Chapter 331
Chapter 331
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 331
Chapter Title: Chapter 8-1. The Dragonkin Nation, Reillysa.
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A dragonkin figure appeared through spatial translocation. I couldn't kill him even for Cellyon's sake, so I leaned forward, intending to subdue him by summoning Rudmillan. With just a twitch of my finger, ripples formed in the air, ready for chains to shoot out at any moment.
'Huh?'
But just as I was about to unleash the chains, I sensed no hostility from the emerging dragonkin. Instead, he ignored me completely, glancing at Cellyon as if confirming her face. His eyes trembled. The moment his feet touched the ground, he dropped to one knee in reverence.
"Welcome home, Your Majesty!"
His shout was so loud it hurt my ears. I furrowed my brow, while Arhil behind me let out a small grunt and stepped back hesitantly. The nameless dragonkin pressed his tail flat against the ground and kept his head bowed, motionless. Cellyon, her eyes wide in surprise as she watched, stepped forward. From the corner of my eye, I saw her hands trembling.
"You... remember me?"
"Yes, of course. No dragonkin in Reillysa would dare forget Esther Cellyon."
"Why?"
"Because you are our queen."
The dragonkin answered Cellyon's question without a hint of hesitation. It was joyful and heartwarming that people still remembered her after a hundred years, but it also stirred guilt.
They probably didn't know why the empire fell, so they waited without resentment. She feared their reaction if they learned the truth. With a heavy heart, she parted her tightly closed lips.
"...Rise."
"Yes."
The dragonkin rose obediently at her command, though he still kept his waist slightly bowed.
"If Your Majesty is agreeable, I will escort you to the palace entrance. However, bringing a human as a slave is truly..."
At the word "slave," Cellyon reacted instantly. Her eyes sharpened as she lunged forward, grabbing the throat of the crouching dragonkin who had glanced disdainfully at me and the others.
"Urk!?"
With a strangled cry, the dragonkin—far bulkier than Cellyon—was lifted clean off the ground. She gradually tightened her grip on his neck. He clutched at her wrist, struggling to break free, but it didn't budge. Perhaps fearing he might harm the queen, he wasn't using his full strength or moving his tail, but even so, it was astonishing how such power came from her slender frame.
"Don't speak carelessly. It's true he's human, but he's no one for the likes of you to insolently call a slave and look at with such arrogant eyes."
Her diamond-shaped pupils narrowed, and her voice dropped low as she warned the dragonkin. She wouldn't have reacted this strongly if he'd called the others slaves. The problem was lumping Juda in with them.
Panic was clear on the dragonkin's reddening face.
It was understandable. It must have been absurd.
Humans were the enemies of dragonkin—or so they'd believed, acted, and been told by Cellyon herself a century ago. They'd even waged war against the Byron Empire and seized their lands. Yet now, the long-lost queen was protecting a human.
I gave a wry smile as I met the dragonkin's eyes. Staying silent might get him killed by Cellyon's hand. Just as I was about to tell her to let him go, she released her grip on her own.
He collapsed with a thud, gasping raggedly with his flushed face, then struggled back to his feet. He still looked confused but didn't get angry. Instead, he bowed his head in apology.
"I'm sorry. I spoke rudely to Your Majesty's guest."
"I warn you—make sure to spread the word to the others. Anyone who dares spout nonsense about my guest and benefactor, Lord Juda, will not be spared."
"...Yes."
Cellyon watched his response, then asked him to guide us with a slightly softened tone out of guilt. The nameless dragonkin led the way to the castle. At his signal, the raised drawbridge lowered, and the firmly shut gates swung wide open. The soldiers atop the walls, still unsure of the situation, looked down in bewilderment and lowered their drawn bows. As we entered the castle, many people came out into the streets, wondering what was happening. They buzzed with murmurs upon seeing Cellyon and our human group.
The dragonkin looked anxious at their reactions, worried she might lash out like she had with him. Fortunately, though she seemed uncomfortable, Cellyon stayed calm.
Then, someone among the onlookers nearby recognized her and uttered "Your Majesty" in disbelief. Cellyon turned toward the voice. An old dwarf there collapsed in shock, his wrinkled face frozen, prostrating himself on the spot. Word spread instantly that the queen had returned. As the crowd surged toward her, orc spearmen and elf archers began controlling them. Blocked by soldiers, they still bowed deeply from where they stood, chanting her name.
"W-Wow..."
It wouldn't have been so shocking if they'd just cheered her name, but seeing so many prostrate themselves one after another was truly startling. It was her first time receiving bows from such a crowd. Even Iris, queen of the Shadow Kingdom, had likely never experienced this.
Cellyon watched quietly, and the dragonkin approached her.
"There is a place inside to rest briefly. It's humble, but if you wait there, a mage from the palace will come to transport you comfortably."
We could use a carriage or mount, but crossing two walls to the castle atop that high hill would take too long. With other races and dragonkin likely swarming the roads upon hearing of her return, it wasn't wise.
Escorted by soldiers, we moved to a spot. The dragonkin summoned some and ordered them to spread word that no one should speak carelessly about the humans with her, calling them the queen's benefactor. Contrary to his description of it being humble, the room he guided us to was surprisingly clean, tidy, and comfortable—as if prepared in advance for her arrival. We opened the windows and sat on a sofa large enough for several. Cellyon's face was flushed red.
"You look happy."
"Me?"
"Yes. You're smiling."
Arhil smiled softly, pressing his index fingers to his lips and drawing them up toward his ears. Cellyon, incredulous, touched her mouth with her hand. Her expression mixed anticipation, fear, and joy in a subtle way, but it wasn't unpleasant to see. Suddenly sensing eyes from beyond the window, I turned to find a dragonkin peeking from a rooftop.
They spotted me perched on the windowsill, nodded as if finally seeing me, then gestured for me to move aside. Were they up there to see Cellyon? Unbothered, I gladly stepped aside. Cellyon, watching me move, then looked at the dragonkin on the roof.
Unable to bow properly on the sharp triangular roof, they awkwardly lowered their heads in reverence. Seeing this, Cellyon raised her hand and waved lightly.
"The queen saw me! She waved at me... Oops!"
So thrilled, one dragonkin leaped on the roof, about to cheer, but glanced around and clamped his mouth shut. With an apologetic look, he bowed deeply to Cellyon once more. Soon, many more dragonkin climbed the roofs to see her in the third-floor room. Waving to each might have been tedious, but since her face brightened, I left the window open without drawing the curtains.
A little later, the door opened quietly. An old man with a long beard like some immortal sage entered, leaning on a staff. He was a dragonkin too. Seeing Cellyon waving from the sofa, he collapsed to his knees in感動.
"Oh, gods! Thank you! I never dreamed I'd live to see this day!"
"Lumiren!"
"Ho ho! You still remember this old man—such an honor. How many years has it been? No troubles in all that time? I'm dying to know where you've been and what happened over the past century-plus."
"...Sorry for leaving so irresponsibly."
The elderly dragonkin called Lumiren looked shocked at Cellyon's apology.
"No, where's that proud demeanor from before? I never expected an apology like this. Feel free to act more like your old self. Surely you're not awkward around this old-timer after so long?"
Cellyon gave a wry smile.
"No. I'm happy to see you after so long—it's not awkwardness. I heard from an elf on the way here that Reillysa's current king is my father?"
"Yes, but now that Your Majesty has returned, Lord Seo will hand the throne back to you. He always said he was just holding it temporarily. Since it came up, let's hurry to the castle. I'll escort you."