I, Reincarnate as the Leader of the Villainous Knight Order - Chapter 186: Jest’s Delivery 2 [Rafios Kingdom SIDE]

Chapter 186: Jest’s Delivery 2 [Rafios Kingdom SIDE]

“Mom~! I’m home~!”

“Oh, Jest. Welcome back. Was Master in good health?”

“Yeah! Justin and everyone else were doing great. And you know~”

After handing over the letters in the royal capital and teleporting back to the mountain nest, Jest started happily telling Jeanne about everything that had happened in the Eldrasia Kingdom. He completely forgot to deliver the letter.

Kuro, Jest’s father, watched them with a smile. As Jeanne asked questions and Jest recalled things while occasionally groaning in thought.

“Wouldn’t Jest transforming into a dragon be more effective than that magic tool?”

“Ah, Dad! If I transform, will I turn into a magic tool?”

Jest tilted his head cutely. And Kuro chuckled, shaking his shoulders.

“Haha, no, no. It’s just that with a dragon’s presence, small-fry monsters won’t come near. When you’re in human form, your presence is greatly suppressed. So unless you’re actively doing something, monsters won’t run away, right?”

“Yeah, they didn’t run away. When I go back to Justin’s place, I want to try going into the forest in dragon form. But since the experiment is over, maybe I won’t go to the forest again.”

“Once the princess’ wedding is over, you’ll be traveling again, right? You can try it then. Or would you like to try now with me?”

“Ehh~? If you come along, the monsters will just run away! I won’t know if they’re running away because of me. I mean, even when you’re in human form, your presence is huge!”

When Jest pointed this out, Kuro scratched his cheek silently.

Because the conversation paused, Jest suddenly remembered the letter.

“Mom, I brought a letter from Justin for you. Here.”

“Is that so, good job running the errand.”

Jeanne accepted the letter and patted Jest on the head.

As she opened the letter, seeing Jest’s expectant expression, she began to read it aloud.

“To Jeanne. I hope all is well on your end. I apologize if Jest’s visit here has left you feeling lonely. In about half a month, the wedding will take place. And afterward, I plan to travel by land to a country in the west called Astoria. When that time comes, I believe not only Jest, but you, Jeanne, can come along as well. Kuro may accompany too if he wishes. However, he’ll have to hide the fact that he is a dragon…….. 

Hmm, looks like in half a month I’ll be allowed to go too.”

“Yaaay! I’m so excited. Dad, are you coming too!?”

“Hmm… I’ll think about it.”

“Hmmm?”

Though happy to be with Jeanne and Jest, he thought he might be treated as secondary with Justin around. It made Kuro hesitate to give a clear answer.

On the other hand, Jest didn’t seem particularly attached to Kuro. Perhaps it was because Kuro was originally not around very often.

“By the way, didn’t you say something about Astoria earlier?”

“Ah yes, it’s written that after the princess’ wedding in the Eldrasia Kingdom, they’ll head west to Astoria.”

“If they go over the mountains, it’ll be a bit troublesome. Because *they’re* there.”

Kuro wrinkled his nose. He was making a very unpleasant face.

“*They*? I have never been to that side, so I wouldn’t know.”

“Well, it was more than a hundred years ago. It was back when I lived freely. *They* are… you know, the ones with longer ears than humans and who are full of pride… Right, elves! Ah, I feel refreshed remembering!”

“Hoh, elves are said to be legendary beings among humans. So they live in such a place, do they? Still, for living between countries and yet being so rarely found as to be called legends…”

Unlike her analytical tone, Jeanne didn’t seem particularly interested in elves. She returned her gaze to the letter.

Kuro chuckled at that reaction. But he continued speaking.

“They specialize in magic. So they probably cast wide-area concealment spells over their entire settlements. Also… their forests and mountains were five times the size of the Rafios Kingdom, so they’re vast. And humans wouldn’t easily find elves. Yet even if you just slightly step into their territory, they say things like ‘filthy’ or ‘begone’. And instead of just letting you leave, they even cast disorienting magic to make you lose your way…”

“Hohoho, you seem to know quite a lot? Could it be you stepped into elven territory and got lost?”

“Ugh, w-well, I was still young back then. So it couldn’t be helped! More importantly! I heard from another dragon that some younger elves were trying to build a settlement not too deep in the mountains—close enough that even humans could reach. So I thought Justin might meet elves during his journey… and you two are going too, right!?”

Who knows how long ago this happened. But judging by how worked up Kuro got, perhaps to him it wasn’t that long ago.

Jeanne understood that. She gave Kuro a gentle and lukewarm smile.

But because of that, Kuro became even more defensive and continued to explain himself fervently.

Jest was back in the nest for the first time in a while. While listening to the exchange between the two, he was basked in the satisfaction of having completed his letter delivery.