The Red Dragon Just Wants To Do As It Pleases

"Your Grace, I never expected that a minor border raid would actually prompt you to personally lead an army here. I, as a Silver Dragon, admire your character greatly."

Seeing a familiar Elf—and moreover, the Duke of Silver Wheel who had once funded his alchemy studies—David was surprised but didn't skimp on delivering a round of flattery.

After all, in this era, the reputation of nobility was often built upon such mutual back-scratching and was solidified by word of mouth and traveling Bards who spread their stories far and wide.

It won't be long, David believed, before the tale of Yevgeny, myself as a Silver Dragon, and the Duke of Silver's swift support in the 'Ice Sea Operation' spreads rapidly throughout the Elven Kingdom and even to the New Continent.

The Duke of Silver had already heard of David's rather exaggerated exploits on her way here. After giving David a meaningful look, she returned to the cordial demeanor she had displayed upon their first meeting.

"Like your father, just call me Mirillian.

"Saeolus is a realm my Scallia family carved out. I might not have the power to expand our territories like my ancestors, but protecting the safety of my lands and people is still the most fundamental responsibility of a noble.

"Also, there's one thing I need to correct: this was not a minor border raid. According to the intelligence I've received, there is a sizeable group of Barbarians from the Old Continent, and they even have the support of an adult White Dragon. If not contained promptly, the devastation could spread for miles, and the deaths could number in the thousands.

"And this time, had it not been for your presence and formidable support, I fear that even I would have been plagued by this bandit scourge for a long while.

"Speaking of which, I haven't yet figured out how to thank you, Saphistouin.

"And you too, Sir Yevgeny, my Guardian Knight Commander. It's good to see you're still alive."

This benevolent attitude would probably turn Ahmed of the Old Continent green with envy if he were to witness it, David mused.

As David was mulling over how to concoct a plausible excuse for himself, Yevgeny, whom the Duke of Silver Wheel had just addressed, already had tears welling in her eyes. She knelt on one knee, bowed her head, and said in a choked voice, "Your Highness! I am guilty! Ever since the chain of dire consequences caused by my moment of greed three years ago, I truly don't know how... how to face you. Please, Your Highness, punish me..."

Hearing these sincere words, David, standing to the side, couldn't help but feel an urge to laugh.

It sounded unbelievable, but as Yevgeny herself said, if one had to pinpoint a cause, her greed-driven dragon-hunting scheme truly did seem to be the catalyst for all the recent calamities that befell the Elven Kingdom.

The fellow had originally just traveled to the Old Continent to trade with the Barbarians, mainly hoping to import some Crimson Ash for the Alchemy Workshop to produce Anger Potions.

On the way, she encountered Tania, who was on a mission from Pafila to complete her 'Territory Defense Trial.' Yevgeny then concocted a self-directed and self-produced plan to capture a dragon, rescue the Silver Dragonling, and return to Dewensen in triumph, thereby rising to greatness.

As fate would have it, she bumped into David—who was out on an all-you-can-eat buffet excursion at the time—resulting not only in the failure of her plan but also in heavy casualties among her Elf subordinates. To prevent Tania from returning to her nest and provoking retaliation from the Crimson Calamity, a letter was then sent to the Duke of Silver.

Although David didn't know what was written in that letter, Duke Mirillian, for reasons unbeknownst to him, mobilized her forces.

This forced him, with Tania's encouragement, to confront his mother directly to seek refuge.

Following that was the catastrophic eruption of Mount Katjana that brought disaster to the entire Aeroria plane.

Three years have passed, and the skies are still more often cloudy than clear.

Thanks to the 'introduction' made by this turncoat guide after her confession, the entire New Continent was burdened with David, the Red Dragon, a veritable source of calamity.

And so followed all that ensued: the annihilation of the Seventh Fleet, the great explosion at Spider Nest City, all of which tore apart the peaceful facade of the Elven Kingdom.

It can only be said that the evolution of fate is sometimes so dramatic and ludicrous. And if all this were really to be blamed on Yevgeny, this High Elf, then future historians would probably place her atop a pillar of shame, to be spat upon by High Elves for ten thousand years.

Even David, the originator of the trouble, was unable to glimpse the full extent of the series of events, barely managing to piece it all together through the information he had gathered, let alone the Duke of Silver at this moment.

Amidst the complex and envious gazes of numerous Elves, the Duke of Silver pulled Yevgeny up and, like the head of a household, gently patted her head, consoling her, "You were the one I sent out, and the orders to dispatch the troops were also given by me. What right do I have to place all the blame on a single elf? Besides, you and your subordinates played a pivotal role in successfully restraining those barbaric pirates this time."

At this point, the Duke of Silver looked around at the more than one hundred Elf navy members behind Yevgeny, who had endured three years of hardship and vicissitude, and smiled, saying, "No matter what, welcome back. Welcome home to Saeolus. My children, these past three years, it was my incompetence that caused you to... suffer."

"WAAH! Your Grace, I've failed you!" Yevgeny, whose soul had long been tainted and controlled, unable to tell the whole truth, collapsed once again, crying hysterically.

"SOB!" The more than one hundred Elf navy members behind her also burst into tears at this moment.

All the resentment, anger, and suppressed emotions of the past three years poured out.

Wasn't this moment what they had been steadfastly persevering for?

They believed that, even if condemned by thousands, only the Duke of Silver could understand and accept them.

And at this moment, they finally received the reward for their perseverance.

"..." David smacked his lips. Listen to that, he thought. Whether this Duke of Silver is being sincere or not, those words were certainly well spoken.

Damn, with this maneuver by the Duke of Silver, my previous plan is half ruined! But it doesn't matter. After all, not everything can always go exactly as a dragon wishes. I never really expected this group of High Elves to be foolish enough to follow me, a Red Dragon, and turn against their fellow Elves. However... now that the Duke of Silver has so openly accepted the remnants of the Seventh Fleet, isn't this a blatant slap in the face to King Ailiando of the Elves and the senior council members of Dewensen? Well, it looks like there's going to be quite a spectacle.

What David hadn't expected was that the Duke of Silver Wheel was even more decisive than he had imagined.

Only after the Duke of Silver had pacified Yevgeny and the other Elves, and after she had consoled the Priests and celebrants of the Elf Temple who had suffered misfortune, did she approach David, who was idly preparing to take his leave. With a radiant smile, she invited him, "Interested in joining me on a trip to Dewensen?"

"Huh? Oh! You're going to Dewensen? When?" David was stunned.

"Right now. We'll set off overnight and should arrive at Dewensen by early morning to participate in the triumphal ceremony."

In such a sensitive period, the Duke of Silver is actually daring to travel to Dewensen in person? If this were on Blue Star, wouldn't it be like walking straight into a trap, a move that could easily end with a transfer of power and a reduction in feudal rights? But then again, this isn't Blue Star, and this Duke of Silver is a bona fide legend. Holy shit, this is even more suspicious. What on earth does this Duke of Silver Wheel want to do? She's still bringing troops to Dewensen. Could it be that she's contemplating an Aeroria-style coup d'état?

Seeing David's silence and the peculiar look in his eyes, Mirillian immediately joked, "What's the matter? Afraid I'm going to rebel?"

"COUGH, COUGH, COUGH."

David nearly choked. That's not the type of thing one can just bluntly bring up! he thought. "That's not what I meant. It's just that, for such a matter, shouldn't you discuss it directly with my father?"

"Of course, I know. But what's there to discuss with your dad? Even if I did rebel, Attilicia, who has long been dissatisfied with King Ailiando, would most likely throw in her lot with me and become my strategic advisor," the Duke of Silver, Mirillian, replied, leaving David shocked and then speechless.

Remembering the words his father once said to him...

Damn it, Dad, this won't do! David thought. How can you be so thoroughly controlled by this Duke of Silver? How will you manage in the future...? At this point, Dad might as well just remain good friends with this Duke of Silver Wheel. If he were to marry into their family one day, wouldn't his 'naive and sweet' father be at this elf's mercy? Besides, Dad already has Mom, and there's still that childhood sweetheart in Dewensen, watching like a hawk. Maybe the Duke of Silver would just use my own father as a dragon-shaped comfort object.

Seemingly able to read David's thoughts, the Duke of Silver, Mirillian, suddenly laughed heartily. She patted David's robust chest and said, "Don't worry, I'm not that impulsive; otherwise, I wouldn't have allowed Elizabeth to suffer by going to school in Dewensen. I'm only going this time because I want to have a... good talk with His Majesty Ailiando. The Elven Kingdom's situation is precarious; we can't let him continue to mess things up like this."

Having said that, Mirillian glanced at David, who still looked like, I'm just a dragon kid, and said with an amused laugh, "Indeed, if you were to simply go with me, there's a real risk of getting caught up in Dewensen's political strife. But how should I put it? Every elf in the Elven Kingdom knows your father and I are incredibly close friends; your attempts to avoid suspicion would be futile. Of course, the choice is yours. If you really don't want to get involved, I can omit any mention of you in the reports being sent to Dewensen.

"However... this time, our King Ailiando will likely be compelled by the situation to be generous. If you don't go, you'll miss out on those handsome rewards."

David looked back at Mirillian, whose eyes were full of playful scheming, and took a deep, slightly exasperated breath. "Of course, I'm going for such a good opportunity. But Miss Mirillian, please stop fishing. If you keep this up, I'm going to start thinking you're some kind of Gold Dragon in disguise."

The Duke of Silver, Mirillian, laughed even more freely, attracting sideways glances from the surrounding Elves. Then, as if a thought struck her, her expression turned somewhat somber. "If only that were true. Sometimes, I actually do envy you great Dragons. Doing whatever you want, and when you tire of it, you can just leave without a second thought."

David knew all too well that Mirillian was indirectly criticizing his father for disappearing without a trace last year.

He decided to say nothing.

Damn, he wondered, did I inherit any of Dad's succubus-like charm... or how much of it? I really wish I could reach adolescence sooner!