Ch.216Chapter 216 – Rorona (2)

At first, honestly, it was ambiguous.

It’s not like I’d met many dragons before.

However, during that brief moment traveling with Lorona, I gradually felt a sense of “kinship” with her.

And from the peculiar way my heart reacted, I could draw a conclusion.

“Even if it’s fake, it’s still a dragon’s heart after all.”

Of course, the reason I kept feeling uncertain was probably because I wasn’t a proper dragon myself.

Though rather than just noticing it on my own, it seemed like the other party had done something too.

“Why is a dragon here?”

“Who knows.”

How would I know that?

But at least one thing was certain.

“It seems clear that there was a dragon behind the dwarves.”

It wasn’t hard to guess that this had been the case for quite some time.

Looking at Beatrice, I quietly said,

“Considering the information you brought.”

“I suppose so.”

It was because of the information I’d heard when researching how to enter Ferarius.

The story that when something equivalent to a national treasure was stolen, the ruler of the dwarves became extremely angry.

“I found that a bit strange even then.”

The dwarves clearly had a king in their country, but the drunken dwarves specifically used the term “ruler,” which was odd.

I thought maybe they were just being roundabout since people badmouth even their kings outside, but that wasn’t it.

“It meant there was someone above the king.”

Someone above the king.

Someone who had been controlling the dwarves from behind.

“It seems the ‘ruler’ the dwarves mentioned is a dragon.”

Judging by how high-ranking dwarves seemed intimidated by Lorona, who was presumably a dragon, that was likely correct.

“Then, do you know why the dragon is interested in Kei?”

“I don’t know that far.”

I immediately expressed reluctance at Eve’s question.

No matter what, I couldn’t possibly have noticed that much.

‘I hope she’s not threatening me for invading her territory or something.’

I don’t want to fight a dragon unnecessarily.

Even though I look healthy now, the fact that I’m terminally ill is partly due to fighting a dragon, so all the more reason.

‘I’m also curious why a dragon is here in the first place.’

According to what I heard from Lumen, dragons live in the gaps of the boundary.

So I never thought there would be a dragon here.

Of course, it’s not like there haven’t been cases of dragons coming out from the boundary gaps…

‘I guess Pia and Yuto were special cases to begin with.’

They had come down because of a mission from Lord.

I can’t shake the feeling that Yuto, the black dragon, just went wild regardless of the mission, but at least Pia seemed to have been killed while carrying out her mission.

‘Certainly that mission was…’

Find those with souls from another world and send them to the boundary gap, was it?

That’s why Pia asked me to go to the boundary gap and meet the Dragon Lord.

‘…I just hope this dragon isn’t hostile to me.’

I’d rather not see another violent one like Yuto.

While I was trying to deduce things about the dragon ruling Ferarius, Lorona approached me.

“What is it?”

“As much as I’d like to ignore everything and get straight to the point…”

Lorona said with a smile.

“If you want to stay comfortably in Ferarius, we should first maintain the king’s dignity. I’ve already ordered that you be treated as the king’s guests, but they say external procedures are necessary.”

“Well, that’s a chilling statement.”

It was clear that the dwarf royalty were firmly in the dragon’s grip.

To arrange for us to be treated as state guests with just one command.

“You deserve such treatment, so don’t be too afraid.”

Lorona said with a smile.

Watching Lorona carefully, Lara gently asked,

“So, how do we greet the king?”

At Lara’s question, Lorona smiled and said,

“Just kneel down, sit, and listen to what he has to say. That’s the end of the ceremony.”

“That’s it?”

“Of course… Oh, the king might assign you a task, so be prepared for that.”

At Lorona’s words, Lara’s expression turned slightly pale.

“…I feel like I’ve stepped into a very dangerous place…”

“It’s too late now.”

Lorona replied with a smile to Lara’s comment.

Leaving behind Lara, who had belatedly realized her mistake in coming here, I quietly thought while looking at the splendid door ahead.

“Is that the audience chamber?”

“Yes. The old dwarf understands well, so just kneel for him.”

When Lorona spoke lightly, I felt a bit sorry for the king inside.

Meeting a king shouldn’t be treated as such a trivial event.

Then Lorona added, as if she’d just remembered something.

“While you’re meeting him, you might as well make your request to him too.”

“Request?”

“You know?”

Lorona pointed at me, or more precisely, at my waist, and said,

“That sword, it’s a holy relic, right? It’s broken?”

“……”

“Since it’s a holy relic, there must be some record of how to repair it. Ask him, demand it.”

I wanted to ask if that was really okay, but I quickly dismissed the thought.

She’s telling me in advance because it is okay.

‘Though I do feel sorry for the king.’

Still, if I can use this opportunity, I should.

…It’s not like I’m going to live here anyway.

As we arrived at the door, the dwarf guiding us shouted loudly.

“The state guests are entering!!”

With those words, the heavy door began to open.

“Let’s go.”

Lorona smiled and took the lead, and we carefully followed her into the audience chamber.

+

The audience was honestly boring.

The great king of the dwarves, Ferarius IV, was looking down at us not with a dignified face, but with one clearly showing fear.

Honestly, it was obvious he wanted to end this quickly, but I could tell he couldn’t because of Lorona.

Even though we were the ones having an audience, they were the ones being cautious around us, which was honestly burdensome.

“This concludes the audience.”

The dwarf officiating the ceremony finished speaking.

But it didn’t end there.

“Next, for the meal…”

A dwarf who seemed to be in charge of affairs subtly requested that we accompany them to the dining area.

To be precise, he was looking at Lorona when he said it, not us.

“Hmm.”

I saw Lorona swallow slightly.

But soon, as if remembering something, she licked her lips and said,

“As much as I regret it, we’ll have to postpone that this time. I have business to attend to.”

“Is that so?”

“Instead, please treat these people well. If there’s any negligence, that person will be angry.”

At Lorona’s words, I saw the minister tremble slightly.

Then Lorona turned her back on the king openly and said to me,

“Well then, Kei, I’ll see you again.”

“Th-this way.”

I saw a dwarf quickly come forward to guide her out.

And so Lorona left the room.

“…Phew.”

“I really thought we were going to die…”

I saw dwarves sighing in relief.

“…Should we just leave too?”

Feeling uncomfortable, I quietly asked Beatrice, who seemed to understand these situations well, if we should escape too.

Beatrice immediately shook her head.

“No. If a meal is scheduled, we have to complete that before leaving.”

She added that it was a matter of courtesy.

Furthermore, she said Lorona’s behavior was extremely discourteous.

In the end, we were guided to the dining area without being able to escape.

‘This is really awkward.’

Seeing the dwarves who seemed much more relaxed now, I almost felt apologetic.

“Ah, this isn’t the time. Human guests, let’s head to the dining area.”

“Ah, yes.”

The form of address had been lowered.

From being elevated as state guests to human guests.

I responded somewhat glumly, which caused a commotion among the dwarves around him.

“Are you crazy? Calling the state guests ‘human guests’…!”

“Ah, my mistake! Please forget it. To dare address such honorable people…”

“You can just call us whatever is comfortable…”

As I was about to answer casually, Beatrice lightly tapped my helmet.

My helmet shook slightly, preventing me from speaking, and in that gap, Beatrice stepped forward and said,

“It’s fine. Just be careful next time. Rather than standing around, wouldn’t it be better to move on to the next schedule?”

“That’s right. Come, let me guide you!”

The dwarves soon began to move energetically.

When I glanced at Beatrice, she quietly said,

“Being too humble can actually be seen as disrespectful, so be careful.”

“…Really?”

“If they treated you as state guests at first, but you lower yourself further, what position does that put the dwarves in?”

When I glanced at Eve, I saw her nodding slightly as well.

“Lowering oneself isn’t always courteous.”

Apparently, I had almost been rude in my attempt to be polite.

At least, that seemed to be the custom here.

“I’ll be careful.”

“It’s alright. Just remember it well.”

Eve answered with a smile.

After such a commotion, we moved to the dining area.

Traditional dwarf dishes began to be served, and the king, who seemed much more relaxed now, smiled at us and said,

“I hope it suits your taste.”

The dishes being served gave the impression that they would go well with beer as meat appetizers.

I saw Kris’s eyes starting to roll a bit at the sight of meat, and Sera restraining her.

Soon the king began to make a toast…

“Then, to the prosperity of Ferarius!”

With the king’s call, everyone seated raised their glasses and clinked them together.

Wine flowed slightly from the glasses, and some of the seated dwarves and our companions began to drink.

As I saw the king glancing at me, Eve quietly said,

“It seems this is where you should make your request.”

“I guess so.”

It was clearly a look that said “let’s talk,” just as Lorona had hinted earlier.

Looking briefly at the broken holy relic at my waist, I glanced at Beatrice and nodded.

‘…I can prepare for a counterattack.’

I’ll get as much support as possible to survive against Kara.

With that determination, I slightly raised my glass.

“Don’t drink. It would be troublesome if you collapsed.”

“…Okay.”

I answered as I put down the glass I had picked up to go with the atmosphere.

+

Lorona left the palace.

“They’re hot, those dwarves.”

She had business, and while they were friendly, they were also a bit stifling.

Of course, the alcohol made by dwarves was delicious, which was nice.

“I want to get drunk for once after so long.”

Lorona had been exhausted preparing everything since the moment he arrived here.

“The centipede I prepared in advance was defeated, I had to keep an eye on the humans’ movements…”

From her perspective, she had done too many small tasks.

She was honestly tired.

“At least I brought a dwarf who can work for me, so that’s fortunate.”

She would leave the service to the dwarf named Lara.

She could entrust her with building bridges with the dwarves.

“I want some alcohol… and to soak in warm water.”

Lorona licked her lips again, thinking she could fully enjoy herself in this state.

Then she shook her head and quietly opened her mouth.

“I’ve done as ordered.”

She was sending a thought somewhere, infused with magical power.

And her eyes twisted slightly.

“…No, wait? You’re saying I need to bring another person?”

“What? I already sent… They’re in the capital? Where exactly…?”

“Ah, no. I have no intention of defying you.”

“I’ll do as you command.”

After responding to each thought that came flying in, she soon sighed, and then smiled slightly as she turned her head.

“They said she’d be in a nearby tavern.”

She complained slightly but soon changed her mindset.

Good.

I just need to kill time while having a drink.

It’s even better that it’s her regular tavern, so she can drink for free.

Thinking this, Lorona unconsciously wagged her tail.

“Oops. My polymorph slipped.”

Erasing the tail that had appeared as her concentration wavered, Lorona walked quickly.

She entered her regular tavern.

“Excuse me. Proprietor.”

“Ugh.”

The tavern owner made an extremely displeased face upon seeing Lorona.

However, Lorona just smiled and went inside.

“Hmm. So they’re here.”

Looking at each person one by one to find her target.

Soon she found the person she was looking for.

“Is it you?”

“…Hatchling.”

The voice was slightly drunk.

Looking at the woman with a voice that sounded somewhat pained, Lorona grinned and sat down nearby.

“Do you treat your own children like subordinates?”

“…Well, it’s experience, isn’t it?”

Lorona smiled and said,

“By the way, what should I call you? Ms. Mask?”

“…Call me whatever you want.”

She was a woman with a pure white mask covering her eyes.

Only her mouth was visible.

However, she had blue hair tied in two braids hanging down to her shoulders, and beside her stood a somewhat ornate sword.

Mask downed her drink and said,

“Will you guide me soon?”

“Where to?”

“To those comrades the dragon mentioned.”

Mask quietly said,

“Take me to those who can help me.”

“I’ll guide you, but… you know about the contract, right?”

Lorona smiled and drank from the glass that had somehow appeared in front of her.

Thinking that the service was good because she was a regular, Lorona looked at Mask and spoke.

And Mask quietly said,

“I know.”

“That’s good. Make sure to fulfill the contract first after meeting them.”

And Lorona smiled and said,

“Don’t worry. Those you’re trying to save won’t die easily. Even I can see they’ll be kept alive at least as hostages.”

Knowing the other’s purpose, Lorona smiled gently and spoke.

And Mask quietly said,

“…The longer the delay, the longer their suffering will be, don’t you think?”

Mask glared at Lorona as she said this.

“…So guide me quickly. I want to save time.”

At the masked swordswoman’s urging, Lorona smiled and took a sip of her drink.

And then.

“Demons are so impatient, aren’t they?”

She added with a smile.