Confrontation with the Bearded Dragon (2)
“The Great Purge, you say.”
Logan wore a bitter expression.
His face somehow seemed full of regret.
“Of course, that's an important reason. But it's not the only one. This boy will walk a different path.”
“Can you tell me what path that is?”
“I'm sorry. It's hard to answer.”
Owen, who had been listening, finally cut in.
“Father.”
He had to ride a dragon again for revenge.
“Son. I heard all about what you did today from the count. For now, hear your father out a bit more.”
“...Understood.”
According to the boy's memories, Logan was a serious man.
Figuring he had his reasons, Owen held his tongue.
Logan downed a glass of wine and continued.
“During the Great Purge, the emperor abandoned those who had loyally served the Empire. And even Duke Owen Glendower, the Empire's guardian, was framed and killed.”
“Watch your words!”
Even as Bobert Count cautioned him, Logan shook his head.
“You know the truth too, my lord. The emperor eliminated the Dragon Knights because he saw them as a threat to his power. I lost my dragon back then as well.”
“...Hmph, it was certainly an unfortunate affair. But His Majesty has since abandoned his high-handed attitude toward the Dragon Knights.”
“That's what scares me more.”
“What do you mean?”
“There's no way the emperor suddenly changed his mind about the Dragon Knights. It feels like he's just leaving them be because he has some use for them now.”
“Go on.”
“Don't you find the recent atmosphere suspicious?”
“Suspicious?”
“This is the Empire's eastern border, close to the frontier. We occasionally hear stories about the orc and goblin tribes living beyond it. Recently, they say the orcs ended their long infighting and elected a new Great Chieftain.”
Bobert Count looked somewhat surprised.
It was information he'd only just received himself.
“How do you know all that?”
“Sometimes you hear things if you listen closely. But that's not all. Apparently, dark elf mercenaries working in the capital recently infiltrated the capital's facilities.”
“I've heard.”
“It was dismissed as a simple incident, but it doesn't sound ordinary to me. There are plenty of similar rumors besides that.”
“What are you getting at?”
“It feels like the calm before the storm. If I say I think a time of war is coming, would you dismiss it as the ravings of a foolish farmer?”
Bobert Count couldn't answer right away.
He too had been quietly compiling the rumors he'd heard lately and felt uneasy inside.
He couldn't pinpoint it, but something nagged at him.
Something was happening.
“Hmph... Logan.”
“Lord Bobert Count, I can't fathom how the emperor has maintained this relative peace since the Great Purge. But I think it's reached its limit now.”
“It's not just speculation, is it? You know something.”
“It's merely the foolish insight of a country bumpkin.”
Bobert Count shook his head, as if to say that couldn't be true.
Owen, who had been listening silently, had no choice but to revise his assessment of the man.
'I thought he was just a fallen knight...'
There was clearly more to him than even his family knew.
“Listen, Logan. If that's the case, doesn't that make it all the more reason for him to become a Dragon Knight? War is the world of those who ride dragons.”
“No. As long as the emperor lives, there's no future for Dragon Knights. In times of war, they'll just shed blood again. Their numbers will dwindle once more, and the emperor will be satisfied. I don't want my son walking that path.”
“Hmph... Your resolve is firm. But don't jump to conclusions. We don't know if war is truly coming. And while Dragon Knights aren't what they once were, it's still a shortcut to success. If he finds a solid patron, that is.”
“A solid patron?”
“I'm planning to recommend this boy to Duke Surpuk. Did you think I'd keep him under my wing? No, I'll let him swim in bigger waters.”
“Hmph... I'm grateful as a father that he impressed you so much.”
“Think it over. Let's end things here for today. We'll talk again tomorrow.”
“Understood, my lord.”
Once Bobert Count left under a servant's guidance, only Logan and Owen remained in the room.
“Do you resent your father for blocking the path to becoming a Dragon Knight?”
“No, not at all. But what do you mean by a different path?”
“I was just about to get to that. Actually, I've been planning something for you.”
Surprisingly, Logan intended to use all the money he'd saved for his son.
“I'm going to use the money to entrust you to the Church of Light in the capital.”
“You want to make me a priest?”
“That's right. Lord Bobert mentioned success. But it's far easier to get close to power as a priest than as a Dragon Knight. More than that, even. When Duke Glendower was purged for treason, those church pigs were stuffing their bellies.”
“You seem to despise the church. Then why send me there?”
“Heh...”
Logan gave a self-deprecating laugh before answering.
“Your father is a worldly man. I know it's a filthy place, but since it offers wealth and glory, I want to send my son there. I want you to live prosperously, no matter what.”
“Father.”
“I happen to have connections in the church. With money, becoming a priest is simple.”
Owen shook his head as he listened.
“I don't want that kind of life. I want to become a Dragon Knight and drive back humanity's enemies.”
Of course, it wasn't for some grand cause like before his reincarnation.
It was purely for revenge.
“Sigh... Do you want to meet the same end as Duke Glendower? I shouldn't have named you Owen like him.”
“Father.”
“Think about your father's proposal at least once.”
“What if I insist on becoming a Dragon Knight to the end?”
“Hrm... Ultimately, the choice is yours.”
With that, Logan rose from his seat.
Left alone, Owen sank into thought.
There was no other path but Dragon Knight.
“Still...”
He could well understand why Logan had prepared the path of priesthood.
He probably didn't want his son to suffer the same hardships he had.
So Owen felt the need to handle things smoothly.
“How should I convince him?”
“Damn it all!”
A shout rang out, followed by the loud crash of something breaking.
The room was a total mess.
In a place that resembled a garbage dump, a young knight was downing liquor alone nonstop.
It was Magnus.
He couldn't escape the swamp of humiliation that tore his heart into a thousand—or ten thousand—pieces.
He had been utterly defeated in front of countless people.
A greenhorn had taken his Dragon Scroll and all his equipment.
And he'd lost an arm to boot.
Shivering with shame like a man gripped by chills, he trembled.
“Aargh!”
He hurled another bottle.
Crash!
It felt like the entire Empire was mocking him.
“Lord Magnus. I've brought the man you were looking for.”
At that moment, one of his loyal subordinates called from outside the door.
“Come in.”
“Then I'll enter.”
The subordinate who appeared with a cheerful voice was a man with a rather dangerous air.
Ash-gray hair and a long scar across his face.
As soon as he entered, he pinched his nose and made a fuss.
“Whoa! The stench of booze is brutal.”
“What? Are you here to mock my plight too?”
“No way. Why would I risk whatever you'd do to me when I've only got one life?”
“Hmph, you shameless bastard.”
“Shameless, but I get the job done. Here, I've brought the blacksmith who specializes in mechanical parts.”
Luke shoved the elderly blacksmith who'd come with him. The man hesitated before stepping forward.
Glancing at Magnus, who looked like a ghost, he flinched and bowed his head.
“My lord baron. I heard you were looking for me.”
“Yes. I need you to do a job for me. No refusals. If you try, I'll kill you.”
“H-how could I dare! Tell me what you need.”
“Good. I've lost my arm, so make me a prosthetic.”
“A prosthetic?”
“Yes. It has to be good enough to wield a sword and hold dragon reins. Can you do it?”
“Hrm...”
After pondering briefly, the blacksmith nodded.
“I've never made one, but I think I can. Use springs and gears to control the fingers.”
“Good. Make it sturdy out of steel. So that someday I can smash my enemy's skull with it.”
“Y-yes, sir!”
“Now get out.”
“Yes!”
As the blacksmith fled, Magnus sank into his chair with a deep sigh.
The only intact thing in the room was the chair he sat on.
“What a cursed life...”
Luke clicked his tongue at Magnus, who reached for another drink.
“The highborn young master has fallen into ruin. Stop drinking.”
“Shut up. If you're just going to nag, get out.”
“Of course, I'm not saying this out of worry for you. But don't you think your employer needs to stay in one piece for those of us on the payroll?”
“Haha! You filthy wretch. I give you work, and all you do is demand gold.”
“I do the work you pay for, don't I? Anyway, are you just going to let that bastard get away with it?”
“Hm? Do you have a plan?”
“Well, since you're not the noble knight who wants to one day defeat him honorably, I'll mention it. There are just the right guys for the job.”
“...Go on.”
“I know of a bandit knight band infamous in the east. They even have a dragon.”
After the fall of the Dragon Knights, many had turned to banditry.
Their method was simple: hide along roads, rob easy marks that appeared, and claim it was a duel.
And since they had a dragon, subduing them was no easy task.
Naturally, Magnus showed interest.
“Those shameful scum can be useful sometimes. What kind of dragon? The opponent's a greenhorn, but he has a Super Red.”
“A Bearded Dragon. Full-grown, over thirty meters just in size.”
“Oh! That should be plenty.”
The Bearded Dragon was a representative medium dragon species.
Its only flaw was stupidity, but it was brave and tough.
“Impressive as the Super Red is, it's just a small type to begin with. One bite from a Bearded Dragon, and it's over.”
“Yes. Hrm...”
“Is something bothering you?”
“No, just rumors say the Super Red can breathe fire.”
Luke snickered at that.
“Ah, that's the nonsense from the dead Duke Owen Glendower, right? Fire? As if.”
“...True enough.”
The Super Red's fame came from Duke Glendower's claim.
That it was the only variant of the Tokay dragon capable of breathing fire.
But no one knew how to make a Super Red breathe fire.
They just assumed the dragon master Glendower could do it.
After deep thought, Magnus judged it baseless rumor.
“That traitor who died long ago is overrated among Dragon Knights.”
“Old tales are always exaggerated.”
“Right. Even if true... no one knows the method unless the duke comes back to life. Effectively, Super Reds can't breathe fire.”
“Exactly. In a direct clash, the Bearded Dragon wins handily.”
Magnus regretted he couldn't pluck out Owen's eyes himself, but he liked that he could act immediately.
“Contact those bandit knights. Tell them gold is no object.”
“Understood.”
“Heh heh, he'll faint dead away when he gets this gift. Damn bastard.”
The next day, Bobert Count announced he would depart.
Logan asked somewhat lightly.
“I hope I didn't unnecessarily offend you, my lord.”
“Logan, don't say such things. I have pressing matters. It was always a short schedule.”
“Understood.”
“Before I go, may I speak with your son alone?”
“Of course.”
Once alone with Owen, Bobert Count handed him a letter.
“Here, take this.”
“What is it?”
“My letter of introduction to Duke Surpuk. If you want to become a Dragon Knight, take it and seek him out.”
“My thanks for your consideration.”
“Whether you please him is up to you.”
“Any advice?”
“Hrm... He won't grant a title right away at first. He'll give you the dirty jobs. He loves testing patience. Don't be discouraged—produce results in whatever task you're given.”
“Understood. I'll keep that in mind.”
“Truth be told, I came here for Logan. But now, you're the one who catches my eye.”
Originally, Bobert Count had come all this way to make Logan a knight again.
But he'd seen far greater potential in his son and changed his mind.
Besides, to Bobert Count, Logan seemed to be up to something else.
Even if he looked every bit the farmer, Bobert wasn't a man who trusted only appearances.
“I hope to see you again. With your splendid dragon as well.”
https://booktoki469.com/data/file/novel/5895/41727/16549818862219.jpg
https://booktoki469.com/data/file/novel/5895/41727/16549818862225.jpg
https://booktoki469.com/data/file/novel/5895/41727/16549818862229.jpg