Chapter 208
Chapter 208
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 208
Chapter Title: Dragon Traces
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"Your Majesty, Hero Niki has arrived."
Along with the shout from the knight guarding the entrance to the grand hall, the Empress's voice rang out.
"Let her enter."
Creak.
The massive doors swung open, revealing the vast throne room.
Inside the throne room sat the Empress on her throne atop the twelve steps, flanked by rows of her ministers.
There was the Prime Minister, Empire 1st Knight Order Captain Yuris, the Guard Captain, and various high-ranking officials of the Imperial Palace.
The Empire's key nobles, led by Marquis Silvesta, were present as well, along with the faction leaders of the four major schools responsible for combat: Blaster, Life Magic, Goldmoon, and Meister.
And there, too, were High Elf Reina and Saintess Eirin.
It was a gathering of the Empire's most vital figures tasked with upholding its order.
All eyes turned to the Hero at her entrance.
Everyone except the Empress bowed their heads to Niki in respect.
"I've been waiting."
The Empress seated on the throne looked down at her and spoke.
"I heard you summoned me."
"Have you heard the story?"
"Yes. Word of dragon traces being discovered."
At Niki's words, a somber mood settled over the assembly.
"Urgh..."
They all fell silent, merely groaning.
It hadn't been long since the Demon King was subjugated.
Just a few years at most.
They had finally started to enjoy true peace, only for a dragon to appear out of nowhere.
The lords whose territories neighbored the Ice Mountains were practically ashen-faced.
Dragons had historically tormented the Empire relentlessly.
Though it was a tale from distant antiquity.
Hundreds of years ago, dragons had vanished from the entire continent for some reason, making such events rare.
Before that, however, it wasn't uncommon for an entire territory to vanish intermittently due to dragons.
Unlike the Demon King, who descended steadily to plague the Empire, dragons didn't appear consistently.
But every few hundred years, they would emerge rarely, laying waste to the surrounding area.
Ancient texts described them as intelligent, but they were said to be ill-tempered, incapable of rational discourse with others, and possessed of power rivaling the Demon King's.
A dragon as strong as the Demon King, but far more irascible.
The emergence of such a beast meant nearby territories were in peril.
It was impossible to evacuate all the residents.
Dragons were dragons, even after centuries of dormancy.
Human magic had advanced greatly, and there was the Hero who felled the Demon King, but zero casualties were out of the question.
Thus, some nobles wore expressions as if the world were ending.
Yet the Empress alone maintained a calm smile as she spoke.
"It's not yet confirmed that those traces belong to a dragon. The relics are so ancient that we need an expert to verify them."
The Empress crossed her legs and continued.
"That's why I called you. In my view, no one is more knowledgeable about monsters than the Hero."
"I appreciate the high regard. However, I've never fought a dragon directly myself, so my information isn't entirely accurate."
"Still, your knowledge surpasses everyone here."
The Empress's gaze swept over the assembled figures.
Nobles, the Prime Minister, officials, knights, and mages.
None possessed extensive knowledge of dragons.
Mages might have some insight, but among the four major schools, none specialized in dragons that had vanished centuries ago.
"Ahem..."
Everyone present fell awkwardly silent.
Reflexively, Niki scanned the room for Max.
"He's not here."
Did that mean the Illusion School mage wasn't needed?
"He doesn't seem suited for combat anyway."
Niki nodded at the Empress's words.
"Among those present, I know the most."
"Indeed. That's why I need your help. I'd like you to head to the Ice Mountains, subjugate the dragon, and return."
"...I humbly submit that I have just returned from the expedition to subdue the succubus."
Niki desperately craved rest.
She had endured far too long, grown sick of sleeping outdoors.
She yearned for a soft bed.
She loved free-spirited travels, but an extermination journey was no vacation.
"You wish for rest?"
"Yes."
The Empress sighed.
"I want to grant you that respite. But if a dragon has truly awakened, we must act swiftly. Forgive me, but I must ask this of you."
"..."
"Once this is over, I guarantee you proper rest. This is an unforeseen emergency, even for me."
Niki looked at the Empress.
Her face showed no trace of apology as she spoke those words.
She acted as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
For a woman who always lorded over others, issuing commands from on high, this was routine.
"I can't become a traitor."
Though resentful, Niki gritted her teeth.
She would rest properly after this ordeal.
"It won't be easy alone. If you need manpower, say the word. I'll provide whatever you require for this difficult task. The Saintess will accompany you, as before."
All the manpower she needed?
Niki's lips curved upward.
"I have a way to rest without even trying."
What she craved most was lavish masturbation.
The fantasy of being overwhelmed by weak monsters, as she had longed for.
A break to revel freely in the erotic dungeon as a dancer.
If Max joined her expedition...
"I won't even need to visit his shop."
Sneaking into his tent, begging for illusion magic?
Ahh.
Her lower belly already tingled.
Her pent-up lust throbbed intensely.
It was a lewd plan, but no one here knew the true nature of Max's shop.
Niki decided to ask boldly.
"The Saintess, of course—and there's someone else who can aid my expedition."
"Who might that be?"
The name that surfaced in her mind slipped from Niki's lips.
"I'd like to bring Max of the Illusion Magic School."
The moment she spoke.
"Ungh!"
"Huh?"
"Ah..."
"..."
"Ahem."
The bodies of several women in the room twitched.
Empire 1st Knight Order Captain Yuris.
Life Magic School Head Aurora.
Goddess Church Saintess Eirin.
High Elf Reina.
Even the Empress reigning atop the twelve steps.
All jolted in surprise at Max's name.
"What's with this reaction?"
The Empress looked at Niki, who had named Max as her support.
"'Incorrigible pervert."
Dragons posed as much a threat to the Empire as the Demon King.
Taking Max on a dragon investigation?
The Empress knew exactly what that entailed.
She, too, had become a mere bitch before him.
Right here on this throne, she had been ravished by him.
By his hands, his lips, his cock.
The image of the illusory peasants below those twelve steps gazing up at her depravity was still vivid.
The nobles now bowed their heads, but back then, the onlookers had stared piercingly, just like the Hero now.
Even as she climaxed on Max's cock.
"Ahh..."
Her nipples stiffened.
She was so immersed in the memory that she didn't notice her pussy growing wet.
"Ahem..."
Clearing her throat to regain composure, she sighed.
"Will he be useful in combat? I hear he's from the Illusion School."
"If a dragon is truly there, I can infiltrate it—and he can bind its movements, even if briefly."
"..."
She didn't want to let him go.
She had planned to visit his shop in secret after sending the Hero off.
But with the Hero requesting him so directly, refusal was impossible.
"No grounds to deny."
Gritting her teeth, she relented.
"Very well. If that's your wish, I shall personally decree his deployment."
"Thank you."
As Niki bowed her head.
"Um, Your Majesty?"
Yuris raised her hand.
"It seems the Hero needs an escort force, so I'd like to volunteer as well."
Her face flushed, Yuris lowered her head slightly to hide her embarrassment.
The Empress knew better than anyone why Yuris wanted to go.
Yuris was an even more loyal patron of Max than Niki.
"Approved. Have the 1st Knight Order escort the Hero's party."
"I shall obey, Your Majesty."
"Y-Your Majesty? I'd like to volunteer too, if that's alright?"
This time, it was Life Magic School Head Aurora.
This woman had visited Max's shop as well.
She had gone with hostility but became his ally after one visit.
"Approved."
The more allies for the dragon subjugation, the better.
The Empire wouldn't falter in security without the 1st Knight Order or the Life Magic Head.
"With such a large force, ensure definite results."
"We shall bear that in mind."
It stung.
She didn't want to send them.
But even an Emperor must occasionally sacrifice personal desires.
"When he returns, I'll summon him to the palace."
The Empress pondered a scheme that would floor Max.
"Reeeally...?"
"Got it now?"
"Yeees..."
Freed from her bonds, Lunet replied with an utterly drained expression.
Seemingly having gained some enlightenment, I stroked her head and dispelled the illusion.
She seemed to have learned her lesson sufficiently, so that was enough.
"Wha—? Not all the way?"
"Yes. That's it for today."
"Aah..."
A sigh of regret.
But I wouldn't go all the way.
This was punishment to correct her behavior, not a reward.
To enhance Lunet further, I asked Meiko and Prelia to have Tia create a terminal that could utilize the magic circle-bound Lunet in more diverse ways.
Even as is, Lunet possessed incredible functions via the magic circle, but being tethered solely to it limited her potential.
"Something like a golem loaded with AI."
Like 21st-century robots.
Used well, it would multiply our shop's efficiency several times over.
I was plotting how to spend the boosted budget leisurely when...
"...Pardon? What do you mean?"
"The Hero has designated you, Max, as her companion for the dragon search."
Hold on.
The Hero chose me?
No, before that—dragon search?
A dragon has appeared?