Refusing the Dragon Throne
Over the next few days, as I stayed in Lehatna's lair, I heard all sorts of stories about the situation.
Though he'd mellowed considerably in his later years, the Dragon King had been a thoroughly merciless ruler.
A brutal tyrant who killed anyone who opposed him without exception.
That was the Dragon King in his youth.
And this Dragon King had three children in total.
The eldest, his firstborn daughter, was the Flash Dragon Leysia.
An existence so extraordinary that even Giryu had warned me about her personally.
They said her power resembled the Dragon King's more than anyone's, making her the most likely candidate for the next Dragon King among his three children.
Even though, in the end, the Dragon King had named not her, but Lehatna.
Next was the Dragon King's second child and eldest son, the Rampage Dragon Le Ganus.
Though his raw power fell a bit short of his sister Leysia's, he was still the Dragon King's direct heir.
Unlike Leysia, who had few subordinates as a lofty absolute being, he commanded the largest number of followers.
And with his cruel temperament most resembling the Dragon King in his youth, he surprisingly had a great many who followed him devotedly.
Finally, the Dragon King's third child and youngest daughter, the Golden Dragon Lehatna.
Compared to her two older siblings, she was a young dragon with no outstanding qualities.
The only things she could boast about were her gentle and affectionate personality and her affability toward everyone.
To be honest, Lehatna seemed the furthest from ever becoming Dragon King.
In fact, if the Dragon King hadn't named her as his successor, wouldn't she have just lived peacefully like this?
From my perspective, no matter how I looked at it, it felt like the Dragon King had dumped an unnecessary burden on Lehatna before dying.
I'd decided last night to help Lehatna, but there was nothing to do right away.
Lehatna's faction was small compared to her two siblings', so she couldn't make any moves yet anyway—and above all, I hadn't heard her own thoughts on the matter.
Giryu seemed to want Lehatna to uphold the Dragon King's will and become the next Dragon King, but I had no idea what Lehatna herself thought.
From what I'd seen of her so far, she probably wouldn't take the position even if it was handed to her.
In truth, Lehatna looked utterly happy right now, laughing and playing with the young monsters.
So I asked her.
[Lehatna.]
[Yeah?]
Lehatna, who had shrunk her body and was rolling around with the low-rank monsters as usual, looked my way.
Pong-pong— The pink slime that had been with her came bounding into my arms as if it were the most natural thing.
I naturally scooped up the little guy and continued.
[I heard from Giryu.]
[Mm… really?]
Lehatna's innocent expression clouded over in an instant.
She flapped her wings once, shook off the other monsters clinging to her, and flew over to me.
[How much did you hear?]
[Most of it.]
[…I see.]
Lehatna murmured bitterly and continued.
[Is that why you haven't left all this time? Because you heard the story?]
[Giryu asked me to help you.]
[Mm. So you'll help?]
[As long as it doesn't cause me any big trouble.]
[Nyx is so kind!]
I frowned slightly at Lehatna's burst of girlish laughter.
[So, what do you think? From what I've seen, you don't seem all that interested in the Dragon King position.]
Lehatna's laughter cut off abruptly.
She blinked a few times, then nodded in agreement.
[Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry to Giryu, who's been working so hard, but honestly, I'm not really interested in becoming Dragon King.]
[I see.]
[You're not surprised?]
[I've been able to tell just from watching you these past few days.]
[…I see.]
Lehatna trailed off for a moment, then pulled the pink slime from my arms into her own and continued.
[I don't get my big sister or big brother. What's so great about that Dragon King title anyway? Can't we all just get along?]
She buried her face in the squishy slime's body with a bitter murmur.
[Even the ones who were always kind to me don't smile at me anymore. My big sister, who was always so sweet to me, and my big brother, who pretended not to but cared a lot… they don't see me as their little sister anymore. I don't need that stupid Dragon King title… Am I the weird one?]
I held my words for a moment as Lehatna glanced up at me.
It was easy enough to understand.
The reasons were different, but even I had no desire to wear some pointless hat of authority.
More than that, growing up watching my father from my human days had always left me thinking that way.
What was the big deal with power or fame?
Why were they so obsessed?
Back then, I'd always thought they were the strange ones.
But my father and those around him had thought I was the strange one.
Gazing at Lehatna, old memories faintly resurfaced.
Her yellow eyes were tinged with bittersweet emotions.
[You're not weird, Lehatna.]
[Really?]
[Yeah. We just value different things.]
I gently stroked the head of Lehatna, who had shrunk to about Suli's size.
From what I'd heard, she was a young dragon born later than her two siblings…
But compared to her power, she really did feel like a child.
[So, Lehatna—what do you want to do from here? Tell me your thoughts. Whatever it is, I'll help.]
[…Thank you.]
Lehatna nodded slowly and spoke.
[I don't want to become Dragon King.]
[Then?]
[I like things the way they are now. With Giryu here, and everyone together—happy days like this.]
[Do you think your big sister and brother will accept that? From what I hear, they already see you as an enemy.]
[I'll tell them straight up! I don't want that Dragon King seat even if they give it to me! Let them fight it out however they want! I'll live my own way!]
The pink slime in her arms tumbled to the ground, rolling end over end, as Lehatna spread her wings and declared boldly.
[Eek! What do we do? Are you okay?!]
A chuckle escaped me at Lehatna hastily scooping up the slime, her seriousness forgotten.
As expected, the Dragon King title didn't suit her at all.
On the other hand, I could vaguely see why the Dragon King or Giryu might have seen her as the next ruler.
If she became Dragon King, every day would surely be peaceful.
[Alright, Lehatna. I'll be your strength for what you want.]
[Yeah! Thanks, Nyx!]
I smiled quietly at Lehatna flapping her wings vigorously.
Though it would differ in many ways from what I'd initially thought, this didn't seem so bad.
Now that I'd confirmed her wishes, it was time to make a move.
In a way I could enjoy, of course.
After my conversation with Lehatna ended, just as I was about to head out, Giryu approached quietly.
[Nyx.]
[I was just about to look for you—perfect timing. But what's up?]
[I overheard your talk with the young miss.]
I paused at Giryu's flat tone.
Giryu wanted Lehatna to become Dragon King.
So hearing my conversation with her must have soured his mood.
Giryu spoke first, in my place as I hesitated to open my mouth.
[Thank you.]
[…Thank you?]
[Yes. You resolved the young miss's long-standing dilemma.]
[Even if that means not becoming Dragon King?]
[The Dragon King's final words matter, but the young miss's own will matters more. Becoming Dragon King against her wishes would be the greatest misfortune.]
[…I see.]
[All I want is for her to be happy.]
I nodded quietly at Giryu's words.
He valued Lehatna even more than I'd thought.
[Anyway, I heard you were looking for me—what's the business? Do you need something?]
[Mm. I thought I'd scout the area a bit. Figured I should let you know before going.]
[You don't need my permission for that.]
[Not permission—just a heads-up. So you'll know what I'm up to, and can call me if you need me.]
[I see.]
Giryu nodded slowly, then continued toward me.
[Thank you again.]
[Hm? You already thanked me plenty just now…]
[For deciding to help the young miss. Even just you joining makes it feel utterly reliable.]
[…I'll run if it gets too dangerous.]
[Hm. Is that so? Doesn't sound too trustworthy.]
[…What do you mean?]
[I don't think you're the type to flee at mere danger. From what I know of you, you'd fight smiling right up to the very end.]
It hit a little close to home, so I quietly shut my mouth.
I knew myself—if I got into the thrill of battle, I'd rampage without regard.
[…Still, if it's really dangerous, I'll bolt. Don't hold it against me then. I've got family to get back to.]
[Family, huh?]
[Mm. Wife and kids. And plenty of others I need to look after besides.]
[I see. I'd like to meet them sometime if there's a chance. Especially the kids—the young miss would love them.]
[Suli and the others are all adorable, so Lehatna would definitely like them. Once this is over, let's go together. She wants to see the world above anyway. I'll treat you then.]
[…Yeah. Once this is over…]
Our conversation ended as Giryu murmured softly and nodded.
As promised, before I left the lair briefly, Giryu assigned one of his subordinates to me.
For my sake, since I could fly but not travel quickly.
[Take good care of him.]
The subordinate Giryu assigned was none other than a griffon.
S-rank.
He wouldn't be a huge asset for this situation, but among Lehatna's faction—mostly low-rank monsters—he was one of the more useful ones.
Giryu said the griffon had a steadfast, upright personality, and he especially favored him for it.
More importantly, even if slower than Giryu himself, he was the fastest in Lehatna's faction for getting around.
[I'll be counting on you too.]
I mounted the griffon, who bowed his head, and soared into the vast sky.
Our destination was the next floor down, the 89th.
From what I'd heard, it was under the control of Lehatna's brother, the Rampage Dragon Le Ganus.
I had some business there.
Propelled by the griffon's powerful kicks through the air, we pierced the sky at high speed.
Lehatna seemed to want to resolve this peacefully, but I didn't think that was possible.
If dialogue could settle it, things wouldn't have come to this.
They were ignoring her now only because of Giryu, the Dragon King's right-hand wing, and Lehatna herself posing no threat.
But if one of them won, they'd turn on her immediately.
By then, it'd be far too late for talk.
True dialogue only happens between equals.
That said, I had no intention of starting a reckless brawl.
I was just helping Lehatna, not leading this mess.
Normally, I'd crush them under raw power in a law of the jungle style, but Lehatna was different.
She wanted peaceful talks.
So I'd just set the stage.
I planned to show those who would ignore me firsthand that we were worth talking to.
Even if the proof got a bit rough.
Giryu would handle the aftermath.
That's why I'd gone to him first.
I hadn't spelled it all out, but I trusted he'd catch my intent.
Why else would he agree so readily to me heading up?
Just in case.
As I said, I trusted Giryu for the cleanup.
For my part, I'd just do what I do best—what needed doing.