Chapter 44
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: A Guest More Precious Than Holy Relics! (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Somewhere inside the Imperial Palace's VIP quarters.
The meeting with the dragonkin was in full swing.
The topic of conversation was the stone tablet inscribed with ancient Dragon Words.
With the Ascension Ceremony fast approaching, Hedera had suddenly decided to descend to the human realm and been assigned a task: deciphering this very stone tablet.
'Failure?'
Second Princess Hedera still had her hand pressed to the tablet. Previously, there had been some reaction from its energy, and she'd thought she was making progress with the decryption. But lately, there had been no response at all.
'...Am I unable to focus? Me?'
Astoundingly, that seemed to be the case.
The cause was likely that eerie energy she'd sensed in the treasury.
No, she wouldn't have paid it any mind if the treasury had been its usual self. What was disrupting her focus now to this degree was a person.
Inspector Zekiel.
Wasn't he in the treasury right now? That was probably why Hedera couldn't concentrate on interpreting the ancient Dragon Words.
To have her focus disrupted because she was thinking about someone.
...It was astonishing.
Even more so with three dragonkin watching her intently right in front of her. Failure. Disappointment flickered across the dragonkin's faces as the stone tablet remained utterly still.
"...Deciphering it seems difficult."
The three dragonkin sighed at Hedera's words.
"Your Dragon Words are impressive, but ancient Dragon Words are the issue."
"...Yes."
The difference between ordinary Dragon Words and ancient ones was vast, from difficulty to the sheer power they wielded. Even true dragons had to master them through dedicated training.
"Didn't the tablet definitely react last time?"
"It did."
"Your power hasn't weakened, has it?"
"Absolutely not. I'm just not in the best condition today."
She answered calmly, but Hedera felt frustrated too.
'This is bad.'
No event in Hedera's life had received as much preparation and dedication as the Ascension Ceremony. And now, with so little time left, to falter like this—it left her uneasy.
Ancient Dragon Words.
She needed to master even these perfectly to pass the Ascension Ceremony without any opposition...
Clink—
Right then, someone set down their teacup with a loud clatter.
The three dragonkin who had come to see Hedera today. Among them, the central figure, the one with the prominent white mustache.
The elderly dragonkin's name was Gromon.
"Second Princess, progress on the ancient Dragon Words is sluggish."
"I apologize."
"This isn't about apologies. It's time to take swift action. It seems the only way for you to pass the Ascension Ceremony is through a soul trade."
Hedera subtly furrowed her brow.
"Thank you for the advice, but I don't want to rely on a soul trade just yet. I'll try with my own power."
Soul trade.
A deal where one sold their soul to a dragon for power, only to remain in the heavenly realm as a wandering spirit after death, toiling away.
Hedera had no intention of making such a trade.
To indulge in easy power for a moment, only to spend eternity polishing dragon scales as a servant—it was utterly incompatible with her pride and convictions.
Gromon let out a deep sigh.
"Princess, how many times have I emphasized this? The more you rely on human strength, the further you drift from the dragons. Just one trade, and you'll never have to worry about the Ascension Ceremony again."
The other dragonkin began chiming in one by one.
"Lord Gromon's soul trades are already renowned. Hasn't he produced countless successful candidates? Opportunities like this don't come often. Seize it."
"Thank you. But let me think on it a bit more."
"Think? You're just wasting time..."
One of the dragonkin sighed openly.
It was a blatant expression of pity.
"..."
Behind her veiled mask, the princess clenched her molars.
The reason she had to endure such reactions was clear.
First, with the Ascension Ceremony so close, causing a scene would only disadvantage her.
Second, since she hadn't passed the Ascension Ceremony yet, the dragonkin held higher status in the heavenly realm than she did.
Dragonkin were hybrids born between dragons and humans. Until Hedera passed the Ascension Ceremony and truly became a dragon, she couldn't afford to slight them.
The problem was their demands were utterly outrageous.
'They'll demand something enormous in exchange for the soul trade.'
Hedera wasn't a fool.
It was true that Gromon had produced successful Ascension candidates, but those who'd entrusted their souls to him were still wandering the heavenly realm as tormented spirits.
She had no desire for such an end—and certainly not to offer absurd riches just to witness it.
"There's still time until the Ascension Ceremony. I'll dedicate myself day and night and test my own limits."
"That's out of the question. Don't you know it's already too late by the time you've hit those limits? Besides, Lord Gromon isn't someone you can meet whenever you please."
"Hm."
"I've never seen or heard of a human achieving anything through their own power. Even if it happens, I won't believe it until I see it. Just do the trade."
Hedera struggled to maintain her composure.
She was the Second Princess of the human realm, after all. Those remarks belittled the entire human race, and they'd long crossed the line of propriety.
Regrettably, she couldn't call them out now. Any backlash during the Ascension Ceremony would ultimately harm her.
The Ascension Ceremony came only once for any being.
Just once. No redos existed.
So she had to succeed on the first try.
"I'll let you know after some training."
"No, this is our final offer. You've sent us away every time with the same excuse about relying on your own power. Today, we bring this conversation to a close."
Gromon stepped in firmly.
"You've always dismissed us by insisting you'll rely on your own—human—strength."
"Yes."
"Then at least show us some hint of human potential this time. Otherwise, we'll consider the recommendation letter we discussed previously void."
"...!"
Hedera clenched her fist on her thigh.
The recommendation letter was a bonus for the Ascension Ceremony. Holding it hostage like this was blatant blackmail, a clear sign they intended to force the trade today.
"It doesn't even have to be you personally, Princess, but you must demonstrate potential we dragonkin can acknowledge. Otherwise, we can't be convinced."
Just as Hedera opened her mouth to respond.
"Second Princess! Second Princess!"
A urgent voice suddenly echoed through the room.
Hedera immediately opened the parlor door.
"What is it?"
"The treasury! There's a problem at the treasury!"
"The treasury...?"
Hedera trailed off.
She'd sensed something strange there earlier, and sure enough, trouble had arisen.
What concerned her was that Zekiel was there.
"The spirit stones inside the treasury—they're the issue! The spirits have suddenly gone berserk en masse!"
Hedera tried to issue calm instructions.
But an even quicker voice cut in.
"...Spirit rampage?"
It was Gromon.
He showed no displeasure at the interruption. Instead, he stroked his mustache with interest.
"Princess, we should go see to it immediately. If the spirits are rampaging, it must be serious."
Hedera nodded as well.
"Yes. We'll continue this discussion later."
It was a conversation she'd wanted to avoid anyway, so this was for the best. With that thought, she tried to leave.
"Princess."
But Gromon held her back, as if he had no intention of letting it end there.
"I'm curious about your progress with Word Command lately. This seems like a perfect opportunity."
"...!"
Hedera's eyebrow twitched.
To casually reveal her weaknesses in front of the messenger who'd just reported—it was incredibly rude.
Even sensing her discomfort, Gromon continued nonchalantly.
"I'd love to see you subdue the spirits with Word Command, Princess. Wouldn't that be one way for a human to prove their potential?"
No, Word Command couldn't control emotions.
It might be possible to halt and restrain the spirits with something like "Freeze," but soothing them by winning their hearts was an entirely different matter.
The dragonkin gathered here knew that full well. They were simply making an unreasonable demand despite knowing it.
Hedera quelled her anger calmly before speaking.
"...Let's head there first."
Meanwhile, at the entrance to the Imperial Palace treasury.
"You really think this will calm them down...?"
Tether stared at Zekiel with bewildered eyes.