The Encounter Between the Forsaken Healing Magic’s Beloved Child and the Betrayed Black Dragon Princess of Calamity - 25

Chapter 25:  Declaration of War

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“Now then, let’s go.”

Mer-san said the next morning. We then nodded at each other. If the blue dragon had come here to gather information on us, he’d have relayed that information to Klaus by now. There was no time to waste. We decided to take action before they could finish preparing on their side.

“Young Master Gil, isn’t it better if you stay here instead?”

“Conrad-san, are you saying I should become monster food? By the way… What’s with the ‘Young Master Gil’…?”

“Hahaha! Don’t worry about it. Don’t sweat the small details!”

I stared intently at Conrad-san and asked him that question with a slightly exasperated look on my face. Conrad-san then started laughing heartily, opting to avoid my question. But really, somehow, I felt like the distance between us had gotten smaller. Nothing special had happened, so I really didn’t know why, but… Well, whatever. 

Despite everything, Conrad-san wasn’t a bad person essentially. No. He was so much better compared to those people from the imperial palace. 

“Then, Gil-kun, please ride on my back.”

“Ah… U-Umm.. I think I will be riding on Conrad-san’s back instead…”

“Huh…?”

Mer-san looked like the world was ending before her very own eyes as soon as she heard me say that. I felt a bit sorry for her, but since she was going to compete in the Royal Selection, it’d be best if I didn’t stay with her. 

“Leave it to me! This Conrad will protect Young Master Gil with everything I have!”

“Of course you will! If Gil-kun so much as gets a scratch on him, I will tear you apart!”

“-?!”

Mer-san snarled, lifting the corners of her mouth to show her sharp fangs. All blood suddenly rushed out from Conrad-san’s face. Even though he was supposed to be a red dragon, but he looked as pale as a ghost now.

“Me-Mer-san! Once the Royal Selection is done and over with, please let me ride on your back too! I-I want to see this world with you, Mer-san.”

“Gil-kun…”

After I said that, Mer-san’s crimson eyes glistened and she gently took my hand into hers. For me, she was the most important person in this world. So, I wanted to share my first time seeing the world with her. 

“My motivation has increased drastically. I will defeat Klaus in an instant and then, I will tour the world together with Gil-kun.”

“Ahaha~ I’m really looking forward to it, Mer-san.”

I really hoped we could do that. As long as I had Mer-san with me, I was confident I could be happy no matter where we went. 

“Gilbert-sama… That… Is it really alright for me not to…?”

“Yes.”

Elsa-san wouldn’t be coming with us to the Royal Selection. Why? Because there was something I wanted Elsa-san to do. 

“Elsa-san, you’re the key in today’s Royal Selection, so… I’ll leave the plan to you.”

I bowed my head to Elsa-san, who was still hesitating. Truth to be told, Elsa-san probably wanted to stay by Mer-san’s side too, but well… It couldn’t be helped. 

“…Understood. Please take good care of Her Highness Mercedes.”

Elsa-san also bowed deeply in return while placing her hand on her chest. Her amethyst eyes no longer held the anger they had when we first met. Although I wasn’t sure what kind of things had happened between the short amount of time we had spent together to trigger this kind of emotional change in both Elsa-san and Conrad-san, but it seemed they had come to accept me. So, for now, I decided to take that as something positive anyway. 

“Alright. Let’s hurry and go!”

“Ye-Yes!”

Encouraged by Mer-san, who looked a bit displeased for some reason, the three of them transformed into dragons. I climbed onto Conrad-san, who had crouched down for me and I mounted his large back. 

“Young Master Gil, do not let go of me, no matter what.”

“O-Of course.”

If I were to fall off and get thrown off Conrad-san, I would definitely die. If that were to happen, I’d be getting in Mer-san’s way. Hence why, I wouldn’t let go of Conrad-san. Mer-san was the first to float up into the air, followed by Conrad-san and Elsa-san. After nodding to us, Elsa-san flew off ahead of us. 

“Gil-kun, Conrad, let’s go.”

“Yes!”

We headed toward the Duflussweise Mountain, where the Royal Selection would be held.

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“Wow… So fast…”

Within just a few minutes after taking off from the Dark Forest, we were already hovering over the Duflussweise Mountain. I never expected we’d arrive so quickly. I was left in awe.

“Hahaha! How is it, Young Master Gil? Pretty fast, huh?”

“Yes! Dragons are really amazing!”

“That’s right, that’s right!”

When I praised him wholeheartedly, I could feel Conrad-san smiling happily. Meanwhile, Mer-san shot a cold glare in our direction.

“…Just so you know, I’m the fastest dragon around.”

“A-Ahaha….”

The next time I rode on Mer-san, I would need to praise her a lot. 

“By the way, the Dragroar Kingdom is shaped just like human cities, right?”

“That’s right. The original king, my grandfather, seemed to have modeled it after human cities.”

On the middle slopes of the Duflussweise Mountain, there were stone structures lined up neatly and at the very back, I could see a castle. However, since there weren’t many buildings, it seemed that the number of dragons living in the Dragroar Kingdom was only about the size of a small town’s population.

“The heinous criminal Mercedes Drake Fafnir and Conrad Gargouille have appeared! Request immediate backup!”

“Hurry up! We can’t hold on much longer!”

Dragons started rising from the town, surrounding us. But, the look of fear was clearly stretched upon their faces. 

“Mer-san.”

“Yes.”

Mer-san nodded. Completely ignoring the surrounding dragons, she fixed her gaze toward the castle located deep within the town. 

Then…

“I, Mercedes Drake Fafnir hereby challenges Klaus Drache Lindwurm, the heinous criminal who murdered my father, Manfred Drake Fafnir and my mother, Edelgard Drake Fafnir, with vile methods, to the Royal Selection! The place is here, and the time is now!”

Mer-san made her bold declaration in a voice loud enough to be heard throughout the entire Duflussweise Mountain. No, her voice was loud enough to reach the farthest corners of the Dark Forest.

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