The SSS Legendary Dragon Chose Me On Rebirth

Vacuse and all the humans were deeply astonished. For an instant there, they all felt real danger, as if their lives were on the line.

As if the Orcs were ready to slaughter them.

Surprisingly, or maybe not so, Lord Ragna seemed at ease, as if none of what was happening was affecting him at all. He even produced a small smile.

"Thank you, Commander. I accept the First General's greeting and welcome."

The Commander grunted and swung back onto his mount. With a wave of his hand, a part cleared and two hyenas were brought forward.

"The General has prepared mounts for you and our guests to ride into the fortress. The First General declares that the humans are welcome here!"

It was then, and only then, that the Commander turned to look at Vacuse.

'... Welcome? You all look like you can't wait to tear off my head. But I appreciate the gesture of throwing a welcoming hand and all. Thank you so much, Commander...'

Vacuse did what he knew how to do best. He smiled, his thoughts hidden behind his warmth. "I am thankful for the General's generosity."

'... Vacuse... this is a diplomatic mission... this is a diplomatic mission... you can't kill someone simply because they glare at you!... you can, but not at a time like this... you need the Orcs!...'

He reminded himself.

The hostility from the Orcs was even worse than that from Standpoint Fortress. The Orc tradition left room for something like blood debts that could be passed to the next generation, which meant that all the Orcs likely had an ancestor killed by a human, and they had sworn to take vengeance.

In a way, Vacuse's mission should be impossible.

Thankfully, the Orcs were not as barbaric as in the past, and now even they were plotting and scheming.

"My lord... the hyenas... I don't think—" Captain Mera murmured behind him.

Vacuse noticed the hyenas.

They were vicious beasts.

Twice as tall as him, with jaws strong enough to crush metal and speed to match. They radiated bloodlust so thick it was almost crackling between their fur.

Vacuse frowned. Those monsters looked so untamed, and he had to agree with his captain. They looked like they would rather snap his neck than allow him to climb them.

'... So... the test has already begun?...'

Almost right on cue, the Commander sneered. "Or you humans can't ride on something like this?"

Vacuse blinked in surprise.

'... Can't the Orcs find a better rage-baiter than this guy? He looks as if he knows how to swing the great axe on his back better than how to use his mouth...'

Vacuse's eyes glittered. "Dragons were much worthier beasts for me. I might have acquired something of a... unique taste."

The Commander's eyes darkened, and he was about to say something when Lord Ragna laughed. "Ah, Vacuse! You Dragon people are too picky.

"But we Orcs are simple people. We go into the wilds and dominate our mounts with our own hands, and nothing else! This is the show of honor and dignity."

'... So... you're looking down on the pathway...'

Vacuse turned toward the hyena. He could bet that those mounts had been trained to embarrass and humiliate him. They wanted to put him in a position where they would have the upper hand before the negotiations even started.

Indeed, the Orcs had evolved even more.

Vacuse nodded solemnly. "Tradition must be respected and cherished. But Lord Ragna, I would very much like you to show me how it's done."

The Commander nodded. "The beasts are mostly untamed. This will show our people that our heir has not been tainted by the humans!"

Vacuse's smile became stiff immediately.

He took his words back. There would not be a better rage-baiter than that guy.

Ragna began to walk toward one of the monsters. They freed it, and as if the hyena monster knew where it wanted to go, it growled and burst into a run, mouth open wide as if to take a bite out of Ragna's head, but he dodged at the last second.

His hand snapped out and gripped the monster at the cuff of its neck, holding it tight.

The monster tried to snap its head back, but his hand was like iron.

Then Ragna brought his hand down in a chop on its head, slamming it into the ground with a cracking sound.

He turned around and met the monster's eyes. Ragna growled from deep within his throat, and it seemed his dominating aura suppressed the monster.

With that, he strapped it and turned back to face Vacuse with a smile, turning his back to the monster without care.

Yet, the monster did nothing.

Vacuse was actually amazed.

To someone who could not read the flow of energy, even if they were a powerful Soulbearer, they might have missed what Ragna actually did.

But Vacuse saw it.

And it was somewhat familiar to him.

It wasn't as simple as beating the monster in the head and then looking into its eyes to make it submit. Vacuse actually saw red threads of power drilling into the monster's head and forcing some kind of control on it.

"Huh. That's really impressive, Lord Ragna," Vacuse said truthfully. He now had a new way to use the forbidden technique; he would have to study it extensively later.

But for now—

He turned his attention to the other monster and stared at it intently for a while.

And then he saw it.

Red threads of power drilling out of its head, directly connecting to the Commander.

Vacuse's eyes narrowed. What they were doing must be related to bloodline power, but more importantly, they were obviously going to do something with that monster.

They really wanted to embarrass him and put him in a bad position. Vacuse felt his spirit lift. Although there were interesting parts to the journey, it was mostly boring.

Or maybe Vacuse just missed scheming.

Lord Ragna smiled, turned, and rubbed the head of the hyena. "It really is! If you saw the type of monster that my uncle tamed, you would be even more amazed.

"You see what I did, right? You should do the same too."