Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Dragon Princess (5)
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At the construction site, someone was watching her.
Of course, it wasn't just one or two pairs of eyes. The moment Arietta stepped down from the carriage, dozens of gazes had focused on her.
But only one of those gazes prickled at her.
'Dragon Demon power?'
Dragon demon power was the special force unique to dragon demons. It was the power she possessed as a half-dragon demon, different in nature from human mana force.
Yet she could feel someone with dragon demon power watching her from here.
'No, the sensation feels off somehow.'
There was the scent of dragon demon power, but if asked whether it truly was, she'd have to tilt her head. It was like human mana force with the faintest trace of dragon demon power layered on top...
Arietta looked toward the owner of that gaze with puzzlement.
There was a young man with his long red hair tied tightly back, gazing at her with eyes full of curiosity in their blue depths.
7
The moment Azel first laid eyes on Dragon Princess Arietta, he was startled.
Even as a human, Azel could keenly sense dragon demon power. That was because he had fought and defeated more dragon demons than anyone else, and in the process, had even mastered a portion of their power.
To him, Arietta appeared...
'What the hell? How is a dragon demon hybrid's dragon demon power that strong?'
After hearing Rick's explanation, Azel had thought that even a dragon demon prince or princess wouldn't have particularly thick dragon demon blood. But seeing Arietta in person, the density of the dragon demon power she unconsciously emitted was no joke.
'At that level, she rivals a pure-blooded dragon demon, doesn't she?'
As Azel was reeling in surprise, Arietta turned to look at him. Out of the massive crowd, her gaze locked precisely on Azel.
Their eyes met in midair, mana force radiating forth. And then...
Arietta appeared before Azel at terrifying speed.
'Fast!'
There had been nearly fifty meters between them, yet she'd crossed the crowd in an instant! It was a speed invisible to ordinary eyes.
'She's using Flash Step quite naturally. Impressive skill for a young lady.'
Flash Step was a high-speed movement technique used by dragon demon hybrids and Spirit Order practitioners. To normal eyes, it must have looked like she'd leaped through space to appear before him.
The old Azel would have handled it with ease. But with his current mana force still so low, his senses and physical abilities were dulled as well. Thus, Arietta's movements—which he could have casually tracked before—felt enormously swift by comparison.
'I almost attacked on reflex.'
He barely suppressed the instinctive urge to strike. Blaming his own inexperience, Azel looked at her.
Whooooosh...!
The gale from her movement whipped up, fluttering Arietta's long silver hair and the hem of her coat—white with blue patterns. Amid it all, Arietta stared at Azel with sunset-colored eyes brimming with curiosity.
"You..."
Finally, Arietta spoke.
"You're... not a dragon demon hybrid?"
She tilted her head.
Dragon demon hybrids had distinct physical traits different from humans. The absence of those traits meant that even with dragon demon blood, the power had been lost.
Yet Azel carried the faint scent of dragon demon power. As far as Arietta knew, there were no such cases.
"Princess!"
Others belatedly rushed over in alarm.
But Arietta ignored them and asked Azel,
"Who are you?"
"I'm Azel Zestringer, working as a laborer here, Your Highness."
Considering her status as princess, Azel responded with proper courtesy.
Arietta's eyes widened.
"A laborer?"
"Yes."
"You?"
"Yes."
"With dragon demon power? Doing manual labor?"
"I'm sorry, but I don't quite follow what you're saying."
Azel feigned ignorance.
Inwardly, though, he was shocked.
'This girl's mana detection is insane. How did she notice?'
Azel had concealed the flow of mana force emanating from his body. Moreover, with his power having been fully depleted and only barely recovering, the dragon demon scent should have been almost undetectable—yet Arietta had picked it up with exquisite sensitivity.
Just then, Zail approached and spoke.
"Princess. I'm Centurion Zail Vince of the Western Border Guard. May I speak?"
Given Arietta's status, Zail was cautious about stepping forward in front of the others. Arietta nodded.
"Permission granted."
"What business do you have with him?"
"He seemed like a dragon demon hybrid, so I was watching."
"Pardon?"
"I sensed dragon demon power... but he's not one. It's strange."
"Hmm."
Zail glanced at Azel in confusion. Azel responded with a look that said he had no idea either.
Zail said,
"A few days ago, we rescued him after he was experimented on by an evil black magic user and released. The shock left his memories hazy—he doesn't even know much about himself."
"Hm?"
Arietta was surprised by that.
"A black magic user in these woods?"
"We're not entirely sure yet."
After hearing Azel's story, Zail had ordered the scouting party to investigate for traces of the black magic user. But there was no solid information yet.
It was natural for demonic beasts to lurk in these woods, but a mage colluding with them would be a serious issue. If it was a dragon demon, it would be gravely serious.
Arietta eyed Azel suspiciously.
"Hmm..."
"It's understandable that Your Highness finds it hard to believe. But when we first found him, he was in a truly pitiful state."
Zail defended Azel. Arietta stared at him for a moment before saying,
"Centurion Zail, bring this man to me later."
"Understood."
As Zail bowed his head, Arietta turned away.
Azel grumbled inwardly.
'Trouble just found me.'
Dragon Princess Arietta was someone Azel would rather not deal with.
8
Afterward, Arietta accompanied the ruins investigation. In truth, since her arrival was symbolic of the royal family's regard for the matter, there was no real work for her here.
Upon hearing the news, Rick whistled.
"Azel, I hear the Dragon Princess gave you the hot gaze?"
"...How do you twist it into that?"
"Everyone's buzzing about it. What's the story?"
"Hmm. I don't really know either. She suddenly came up and asked if I was a dragon demon hybrid."
"What about you looked like one?"
Rick was dumbfounded. As a healer, he knew the traits of dragon demon hybrids well.
Azel shrugged.
"Who knows? Must've been something only the Dragon Princess could spot. She seemed uncertain, though."
"Hmm..."
"Anyway, it's awkward. I don't want the attention."
"You shouldn't say that."
Rick laughed in disbelief.
And rightly so—Azel had been the center of attention here, known to everyone. The state he'd been found in, and the dramatic changes over the following days, had everyone suspecting dark magic...
Azel gave a wry smile.
"Yeah."
If he'd known, he would've recovered more slowly.
'I rushed it too much.'
But Azel had no choice but to be impatient. His body had been in ruins, and he'd been thrown into a distant era alone and ignorant. Inevitably, he'd been driven by an obsession to regain the power to protect himself.
As a result, the current Azel looked quite sturdy on the outside. At 180 centimeters tall, he'd put on appropriate weight, and days of training had started defining his arms...
His looks were appealing too—rough hair and untrimmed beard made him seem unkempt, but that was deliberate. Cleaned up, Azel was a tall, handsome young man.
Rick said,
"Still, this could be a good opportunity, right?"
"Good opportunity?"
"The Dragon Princess noticed you for once. Impress her, and you might even become her attendant."
"A royal attendant? Pass."
"You're complaining without even knowing who you are."
Azel smiled wryly at Rick's jab.
It was then.
"Hm?"
Azel dashed out of the tent at the ominous vibration prickling his senses. Rick asked in confusion,
"What's wrong all of a sudden?"
"Rick."
"Yeah?"
"Alert everyone around."
"To what?"
"Enemy forces—probably demonic beasts—are coming. In massive numbers."
"What are you talking about?"
Rick panicked. The ruins dig site was heavily guarded by troops seasoned against the beasts of Baran Forest. No warning from them—what was this?
Azel crouched and touched the ground.
"The earth is trembling."
"What?"
"It only shakes like this when a large force marches in one direction."
Having endured the Dragon Emperor War, Azel knew countless ways to detect enemy movements. Among them was distinguishing by these vibrations, and one other...
"And they hid with magic—concealing their forms, sounds, even mana waves—but they forgot to mask their group mind. Or maybe they don't even know they need to."
Azel gazed into the distance as he spoke.
To him, who had mastered Spirit Order to its limits, it was visible: the vortex of intent swirling from the gathered demonic beasts.
Any being with cognitive ability emits intent. Individually, it's masked by natural energies, but en masse, it gains a distinct presence.
That was group mind.
In Azel's era, concealing group mind for ambushes was basic. But not in this one—likely because few or none could detect it.
Swooooosh...
Then, from beyond the forest, orbs of light shot up. Faint in the daylight, they were unmistakably magic flares.
Boom!
One arced in and exploded in the heart of the camp.
That sparked it—flares rained in from all sides. Laborers screamed and fled; soldiers sounded the alarm.
"Enemy attack!"
"Mages are here!"
And from afar, the horde of demonic beasts revealed itself. Roaring monstrosities charged, kicking up thick dust.
Swooooosh...!
Another orb streaked in, several times faster than arrows. The moment it struck the camp—
Boom!
It was blocked midair by something and detonated. The explosion was feeble compared to its original destructive power.
Beyond the blast, a girl with flowing silver hair appeared.
Those who saw her hovering in the air cried out in shock.
"Dragon Princess!"
And on the ground, Azel began to move.
"Front's hers then... Time for me to earn my keep? Rick!"
"Yeah?"
"Take this."
Azel handed Rick a wooden block. Rick stared at it, baffled.
"What is it?"
"Your protective charm. Don't lose it. Hide with it. We can't afford you getting hurt when you need to heal the wounded."
With that, Azel plunged into the rising dust cloud.