"The Talented Dragon Hides Its Claws" ~ The Eldest Son of the Baron Family, Called Useless, is Actually One of the World's Strongest ~ - Episode 69

Just before entering the inn, Ryu cast a sharp gaze at the summit of the sacred mountain several kilometers away.

“…………”

(So that’s the rumored Duke Mondo, also known as the Mountain King. To be able to sense magic from this distance… He seems to have detection abilities surpassing those of the imperial sorcerers, interesting. Is it the so-called magic eye? Well, he doesn’t seem to have any ill intentions, so it’s fine.)

“Ryu, is something wrong?”

“I just made eye contact with Duke Mond.”

“Feh?! Where are you?!”

Ryu points his finger.

“That’s the summit of that sacred mountain.”

“What on earth are you talking about? It’s not even a distance that can be seen with a telescope…”

“The duke might have the magic eye.”

“Ho, magical eyes, huh? Quite interesting. Judging by the lack of data, there probably aren’t many on the continent.”

“Is Duke Mond one of them? As expected of someone called the King of the Mountains.”

“Hmm? You don’t possess the Mystic Eyes, so how could you see it?”

“I’ve had good eyesight since I was a kid, plain and simple.”

“That’s a kind of talent too, isn’t it? I’m envious.”

If the Mountain King can be seen, it wouldn’t be strange for the Demon King to be seen as well.

“I don’t want to meet the Mountain King. I’m scared.”

“Don’t worry, there’s no need to be concerned.”

“Why can you say that so confidently…?”

“Right now, tens of thousands of enemy troops are approaching from beyond the sacred peak. The duke doesn’t have time to deal with us.”

“I see. The Mond’s residents are truly impressive for being able to stay calm even in such situations.”

“Put another way, it means that Duke Mondo is trusted that much.”

Even though it’s a daily occurrence, it requires extraordinary courage.

The Mond Duke family and their loyal subjects.

“Quite different from some viscount, isn’t it?”

“You’re so noisy.”

Arden still has a long way to go.

Miraculously, there was only one room with an open-air bath available at the inn, but it was a double room. Since it would be a waste of money to book an additional single room, the two decided to stay in the same room. After dressing Axel in the stable with winter gear, they bought dinner from a stall and ate it to their heart’s content before returning to the room.

Until now, I had rented two single rooms, so this is my first time sharing a room.

“This is my first time in a double room in my life.”

“Oh, really? It’s quite lively and fun.”

“Oh. Do you have experience?”

“I have stayed in the same room as Lena and Stingray.”

“Lena, I can understand, but to think he was sharing a room with Stingray too… that perverted brat.”

“It’s a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. According to Stingray, considering the aspect of protection, they want to avoid leaving me alone. They passionately spoke about the knightly spirit…”

“Indeed, that guy doesn’t seem like the type to back down easily.”

“By the way, I don’t have any sexual feelings for Estelle, so don’t worry.”

“To not notice the charm of me, a super gorgeous elf with a nice body… What a shameful lad you are.”

While Ryu boasts a physique larger than that of an adult man, Estelle is so small that Lena can easily carry her. To him, she probably feels like a much younger cousin.

After enjoying a casual chat while having the dinner they bought from the stall, the two of them took a break sitting on their respective beds. Esther slowly took out her pharmacology book, while Ryu drew his sword to perform maintenance on Kurikara and propped the sheath against the bed.

“……” “……”

The sound of pages turning and the sound of a blade being sharpened quietly resonate throughout the room.

“Hey, Esther”

“What is it?”

“Esther, what do you think about the legend of the dragon?”

“The legend of dragons, you mean the one where dragons are said to be the next stage of human evolution or something? I don’t know how that rumor got started, but I don’t believe it. After all, not a single piece of evidence or literature exists to support it.”

There are quite a few documents about the Hero-Demon Lord War that took place a thousand years ago, and even some materials from before that time are preserved. However, there are no documents at all about the dragons that are also a subject of this world, just like the Hero and the Demon Lord. The only thing that exists is a picture of a flying dragon in the Adventurers’ Guild’s encyclopedia. As she said, there are no detailed documents about their ecology. Many dragon researchers speak based on their

Therefore, what Esther just said is correct.

It can be said that it is entirely correct.

───However, this world is a strange one, and sometimes a theory proposed by one of those self-proclaimed researchers can come close to the root of truth.

According to the “dragon acquaintance,” it seems that there are not even a hundred dragons in the world. So, it’s no wonder they are not mentioned in the literature.

“Not even a hundred exist…? Wait, hold on, did you just say ‘a dragon you know’?”

“He’s more like a stupid lizard with a rotten connection than a dragon I know. He’s not that big of a deal.”

“You’re not joking around, are you?”

“Dead serious.”

“Hmm…”

Ryu often cracks jokes, and Esther is used to it, but this time she just couldn’t believe it was a lie. This was the most unbelievable joke compared to all the previous ones, but there was still a mysterious force that seemed to overturn her pride and make her believe it.

“Who on earth are you?”

“If you promise absolutely not to tell anyone, I’ll tell you everything without holding back. No, I want to tell you.”

“Of course, I won’t leak it to anyone. Even if His Majesty interrogates me, I promise not to divulge any information.”

It’s not like I need to ask Esther such things, but I just wanted to confirm because there’s a slight chance she might say something without meaning to.

I am───

Ryu slowly took off his gloves.

───He is the embodiment of the dragon legend.

“!?!”

Esther was astonished and speechless upon seeing the silver scales covering the back of her hand.

Earlier, when he mentioned “an acquaintance who is a dragon,” I had imagined that he was somehow connected to dragons and was dealing with some issues, but I never would have guessed that Ryu himself would evolve into a dragon.

“Well…”

(I felt that there was something special about you from the first time we met, but I never imagined you were at the center of a legend… Fate is truly a mysterious thing.)

Esther was beyond surprised and, instead, became calm.

“This is the fate that has been destined for me.”

“……The fact that you went out of your way to consult with me means you intend to resist that fate, doesn’t it?”
“You’re quick with the talk, which is helpful.”

“Should we create a drug to prevent dragon transformation?”

“No, perhaps dragonization is inevitable. I understand that instinctively.”

“Then what on earth are we going to do? Time is limited, you know.”

“Actually, when a person evolves into a dragon, they lose all their memories. But conversely, if they can maintain their memories, they can change their form from dragon to human and back to dragon at any time. No, I believe it’s absolutely possible for me.”

“Hmm, I’ve thought of something. In other words, I just need to create a memory retention potion, right?”
“That’s right… Can I ask you for a favor?”

“Of course. Illuminating a friend’s tomorrow. This is my true aspiration.”

“……Thank you, Esther.”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s only natural as a friend. By the way, how long will it take?”

“If this progression speed continues, probably two years. At the earliest, one year.”

“Understood. Leave it all to me.”

Written as “心の友,” pronounced “shinyuu.”

This might be the most fitting words for them right now.

That night, Ryu was gently washing Estelle’s small yet broad back in the open-air bath.

“The reward is a hundred years’ worth of candy and the right to eat at the Arden mansion anytime. How about that?”

“Hmm… not bad.”

I enjoyed the Mond hot spring while mixing in some jokes (?).