Dragon Tournament Team Battle (2)
#47 Dragon Tournament Team Battle (2)
Owen had one question in response to the prince's offer.
"Your Highness, I am at a loss for how to respond to your gracious proposal, but I belong to the 5th Dragon Stable. I am unsure if I would be permitted to abandon my duties and participate in the tournament."
"Ah, don't worry about that. I'll speak to the Suffolk Duke on your behalf. What do you say? Will you give me your answer?"
Owen liked the prince's proposal.
There was no reason to hesitate any longer.
"Your Highness, I am grateful for this opportunity. Though I am lacking, I will do my utmost."
"You've made a wise choice. I was worried there might be an incident, but this has turned misfortune into fortune. I wanted to introduce you to my dragon knights right away, but I'm swamped cleaning up the mess. Let's postpone until tomorrow."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"For now, explain why our dragon went berserk."
Owen calmly explained to the prince why the black thorn-tail dragon had rampaged.
"Hmm... If that's true, we'll need to adjust our positions for this tournament. Thank you for letting me know. I'll discuss it with the dragon knights."
Afterward, Owen handed over the albino hump-tail dragon to the prince and returned.
The sale price was a whopping 3,000 gold coins.
It far exceeded the target needed to normalize the 5th Dragon Stable.
The next day, Owen visited the prince's villa again.
The prince's dragon knights were already there waiting for him.
Aside from Alania, whom Owen knew, they were all men.
"Pleased to meet you. We owe you a great debt from yesterday."
The first to step forward was Dragon Knight Leon, the leader of the group.
The others were Dento and Huidra.
All were experienced dragon knights in their thirties or forties.
"A debt? Anyone would have stepped up."
Leon shook his head at that.
"That's excessive humility. Who in the world rides a small dragon to block a medium one head-on? Truth be told, I was quite shocked."
Dento and Huidra standing beside him nodded in agreement.
"The rumors weren't exaggerated at all. If anything, you're even better than they say."
"Despite yesterday's misfortune, your joining our team puts my mind at ease."
The prince's dragon knights were all remarkably down-to-earth.
And they showed goodwill thanks to Owen's help the day before.
These are good people. I can adapt well here.
They each took a mug of beer and dove straight into talk of the dragon tournament.
As professionals, dragons were all they had on their minds.
"Sir Leire, how much do you know about dragon tournaments?"
Leon asked, brushing back his gray-streaked hair.
"Yes, just the basics. I'd be grateful for any explanation about this tournament."
Of course, Owen knew more about dragon tournaments than anyone.
But as a newcomer here, he decided to show humility.
Naturally, this attitude pleased the leader, Leon.
Most young men who gain fame in succession become arrogant... but this one is different.
That inner thought made Owen look even better to him.
"Then allow me to explain. This tournament is a 5-man team battle. Both teams field five dragons against each other."
"What are the victory conditions?"
"Capture the flag."
"Ah, so it's the less brutal option."
"You catch on quick. It's been ages since team battles returned, so that's how they set it."
"I heard team battles are resuming during the general assembly period after His Majesty's edict."
"Exactly. But starting with full-scale ones would be too much, so they opted for a simplified 5-man team battle. Capture the flag fits that context too."
Capture the flag was less demanding than annihilation, where you had to down every opponent.
The intensity was the same, but grabbing the flag ended the match.
"Sir Leon, what role will I take? Even in capture the flag, there are multiple positions."
"Oh, you know your stuff—that makes this easier. You'll be the thief."
"A thief?"
Owen's face lit up with interest at the rare position.
In capture the flag, roles typically split into flag bearer, defenders guarding the flag, and attackers stealing it—three main ones.
Special roles like joker or thief rarely appeared, especially in simplified 5-man battles.
One bearer, two defenders, two attackers—it fit perfectly, leaving no room for specials.
Leon explained this point first.
"You'll find thief odd in a 5-man team battle."
Owen had guessed it from experience but feigned curiosity.
"Yes. Why is that?"
"Because we have the black thorn-tail dragon."
The one that rampaged yesterday and bit a teammate's foreleg.
Foul-tempered, but among medium dragons, it was one of the largest breeds.
"Ah."
"As you know, large breeds are treated as national strategic weapons and rarely appear in tournaments. So our black thorn-tail will boast the biggest size in this event."
"You're assigning it solo defense?"
"Right. That massive beast can handle two or three others. Plus, as you said, it's in rut, so no teamwork with other dragons."
Owen had judged yesterday's rampage stemmed from rut.
With no females around during mating season, its nerves were frayed.
Forced into tournament practice instead of courtship, the dragon's stress finally exploded.
Trained from youth not to attack humans, the knights were safe—but another dragon suffered.
"It was a hard decision, but we figured using the empty defense slot for a special thief role would work."
Alania, listening nearby, elaborated.
"Sir Leire, Grenville is an excellent dragon, but as a small breed, direct clashes with mediums are tough."
Alania's point was spot on.
Owen had faced mediums on Grenville but never head-on.
Cliff climbs or fire breaths for ranged attacks.
The basic size difference made it unavoidable.
"The thief role, however, plays to Grenville's small, agile strengths. A thief steals the flag amid the chaos, after all."
"Indeed, Lady Vendra."
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Owen nodded, and Leon refilled his mug.
"Sir Leire, sorry to burden you from the start, but your role is crucial in this tournament."
It was indeed a high-risk position.
But also one that could shine as the star in front of the Suffolk Duke and eastern nobles.
In the end, Owen made his choice.
"Understood. I'll take the thief role."
He decided to shine the brightest while at it.
In Bris's underground tomb district.
Dragon Knight Magnus sat on a nearby stone coffin, drinking wine.
A beautiful dark elf stood beside him, but he scowled even at her allure.
"How many men have you ruined, you whore?"
"Oh my, what a thing to say. Dark elves can be faithful to one man too, you know."
"Hahaha. The biggest bullshit I've heard lately. And you're the one manipulating Albert."
"He's a fool. My pure love goes to a man worthy of it. Perhaps you, Lord Magnus?"
Her seductive hand reached for Magnus.
But he brutally brushed it off.
"Get that filthy hand away."
"How strange. Why aren't you interested in me, Lord Magnus? I'd gladly spend the night if you wished. Do you prefer men, perhaps?"
"You never shut up. Even if you were the last woman on earth, it wouldn't happen—so shut it. I saw exactly what you did to Luke."
"It was for his sake."
"Always such pretty words. Let's talk business, you witch. Or should I call you Lady Arhana here?"
At Magnus's irritated words, the dark elf giggled and cast a transformation spell.
A dark red aura enveloped her, completely altering her appearance.
It was the form of Arhana, the infamous black widow of Bris.
Magnus clicked his tongue at the sight.
"Tsk tsk. How much chaos do you stir in the east? Who'd think you'd live here as Arhana."
"Hohoho, I'm a complicated woman. But you're the only one I've shown my true dark elf form to, Lord Magnus."
"Lies spill from your mouth endlessly. Shut up and tell me about Albert. What's the status?"
"On the verge of surrender. Shall we go see?"
Now in Lady Arhana's form, the dark elf took Magnus's hand and led him.
Magnus yanked his hand away in annoyance but followed.
They opened the solitary cell door to find Albert chained and suffering.
He begged for water the moment he saw Arhana.
"Please! Arhana!"
Arhana feigned deep sorrow.
"Albert, I'm so sorry to leave you like this. But I want you to rise again as a strong man, unbroken like these chains. Forgive me."
Magnus nearly retched at her shameless act.
For days, Arhana had been dragging Albert's spirit to the depths.
Even torturing him repeatedly.
Albert was a wreck, body and soul.
"Water... Arhana!"
"Answer me properly first."
"But that's...!"
"Still undecided, then?"
Arhana's proposal to Albert wasn't easy.
Betray humanity, side with the dark elves, and manage dragons for them.
Dark elves schemed endlessly against human dragons.
One plan: poach human dragon knights or breeders to form units.
Targeting those who could no longer stay in the Empire.
That's why Arhana still invested in the utterly fallen Albert.
Limited skill, but experience running a stable—he'd be useful.
"But working for dark elves... I'm an imperial noble."
Magnus interjected.
"Sir Albert, the Empire won't take you back."
"...Urk."
"Dreaming of reinstatement? You murdered another noble and fled. Recently, that Conrad used documents to expose your crimes."
"Damn it! That lowly commoner scum!"
"There's no place for you in the Empire anymore, Sir Albert."
"...So I must truly betray humanity?"
A faint remnant of conscience made him hesitate.
But it was like a candle in the wind.
He eyed the nearby torture tools in terror.
"This wasn't your fault to begin with, Lord Albert. It happened because that Suffolk Duke dragged in a punk like Owen. The bet itself might've been a plot."
"Is that true?"
Absurd slander, but to the rock-bottom Albert, it rang true.
"Honestly, right? The dragon trader might've been in on it too."
"Now that you mention it, yes!"
"The Suffolk Duke proposing the bet was suspicious from the start. Clearly a scheme to take you down. Even the hatched egg dying—probably sabotage."
"Yes! It doesn't make sense otherwise!"
Outlandish talk, but music to Albert's ears.
So it became truth in his heart.
"Right! I was tricked from the beginning. Damn them all! Especially that slimy kid Owen—I can't forgive him."
As Albert reacted fiercely, Magnus brought up his goal.
"As it should be. I hold a grudge against that Owen too. Seems you and I can help each other."
"I'll do anything possible, Baron Magnus."
Having surrendered, Albert clung faithfully to his captor.
"That's reassuring. Perfect timing, actually. I hear a team battle tournament is coming up, and that Owen is participating."
"What? Really?"
"No doubt. We can't miss this chance, Sir Albert."
"What do you plan in the tournament?"
Magnus didn't hide his vile grin at Albert's question.
"In the chaos of a team battle, any accident is believable. Especially one revived after so long."
"An accident? Oh!"
"Yes. For that, we'll need your help, Sir Albert."
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