SWNOVELXO Chapter 415
A little time back, when Albus visited Duke Eclair’s mansion.
Duke Eclair, with deep eyes, gazed at the young human youth—no, the young dragon polymorphed into a human youth—who had come to his office.
“So. You’ve come to find me?”
“Yes. I’ve come to make a request.”
“…You seem to be mistaken about something. Even if you are a dragon like me, I am one of the Grand Dukes of the Dragon Kingdom. The reason I allowed you into my office is because, as a fellow dragon, I thought it proper to see your face before refusing. I did not let you in with the intention of granting your request.”
Albus, who usually spent his time idly playing BOW at inns, bowed his head with proper court etiquette, but Duke Eclair’s attitude was utterly indifferent.
“Today, I will overlook your childish behavior as a young dragon, but from now on, before making requests to other dragons, I hope you understand your place.”
“Is it… because I am just an ordinary dragon with no power?”
“Yes. It seems you grew up being revered by humans, so you might not know. No matter how sacred we dragons are compared to humans, there is an insurmountable gap between a young dragon like you without a title and a Grand Duke of the Dragon Kingdom.”
While speaking of the special nature of dragons, Duke Eclair’s words about the disparity in status seemed so human that Albus almost laughed inadvertently.
‘I didn’t want to reveal my true identity… but it seems I have no choice.’
However, remembering why he had come to Duke Eclair’s mansion, Albus suppressed his laughter and exuded his presence, just as he had shown the receptionist.
Even if it was just the intimidating presence of a dragon to ordinary humans, dragons could read much more from that presence than other races.
Seeing through Albus’s true identity from the aura he emitted, Eclair looked at the young dragon with a surprised expression.
“So… you are Prince Albus.”
“Yes. As the Crown Prince, will you grant my request?”
“Ahem… Indeed, being the Crown Prince changes things.”
And soon, sitting up straight, he faced Albus with a more serious expression.
“However, I don’t understand. What is so important about granting passage to a few adventurers that the Crown Prince, who should be receiving succession lessons at the royal palace, would personally come to make a request to me?”
“That is… Historically, the Dragon Kingdom and the Holy Kingdom have not been on good terms. However, excessively oppressing them could lead to diplomatic friction with the Holy Kingdom. Such conflicts are absolutely undesirable for our Dragon Kingdom. Duke Eclair, you must immediately cease the unreasonable treatment of those adventurers to prevent diplomatic friction between the Dragon Kingdom and the Holy Kingdom.”
Hesitating for a moment at Duke Eclair’s question, Albus recited the excuse he had prepared.
Even though Albus had neglected his princely education and spent his time idly, having the Queen of the Dragon Kingdom as his mother, he had picked up a thing or two.
Having grown up watching his mother, the leader of the Civilization faction, who always guarded against conflicts with neighboring countries, Albus’s excuse for Yuri’s group flowed smoothly, even without deep thought.
‘This should be enough. Duke Eclair won’t have anything to say. Yuri, your journey will continue. Even if you are a dazzling human with dreams, unlike me, even if we are not of the same kind, you are a friend with whom I’ve spent days playing BOW. This is my gift to you, my friend.’
Albus’s words were logical, and indeed, it was Duke Eclair who was making politically unreasonable decisions.
Thus, Duke Eclair had no retort and simply glared at Albus in silence.
Feeling a small sense of accomplishment for the first time in his life for having done something political with his own hands, Albus was proud.
‘…Wait. But when I was studying politics…’
However, Albus’s pride did not last long.
Because Duke Eclair, who had been silently glaring at him, had his pupils slit vertically.
“After all… you sound just like your mother.”
“…What?”
“Diplomacy… friction… conflict…!! Peace!! I’m sick of it! Absolutely sick of it!! Why should noble dragons care about the feelings of those scaleless monkeys and cater to their whims!! Why must we fold our wings and mimic humans with magic to live among them!!”
‘This… is wrong.’
Feeling something amiss as Duke Eclair suddenly erupted in rage and exuded his presence, Albus stepped back, but it was too late.
“The Civilization faction. Those cowards are a disgrace to dragons! Good! I’ve decided! Originally, I planned to kill the nuns of the Holy Kingdom, but instead, I’ll tear you apart and blame it on them!!”
By then, a ferocious aura was already rising from Duke Eclair’s body.
Facing that aura, Albus finally remembered what he had forgotten.
What he had learned alongside politics under his mother in the Dragon Kingdom.
The ideology of the Civilization faction and the opposing Regression faction.
And their members.
The leader of the Civilization faction was, of course, his mother, Flurdris. And the leader of the opposing Regression faction was undoubtedly…
“Damn it! I’ve walked right into the Holy Kingdom’s trap!”
Important knowledge always comes to mind after the exam.
A trait of those who study half-heartedly.
Realizing the situation, Albus immediately tried to get up and leave the office.
But before he could even undo his polymorph, a storm-like aura overwhelmed him, and he lost consciousness.
The last thing that came to his mind before losing consciousness was just one thing.
‘If I had known this would happen, I should have studied more…’
.
.
.
And back to the present.
“Ugh… Where am I…!?”
Albus, holding his throbbing head, struggled to get up.
Looking around, Albus realized that the place he was lying on was not the floor of the mansion but a cold stone floor with iron bars, resembling a prison.
Moreover, an artifact imbued with ancient empire magic was tied around his neck, making it impossible to use magic or even undo his polymorph.
Albus tried several times to remove the restraint around his neck, but it didn’t budge, as if it was never meant to be easily removed.
“Ah. You’re awake. Albert… no, should I call you Albus?”
Just as Albus was struggling to remove the restraint, a familiar female voice reached his ears.
“You… the receptionist from the government office…!!”
“Your Highness remembers my face. Should I be honored?”
It was the blonde receptionist who had always denied Yuri’s group passage at the government office and even guided him to Duke Eclair’s mansion.
Despite knowing Albus was a dragon, she showed no respect or reverence, instead smiling faintly with a hint of mockery.
Such behavior was unthinkably disrespectful in the Dragon Kingdom, where dragons were revered as sacred beings, but it was the least of Albus’s concerns.
Instead, he approached the human receptionist who despised him and tried to persuade her.
“Hey. Untie this. You might not trust me since you serve Duke Eclair, but if you don’t release me, the Dragon Kingdom will soon fall into chaos. And the first to suffer will be the humans!”
“Oh my. Do I still look human to you?”
And simultaneously, the aura of the ‘same kind’ emanating from her body.
“…Dragon aura! Are you a dragon too!?”
“It’s my first time formally introducing myself. I am Eclessia, the eldest daughter of Duke Eclair and the young lady of the Eclair family. Pleased to meet you, Prince Albus.”
Saying so, Eclessia gracefully held her skirt and bowed with noble etiquette, as if at a ball.
“Why would a duke’s daughter, a dragon, work as a mere government office receptionist…?”
“Oh? Is that something you, who polymorphed into a human and mingled with humans playing card games, should say?”
“Th-that’s…”
“Fufu. Just kidding. There’s no way I could be the same as you, who abandoned your duties and mingled with humans. I merely infiltrated as a receptionist to fulfill my father’s, Duke Eclair’s, orders.”
Thus, Eclessia, who had infiltrated among humans for work, was different from Albus, who had mingled with humans for fun.
Eclessia smiled, seemingly displeased at being equated with Albus, and provocatively declared.
But Albus reflexively questioned a word that caught his attention.
“Duke Eclair’s orders?”
“Ah. Are you curious? Very well. As a fellow dragon, I’ll show you some mercy and tell you. It’s simple. My job is to delay and hinder the adventurers mixed with the Holy Kingdom’s nuns, ultimately killing them to worsen diplomatic relations with the Holy Kingdom.”
“Why would you do such a thing? If you do that, it could lead to war with the Holy Kingdom!”
“Because we want war.”
“…What?”
“Father said it. To create a true paradise where dragons can live freely without caring about humans, we need a spark. A big spark to unite and return to the glorious past, silencing the dragons who care about humans!”
“That’s insane! If that happens, the world will once again label us dragons as evil and form extermination squads!”
“Huh. Indeed, the royal family of the Civilization faction is too fearful. Father said it’s because they’ve been sitting too long in the safe and comfortable royal palace, becoming lazy. But don’t worry. While humans once arrogantly formed extermination squads to defeat a few weak dragons, the current Dragon Kingdom is different. With the national power we’ve accumulated, even if humans form extermination squads again, they won’t stand a chance!”
“You’re the one who knows nothing! The Dragon Kingdom became a wealthy nation because we didn’t oppress humans but chose to coexist through compromise and mutual concessions! If dragons start exploiting humans again, do you think our national power will remain strong! Do you think neighboring countries will still want to trade with us!”
“No problem! Those human contributions are nothing compared to the greatness of dragons! Father said humans are just parasites living off the Dragon Kingdom we protect!”
“No! Dragons and humans are ultimately no different!”
Although Albus had neglected half of his princely education and spent his days polymorphed among humans, it was precisely because of this that he, alone among dragons, could see things from a human perspective.
He had shared simple jokes with the baker who made the bread he always ate.
He had played BOW with the person who raised and cared for the meat on his table.
He knew the name of the tavern where the gardener who tended the royal palace drank after work.
Each dragon was like an army, but that didn’t mean dragons were absolute and infallible beings.
In the end, in the Dragon Kingdom’s society, dragons were just slightly larger cogs, and everyone living in the Dragon Kingdom had their roles, and it was because of them that the current Dragon Kingdom existed.
Albus knew this.
“Ha! You’re completely out of your mind. Dragons and humans being the same!”
Only Albus knew.
Other dragons, who didn’t even consider seeing things from a human perspective, saw Albus’s words as mere nonsense.
Even his mother, Flurdris, the leader of the Civilization faction, shared this view, so there was no chance Eclessia would agree.
“But it’s fortunate. Even if you’re a good-for-nothing, sacrificing a fellow dragon for the future of dragons didn’t sit well with me. Knowing you’re a lunatic spouting nonsense, I can sacrifice you without any guilt.”
Eclessia smiled, seemingly relieved.
Seeing this, Albus recalled Duke Eclair’s words before he lost consciousness.
“Wait. Sacrifice me?”
“Yes. Originally, our goal was to kill the Holy Kingdom’s nuns and use that as a pretext for war with the Holy Kingdom. But with you in our hands, it’s easier. Killing you and the Holy Kingdom’s nuns and blaming it on them gives the Dragon Kingdom a better justification, doesn’t it?”
“You’re insane…! You claim dragons are sacred and noble, yet you’d sacrifice a noble and sacred fellow dragon!”
Finally realizing the severity of the situation—that this wasn’t some abstract crisis about the Holy Kingdom’s future but a direct threat to his life—Albus frantically tried to remove the restraints, but they wouldn’t budge.
“Fufu. Only now do you care about noble and sacred fellow dragons? Don’t worry. The fear won’t last long. I’ve invited those nuns to the mansion. They followed without suspicion, thinking I’d grant them passage. By now… Father should have dealt with them…”
“You bastard! Yuri’s group…! They’re just powerless adventurers!”
Boom!!
At that moment.
With a deafening explosion, the prison’s ceiling was torn away.
No, more accurately, the Eclair mansion above the prison was torn apart, sending debris flying.
And amidst the debris, Albus thought he saw a white dragon and a Lizardman coughing up blood and flying away.