When the Princess got near their court, they were still on the field, talking amongst themselves and looking at the Dragons, surprised by seeing them peacefully laying on the ground, talking with Asadate and Takanari, with both of them seated on Mizukonta’s tail.
The students were in groups with their parents, and Viscount Robert dragged Taisetsuna to introduce her to some young Nobles that she hadn’t met in the Castle.
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Diana Olesk was in the group of Noble girls, and she spoke with a slight frown when she saw Taisetsuna arrive, “Our class just got a new addition… It is a pity that the Princess grants Noble titles left and right, lately, something that her father never did.”
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Before Taisetsuna could say a word, Robert answered, “I don’t understand why you are so upset, Diana, considering that your grandmother was merely the owner of a shoe shop when your grandfather, a Viscount, fell in love with her. And let’s not forget that she was not even born here; she was from the ‘Kingdom of Garam’. She could only marry your grandfather because he pleaded to the Princess’ grandfather so that he allowed it. And if my memory about Noble genealogy and titles is not failing me, your grandfather was his childhood friend, because if he was some other Noble, the Prince would never allow it.”
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Diana Olesk turned bright red with embarrassment, and Taisetsuna frowned at her. And that made her even angrier. “What are you looking at? You are only a Baronetess! I will be a Countess, a much higher title!”
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“I know, but that doesn’t make you any better than me. Or better than anyone else. Only you think that. I have no idea why you think so highly of yourself. Maybe that has something to do with the way you grew up, or it is all your reasoning, but I couldn’t care less. I have better things to worry about than what you think of me.”
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Taisetsuna turned her back on her and made a slight bow to the young Noble that Robert was introducing to her. Diana boiled in anger, and she pulled Taisetsuna’s arm, making her face her again.
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The young future Countess stared at the slightly annoyed Cat-kind girl and almost shouted, “I haven’t finished talking to you!”
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Taisetsuna kept on staring at the puffing young Noble girl and asked, “What more do you have to say, future Countess? Do you want to claim that you were raised properly as a Noble, or that you can do amazing embroidery or paintings? That you can discuss any subject or matter with any Noble? I already know all that, because Viscount Robert told me everything he learned as he was growing up, and he told me that Noble girls study similar subjects and some more. I already told you I don’t care! Why are you so worried about showing off that you are better than me? Are you in love with me or what?”
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“No! Of course, I am not in love with you! I just want to be sure you realise how much apart we are!”
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“I don’t care! Why is that so difficult for you to understand? I don’t know why you feel so threatened to the point of making a fool of yourself by shouting that! What the heck is wrong with you?”
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Diana turned red in anger, and she grabbed Taisetsuna’s collar and shook her, while she cried, “Because Robert has been always near you ever since you went to the Castle! I don’t know what he sees in you! You are nothing! You are just a lousy orphan that got lucky and gained a Knight title, and today you became a Baronetess!”
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Taisetsuna grabbed both wrists of the angry girl and squeezed them slightly, making her scream in pain. She then pulled her near and whispered in her ear, “I am being more than patient with you, dumbass. I can kill you anytime I want, I can ask my Unicorn to burn you to a crisp, and now I have two Dragons with me that for sure won’t mind eating you in a single bite. I am not someone you should mess with.”
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When Taisetsuna let her go, Robert placed a dagger against Diana’s neck and spoke, “Say the word, Leader, and I will get rid of her.”
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Taisetsuna made a slight grin and explained to the scared girl. “Did I forget to mention that Viscount Robert is a member of my Party, and follows my orders? Back away, future Countess Diana. Go play with your friends, live your life as you want, but don’t you ever try to include me in it. I have no interest in being near you or having you talk to me.”
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Diana looked at the serious Viscount with pleading eyes, only to feel his dagger pushed a bit more against her throat, as he warned her, “You heard her, Diana. Go away. Or else I will assume you are threatening her life, and I will kill you in a heartbeat. We are now in a Party of Adventurers, and I know very well how to deal with anyone that threatens my Leader. Even your title or your family won’t matter to me. Back away. I won’t warn you a second time.”
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Diana Olesk took a couple of steps back, her legs shaking with fear and her face completely pale.
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Robert looked around at the girls near her and the young Nobles around and warned them. “The same goes for everyone else. Mind your words and your actions near us. We may be Adventurers in training, but we are still Adventurers. We are used to dangerous situations, and we react first, worrying about the consequences later. You have all known me for several years, and you know that I have always worried about what everyone thought of me. That changed yesterday when Hinotsume, the King of the Dragons, treated me as his friend. Having a Dragon acknowledge a Human is a big deal, but the King of the Dragons? That is priceless.”
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They all vigorously nodded, because they all understood the importance and the respect that someone that a Dragon saw as a friend granted.
While Taisetsuna and Robert were dealing with the young Nobles, Nozomu was talking with the two puzzled Dragons and the two sisters, explaining the Princess’ plan.
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Hinotsume stood silent, and Mizukonta said after sending a mental question to him. “We understand the problem, Nozomu. We have known for centuries that our visits to this Academy could cause some doubts or jealousy in other countries, but as you are aware, meat sac’s business is not our business. I know how this might sound, but to us, Humans and Beast-kind are like insects with brief lives. None of your actions matters to us because all your actions fade with time, and only Dragons are left behind to remember. Still, we are going to help you. Not because of what the Kings of other countries might think, but because the Princess and you asked so politely. But this will come with a cost.”
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“I can not ask you to help with a war or an invasion? I would never do that, anyway.”
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Hinotsume approached his massive head and spoke to the curious Cat-kind sisters. “Can you give us some moments alone? Go warn the Princess and the Principal that you are staying here for lunch with Nozomu so that we can take you two to fly with us in the afternoon.”
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Takanari and Asadate jumped from Mizukonta’s tail, and Takanari asked Nozomu before leaving, “Is he mad with you? He looks serious.”
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“Perhaps it’s because I asked for a big favour. Go now. I need to hear what he has to say.”
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Takanari rushed to the front of Hinotsume’s big snout and said with a frown while poking his nose. “If you make him sad, you will have to deal with me, you hear?”
She ran away before the enormous Dragon could answer. He faced Nozomu and spoke, “That little meat sac has some nerves! I don’t even remember such a tiny thing ever threatening me! She looked as if she was willing to slice me in pieces with her bare hands!”
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“Yeah, I like her as well. She faced horrors when she was kidnapped by that horde of Goblins that caught her and her sister, but she remained strong and alive until Taisetsuna and I got to her. So, what is the cost that I have to pay for this favour?”
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Hinotsume spoke in such a low voice that Nozomu found it hard to believe such a massive being could speak so low. “If Raluth surfaces in your lifetime, you need to swear to me you will stand with the Dragons against him. You will do anything you can to kill him. Even if you have to kill me and Mizukonta to accomplish that.”
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“I… kill you? I mean, I already thought about facing Raluth, but why the need to kill you or Mizukonta?”
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“I killed the last one that was with us against Raluth. I killed him when I could no longer resist Raluth’s Magic power. He hesitated in killing me because he put our friendship above the future of the entire World. I wasn’t joking when I said that I am the ruler of this World, Nozomu. Even if I let my subjects live as they want, I do my very best to protect them. Like my father did before me, and my grandfather. And like my son will do after I am gone. This is the duty of the Dragons in this World. And we take great pride in it.”
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Nozomu jolted and asked, “You have a son? Where is he?”
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“In another country, controlling the population of Monsters. Our daughter is up north, doing that as well.”
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Nozomu took one deep, slow breath and spoke, “I have already thought about that, ever since you explained what my future could be and what happened to the one that could also make my explosions. If Raluth surfaces, I will fight him. If you, Mizukonta, or any other Dragon, Beast-kind or Human, stand in my way, I won’t hesitate. I can give you my word on that.”
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Hinotsume approached his massive snout even more and asked, “Even if a certain Cat-kind girl tries? Because she will for sure be controlled.”
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“I won’t need to kill her. I can knock her out and hide her somewhere so that she will be safe.”
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“Will you do that to all your friends? Because you already have a lot of friends, that will stand in your way. One of them might kill you while you are trying to knock him out. Or her.”
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“You are asking too many tough questions, Hinotsume. I am not sure what I will do then.”
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Hinotsume made a slight smile with his big lips and retorted, “You might need to consider that, Nozomu. Standing with the Dragons will mean going against anyone that falls under Raluth’s control. We are not immune to Raluth’s power, but we can endure far longer than any other being and take you near him. We won’t hesitate to kill anyone that stands in our way, because our duty is to this World. I hope you understand this.”
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Nozomu stretched forward his fist and touched Hinotsume’s nose with it, as he announced, “You have my word, Hinotsume. It will be a great honour to fight at your side. It will make me sad, but if you fall to Raluth’s power, I will kill you to accomplish my mission.”
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The moment his fist touched the enormous nose in front of him, Nozomu felt a tingling in his body. He looked at his fist and said, “Strange… I felt something weird…”
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“That is the Dragon’s Vow. Touch Mizukonta’s nose and repeat those same words you said to me, and I will then explain what it means.”
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When Mizukonta approached her head, Nozomu looked at his fist when, after touching her nose, he felt the same tingling in his body.
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Hinotsume explained, making him jolt, “Dragon’s Vow grants you access to our Magic. As long as we are in range, you can absorb our Magic and use it to make your explosions. You can’t use our Magic as we do, but you can reach out to it to change into those weird mushroom blasts like you called them.”
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“Cool... What is the range? I mean, how far can I be to absorb your Magic and use it to make an explosion?”
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“We can be up there in the sky, flying as high as we can, and you can be here on the ground. It is useful because the moment we feel we are starting to be controlled by Raluth, we can go up in the sky, and you will still have access to our Magic. It will also give you time to escape when we dive to get you. Or to kill us by absorbing all our Magic. Dragons are Magical Beings. It is our life force and the reason we exist. If we have no more Magic…”
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Nozomu completed, “… you die… This Dragon Vow seems to me to be a big deal. If… If I want, I can absorb all your Magic right now and kill you? Is that it?”
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“Yes, that is correct. Dragons can make this kind of vow with Humans or Beast-kind and increase their Magic one hundred times. There was once a less powerful and stupid Dragon that did that with a Human, and that was when the Empire appeared, many centuries ago. Making a Dragon’s Vow is a powerful and very serious thing, and we don’t grant that lightly. You are the first being that ever made a Vow with a Dragon Royalty after your predecessor, just for you to know how much we trust you.”
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Nozomu stumbled over to Mizukonta’s tail and sat on it, his head spinning. “Thanks… I am not sure if I am worthy of such honour... And why is the floor spinning? “
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“Side effects. Your body is getting used to the connection. You will feel better in no time.”
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“You could have warned me… I feel like throwing up…”
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“And why would I warn you and lose the chance for a good laugh? Heheheh!”
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Nozomu blinked, trying to focus his sight on the laughing red head in front of him. “You are the strangest Dragon I ever met, Hinotsume…”
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“Really? How many Dragons have you met then?”
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“Mizukonta one, you are number two. But you are the strangest of the pack, no doubt about it… Gosh, my stomach wants to come out of my mouth…”
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“Bah! Weakling! Suck it up, meat sac! I ate a big bloody Drake in the morning, and I have a pile of roasted Goblins to snack in the afternoon! Don’t you dare throw up and stench the air!”
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Nozomu felt his breakfast fighting to come out of his mouth, and he said, in desperation, “Do you mind stopping talking about disgusting things? I am in trouble here!”
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“What disgusting things? Drake’s flesh that we tore apart with our big teeth? Oh, did I mention that the Poison preserved the meat, and it was like they died one hour before? The blood was still fresh and juicy! One of the best meals I ever had!”
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Blarghhh!
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Hinotsume looked at the mess that Nozomu was making on the floor, and he mocked, “Weakling! Heheheh!”
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