The Encounter Between the Forsaken Healing Magic’s Beloved Child and the Betrayed Black Dragon Princess of Calamity - 16

Chapter 16: The Arrogant White King Seeks to Shroud the Dragon Princess in Despair ※Klaus Drache Lindwurm’s POV

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※Klaus Drache Lindwurm’s POV

Since I was born, I had been forced to serve the king. In the kingdom of dragons, Dragroar, the black dragon family, Fafnir, had reigned as kings for over three millennia. The reason was because in our land, the throne belonged to the strongest. My family, the Lindwurm family, used to produce several kings before the Fafnir rose to power. Among the dragons in our realm, we were known as the “Noble White,” garnering respect and admiration from all dragons. However, everything changed after the Fafnir family took the crown. Not a single member of the Lindwurm family could come victorious against the might of the Fafnir. We were left trailing in their shadow, reduced to mere subordinates. 

I despised this fact more than anyone else. However, as much as I loathed it, I couldn’t deny the reality. I couldn’t win against the Fafnir either. Even though I was praised for my unparalleled strength as the strongest Lindwurm in history, I still couldn’t win against them. 

And so, I began thinking.

What should I do to defeat the Fafnir and expel them all from Dragroar, from my kingdom? After pondering endlessly, I came to a conclusion. I had to come up with a brilliant plan to trap the Fafnir. In order to become the king in this country, one must win the Royal Selection, a one-on-one battle where no outside assistance was allowed. That said, any meticulously crafted plan I had come up with would get easily crushed by the Fafnir with their overwhelming strength. 

And so… What should I do? 

“I need to make sure I’m stronger than them, even before the Royal Selection begins.”

What I was about to do was the most shameful thing a proud dragon like me could think of. I planned on weakening the Fafnir with poison and took advantage of their weakened state to challenge the current king to the Royal Selection and emerge victorious. However, dragons like us had strong resistance to poisons. Any poison wouldn’t do. Something inferior would be ineffective against the Fafnir. Furthermore, I had little to no knowledge of poisons. Dragons like us never fought with such underhanded methods. That being said, I had one person in mind, but that person was a maidservant to Mercedes, the princess of this kingdom. I couldn’t possibly ask her about poison. Not only he wouldn’t teach me, but she would become suspicious of me. 

“I don’t have any other choice…”

Clenching my fist, I resolved to leave the kingdom. I had received permission from King Manfred Drake Fafnir to travel abroad for the purpose of expanding my knowledge. The young girl, Mercedes, tried to stop me. She looked really sad. She was a bit bothersome, but after I put on my usual smile and gently explained my excuse to her, she reluctantly agreed.

And so, I set out into the outside world. The world was overflowing with humans, who arrogantly dominated the vast lands as if they owned everything. Unforgivable. We dragons, had been living quietly in that small mountain and yet, these inferior and petty humans dare to live so arrogantly like this. 

It’s all the Fafnir’s fault….!

The past kings of the Dragroar Kingdom didn’t see any need to communicate with the outside world, practically forcing us to live isolated from the world. Because of this, our home was only that mountain. There was no way I could accept that. My anger and hatred toward the kingdom… Toward the Fafnir, only grew stronger as I traveled the world. 

There, I learned the necessary technique to acquire everything I wished and then… I learned the laws of the world, along with my role in it.

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“Kukuku… Did you see how those humans scrambled in fear?”

Upon returning to the castle, I sat on the throne and began smiling in ridicule. Just as I expected, they were just humans. They couldn’t do anything but tremble in fear before the strength of the dragons. 

“At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before all other human nations bow to us too. We will build a kingdom for dragons, by dragons!”

“””OOOOOOOOOHHHH!!”””

Drunk on my words, the dragons raised their fists and cheered. Indeed. These proud dragons could never accept the oppressive life we had been forced to live too. From now on, I shall lead the dragons to their rightful place. 

With that renewed resolve, I pressed on with my campaign.

“What is it? Do you have something to say?”

“…No, I do not.”

“……”

The one kneeling without changing his expression was Conrad Gargouille, the captain of the royal guards who had once served as a close aide to the former king. The Gargouille family strength was only second to the Fafnir and the Lindwurm family. Next to him was Elsa Cuelebre, Mercedes’ former maid. The two of them had sworn unwavering loyalty to the Fafnir and they were deeply trusted by the Fafnir in return. had it not been for the Royal Selection, these individuals would never be willing to serve under me. Well, this was precisely the reason why I had put great effort in winning the Royal Selection. It was a formal process to ascend the throne after all. 

“Conrad, I have high expectations for you as my right-hand man. Do your best to work hard from now on.”

“…Yes.”

I said while placing my hand on his shoulder and Conrad only gave me a curt reply. 

Humph. Whether you like it or not, I’ve won the Royal Selection. You have no choice but to obey me. 

It wouldn’t be long before the entire Fafnir family disappeared from his world. I just had to eliminate the last remaining member of the Fafnir, Mercedes.

“I’m feeling good today! Tonight, celebrate to your heart’s content! There’s no need for formalities!”

With just that one sentence, food and alcohol were brought into the room one after another, and all the dragons gathered there smiled, enjoying themselves. This was a farewell party to our painful and harsh past along with a welcome party to the glorious future of the dragons. 

But…

“Haa… Y-Your Majesty…!”

The festive mood was ruined by the appearance of a wounded soldier. 

“What is it? I’m busy right now…”

“I-I have an urgent report! The-The great sinner, Mercedes Drake Fafnir, has challenged His Majesty to the Royal Selection…”

“…What did you say?”

At that soldier’s words, I asked again in a low voice, laced with murderous intent. Because of this, the mood in the room grew even gloom. The soldier’s face immediately turned pale at that. 

“Have you lost your mind? That woman barely escaped the kingdom with her life. She has no vitality left to challenge me.”

More importantly, just like Manfred, Mercedes had been poisoned too. There was no way she could overcome that poison, even if she was someone from the unparalleled Fafnir family. 

It was simply… Not possible. 

“Tha-That’s the thing… Somehow… All of her wounds have completely healed and we… We-We were no match against her at all…”

The soldier said while rubbing his crushed left hand with his right hand. Upon closer inspection, the fingers on his right hand were bent in a strange direction too. Unable to endure the pain, the soldiers started weeping.

“I see… Well, whatever. This time, I will personally see to it that she meets her end.”

Even if her wounds had healed, the poison still remained. Of course, there was always the possibility of something unexpected happening, so I had to make sure to kill her in the most thorough way so nothing could butcher my plan. That unnecessarily beautiful face of her… I would twist her face with pain and humiliation. 

“Understood. You may leave.”

“Y-Yes. I apologize for my…!”

The soldier was about to stand when a magic circle appeared on his back and then…

Splat. 

The soldier exploded, staining the room with blood and pieces of his flesh. There was no doubt about it. It was the result of Mercedes’ magic spell.

“Interesting. So this is your declaration of war, huh?”

I had to admit, it was truly admirable she could use magic spells of that caliber despite being poisoned. However, to me, it only seemed like she was putting on a brave front. 

Very well, in that case… I just need to make sure you will struggle for your life until the very end…

“Huh? Conrad, where are you going?”

“Once the Royal Selection challenge has been issued, His Majesty Klaus is not the king until victory is secured. Therefore, we have no reason to follow you now.”

“Excuse us.”

Conrad and Elsa said before leaving the room.

“You two… You will regret this.”

It was a clear sign of opposition against me. Once the Royal Selection was over and done with, I would dispose of all of them together. 

“Mercedes… I can’t wait to see you in despair.”

Taking a sip of the wine I had obtained from the human kingdom, I grinned widely, revealing my fangs.

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