"The Talented Dragon Hides Its Claws" ~ The Eldest Son of the Baron Family, Called Useless, is Actually One of the World's Strongest ~ - Episode 67

Not only did Lena pass the entrance exam for the Imperial Academy, but she also secured the second place in her grade and impressively won a scholarship. The day after the results were announced, she promptly went to reserve a spot in the girls’ dormitory and the servants’ quarters, and she also finished exploring the academy. Although Ryu could have moved to the mansion in the noble district from that day, Lena chose to live in the dormitory for six months to make friends.

And today is the day I hand over the rental property.

Lena took her servant to the academy, while Ryu took a certain pharmacist to Hinomaru. Each was prepared.

At the entrance of the academy

“Well then, both of you, have a good day!”

“Lena, make sure to do your best in school life too. If you ever dislike it, you can move to the noble district right away. We’ve got all the procedures sorted out for that.”

“Understood!”

“It was a more straightforward farewell than I imagined. I expected Lena to hesitate more.”

“Because I’m already an adult. There, there.” *pets*

“Don’t treat me like a child! You little brat!”

“Esther is so cute~”

“Don’t lift me! Let me go! Noooooo!!!” *struggling*

Ryu mounts Axel.

Lena placed Esther, whom she was also holding, directly onto Axel’s back.

“Well then, see you in a few months.”

“Yes! Good luck!”

“Same to you.”

“Alright, let’s set off!”

Lena winked at Esther.

(Esther-san, I entrusted my brother to you.)

Leave it to me.

Finally, we set out towards Hinomaru.

This time, we are leaving the capital to head to the Duchy of Mond, which boasts the empire’s finest port city.

We will be taking the regular ferry from Mond to Hinomaru. In fact, that’s the only option available.

That country has a long-standing tendency towards isolationism, making it difficult to find port cities connected to the mainland.

From this, you can understand how challenging it is to plan a new trade agreement with Hinomaru.

In the Mond region located in the northeast of the empire, there is currently a front against the Mond Kingdom—commonly known as the Eastern Front—and it is known to be more desolate than the Western Front that Ryu visited before.

Because on the duchy side, there are many war-loving countries, so they regularly invade regardless of the hero or anything else.

If you were to ask the citizens of the empire where the strongest noble army is, surely everyone would answer like this.

The Duchy of Mond.

Of course, it is not difficult to imagine that the Duke of Mond himself, who leads it, is also a remarkable figure.

“Count on me again this time, Axel.”

“Baruru”

“Axel is truly an excellent familiar. Even when the three of us rode him the other day, he didn’t sway at all and showed no signs of fatigue.”

“Esther is so light that it’s like she’s not even there. Nice little elf.”

“I am a beautiful elf with a nice body!”

“Yes, yes”

“Baruru…”

Arriving at the East Gate of the capital, Weel, and lining up with the nobles.

“Thank you for waiting. Next, please.”

“I am Ryu Arden, the head of the Arden Viscount family. This little one here is my attendant, Esther.”

“Just to be safe, we will need to verify your ID.”

Ryu handed over the crimson emblem, not the Arden emblem.

“This crest… could it be… the Empire’s ambassador’s…! My apologies!”

“Is it really that amazing?”

“Well… basically, it is something that is only granted to members of the imperial family or those of equivalent high status…”

This emblem is a rare item bestowed directly by the Empress when a noble is dispatched as an imperial ambassador to another country.

Recently, the continent has become almost like a warring states period, so it has become almost unheard of to send ambassadors to countries other than allied ones. Therefore, it is even more precious.

The two smoothly passed through the East Gate.

“When did His Majesty give that to you?”

“When the message from the mansion arrived, the knight happened to bring it along.”

“Ohh~. By the way, do you remember what color armor the knight was wearing?”

“I think it was definitely obsidian black.”

“That’s a royal guard, isn’t it…?”

“In case the imperial ambassador’s emblem was ever stolen, it was necessary to have a reasonably strong knight as a runner.”

“The royal knights are all treated as barons, you know…”

“I’m a viscount, you know.”

“That’s not what I meant…”

“Well, we are now officially imperial ambassadors. Let’s pass through the checkpoint with our heads held high.”

“Shouldn’t you be more grateful for Her Majesty’s kindness?”

“I’m doing it. I’m super grateful.”

“Speak your mind.”

“Don’t know why, but lucky.”

“This big fool…”

The imperial territory centered around the capital, Weel, is the most vast in the empire, so it would be impossible to traverse it in just a day or two on horseback. Even Axel would take four days. But that is… if we don’t use magic.

“Is Esther the type who doesn’t get seasick or anything?”

“Hmm. I may not have horse-riding skills, but I do have good balance. As a beautiful woman with a nice body, I used to be greeted by handsome princes on white horses every day…”

“Alright, Axel. Let’s do our usual.”

“Bururu”

While Esther was telling her (bragging?) story, purple lightning surged through Axel’s four legs. It was a high-level magic of man and horse as one that had not been used in the war. It should be fine to use it in front of a trustworthy person like Esther.

“Esther. Make sure to hold on tight.”

“Hmm?”

The accelerator has regained its original speed.

“Uaaaaaa!!!!!!!”

And then Lorith regained her original vocabulary.

A few minutes later.

The group was resting on the rocky outcrop in the grassland.

“Nice run, Axel.”

“Bururu”

“Pant pant… wheeze wheeze…”

Esther was sprawled over Axel’s back.

“Are you okay?”

“There’s no way I’m okay with that! My heart can’t take it!”

“Here, have a cookie. It’s the one endorsed by Lord Grace.”

“Whoa!!!!!!!”

(Magic will have to be sealed for a while. At this rate, Esther will turn into dried fish before we arrive. I might have gone a bit too far this time… I’ll apologize later.)

(Baruru)

However, through this exchange, I was once again reminded of how wonderful Esther’s character is. It’s no wonder the Empress treats her as a friend.

Watching Axel munching on grass and Estelle stuffing her cheeks with sweets, Ryu also drinks fruit water. This grassland is home to many monsters, but they don’t approach them.

“…………”

No, I can’t get closer.

“Speaking of which, it’s been a while since I left the capital.”

“When was the last time?”

“It’s been about four or five years.”

“If you’re being pulled in all directions by the royal family and nobility, it can’t be helped. Thanks for coming this time.”

“Even I need to go out sometimes, or I’ll just wither away. Don’t worry about it too much.”

“As expected of Loli.”

“I take back what I said. Don’t worry about it.”

After Esther caught her breath, Ryu and his group set off again.

“Before we arrive at the Mond Duchy, let’s review the characteristics of Hinomaru once. Our common sense won’t apply over there.”

“Confirmation is important. Especially in the case of that island nation…”

In Hinomaru, there is no military position called a knight. Instead, swordsmen skilled in swordsmanship, known as samurai, play a role in military and public order maintenance.

At the top of them stands the shogunate, and the government institution brought forth by the shogunate is called the bakufu.

The one who established the uninhabited island nation and founded the shogunate was the first hero. That hero who defeated the Demon King.

Under the shogunate, there are also clans centered around prominent families, and currently, these clans are at odds with each other… but I’ll save this story for another time.

“Starting with laws and academics, it seems that the culture of clothing, food, and shelter is also unique. I can’t wait. Since entering as an ambassador will probably mean meeting the high-ranking officials of the shogunate, I think I’ll ask about pharmacology then.”

“I’ll pound the wisdom of Hinomaru into my brain! And as a bonus, I’ll devour all the sweets too!” *sniff sniff*

Seeing Esther huffing, Ryu relaxed his lips.

(Should I finally come clean about the dragon transformation?)

The silver scales beneath the magic circle shimmered sharply.