Since ancient times, dragons have been symbols of strength.
The dragonkin who were known to have reached the pinnacle of living beings were so influential that they were called rulers of the continent. Thanks to their bodies harder than steel and their exceptional magical abilities.
However, after largely disappearing during the mythical war between gods and demons, they are now considered nothing more than creatures of legend.
And then there was the Auros family who were descendants of humans once connected to dragons.
For generations, they produced formidable warriors, and within their blood faintly flowed dragon’s blood. On rare occasions, a mutation would occur, which would awaken the true power of the dragon.
Though that blood has long since thinned over the ages, the rare half-human, half-dragon individuals born into the lineage all became heroes who left an indelible mark on human history.
But at some point, those special genes stopped manifesting altogether.
Amid the hopes of many, the Auros family quietly faded from a house of heroes destined to rule the world into mere guardians of the quiet North.
Then came the birth of Frezia. Her existence marked the beginning of the Auros family’s revival.
…How boring.
After easily tossing her bulky muscle-bound opponent out of bounds, Frezia couldn’t hide her deep disappointment at once again not having found a worthy challenger.
She had awakened the dragon’s blood and possessed extraordinary strength from a young age. She had never experienced a real fight before because her overwhelming power always prevented it.
When you’re that strong, what use is there for words?
The members of her family had been filled with enormous expectations, calling it a chance to restore the prestige of their heroic lineage. The knights either yielded to her talent or grew envious, but none truly sought to surpass her with genuine resolve.
Hoping she might one day encounter a new, stronger opponent who could exceed her, she had even enrolled at the academy. Yet, not even there did she find anyone who could surpass her.
Instead, the students and professors idolized her as the strongest, took pride in her, and offered nothing but praise for her swordsmanship and martial arts. No one pointed out flaws or suggested improvements, which only slowed her growth.
“Wooooaaaaah!!”
So noisy.
She glanced at the crowd who were cheering for her victory with a look of annoyance, then turned her body and walked off the stage.
“……?”
Just then, she felt an odd gaze and shifted her eyes…only to meet a strangely familiar face.
The person who showed me the way earlier. But why…?
She realized it was the man who had helped her earlier when she was lost and wandering. He was now watching her from among the audience, and there was something strange in his expression.
Tension… and also… irritation?
She had experienced many emotions from others. Like ambition, jealousy, despair.
Countless people had projected their inferiority onto her, reacting to the difference in power between them in those familiar ways.
But irritation?
Even after watching the battle just now, someone dared to look at her with such a feeling? What kind of person was he, really?
How strange…
At the sudden transmission of an emotion she had never seen or felt before, a small ripple stirred in Frezia’s otherwise indifferent heart.
***
“Frezia… I thought the name sounded familiar. I remember seeing it on an enrollment application from another academy.”
“For someone to be etched into the princess’s memory, she must be quite something.”
“Indeed. I heard she’s the top student at Bellum Academy, located in the northern kingdom of Freed…and the strongest across all year levels.”
Bellum Academy, a school rivaling our own Amor Academy.
To be the overall top student at such a place could only mean she possessed extraordinary skill.
“What’s interesting is that she supposedly carries dragon’s blood.”
“Dragons? Were they real?”
“Well, it’s true that the dragonkin disappeared from the world long ago, so it’s natural to doubt it. But there are still records confirming they once existed. I had heard a few times that someone with exceptional talent was born into her family, though most believed the bloodline had vanished centuries ago. Now it seems that might not be the case…”
After watching that duel just now, it was clear. This wasn’t just some baseless rumor. The truth rang instinctively clear.
Judging by the skill with which she had effortlessly flung that giant with such a slender body, it was clear that she truly carried the blood of dragons.
So that’s why… that energy I felt earlier was so unusual?
Putting aside the question of why such a great person was wandering around lost in the middle of someone else’s school.
At this rate, it was as plain as day that this woman called Frezia would win the current combat tournament.
And now she was requesting a duel with me? A woman who possessed the power of a dragon?
Things are already chaotic enough, and they’re only going to get louder from here!
With the weight of the Aura Lord’s name on my shoulders, I couldn’t afford to take it lightly. And even if I won, there was a real chance people would rush to arrange a marriage between us, thinking that the combination of a sitting Aura Lord and a half-dragon would produce a powerful heir.
“Brother Mars? Are you alright? You’ve been looking uneasy for a while now.”
“N-No, it’s nothing.”
It was highly likely that both Frezia and Pollo would make it to the finals. But here, I found myself in a dilemma.
Should I skip the finals entirely and ignore my best friend Pollo’s match?
Or should I watch the final, where Frezia would likely win, and then accept her challenge to a duel?
“Hey, Mars! It’s my match, so keep your eyes wide open and cheer! If you space out, I’ll kill you!”
“Huh? Ah, y-yes! Got it!”
After the morning matches ended, we all had lunch together, but my worries persisted right up until the afternoon when the duels for the Magic Department students were set to begin.
The loud voice snapped me back to my senses. I realized that it was finally time for our pride and joy of the duke to take the stage.
Alright. I’ll think about it later. Somehow, I’ll figure it out.
I decided to push the problem onto the future me and, for now, focus on doing my best to cheer for our noble lady, who, despite her bold words, couldn’t quite hide the tension on her face.
***
“Vice Cult Leader.”
“What is it?”
The secretary of vice cult leader Mist came to him in secret, making sure no one noticed.
“The chimera transformation of the humans Lilia captured has been completed. There were no major issues during the process, but…”
“Go on.”
“Yes. Unfortunately, we’re not getting the output we’d hoped for. It wouldn’t matter much if they were just regular soldiers, but due to their poor quality, it’ll take a long time before we get the results we want.”
The prisoners Lilia had brought in earlier had all been turned into chimeras in their laboratory.
They were villains who had lived piling up karma, so there was no one who’d feel sympathy for them. But if they couldn’t even prove useful, that was another issue altogether.
After all, what they wanted wasn’t a single combatant, but a monster that could do the work of five.
“Then what do you suggest we do…”
“Vice Cult Leader, perhaps it’s time to retrieve that.”
“That? Ah… that, you mean.”
Despite the vague wording, the vice cult leader immediately understood what she meant.
“I’ve been considering it for some time as well, but they possess tremendous power, which makes them difficult to control. They’re inherently resistant to magic, so most mental spells are ineffective for brainwashing.”
“It almost sounds like you’ve seen them in person.”
“Are you curious?”
“Not at all.”
Knowing her role was to support him, she bowed her head quietly once again. She understood that any curiosity beyond that was not permitted.
“The real issue has always been controlling the dragon, which is why we kept delaying. Have we found a solution?”
“Yes. With the drug we’ve developed, not even top-tier mental defenses will be able to resist its effects.”
“…Good. Go and bring Gula.”
At the vice cult leader’s command, a hulking man covered in layers of flesh came stomping in with heavy footsteps.
“Mmmf… You called for me, sir? Hmph!”
“Yes, Gula. I have a new mission for you. Think you can handle it?”
“As long as there’s food in it for me~ Buhih!”
Gula, the glutton.
What drove him wasn’t riches or honor. It was just food.
His bloated body might look ridiculous, but within the Heavenly God Cult, the only ones unaware of his true terror were those already dead.
“Then I’m relieved. This mission just so happens to involve a new kind of meal.”
“Hoooh!! You mean that?! Really?!”
Still chewing the meat in his mouth, Gula’s reply came a bit late, but his eyes gleamed like a child who’d just discovered a brand-new toy.
“Bring me the noble lady with dragon’s blood from the Imperial Academy.”
“D-D-D-D-Dragon!!”
The word alone made Gula’s eyes that were buried beneath layers of fat shoot open in shock.
Dragons were now creatures of myth, and to a glutton and gourmet like him, their existence felt like an unknown spice he’d never tasted before.
“Your mission is to capture her alive. And if you succeed… I’ll let you have one of her arms.”
“Buhihi!! You promise?!”
Gula waddled off in glee. He licked his thick lips with a long tongue as vivid fantasies danced in his mind.
“Dragon blood… I’m so curious what it tastes like. Hehe.”
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