Chapter 113: The Dragon Emperor Rite
The subjugation of the monster horde attacking the town was over, and peace had returned to the town.
Damage to the town was minimal, and the townspeople were overjoyed that although there were injuries, there were no deaths.
“Gahahaha! I defeated suuuch a huge monster with a single blow! Look at this magnificent horn!”
“How many times have you told that story? More importantly, the size of the fangs of the monster I defeated…”
“You too, how many times have you told that story, oi?”
“GAHAHAHAHA.”
The adventurers, whose pockets were warmed by hunting a large number of monsters, were in high spirits, sharing their heroic tales.
And there was another person here in a good mood.
“The Dragon Princess Rite will be held soon!”
It’s Ryune.
After all, Ryune originally came to this town to participate in the Dragon Princess Rite.
It was feared that the event might be canceled due to the monster attack, but perhaps because the damage was unexpectedly small, it was decided that the Dragon Princess Rite would be held as usual, which seems to be a relief.
And the ones most happy about that were the townspeople.
Not only was the town suddenly attacked by a horde of monsters, but they were also worried that their once-a-year enjoyment might disappear.
“I hope you can win.”
“Yes! I’ve been training hard until today for that purpose! I will definitely win!”
To the enthusiastic Ryune, Liliera and the others sent gentle gazes with a relaxed demeanor.
“Well, even without getting worked up, victory is guaranteed.”
“That’s right. There’s no way there are many humans who can win against someone who throws dragons around.”
Then Liliera and the others turned their gaze towards me.
“And that ‘not many people’ can’t participate in a women-only tournament, so victory is unshakable, isn’t it?”
“It’s relaxing to watch too.”
“…I wonder where the betting for this rite is being managed.”
While the women, convinced of Ryune‘s victory, were in a relaxed mood, only Meguri was looking around for a bookmaker to participate in the betting happening behind the scenes of the rite.
“Or rather, aren’t you all participating?”
Since this tournament is women-only, Jairo and I can’t participate, but Liliera and the others are women, so they should be able to.
“I’ll pass. I stand out enough in this town as it is. I want to avoid doing anything that makes me stand out more.”
“Oh my, that is troubling.”
It was at that moment.
A familiar voice reacted to Liliera’s statement.
“You are… the Guild Master!?”
Yes, the one who spoke to us was the Guild Master managing the Adventurer’s Guild of this town.
And the Guild Master had an unfamiliar, stout middle-aged man with him.
“Hey look, isn’t that the Guild Master?”
“Did something happen again?”
With the Guild Master appearing in the guild lobby, the adventurers started buzzing.
“It would be lacking in excitement if you, rumored to be the return of the Dragon Princess, do not appear in this year’s Dragon Princess Rite.”
At the Guild Master’s words, Liliera made a disgusted face.
“Everyone rumors so, but I am not the Dragon Princess.”
When Liliera said that, the Guild Master nodded in agreement.
“I see, I see, your claim is reasonable. However, it is a fact that you defeated a dragon alone. And in front of the town residents. Then, even if you are not the Dragon Princess, since you came to town at this time, it is natural to expect that you might participate in the Dragon Princess Rite.”
The timing was just too good in various ways.
Happened to come when the Dragon Princess Rite was being held, happened to defeat a stray dragon that appeared in town, and happened to cooperate in repelling a monster horde attacking the town.
Yeah, thinking normally, I feel it can’t be helped if the relationship is suspected.
“Furthermore, in the monster attack the other day, the Golden Dragon and the Silver Dragon intervened in the battle as if protecting this town. Just like the legendary Dragon Knights.”
“I have nothing to do with those dragons. I was fighting on the ground.”
“So I hear.”
When Liliera claimed her alibi, the Guild Master readily affirmed it.
“But the town residents are expecting simply because you are strong. To see you participate in the Dragon Princess Rite and win.”
“As I said earlier, I’m not interested.”
“Hey, hey, why won’t Sis Liliera enter the tournament? If you win, you can become famous.”
Jairo asked Mina in a whisper from behind.
Since Jairo’s goal in becoming an adventurer is to become a top-class adventurer and gain fame, he doesn’t seem to understand Liliera’s reason for disliking standing out.
“Well, thinking normally, being mistaken for the Dragon Princess is probably the biggest reason. It’s one thing to become famous by having your activities as an adventurer recognized, but becoming famous by being linked to a legend unrelated to yourself feels like stealing someone else’s credit, which she probably dislikes.”
“Hmm, is that how it is?”
Well, regarding that, I can somewhat understand since I was told the Dragon Emperor had revived.
In my previous life too, I kept getting involved in troublesome matters because I was praised as a hero.
So I’ll stay still this time too.
I can’t participate in the rite anyway!
“Then how about as a request from me?”
Just then, the man next to the Guild Master interrupted the conversation.
“A request… you say?”
“Yes, I request your participation in the Dragon Princess Rite.”
At the sudden strange request, Liliera tilted her head.
“…Umm, why go out of your way to make such a request?”
Yeah, Liliera’s doubt is reasonable.
Because making a request means a request fee is incurred.
No matter how much they want Liliera to fight, I don’t understand the reason to pay money to make her fight.
The surrounding adventurers also tilted their heads at the strange request.
“Oops, I’m late introducing myself. I am Mornig, the mayor of this town.”
“THE MAYOR!?”
Since the client was unexpectedly the mayor, we involuntarily raised our voices.
“The Dragon Princess Rite is an important ritual for the town. It is not just a simple ritual, but also has a large aspect as a festival to attract people from outside the town.”
Is he talking about what Ryune mentioned before, about turning the Dragon Princess Rite into a martial arts tournament to increase visitors?
“As someone involved in running the festival, I want to avoid anything that would dampen the festival’s excitement.”
“Well, if that’s the case, I can somewhat understand, but…”
In other words, to the townspeople, Liliera, who defeated a dragon, is perceived as something like a special guest.
Since she’s a guest, she’ll naturally participate in the festival.
If she didn’t appear despite that expectation, they would be disappointed.
And if their expectations were betrayed, repeat visitors for next year’s festival might decrease.
If that happened, the administration would be in great trouble, so they thought to pay money to have her become a de facto guest.
In my previous life, an acquaintance merchant also said, “Even if it’s an event not in the schedule, if the customer expects it, meeting that expectation is what a top-class merchant does! Otherwise, sales will drop!”
But even so, I still think forcing me to participate just because I happened to come to town on a mission was questionable.
“Hmm, with a reward…”
Hearing she would receive a reward, Liliera started to worry.
“Noticing the reward, does the Dragon Princess Rite itself have any reward?”
Meguri asked if there was any merit to participating in the Dragon Princess Rite.
“Yes, of course. To attract those proud of their strength, the Dragon Princess Rite provides 200 gold coins as a reward to the winner.”
“Ooh! 200 gold coins!”
Hearing 200 gold coins, Meguri‘s eyes sparkled.
“200 coins… double rewards, converting to inn rent…”
No, no, Liliera, we have a house now, you know?
“H-Huh? Don’t tell me my rivals are increasing!?”
Seeing Meguri start warming up and Liliera worrying seriously, Ryune turned pale and started flustering.
“No, but still, the demerits… I have enough money to send home now…”
However, perhaps still disliking being treated as the Dragon Princess, Liliera’s heart started leaning towards refusing the request.
But here, covering fire came from the Guild Master.
“Regarding that, if you can participate in the Dragon Princess Rite, the Guild side can also provide a commensurate merit.”
Here, the Guild Master also joined the negotiation to support the mayor.
“From the Guild?”
“Yeah, if you participate in the Dragon Princess Rite, I will guarantee your promotion to S-rank.”
“PROMOTION TO S-RANK!?”
The guild went into an uproar at the unexpected S-rank promotion statement.
“Isn’t that… a bit problematic?”
“No, you possess combat power capable of defeating a dragon alone. Then there is no problem with promotion to S-rank. There are some minor issues, but if you demonstrate your power at the rite, it will be sufficient as an addition to your track record. After all, every spectator who comes to see the rite will become a witness.”
The Guild Master thinks cleverly.
Since the merit is huge, it suddenly became hard for Liliera to refuse.
“U-Umm… double reward and S-rank guarantee… plus a direct request from the Guild Master…”
With an additional reward proposed, Liliera held her head, glancing at the Guild Master while worrying.
“Awawa…”
Incidentally, Ryune was staring at Liliera, who was agonizing over the decision, with a pale face.
And after a short pause, Liliera, who seemed to have made a decision, looked up.
“…Understood. I will accept that request.”
“YEAAAAAH!!”
“GYAAAAAAH!!”
Cheers and screams echoed in the lobby.
“Man, thank you very much. With this, I can face my ancestor who incorporated the martial arts tournament into the Dragon Princess Rite.”
Ah, I see, he negotiated so seriously because his ancestor was the person involved in the ritual… right?
“WAIT, IT WAS YOUR ANCESTOR!?”
Wow, to think the mayor’s ancestor was the ringleader who made the Dragon Princess Rite what it is today… talk about blood ties.
“…Because it’s a direct nomination from the Guild Master. Refusing is impossible.”
I see, Liliera accepted the request to participate in the tournament to save face for the Guild Master.
Indeed, we adventurers belong to the Adventurer’s Guild.
It would be awkward in various ways for us to refuse a request from the Guild Master.
But Liliera‘s muttered words were drowned out by the cheers raging in the lobby and were only heard by us nearby.
“I’m glad we reached an agreement.”
Here, as the Guild Master raised his hand along with his voice, the guild became quiet again.
Everyone focused their gaze on the Guild Master, wondering if there was something else.
“Regarding the Dragon Princess Rite, we have decided to postpone the date due to certain circumstances.”
“EHHHH!?”
Everyone voiced dissatisfaction at the unexpected postponement declaration.
“Was there some adverse effect from the monster attack after all?”
“No, we decided to hold a certain ritual simultaneously starting this year. We decided to shift the date to prepare for that.”
“A certain ritual?”
“That is correct! Starting this year, it has been decided to hold not only the women-only Dragon Princess Rite but also the Dragon Emperor Rite targeting men!”
“WHAT!?”
Told by the mayor that a Dragon Emperor Rite targeting men would be held, the adventurers in the guild got excited.
“Seriously!? Can we participate in the tournament we used to just watch!?”
“Of course, there’s prize money for this tournament too, right!?”
“Of course! After all, it is a ritual to choose the role of His Majesty the legendary Dragon Emperor of our country! And to commemorate the first ritual, the prize money will be 400 gold coins, double that of the Dragon Princess Rite!”
“OOOOOOOOOH!?”
“The ritual will be held in one month! Being the first ritual to choose the role of His Majesty the Dragon Emperor, nobles living in the Royal Capital will also be coming! Depending on your performance, there is a possibility of being employed as a knight!”
“UWOOOOOOOOH!?”
“Seriously!? Not just 400 gold coins, but we can become knights too!?”
“Idiot, winning is impossible for you. The 400 gold coins and the knight’s seat are mine!”
“Don’t screw around, I’m the one who’s gonna win!”
At the mayor’s successive statements, the adventurers were excited with glaring eyes.
Come to think of it, even in the adventures of the Great Swordsman Liegard, the story of an adventurer being recognized by a noble and becoming a knight is popular as a story of a commoner rising in the world.
In that story, Liegard, who saved his companions and a noble, is recommended for knighthood, but Liegard chooses freedom and declines the offer.
But instead, Liegard recommended his fellow swordsman for knighthood.
Everyone says they like the part where Liegard’s companion became a knight, but I felt empathy for Liegard who chose freedom even if it meant discarding honor.
“Big Bro, Big Bro! Let’s participate too!”
While I was thinking such things, Jairo invited me to the tournament with excitement.
“Eh? Jairo, did you want to become a knight?”
No, but Jairo‘s goal is to become famous, so if he wins and becomes a knight, can he achieve his goal?
“Knights and stuff don’t matter. Seems stiff anyway. More importantly, I want to fight in the tournament! After all, they’re choosing the strongest King role in the country! And with a prize of 400 gold coins! Definitely, incredibly strong guys are bound to come in droves! And I want to fight them and confirm! That I, trained by Big Bro, have become strong!”
I see, Jairo’s aim is to fight the strong warriors who come seeking the prize money and knight’s seat.
Indeed, between humans and monsters, even if they are the same rank, you can have unexpected struggles due to the presence or absence of intelligence.
“So, Big Bro, let’s enter together!”
“Ehh!? Me too!?”
No, no, I don’t want to stand out too much, so I don’t want to participate in this kind of tournament.
“Don’t say that, Big Bro. I want to fight Big Bro too! I’ll make Norb participate too, you know.”
“Ehh!? I’m participating too!?”
Ugh, Jairo stares at me with sparkling eyes.
He really wants to fight strong opponents.
Also, sorry Norb.
“Regarding that, I would like to request it as well.”
There, the Guild Master joined in.
“Even the Guild Master…”
“I heard the details from my subordinates at the dismantling area. I hear you are adventurers capable of subjugating dragons. Moreover, one of you is an S-rank adventurer.”
Ah, he’s the Guild Master, after all. He can figure out the identity of affiliated adventurers.
“Same for her, Liliera-kun, but a festival needs guests after all. Especially the Dragon Emperor Rite, not only is this the first tournament, but it is also a glorious tournament to decide the synonym for the strongest in our country, the Dragon Emperor. At such a time, wouldn’t it be strange not to feel some kind of fate in an S-rank adventurer coming to this town?”
No, it’s strange! It’s a coincidence, really a coincidence!
“Ahaha, but I’m not interested in prize money or a knight’s seat…”
“It’s fine, isn’t it? Let’s accept, Rex.”
It was at that moment.
Suddenly, Liliera joined the conversation from behind.
“The reason I ended up participating is originally because Rex told us to fight the dragon alone in the middle of the street. Then, I think Rex also has an obligation to participate in this tournament.”
Seeing the expression of Liliera gripping my arm with a smirk, for some reason, I imagined an undead trying to drag a victim into the dark depths of the earth.
With a gloomy gaze as if to say she wouldn’t let me stay under the warm sun alone.
“No, well, I’m not troubled for money, and I’m not interested in honor.”
Or rather, if truth be told, my goal is to do plain adventurer activities, hunting monsters appropriately and living day by day.
In this life, I want to live a life unrelated to honor.
“Ah, in that case, it’s okay. I have a good idea.”
“…”
Why do I feel like it’s not a good idea at all?
◆
“It seems the holding of the Dragon Emperor Rite has been conveyed throughout the country as planned.”
“Umu, with this, we can smoke out the new Dragon Emperor under the pretext of the tournament as planned.”
In a corner of the mansion, in a salon away from servants, we gathered for a certain plot.
A gathering to succeed in a conspiracy to bury the new Dragon Emperor, said to have revived in this era, without anyone knowing.
We shuddered when we heard that the monster horde attacking the town of Tatsutron was annihilated by the activity of a Golden Dragon carrying someone.
Because a Dragon Knight driving the Golden Dragon, the strongest dragon, means the strongest Dragon Knight of Dragonia, the Dragon Emperor.
The resurrection of the great Emperor, that should be a happy event to be celebrated as people of Dragonia… but it wasn’t.
At least not for us high-ranking nobles.
Long ago, the Dragon Emperor passed away in the decisive battle with Demons, and Dragonia was inherited by the Prince born between him and the Dragon Princess.
However, due to an epidemic that occurred in a later era, every single Dragon Knight of that time lost their lives.
The biggest problem was that among the victim Dragon Knights was the Dragon Emperor of that time.
Even worse was that all the blood relatives of the Dragon Emperor at that time were Dragon Knights.
The terrifying fact that not a single blood relative of the Dragon Emperor remained in a very short time.
There was no way the country wouldn’t split.
Having lost its leader, the upper echelons of Dragonia were in chaos.
At one point, the country was on the verge of being divided in two.
Ultimately, using the legend that the Dragon Emperor would return someday, the Prime Minister at the time selected the most excellent person from among the nobles and made that person the Emperor’s Proxy, settling the country down.
It was also a game of musical chairs where a new Emperor’s Proxy was selected every generation, and many nobles agreed to the system filled with hope that the seat of the de facto Emperor might come around to them if they were excellent.
Well, in reality, it is a mechanism where great nobles who can receive sufficient education monopolize the seat of the Emperor’s Proxy.
However, this system was working well.
After all, even if it’s just a formality that anyone has a chance, nobles are desperate to raise excellent successors, so even if they don’t become the new Emperor’s Proxy, there is a high possibility of being employed as a vassal.
But this system also had one big hole.
That is, to prevent someone from monopolizing the Imperial Throne, they must declare that they are merely the Emperor’s Proxy.
That declaration was strictly to declare oneself as the Dragon Emperor‘s proxy, and it was a constraint that if violated, could invite not only hostile factions within the country but even intervention from other countries.
The content was, “When His Majesty the Dragon Emperor returns, the Emperor’s Proxy will return the Imperial Throne to His Majesty the Dragon Emperor.”
And now, with the Dragon Emperor appearing in the town of Tatsutron accompanied by undeniable proof of a Dragon Knight commanding a Golden Dragon, the nobles of the Royal Capital were in an uproar.
But…
“The revived Dragon Emperor has not yet announced himself nor demanded the return of the Imperial Throne. There is no doubt there is some intention behind this.”
Yes, despite participating in the battle riding a Golden Dragon, the Dragon Emperor disappeared after that.
It is an utterly eerie silence.
“Does it mean he senses that we have no intention of returning the Imperial Throne?”
“Perhaps lower-ranking nobles who are not amused that we high-ranking nobles monopolize the seat of Emperor’s Proxy are siding with the Dragon Emperor.”
That possibility is high.
No matter how excellent lower-ranking nobles are, further promotion is difficult because we high-ranking nobles monopolize the upper positions.
Precisely because they are dissatisfied with that, there is a high possibility they welcomed the Dragon Emperor aiming to improve their standing.
“Hmph, as if we can give the Imperial Throne to a ghost of the past at this late hour.”
Exactly. Whatever intention there may be, it is an unshakable fact that we high-ranking nobles have been managing the politics of this country until now.
Above all, everyone knows that a declaration to return the Imperial Throne to the Dragon Emperor who will eventually revive is nothing but an excuse for us to obtain the throne.
That is why we ordered the mayor of Tatsutron to hold the Dragon Emperor Rite under the pretext of the Dragon Emperor’s resurrection.
To execute the plot of the Dragon Emperor’s assassination behind the scenes.
“We have already dispatched assassins disguised as tournament participants. We plan to have them dispose of the Dragon Emperor as soon as his identity is revealed.”
“No matter if he is a Dragon Knight commanding a Golden Dragon, he cannot make a dragon rampage in the middle of the town.”
“Kukuku, disappear before you return to the Imperial Throne, Dragon Emperor.”
Elite assassins who have been maneuvering in the shadows to solidify our rule until now are gathering in one town just to kill a single human.
If attacked by a pack of mad dogs who choose any means to dispose of their target, even the Dragon Emperor will not escape unscathed.
“By declaring the holding of the Dragon Emperor Rite, the number of people leaving the town has also decreased significantly. As planned, drifting mercenaries and adventurers seem to have chosen to stay in town to participate in the tournament.”
Umu, deciding to hold the Dragon Emperor Rite is also aimed at pinning down the Dragon Emperor who might be hiding in the town.
Dragonia, where the Emperor himself ruled the country as a Dragon Knight, shows respect to the strong.
Therefore, if the Dragon Emperor himself does not appear in the first tournament to decide his own role, doubts might be cast on his strength.
Of course, the truth doesn’t matter.
We just need to spread rumors so the people believe so.
“Also, we prepared a list of male adventurers staying in the town of Tatsutron from the Adventurer’s Guild. Under the pretext of examining adventurers with the potential to be employed as knights. Among them, there is one person of interest.”
“Oh?”
My comrade, Count Jihou, spread the list on the table and pointed to an adventurer’s name.
“Rex the Giant Eater. He is said to be a skilled adventurer who promoted to S-rank less than a year after registering as an adventurer.”
“S-rank in one year!?”
At Count Jihou’s words, everyone present raised voices of surprise.
That is to be expected; for us, adventurers are a lowly profession like speculators where commoners aim to get rich quick.
But among them, S-rank adventurers are recognized as an exceptional existence.
S-rank adventurers, who subjugate demonic beasts that even regular Knight Orders cannot defeat and bring back treasures said to be legendary from the depths of labyrinths, contribute to solving all kinds of difficult problems for high-ranking nobles of various countries as powerful individuals equal to Royal Guards.
Literally, monsters in human form—that is an S-rank adventurer.
Furthermore, it is said they do not possess a decent nature and will bite even nobles if they are displeased.
Due to their strength and difficulty to handle, S-rank adventurers are existences that even we high-ranking nobles must be careful dealing with.
“…Ah, certainly I was surprised that such a big shot is staying, but there is no way that person is the Dragon Emperor.”
However, in this case alone, there is no need for that worry.
“That’s right. As long as he hasn’t announced himself until now, I don’t think the Dragon Emperor would take such a conspicuous position as an S-rank adventurer.”
“Umu, as I thought. Just well… since the rank was what it was, I was a little curious.”
“Well, one powerful person is removed from the candidates. It’s not a bad thing.”
“Umu, that’s right. If such a monster were the Dragon Emperor, assassination would be out of the question.”
“HAHAHAHAHAHA.”
