief.
「We became friends in Roukaku!」
「Does that make sense? Explain properly.」
Yes.
She will not be convinced, right…
…No choice, I suppose.
-0-
「…I see. Such things happened in Roukaku…」
After I finished explaining properly, Sicilia-sama swallowed hard. She looked at Cassandra, who tilted her head while eating the magic power sphere I had given her.
「…Would it not be faster to simply ask this earth dragon to kill the duke?」
「Mmm… If my ally is truly in danger, I would do it… But we earth dragons have close ties with Roukaku, and the opponent being royalty could cause international issues? Besides, dragons should not meddle too much in human nations’ histories… As a newcomer chief, getting scolded by other dragon leaders would not be good…」
「Ah… Well, we are still fine. I might ask for help if it becomes a real crisis.」
「Yeah. That would help. I cannot let my ally die, after all.」
There are matters with Roukaku and the covenants among dragons that Cassandra mentioned.
Dragons keep covenants… yes.
Humans have human circumstances and logic. Dragons have dragon circumstances and logic. That is only natural.
「Fufu. Ally. Ahhh~」
She must have finished the previous one. Cassandra begged for a new magic power sphere. I quickly made one and tossed it toward her mouth. She caught it with a pakun and held her cheeks happily.
「…She is quite attached to you.」
「Hm? Yeah. My ally is fun to watch and be with. My interest is far from exhausted.」
「Haa… To think you would even charm a dragon…」
「Charm? Ahahaha. True. Maybe Mother and my little brothers are charmed by my ally too.」
「That sounds awful… She is just hooked on these, right?」
I make another one and toss it lightly. Though Cassandra faces Sicilia-sama, she reacts instantly and catches it perfectly in her mouth.
Perhaps because I made it a bit larger, she chews mogyu mogyu before swallowing, then strokes her belly with a satisfied 「Fuu」. She seems content.
「Mother… that would be the earth dragon Reagaia. Generations have changed, but she still lives…」
「Yeah. Mother is on a diet right now.」
「Diet… an earth dragon on a diet… A fact that could reshape one’s worldview… But the power of the dragon before my eyes is real… I must tell my little brother to keep hands off Roukaku.」
「Yeah. That would be best. I said we do not interfere in history, but if anyone steps into our domain, we show no mercy.」
「…I shall count myself fortunate to have learned Roukaku possesses such a fearsome guardian. But an earth dragon… and facing a proper chief of dragons yet living…」
「Ehen. Please do not lump me with strays.」
Come to think of it, there are stray dragons too.
Reinrich once mentioned Hayato fetched a fire dragon liver, so besides Cassandra, Reagaia, Rokaz, and Rokuz, other earth dragons must exist.
「Ah, right. You said you had business, Cassandra?」
「Ah, yes, yes. I wanted some more magic power spheres, and Mother escaped with some, so I came to chase her. Well, I should catch up to the current Mother quickly. But I wanted to tell you she will not be in Roukaku for a while if you visit.」
She escaped…
I thought she was nearing her limit, but taking magic power spheres means all her hard work until now will likely go to waste…
「I will catch her soon, punish her, then visit again. Dragon materials make my ally happy…the more, the better?」
「R-Right…」
Ah, this means a thorough beating.
Planning to strip materials too suggests quite a brutal punishment.
Reagaia… You really should stop escaping after this…
「Well, business done, time to go. But still, ally… you really like these, huh. I got magic power spheres, so… want to grope mine?」
Cassandra turns her back to me, twisting her upper body while lifting her own breasts and looking my way.
「Why does it always come to that… No, I do like them, but…」
「Well, I thought an unknown woman was here, and she has really huge ones too. Though she seems high-ranking among humans? If you are frustrated without touching hers, I thought you could use mine.」
「Frustrated…」
Eh? Even Cassandra sees me that way?
I have not shown that side much yet… How much do dragon eyes see? I do have reason, you know…
「Just kidding. I do not have much time today, so let us save that for next time. Bye, ally. Good night.」
Ah, she leaves that bombshell, waves her hand lightly, and dives into the ground like a swimmer.
What about this atmosphere she left behind!
How am I supposed to handle this air without looking at Sicilia-sama…?
Eh? A happy sensation on my arm!
「Frustrated?」
「No, it is not… like that…」
「I see. Then accompany my frustration. The fight with her ended halfway, leaving me heated… Besides, I was planning to take you until morning anyway…」
What did you say!?
No, that would definitely be bad!
And look! We need a watch, and even if I am useless, having no one at all is… eh?
Seren-san is awake? And covering her face with her hands, turned away like 「I saw nothing」.
The model of a loyal retainer!
Ah! Strong!
Wait! The strength difference is already overwhelming, and my own will makes resistance even harder!
We are already entering the tent! I am being pushed onto the bed!
Please, at least be gentle!!
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