Chapter 197

Chapter 197: War Dragon Storeus

Hestia Village.
Administrator Isabella looked at the dawn that was cautiously brightening from the east and thought.
“They should be arriving soon.”
This matter was the most important task as an administrator.
If there were results, capable adventurers would flock in large numbers, and if there were many adventurers, merchants would increase even more.
That was why a welcoming ceremony was being prepared for the first expedition at the East Gate.
Celebratory events are better the more commotion there is.
While processing the work accumulated until then, she prepared to start the day.
— Administrator-nim.
— What is the matter?
— It is nothing serious, but the weather seems quite bad. I came to ask if we should continue as planned.
Bad weather?
Isabella could not believe those words.
She herself had confirmed that the weather was clear just 30 minutes ago and had returned.
— Let me verify.
Isabella stood up from her seat and stepped outside.
He was not talking nonsense.
What caught Isabella’s sight was the same thing they were seeing.
— What on earth…?
The sky, which clearly did not have a single cloud, was now filled with gloomy dark clouds that billowed like a sea.
— Did Iorga’s side summon these clouds?
— No. The Blue Eye does not create dark clouds recklessly.
— Then…
Only one being could create clouds like these.
— Why that damn rogue bastard…?
Thunder Dragon, Storeus.
It was known that the territory of Storeus’s spawn was in the Southwest.
However, Storeus had no greed for such territory, and was a dragon that lived drifting with the wind, using the clouds above the sky as his ship.
An existence similar to a calamity that idled about like a slacker, and then hurled lightning whenever he got bored or annoyed.
That Storeus had arrived in the Far East, where he had never set foot before.
“Why?”
The clouds billowed and flew swiftly toward the Far East, the Devil’s Land.
As the color of the sky soaked in dawn was revealed, the clouds blended with the darkness of the Far East at that moment,
Kugugung—!
A roar shook the sky and the earth.

Devil’s Land.
— The Captain had a reason to settle here. To think he has been monopolizing such fun things all by himself!
The corners of the large-bodied dragon’s long snout, Storeus, curled upward.
It might simply look like he was smiling, but to Erica, who knew Storeus, there was nothing more chilling than that.
One wrong move, and it was a crisis where everyone could die.
Erica cautiously took a step forward and greeted him.
— I pay my respects to the Great Aspect of Lightning, the War Dragon, Storeus-nim.
— Do not pay respects, inferior thing.
A chilling tone that contrasted with the jovial laughter.
At that moment, something flew toward the adventurers, piercing through the dense demonic energy.
— Ugh, uuuugh…
— Gasp, gasp…
A primal fear that they were feeling for the first time in their lives.
Naturally, a five-letter name came to their minds.
Dragon Fear.
The class gap existing between mortals and immortals.
It was the same for Erica, a dragon spawn.
His claw pointed to the ground.
— Since when did I say you could keep your head held high before me? Kneel and show proper etiquette, unholy thing.
The adventurers knelt one by one.
However, Erica did not kneel easily.
No, she could not.
Nevertheless, she had the pride of being a spawn of Iorga.
She must not kneel easily before anyone other than Iorga.
Yet at the same time, she had to bend that pride to protect the expedition as Captain Eri.
The moment she attempted to kneel, someone grabbed her shoulder.
It was the Armored Knight.
She was stopping her from kneeling.
— W-what are you doing?
Her speech stuttered due to tension.
Erica’s face had turned pale.
Does she perhaps not know what happens if that rogue Storeus takes offense, and is trying to act tough?
She wanted to tell her to let go, but it was already too late.
Storeus did not miss even that brief moment.
— Hooh… So you will not let another’s child kneel before another?
Storeus chuckled.
It was already too late.
When that laughter stopped, a lightning bolt would turn them to dust.
— Interesting. Very interesting.
However, contrary to Erica’s thoughts.
Instead of generating lightning, Storeus simply turned his body around.
— I have other business, so take your time coming.
Storeus just flew away like that.
They were dumbfounded.
It felt as if a storm that tears through everything had grazed past them.
“Why did he just leave?”
In this situation, it was the moment for Storeus, who loves finding faults, to act like a rogue.
“Did he simply leave in silence because he had other business?”
Impossible.
Even if he had other business, turning them into a handful of ashes was entirely possible.
That was not an exception even for Erica, a spawn of Iorga, and of captain rank at that.
“Which means it is because of this Armored Knight.”
A person who committed the impiety of keeping their head held high, yet could not be touched recklessly.
“Who on earth is this person?”
In any case, thanks to Storeus not throwing a tantrum, they were able to return safely to the village.
After the grand welcoming ceremony, Erica tried to speak with the Armored Knight, but by the time they arrived, she had already disappeared.

The clouds that had headed toward the Far East came to a stop before Valdrova Castle.
It was a size that made it feel as though a great mountain were floating in the air, as if a single strike from the storm clouds could collapse that castle.
Ruri was standing at the main gate, looking toward those storm clouds.
She knew who the owner of those storm clouds was, and had the intuition that he would come here.
Kung!
With the sound of a thunderclap, a form appeared before her.
A giant dragon head loomed right in front of her.
Her body shuddered at the fear that touched her instincts, but she forced herself to bow her head in etiquette.
— I pay my respects to the Great Aspect of Lightning, the War Dragon, Storeus-nim.
— Is your mistress inside?
— She is out at the moment. She will return soon, so if you could wait a moment—.
— True, she will return soon. I saw her on my way here.
— …
Ruri was able to understand those words immediately.
Storeus already knew where Valdrova was and had come to see her.
Even if that armor could deceive the dragon spawns, dragons of his own kind would have already noticed.
— Until your mistress arrives, I will kill time, relieve boredom. Guide me to the guest room and bring alcohol, Silverwind girl.
— I apologize, but this is the castle of my mistress-nim Valdrova, and at the same time a castle for humans. Therefore, it will be cramped in your dragon form.
— Hmm, it is cramped, indeed.
His form gradually shrank, transforming into a single man.
Dark blue hair like that of a wild horse.
Fierce eyes as if nothing in the world pleased him, and a smirk on his bearded mouth.
— It has been a while since I was in this form. So, when will you bring my alcohol?
— …I will guide you to the reception room first. Please, this way…
Ruri turned her head and guided him, walking ahead.
She appeared to be receiving the guest calmly, but she too was oppressed by that spirit.
Her neatly clasped hands were drenched in sweat.
“Pure power without a shred of consideration…”
Dragons know that people fear their very existence.
So they conceal their forms, or try to suppress their energy with magic.
That was the behavior mainly displayed by those called Guardian Dragons.
However, Storeus was different.
Overwhelming strength suited his temperament more than consideration.
That was no exception for Ruri either.
From the very first moment they met, he had been attacking intensely to break Ruri’s professional composure.
“I have to endure…”
Ruri guided him to the reception room and offered him a glass.
— What a hassle.
Storeus tossed the glass aside and snatched the liquor bottle she was holding, drinking directly from it.
Despite being high-proof liquor, he emptied half the bottle in a single gulp.
Storeus furrowed his brows and grumbled.
— What cheap trash. Does our Archduke-nim live too frugally?
— Her Highness the Archduke does not enjoy alcohol and has no desire to collect…
— So you learned to serve such cheap trash to guests?
— I apologize. I will do my utmost to satisfy you on your next visit.
— So there is also a ‘next time’ for your master.
Storeus’s eyes turned toward Ruri.
She did her absolute best to suppress her instincts.
— Drinking alone is not fun after all. You will need a drinking companion, girl.
— Yes.
— Do you know how to drink?
— …
— Answer me.
— …I do not know.
— Then you will learn today. Bring the glass again.
— …
— An adult offers you alcohol, and you refuse?
— …
— You have aged so much and your height has not grown even a single span, and is your inside still that of a child as well? Ridiculous. Does your master wish for you to stay like this?
He did not lighten the pressure in the slightest.
Ruri had no choice but to bring the glass.
— Receive it with both hands. Politely.
— …Yes.
He filled a large whiskey glass to the brim, almost overflowing.
The strong scent of alcohol pierced her nose.
— Drink it in one gulp.
— …
— If you spill even a little or cheat, you will have to drink another glass.
Ruri slowly brought the glass to her mouth.
The closer the alcohol came to her mouth, the more fiercely the ripples churned in her glass.
— Ruri.
A clear, pure feminine voice filled the reception room.
— Put the glass down.
Storeus turned his head.
Red hair with two pairs of horns.
Golden eyes.
Unlike her gentle impression, her expression was grave.
— What are you doing? Do you not do what your master says?
The pressure enveloping Ruri’s body was released.
Ruri placed the glass down and folded her hands politely over her apron.
— Welcome back, Master-nim?
— Ruri, can you step outside for a moment?
— No. I must attend to you—.
— It is all right.
Valdrova smiled softly and touched her cheek.
— You have worked hard.
Although her expression had not wavered a single bit, she already knew that Ruri was at her limit.
— Then…
Ruri exited the room carefully.
The door closed, and Valdrova faced Storeus alone.
— It has been a while, Valdrova.
— It has been a while, Storeus.
A light greeting, calling each other by their names.
— And thank you.
— For what? For educating that insolent attendant?
— For not revealing my identity in front of the people.
Valdrova added.
— And I would appreciate it if you did not lay a hand on Ruri.
— Ruri… So that insolent one has a name as well.
Storeus laughed as if it were absurd.
— And do not thank me for something like that. Why would I expose you if it provides no amusement for my entertainment? Would I stop the Great Red Dragon from enjoying herself? Rather, you need amusement.
— …
— Though I could not stand seeing that insolent Iorga girl enjoying her amusement.
She was talking about Erica.
— Was there a need to humiliate her that much?
— What does it matter if another person’s children are humiliated? Is it not simply good for you if they are humiliated?
— I do not like that sort of thing.
— Hypocrite. How long do you want to live as a good girl, Captain?
— Captain…
At those words, Valdrova closed her eyes tightly.
— Possessing such formidable power, yet never creating a spawn even once, and the only ones you command are spawns of others. No accumulated wealth, and you do not wish to enjoy yourself. Living like that, I thought you were finally having a bit of fun…
Storeus burst into hollow laughter.
— You got engaged to a fragile human?
— Ferda-san is a much more amazing person than you think.
Valdrova refuted without hesitation.
Those words irritated Storeus.
— What is so amazing about him?
— He can do things that I cannot do.
— Oh, really? To me, he only looks like an ant strutting around a little among ants.
He extended his index finger and said.
— What do you think would happen if I pressed down with this finger?
— …
— Obvious. He would burst without resistance—.
— Storeus.
Valdrova’s tone lowered.
— That person is going to be my husband. Do not speak lightly of him.
However, he did not back down.
His eyes pressed against Valdrova.
— And what if I do?
Yet Valdrova responded without wavering.
— I will get angry.
She placed her hand gently over her chest.
— I will get terribly angry with you.
— Ridiculous. Have you ever gotten angry at anyone, Captain?
— Yes.
Valdrova said.
— But I only regretted it every single time, so I stopped.
— Have you resolved to regret it for that human?
— If I hesitate and Ferda-san gets hurt, there would be nothing I would regret more.
Storeus pulled back the finger that was about to tap the table.
Storeus threw his body back against the sofa.
— Do you love that human?
— Yes.
— Iorga said that too. But that guy’s partner was not a human, but an elf. A High Elf, right? Weirdos who serve the World Tree as their mother.
— …
— So you know how it ended?
— I know.
Valdrova still remembered that scene.
Iorga killed his fiancee with his own hands.
And he suffered terribly.
She wanted to go to her and comfort her.
— Even that know-it-all who lives in his own world could not do it, how could you?
— …
— Humans or elves, they are merely pets. Playing with them a few times is fun, but once you start taking on responsibilities, it becomes a headache. You are exactly like that. I can see you worrying that the embers right before your eyes might go out.
— Storeus.
Her golden eyes stared fixedly at Storeus.
The emotion contained within them was neither fighting spirit nor anger.
It was pity.
Valdrova pitied him.
Storeus’s face, which had been sneering and grating on Valdrova’s nerves, conversely became distorted.
— That is why I cannot like you. No one can like you.
Storeus stood up.
— For old times’ sake, I will only give you one discreet warning, Captain. Slaying things that come from the Devil’s Land is fine. But do not set foot beyond that. For your own good, and for the good of this continent.
— …
— This is the decision that white thing made.