100-Episode 100: Ryuhime and Apprentice

Well then, that's it for today's class.

""Good job!"

When the demolition course was over, the demolition experts bent 90 degrees at the waist to greet us.

Even the adventurers who were participating with me.

After giving them a knife made from black dragon material, everyone is like this, it's kind of ticklish.

◆

'We're all getting pretty used to dismantling green dragons, so maybe it's time to let them dismantle the black dragons.

'What?　Already?

Liliera-san picks up on my mumbles that I mumbled on the way home.

''Originally, the Black Dragon is the same plain dragon as the Green Dragon, just with a different strength. By repeating the dismantling of Green Dragon, you can dismantle it as a normal demon material without any problems if you eliminate your dislike for dragon material.

That's the way it works.

That's just the way it is.

'Speaking of which, I have a question,'

And Mina comes in to join the conversation.

'You know, in Togai town, the dragon Lex hunted was bought by the Adventurer's Guild, right?　How did they dismantle that one?

Technically, the people who bought it were the people who participated in the auction in King's Landing.

''Huh?　Did that ever happen?

Oh, I hadn't met Liliella-san at that time yet.

''Yes, I just happened to run into her and she bought a green dragon for me.

''The whole guild was in an uproar at that time. ''The Dragonslayer has appeared!　And...

Yeah, that was the fate of me and my brother's meeting. I still remember the heroic image of my brother!

Was it the first time we met?　Or was it the time you saved him from Evilboa?

Jairo-kun starts talking about how excited he was at that moment.

'Wow, I didn't know that happened. Well, it's not surprising at all if you're Lex, but if you didn't know anything about it at the time, people would have been quite surprised.

Hey!　Surprise, surprise!　I hunt dragons and kill Evilboa with a single blow. Even the demons are killed in the blink of an eye!

'Oh, I can see it in your eyes.

Perhaps imagining this scene, Liliella-san gives a dry laugh.

''Ah yes, the dismantling of the dragon, I think it was probably the auctioneer from the royal capital who came and dismantled it. I'm told that they have several valuable magic items in their possession so that they can dismantle special materials because they gather rare materials there.

Wow, he even used such a valuable tool to dismantle a Green Dragon.

As a businessman, he must be passionate about selling even a single copper coin for a high price.

That means there must be a lot of great magic items in the auction room that I've never seen before.

I'd like to take a look at them.

We walked around the town, chatting about such things.

We walk through the town in the evening.

The example commotion that Norbu-san refers to is the Dragon Princess fiasco that occurred when Liliela-san defeated the Green Dragon.

Come to think of it, what was the Dragon Princess after all?

''Ugh, enough about that story. It seems that the guild has been very clever about this demolition and is working to keep us under wraps with the demolitionists, but it doesn't change the fact that it's best not to talk about it too much out in the open.

And Liliera-san with her hood on let out a sigh.

Apparently, if I walk outside with my face exposed yet, I'll be called a dragon princess, so I can't take off my hood yet.

It seems that there are other female adventurers with spears, but when it comes to spear-using female adventurers from outside the town, the number seems to be narrowed down.

That's why I occasionally see a blonde spear-handling woman adventurer called the Dragon Princess surrounded by the townspeople.

Yeah, she's acting as a good bait.

''In that sense, Lex-san was lucky. It was dimly lit at dusk, so other than the gatekeepers with whom I had direct conversations, few people could see Lex-san's face clearly. Besides, that time the Golden Dragon was shiny and bright and also conspicuous.

Oh, maybe it helped in that sense.

Maybe I should thank the Golden Dragon for that?

I'll bring you something to bring back next time.

Let's get something to eat sooner than that, bro!　I'm starving.

And Jairo-kun, whose hunger is no longer tolerable, shouts out to eat quickly.

''Right, well then, let's go into a restaurant somewhere nearby.

And that's when we were about to go into the affordable store.

"Oh, um!

Someone came up behind us and called out to us.

We turned around to see who it was, and there was a familiar figure.

You're...Mr. Leune?

That's right, it's Mr. Leune, who was also at my demolition course.

He may have run after her, but Leune-san is breathing hard.

''Ha, yes!　Actually, there's something I'd like to talk to you about at a moment's notice!

Is this a story?

What the hell is going on?　Is there something I don't understand about dismantling dragons?

Actually....

Ms. Leune straightens her back and turns serious as she corrects her breathing.

''Make me........a disciple!　Please!''

So, telling her, Leune-san bowed deeply.

Towards Liliera-san.

''........Eh?　Me?

You mean like that?

Please!　I want to be as strong as you are!

'What?　Really?

Liliella looks not full when she is told that she wants to be as strong as you are.

''Yes!　I want to be as strong as you, the second coming of the Dragon Princess!

Huh?

""Dragon Princess!"

The moment they heard Ryune's words, the people of the town turned around in unison.

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No, haha, that was scary... or really scary.

'Hi, I thought I was going to be crushed by a wave of people...'

After that, we were almost crushed by the townspeople who came rushing towards Liliella, and we fled through the air in a hurry.

It's a good idea to have a good time with them.

And while disappearing with magic, they came back to the room of the inn.

It's a good idea to have a good time with them.

Yes, it was scarier than a bunch of badass demons.

''Um, I'm sorry........''

Leune-san comes to bow her head with an apology, saying that her comments caused a commotion.

''Oh no, don't worry about it. It's more than that........''

I turn my gaze towards Liliella-san, but ask Leune a question.

'Why do you want to become an apprentice to Liliera-san?'

Ms. Leune said.

'She wants to become an apprentice to Mr. Liliera.

'Ha, yes!　I want to become a disciple of that person who is so strong that he is called the second coming of Princess Long!

Hey... what's going on with this dragon princess?

Lilliera listens to Ryune's words as if disgusted by them.

Come to think of it, we don't know who this Dragon Princess person is.

''Huh?　You don't know the Dragon Princess?

Ms. Leune gives me a surprised look of disbelief.

'Yeah, I don't know,'

But you're the successor of the Dragon Emperor's Sky Lance Technique, aren't you?

''Huh?　No, but?

Huh?　...No, no, it can't be!　That spearhandling is definitely my school, the Dragon Emperor Style Sorcerer Technique!

Ms. Leune strongly denies that it can't be.

I mean, did you just say my school?

'Princess Dragon is the name of the last dragon knight in the land.

Oh, the explanation began.

In the past, humans and demons fought each other in this world. It is said that this country was no exception. In fact, it's said that in our country, the battle against demons was even more intense than in other countries.

Ah, I do remember that Dragonia was a fierce battleground even in my memories of my previous life.

I'm not going to be able to tell you what to do with it. You will be able to get the most out of it. And it is said that the dragon knight who rode on the dragon showed such strength that he was called the knight among the knights who governed the sky.

Well, the actual strength wasn't that special, but knights on dragons and other things that looked good. In that sense, the dragon knight was a popular profession among the flowery knights of the battlefield.

Above all, simply in the sense that a powerful being like a dragon would be on the side of the humans, Dragonia was seen as a danger to the mages.

Ah, but it's not that dragon knights were just an apparent profession. Compared to knights of other countries who belonged to the same level of rank, they were a bit stronger than the knights of other countries, and the king of dragon knights called the dragon emperor and other high ranking dragon knights were strong and fought spectacularly to the point where they could be called the knights among knights.

Well, there were a lot of knights and professions in other countries that were like buckets, though.

The Magic Knights of the Magic Kingdom and the Magic Sword Division of the Sword Emperor Kingdom, for example.

''Dragon Princess-sama was the strongest dragon knight who governed those dragon knights, the darling of His Majesty the Dragon Emperor, and she herself was an excellent dragon knight.

Hmmm, does that mean that the Dragon Princess was once a queen in this country, or is she a member of the royal family?

As for being a knight, that might be a mistress slot.

''His Majesty the Dragon Emperor and Princess Long were deeply in love with each other as it were, and they were so close that everyone was envious of them.

It's like a love story.

But their sweet days didn't last long. A large army of demons has moved into this country. The demons are fighting with the dragons against our country. I've heard that the demons led a group of powerful demons to attack our country to fight alongside the dragons.

Wow, such an incident happened after I died.

"The dragon knights went into battle with their dragons. Of course, their fellow dragon knight, the Dragon Princess, wanted to go into battle with them.

Duh.

I noticed that not only me, but also Liliera-san, Mina-san and the others were listening to Ryune's story.

''But His Majesty the Dragon Emperor didn't allow the Dragon Princess-sama to go to the battlefield together. Those who could fight, even if they were women, would go to the battlefield, so the Dragon Princess was indignant, wondering why she was the only one not allowed to go out. Even if you are called the Dragon Princess, you are still a knight. Then I asked His Majesty the Dragon Emperor that it was only natural for me to go out on the battlefield for the sake of my people.

Yes, the Dragon Princess is right about this.

In the era we were living in, both men and women who had the strength to fight against demons were on the battlefield.

Also, regardless of gender, those who were strong were strong regardless of gender.

It really was a unicorn.

While I was remembering this, Ryune's story continued.

''That's just as well. In fact, the Dragon Princess had the Dragon Emperor's son in her belly.

Yeah, we certainly can't fight together then.

If the Dragon Emperor in this story is the same as the one I know, then he's the former King of Dragonia.

The favorite princess who is carrying the king's child can't fight on the battlefield, can she?

No, it's not good for a pregnant woman to fight on the battlefield even if she's not the king's child.

''And His Majesty the Dragon Emperor said to the Dragon Princess. This battle, none of our dragon knights may not come back. But if you're here, as long as you survive, we won't lose the inheritor of the Dragon Emperor Style Sorcerer Technique. So, please let the Dragon Emperor Style continue to exist until future generations.

Hmm, the fact that he asked the Dragon Princess to do such a thing means that the Dragon Emperor was convinced that they wouldn't make it out alive in that battle.

I don't know how long after I died in my previous life, but I understand that there was a pretty big war.

And so the Dragon Princess remained in the country, waiting for the return of His Majesty the Dragon Emperor, who had gone to war. But finally the dragon emperor and his men never returned, and the dragon princess became the last dragon knight in this country.

When Leune finishes speaking, the room goes silent.

Everyone has a mysterious look on their face as if they were deeply moved by the fact that such an event once happened in this country.

Huh?　But that doesn't seem to add up, does it?

''Hey, if what you just said is correct, shouldn't there be a dragon knight using the Dragon Emperor style in this country?　So why are you talking about apprenticing with me?　

Yes, that's right.

Everyone seems to have had the same question and is nodding in agreement with Liliera's words.

Yes, that's exactly why I wanted to ask you to be my apprentice.

Leune corrected her posture and looked straight into Liliera's eyes and told her why.

''As a matter of fact, hundreds of years ago, there was an epidemic of poor quality disease in this country, and a lot of dragon knights died from the disease.

An epidemic?

They didn't think that the disease was the cause, and they were all perturbed.

The first thing you need to do is to make sure that you have the right information. ...Finally, the remaining Dragon Emperor Style Sorcerer Technique techniques in my generation are less than half of what they were in their prime.

And with weakness after weakness, Leune said, he finally couldn't even beat the Green Dragon, and that's what he's doing now.

''So please!　Please pass on to me the Dragon Emperor style that you have inherited!

Leune-san rubs her forehead on the floor and asks Liliella-san to do it.

''Even if you say so...''

Liliera shrugged her shoulders, wondering what was wrong.

'I'm not the heir to the Dragon Emperor's School, and I can just barely beat a Blue Dragon. There's no way I could teach people anything.

Yeah, but still!　But you're still stronger than me!　I can't even defeat a wyvern, let alone a green dragon!

No, I don't think that's something to get off your chest.

I mean, isn't it bad enough that a dragon knight can't even beat a wyvern?

When I came to this town, they said dragon knights were a fairy tale, and how much weaker were the dragon knights in this era?

And if you're telling the truth, doesn't that make you royalty?　As expected, a mere adventurer would not be allowed to teach things to royalty, right?

Ah, come to think of it, that's right.

If Ryune-san is a descendant of the Dragon Princess, that means she's a descendant of the King, the Dragon Emperor.

''Oh, there's no need to worry about that. The epidemic of a few hundred years ago wiped out all the people in my direct lineage, and my clan itself has no idea how much of a blood connection to the Dragon Princess. Your mother said that it's possible that you may be descended from a disciple who has no blood ties at all.

I don't know about that, do you?

However, if the epidemic killed many dragon knights, including their successors, then there's certainly a high probability that the only ones left are disciples who are not related to them by blood.

If it was the child of an apprentice who lived far away from the main family home where his successors lived, that would certainly explain why he was able to escape from the epidemic.

It was normal for a skilled high school brother to live near the successor's house, while a disciple with lesser skills would live away from the dojo.

''But even so, I'll still refuse to teach you things. I'm still inexperienced, and I'm still learning techniques from my master.

Master...?

And that's where Liliera-san grins and gives a disgusted smile.

''Yes, yes, I have a master who taught me the Dragon Emperor Style.

I have a bad feeling about this.

"You're here?　An inheritor who has mastered the Dragon Emperor Style Sorcerer Technique?

No, no, not an heir apparent.

I'm sure you'll be able to find the right one for you.

"Yes, Lex-san here is the master who taught me the Dragon Emperor style empty spear technique!

''.........What?　This, this person?　But wasn't this person giving a demolition course just now?　I thought I was just a squire who takes care of the dragon knight's personal belongings!

Ryne-san shouts in surprise as if she can't believe it.

Hmm, this is the first time I've ever been mistaken for a squire.

''Didn't they hear about the demolition earlier?　Didn't he over there tell you that he was the best adventurer, an S-ranked adventurer?

And Liliera-san points to Jairo-kun.

Jairo-kun doesn't have to grin and smile meaningfully.

''I thought it was just a front to hide your identity...''

''Huh, you're still inexperienced for failing to measure the opponent's abilities. He is the real S-ranked adventurer and our master, Mr. Lex!

No, Mr. Liliella!　Oh, and you gyros don't have to get down on your knees and bow to me for nothing.

People are too flippant at times like this!

Oh, God, not even Mr. Norbu!

It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

"Don't tell me that you are the reincarnation of His Majesty the Dragon Emperor?

No, I am not.

It's really not true.

''Yeah, I don't know about the Dragon Emperor or anything, but my brother killed a bunch of messed up dragons in that mountain!

Looking at the direction Gyro-kun pointed in, Leune-san's eyes widened.

''Don't tell me it's Long Feng?　Then His Majesty the Dragon Emperor has finished the Election Ceremony and has accompanied the dragon?

''I don't know, but it's probably so!

Hey, hey, hey... Don't just talk to me like that.

And I'm not the Dragon King.

What?　So you don't mean to say that someone was riding the Golden Dragon that came into town the other day, do you mean His Majesty the Dragon Emperor?

Oh, that must be Lex.

Hey, Mr. Norbu, don't tell me what to do!

'Oh no, I thought I was going to die that time. I mean, across the board, I thought I was going to die every second that time.

Yeah, I thought I was going to die from a bunch of dragons and black dragons and wyverns and golden dragons and more than a few.

Huh?　Are people holding on to it?　Do you?

"But then my brother beat up all the dragons!　Even the Golden Dragon got blown up by my brother's one punch.

That was amazing. There was a giant dragon hovering in the air.

"You blew up the Golden Dragon?　The king of the most powerful dragons...?

After hearing everyone's story, Leune-san thought she was wannabe and shook her body, but this time she kneels down in front of me and bows her head.

''Please, Dragon Emperor-sama!　Please give me the Dragon Emperor style empty spear technique!

That's not why I'm here.

"To participate in the Dragon Princess Ceremony!

And now we have some strange words again!

?

Is it true that the Dragon Emperor has appeared?

I couldn't help but ask back when I received the report from my compatriots who were watching Long Feng.

The appearance of the Dragon Emperor means that those d*mned dragon knights will also rise again!

''Yeah, I heard that the Golden Dragon has descended into the human village with a human on board.

Unbelievable. I can't believe the Golden Dragon has humans on board again. I thought we destroyed all the dragon knights hundreds of years ago...

That's right, the dragon knight's bloodline should have all been cut off by that flowing disease.

"It seems there were survivors.

And they were preparing for us by keeping the existence of the survivors a secret.

Perhaps the recent failure of our brethren was due to the shadow of the remnants of the dragon knights lurking in the shadows.

But the real value of the dragon knights is in the presence of dragons.

It's hard to believe that they can oppose us without dragons.

Have they found a new way to fight us?

What do you want to do?

Our people come to us anxiously asking for our opinion.

Fool, how can we be afraid of humans?

It's time to destroy them. We will not sit by and watch men and dragons join forces again.

But golden dragons are a pain in the ass, aren't they?

Sure, it's a bit of a hassle to deal with the King of Dragons, the Golden Dragon.

But fighting him head-on isn't the only way to fight him.

"No problem. ''No problem, just let the demons we've gathered come to fight. You'll be able to find out if there's a good deal more to say. If the dragon emperor and the dragon knight are gone, there will be no reason for the dragons to lend a hand to the humans again.

That's right! Once the Dragon Emperor is gone, there are no dragon knights left to conquer.

Now that he's come into the picture, this is our chance!

If we are to have any chance of making a comeback, we have to do it right here!

Go ahead, I'll tell you what real fear is, human!