REFDL 23

‘Yes. That did happen.’

Tortan shrugged his shoulders.

“I was clinging to a sliver of hope there, but if you don’t have any clues, then there’s nothing to be done.”

Kaelus’s expression didn’t relax.

“Well, it feels a bit awkward for me to say this after starting it, but don’t worry too much about it. Like I said before, I think it’s highly likely it just naturally disappeared over time.”

“You mean the legendary artifact?”

“After a thousand years or so, wouldn’t anything end up like that?”

“……”

“Well, anyway, it’s already happened. Ah! But we’ll keep investigating. If it really was stolen by Denos like you worry, that’s a big problem. …Personally, I still think it just vanished.”

”……“

“Hey. You shouldn’t look at the emperor is like that. Look at this. I’m scared, my hair’s standing on end!“

Haa.

“……Why is this bastard still so immature?”

“It sounded like your inner thoughts slipped out just now?”

“No. I just said it.”

“…….”

“This is already the second one.”

Tortan gave a wry smile and shrugged.

As he said, this was the second time a sacred artifact worthy of being called a treasure of Firmus had vanished.

The treasure that disappeared before was Julan’s ‘vessel’.

After the Second Prince smuggled it away during the civil war, its whereabouts have remained unknown ever since.

“And both missing treasures are part of Julan’s legacy.”

There’s nearly a decade between the losses, but is this really just coincidence?

Kaelus’s expression grew even more grave. Seeing this, Tortan clicked his tongue.

“You don’t look like someone who believes in omens.”

“It’s not an omen. I trust my instincts. For reference, right now it feels extremely ominous. …Something is about to happen.”

“Ah, I understand. Enough nagging. I’ll be careful.”

“Strengthen security too.”

“Yes. Yes.”

Tortan looked sullen but nodded obediently.

Suddenly, the emperor looked outside.

It was the season when winter was approaching. Kaelus thought he knew what the emperor was thinking.

“Kael.”

“……”

“Take your hand off your throat.”

Only then did Kaelus become aware of the hand’s presence.

On his own body.

Right. He had hands.

His right hand scratched his neck. His left hand scratched his right wrist. Blood glistened over the tattoo. Tortan clicked his tongue, pulled out a handkerchief, and handed it to Kaelus.

“It’s fine.”

“I’m not fine. Wipe it.”

Kaelus silently wiped away the blood.

The used handkerchief vanished into his bosom. The wound on his wrist did not disappear.

“…Tortan.”

“Mm.”

Having called out to him, Kaelus found himself unable to say anything else.

‘That child. Odan.’

Blonde hair, nine years old.

“……”

….Resembling Tortan and the Second Prince to varying degrees.

But in truth, Kaelus knew.

When considering only the ‘possibility’.

That boy was more likely the son of the dead Second Prince than the lost son of Tortan.

That very Second Prince who had taken everything from Tortan and Kaelus.

“Why are you taking so long to speak?”

“……Nothing.”

“Whenever you say that, something bad always happens.”

Tortan said playfully.

His eyes didn’t smile.

Though not a knight, Tortan had as keen an intuition as Kaelus.

Cold sweat soaked into Kaelus’s palms.

“I held back because I thought saying more would just be nagging, but I guess there’s no need for that.”

“……?!”

“Are you eating properly? Your dark circles say you’re not sleeping well either. It must be because of the Forest Village incident. You said you’d fixed that habit of losing sleep when anxious… but it was all a lie…”

“…….”

* * *

A thick, large cloth covered me.

A massive cart crossed the main road.

Between the cloths.

I pressed my reptilian pupil against the small gap where light seeped in.

“……!”

Impressive buildings stood tall. People bustled back and forth. A plaza with a fountain featuring statues of a sage, a knight, and a priest, fruit stalls, children running past them, and people lingering in front of the stands.

People.

People everywhere.

As a dignified dragon, I abruptly stopped making threatening noises.

Life here isn’t so different from where I come from.

In fact, the scenery pleased me far more than I had imagined.

The streets were clean, a world with proper sewage systems and hygiene concepts!

Clunk, clunk.

A massive dark gray dragon called a ‘Knum’ pulled the wagon. It looked like the result of crossbreeding a big, fat salamander with a rhinoceros.

I recalled the sensation I’d felt at the Richmond breeding grounds. It wasn’t as vivid as then. Rather, it was hazy and blurred, like through a fog.

But I remembered the sensation.

That’s probably why this Knym hesitated at first before setting off.

Though I was too flustered by being trapped in the cage to notice it myself.

Anyway, thanks to that, I had one thing to test.

Grrr.

Stop.

The Knum halted in place. The person seated holding the reins looked flustered.

“Wh-why is this beast acting up all of a sudden?”

Fear tinged his voice. The Knum was the gentlest breed of dragon, but it wasn’t always gentle. Since it was a dragon to begin with, calling it gentle might not even make sense.

It couldn’t compare to the winged kind, but if a Knum, which looked to weigh at least five tons, were to go wild…

Grrrr.

Let’s go.

The Knum began moving again. It didn’t look displeased, confused or angered by the unexplained command.

Relieved, the driver steered the cart with renewed caution.

Soon we arrived at a grand mansion, its walls were covered with bright red climbing roses.

It was enormous and breathtaking.

A mansion fit for a great noble, as if painted onto the landscape.

I figured someone who’s the captain of the Dragon Knights wouldn’t be an ordinary person…

No. You could tell he wasn’t ordinary just by looking at his face. In any fantasy world, importance is always proportional to the handsomeness of one’s features!

Clunk!

“Here! This way! Be careful putting it down. Lord Nitan specifically requested…”

“I got it, just get out of the way. You’re in the way!”

Voices surrounded us.

Thud.

With a small vibration, I was set down somewhere. The cloth swayed, the gap widening slightly. Dirt floor and castle wall. Stored wooden swords and various weapons that felt dull and heavy.

Training grounds!

My eyes lit up with excitement, but it was brief. The cart left, and the crowd that had rushed in also dispersed.

I was left behind.

Kyak?!

Fortunately, Nitan came looking for me within a few hours. The thick cloth was quickly pulled away.

“Oh my, you must’ve felt miserable and scared.”

Kyaaak.

“Sorry I’m late. I had to check on the kids and the village chief, so I got held up.”

Kyak?

“……Oh. I think I kind of know how to talk to you right now.”

Kyak.

Whatever, just explain first.

“Hmm. Where to start… Well, the three kids left for the academy.”

?!

“Their schedule was tight. Since they’re enrolling with a guardian’s donation, they don’t have to worry too much about next year’s entrance exam, but the problem is after they get in. To keep up with the classes, there’s a mountain of things they need to learn and master beforehand. Oh, and by the way, there’s a message from Rotol.”

Nitan said, mimicking a bit of liveliness.

“I’ll come back as a great dragon knight. Take care! If you find another partner, I’ll kill… I won’t let you get away with it… I’d be too sad!”

…Did I just hear she’d kill me?

And something about not letting me get away with it?!

“Rotol and Mirim will enter the knight division, and Odan will enter the affiliated school. Ah, don’t know what an affiliated school is? It’s for younger children, with Academy admission as a prerequisite… ”

Kyak.

What about the village chief?

“He’ll stay near the academy. It’s basically a boarding system, but they can come out on weekends. I was late because I was urgently finding a house nearby and hiring a tutor to help prepare the three of them for admission. I sent someone, but I had to give the final approval myself.”

From the way he spoke, the academy seemed quite far away.

Anyway, it was all too sudden.

I didn’t even get to properly say goodbye…

I understood the circumstances were unavoidable, but it still stung a little.

Seeing me sulk, Nitan exclaimed in admiration.

“Now I see why you can communicate. Your reactions are so clear. Your nonverbal expressions are almost as distinct as a human’s!”

He seemed slightly excited.

“But it’d be better if we could actually communicate properly. If it were possible, that is!”

Nitan stepped aside dramatically. He looked like a party host revealing a carefully prepared gift.

In the space he opened up, a man stood.

“Really… fascinating.”

With an expression that screamed “This is annoying and exhausting.”

‘……??’

Flustered, I just blinked rapidly when the man suddenly thrust his face forward.

“Amazing. So this is a Kremlis…”

His expression screamed, “I’m dead tired and annoyed, and you dragged me here for this trivial thing?”

‘…….’

He was a person with a huge gap between his words and his attitude.