Second Reunion (1)

A month had passed since Garmiyu left the capital Alesia.

For some reason, there was no news of her return.

Could she have been too heartbroken and developed a mental illness?

I had harshly rejected her with my own hands, yet it was a contradictory situation where I felt worried.

In the end, it was I who moved first, feeling frustrated.

“I’m going to hunt Termites.”

“Alright, I’ll come with you.”

“This time, only Vilkes and I will go. Camille, you stay in Alesia.”

“Just the two of you?”

Camille looked displeased that they were leaving her behind.

But for now, it couldn’t be helped.

From the start, hunting Termites was merely a secondary objective.

This was purely to check on Garmiyu’s condition, and there was no particular reason to bring Camille along.

“How many days will it take?”

“Well, it won’t take long.”

Because I’d return as soon as I confirmed it.

And so, I hastily left Alesia and headed for the relative’s territory where Garmiyu was said to have gone.

“I’ll transform into a Dragon.”

“Oh, are we flying?”

“Yes, you’re the first man I’ve carried.”

“You lecherous Dragon.”

“I won’t deny it, but I have my reasons too.”

Since the Garmiyu incident, Vilkes’s gaze towards me had subtly changed.

He treated me like some lecher who went around with many women.

Woooong!!!

I released my Polymorph and transformed into a Dragon.

“Krr-r-r…”

“To ride a Dragon… I feel like a Dragon Knight.”

Contrary to his words, Vilkes seemed quite excited.

Of course, he should be.

The chance to ride a Dragon isn’t common.

And so, Vilkes and I flew for a full day towards the small, remote territory.

“I heard Garmiyu is in this area.”

“Was that your main objective?”

“It couldn’t be helped. How could I not be bothered by having rejected her so harshly?”

“Was there even a need to speak so harshly in the first place?”

“There was. Because I chose to borrow Camille’s strength out of the two.”

Borrowing both their strengths would be greedy.

Through my experiences in my previous life, I knew that.

“Whatever it is, don’t forget the main objective.”

“Of course. By the way, did you hear there’s a Termite nest nearby?”

“From the old geezers?”

“Yeah, so let’s wipe them out while we’re at it.”

That’s right.

While it was true I came because I was worried about Garmiyu, I wasn’t going to go and comfort her myself anyway.

All I could do was prevent any potential incidents that might befall her.

So, for her safety, I intended to at least definitely get rid of those bastards before I left.

“It looks like there’s some kind of festival.”

“Ah, that’s probably because of a birthday party.”

“Birthday party? Is it the lord’s birthday?”

“No, it’s probably the lord’s daughter.”

The lively atmosphere of the territory, unlike what one would expect from a small domain.

Garmiyu had said she was visiting here for a relative’s friend’s birthday.

“First, let’s barge into the lord’s mansion and get whatever support we can.”

“Can we just barge in like that?”

“Normally, no. But I’m a Dragon.”

“You certainly make convenient use of that.”

“I’m also scared of getting too used to it.”

In this country, disrespecting a Dragon is akin to blasphemy against a god.

If I were to kick open the door and lie down demanding food, they’d have to slaughter the family’s best hen to serve me that very day.

But in other countries, I wouldn’t receive such treatment.

I needed to be careful not to get too accustomed to it.

“Halt! This is the lord’s mansion. Outsiders are not permitted to enter without permission.”

“Hmm, I’d prefer to pass through quietly if possible, what do you think?”

I left the guard standing there and subtly asked Vilkes.

“Give up. If you want to be treated with respect, shouldn’t you at least prove yourself?”

“Indeed, that’s true.”

Left with no choice, I changed my Polymorph and returned to the form of a baby Dragon.

“Kiiik.”

“A baby Wyvern…?”

“Kiiik!!”

Who are you calling a Wyvern?

I’m a Dragon.

“Who are you…?”

“As you can see, we are very distinguished guests. We wish to meet the lord discreetly.”

“But…”

“There should be a butler in this mansion, shouldn’t there? Tell him exactly what you saw. The butler can make the judgment.”

At that, the guard nodded and headed somewhere for a moment.

And a moment later, an old butler followed with the guard.

“I greet the Great One.”

“Yes, I want to see the lord. Is he available?”

“Yes, please follow me. However, there is a banquet ongoing, so I have sent someone to fetch him. You may have to wait a little for him to arrive.”

“Ah, because of the lord’s daughter’s birthday?”

“How… did you know?”

“I just overheard it on the way.”

And so, Vilkes and I sipped tea and snacks in the reception room the butler had prepared.

Not long after, the middle-aged lord hastily entered the reception room.

“I greet the Great One…!”

“Oh, you seem to have come in a hurry? Hello. Please, have a seat.”

“Yes, Great One-isiyeo.”

The lord seemed to have already grasped my identity, as his attitude was extremely polite.

“Do you know about Termites? Those monster bastards that have recently appeared in the Holy Dominion.”

“Yes, I am aware, but…”

“Well, they’re also near your territory.”

“…!!”

The lord was startled, his expression stiffening.

He seemed completely unaware.

If this had been left alone, it might have turned into a big problem, perhaps?

“You had no idea?”

“Yes, I did not know…”

“I came to take care of them. So, rest assured.”

“The Dragon, personally…?”

“Yes, so gather your capable soldiers and knights. During the process of raiding the bugs’ nest, they might spill out into the village.”

It would be a bit tiring for me to deal with every single one that might escape.

The miscellaneous tasks can be left to the territory’s knights.

“Understood. I will gather the knights immediately.”

“Yes, it’s getting dark today, so it might be difficult. Let’s start tomorrow at dawn.”

“Yes, Dragon-isiyeo.”

The lord actively cooperated, as it was a matter within his own territory.

The start is smooth so far…

I really hope nothing unusual happens this time.

******

The last day of the banquet.

Those who were leaving had already departed to some extent,

and Garmiyu had already gotten things off her chest.

However, she still hadn’t been able to leave…

It was because of this girl.

“Is this how you do it…?”

“No, unnie. Gather it a bit more as if forming a sphere.”

A few days ago, a small girl introduced herself as Vivian.

This girl was by no means an ordinary girl.

She was a Half-Dragon, just like me.

What’s more, she had realized she was a Half-Dragon much earlier than I had.

“But Vivian, why are you teaching me something like this?”

“Hmm, because I finally met another Half-Dragon?”

“Really…?”

“Oh, come on, no way. I’m telling you because I want something. Who would easily teach something like this?”

“…”

The girl had readily offered to teach me how to control magic.

It wasn’t easy for magicians to be taught how to handle magic power.

“There isn’t much I can do for Vivian, is there?”

“Hmm, I don’t intend to ask for anything unreasonable. After all, I don’t particularly want anything from unnie herself.”

“Is that, by any chance, related to the atonement you mentioned before?”

At that, Vivian seemed flustered and fell silent for a moment…

“Unnie, you seem oblivious at times, but you also have a subtly sharp side.”

“As I said before, I have no intention of prying.”

This girl, Vivian, clearly had many things she was hiding.

Like being from the Empire.

And being a Half-Dragon…

“Ah, now that I think about it, there is one thing I’d like to ask unnie.”

“Anything I can do for you, by all means.”

“I want to find someone.”

“Could it be… that child?”

“Ahaha, no. That child is a boy, and the child I’m talking about now is a girl.”

Vivian waved her hand, denying it.

It seemed I had made a wrong guess.

“She’s definitely living in the Holy Dominion. Can you find a girl named Stella?”

“I’ll try to use my family’s influence. Could you tell me her general characteristics?”

“Her age is… roughly ten years younger than me.”

“She’s a newborn, isn’t she?”

“Oh, you’re right. Now that I think about it, she would have just been born.”

Her way of speaking was as if time itself had turned back.

At that, Garmiyu’s suspicions deepened.

What truly was this child’s identity?

“No joke, there must be tens of thousands of children with that name.”

“I heard she’s the daughter of a Holy Knight. That much is certain.”

“That’s not nearly enough information.”

“Ah, and she’ll have black eyes and black hair. Her skin is rather fair.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes, for now.”

Far fewer clues than expected.

Could she really be found with just this?

Garmiyu couldn’t be certain at all.

“I’ll try my best. But it won’t be easy to find someone with just this.”

“Yes, thank you, unnie.”

Rather, Garmiyu felt relieved that the girl had made such a request.

What the girl had taught her was quite valuable know-how.

Having received something like that, it felt a bit awkward to not do anything in return.

“It’s rather noisy outside, isn’t it?”

“Indeed. The knights and soldiers are moving too.”

Vivian watched the movements of the knights from the balcony.

In her crimson eyes, as if she couldn’t comprehend the current situation…

a deep sense of suspicion lingered.

“That’s strange. I specifically told them not to make even a small provocation.”

“Huh…? What did you say?”

“It’s nothing. Just talking to myself, talking to myself.”

But Vivian’s gaze still persistently followed the procession of knights.

“Vivian, do you perhaps admire knights?”

“Knights? Hmm, not at all?”

“Really? I just thought so because you couldn’t take your eyes off them.”

“I’m not interested in knights, but.”

Just then, a maid scurried onto the balcony.

She was Garmiyu’s personal maid, brought from her family.

“Lady-nim! You were here?”

“Yes, did something happen outside?”

“Yes! Something big has happened!”

“Something big? Could it be the Imperial Army…?”

There weren’t many things that could be called a “big deal” in this border territory.

Like the Imperial Army making a show of force.

Or even invading by crossing the border.

That was about it.

“No! The Dragon…! The Dragon who should be in the capital Alesia has come personally, they say!”

“What…?”

At the mention of the Dragon, Garmiyu’s heart sank.

She had gone to such lengths to come all the way here to forget him, so why was he here…?

But Garmiyu wasn’t the only one surprised at that moment.

Crimson eyes trembled violently.

Struggling to hide her trembling voice, Vivian asked the maid.

“You there, maid-nim, what did you just say…?”

“Who are you…?”

“Who I am isn’t important, just tell me quickly.”

As if she would grab her by the collar any moment, Vivian growled at the maid.

“Who did you say came?”