“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?… Read more

“In imperial currency conversion, about ninety million gald. That’s this time’s reward, and if I roughly calculate future reward amounts based on the scale of the surveyed ore veins, I think it will easily exceed one billion.”
 
It was an amount beyond Falsen’s comprehension.
 
But there was something even more incomprehensible.
 
“…Why would Kurtz-dono give us such an amount?”
 
“I don’t know. From my perspective as a merchant, I’d say it’s an impossible contract, and anyone else would clearly see it as disproportionate and excessive.”… Read more

[–So you have come, visitor from beyond reason]
 

Those words were not sounds uttered from a throat.
 
They were more like thoughts transmitted through magic power, resonating directly within one’s mind.
 
“I have come in place of those who carry the blood of kings. The descendants of the guardians who lived in this land have grown weary from the effects of the eruption and are now resting in my territory.”
 
[I am aware.… Read more

---

 
“It’s a bit iffy whether you could call it an acquaintance. It’s just that when I stopped by a town to investigate Fleet Volcano, he told me about [the Dragon King’s graveyard]—that was the extent of our relationship.”
 
In terms of time, it was only a few hours of association.
 
He had happened to see him at a tavern, and by coincidence, he was a resident of Vechta Village, their investigation destination. Kurtz had simply listened to the legends he told in order to gather information.… Read more

“Even if he had abilities like prophecy or precognition, what he’d obtain through them would only be ‘information.’ To utilize or make use of that ‘information,’ you need either an appropriate position or the ability to look beyond what can be gained from the information.”
 
Even if Kurtz had somehow obtained information that [Fleet Volcano would erupt], as a child, he wouldn’t be able to utilize it. At best, he could only avoid danger in advance.… Read more

About two weeks had passed since the refugees arrived in Felmund.
 
By that time, the construction of temporary housing had been completely finished, and the dragonkin’s living foundation had been established.
 
And—
 
“—Good, it seems things are going quite well, which is excellent.”
 
Hearing the report from Falsen, Edel nodded with satisfaction.
 
“As expected of dragonkin, the progress of excavation work is much faster than what humans could accomplish. At this rate, we might be able to confirm the types and quality of minerals extracted today and even get to selecting buyers.”… Read more

Chapter 3

 
Three years had passed since Artesia’s death, and by the time the epidemic known as the “World Tree’s Curse” had completely subsided, Kurtz was flying around various places gathering information.
 
However—by that time, the world was gradually beginning to change.
 
While the Ornament Duke family was expanding their territory toward the northern part of the continent, using Sylvayu as their base while controlling the elves, a tragic incident occurred among the dragonkin.… Read more

“Anyway, that’s the reason why only male dragonkin are said to deviate greatly from human appearance compared to other demi-human Race. Indeed, male dragonkin possess outstanding physical abilities even among demi-humans, and there are records of times in the past when they prospered to the point of being feared by humans and other demi-humans.”
 
“I see. But being strong and having a different appearance from other demi-humans, it sounds like there must have been a history of various hardships and difficult times.”… Read more

“Now then… Falsen-Vechta. I, in the name of Blaskas and as lord of Felmund, swear to guarantee your treatment and livelihood with certainty.”

Trakia declared while directing his crimson eyes at him.

“The [oath] we speak is not mere words. It is a steel covenant that will not bend no matter what happens—even if I must stake my life, I will give you the best possible outcome.”

He spoke while directing straight, burning red eyes at him.… Read more

Chapter Two

What do people do first when an unexpected event occurs?

That is [passing the blame around].

“–I understand your situation, Kobald-dono.”

In a spacious conference room, a well-dressed dragonman nodded his dragon head up and down.

In response, the dwarf man called Kobald, who had cultivated a rich beard, nodded with a serious expression.

“Our Empinada territory avoided human casualties from this eruption, but our main industry—mining and refining operations—has come to a halt.… Read more