As the carriage continued on, we encountered many more performers. Some showcased their art through singing or acting, while others performed impressive feats like blowing fire into the sky or gambling with monsters called black hounds.
Suzume’s and Seal’s eyes sparkled with fascination.
“Sora-san! What are those people doing?” Suzume asked.
“They are people who display their art and receive money from passersby. It’s also known as Ohineri,” I explained.
Ohineri refers to the money given by someone who is impressed by the displayed art. Suzume nodded in understanding.
The concentration of such performers in the city indicated its wealth, as those who couldn’t afford the luxuries of everyday life wouldn’t pay for temporary art.
As we conversed about these things, the carriage continued to move, and the bustling street gradually disappeared from view.
Eventually, we arrived at a magnificent building in the heart of the royal capital.
The prime location and grand appearance made it obvious that it was an aristocratic mansion. It likely belonged to a high-ranking aristocrat, possibly even surpassing the rank of a count. It wouldn’t surprise me if it turned out to be a royal residence.
Ahead of the mansion, several individuals seemed to be waiting for the messenger who had run ahead. There were soldiers, knights, stewards, and maids, each positioned with utmost precision. They all displayed a polite attitude, as if welcoming a king.
In front of the main gate stood a silver-haired lord, who appeared to be the master of the others.
He exuded an extraordinary aura and possessed an intensity that could make a wild tiger submit with just a glance.
At first glance, he seemed to be over fifty years old, but his demeanor showed no signs of aging.
This person was undoubtedly stronger than Elgart, the guild master and first-class adventurer. Who could he be?
…Well, I have a vague idea.
I muttered to myself.
Then, immediately after alighting from the carriage, my suspicions were confirmed.
“I am Pascal Jim Dragnote, the minister of King Torvald of Canaria. Heroes who saved Ishka. Welcome to the royal capital, Horus. Duke Dragnote extends a warm welcome to you.”
As soon as Duke Dragnote spoke, those behind him greeted us in unison.
The knights and soldiers on the right side of the duke placed their right hand on their chests.
The stewards and maids on the left side of the duke bowed deeply.
Their flawless conduct resembled that of a well-trained army, leaving Suzume and Seal astounded.
As for me, I wasn’t trembling, but I felt a slight apprehension inside.
Uh… Are we going to stay at Duke Dragnote’s mansion while we’re in the royal capital? In the mansion of the “Lightning” of the Kingdom of Canaria?
I wondered if they would allow us to stay at an inn in the city. I think the three of them would gladly raise their hands in agreement.
It was a sincere wish, but I couldn’t say “No, I’m fine” to a duke who welcomed me in such a conventional manner.
That would be more than rude.
There was no choice. Let’s hope that the members of the duke’s household won’t be bothered by etiquette.
It would have been a good idea to teach Suzume and Seal the basics of etiquette during the journey. I am familiar with the imperial style, but it would have been better than knowing nothing.
—No, I should have done it much earlier.
As I pondered, I realized that Luna María had received education at the academy of sages, so her knowledge of etiquette should be impeccable. I could have learned from Luna María about the customs of the kingdom. It’s too late to think about that now, though.
With those thoughts in mind, we passed through the gate under the duke’s guidance, traversed a vast garden—large enough to accommodate the entire Ishka Adventurers’ Guild—and entered the mansion.
Inside, the duke’s family awaited us. Among them, I spotted the girl I had met in Clau-Solas’s stable, and my eyes widened in surprise.
It seemed that she had also noticed me—or rather, she must have known I was coming—as she smiled gently, careful not to draw attention from those around her.
It was only later that I discovered she was Astrid Dragnote, the eldest daughter of Duke Dragnote.
And there was another person who captured my attention besides Astrid.
A slender girl, leaning on Astrid for support, gave us a somewhat bashful smile.
She was likely Claudia Dragnote, the one Fiodor mentioned as “the duke’s daughter suffering from an illness.”
My gaze remained fixed on Claudia. Not in a positive sense, but rather in a negative one.
She stood out as an anomaly, especially since Astrid’s soul, standing beside her, emitted a radiant glow.
Claudia’s soul was exceptionally faint. So faint that even a slight taste would deplete the girl’s soul.
Even if she didn’t die today or tomorrow, I doubted she would last another month—Claudia’s condition had already reached such a critical stage.
If this was the result of a curse, the person who cursed Claudia seemed to possess the ability to manipulate her soul. A power similar to mine that devoured souls.
My disposition and gaze became cold.
When Claudia looked at me, she blinked as if perplexed.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
King Torvald, Prince Hazardrd, and Marquis Corquia.
Only these three individuals matched the names and faces as stipulated.
Speaking of the king, it was refreshing to witness a simple ceremony. The fatigue was less than half of the lengthy and extravagant ceremonies in the Adastera Empire.
I didn’t have a strong impression of the king himself. He appeared dignified and respectable, but his status seemed slightly lower than that of the Duke Dragnote I had met earlier.
Next was the prince, whose voice carried a strong presence. As soon as he saw me, he exclaimed, “Offer the Indigo Wyvern.” The thirteen-year-old prince apparently aspired to have Clau-Solas as his dragon in the future.
An Indigo Wyvern is considered the most powerful among the Wyvern race, and Clau-Solas, who grew up in the wild, possesses a power that sets him apart from other Wyverns in captivity.
Regarding the difference in power, when Clau-Solas was placed in the dragon knights’ stable, the other Wyverns present immediately calmed down and assumed a posture of obedience, lowering their long necks to the ground one by one. It’s not surprising that he caught the prince’s attention at first glance.
Of course, I have no intention of giving away Clau-Solas. However, the prince seems to believe that I will agree without hesitation, which is quite troublesome.
Despite the prince’s behavior, I don’t find him unpleasant. His desire for Clau-Solas stems from a genuine liking for the Wyvern. Additionally, he harbors some jealousy towards me.
Apparently, he resents the fact that his father, the king, referred to me as the “Indigo Dragon Knight.”
Well, it’s like having an alternative name, and I understand that having a nickname is highly appealing to a child.
However, his reference to me as a dragon knight was a way to belittle me and impress others by saying, “This man is beneath me.” It’s not something to be envious of… but I don’t think a thirteen-year-old can grasp all that.
In any case, Prince Hazardrd is a young man filled with youthful ambition and royal arrogance.
By the way, when the prince noticed Duke Dragnote and Astrid, he distanced himself from me with a somewhat embarrassed expression. I couldn’t deny his request to have Clau-Solas.
As I found the prince’s behavior peculiar, the duke explained the situation with a tinge of bitterness.
It seems that the prince recently called off his engagement with Claudia.
The cancellation of the engagement was conveyed to Duke Dragnote by the king, and the prince hasn’t said a word about it to the duke. He hasn’t even visited Claudia.
I see. I can understand why it would be difficult for him to face the duke and Astrid.
The last person is Marquis Corquia, the second in line among Canaria’s aristocrats after Duke Dragnote. He claims to have a friendly relationship with the Adastera Empire and reportedly disagrees with Duke Dragnote’s policy of independence.
“Are you from the empire, Sora-dono? We will soon make some preparations, so I would like to know about your hometown,” said Marquis Corquia, laughing amiably. He reminds me of the number “1” with his wiry frame and towering height. He doesn’t exude the same level of power as Duke Dragnote.
However, there is a sharpness in his gaze, and his gray eyes possess an intense brilliance akin to a sharp blade. He is likely a talented bureaucrat.
Marquis Corquia’s strangely specific about broken engagement, probably to imply that Duke Dragnote’s power is diminishing.
…Although I’m not particularly interested in the political disputes of the Canaria royal palace, it only adds to my unnecessary knowledge. I engaged in conversations with various counts and leaders, but it became quite tiresome to remember everything.
“Well, at least Suzume’s accomplishments have been acknowledged. I’m grateful for that.”
The next day.
As I woke up in Duke Dragnote’s mansion, I shrugged and brought breakfast to Clau-Solas.
King Torvald praised Suzume for her achievements, as requested by the slave association. Suzume now has the assurance of staying in the Kingdom of Canaria. There shouldn’t be any audacious individuals willing to challenge a Kijin who received compliments from the king himself.
If anyone still dares to go after Suzume despite all this, I will devour them without hesitation.
With that thought in mind, I made my way to the Wyvern stable in the duke’s mansion.
Initially, Clau-Solas was supposed to be placed in the palace stable, but considering the prince’s potential recklessness, I asked the duke to move him here.
If the prince were to interact with Clau-Solas inappropriately, the angered Wyvern might crush him with his tail. I refuse to be held responsible for the prince’s demise.
“Hm?”
Upon entering the stable, I saw a figure standing in front of Clau-Solas.
What gave me a sense of déjà vu was the presence’s long blonde hair.
I wondered if it was Astrid, who had come to visit Clau-Solas, but the shadow of the figure was small. Astrid is taller than me, even without heels. Unlike her, this presence reached only to my chest.
She noticed me and turned towards me with a slightly awkward movement. It was Duke’s daughter, Claudia Dragnote.
“Good morning, Sora-san.”
“Yes, good morning, Claudia-sama. Did you come to see the Indigo Wyvern?”
“Ah, yes, that’s right! When I heard what my sister said earlier, I really wanted to see him for myself…”
She had long blonde hair and clear purple eyes. Her fair skin was extremely pale, and her limbs were slender.
But her demeanor was strong, and the intensity in her gaze emitted a powerful aura. To be frank, she was my type of girl.
“But why so early?”
“I go for a morning walk because I’ve been feeling well lately. If I don’t make the most of it while I can, my body will grow weaker.”
The duke’s daughter struck a pose, clasping her hands together. She seemed quite active.
As I approached, Claudia bowed and turned her gaze back to Clau-Solas. I didn’t need to see her face to know that her eyes were sparkling.
She blushed slightly, likely due to the excitement of being able to see an Indigo Wyvern up close.
“But these indigo scales are truly beautiful. I can understand my father’s obsession… um, can I touch him a little?”
“That’s something you should ask him, not me.”
“Ah, right! Um, Clau-Solas, I’m sorry, but may I touch you a bit?”
“Pugy!”
“Please! Ah, my name is Claudia. Closest friends call me Clau.”
“Pugy?”
“You’re Klau, and I’m Clau. We can consider ourselves companions!”
“Pugyu?”
Clau-Solas hesitated for a moment, but the fact that they shared the “Same name” seemed to catch his attention, as Wyverns hold great importance in their names.
He tapped the ground with his tail once, as if saying, “Oh well.”
“Thank you so much!”
Expressing her gratitude, Claudia reached out her hand to touch his scales. She was determined to reduce the distance to zero, just like Seal had done so many times. She was a formidable girl.
By the way, is it normal for a dragon knight or something to speak naturally with a Wyvern? Speaking of that, her sister Astrid was touching Clau-Solas in Ishka’s stable.
The Wyvern ridden by a dragon knight is basically owned by the country, and as seen in the stable, Duke Dragnote possesses many Wyverns.
Only those sisters who grew up in such a household could make Clau-Solas feel something.
TLNote : After finishing Volume 2, I might pause translating this novel. BUT! If “Revenge of Soul Eater” wins the poll, I’ll continue with Volume 3. Your votes will decide. Thanks for your support!
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