“Mount Fleet was a resting place and also a place for the [Dragon King] to safely raise children who would carry on the next generation. That’s why that land is a [Cradle], and your ancestors were appointed as [Guardians] to protect both the land and the children.”
It wasn’t as if they had never harbored any doubts about their mission.
Was this really a place worth protecting, even while being mocked and scorned by others?
Was there meaning in staying in a land called a “graveyard” and dedicating their entire lives to it?
Was it truly so important that it was worth sacrificing their fathers and fellow villagers, putting the remaining survivors in danger?
After sharing dreams since childhood, learning vast knowledge to fulfill those dreams before returning to the village, and witnessing the fate of a childhood friend who ultimately sacrificed themselves to save him—seeing this end, he even despaired that perhaps all the will and faith they had maintained was nothing but a hollow construct.
Swaying with inner turmoil, as the one in a position to unite everyone, he had even chosen the decision to leave the land in the end.
However—
“—So this is what our dreams looked like.”
Gazing at the gigantic egg before his eyes, Falsen’s voice trembled.
“The existence we believed in was neither fantasy nor falsehood.”
It was easy to understand that the egg had been laid by the Dragon King.
Not through knowledge or logic, but through instinct, he could comprehend it.
“The time we spent and the feelings we held were never meaningless…!”
They were descendants who inherited the blood of the Dragon King.
They were the descendants of the [Dragon King].
These were the descendants named “Dragonia—Those Close to the Dragon King,” and the blood flowing within him taught him that the being before his eyes was the one they had worshipped.
That is why Falsen raised his dragon head high and looked up to the heavens.
“—The will and feelings we upheld were not wrong in any way!!”
Shedding tears, he roared toward the heavens.
So that the clan members who had protected their mission and buried their bones in their homeland could hear.
So that his father and grandfather, who had connected traditions and faith through countless years, could hear.
So that his friend who had pursued the dream before his eyes could hear.
After a while, Falsen lowered his dragon head and turned his gaze to Kurtz.
“…Regarding this matter, I would like to express my gratitude once again as the representative of our clan.”
“Gratitude is unnecessary. As I said before, finding the Dragon King’s egg and delivering it to you was something like my own way of returning a favor.”
“Haha… And yet you’re giving us our god, so it’s quite divine punishment, isn’t it?”
When Falsen’s mouth corners curved upward broadly, Kurtz also curved his mouth corners and returned a smile.
“Besides, your dreams haven’t ended. From the previous Dragon King, you guardians have been entrusted with a new mission—to raise and protect the next Dragon King.”
“That is—”
“The Fleet Volcano’s internal terrain has been distorted by the great eruption, and there’s also the possibility of frequent small-scale volcanic activity in the future, so it can’t be called safe. The egg would normally have the Dragon King as a parent dragon infusing magic power to promote hatching, but it would be difficult for you to handle this in your current situation.”
After stating this preface, Kurtz raised one finger.
“But… if you continue mining operations in Felmund from now on and become citizens who contribute to our territory, we will continue to lend you the volcanic region where your current residences are located, and if you, as our citizens, seek assistance in raising the next Dragon King, we promise full cooperation.”
The current Falsen and his people were not bound to the land.
If life at Fleet Volcano was difficult, and protecting the next Dragon King was the new mission given to them, then there was no need to be fixated on the land anywhere.
“This land is a paradise created by those of Eisenhud who wished to remove the barriers between races and desired eternal peace. We respect the ideals and will that Eisenhud upheld, and we pledge to call all who live in this land equally our ‘friends’ and to strive so that they may spend their time in tranquility.”
Therefore, Kurtz said with a smile.
“Once again—won’t you become my friend, Falsen?”
Kurtz thrust out his fist along with an unabashed smiling face.
Previously, Edel had called Kurtz a “mysterious child.”
Now he could understand the meaning of those words.
“You have not only proven our dreams but also extended a helping hand to us—you could be called our benefactor. So it would be proper for me to say it first.”
Bending his back and meeting the gaze of the small child before him, he declared:
“—Would you become my friend, Kurtz?”
Curving his mouth corners broadly and baring his fangs, Falsen also thrust out his fist.
Seeing Falsen’s appearance, Kurtz laughed and took a step forward.
“You’re a friend who shows quite a powerful smile.”
“I’m about the only one who laughs like this. Unlike the others, I’m neither cheerful nor sociable by nature, so I’ve developed the habit of smiling without opening my mouth wide.”
“That’s fine. There’s no one here who would be concerned about seeing a friend laugh.”
While returning such words, Kurtz bumped fists with him.
He truly could only be called a mysterious child.
As if seeing through everything, he offered the words that one desired to hear.
Just hearing his words strangely made one’s heart soar.
He didn’t understand the reason, but—
The feeling of being happy to become his friend felt undoubtedly genuine.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.GITHUB.IO
Afterward, the Dragon King’s egg was carried to the volcanic region.
This was to provide proper explanation to the people of Vechta Village, but even that proved unnecessary.
The villagers had been elated by the success of the mining operation, but the moment they saw the Dragon King’s egg, perhaps instinctively understanding what it was, they quietly knelt and everyone shed tears.
Surely the others felt the same way as Falsen.
The existence of the Dragon King had been fading among their kinsmen, yet they had continued to live believing in it, and learning that their clan’s dreams were real, they rejoiced from the bottom of their hearts.
Then, Falsen once again explained to the villagers about their original role given by the Dragon King and the actions they should take in the future, proposing to remain in Felmund and become citizens in order to ensure the safe hatching and rearing of the next Dragon King.
Regarding this matter, due to the background of being former Eisenhud territory, opposition arose from the elderly dragonfolk, but considering the favors they had received, the majority opinion was that “they should judge based on what has been done for their current selves, not past grudges.”
Thus, the people of Vechta Village decided to remain in Felmund—
“—Alright, let’s grill!! I’m gonna grill all the meat in this world!!”
“Hey Glad!! Don’t say you’re gonna grill all the meat in the world!! If you lump it all together as meat, that would include humans and cute puppies and kitties too!!”
“Huh!? Then what should I say!?”
“Add the clarification that it’s mainly beef, pork, and poultry for food consumption to put everyone at ease, you bastard!!”
“Gizaia, even in this blazing heat you don’t forget to be considerate—that’s amazing!!”
“I don’t want to cause unnecessary worry for Ojou-sama on such a celebratory day!!”
Watching the half-naked large men grilling meat while linking shoulders among the noisy dragonfolk, Lucia and Feiyu, who were submerged in the makeshift pool, looked at them with half-closed eyes and said:
“…Hey, why are those people fine in this heat?”
“Cooking with lava and such in this temperature—normally people would collapse, wouldn’t they…?”
“No, you mustn’t think of those two as ordinary humans. It’s better to think of them as different life forms in human shape to avoid unnecessary questions.”
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