Proof (1)
White Gold Dragons. Snow-white dragons laced with chill. For dozens of them to gather here like this... this was definitely not a normal situation.
According to my memory, the only White Gold Dragon I'd summoned here was Meirina.
[First, I'll see for myself.]
"Y-yes, sir...!!"
To grasp the situation precisely, I headed straight to the entrance. And sure enough, just as Elenoa had said, exactly twenty-one White Gold Dragons were flying toward us.
Of course, none of them looked particularly strong on their own. Even if they banded together at Meirina's level of power, they wouldn't pose much of a threat to me.
[Elenoa, prepare for battle.]
"Yes, understood!"
Still, caution was warranted. Dragons are territorial creatures. They don't take kindly to intruders settling into what they consider their domain. And those dragons surely knew that well. So I kept my guard up, watching them intently.
—Kuuuung......
Then, the eldest among them slowly descended from above. At a glance, it was clear he was their leader. I had no idea about the exact social structure of dragons since I'd lived my whole life alone, but usually in such hierarchies, the oldest took charge.
I kept my eyes locked on him without fail.
[...Greetings, Red Dragon comrade.]
[...Comrade.]
[We heard you could help us. Meirina said as much.]
As his words ended, I immediately turned to Meirina. True to her deviant nymphomaniac nature, she had Einhardt riding on her back. She gazed at me with a somewhat resolute expression, clearly expecting something from me.
[What kind of help did you hear about?]
[That you'd become our leader. The protector who unites and guides countless dragons. That's what we heard from you, Red Dragon comrade.]
[....]
My face twisted at the old White Gold Dragon's words. What nonsense had Meirina fed them? I had zero interest in dragons' innate rights or whatever. Dragons were like thunderbolt hotheads, each and every one. Meirina was a deviant nympho with low intelligence herself, wasn't she? And White Gold Dragons as a species were mostly dim-witted.
I had neither the confidence nor the desire to lead such creatures. So I shot a glance at Meirina, the one who'd caused this mess.
She stepped forward slyly and responded.
[White Gold Dragons have lived in hiding all this time.]
I'd heard from Leviathan that many dragons lived reclusively. But what did that have to do with the current situation?
Meirina seemed to guess my thoughts and offered her answer.
[And if you're serious about building a nation, I hope you'll take all of us White Gold Dragons in.]
[Dragons don't like forming packs. Yet you lot don't seem to mind.]
[Well... dragon ecology has changed a lot these days.]
[...Hoo.]
[As you say, Red Dragon, dragons prefer solitude. We've spent countless ages alone.]
[I imagine so.]
[But now, being alone is dangerous. We're just easier prey.]
[Pathetic.]
[...Exactly, pathetically weak. That's why so many dragons no longer live alone.]
[And yet you still call yourselves dragons? You're little more than lizards.]
[That's modern dragons for you. Dragon hunters are cunning, and today's mages are powerful. They have the strength to kill dragons.]
[....]
Honestly, it didn't resonate much. How many in this world could even kill me? Sure, if they all united their power against me, maybe—but considering conflicting interests and human greed, that was near impossible.
So I couldn't really sympathize with these weak dragons getting hunted.
Still, Meirina pressed on. For the safety of the White Gold Dragons. For their own survival.
[Those who live alone either have the power to back it up or some social standing. Just look at what happened to Leviathan recently... it's proof enough.]
In short, their request was simple. They sought a 'nest.' Because of me. Because of the Red Dragon. A place no one could interfere with.
[If you become our king and protect us, we're ready to do anything.]
They... wanted to become my subjects. They wanted to crown me as their king.
"Red Dragon, can you accept them? I humbly request it as well."
Einhardt, now off Meirina's back, joined in. But my answer was already set.
[Prove it.]
They needed to prove themselves.
[Prove to me what use you'll be.]
Their usefulness. What help they could offer me.
Naturally, my 'nest' wasn't big enough for twenty-one dragons. Even with just the Draconic Elves living there, it already felt bustling enough. So I had no intention of bringing them inside.
Thus, the place I led them to was the only option left: Yggdrasil.
I headed there with the White Gold Dragons.
"Whoa, wow... so this is how it's changed."
Elenoa, riding on my back, let out an exclamation at the long-unseen Yggdrasil. Come to think of it, she'd never seen it after it burned to ashes.
She watched excitedly, as if it were some thrilling spectacle.
"Ahh, I wanted to see Yggdrasil engulfed in flames... what a shame."
"...I have zero desire to see that. Elenoa's tastes are seriously weird."
"I-is that so? Then what does Leviathan think...?"
"It's way too dry. Everywhere the Red Dragon's been always lacks moisture."
Unlike Elenoa, who said something quite pleasing, Leviathan spouted odd nonsense, so I responded casually.
[What a pity. It might get even hotter soon.]
I settled in the midst of Yggdrasil's ruins and glanced back. There, the twenty-one White Gold Dragons and Einhardt followed me.
Frankly, I didn't trust them much. Meirina was one thing—her husband Einhardt was bound to me. But the rest? Opportunists clinging to me for survival.
So I needed to scrutinize them more strictly. I observed them with utmost care.
Soon, they reached me.
[This is our new home?]
[It's too empty for that.]
I boomed toward the White Gold Dragons.
[You brought no gold whatsoever.]
[Well, we don't have a hobby of hoarding—]
[And I'm not even sure what benefit there is in accepting you.]
[....]
[Yet you pitiful lot demand shelter so arrogantly. Why should I take you in?]
Well, slaughtering them for leather carpets might make my bed comfier. But I had no taste for sleeping on kin's hides, so they needed some other 'use.'
[Then what must we do to convince you we'll be useful?]
The eldest dragon answered my question. Naturally, I was ready with a response.
[Fight me.]
[...!]
That was it—test their power directly.
[You're weak. But surely stronger than a single human.]
[....]
Advances in magic and technology. Dragons' well-known habits and behaviors. All that turned them into prey. Yet they were still dragons. Hunting them required manpower and effort.
So their absolute combat power shouldn't be that low. I wanted proof.
[...Then I'll face you first—]
The eldest stepped forward, but alas, he couldn't.
Or rather, he couldn't alone.
[—No need. None of you could handle me solo. You'll all have to come at once.]
Because any one of them charging alone would achieve nothing.
[...!]
[Red Dragon comrade, are you mocking us? Even if we've fallen, we have dragon pride!]
[I don't care to hear that from weakened dragons.]
Honestly, they rubbed me the wrong way. Weak dragons getting hunted? Leviathan at least made sense—she'd let her guard down, and it wasn't her battlefield. You can't expect a bird to excel underwater or a fish in the air.
Leviathan had excuses. But...
[You have wings and claws.]
These White Gold Dragons? Not so much.
[So why not fight back? Why let them strike you?]
Dragons are strong. That's why they're arrogant. But if they're weak? These weren't juveniles or pacifists by birth.
I remember the ancient White Gold Dragons. One of the primordial dragons. He was mighty—nearly my equal.
Yet their descendants were this feeble? They were no longer dragons like me. Just 'weaklings' like any human, bowing to me and begging mercy.
That was modern White Gold Dragons.
[Einhardt proved his loyalty. The Draconic Elves showed their thirst for life. Leviathan demonstrated her cunning.]
I declared this as I set Leviathan and Elenoa down from my back.
[So show me why I should protect you. Prove your usefulness to me.]
With that, I ascended into the sky, looking down on them.
[You must fight.]
They had to. No matter how much prey they'd become, they were dragons. And there were battlefields I couldn't personally handle.
I needed combatants. So I had to gauge their potential.
Prove they were worth protecting.
[Show me you can grow stronger than this.]
That's what I demanded of them.
[...Understood.]
[We'll show you we're not just wards needing protection.]
[Comrades, prepare. Let's show the Red Dragon our power...!!]
They took to the skies in unison, ready.
[...Hoo.]
A thrill surged through me at the sight—the battle-lust I'd felt so long ago. The sensation from when I was truly me.
So I hoped they wouldn't disappoint.
[Don't let me down.]
—Kwaaadddrduk!!!
We clashed.