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Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Chapter 1

2014-04-26T18:55:13Z

128.163.8.92: /* Part 11 */

==Chapter 1 - Tragedy of Apollo house and Mirabel's decision==
===Part 1===
''-Don! Don…! Don!''

The sun had just raised but Ash who spent a sleepless night was waken up by a loud knocking sound.

“What in the world…?”

He took that silver watch by his pillow side and noticed that it was just half past six.

After he angrily took a look at the window, he became wide awake.

“Uwaa…!”

There was a huge eye looking through the gaps of the curtain.

It was actually a dragon who was banging its nose against the window.

''-Don! Don… Dododododo!”''

He was worried that it may break the glass.

“Why is a dragon coming to my room!? Could it be another Necromancia attack!?”

So the Empire had finally shown their true colours and started attacking? Ash tried to leave the bed but he was stopped.

“Zzz…”

Eco rolled over and hugged Ash.

Her hair was all over his shoulders and her arms were around his back.

And also her soft face that was on his chest…

''-Mmm…''

Ash was shocked by her sudden nibble.

“Hey, Eco… Please don’t bite that spot.”

Recently, her habit of nibbling had gotten less but she still had not gotten rid of her habit of a young dragon. Moreover, she was
nibbling on Ash’s sensitive spot which troubled him.

At that moment, there was a crack on the window.

“This is bad… It is not the right moment to let her continue nibbling.”

Ash carried Eco and they leave the bed together. The next thing he knew, the glass was smashed into pieces.

He managed to avoid the glass fragments at the last moment.

At the same time, there were two dragons that were trying to squeeze their heads into the window. Their hard scales protect them from the
sharp glass.

By taking a closer look, Ash noticed that one of them was a Maestro while the other was a Hydra. After knowing that he was not attacked by
a Necromancia, Ash breathe a sigh of relieve.

“Morning, Ash!”

“Good morning, Ash-sama!”

Finally, he could see the faces of the two riders.

They were the student council secretary Lucca and Jessica of the general affairs. Right beside them were Maestro Gawain and Rhiannon the
Hydra.

Ash started to protest after he placed Eco who was still sleeping on the bed.

“Lucca! Jessica! What in the world are both of you doing!?”

Since the time Ash saved Gawain who was in danger of dying, Lucca had become emotionally attached to Ash. In the dragon riding academy,
most of the girls are the more aggressive type, it was kind of rare to see someone as quite as Lucca. The beauty that only an Eckbald
possessed was out of this world.

Ash was a little surprise to see Lucca acting rashly. Perhaps she was influenced by Jessica.

“Ash… I hoped that you would come with me to the Eckbald village. I want to introduce you to the village chief, my otou-sama.” <ref>In the
raw version, Lucca called her father otou-sama, but the kanji written was foster father.</ref>

Her usual emotionless face had always given Ash a heck lot of trouble.

“Hold on! W-Why must you mention about the chief!?”

“P-Please don’t ask anymore than this.”

Lucca was suddenly blushing.

This time, it was Jessica who pushed Lucca to aside.

Jessica who was usually eyeing at Ash’s sperm, though her actions had always been eccentric, she was still undoubtable one of the few
beauties of the academy.

“Ash-sama, I have a request!”

“Hey, wait a minute! This is the third floor! How did a hydra get here…?”

“Well. Climbing wall is not a problem for my Rhiannon.”

“Can’t you sympathize your Pal a little!”

Ash pitied her Pal. Although a Hydra may still be able to move on land, but only when they are in the water they are able to show their
true skills. It shouldn’t be its own intention to walk on land. Let alone climbing the walls of the student’s dormitory, which doesn’t
seem to fit the actions of a proud dragon.

“Putting that aside, Ash-sama! I am about to leave Ansarivan. What about you? Do you have any plans of returning?”

“Now I remember… today is the start of the holiday.”

-The first day of the month of Leo.

It was the first day of the holidays for Ansaraivan Dragon Riding Academy. Since it was a boarding school, most of the student will return
to their hometown.

Of course, not all of the students were going back home. There were also a small amount of students that were forced to stay in for the
holidays for certain reasons.

Ash was one of them.

“Nope, I am not going home.”

After hearing, Jessica’s facial expression changes.

“What! If that’s the case, I too will stay back here!”

“Uuh… If I don’t return soon… I will be scolded by my otou-sama.”

Compare to Jessica who was in high spirit, Lucca looks sad. Lucca who carry the hopes of all Eckbald with her probably doesn’t have as much freedom as Jessica has.

“Sorry to disappoint you Jessica, but you must return with me.”
[[Image:SnRK v05 044.jpg|thumb]]

Suddenly, there was another voice.

“Rebecca-san!”

Ash shouted.

There was a sweet smell from her red hair being blown by the winds. She looking like a war maiden in the legends when she was riding on Cú
Chulainn.

“Sorry for the trouble that this stupid girl from my house had given you. The Randall family will cover the fees for mending the window.
The servants fault is also the master’s fault.”

“Now that you mention it… I remember that Jessica was a servant in the Randall family.”

“Just that since she became a Breeder, she had forgotten about her place.”

Rebecca sighed.

“Hmph! Could stop calling me that? I don’t have the intention of serving the Randall family for my whole life!”

“I never thought of that. You are my important childhood friend. Also, your parents had asked me to take good care of you. That is why I
have my duty to bring you back to meet your parents.”

Although her lips were smiling, there was not even a hint of smile in Rebecca’s eyes. After Jessica saw Rebecca’s determination, her
elbows dropped in disappointment.

“Haa… I understand. However… I want Ash-sama to see me off!”

Ash gave a wry smile.

“I think that should be alright.”

The moment he answered, Jessica was once again with a big smile. But, she was then blushing and started to mumble.

“T-Then… According to my hometown’s custom…. There should be a parting k-kiss….”

“Hey! Jessica! When does our hometown have such a custom?”

Rebecca exposed Jessica’s lie with a wry smile.

“Hmph! Rebecca! Don’t you know how to look at the atmosphere?”

“I-I too would like you to see me off…”

While Jessica was in rage, Lucca shyly told Ash her wish.

“Of course.”

“T-Then… According to the Eckbald custom…. I want you to give me a princess carry.”

Ash’s heart skipped a beat when he first saw Lucca’s blushing face.

“A-A princess carry!”

Ash was in a fixed but Jessica shouted at Lucca:

“Hey! What are you trying to do in this mess! That must be a lie!?”

“Uuh…”

While Lucca turned speechless, the noise that Jessica made had spread throughout the school.

“Hey, can you believe it! The president and Jessica were making a night visit! And the other person… Could she be Lucca Sarlinen the
genius girl from the basic class!?”

Suddenly, a huge number of students were gathering outside of the Apollo House. It was something for three girls to be standing on their
dragons beside a window of a boy’s dormitory.

To say nothing of Rebecca Randall who was the most popular person in the entire academy, Jessica was also one of the centers of attentions
and let alone Lucca with her Yōsei like looks and her skills as a Dragner.

“I-I am just here to have Ash-sama see me off! Nothing else!”

Jessica tried to settle the misunderstanding by shouting towards the direction of the school.

“Hmm! By saying Ash-kun you mean… The Ash-kun who was knighted yesterday!?”

“The knighting ceremony was awesome!”

“I also want him to see me off!”

Right now all the girls were speaking with s shrill voice.

Rebecca gave him a bitter smile while she was enjoying all of this.

“Seems like your popularity had sky rocketed after you become a Dragner.”

“The situation outside… Somehow, it looks frightening.”

“Yeah. I just saw around thirty dragons flying towards this window.”

Rebecca told him the unthinkable news with a calm face.

“Huh!?”

“Sorry, Ash. Though I have many reasons to help you… But if I show my true skills, the girls would suffer some grave injuries.”

“Hol-! Don’t leave me!”

“You should try to solve your own problem if you are a Dragner. Also… If it is alright, I would also want you to see me off.”

“…Eh?”

Unfortunately, Ash was not able to catch everything Rebecca said. Her voice disappeared behind the loud noise from Cú Chulainn flapping
its wings.

“Good luck, Ash.”

Lucca too had reluctantly flew off with Gawain.

Right after that, the Apollo House faced a terrible attack.

“Ash-kun! Please see me off!”

“Ash-kun, you might as well come to my home town with me…!”

“Hey! Don’t cut the queue!”

Most of the girls returning were riders of stradas. They were like bats gathering together for food at the window.

But of course it was impossible for thirty riders of stradas to squeeze into the window at the same time.

Soon, they started pushing around.

“P-Please be patient! Calm down! Please calm down!”

Ash was panicking.

Every single roar from the Strada was enough to shake up this entire old building.

“Hey!...How dare you! Ash-sama is my important- Nooooooo!”

Unlike Rebecca or Lucca, Jessica who stayed until the end was finally pushed off the wall together with Rhiannon.

“W-What should I do?”

Ash retreated until his back was facing the wall while he was watching the girls fighting for a spot.

At that moment, Eco who had rolled herself into a ball while she was sleeping had woken up and was rubbing her eyes.

“Hmmm…. What’s all the noise about?”

“You ! How can you still think of sleeping!”

Eco was looking around in confusion. It seems that she wasn’t fully awake yet and wasn’t able to think properly.

Ash shouted with all his might towards the window.

“I beg you! Could you please not make a mess in front of someone else’s window! I promise to see off every single one of you!”

Too bad for him, his voice was not received by them.

Suddenly, Ash had a bad feeling.

“I couldn’t be…”

His entire body was shivering in fear. Since some time ago, the wall facing the outside was creaking. It appears that the Stradas were
putting pressure on it.

“It is dangerous to stay here! Lets run Eco!”

“Huh…! Could you care to explain!”

“Later!”

Ash was running with Eco on his hands.

He ran out through the door and out to the corridor.

Just when he was sliding along the floor…

''-Creak…! Eeeeekkkk……. !Do--------------n!''

The next moment, there was a loud explosion.

Ash cautiously took a peek through the cracks on the door while trembling. All he sees was dust flying around and even the corridor was
affected.

''“*Cough *!*Cough *!”''

While covering up Eco who was coughing, Ash waited until the dust had settled down.

Just moments later-

After the dust had cleared up, what Ash saw was a clear sky.

The morning rays were shining at the disastrous room.

The wreckage of the wall was all over his room. It was a painful sight.

Right now, with the wall that was facing the academy and the window destroyed, his room looked like a doll house that can be seen from the
outside.

“Err… Eco, am I dreaming?”

“I think so?”

Ash and Eco were looking at the room with their mouths wide open.

===Part 2===
Ash was brought to the director’s office on the first day of the holiday.

As for those girls who were the culprit, it seems that they had ran back home as soon as possible. That is why Ash who was the victim was summoned.

“I see… Now I understand what had happened.”

Mirabel who was acting as the director replied coldly and drank from her cup of tea.

The room was full of the smells of bergamot and the tea.

Just like a robot, Mirabel’s face was emotionless the entire time. ''Does this princess even have the thing known as feelings…?'' Ash thought.

“The academy will take responsible for mending the wall. Just some time before, I had asked the builders of this city and they estimated
that they will be able to complete it in around two weeks time.”

“Really…! Thank you very much!”

Ash was grateful that she was able to deal with this situation without delay.

“The problem is… During the renovation, where am I to place you and Eco.”

“I see…”

“Can you borrow a room from any of your friends?”

“I don’t think that would be possible…”

Unfortunately, Max and Raymond had gone home. For Ash who doesn’t have many friends, these were the’ only two friends that he could rely
on. Although there was an option of using it without asking for their permissions, but Ash couldn’t bring himself to do it.

''-Bang!''

The door behind him was opened with a slam.

The next time he knew, Silvia and Eco was right beside him.

“How much longer are the two of you going to keep on talking!? Can’t you just give us a new room!”

Eco was pointing at Mirabel in anger.

“Anee-ue! Why do you call for Ash! That incident was caused by a few girls! It had nothing to do with Ash! Aren’t you treating him like
the culprit!?”

Silvia on the other hand was trying to speak up for Ash.

“Where are your manners? Don’t you know that it is rude to walk into a room without knocking? You won’t be given special treatment even if
you are the descendant of the Avalon Holy Dragons Emperor’s family or my sister. “

Mirabel glared at both of them coldly.

“I am sorry… Anee-ue.”

Silvia stood still on her ground as if she had turned into a stone.

On the other hand, Eco was trying to intimidate Mirabel by showing her sharp teeth.

“Hey you!... How dare you act like that even when you know that I am Avalon’s holy dragons' emperor family's Imperial Princess! Why don’t
I try crushing the castle the next time? If I show you my true self, one or two Fontaine Place won’t…”

“Idiot! Stop spurting nonsense!”

Ash’s face was pale white when he was scolding Eco.

Since that incident, the Knight’s government took Eco as a treat. As long as there is the possibility that Mirabel was here to keep an eye
on Eco, they have to be careful with their own words.

But to his surprise, Eco calm down with just a single shout.

She turned her head around with her face blushing.

“I-I will listen to you… Just this time.”

Ash was taken aback from seeing Eco making such an expression for the first time. Just as he had expected, it was that transformation that
had made a change of her heart. Although the gentle Eco looked a lot cuter, at the same time, it was also a little confusing.

“Ahem!”

Mirabel tried clearing her throat and everyone’s attention was back on her.

“Silvia, you came at the right moment. Right now you are staying in the royal room in the Epona House right?”

“…What about it?”

Silvia was surprised.

“Until the renovation in the boy’s dormitory had been completed, Ash Blake and young dragon Eco will stay in your room for the time
being.”

“What!”

“I won’t repeat for a second time. This is an order from your sister. You are not allowed to have any objections.”

Naturally, Silva was enraged.

“What do you mean by this! This is against our family motto where ‘A knight shouldn’t carelessly touch another of the opposite sex’!”

“Hmm… Funny but I remember that I said to let Ash Blake and young dragon Eco stay in your room. When did I ever mention about touching
Ash?”

“T-That…!”

Right at this moment, even Silvia’s earlobes were red.

“Right now, if I were to mention the family motto that you love so much, ‘A knight should help those who are in need’. Am I wrong?”

After she replied coldly, Mirabel looked like she had lost interest in the case regarding Ash. She kept on looking at the tea cup on her
hand.

“I am done with you- What a pain, now a good cup of tea had turned cold.”

===Part 3===
Rebecca and Jessica had returned to the land ruled by the Randalls.

Lucca on the other hand had returned to her village.

After seeing them off, Ash and Eco once again returned to his room on the third floor of the Apollo House.

They once again looked at the disastrous room.

A bed full of glass fragments.

A floor full with the remains of the wall.

And the disorganized furniture.

With the wall gone, the room became bright and windy. Looking down from above was a few curious onlookers. When their eyes came into
contact with Ash’s, everyone scattered.

“Haa… First of all, I think we should try cleaning up a little. It is better to make it look a little more cheerful before the renovation
starts.”

Turning around, Ash noticed that Eco was sulking.

“What’s wrong, Eco?”

“Hey. Do you really want to stay in Silvia’s room?”

“It is not like I have a choice. It was an order from Princess Mirabel. It seems that even Princess-sama did not dare to go against her.”

“I… I hate it.”

“What’s the matter? You don’t look like your usual self. Well, if we stay at Princess-sama’s room, we may be able to eat Cosette’s
delicious homemade cooking.”

“That’s not the point! And also, I am not someone who thinks about food for an entire day!”

Eco face was red with anger and embarrassment.

“Is it… Sorry then.”

“It is fine if you understand. Anyway, just if you try to do something weird to Silvia… I will be sure to crush you!”

Eco was glaring at Ash.

“What do you mean by something weird!?”

With her ears fully red, Eco told Ash embarrassedly:

“T-To make it simple…. It is those perverted stuffs.”

“W-What are you even thinking!”

Ash stood still on his ground. He never expects Eco to speak of such a word. It kind of surprise him.

“Even I knew about those stuffs… Don’t look down on me just because I am a young dragon.”

“Could the source of information be…. The Dragweiss?”

“…Some of them were from there, but most of them were from the picture books that Cosette lend to me.”

“Hold on! Are they really… Just picture books!?”

In order to teach her the importance of aesthetic sensibility, Cosette had lent her picture books and books for children. For that, Ash
was grateful for Cosette.

However, there is a possibility that she mixed some picture books for adult in them.

“Anyhow, she is still this country’s princess. What you are worrying about will never happen, rest assure.”

''In the worst possible case, I will be beheaded…'' Ash thought secretly.

“A-Alright… I understand.”

Once again, Eco was smiling and she looked at the room around her.

“Then… What can I do to help you?”

“You are trying to help?”

“What? Is it weird for me to help?”

“Definitely not weird, but rare. Ain’t it always me who complete the house work?”

“A-About that… It doesn’t seem like I have a choice. I am a dragon. I don’t really understand how a human acts. But… I just feel like
helping for today… Can’t I!?”

Eco puffed up her rosy coloured checks and stared at Ash.

“Why not? I even want to thank you.”

Ash gave a wry smile and tried to pat her head.

But, Eco immediately dodge to a side.

“No! You mustn’t touch!”

“Sorry… I don’t know that you dislike it this much.”

“N-No! It is okay it you are just patting, but you mustn’t touch my horns. If they were just slightly touched, I… will turn weird. I felt
like floating in the air when they were touched...”

Ash could calm down after seeing Eco’s face when she tried to explain her feelings.

“I understand. I promise I won’t touch your horns.”

Ash carefully patted Eco’s head.

Her pink hair was fluffy and it gave his palm a nice feeling.

“Nn…”

Even when she was a dragon, Eco was smiling and shrugging her neck like what a cat would do.

Her innocent smile had grabbed Ash’s attention.

To be precise, it was her flower bud like lips.

His heart was beating rapidly.

This was actually the second time he had such a feeling.

The first time was when Eco said that she won’t be satisfied with just being a Pal in the guest room in Fontaine Palace.

“…”

Eco probably felt the change in the atmosphere too and her body suddenly tense up. Perhaps she too was also thinking about the scenario in
the Fontaine Palace.

In a short while, just like that time, Eco closes her eyes.

She also tried to purse her lips.

Ash also noticed that her long eyelashes were also trembling.

''-Eco…!''
[[Image:SnRK v05 060.jpg|thumb]]

The suddenly remembered the word ‘beloved Pal’ in the knighting ceremony.

During that time, Ash was only saying the standard pledge.

But this was totally different.

His feeling of love to Eco was born from deep in his heart. A feeling that could be explained using something a simple as the relation of
a Breeder and its Pal had grown.

Right now, they don’t need any words.

Ash placed both his hands on Eco’s shoulders and he closes their distance slowly.

A sweet smell was surrounding them which made him dizzy.

Right now, he felt as if his heart was going to explode.

They were now at a distance where their nose could easily touch each other.

Eco felt like being pierced through by the sunlight while she was waiting for Ash.

Ash made up his mind and closed his eyes.

And then- he kissed Eco on her lips.

===Part 4===
“~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~!”

Since their kiss, Eco had been working silently with her back facing Ash the entire time.

It seemed that she was too embarrassed to even look at Ash in the face.

And of course, it was the same for Ash.

Ash felt as if his face was a ball of fire.

Although the two of them at a first glance seems to be dusting the room, actually there was zero progress. What they were doing were only
messing up the already messed up room.

''-What should I do? What should I say at times like this?''

Just when Ash was anxious in trying to find the right words…

“Uwaaa…! Cute!”

Eco turned around and showed Ash a round object.

“Isn’t this cute? Where did you find this stuff toy?”

At that moment, Ash felt something was pricking at the back of his neck. I made him wonder what it was.

The stuffed toy that Eco was holding seems to be a dragon. Strictly speaking, its face was clumsily done.

Furthermore, it round body made it looks nothing like a majestic dragon.

However, Eco seems to take it as cute and it made her forget about what had just happened previously.

“Err… Actually I don’t remember much about that when it came into my possession. No matter how I look at it, looked just like a girl’s
toy. It is probably not me who bought it.”

It was thanks to the toy that Ash was once again able to speak to Eco normally.

“Hmm… Strange.”

Eco was carrying the stuffed toy while she whipped off the dust on it.

“Hmm… When I move to Ansarivan, I just took it with me without any reason. Perhaps that is a great meaning behind it was what I thought.
Actually… There is a blank in my childhood memory.”

“… A blank in your memories?”

Eco was surprised.

“Aah. I was right about when I had my seventh birthday when I visited Albion Forest for the Orphan Ceremony. I just can’t recall my
memories during that time.”

“Isn’t that… The time when Mother Dragon bestowed me to you?”

“It seems so.”

“How come you can’t remember such an important event?”

Ash shrunk when he saw Eco started to get mad. Just when they were finally able to speak normally, it seems that Eco’s temper had also
returned.

“To be frank, I know nothing of it myself. It was just that I had a hunch that this toy had something to do with my lost memories and
that’s the reason why I was reluctant to throw it away. However, because of the recent events, I totally forgot about it.”

“Then, can I keep it?’

Ash was taken by surprised.

“What do you mean by keeping it?”

“It is just like what I had said. Don’t you think it is sad for such a cute being to be left forgotten? I will take the trouble to take
care of this kid.”

“How can you take care of it when it isn’t even a living being? Well, whatever suits you then.”

“Really!?”

Eco was full of excitement.

“Well, I don’t really mind.”

“That great!”

Eco was so happy that felt that she could even fly. She then rubbed the stuffed toy with her checks.

Followed by that, she cuddled it like what a mother would do to her baby.

Suddenly, she spoke of something that surprised Ash.

“This somehow looked like our baby…”

Eco suddenly stopped speaking before she could even finish her sentence. She the glared at Ash with her eyes as if they were on fire.

“You heard anything?”

“No, nothing at all.”

Ash spoke with a serious look on his face.

“T-That’s right! N-Nothing happened! Nothing happened at all!”

As if her head was exploding in flames, Eco carried the toy and dashed out from the room.

“Actually, I heard every single word…”

Just when Ash was murmuring as he felt as if his body was on fire…

“Sorry to interrupt, Ash-sama.”

Suddenly, there was a woman’s voice coming from behind.

“Uwaa!”

He noticed that it was Cosette after he turned around. She seems to be wearing that same palace design maid attire today. She then gave a
polite bow.

“Cosette-san! How did you get in?”

“To enter such an airy room is like a child’s play to me.”

Cosette smiled when she turned around to look at the blue sky.

“That couldn’t be… This is the third floor! Putting that aside, why are you here?”

“I am here to meet you and Eco-chan. Had you forgotten about Princess Mirabel, Her Highness’s decision?”

Of course, it was impossible for him to forget about it to begin with. However, he still felt a little reluctant.

“Actually, can’t we reconsider about this? Putting Eco aside, don’t you think that it is wrong for a guy like me to enter Epona House
where guys are not allowed?”

“For your own sake, I would advise you to follow her decision. Do you know what Princes Mirabel was also known as?”

“No… Actually none at all.”

“Her nick name is actually Argento Magus If we can describe Princess Veronica as a fighter, then Princess Mirabel is a thinker. Compare to
Veronica, there were certain things that would made Mirabel a tougher opponent. Please be sure to be prepared mentally, Ash-sama.”

Ash sighed after he heard everything.

“…I understand. Please let me take some belongings with me like my pillow and cloths…”

“Alright then, meanwhile, I will try searching for Eco.”

Eco had not yet return since the moment she ran out from the room.

“Thank you. I think she should be somewhere around the dorm.”

“Huhu. That will be a simple task.”

Cosette ran towards the door nimbly while she was avoiding the disorganized furniture, but then, she suddenly stopped and turned around to
face Ash.

“By the way, Ash-sama.”

“What’s the matter?”

When Ash lifted his face, he saw Cosette’s face full of red. Ash was staring at her since it was rare to see her who was always calm to be
blushing.

Although she always stayed hidden behind Silvia’s shadow, she actually looked quite beautiful.

With her right hand on her checks, she sighed.

Then she said something outrageous.

“Ash-sama and Eco-chan’s kiss looks very innocent indeed.”

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

This time, it was Ash’s turn to be blushing.

“D-Don’t, Don’t tell me that you saw everything!?”

“It totally felt like an opera show. You looked so cute when you kiss without even needing and words to understand each other. My god,
isn’t that wonderful? Don’t Eco-chan looked cute to when she was waiting to receive your kiss?”

“I beg you, please stop saying anymore than this! It is embarrassing!”

Right now, Ash felt like he was sitting on a mountain of needles.

Cosette to had seemed to realized that she over did it replied with a playful smile.

“Rest assure, I won’t tell Princess-sama any of this.”

“How is Princeass-sama related to this!?”

“Hmm… I wonder… Huhu…”

Cosette left the room with her sentence ending with her laughter.

===Part 5===
The moment Ash finished gathering all his basic daily needs, Cosette was back with Eco. Together, the three of the marched towards Epona House.

Although it was around evening, the sun was still high up in the sky.

After passing through a grove of mixed trees, they were welcomed by a stern looking gate.

Even the cicada had stopped making noise.

Although they were just walking, they were all full of sweat.

By taking a peak beside, Eco looked as if she was suffering from the heat of the high summer temperature. She looked like a Hydra who was
looking for water on dry land.

Compare to Ash, Eco was only carrying her stuffed toy.

On the other hand, Cosette didn’t even break a sweat.

“We had arrived.”

She turned around and smiled at both Ash and Eco.

Through the gate, they could see a garden that was separated into two halves by the walk way. It must have been well tended by a good
gardener. Even Ash who doesn’t have any interest in gardening was amazed by it.

At the back of the garden stood an elegant looking building.

That was Epona House, the dormitory for advance class girls.

“We had finally arrived…”

Ash placed his baggage which was full of daily needs and clothing on the ground.

''How long does it actually take to walk here from Apollo House…'' Ash couldn’t be bothered to even think about it.

This dragon riding academy where human and dragons coexist had a very large land area.

In it, there were numerous classes, a church, a lecture hall, a library, a canteen, seven dragon houses, four dormitories, a sports
ground… It even included an arena that was used during events.

Although there was the shopping district and the housing are beyond the school walls, compare to the size of the academy, they just looked
like extras. That the reason why Ansarivan was called an academic city.

Putting that aside, the distance between the boys dormitory and the girls dormitory must had been arranged on purpose by the academy.

“Please enter.”

Cosette pushed opened the heavy looking gate and welcomed both of them in.

===Part 6===
On the top most floor of Epona House was the room of royal use.

It looked like a high class hotel suit and it even had a large space.

Apart from a heater in the living room, there was also a dining room, a study room, bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, etc. In a room that
has everything, it looked as if it was another world compare to the normal student’s room.

Silvia was walking up and down around her room alone, worrying endlessly.

“Argh! What’s wrong with me! Why couldn’t I calm down! Even my family motto stated that ‘Always stay calm, especially in a pinch’!”

Even though she wasn’t even in a pinch, Silvia couldn’t stop worrying. It was about time for Cosette to arrive with Ash and Eco.

“That’s it!”

Silvia stopped in her tracks for a moment and then she dashed into the makeup room and stood in front of a mirror.

She applied a thin layer of makeup on her face.

She tried combing her hair many times.

Her clothings and accessories were chosen by Cosette.

She put on her camisole, a skirt with two layers of frills, her panty socks and a necklace made from bright dragon crystals that acted at
jewels.

In front of the mirror, she was just like her usual…. No, she was at least twice as more beautiful than she usually was.

Silvia turned red when she realized how beautiful she was.

“Why would I dress myself up! It is alright by just sticking to what I usually do!”

Ash was about to arrive.

Until the boy’s dormitory was done with its renovation, Ash was going to stay here for two weeks.

Her hearts started to beat rapidly from thinking about it.

“This feeling… It is that same feeling as ''that time…''”

Silvia recalled her memories.

Around the time of her seventh birthday, she met a boy in Albion Forest.

''“Why? Why would I have this feeling of returning to the time when I was seven years old whenever I think about Ash…?”''

Silvia suddenly regained her sense.

“Stop! Stop! Stop! Doesn’t this mean that I am looking forward for him to arrive!? Right… I should change back into my normal chothing…”
[[Image:SnRK v05 006.jpg|thumb|'' ''…!'' Silvia immediately snapped out from the confusion. She just remembered that right now, she was
only wearing her undergarments. '']]

Silvia left the makeup room and entered the living room. She swiftly removed all her clothings except for her undergarments. She then
walked along the corridor towards the changing room.

Suddenly, the door opened right in front of her eyes.

“Princess-sama, we had returned.”

Cosette walked in with a smile.

“Princess-sama!?”

Ash was standing right behind Cosette with his eyes wide opened. ''Why is his face red? Is it because of the heat?''

“…!”

Silvia immediately snapped out from the confusion. She just remembered that right now, she was only wearing her undergarments.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaa!”

Silvia ran and hid behind the door while screaming at the top of her voice.

===Part 7===
“Hey you! Just until when are you going to keep on staring!”

“Ouch!”

Ash came back to his sense after he was stomped on the leg by Eco.

Just when he had stepped in through the grand entrance, he was greeted by Silvia in only her undergarments. The white coloured lace will
forever be imprinted in his mind.

''By the way, why was Silvia wearing only those?'' No matter how hot the weather can be, it doesn’t suit her image.

“I am going to check on Princess-sama. Could the both of you wait here for a moment, please?”

With a happy smile on her face, Cosette disappeared into the corridor. In just a moment-

“No. This definitely doesn’t look natural.”

“No no. It definitely fits you well.”

“But… Won’t this make me look like I am looking forward to their arrival?”

“Huh? Aren’t you?”

Their entire conversation was heard by Ash.

“Come on! This is a disgrace! How dare they make a dragon wait by the entrance!”

Eco who was standing right beside Ash was in rage. The toy that she had with her which had a carelessly made face was further squashed by
Eco’s abnormal strength.

Ash pitied the toy. If this continued to keep on, Ash would probably be the next victim.

“Sorry for the wait.”

Just when Ash was about to be surrounded by his fear, Cosette had returned to the entrance with Silvia was hiding right behind her.

Ash’s heart skipped a beat when he saw Silvia’s clothing. It gave a completely different feel compare to the school uniform that she
usually wears. A lot of her skin was exposed from wearing the camisole. It had totally grabbed his attention.

“Please come in.”

Ash regained his sense after her heard Cosette’s voice.

“S-Sorry for the intrusion.”

In opposite to Ash, Eco was looking around the room with a hint of worry.

“Even so… You are just a Princess of the Royal Knight’s Family and you get to have such a great room?”

Perhaps she was mad from being asked to wait at the entrance, Eco was saying anything that would sooth her anger.

In truth, even Ash was amazed by the room itself. Just the entrance itself is wider than Ash’s room. There were even expensive looking
pictures along the wall and carvings of dragons.

“Please don’t be mad. This room was specially made for the royals, it would be natural if Princess-sama is staying here.”

Ash tried to calm her down.

“But, I am also a Princess of the dragons! Why would there be such a larger difference in our treatment!?”

“It is not like I want to stay in this room either!”

Silvia tried to speak up for herself even when she was being threatened by Eco.

“I even tried telling the academy to let me have the same treatment as the rest of the students, but they never listen…”

Suddenly, Silvia stood still on her ground. There was not even a slightest movement.

“Princess-sama… What’s wrong? You don’t look good.”

Ash was worried about her but she didn’t reply.

She kept on staring at the stuffed toy that Eco was carrying with her with her ice blue eyes.

Silvia then suddenly leaped towards Eco and grabbed her shoulders.

“Eco! Can you tell me how did that toy fall into your possession?”

Eco became confused.

“I-It has nothing to do with you.”

“Please tell me! This is very important!”

Silvia shouted loudly.

“… I picked it up.”

Eco mumbled when she turned her head to aside. It seemed that she did not want to tell Silvia that it was a gift from Ash. Ash was
wondering on why she would be insisting on it.

“You picked it up? When? Where?”

Silvia was being persistent.

“Come on! Why do I need to tell you?”

Eco lost her patience and roared.

“…Why can’t you tell me?”

“T-That’s because… I don’t have the obligation to tell you.”

“Now I see, you are playing dumb… It seems I must resolve to this.”

Suddenly, Silvia leaped towards Eco with both of her hands stretched out.

“Hey!... Don’t joke with me!”

Eco dodge with the toy in her arms.

With the royal room as the stage, the two of them started running around like a bunch of kids. In just a blink of an eye, both of them
disappeared behind a door.

“Err… What is this all about?”

Ash who was left behind turned around and questioned Cosette.

“Cosette-san?”

To his surprised, Cosette too was transfixed on her own spot. It was rare to see her making a face like that.

Cosette then regained her sense after being called out to by Ash and started explaining.

“I just remember about it… I fear that that stuffed toy…. Is an important treasure to Princess-sama during her childhood.”

Ash was surprised by her answer.

“Wait a moment! That shouldn’t be possible! There should be many more stuffed toys with the same design, no?”

Cosette answered calmly.

“No. There ain’t. That toy is the one and only in this world. It was a limited edition item. It was actually made from a famous artist
from Chevron Kingdom called Leonard De Mirabeau and was given to the five year old Princess-sama.”

“Really? That clumsily made toy is…”

“That’s not it… Its weird look was actually Mirabeau-sama’s style. Didn’t people usually say that there was only a silver line that
separates a genius and a madman? If that stuffed toy was bought to an antique auction… It should be priced at five million Eccles at
minimum.”

Cosette told him the shocking truth with s straight face.

“Five million…!”

Ash turned speechless.

His face had turned pale.

''-Five million Eccles!''

Ash couldn’t even imagine that amount of money. He just knew that he won’t be able to finish it by living the rest of his days enjoying
life. He never knew that such a treasure was hidden in his closet.

“W-We should try stopping them first!”

Ash started searching for them in the huge room.

===Part 8===
“Finally! You won’t be able to escape!”

Eco who ran into Silvia’s room was now like a rat in the bag. There was only one exit and the windows were too high to jump from since
this was the top most floor.

“Tsk… You are being persistent!”

Eco backed off to the wall and like a mother protecting her child, she tried to intimidate Silvia.

For one moment, Silvia was awed by her beauty, but the next instant, she roared:

“You haven’t told me anything yet! I just want to know how this toy came into your possession!”

“Why would you even want to know!?”

“T-That… I had my own reasons! Please, Eco!”

“Hmph… I had mine too. I will never tell you, only you!”

Both of them were glaring at each other with any intention of backing off.

Silvia realized that whatever she said was useless.

“Now you have done it. Although it is not to my liking… I must resolve this by force.”

“What! Who do you think I am! See that if you can do it!”

“Fine with me!”

Silvia leaped forward without mercy.

Although she must avoid Eco’s abnormal strength, Eco’s actions had always been straight forward and were always easy to read.

On the other hand, apart from the Drag Arts, Silvia had mastered many more fighting styles. It is a normal thing to do for something who
was born in the Lautreamont Royal Knight’s Family.

After struggling on the ground like brats, Silvia came out as the winner.

“Now you have been captured!”

Silvia was pressing Eco’s tiny body on the floor and without giving her a chance to fight back, she rode on Eco.

“Tsk… Let me go!”

“Is there any idiot in this world that would move off once they are being asked to?”

The winner had been decided. Even when Eco had her abnormal strength, she could never be able to beat Silvia.

But, there was a reason why Silvia could beat her easily.

Eco had never let go of the stuffed toy even after she was pressed down against the floor. If Eco would’ just let go of that toy, the
fight could still drag on. No, it could even be Silvia who was pressed down against the floor.

“Please, Eco! This is not an order. Although it was not a long time since the day I met you, I always think you as a friend. That is why…
Could you please tell me?’

Just when Silvia was begging Eco with a trembling voice…

“Eco! Princess-sama!”

The door opened with a bang and Ash came running in.

Silvia turned around to look at Ash while she was pressing Eco down against the floor.

“Hold on, Ash! I never have the intention to harm Eco! I just want to ask Eco about it… no matter what!”

“But, Princess-sama doesn’t act like the usual you. Even so, Eco is my Pal, I won’t forgive anyone who try to harm her, even if it is
Princess-sama.”

After Ash murmured sadly, he showed her his left arm.

Silvia knew that he had his abnormally large Seikoku covered in a bandage.

“Your Seikoku…?”

Silvia was in lost of words.

The Seikoku under the bandage was obviously blinking with glowing lights. That was a signal given when the Pal was in danger.

For example, even though Silvia did not have any intentions of harming Eco, but Eco felt that she was in danger and sent the signal to her
owner Ash for help…

“Sorry, Eco… I am really sorry. I am in the wrong for scaring you…. But, I have my own reasons. Please, Eco! Please tell me for the sake
of our friendship!”

Silvia was forcing out an answer from Eco.

“…Eco?”

Eco did not reply. Just as Silvia became confused, Eco was surrounded by a glowing light.

“Hey, Eco! What’s wrong?”

Eco still did not reply. Right now, Eco was like a doll, showing no expression.

Even her eyes seemed to be reflecting nothing.

“Urgh…!”

The next instant, Silvia was being blast of by a string wind.

“Princess-sama!”

Followed by Ash’s shout, Silvia’s back bang against the wall. She almost couldn’t breathe because of it.

===Part 9===
“Princess-sama!”

Just when Ash was trying to help Silvia out, Cosette arrived.

“I will take care of Princess-sama. Ash-sama, go help Eco-chan! This is no laughing matter!”

Cosette’s voice seemed to be more serious and nervous than usual.

“Understood!”

Ash ran straight towards Eco.

His Sikoku started to hurt.

He remembered that feeling.

He had the similar feeling when Eco was awaken in the capital, Fontaine.

Although the pain was not as strong as that time, Ash knew that this was the sign before her transformation into a dragon.

Eco stood up slowly with the cute stuffed toy dropping on the floor.

Strictly speaking, she was not standing.

There was a gap in between her feet and the floor.

She was actually floating…!

Her limbs were now surrounded by the mysterious light that was so bright that they could not look at it directly.

However, Ash continued to move forward.

“Stop, Eco! If you are to be awaken here…”

In the worst possible case, this Epona House will be destroyed. No, it could even be related to the city’s survivability…

Eco had long been label as an element of danger by many countries’s government. The reason why Mirabel was sent to become the academy’s director was to keep an eye on Eco.

''If she is to transform into a dragon right now…!''

Ash moved forward without giving any though and hugged Eco.

A huge amount of magic was flowing out from her tiny body. If he had been careless, he would even be swallowed by the magic and lost
conscious.

Ash shouted with all his might into Eco’s ears.

“Get a grip of yourself! I…I like the way you are now! It is okay if you just stay as you are! You don’t have to force yourself to change
into your true self!”

It seems that Ash’s words had gotten through and the magic that was surrounding Eco had disappeared. Even the lights were no longer there.
Ash’s Seikoku too had stopped responding.

“We are saved…”

Ash breathe a sigh of relieve.

“…Huh?”

Eco blinked her eyes in surprise and murmured.

“What had I done…? Why are you…?”

Realizing that she was in Ash’s arms, Eco leaped off from Ash’s arms with her face red in embarrassment.

===Part 10===
“I am sorry for what had happened just now. I-I never thought that you were so much against it…. No I shouldn’t make any excuses. A knight must admit his own faults. I deeply apologize!”

After the group had sat on a dining table in the living room, Silvia apologized to Eco sincerely.

“Hmph… I guess this should be sufficient.”

Silvia’s eagerness to apologize by bowing her head had started to confuse Eco. Even though she still continued to puff up her checks in
protest, but at least she had accepted Silvia’s apology. Ash who noticed it breathe a sigh of relieves.

“…Since everything had been settled, please allow me to ask. How did that stuffed toy came into your possession?”

Silvia’s words had cause Eco to be enraged again.

“Ha!? You….. Just apologize and yet you still was to ask!?”

“I apologize for resolving this matter by force. I promise that this time, I won’t try questioning you by force. But in return, I will
keep on asking until you answer me. Remember, I will keep on asking.”

Silvia was quite stubborn. She even smiled towards Eco with her face full of confidence.

“I can’t believe it…”

Eco sighed.

“Sorry, Eco-chan.”

At that moment, Cosette returned from the kitchen with a silver tray full of snacks and tea.

“That toy that Eco-chan was holding right now… It probably belongs to Princess-sama a long time ago.”

“How can it be…?”

Whilst she was surprised, Eco took a bite on the vanilla flavoured crepe that Cosette handed to her. If it was the usual Eco, she would
definitely shout out ‘Delicious!’ on the first bite, but right now, she was with a serious looks. As expected, even Eco couldn’t enjoy her
favorite food properly.

“What Cosette said is true. That toy is definitely an important thing to me during my childhood.”

Silvia spoke calmly as if she was trying to teach a child who knew nothing.

“Ha!? That’s impossible! I understand none of these!”

Eco placed her half eaten crepe back on her plate. Ash was surprised that she prioritized the argument before her crepe.

“I knew it the moment I saw it. There is only one of this stuffed toy in the whole world. It is a very important toy.”

“How can you have such confidence!?”

“You don’t even know the worth of that toy. Anyone who knows its worth would recognize it on their first sight.”

“Arrrrrggh! That explanation is totally unacceptable!”

''Eco was once again in rage, but at least Silvia knew her limit. Thanks to that, the atmosphere did not turn out to be any worst than this…'' Ash secretly thought.

“Come on you two…”

Cosette was obviously not at all troubled. She seems to be enjoying this.

“Haa… I seems like I don’t have a choice.”

Ash sighed.

“Please listen carefully, Princess-sama. That stuffed toy was in my closet. I gave it to Eco since she seems to like it.”

“Hey! Why did you tell that to her!?”

Eco was scolding Ash with her face red.

“What else can I do? If I leave it to both of you, the same thing will continue onwards again and again.”

“I… want this to be a secret between the both of us.”

Eco’s mumbling caught Ash’s attention.

“What did you say?”

“N-Nothing! I don’t even know you!”

Eco averted her face in anger. ''Why must she get angry...?'' Ash wondered.

On the other hand, Silvia was staring at Ash.

“Ash… you said that this toy was in your closet?”

“That seems to be the case.”

Ash shrugged his shoulders.

“Actually, I am not really clear about it. Believe me or not, there was a blank in my memories… I don’t even know how it came into my
possession. I don’t even know about its worst if not because of Cosette.”

Silvia was staring at Ash so intently almost as if she was going to pierce a hole in his forehead. She then asked a weird question.

“When is your birthday?”

“Huh? The third on the month of Aries… What about that?”

After Ash answered honestly, Cosette spoke in surprise:

“Oh, what a coincidence. It seems that Princess-sama was also born in the month of Aries. By the way, hers is in the seventh.”

“Hmm… That’s the first time I had heard of it.”

“Huhu… So Ash-sama is the bigger brother by four days.”

“T-That… isn’t it…”

“Ash!”

Silvia suddenly leaned against him. Ash could see her breast that was covered by the thin cloth of the summer clothes.

“Princess-sama?”

“Even though this may seems abrupt, but do you still remember the date you went for the Orphan Ceremony?”

“Err… I don’t really remember about the details, but it shouldn’t be far away from my seventh birthday. Since my hometown was at a far
away village, I started my journey when I was still six. I remembered that I had my seventh birthday in a horse carriage.”

Once they reach the age of seven, every citizen of the Knight Country must visit Albion Forest.

For Ash, I he had departed after his seventh birthday, he would never be able to arrive at Albion Forest in a month time.

“By the way, does the date I went for the Orphan Ceremony matters?”

“…No, Nothing. I have something that I want to discuss with Cosette. Please stay here for the moment.”

Silvia suddenly stood up and dragged Cosette by the hand with her.

“What a weird Princess.”

Ash took a drink from the cup of red tea.

===Part 11===
After Silvia entered the makeup room, with an ‘Ahem’, she cleared her throat.

“What do you want to talk about, Princess-sama?”

“About that…”

“It doesn’t seem like something easy.”

Since she had been with Silvia for quite some time, Cosette immediately knew what she was thinking.

“Aah… That’s right.”

“I will do everything you tell me to if it is in my ability to do so. If the situation required, I could even be Princess-sama’s limbs or
even your shield… That’s my duty.”

Silvia made up her mind and told her wish.

“Actually, I want you to return to the palace and investigate the name list of the children who went to the orphan ceremony as the same
day as me. This should be an easy one for you, no?”

However, Cosette told Silvia something out of her imagination.

“The records of the Orphan Ceremony is the country’s top secret. Even if you are a Princess, you will be breaching the law by trying to
investigate it.”

“Then, your duty would be to avoid it. Please, I could only put my hopes on you. With your ability, reading top secret documents should
not be a problem, right?”

“That doesn’t sound nice, Princess-sama. The ability that I only knew of was an ancient technique that was passed down in the Shelly’s
family and some spying technique. All of them were used to protect the Lautreamont family.”

“I understand that, but…!”

Silvia grabbed her shoulders and looked at Cosette with her puppy eyes.

“Of course I will do it if this is your order. But, what will you do if Ash-sama is really that boy?”

Silvia’s face almost burst out in flames.

“I-I just want to know about it! That’s right, I only want to know about the truth!”

Cosette gave a wry smile.

“Hmm… Putting that aside, during the time when I am not in, when the night comes and Eco had slept, aren’t '''the two of you''' alone together?”

“When the night comes…. The two of us…!?”

This time, steam emerged from her ears. Her heart was beating none stop.

“W-W-What are you talking about! Don’t you have any shame! How shameless! I…I believe that Ash was not someone insolence! That is why
there is no point behind your question!”

Silvia snapped and Cosette nodded.

“I too had the same feeling.”

“Then why bother asking!”

Cosette smiled and took out something. I was a stack of paper held together by a paper clip.

“What’s that?”

“Huhu… A copy of ‘Shelley family’s secret. A recipe to make men dream’. Although I want to use it during this summer to teach Princess-
sama some cooking… But this is a good chance to try it. Although Princess-sama don’t have any actual experience, but isn't this a good
chance to show your cooking skills to Ash-sama?”

Silvia felt as if her body was on fire.

“Hold on! W-W-Why must I show Ash my cooking skills?”

“If I am not mistaken, The Lautreamont Family Motto did mention that ‘to shoot a general you must first shoot his horse’, am I right?”

“What does it had to do with this?”

“In the Shelley’s Family Motto, there is something like this: ‘To get the man you like, you muts first fill his stomach’.”

“What kind of family motto is that!?”

“Huhu… When Ash-sama’s stomach is empty, and Princess-sama gave him your homemade cooking, he would surely fall for you.”

“…Fall for me!?”

Cosette was like a devil whispering into Silvia’s ears.

“When a Princess who doesn’t look like she knew any cooking made a meal, which man wouldn’t be moved by it?”

“Cut the crap! I never want Ash to take notice of me! Never! I-It s just that I had some interest in cooking since a long time ago. I
will accept you offer because of this.”

Cosette handed her the recipe while smiling.
[[Image:SnRK v05 096.jpg|thumb]]

“Now, I had received my orders from Princess-sama and I will depart from Ansarivan immediately.”

“Huh? Immediately?”

“It is better if we act quickly, Princess-sama.”

Cosette lifted the both sides of her skirt slightly and bowed gracefully.

Suddenly, like a mist, Cosette disappeared from Silvia’s sight like a magician.

“H-Hey! Cosette? … Do you really want to depart at this moment?”

Silvia became worried when she heard no reply.

“Please hold on, Cosette! You should allow me to have some mental preparation before…!”

Silvia looked around the room with tears in her eyes. It looks like Cosette had really departed.

“Tsk… She never takes me seriously!”

After Silvia mumbled in regrets, she took a long hard look at the recipe given to her.

"The Stuffed Toy Dragon~A.S.B.1365.8~" is closed.

<noinclude>

==References and Translation Notes==
<references />

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|-
| Back to [[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Prologue|Prologue]]
| Return to [[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Chapter 2|Chapter 2]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Chapter 1

2014-04-26T18:52:01Z

128.163.8.92: /* Part 10 */

==Chapter 1 - Tragedy of Apollo house and Mirabel's decision==
===Part 1===
''-Don! Don…! Don!''

The sun had just raised but Ash who spent a sleepless night was waken up by a loud knocking sound.

“What in the world…?”

He took that silver watch by his pillow side and noticed that it was just half past six.

After he angrily took a look at the window, he became wide awake.

“Uwaa…!”

There was a huge eye looking through the gaps of the curtain.

It was actually a dragon who was banging its nose against the window.

''-Don! Don… Dododododo!”''

He was worried that it may break the glass.

“Why is a dragon coming to my room!? Could it be another Necromancia attack!?”

So the Empire had finally shown their true colours and started attacking? Ash tried to leave the bed but he was stopped.

“Zzz…”

Eco rolled over and hugged Ash.

Her hair was all over his shoulders and her arms were around his back.

And also her soft face that was on his chest…

''-Mmm…''

Ash was shocked by her sudden nibble.

“Hey, Eco… Please don’t bite that spot.”

Recently, her habit of nibbling had gotten less but she still had not gotten rid of her habit of a young dragon. Moreover, she was
nibbling on Ash’s sensitive spot which troubled him.

At that moment, there was a crack on the window.

“This is bad… It is not the right moment to let her continue nibbling.”

Ash carried Eco and they leave the bed together. The next thing he knew, the glass was smashed into pieces.

He managed to avoid the glass fragments at the last moment.

At the same time, there were two dragons that were trying to squeeze their heads into the window. Their hard scales protect them from the
sharp glass.

By taking a closer look, Ash noticed that one of them was a Maestro while the other was a Hydra. After knowing that he was not attacked by
a Necromancia, Ash breathe a sigh of relieve.

“Morning, Ash!”

“Good morning, Ash-sama!”

Finally, he could see the faces of the two riders.

They were the student council secretary Lucca and Jessica of the general affairs. Right beside them were Maestro Gawain and Rhiannon the
Hydra.

Ash started to protest after he placed Eco who was still sleeping on the bed.

“Lucca! Jessica! What in the world are both of you doing!?”

Since the time Ash saved Gawain who was in danger of dying, Lucca had become emotionally attached to Ash. In the dragon riding academy,
most of the girls are the more aggressive type, it was kind of rare to see someone as quite as Lucca. The beauty that only an Eckbald
possessed was out of this world.

Ash was a little surprise to see Lucca acting rashly. Perhaps she was influenced by Jessica.

“Ash… I hoped that you would come with me to the Eckbald village. I want to introduce you to the village chief, my otou-sama.” <ref>In the
raw version, Lucca called her father otou-sama, but the kanji written was foster father.</ref>

Her usual emotionless face had always given Ash a heck lot of trouble.

“Hold on! W-Why must you mention about the chief!?”

“P-Please don’t ask anymore than this.”

Lucca was suddenly blushing.

This time, it was Jessica who pushed Lucca to aside.

Jessica who was usually eyeing at Ash’s sperm, though her actions had always been eccentric, she was still undoubtable one of the few
beauties of the academy.

“Ash-sama, I have a request!”

“Hey, wait a minute! This is the third floor! How did a hydra get here…?”

“Well. Climbing wall is not a problem for my Rhiannon.”

“Can’t you sympathize your Pal a little!”

Ash pitied her Pal. Although a Hydra may still be able to move on land, but only when they are in the water they are able to show their
true skills. It shouldn’t be its own intention to walk on land. Let alone climbing the walls of the student’s dormitory, which doesn’t
seem to fit the actions of a proud dragon.

“Putting that aside, Ash-sama! I am about to leave Ansarivan. What about you? Do you have any plans of returning?”

“Now I remember… today is the start of the holiday.”

-The first day of the month of Leo.

It was the first day of the holidays for Ansaraivan Dragon Riding Academy. Since it was a boarding school, most of the student will return
to their hometown.

Of course, not all of the students were going back home. There were also a small amount of students that were forced to stay in for the
holidays for certain reasons.

Ash was one of them.

“Nope, I am not going home.”

After hearing, Jessica’s facial expression changes.

“What! If that’s the case, I too will stay back here!”

“Uuh… If I don’t return soon… I will be scolded by my otou-sama.”

Compare to Jessica who was in high spirit, Lucca looks sad. Lucca who carry the hopes of all Eckbald with her probably doesn’t have as much freedom as Jessica has.

“Sorry to disappoint you Jessica, but you must return with me.”
[[Image:SnRK v05 044.jpg|thumb]]

Suddenly, there was another voice.

“Rebecca-san!”

Ash shouted.

There was a sweet smell from her red hair being blown by the winds. She looking like a war maiden in the legends when she was riding on Cú
Chulainn.

“Sorry for the trouble that this stupid girl from my house had given you. The Randall family will cover the fees for mending the window.
The servants fault is also the master’s fault.”

“Now that you mention it… I remember that Jessica was a servant in the Randall family.”

“Just that since she became a Breeder, she had forgotten about her place.”

Rebecca sighed.

“Hmph! Could stop calling me that? I don’t have the intention of serving the Randall family for my whole life!”

“I never thought of that. You are my important childhood friend. Also, your parents had asked me to take good care of you. That is why I
have my duty to bring you back to meet your parents.”

Although her lips were smiling, there was not even a hint of smile in Rebecca’s eyes. After Jessica saw Rebecca’s determination, her
elbows dropped in disappointment.

“Haa… I understand. However… I want Ash-sama to see me off!”

Ash gave a wry smile.

“I think that should be alright.”

The moment he answered, Jessica was once again with a big smile. But, she was then blushing and started to mumble.

“T-Then… According to my hometown’s custom…. There should be a parting k-kiss….”

“Hey! Jessica! When does our hometown have such a custom?”

Rebecca exposed Jessica’s lie with a wry smile.

“Hmph! Rebecca! Don’t you know how to look at the atmosphere?”

“I-I too would like you to see me off…”

While Jessica was in rage, Lucca shyly told Ash her wish.

“Of course.”

“T-Then… According to the Eckbald custom…. I want you to give me a princess carry.”

Ash’s heart skipped a beat when he first saw Lucca’s blushing face.

“A-A princess carry!”

Ash was in a fixed but Jessica shouted at Lucca:

“Hey! What are you trying to do in this mess! That must be a lie!?”

“Uuh…”

While Lucca turned speechless, the noise that Jessica made had spread throughout the school.

“Hey, can you believe it! The president and Jessica were making a night visit! And the other person… Could she be Lucca Sarlinen the
genius girl from the basic class!?”

Suddenly, a huge number of students were gathering outside of the Apollo House. It was something for three girls to be standing on their
dragons beside a window of a boy’s dormitory.

To say nothing of Rebecca Randall who was the most popular person in the entire academy, Jessica was also one of the centers of attentions
and let alone Lucca with her Yōsei like looks and her skills as a Dragner.

“I-I am just here to have Ash-sama see me off! Nothing else!”

Jessica tried to settle the misunderstanding by shouting towards the direction of the school.

“Hmm! By saying Ash-kun you mean… The Ash-kun who was knighted yesterday!?”

“The knighting ceremony was awesome!”

“I also want him to see me off!”

Right now all the girls were speaking with s shrill voice.

Rebecca gave him a bitter smile while she was enjoying all of this.

“Seems like your popularity had sky rocketed after you become a Dragner.”

“The situation outside… Somehow, it looks frightening.”

“Yeah. I just saw around thirty dragons flying towards this window.”

Rebecca told him the unthinkable news with a calm face.

“Huh!?”

“Sorry, Ash. Though I have many reasons to help you… But if I show my true skills, the girls would suffer some grave injuries.”

“Hol-! Don’t leave me!”

“You should try to solve your own problem if you are a Dragner. Also… If it is alright, I would also want you to see me off.”

“…Eh?”

Unfortunately, Ash was not able to catch everything Rebecca said. Her voice disappeared behind the loud noise from Cú Chulainn flapping
its wings.

“Good luck, Ash.”

Lucca too had reluctantly flew off with Gawain.

Right after that, the Apollo House faced a terrible attack.

“Ash-kun! Please see me off!”

“Ash-kun, you might as well come to my home town with me…!”

“Hey! Don’t cut the queue!”

Most of the girls returning were riders of stradas. They were like bats gathering together for food at the window.

But of course it was impossible for thirty riders of stradas to squeeze into the window at the same time.

Soon, they started pushing around.

“P-Please be patient! Calm down! Please calm down!”

Ash was panicking.

Every single roar from the Strada was enough to shake up this entire old building.

“Hey!...How dare you! Ash-sama is my important- Nooooooo!”

Unlike Rebecca or Lucca, Jessica who stayed until the end was finally pushed off the wall together with Rhiannon.

“W-What should I do?”

Ash retreated until his back was facing the wall while he was watching the girls fighting for a spot.

At that moment, Eco who had rolled herself into a ball while she was sleeping had woken up and was rubbing her eyes.

“Hmmm…. What’s all the noise about?”

“You ! How can you still think of sleeping!”

Eco was looking around in confusion. It seems that she wasn’t fully awake yet and wasn’t able to think properly.

Ash shouted with all his might towards the window.

“I beg you! Could you please not make a mess in front of someone else’s window! I promise to see off every single one of you!”

Too bad for him, his voice was not received by them.

Suddenly, Ash had a bad feeling.

“I couldn’t be…”

His entire body was shivering in fear. Since some time ago, the wall facing the outside was creaking. It appears that the Stradas were
putting pressure on it.

“It is dangerous to stay here! Lets run Eco!”

“Huh…! Could you care to explain!”

“Later!”

Ash was running with Eco on his hands.

He ran out through the door and out to the corridor.

Just when he was sliding along the floor…

''-Creak…! Eeeeekkkk……. !Do--------------n!''

The next moment, there was a loud explosion.

Ash cautiously took a peek through the cracks on the door while trembling. All he sees was dust flying around and even the corridor was
affected.

''“*Cough *!*Cough *!”''

While covering up Eco who was coughing, Ash waited until the dust had settled down.

Just moments later-

After the dust had cleared up, what Ash saw was a clear sky.

The morning rays were shining at the disastrous room.

The wreckage of the wall was all over his room. It was a painful sight.

Right now, with the wall that was facing the academy and the window destroyed, his room looked like a doll house that can be seen from the
outside.

“Err… Eco, am I dreaming?”

“I think so?”

Ash and Eco were looking at the room with their mouths wide open.

===Part 2===
Ash was brought to the director’s office on the first day of the holiday.

As for those girls who were the culprit, it seems that they had ran back home as soon as possible. That is why Ash who was the victim was summoned.

“I see… Now I understand what had happened.”

Mirabel who was acting as the director replied coldly and drank from her cup of tea.

The room was full of the smells of bergamot and the tea.

Just like a robot, Mirabel’s face was emotionless the entire time. ''Does this princess even have the thing known as feelings…?'' Ash thought.

“The academy will take responsible for mending the wall. Just some time before, I had asked the builders of this city and they estimated
that they will be able to complete it in around two weeks time.”

“Really…! Thank you very much!”

Ash was grateful that she was able to deal with this situation without delay.

“The problem is… During the renovation, where am I to place you and Eco.”

“I see…”

“Can you borrow a room from any of your friends?”

“I don’t think that would be possible…”

Unfortunately, Max and Raymond had gone home. For Ash who doesn’t have many friends, these were the’ only two friends that he could rely
on. Although there was an option of using it without asking for their permissions, but Ash couldn’t bring himself to do it.

''-Bang!''

The door behind him was opened with a slam.

The next time he knew, Silvia and Eco was right beside him.

“How much longer are the two of you going to keep on talking!? Can’t you just give us a new room!”

Eco was pointing at Mirabel in anger.

“Anee-ue! Why do you call for Ash! That incident was caused by a few girls! It had nothing to do with Ash! Aren’t you treating him like
the culprit!?”

Silvia on the other hand was trying to speak up for Ash.

“Where are your manners? Don’t you know that it is rude to walk into a room without knocking? You won’t be given special treatment even if
you are the descendant of the Avalon Holy Dragons Emperor’s family or my sister. “

Mirabel glared at both of them coldly.

“I am sorry… Anee-ue.”

Silvia stood still on her ground as if she had turned into a stone.

On the other hand, Eco was trying to intimidate Mirabel by showing her sharp teeth.

“Hey you!... How dare you act like that even when you know that I am Avalon’s holy dragons' emperor family's Imperial Princess! Why don’t
I try crushing the castle the next time? If I show you my true self, one or two Fontaine Place won’t…”

“Idiot! Stop spurting nonsense!”

Ash’s face was pale white when he was scolding Eco.

Since that incident, the Knight’s government took Eco as a treat. As long as there is the possibility that Mirabel was here to keep an eye
on Eco, they have to be careful with their own words.

But to his surprise, Eco calm down with just a single shout.

She turned her head around with her face blushing.

“I-I will listen to you… Just this time.”

Ash was taken aback from seeing Eco making such an expression for the first time. Just as he had expected, it was that transformation that
had made a change of her heart. Although the gentle Eco looked a lot cuter, at the same time, it was also a little confusing.

“Ahem!”

Mirabel tried clearing her throat and everyone’s attention was back on her.

“Silvia, you came at the right moment. Right now you are staying in the royal room in the Epona House right?”

“…What about it?”

Silvia was surprised.

“Until the renovation in the boy’s dormitory had been completed, Ash Blake and young dragon Eco will stay in your room for the time
being.”

“What!”

“I won’t repeat for a second time. This is an order from your sister. You are not allowed to have any objections.”

Naturally, Silva was enraged.

“What do you mean by this! This is against our family motto where ‘A knight shouldn’t carelessly touch another of the opposite sex’!”

“Hmm… Funny but I remember that I said to let Ash Blake and young dragon Eco stay in your room. When did I ever mention about touching
Ash?”

“T-That…!”

Right at this moment, even Silvia’s earlobes were red.

“Right now, if I were to mention the family motto that you love so much, ‘A knight should help those who are in need’. Am I wrong?”

After she replied coldly, Mirabel looked like she had lost interest in the case regarding Ash. She kept on looking at the tea cup on her
hand.

“I am done with you- What a pain, now a good cup of tea had turned cold.”

===Part 3===
Rebecca and Jessica had returned to the land ruled by the Randalls.

Lucca on the other hand had returned to her village.

After seeing them off, Ash and Eco once again returned to his room on the third floor of the Apollo House.

They once again looked at the disastrous room.

A bed full of glass fragments.

A floor full with the remains of the wall.

And the disorganized furniture.

With the wall gone, the room became bright and windy. Looking down from above was a few curious onlookers. When their eyes came into
contact with Ash’s, everyone scattered.

“Haa… First of all, I think we should try cleaning up a little. It is better to make it look a little more cheerful before the renovation
starts.”

Turning around, Ash noticed that Eco was sulking.

“What’s wrong, Eco?”

“Hey. Do you really want to stay in Silvia’s room?”

“It is not like I have a choice. It was an order from Princess Mirabel. It seems that even Princess-sama did not dare to go against her.”

“I… I hate it.”

“What’s the matter? You don’t look like your usual self. Well, if we stay at Princess-sama’s room, we may be able to eat Cosette’s
delicious homemade cooking.”

“That’s not the point! And also, I am not someone who thinks about food for an entire day!”

Eco face was red with anger and embarrassment.

“Is it… Sorry then.”

“It is fine if you understand. Anyway, just if you try to do something weird to Silvia… I will be sure to crush you!”

Eco was glaring at Ash.

“What do you mean by something weird!?”

With her ears fully red, Eco told Ash embarrassedly:

“T-To make it simple…. It is those perverted stuffs.”

“W-What are you even thinking!”

Ash stood still on his ground. He never expects Eco to speak of such a word. It kind of surprise him.

“Even I knew about those stuffs… Don’t look down on me just because I am a young dragon.”

“Could the source of information be…. The Dragweiss?”

“…Some of them were from there, but most of them were from the picture books that Cosette lend to me.”

“Hold on! Are they really… Just picture books!?”

In order to teach her the importance of aesthetic sensibility, Cosette had lent her picture books and books for children. For that, Ash
was grateful for Cosette.

However, there is a possibility that she mixed some picture books for adult in them.

“Anyhow, she is still this country’s princess. What you are worrying about will never happen, rest assure.”

''In the worst possible case, I will be beheaded…'' Ash thought secretly.

“A-Alright… I understand.”

Once again, Eco was smiling and she looked at the room around her.

“Then… What can I do to help you?”

“You are trying to help?”

“What? Is it weird for me to help?”

“Definitely not weird, but rare. Ain’t it always me who complete the house work?”

“A-About that… It doesn’t seem like I have a choice. I am a dragon. I don’t really understand how a human acts. But… I just feel like
helping for today… Can’t I!?”

Eco puffed up her rosy coloured checks and stared at Ash.

“Why not? I even want to thank you.”

Ash gave a wry smile and tried to pat her head.

But, Eco immediately dodge to a side.

“No! You mustn’t touch!”

“Sorry… I don’t know that you dislike it this much.”

“N-No! It is okay it you are just patting, but you mustn’t touch my horns. If they were just slightly touched, I… will turn weird. I felt
like floating in the air when they were touched...”

Ash could calm down after seeing Eco’s face when she tried to explain her feelings.

“I understand. I promise I won’t touch your horns.”

Ash carefully patted Eco’s head.

Her pink hair was fluffy and it gave his palm a nice feeling.

“Nn…”

Even when she was a dragon, Eco was smiling and shrugging her neck like what a cat would do.

Her innocent smile had grabbed Ash’s attention.

To be precise, it was her flower bud like lips.

His heart was beating rapidly.

This was actually the second time he had such a feeling.

The first time was when Eco said that she won’t be satisfied with just being a Pal in the guest room in Fontaine Palace.

“…”

Eco probably felt the change in the atmosphere too and her body suddenly tense up. Perhaps she too was also thinking about the scenario in
the Fontaine Palace.

In a short while, just like that time, Eco closes her eyes.

She also tried to purse her lips.

Ash also noticed that her long eyelashes were also trembling.

''-Eco…!''
[[Image:SnRK v05 060.jpg|thumb]]

The suddenly remembered the word ‘beloved Pal’ in the knighting ceremony.

During that time, Ash was only saying the standard pledge.

But this was totally different.

His feeling of love to Eco was born from deep in his heart. A feeling that could be explained using something a simple as the relation of
a Breeder and its Pal had grown.

Right now, they don’t need any words.

Ash placed both his hands on Eco’s shoulders and he closes their distance slowly.

A sweet smell was surrounding them which made him dizzy.

Right now, he felt as if his heart was going to explode.

They were now at a distance where their nose could easily touch each other.

Eco felt like being pierced through by the sunlight while she was waiting for Ash.

Ash made up his mind and closed his eyes.

And then- he kissed Eco on her lips.

===Part 4===
“~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~!”

Since their kiss, Eco had been working silently with her back facing Ash the entire time.

It seemed that she was too embarrassed to even look at Ash in the face.

And of course, it was the same for Ash.

Ash felt as if his face was a ball of fire.

Although the two of them at a first glance seems to be dusting the room, actually there was zero progress. What they were doing were only
messing up the already messed up room.

''-What should I do? What should I say at times like this?''

Just when Ash was anxious in trying to find the right words…

“Uwaaa…! Cute!”

Eco turned around and showed Ash a round object.

“Isn’t this cute? Where did you find this stuff toy?”

At that moment, Ash felt something was pricking at the back of his neck. I made him wonder what it was.

The stuffed toy that Eco was holding seems to be a dragon. Strictly speaking, its face was clumsily done.

Furthermore, it round body made it looks nothing like a majestic dragon.

However, Eco seems to take it as cute and it made her forget about what had just happened previously.

“Err… Actually I don’t remember much about that when it came into my possession. No matter how I look at it, looked just like a girl’s
toy. It is probably not me who bought it.”

It was thanks to the toy that Ash was once again able to speak to Eco normally.

“Hmm… Strange.”

Eco was carrying the stuffed toy while she whipped off the dust on it.

“Hmm… When I move to Ansarivan, I just took it with me without any reason. Perhaps that is a great meaning behind it was what I thought.
Actually… There is a blank in my childhood memory.”

“… A blank in your memories?”

Eco was surprised.

“Aah. I was right about when I had my seventh birthday when I visited Albion Forest for the Orphan Ceremony. I just can’t recall my
memories during that time.”

“Isn’t that… The time when Mother Dragon bestowed me to you?”

“It seems so.”

“How come you can’t remember such an important event?”

Ash shrunk when he saw Eco started to get mad. Just when they were finally able to speak normally, it seems that Eco’s temper had also
returned.

“To be frank, I know nothing of it myself. It was just that I had a hunch that this toy had something to do with my lost memories and
that’s the reason why I was reluctant to throw it away. However, because of the recent events, I totally forgot about it.”

“Then, can I keep it?’

Ash was taken by surprised.

“What do you mean by keeping it?”

“It is just like what I had said. Don’t you think it is sad for such a cute being to be left forgotten? I will take the trouble to take
care of this kid.”

“How can you take care of it when it isn’t even a living being? Well, whatever suits you then.”

“Really!?”

Eco was full of excitement.

“Well, I don’t really mind.”

“That great!”

Eco was so happy that felt that she could even fly. She then rubbed the stuffed toy with her checks.

Followed by that, she cuddled it like what a mother would do to her baby.

Suddenly, she spoke of something that surprised Ash.

“This somehow looked like our baby…”

Eco suddenly stopped speaking before she could even finish her sentence. She the glared at Ash with her eyes as if they were on fire.

“You heard anything?”

“No, nothing at all.”

Ash spoke with a serious look on his face.

“T-That’s right! N-Nothing happened! Nothing happened at all!”

As if her head was exploding in flames, Eco carried the toy and dashed out from the room.

“Actually, I heard every single word…”

Just when Ash was murmuring as he felt as if his body was on fire…

“Sorry to interrupt, Ash-sama.”

Suddenly, there was a woman’s voice coming from behind.

“Uwaa!”

He noticed that it was Cosette after he turned around. She seems to be wearing that same palace design maid attire today. She then gave a
polite bow.

“Cosette-san! How did you get in?”

“To enter such an airy room is like a child’s play to me.”

Cosette smiled when she turned around to look at the blue sky.

“That couldn’t be… This is the third floor! Putting that aside, why are you here?”

“I am here to meet you and Eco-chan. Had you forgotten about Princess Mirabel, Her Highness’s decision?”

Of course, it was impossible for him to forget about it to begin with. However, he still felt a little reluctant.

“Actually, can’t we reconsider about this? Putting Eco aside, don’t you think that it is wrong for a guy like me to enter Epona House
where guys are not allowed?”

“For your own sake, I would advise you to follow her decision. Do you know what Princes Mirabel was also known as?”

“No… Actually none at all.”

“Her nick name is actually Argento Magus If we can describe Princess Veronica as a fighter, then Princess Mirabel is a thinker. Compare to
Veronica, there were certain things that would made Mirabel a tougher opponent. Please be sure to be prepared mentally, Ash-sama.”

Ash sighed after he heard everything.

“…I understand. Please let me take some belongings with me like my pillow and cloths…”

“Alright then, meanwhile, I will try searching for Eco.”

Eco had not yet return since the moment she ran out from the room.

“Thank you. I think she should be somewhere around the dorm.”

“Huhu. That will be a simple task.”

Cosette ran towards the door nimbly while she was avoiding the disorganized furniture, but then, she suddenly stopped and turned around to
face Ash.

“By the way, Ash-sama.”

“What’s the matter?”

When Ash lifted his face, he saw Cosette’s face full of red. Ash was staring at her since it was rare to see her who was always calm to be
blushing.

Although she always stayed hidden behind Silvia’s shadow, she actually looked quite beautiful.

With her right hand on her checks, she sighed.

Then she said something outrageous.

“Ash-sama and Eco-chan’s kiss looks very innocent indeed.”

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

This time, it was Ash’s turn to be blushing.

“D-Don’t, Don’t tell me that you saw everything!?”

“It totally felt like an opera show. You looked so cute when you kiss without even needing and words to understand each other. My god,
isn’t that wonderful? Don’t Eco-chan looked cute to when she was waiting to receive your kiss?”

“I beg you, please stop saying anymore than this! It is embarrassing!”

Right now, Ash felt like he was sitting on a mountain of needles.

Cosette to had seemed to realized that she over did it replied with a playful smile.

“Rest assure, I won’t tell Princess-sama any of this.”

“How is Princeass-sama related to this!?”

“Hmm… I wonder… Huhu…”

Cosette left the room with her sentence ending with her laughter.

===Part 5===
The moment Ash finished gathering all his basic daily needs, Cosette was back with Eco. Together, the three of the marched towards Epona House.

Although it was around evening, the sun was still high up in the sky.

After passing through a grove of mixed trees, they were welcomed by a stern looking gate.

Even the cicada had stopped making noise.

Although they were just walking, they were all full of sweat.

By taking a peak beside, Eco looked as if she was suffering from the heat of the high summer temperature. She looked like a Hydra who was
looking for water on dry land.

Compare to Ash, Eco was only carrying her stuffed toy.

On the other hand, Cosette didn’t even break a sweat.

“We had arrived.”

She turned around and smiled at both Ash and Eco.

Through the gate, they could see a garden that was separated into two halves by the walk way. It must have been well tended by a good
gardener. Even Ash who doesn’t have any interest in gardening was amazed by it.

At the back of the garden stood an elegant looking building.

That was Epona House, the dormitory for advance class girls.

“We had finally arrived…”

Ash placed his baggage which was full of daily needs and clothing on the ground.

''How long does it actually take to walk here from Apollo House…'' Ash couldn’t be bothered to even think about it.

This dragon riding academy where human and dragons coexist had a very large land area.

In it, there were numerous classes, a church, a lecture hall, a library, a canteen, seven dragon houses, four dormitories, a sports
ground… It even included an arena that was used during events.

Although there was the shopping district and the housing are beyond the school walls, compare to the size of the academy, they just looked
like extras. That the reason why Ansarivan was called an academic city.

Putting that aside, the distance between the boys dormitory and the girls dormitory must had been arranged on purpose by the academy.

“Please enter.”

Cosette pushed opened the heavy looking gate and welcomed both of them in.

===Part 6===
On the top most floor of Epona House was the room of royal use.

It looked like a high class hotel suit and it even had a large space.

Apart from a heater in the living room, there was also a dining room, a study room, bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, etc. In a room that
has everything, it looked as if it was another world compare to the normal student’s room.

Silvia was walking up and down around her room alone, worrying endlessly.

“Argh! What’s wrong with me! Why couldn’t I calm down! Even my family motto stated that ‘Always stay calm, especially in a pinch’!”

Even though she wasn’t even in a pinch, Silvia couldn’t stop worrying. It was about time for Cosette to arrive with Ash and Eco.

“That’s it!”

Silvia stopped in her tracks for a moment and then she dashed into the makeup room and stood in front of a mirror.

She applied a thin layer of makeup on her face.

She tried combing her hair many times.

Her clothings and accessories were chosen by Cosette.

She put on her camisole, a skirt with two layers of frills, her panty socks and a necklace made from bright dragon crystals that acted at
jewels.

In front of the mirror, she was just like her usual…. No, she was at least twice as more beautiful than she usually was.

Silvia turned red when she realized how beautiful she was.

“Why would I dress myself up! It is alright by just sticking to what I usually do!”

Ash was about to arrive.

Until the boy’s dormitory was done with its renovation, Ash was going to stay here for two weeks.

Her hearts started to beat rapidly from thinking about it.

“This feeling… It is that same feeling as ''that time…''”

Silvia recalled her memories.

Around the time of her seventh birthday, she met a boy in Albion Forest.

''“Why? Why would I have this feeling of returning to the time when I was seven years old whenever I think about Ash…?”''

Silvia suddenly regained her sense.

“Stop! Stop! Stop! Doesn’t this mean that I am looking forward for him to arrive!? Right… I should change back into my normal chothing…”
[[Image:SnRK v05 006.jpg|thumb|'' ''…!'' Silvia immediately snapped out from the confusion. She just remembered that right now, she was
only wearing her undergarments. '']]

Silvia left the makeup room and entered the living room. She swiftly removed all her clothings except for her undergarments. She then
walked along the corridor towards the changing room.

Suddenly, the door opened right in front of her eyes.

“Princess-sama, we had returned.”

Cosette walked in with a smile.

“Princess-sama!?”

Ash was standing right behind Cosette with his eyes wide opened. ''Why is his face red? Is it because of the heat?''

“…!”

Silvia immediately snapped out from the confusion. She just remembered that right now, she was only wearing her undergarments.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaa!”

Silvia ran and hid behind the door while screaming at the top of her voice.

===Part 7===
“Hey you! Just until when are you going to keep on staring!”

“Ouch!”

Ash came back to his sense after he was stomped on the leg by Eco.

Just when he had stepped in through the grand entrance, he was greeted by Silvia in only her undergarments. The white coloured lace will
forever be imprinted in his mind.

''By the way, why was Silvia wearing only those?'' No matter how hot the weather can be, it doesn’t suit her image.

“I am going to check on Princess-sama. Could the both of you wait here for a moment, please?”

With a happy smile on her face, Cosette disappeared into the corridor. In just a moment-

“No. This definitely doesn’t look natural.”

“No no. It definitely fits you well.”

“But… Won’t this make me look like I am looking forward to their arrival?”

“Huh? Aren’t you?”

Their entire conversation was heard by Ash.

“Come on! This is a disgrace! How dare they make a dragon wait by the entrance!”

Eco who was standing right beside Ash was in rage. The toy that she had with her which had a carelessly made face was further squashed by
Eco’s abnormal strength.

Ash pitied the toy. If this continued to keep on, Ash would probably be the next victim.

“Sorry for the wait.”

Just when Ash was about to be surrounded by his fear, Cosette had returned to the entrance with Silvia was hiding right behind her.

Ash’s heart skipped a beat when he saw Silvia’s clothing. It gave a completely different feel compare to the school uniform that she
usually wears. A lot of her skin was exposed from wearing the camisole. It had totally grabbed his attention.

“Please come in.”

Ash regained his sense after her heard Cosette’s voice.

“S-Sorry for the intrusion.”

In opposite to Ash, Eco was looking around the room with a hint of worry.

“Even so… You are just a Princess of the Royal Knight’s Family and you get to have such a great room?”

Perhaps she was mad from being asked to wait at the entrance, Eco was saying anything that would sooth her anger.

In truth, even Ash was amazed by the room itself. Just the entrance itself is wider than Ash’s room. There were even expensive looking
pictures along the wall and carvings of dragons.

“Please don’t be mad. This room was specially made for the royals, it would be natural if Princess-sama is staying here.”

Ash tried to calm her down.

“But, I am also a Princess of the dragons! Why would there be such a larger difference in our treatment!?”

“It is not like I want to stay in this room either!”

Silvia tried to speak up for herself even when she was being threatened by Eco.

“I even tried telling the academy to let me have the same treatment as the rest of the students, but they never listen…”

Suddenly, Silvia stood still on her ground. There was not even a slightest movement.

“Princess-sama… What’s wrong? You don’t look good.”

Ash was worried about her but she didn’t reply.

She kept on staring at the stuffed toy that Eco was carrying with her with her ice blue eyes.

Silvia then suddenly leaped towards Eco and grabbed her shoulders.

“Eco! Can you tell me how did that toy fall into your possession?”

Eco became confused.

“I-It has nothing to do with you.”

“Please tell me! This is very important!”

Silvia shouted loudly.

“… I picked it up.”

Eco mumbled when she turned her head to aside. It seemed that she did not want to tell Silvia that it was a gift from Ash. Ash was
wondering on why she would be insisting on it.

“You picked it up? When? Where?”

Silvia was being persistent.

“Come on! Why do I need to tell you?”

Eco lost her patience and roared.

“…Why can’t you tell me?”

“T-That’s because… I don’t have the obligation to tell you.”

“Now I see, you are playing dumb… It seems I must resolve to this.”

Suddenly, Silvia leaped towards Eco with both of her hands stretched out.

“Hey!... Don’t joke with me!”

Eco dodge with the toy in her arms.

With the royal room as the stage, the two of them started running around like a bunch of kids. In just a blink of an eye, both of them
disappeared behind a door.

“Err… What is this all about?”

Ash who was left behind turned around and questioned Cosette.

“Cosette-san?”

To his surprised, Cosette too was transfixed on her own spot. It was rare to see her making a face like that.

Cosette then regained her sense after being called out to by Ash and started explaining.

“I just remember about it… I fear that that stuffed toy…. Is an important treasure to Princess-sama during her childhood.”

Ash was surprised by her answer.

“Wait a moment! That shouldn’t be possible! There should be many more stuffed toys with the same design, no?”

Cosette answered calmly.

“No. There ain’t. That toy is the one and only in this world. It was a limited edition item. It was actually made from a famous artist
from Chevron Kingdom called Leonard De Mirabeau and was given to the five year old Princess-sama.”

“Really? That clumsily made toy is…”

“That’s not it… Its weird look was actually Mirabeau-sama’s style. Didn’t people usually say that there was only a silver line that
separates a genius and a madman? If that stuffed toy was bought to an antique auction… It should be priced at five million Eccles at
minimum.”

Cosette told him the shocking truth with s straight face.

“Five million…!”

Ash turned speechless.

His face had turned pale.

''-Five million Eccles!''

Ash couldn’t even imagine that amount of money. He just knew that he won’t be able to finish it by living the rest of his days enjoying
life. He never knew that such a treasure was hidden in his closet.

“W-We should try stopping them first!”

Ash started searching for them in the huge room.

===Part 8===
“Finally! You won’t be able to escape!”

Eco who ran into Silvia’s room was now like a rat in the bag. There was only one exit and the windows were too high to jump from since
this was the top most floor.

“Tsk… You are being persistent!”

Eco backed off to the wall and like a mother protecting her child, she tried to intimidate Silvia.

For one moment, Silvia was awed by her beauty, but the next instant, she roared:

“You haven’t told me anything yet! I just want to know how this toy came into your possession!”

“Why would you even want to know!?”

“T-That… I had my own reasons! Please, Eco!”

“Hmph… I had mine too. I will never tell you, only you!”

Both of them were glaring at each other with any intention of backing off.

Silvia realized that whatever she said was useless.

“Now you have done it. Although it is not to my liking… I must resolve this by force.”

“What! Who do you think I am! See that if you can do it!”

“Fine with me!”

Silvia leaped forward without mercy.

Although she must avoid Eco’s abnormal strength, Eco’s actions had always been straight forward and were always easy to read.

On the other hand, apart from the Drag Arts, Silvia had mastered many more fighting styles. It is a normal thing to do for something who
was born in the Lautreamont Royal Knight’s Family.

After struggling on the ground like brats, Silvia came out as the winner.

“Now you have been captured!”

Silvia was pressing Eco’s tiny body on the floor and without giving her a chance to fight back, she rode on Eco.

“Tsk… Let me go!”

“Is there any idiot in this world that would move off once they are being asked to?”

The winner had been decided. Even when Eco had her abnormal strength, she could never be able to beat Silvia.

But, there was a reason why Silvia could beat her easily.

Eco had never let go of the stuffed toy even after she was pressed down against the floor. If Eco would’ just let go of that toy, the
fight could still drag on. No, it could even be Silvia who was pressed down against the floor.

“Please, Eco! This is not an order. Although it was not a long time since the day I met you, I always think you as a friend. That is why…
Could you please tell me?’

Just when Silvia was begging Eco with a trembling voice…

“Eco! Princess-sama!”

The door opened with a bang and Ash came running in.

Silvia turned around to look at Ash while she was pressing Eco down against the floor.

“Hold on, Ash! I never have the intention to harm Eco! I just want to ask Eco about it… no matter what!”

“But, Princess-sama doesn’t act like the usual you. Even so, Eco is my Pal, I won’t forgive anyone who try to harm her, even if it is
Princess-sama.”

After Ash murmured sadly, he showed her his left arm.

Silvia knew that he had his abnormally large Seikoku covered in a bandage.

“Your Seikoku…?”

Silvia was in lost of words.

The Seikoku under the bandage was obviously blinking with glowing lights. That was a signal given when the Pal was in danger.

For example, even though Silvia did not have any intentions of harming Eco, but Eco felt that she was in danger and sent the signal to her
owner Ash for help…

“Sorry, Eco… I am really sorry. I am in the wrong for scaring you…. But, I have my own reasons. Please, Eco! Please tell me for the sake
of our friendship!”

Silvia was forcing out an answer from Eco.

“…Eco?”

Eco did not reply. Just as Silvia became confused, Eco was surrounded by a glowing light.

“Hey, Eco! What’s wrong?”

Eco still did not reply. Right now, Eco was like a doll, showing no expression.

Even her eyes seemed to be reflecting nothing.

“Urgh…!”

The next instant, Silvia was being blast of by a string wind.

“Princess-sama!”

Followed by Ash’s shout, Silvia’s back bang against the wall. She almost couldn’t breathe because of it.

===Part 9===
“Princess-sama!”

Just when Ash was trying to help Silvia out, Cosette arrived.

“I will take care of Princess-sama. Ash-sama, go help Eco-chan! This is no laughing matter!”

Cosette’s voice seemed to be more serious and nervous than usual.

“Understood!”

Ash ran straight towards Eco.

His Sikoku started to hurt.

He remembered that feeling.

He had the similar feeling when Eco was awaken in the capital, Fontaine.

Although the pain was not as strong as that time, Ash knew that this was the sign before her transformation into a dragon.

Eco stood up slowly with the cute stuffed toy dropping on the floor.

Strictly speaking, she was not standing.

There was a gap in between her feet and the floor.

She was actually floating…!

Her limbs were now surrounded by the mysterious light that was so bright that they could not look at it directly.

However, Ash continued to move forward.

“Stop, Eco! If you are to be awaken here…”

In the worst possible case, this Epona House will be destroyed. No, it could even be related to the city’s survivability…

Eco had long been label as an element of danger by many countries’s government. The reason why Mirabel was sent to become the academy’s director was to keep an eye on Eco.

''If she is to transform into a dragon right now…!''

Ash moved forward without giving any though and hugged Eco.

A huge amount of magic was flowing out from her tiny body. If he had been careless, he would even be swallowed by the magic and lost
conscious.

Ash shouted with all his might into Eco’s ears.

“Get a grip of yourself! I…I like the way you are now! It is okay if you just stay as you are! You don’t have to force yourself to change
into your true self!”

It seems that Ash’s words had gotten through and the magic that was surrounding Eco had disappeared. Even the lights were no longer there.
Ash’s Seikoku too had stopped responding.

“We are saved…”

Ash breathe a sigh of relieve.

“…Huh?”

Eco blinked her eyes in surprise and murmured.

“What had I done…? Why are you…?”

Realizing that she was in Ash’s arms, Eco leaped off from Ash’s arms with her face red in embarrassment.

===Part 10===
“I am sorry for what had happened just now. I-I never thought that you were so much against it…. No I shouldn’t make any excuses. A knight must admit his own faults. I deeply apologize!”

After the group had sat on a dining table in the living room, Silvia apologized to Eco sincerely.

“Hmph… I guess this should be sufficient.”

Silvia’s eagerness to apologize by bowing her head had started to confuse Eco. Even though she still continued to puff up her checks in
protest, but at least she had accepted Silvia’s apology. Ash who noticed it breathe a sigh of relieves.

“…Since everything had been settled, please allow me to ask. How did that stuffed toy came into your possession?”

Silvia’s words had cause Eco to be enraged again.

“Ha!? You….. Just apologize and yet you still was to ask!?”

“I apologize for resolving this matter by force. I promise that this time, I won’t try questioning you by force. But in return, I will
keep on asking until you answer me. Remember, I will keep on asking.”

Silvia was quite stubborn. She even smiled towards Eco with her face full of confidence.

“I can’t believe it…”

Eco sighed.

“Sorry, Eco-chan.”

At that moment, Cosette returned from the kitchen with a silver tray full of snacks and tea.

“That toy that Eco-chan was holding right now… It probably belongs to Princess-sama a long time ago.”

“How can it be…?”

Whilst she was surprised, Eco took a bite on the vanilla flavoured crepe that Cosette handed to her. If it was the usual Eco, she would
definitely shout out ‘Delicious!’ on the first bite, but right now, she was with a serious looks. As expected, even Eco couldn’t enjoy her
favorite food properly.

“What Cosette said is true. That toy is definitely an important thing to me during my childhood.”

Silvia spoke calmly as if she was trying to teach a child who knew nothing.

“Ha!? That’s impossible! I understand none of these!”

Eco placed her half eaten crepe back on her plate. Ash was surprised that she prioritized the argument before her crepe.

“I knew it the moment I saw it. There is only one of this stuffed toy in the whole world. It is a very important toy.”

“How can you have such confidence!?”

“You don’t even know the worth of that toy. Anyone who knows its worth would recognize it on their first sight.”

“Arrrrrggh! That explanation is totally unacceptable!”

''Eco was once again in rage, but at least Silvia knew her limit. Thanks to that, the atmosphere did not turn out to be any worst than this…'' Ash secretly thought.

“Come on you two…”

Cosette was obviously not at all troubled. She seems to be enjoying this.

“Haa… I seems like I don’t have a choice.”

Ash sighed.

“Please listen carefully, Princess-sama. That stuffed toy was in my closet. I gave it to Eco since she seems to like it.”

“Hey! Why did you tell that to her!?”

Eco was scolding Ash with her face red.

“What else can I do? If I leave it to both of you, the same thing will continue onwards again and again.”

“I… want this to be a secret between the both of us.”

Eco’s mumbling caught Ash’s attention.

“What did you say?”

“N-Nothing! I don’t even know you!”

Eco averted her face in anger. ''Why must she get angry...?'' Ash wondered.

On the other hand, Silvia was staring at Ash.

“Ash… you said that this toy was in your closet?”

“That seems to be the case.”

Ash shrugged his shoulders.

“Actually, I am not really clear about it. Believe me or not, there was a blank in my memories… I don’t even know how it came into my
possession. I don’t even know about its worst if not because of Cosette.”

Silvia was staring at Ash so intently almost as if she was going to pierce a hole in his forehead. She then asked a weird question.

“When is your birthday?”

“Huh? The third on the month of Aries… What about that?”

After Ash answered honestly, Cosette spoke in surprise:

“Oh, what a coincidence. It seems that Princess-sama was also born in the month of Aries. By the way, hers is in the seventh.”

“Hmm… That’s the first time I had heard of it.”

“Huhu… So Ash-sama is the bigger brother by four days.”

“T-That… isn’t it…”

“Ash!”

Silvia suddenly leaned against him. Ash could see her breast that was covered by the thin cloth of the summer clothes.

“Princess-sama?”

“Even though this may seems abrupt, but do you still remember the date you went for the Orphan Ceremony?”

“Err… I don’t really remember about the details, but it shouldn’t be far away from my seventh birthday. Since my hometown was at a far
away village, I started my journey when I was still six. I remembered that I had my seventh birthday in a horse carriage.”

Once they reach the age of seven, every citizen of the Knight Country must visit Albion Forest.

For Ash, I he had departed after his seventh birthday, he would never be able to arrive at Albion Forest in a month time.

“By the way, does the date I went for the Orphan Ceremony matters?”

“…No, Nothing. I have something that I want to discuss with Cosette. Please stay here for the moment.”

Silvia suddenly stood up and dragged Cosette by the hand with her.

“What a weird Princess.”

Ash took a drink from the cup of red tea.

===Part 11===
After Silvia entered the makeup room, with an ‘Ahem’, she cleared her throat.

“What do you want to talk about, Princess-sama?”

“About that…”

“It doesn’t seem like something easy.”

Since she had been with Silvia for quite some time, Cosette immediately knew what she was thinking.

“Aah… That’s right.”

“I will do everything you tell me to if it is in my ability to do so. If the situation required, I could even be Princess-sama’s limbs or
even your shield… That’s my duty.”

Silvia made up her mind and told her wish.

“Actually, I want you to return to the palace and investigate the name list of the children who went to the orphan ceremony as the same
day as me. This should be an easy one for you, no?”

However, Cosette told Silvia something out of her imagination.

“The records of the Orphan Ceremony is the country’s top secret. Even if you are a Princess, you will be breaching the law by trying to
investigate it.”

“Then, your duty would be to avoid it. Please, I could only put my hopes on you. With your ability, reading top secret documents should
not be a problem, right?”

“That doesn’t sound nice, Princess-sama. The ability that I only knew of was an ancient technique that was passed down in the Shelly’s
family and some spying technique. All of them were used to protect the Lautreamont family.”

“I understand that, but…!”

Silvia grabbed her shoulders and looked at Cosette with her puppy eyes.

“Of course I will do it if this is your order. But, what will you do if Ash-sama is really that boy?”

Silvia’s face almost burst out in flames.

“I-I just want to know about it! That’s right, I only want to know about the truth!”

Cosette gave a wry smile.

“Hmm… Putting that aside, during the time when I am not in, when the night comes and Eco had slept, aren’t '''the two of you''' alone together?”

“When the night comes…. The two of us…!?”

This time, steam emerged from her ears. Her heart was beating none stop.

“W-W-What are you talking about! Don’t you have any shame! How shameless! I…I believe that Ash was not someone insolence! That is why
there is no point behind your question!”

Silvia snapped and Cosette nodded.

“I too had the same feeling.”

“Then why bother asking!”

Cosette smiled and took out something. I was a stack of paper held together by a paper clip.

“What’s that?”

“Huhu… A copy of ‘Shelley family’s secret. A recipe to make men dream’. Although I want to use it during this summer to teach Princess-
sama some cooking… But this is a good chance to try it. Although Princess-sama don’t have any actual experience, but isn't this a good
chance to show your cooking skills to Ash-sama?”

Silvia felt as if her body was on fire.

“Hold on! W-W-Why must I show Ash my cooking skills?”

“If I am not mistaken, The Lautreamont Family Motto did mention that ‘to shoot a general you must first shoot his horse’, am I right?”

“What does it had to do with this?”

“In the Shelley’s Family Motto, there is something like this: To get the man you like, you muts first fill his stomach’.”

“What kind of family motto is that!?”

“Huhu… When Ash-sama’s stomach is empty, and Princess-sama gave him your homemade cooking, he would surely fall for you.”

“…Fall for me!?”

Cosette was like a devil whispering into Silvia’s ears.

“When a Princess who doesn’t look like she knew any cooking made a meal, which man wouldn’t be moved by it?”

“Cut the crap! I never want Ash to take notice of me! Never! I-It s just that I had some interest in cooking since a long time ago. I
will accept you offer because of this.”

Cosette handed her the recipe while smiling.
[[Image:SnRK v05 096.jpg|thumb]]

“Now, I had received my orders from Princess-sama and I will depart from Ansarivan immediately.”

“Huh? Immediately?”

“It is better if we act quickly, Princess-sama.”

Cosette lifted the both sides of her skirt slightly and bowed gracefully.

Suddenly, like a mist, Cosette disappeared from Silvia’s sight like a magician.

“H-Hey! Cosette? … Do you really want to depart at this moment?”

Silvia became worried when she heard no reply.

“Please hold on, Cosette! You should allow me to have some mental preparation before…!”

Silvia looked around the room with tears in her eyes. It looks like Cosette had really departed.

“Tsk… She never takes me seriously!”

After Silvia mumbled in regrets, she took a long hard look at the recipe given to her.

"The Stuffed Toy Dragon~A.S.B.1365.8~" is closed.

<noinclude>

==References and Translation Notes==
<references />

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|-
| Back to [[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Prologue|Prologue]]
| Return to [[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Chapter 2|Chapter 2]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Chapter 1

2014-04-26T18:42:13Z

128.163.8.92: /* Part 7 */

==Chapter 1 - Tragedy of Apollo house and Mirabel's decision==
===Part 1===
''-Don! Don…! Don!''

The sun had just raised but Ash who spent a sleepless night was waken up by a loud knocking sound.

“What in the world…?”

He took that silver watch by his pillow side and noticed that it was just half past six.

After he angrily took a look at the window, he became wide awake.

“Uwaa…!”

There was a huge eye looking through the gaps of the curtain.

It was actually a dragon who was banging its nose against the window.

''-Don! Don… Dododododo!”''

He was worried that it may break the glass.

“Why is a dragon coming to my room!? Could it be another Necromancia attack!?”

So the Empire had finally shown their true colours and started attacking? Ash tried to leave the bed but he was stopped.

“Zzz…”

Eco rolled over and hugged Ash.

Her hair was all over his shoulders and her arms were around his back.

And also her soft face that was on his chest…

''-Mmm…''

Ash was shocked by her sudden nibble.

“Hey, Eco… Please don’t bite that spot.”

Recently, her habit of nibbling had gotten less but she still had not gotten rid of her habit of a young dragon. Moreover, she was
nibbling on Ash’s sensitive spot which troubled him.

At that moment, there was a crack on the window.

“This is bad… It is not the right moment to let her continue nibbling.”

Ash carried Eco and they leave the bed together. The next thing he knew, the glass was smashed into pieces.

He managed to avoid the glass fragments at the last moment.

At the same time, there were two dragons that were trying to squeeze their heads into the window. Their hard scales protect them from the
sharp glass.

By taking a closer look, Ash noticed that one of them was a Maestro while the other was a Hydra. After knowing that he was not attacked by
a Necromancia, Ash breathe a sigh of relieve.

“Morning, Ash!”

“Good morning, Ash-sama!”

Finally, he could see the faces of the two riders.

They were the student council secretary Lucca and Jessica of the general affairs. Right beside them were Maestro Gawain and Rhiannon the
Hydra.

Ash started to protest after he placed Eco who was still sleeping on the bed.

“Lucca! Jessica! What in the world are both of you doing!?”

Since the time Ash saved Gawain who was in danger of dying, Lucca had become emotionally attached to Ash. In the dragon riding academy,
most of the girls are the more aggressive type, it was kind of rare to see someone as quite as Lucca. The beauty that only an Eckbald
possessed was out of this world.

Ash was a little surprise to see Lucca acting rashly. Perhaps she was influenced by Jessica.

“Ash… I hoped that you would come with me to the Eckbald village. I want to introduce you to the village chief, my otou-sama.” <ref>In the
raw version, Lucca called her father otou-sama, but the kanji written was foster father.</ref>

Her usual emotionless face had always given Ash a heck lot of trouble.

“Hold on! W-Why must you mention about the chief!?”

“P-Please don’t ask anymore than this.”

Lucca was suddenly blushing.

This time, it was Jessica who pushed Lucca to aside.

Jessica who was usually eyeing at Ash’s sperm, though her actions had always been eccentric, she was still undoubtable one of the few
beauties of the academy.

“Ash-sama, I have a request!”

“Hey, wait a minute! This is the third floor! How did a hydra get here…?”

“Well. Climbing wall is not a problem for my Rhiannon.”

“Can’t you sympathize your Pal a little!”

Ash pitied her Pal. Although a Hydra may still be able to move on land, but only when they are in the water they are able to show their
true skills. It shouldn’t be its own intention to walk on land. Let alone climbing the walls of the student’s dormitory, which doesn’t
seem to fit the actions of a proud dragon.

“Putting that aside, Ash-sama! I am about to leave Ansarivan. What about you? Do you have any plans of returning?”

“Now I remember… today is the start of the holiday.”

-The first day of the month of Leo.

It was the first day of the holidays for Ansaraivan Dragon Riding Academy. Since it was a boarding school, most of the student will return
to their hometown.

Of course, not all of the students were going back home. There were also a small amount of students that were forced to stay in for the
holidays for certain reasons.

Ash was one of them.

“Nope, I am not going home.”

After hearing, Jessica’s facial expression changes.

“What! If that’s the case, I too will stay back here!”

“Uuh… If I don’t return soon… I will be scolded by my otou-sama.”

Compare to Jessica who was in high spirit, Lucca looks sad. Lucca who carry the hopes of all Eckbald with her probably doesn’t have as much freedom as Jessica has.

“Sorry to disappoint you Jessica, but you must return with me.”
[[Image:SnRK v05 044.jpg|thumb]]

Suddenly, there was another voice.

“Rebecca-san!”

Ash shouted.

There was a sweet smell from her red hair being blown by the winds. She looking like a war maiden in the legends when she was riding on Cú
Chulainn.

“Sorry for the trouble that this stupid girl from my house had given you. The Randall family will cover the fees for mending the window.
The servants fault is also the master’s fault.”

“Now that you mention it… I remember that Jessica was a servant in the Randall family.”

“Just that since she became a Breeder, she had forgotten about her place.”

Rebecca sighed.

“Hmph! Could stop calling me that? I don’t have the intention of serving the Randall family for my whole life!”

“I never thought of that. You are my important childhood friend. Also, your parents had asked me to take good care of you. That is why I
have my duty to bring you back to meet your parents.”

Although her lips were smiling, there was not even a hint of smile in Rebecca’s eyes. After Jessica saw Rebecca’s determination, her
elbows dropped in disappointment.

“Haa… I understand. However… I want Ash-sama to see me off!”

Ash gave a wry smile.

“I think that should be alright.”

The moment he answered, Jessica was once again with a big smile. But, she was then blushing and started to mumble.

“T-Then… According to my hometown’s custom…. There should be a parting k-kiss….”

“Hey! Jessica! When does our hometown have such a custom?”

Rebecca exposed Jessica’s lie with a wry smile.

“Hmph! Rebecca! Don’t you know how to look at the atmosphere?”

“I-I too would like you to see me off…”

While Jessica was in rage, Lucca shyly told Ash her wish.

“Of course.”

“T-Then… According to the Eckbald custom…. I want you to give me a princess carry.”

Ash’s heart skipped a beat when he first saw Lucca’s blushing face.

“A-A princess carry!”

Ash was in a fixed but Jessica shouted at Lucca:

“Hey! What are you trying to do in this mess! That must be a lie!?”

“Uuh…”

While Lucca turned speechless, the noise that Jessica made had spread throughout the school.

“Hey, can you believe it! The president and Jessica were making a night visit! And the other person… Could she be Lucca Sarlinen the
genius girl from the basic class!?”

Suddenly, a huge number of students were gathering outside of the Apollo House. It was something for three girls to be standing on their
dragons beside a window of a boy’s dormitory.

To say nothing of Rebecca Randall who was the most popular person in the entire academy, Jessica was also one of the centers of attentions
and let alone Lucca with her Yōsei like looks and her skills as a Dragner.

“I-I am just here to have Ash-sama see me off! Nothing else!”

Jessica tried to settle the misunderstanding by shouting towards the direction of the school.

“Hmm! By saying Ash-kun you mean… The Ash-kun who was knighted yesterday!?”

“The knighting ceremony was awesome!”

“I also want him to see me off!”

Right now all the girls were speaking with s shrill voice.

Rebecca gave him a bitter smile while she was enjoying all of this.

“Seems like your popularity had sky rocketed after you become a Dragner.”

“The situation outside… Somehow, it looks frightening.”

“Yeah. I just saw around thirty dragons flying towards this window.”

Rebecca told him the unthinkable news with a calm face.

“Huh!?”

“Sorry, Ash. Though I have many reasons to help you… But if I show my true skills, the girls would suffer some grave injuries.”

“Hol-! Don’t leave me!”

“You should try to solve your own problem if you are a Dragner. Also… If it is alright, I would also want you to see me off.”

“…Eh?”

Unfortunately, Ash was not able to catch everything Rebecca said. Her voice disappeared behind the loud noise from Cú Chulainn flapping
its wings.

“Good luck, Ash.”

Lucca too had reluctantly flew off with Gawain.

Right after that, the Apollo House faced a terrible attack.

“Ash-kun! Please see me off!”

“Ash-kun, you might as well come to my home town with me…!”

“Hey! Don’t cut the queue!”

Most of the girls returning were riders of stradas. They were like bats gathering together for food at the window.

But of course it was impossible for thirty riders of stradas to squeeze into the window at the same time.

Soon, they started pushing around.

“P-Please be patient! Calm down! Please calm down!”

Ash was panicking.

Every single roar from the Strada was enough to shake up this entire old building.

“Hey!...How dare you! Ash-sama is my important- Nooooooo!”

Unlike Rebecca or Lucca, Jessica who stayed until the end was finally pushed off the wall together with Rhiannon.

“W-What should I do?”

Ash retreated until his back was facing the wall while he was watching the girls fighting for a spot.

At that moment, Eco who had rolled herself into a ball while she was sleeping had woken up and was rubbing her eyes.

“Hmmm…. What’s all the noise about?”

“You ! How can you still think of sleeping!”

Eco was looking around in confusion. It seems that she wasn’t fully awake yet and wasn’t able to think properly.

Ash shouted with all his might towards the window.

“I beg you! Could you please not make a mess in front of someone else’s window! I promise to see off every single one of you!”

Too bad for him, his voice was not received by them.

Suddenly, Ash had a bad feeling.

“I couldn’t be…”

His entire body was shivering in fear. Since some time ago, the wall facing the outside was creaking. It appears that the Stradas were
putting pressure on it.

“It is dangerous to stay here! Lets run Eco!”

“Huh…! Could you care to explain!”

“Later!”

Ash was running with Eco on his hands.

He ran out through the door and out to the corridor.

Just when he was sliding along the floor…

''-Creak…! Eeeeekkkk……. !Do--------------n!''

The next moment, there was a loud explosion.

Ash cautiously took a peek through the cracks on the door while trembling. All he sees was dust flying around and even the corridor was
affected.

''“*Cough *!*Cough *!”''

While covering up Eco who was coughing, Ash waited until the dust had settled down.

Just moments later-

After the dust had cleared up, what Ash saw was a clear sky.

The morning rays were shining at the disastrous room.

The wreckage of the wall was all over his room. It was a painful sight.

Right now, with the wall that was facing the academy and the window destroyed, his room looked like a doll house that can be seen from the
outside.

“Err… Eco, am I dreaming?”

“I think so?”

Ash and Eco were looking at the room with their mouths wide open.

===Part 2===
Ash was brought to the director’s office on the first day of the holiday.

As for those girls who were the culprit, it seems that they had ran back home as soon as possible. That is why Ash who was the victim was summoned.

“I see… Now I understand what had happened.”

Mirabel who was acting as the director replied coldly and drank from her cup of tea.

The room was full of the smells of bergamot and the tea.

Just like a robot, Mirabel’s face was emotionless the entire time. ''Does this princess even have the thing known as feelings…?'' Ash thought.

“The academy will take responsible for mending the wall. Just some time before, I had asked the builders of this city and they estimated
that they will be able to complete it in around two weeks time.”

“Really…! Thank you very much!”

Ash was grateful that she was able to deal with this situation without delay.

“The problem is… During the renovation, where am I to place you and Eco.”

“I see…”

“Can you borrow a room from any of your friends?”

“I don’t think that would be possible…”

Unfortunately, Max and Raymond had gone home. For Ash who doesn’t have many friends, these were the’ only two friends that he could rely
on. Although there was an option of using it without asking for their permissions, but Ash couldn’t bring himself to do it.

''-Bang!''

The door behind him was opened with a slam.

The next time he knew, Silvia and Eco was right beside him.

“How much longer are the two of you going to keep on talking!? Can’t you just give us a new room!”

Eco was pointing at Mirabel in anger.

“Anee-ue! Why do you call for Ash! That incident was caused by a few girls! It had nothing to do with Ash! Aren’t you treating him like
the culprit!?”

Silvia on the other hand was trying to speak up for Ash.

“Where are your manners? Don’t you know that it is rude to walk into a room without knocking? You won’t be given special treatment even if
you are the descendant of the Avalon Holy Dragons Emperor’s family or my sister. “

Mirabel glared at both of them coldly.

“I am sorry… Anee-ue.”

Silvia stood still on her ground as if she had turned into a stone.

On the other hand, Eco was trying to intimidate Mirabel by showing her sharp teeth.

“Hey you!... How dare you act like that even when you know that I am Avalon’s holy dragons' emperor family's Imperial Princess! Why don’t
I try crushing the castle the next time? If I show you my true self, one or two Fontaine Place won’t…”

“Idiot! Stop spurting nonsense!”

Ash’s face was pale white when he was scolding Eco.

Since that incident, the Knight’s government took Eco as a treat. As long as there is the possibility that Mirabel was here to keep an eye
on Eco, they have to be careful with their own words.

But to his surprise, Eco calm down with just a single shout.

She turned her head around with her face blushing.

“I-I will listen to you… Just this time.”

Ash was taken aback from seeing Eco making such an expression for the first time. Just as he had expected, it was that transformation that
had made a change of her heart. Although the gentle Eco looked a lot cuter, at the same time, it was also a little confusing.

“Ahem!”

Mirabel tried clearing her throat and everyone’s attention was back on her.

“Silvia, you came at the right moment. Right now you are staying in the royal room in the Epona House right?”

“…What about it?”

Silvia was surprised.

“Until the renovation in the boy’s dormitory had been completed, Ash Blake and young dragon Eco will stay in your room for the time
being.”

“What!”

“I won’t repeat for a second time. This is an order from your sister. You are not allowed to have any objections.”

Naturally, Silva was enraged.

“What do you mean by this! This is against our family motto where ‘A knight shouldn’t carelessly touch another of the opposite sex’!”

“Hmm… Funny but I remember that I said to let Ash Blake and young dragon Eco stay in your room. When did I ever mention about touching
Ash?”

“T-That…!”

Right at this moment, even Silvia’s earlobes were red.

“Right now, if I were to mention the family motto that you love so much, ‘A knight should help those who are in need’. Am I wrong?”

After she replied coldly, Mirabel looked like she had lost interest in the case regarding Ash. She kept on looking at the tea cup on her
hand.

“I am done with you- What a pain, now a good cup of tea had turned cold.”

===Part 3===
Rebecca and Jessica had returned to the land ruled by the Randalls.

Lucca on the other hand had returned to her village.

After seeing them off, Ash and Eco once again returned to his room on the third floor of the Apollo House.

They once again looked at the disastrous room.

A bed full of glass fragments.

A floor full with the remains of the wall.

And the disorganized furniture.

With the wall gone, the room became bright and windy. Looking down from above was a few curious onlookers. When their eyes came into
contact with Ash’s, everyone scattered.

“Haa… First of all, I think we should try cleaning up a little. It is better to make it look a little more cheerful before the renovation
starts.”

Turning around, Ash noticed that Eco was sulking.

“What’s wrong, Eco?”

“Hey. Do you really want to stay in Silvia’s room?”

“It is not like I have a choice. It was an order from Princess Mirabel. It seems that even Princess-sama did not dare to go against her.”

“I… I hate it.”

“What’s the matter? You don’t look like your usual self. Well, if we stay at Princess-sama’s room, we may be able to eat Cosette’s
delicious homemade cooking.”

“That’s not the point! And also, I am not someone who thinks about food for an entire day!”

Eco face was red with anger and embarrassment.

“Is it… Sorry then.”

“It is fine if you understand. Anyway, just if you try to do something weird to Silvia… I will be sure to crush you!”

Eco was glaring at Ash.

“What do you mean by something weird!?”

With her ears fully red, Eco told Ash embarrassedly:

“T-To make it simple…. It is those perverted stuffs.”

“W-What are you even thinking!”

Ash stood still on his ground. He never expects Eco to speak of such a word. It kind of surprise him.

“Even I knew about those stuffs… Don’t look down on me just because I am a young dragon.”

“Could the source of information be…. The Dragweiss?”

“…Some of them were from there, but most of them were from the picture books that Cosette lend to me.”

“Hold on! Are they really… Just picture books!?”

In order to teach her the importance of aesthetic sensibility, Cosette had lent her picture books and books for children. For that, Ash
was grateful for Cosette.

However, there is a possibility that she mixed some picture books for adult in them.

“Anyhow, she is still this country’s princess. What you are worrying about will never happen, rest assure.”

''In the worst possible case, I will be beheaded…'' Ash thought secretly.

“A-Alright… I understand.”

Once again, Eco was smiling and she looked at the room around her.

“Then… What can I do to help you?”

“You are trying to help?”

“What? Is it weird for me to help?”

“Definitely not weird, but rare. Ain’t it always me who complete the house work?”

“A-About that… It doesn’t seem like I have a choice. I am a dragon. I don’t really understand how a human acts. But… I just feel like
helping for today… Can’t I!?”

Eco puffed up her rosy coloured checks and stared at Ash.

“Why not? I even want to thank you.”

Ash gave a wry smile and tried to pat her head.

But, Eco immediately dodge to a side.

“No! You mustn’t touch!”

“Sorry… I don’t know that you dislike it this much.”

“N-No! It is okay it you are just patting, but you mustn’t touch my horns. If they were just slightly touched, I… will turn weird. I felt
like floating in the air when they were touched...”

Ash could calm down after seeing Eco’s face when she tried to explain her feelings.

“I understand. I promise I won’t touch your horns.”

Ash carefully patted Eco’s head.

Her pink hair was fluffy and it gave his palm a nice feeling.

“Nn…”

Even when she was a dragon, Eco was smiling and shrugging her neck like what a cat would do.

Her innocent smile had grabbed Ash’s attention.

To be precise, it was her flower bud like lips.

His heart was beating rapidly.

This was actually the second time he had such a feeling.

The first time was when Eco said that she won’t be satisfied with just being a Pal in the guest room in Fontaine Palace.

“…”

Eco probably felt the change in the atmosphere too and her body suddenly tense up. Perhaps she too was also thinking about the scenario in
the Fontaine Palace.

In a short while, just like that time, Eco closes her eyes.

She also tried to purse her lips.

Ash also noticed that her long eyelashes were also trembling.

''-Eco…!''
[[Image:SnRK v05 060.jpg|thumb]]

The suddenly remembered the word ‘beloved Pal’ in the knighting ceremony.

During that time, Ash was only saying the standard pledge.

But this was totally different.

His feeling of love to Eco was born from deep in his heart. A feeling that could be explained using something a simple as the relation of
a Breeder and its Pal had grown.

Right now, they don’t need any words.

Ash placed both his hands on Eco’s shoulders and he closes their distance slowly.

A sweet smell was surrounding them which made him dizzy.

Right now, he felt as if his heart was going to explode.

They were now at a distance where their nose could easily touch each other.

Eco felt like being pierced through by the sunlight while she was waiting for Ash.

Ash made up his mind and closed his eyes.

And then- he kissed Eco on her lips.

===Part 4===
“~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~!”

Since their kiss, Eco had been working silently with her back facing Ash the entire time.

It seemed that she was too embarrassed to even look at Ash in the face.

And of course, it was the same for Ash.

Ash felt as if his face was a ball of fire.

Although the two of them at a first glance seems to be dusting the room, actually there was zero progress. What they were doing were only
messing up the already messed up room.

''-What should I do? What should I say at times like this?''

Just when Ash was anxious in trying to find the right words…

“Uwaaa…! Cute!”

Eco turned around and showed Ash a round object.

“Isn’t this cute? Where did you find this stuff toy?”

At that moment, Ash felt something was pricking at the back of his neck. I made him wonder what it was.

The stuffed toy that Eco was holding seems to be a dragon. Strictly speaking, its face was clumsily done.

Furthermore, it round body made it looks nothing like a majestic dragon.

However, Eco seems to take it as cute and it made her forget about what had just happened previously.

“Err… Actually I don’t remember much about that when it came into my possession. No matter how I look at it, looked just like a girl’s
toy. It is probably not me who bought it.”

It was thanks to the toy that Ash was once again able to speak to Eco normally.

“Hmm… Strange.”

Eco was carrying the stuffed toy while she whipped off the dust on it.

“Hmm… When I move to Ansarivan, I just took it with me without any reason. Perhaps that is a great meaning behind it was what I thought.
Actually… There is a blank in my childhood memory.”

“… A blank in your memories?”

Eco was surprised.

“Aah. I was right about when I had my seventh birthday when I visited Albion Forest for the Orphan Ceremony. I just can’t recall my
memories during that time.”

“Isn’t that… The time when Mother Dragon bestowed me to you?”

“It seems so.”

“How come you can’t remember such an important event?”

Ash shrunk when he saw Eco started to get mad. Just when they were finally able to speak normally, it seems that Eco’s temper had also
returned.

“To be frank, I know nothing of it myself. It was just that I had a hunch that this toy had something to do with my lost memories and
that’s the reason why I was reluctant to throw it away. However, because of the recent events, I totally forgot about it.”

“Then, can I keep it?’

Ash was taken by surprised.

“What do you mean by keeping it?”

“It is just like what I had said. Don’t you think it is sad for such a cute being to be left forgotten? I will take the trouble to take
care of this kid.”

“How can you take care of it when it isn’t even a living being? Well, whatever suits you then.”

“Really!?”

Eco was full of excitement.

“Well, I don’t really mind.”

“That great!”

Eco was so happy that felt that she could even fly. She then rubbed the stuffed toy with her checks.

Followed by that, she cuddled it like what a mother would do to her baby.

Suddenly, she spoke of something that surprised Ash.

“This somehow looked like our baby…”

Eco suddenly stopped speaking before she could even finish her sentence. She the glared at Ash with her eyes as if they were on fire.

“You heard anything?”

“No, nothing at all.”

Ash spoke with a serious look on his face.

“T-That’s right! N-Nothing happened! Nothing happened at all!”

As if her head was exploding in flames, Eco carried the toy and dashed out from the room.

“Actually, I heard every single word…”

Just when Ash was murmuring as he felt as if his body was on fire…

“Sorry to interrupt, Ash-sama.”

Suddenly, there was a woman’s voice coming from behind.

“Uwaa!”

He noticed that it was Cosette after he turned around. She seems to be wearing that same palace design maid attire today. She then gave a
polite bow.

“Cosette-san! How did you get in?”

“To enter such an airy room is like a child’s play to me.”

Cosette smiled when she turned around to look at the blue sky.

“That couldn’t be… This is the third floor! Putting that aside, why are you here?”

“I am here to meet you and Eco-chan. Had you forgotten about Princess Mirabel, Her Highness’s decision?”

Of course, it was impossible for him to forget about it to begin with. However, he still felt a little reluctant.

“Actually, can’t we reconsider about this? Putting Eco aside, don’t you think that it is wrong for a guy like me to enter Epona House
where guys are not allowed?”

“For your own sake, I would advise you to follow her decision. Do you know what Princes Mirabel was also known as?”

“No… Actually none at all.”

“Her nick name is actually Argento Magus If we can describe Princess Veronica as a fighter, then Princess Mirabel is a thinker. Compare to
Veronica, there were certain things that would made Mirabel a tougher opponent. Please be sure to be prepared mentally, Ash-sama.”

Ash sighed after he heard everything.

“…I understand. Please let me take some belongings with me like my pillow and cloths…”

“Alright then, meanwhile, I will try searching for Eco.”

Eco had not yet return since the moment she ran out from the room.

“Thank you. I think she should be somewhere around the dorm.”

“Huhu. That will be a simple task.”

Cosette ran towards the door nimbly while she was avoiding the disorganized furniture, but then, she suddenly stopped and turned around to
face Ash.

“By the way, Ash-sama.”

“What’s the matter?”

When Ash lifted his face, he saw Cosette’s face full of red. Ash was staring at her since it was rare to see her who was always calm to be
blushing.

Although she always stayed hidden behind Silvia’s shadow, she actually looked quite beautiful.

With her right hand on her checks, she sighed.

Then she said something outrageous.

“Ash-sama and Eco-chan’s kiss looks very innocent indeed.”

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

This time, it was Ash’s turn to be blushing.

“D-Don’t, Don’t tell me that you saw everything!?”

“It totally felt like an opera show. You looked so cute when you kiss without even needing and words to understand each other. My god,
isn’t that wonderful? Don’t Eco-chan looked cute to when she was waiting to receive your kiss?”

“I beg you, please stop saying anymore than this! It is embarrassing!”

Right now, Ash felt like he was sitting on a mountain of needles.

Cosette to had seemed to realized that she over did it replied with a playful smile.

“Rest assure, I won’t tell Princess-sama any of this.”

“How is Princeass-sama related to this!?”

“Hmm… I wonder… Huhu…”

Cosette left the room with her sentence ending with her laughter.

===Part 5===
The moment Ash finished gathering all his basic daily needs, Cosette was back with Eco. Together, the three of the marched towards Epona House.

Although it was around evening, the sun was still high up in the sky.

After passing through a grove of mixed trees, they were welcomed by a stern looking gate.

Even the cicada had stopped making noise.

Although they were just walking, they were all full of sweat.

By taking a peak beside, Eco looked as if she was suffering from the heat of the high summer temperature. She looked like a Hydra who was
looking for water on dry land.

Compare to Ash, Eco was only carrying her stuffed toy.

On the other hand, Cosette didn’t even break a sweat.

“We had arrived.”

She turned around and smiled at both Ash and Eco.

Through the gate, they could see a garden that was separated into two halves by the walk way. It must have been well tended by a good
gardener. Even Ash who doesn’t have any interest in gardening was amazed by it.

At the back of the garden stood an elegant looking building.

That was Epona House, the dormitory for advance class girls.

“We had finally arrived…”

Ash placed his baggage which was full of daily needs and clothing on the ground.

''How long does it actually take to walk here from Apollo House…'' Ash couldn’t be bothered to even think about it.

This dragon riding academy where human and dragons coexist had a very large land area.

In it, there were numerous classes, a church, a lecture hall, a library, a canteen, seven dragon houses, four dormitories, a sports
ground… It even included an arena that was used during events.

Although there was the shopping district and the housing are beyond the school walls, compare to the size of the academy, they just looked
like extras. That the reason why Ansarivan was called an academic city.

Putting that aside, the distance between the boys dormitory and the girls dormitory must had been arranged on purpose by the academy.

“Please enter.”

Cosette pushed opened the heavy looking gate and welcomed both of them in.

===Part 6===
On the top most floor of Epona House was the room of royal use.

It looked like a high class hotel suit and it even had a large space.

Apart from a heater in the living room, there was also a dining room, a study room, bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, etc. In a room that
has everything, it looked as if it was another world compare to the normal student’s room.

Silvia was walking up and down around her room alone, worrying endlessly.

“Argh! What’s wrong with me! Why couldn’t I calm down! Even my family motto stated that ‘Always stay calm, especially in a pinch’!”

Even though she wasn’t even in a pinch, Silvia couldn’t stop worrying. It was about time for Cosette to arrive with Ash and Eco.

“That’s it!”

Silvia stopped in her tracks for a moment and then she dashed into the makeup room and stood in front of a mirror.

She applied a thin layer of makeup on her face.

She tried combing her hair many times.

Her clothings and accessories were chosen by Cosette.

She put on her camisole, a skirt with two layers of frills, her panty socks and a necklace made from bright dragon crystals that acted at
jewels.

In front of the mirror, she was just like her usual…. No, she was at least twice as more beautiful than she usually was.

Silvia turned red when she realized how beautiful she was.

“Why would I dress myself up! It is alright by just sticking to what I usually do!”

Ash was about to arrive.

Until the boy’s dormitory was done with its renovation, Ash was going to stay here for two weeks.

Her hearts started to beat rapidly from thinking about it.

“This feeling… It is that same feeling as ''that time…''”

Silvia recalled her memories.

Around the time of her seventh birthday, she met a boy in Albion Forest.

''“Why? Why would I have this feeling of returning to the time when I was seven years old whenever I think about Ash…?”''

Silvia suddenly regained her sense.

“Stop! Stop! Stop! Doesn’t this mean that I am looking forward for him to arrive!? Right… I should change back into my normal chothing…”
[[Image:SnRK v05 006.jpg|thumb|'' ''…!'' Silvia immediately snapped out from the confusion. She just remembered that right now, she was
only wearing her undergarments. '']]

Silvia left the makeup room and entered the living room. She swiftly removed all her clothings except for her undergarments. She then
walked along the corridor towards the changing room.

Suddenly, the door opened right in front of her eyes.

“Princess-sama, we had returned.”

Cosette walked in with a smile.

“Princess-sama!?”

Ash was standing right behind Cosette with his eyes wide opened. ''Why is his face red? Is it because of the heat?''

“…!”

Silvia immediately snapped out from the confusion. She just remembered that right now, she was only wearing her undergarments.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaa!”

Silvia ran and hid behind the door while screaming at the top of her voice.

===Part 7===
“Hey you! Just until when are you going to keep on staring!”

“Ouch!”

Ash came back to his sense after he was stomped on the leg by Eco.

Just when he had stepped in through the grand entrance, he was greeted by Silvia in only her undergarments. The white coloured lace will
forever be imprinted in his mind.

''By the way, why was Silvia wearing only those?'' No matter how hot the weather can be, it doesn’t suit her image.

“I am going to check on Princess-sama. Could the both of you wait here for a moment, please?”

With a happy smile on her face, Cosette disappeared into the corridor. In just a moment-

“No. This definitely doesn’t look natural.”

“No no. It definitely fits you well.”

“But… Won’t this make me look like I am looking forward to their arrival?”

“Huh? Aren’t you?”

Their entire conversation was heard by Ash.

“Come on! This is a disgrace! How dare they make a dragon wait by the entrance!”

Eco who was standing right beside Ash was in rage. The toy that she had with her which had a carelessly made face was further squashed by
Eco’s abnormal strength.

Ash pitied the toy. If this continued to keep on, Ash would probably be the next victim.

“Sorry for the wait.”

Just when Ash was about to be surrounded by his fear, Cosette had returned to the entrance with Silvia was hiding right behind her.

Ash’s heart skipped a beat when he saw Silvia’s clothing. It gave a completely different feel compare to the school uniform that she
usually wears. A lot of her skin was exposed from wearing the camisole. It had totally grabbed his attention.

“Please come in.”

Ash regained his sense after her heard Cosette’s voice.

“S-Sorry for the intrusion.”

In opposite to Ash, Eco was looking around the room with a hint of worry.

“Even so… You are just a Princess of the Royal Knight’s Family and you get to have such a great room?”

Perhaps she was mad from being asked to wait at the entrance, Eco was saying anything that would sooth her anger.

In truth, even Ash was amazed by the room itself. Just the entrance itself is wider than Ash’s room. There were even expensive looking
pictures along the wall and carvings of dragons.

“Please don’t be mad. This room was specially made for the royals, it would be natural if Princess-sama is staying here.”

Ash tried to calm her down.

“But, I am also a Princess of the dragons! Why would there be such a larger difference in our treatment!?”

“It is not like I want to stay in this room either!”

Silvia tried to speak up for herself even when she was being threatened by Eco.

“I even tried telling the academy to let me have the same treatment as the rest of the students, but they never listen…”

Suddenly, Silvia stood still on her ground. There was not even a slightest movement.

“Princess-sama… What’s wrong? You don’t look good.”

Ash was worried about her but she didn’t reply.

She kept on staring at the stuffed toy that Eco was carrying with her with her ice blue eyes.

Silvia then suddenly leaped towards Eco and grabbed her shoulders.

“Eco! Can you tell me how did that toy fall into your possession?”

Eco became confused.

“I-It has nothing to do with you.”

“Please tell me! This is very important!”

Silvia shouted loudly.

“… I picked it up.”

Eco mumbled when she turned her head to aside. It seemed that she did not want to tell Silvia that it was a gift from Ash. Ash was
wondering on why she would be insisting on it.

“You picked it up? When? Where?”

Silvia was being persistent.

“Come on! Why do I need to tell you?”

Eco lost her patience and roared.

“…Why can’t you tell me?”

“T-That’s because… I don’t have the obligation to tell you.”

“Now I see, you are playing dumb… It seems I must resolve to this.”

Suddenly, Silvia leaped towards Eco with both of her hands stretched out.

“Hey!... Don’t joke with me!”

Eco dodge with the toy in her arms.

With the royal room as the stage, the two of them started running around like a bunch of kids. In just a blink of an eye, both of them
disappeared behind a door.

“Err… What is this all about?”

Ash who was left behind turned around and questioned Cosette.

“Cosette-san?”

To his surprised, Cosette too was transfixed on her own spot. It was rare to see her making a face like that.

Cosette then regained her sense after being called out to by Ash and started explaining.

“I just remember about it… I fear that that stuffed toy…. Is an important treasure to Princess-sama during her childhood.”

Ash was surprised by her answer.

“Wait a moment! That shouldn’t be possible! There should be many more stuffed toys with the same design, no?”

Cosette answered calmly.

“No. There ain’t. That toy is the one and only in this world. It was a limited edition item. It was actually made from a famous artist
from Chevron Kingdom called Leonard De Mirabeau and was given to the five year old Princess-sama.”

“Really? That clumsily made toy is…”

“That’s not it… Its weird look was actually Mirabeau-sama’s style. Didn’t people usually say that there was only a silver line that
separates a genius and a madman? If that stuffed toy was bought to an antique auction… It should be priced at five million Eccles at
minimum.”

Cosette told him the shocking truth with s straight face.

“Five million…!”

Ash turned speechless.

His face had turned pale.

''-Five million Eccles!''

Ash couldn’t even imagine that amount of money. He just knew that he won’t be able to finish it by living the rest of his days enjoying
life. He never knew that such a treasure was hidden in his closet.

“W-We should try stopping them first!”

Ash started searching for them in the huge room.

===Part 8===
“Finally! You won’t be able to escape!”

Eco who ran into Silvia’s room was now like a rat in the bag. There was only one exit and the windows were too high to jump from since
this was the top most floor.

“Tsk… You are being persistent!”

Eco backed off to the wall and like a mother protecting her child, she tried to intimidate Silvia.

For one moment, Silvia was awed by her beauty, but the next instant, she roared:

“You haven’t told me anything yet! I just want to know how this toy came into your possession!”

“Why would you even want to know!?”

“T-That… I had my own reasons! Please, Eco!”

“Hmph… I had mine too. I will never tell you, only you!”

Both of them were glaring at each other with any intention of backing off.

Silvia realized that whatever she said was useless.

“Now you have done it. Although it is not to my liking… I must resolve this by force.”

“What! Who do you think I am! See that if you can do it!”

“Fine with me!”

Silvia leaped forward without mercy.

Although she must avoid Eco’s abnormal strength, Eco’s actions had always been straight forward and were always easy to read.

On the other hand, apart from the Drag Arts, Silvia had mastered many more fighting styles. It is a normal thing to do for something who
was born in the Lautreamont Royal Knight’s Family.

After struggling on the ground like brats, Silvia came out as the winner.

“Now you have been captured!”

Silvia was pressing Eco’s tiny body on the floor and without giving her a chance to fight back, she rode on Eco.

“Tsk… Let me go!”

“Is there any idiot in this world that would move off once they are being asked to?”

The winner had been decided. Even when Eco had her abnormal strength, she could never be able to beat Silvia.

But, there was a reason why Silvia could beat her easily.

Eco had never let go of the stuffed toy even after she was pressed down against the floor. If Eco would’ just let go of that toy, the
fight could still drag on. No, it could even be Silvia who was pressed down against the floor.

“Please, Eco! This is not an order. Although it was not a long time since the day I met you, I always think you as a friend. That is why…
Could you please tell me?’

Just when Silvia was begging Eco with a trembling voice…

“Eco! Princess-sama!”

The door opened with a bang and Ash came running in.

Silvia turned around to look at Ash while she was pressing Eco down against the floor.

“Hold on, Ash! I never have the intention to harm Eco! I just want to ask Eco about it… no matter what!”

“But, Princess-sama doesn’t act like the usual you. Even so, Eco is my Pal, I won’t forgive anyone who try to harm her, even if it is
Princess-sama.”

After Ash murmured sadly, he showed her his left arm.

Silvia knew that he had his abnormally large Seikoku covered in a bandage.

“Your Seikoku…?”

Silvia was in lost of words.

The Seikoku under the bandage was obviously blinking with glowing lights. That was a signal given when the Pal was in danger.

For example, even though Silvia did not have any intentions of harming Eco, but Eco felt that she was in danger and sent the signal to her
owner Ash for help…

“Sorry, Eco… I am really sorry. I am in the wrong for scaring you…. But, I have my own reasons. Please, Eco! Please tell me for the sake
of our friendship!”

Silvia was forcing out an answer from Eco.

“…Eco?”

Eco did not reply. Just as Silvia became confused, Eco was surrounded by a glowing light.

“Hey, Eco! What’s wrong?”

Eco still did not reply. Right now, Eco was like a doll, showing no expression.

Even her eyes seemed to be reflecting nothing.

“Urgh…!”

The next instant, Silvia was being blast of by a string wind.

“Princess-sama!”

Followed by Ash’s shout, Silvia’s back bang against the wall. She almost couldn’t breathe because of it.

===Part 9===
“Princess-sama!”

Just when Ash was trying to help Silvia out, Cosette arrived.

“I will take care of Princess-sama. Ash-sama, go help Eco-chan! This is no laughing matter!”

Cosette’s voice seemed to be more serious and nervous than usual.

“Understood!”

Ash ran straight towards Eco.

His Sikoku started to hurt.

He remembered that feeling.

He had the similar feeling when Eco was awaken in the capital, Fontaine.

Although the pain was not as strong as that time, Ash knew that this was the sign before her transformation into a dragon.

Eco stood up slowly with the cute stuffed toy dropping on the floor.

Strictly speaking, she was not standing.

There was a gap in between her feet and the floor.

She was actually floating…!

Her limbs were now surrounded by the mysterious light that was so bright that they could not look at it directly.

However, Ash continued to move forward.

“Stop, Eco! If you are to be awaken here…”

In the worst possible case, this Epona House will be destroyed. No, it could even be related to the city’s survivability…

Eco had long been label as an element of danger by many countries’s government. The reason why Mirabel was sent to become the academy’s director was to keep an eye on Eco.

''If she is to transform into a dragon right now…!''

Ash moved forward without giving any though and hugged Eco.

A huge amount of magic was flowing out from her tiny body. If he had been careless, he would even be swallowed by the magic and lost
conscious.

Ash shouted with all his might into Eco’s ears.

“Get a grip of yourself! I…I like the way you are now! It is okay if you just stay as you are! You don’t have to force yourself to change
into your true self!”

It seems that Ash’s words had gotten through and the magic that was surrounding Eco had disappeared. Even the lights were no longer there.
Ash’s Seikoku too had stopped responding.

“We are saved…”

Ash breathe a sigh of relieve.

“…Huh?”

Eco blinked her eyes in surprise and murmured.

“What had I done…? Why are you…?”

Realizing that she was in Ash’s arms, Eco leaped off from Ash’s arms with her face red in embarrassment.

===Part 10===
“I am sorry for what had happened just now. I-I never thought that you were so much against it…. No I shouldn’t make any excuses. A knight must admit his own faults. I deeply apologize!”

After the group had sat on a dining table in the living room, Silvia apologized to Eco sincerely.

“Hmph… I guess this should be sufficient.”

Silvia’s eagerness to apologize by bowing her head had started to confuse Eco. Even though she still continued to puff up her checks in
protest, but at least she had accepted Silvia’s apology. Ash who noticed it breathe a sigh of relieves.

“…Since everything had been settled, please allow me to ask. How did that stuffed toy came into your possession?”

Silvia’s words had cause Eco to be enraged again.

“Ha!? You….. Just apologize and yet you still was to ask!?”

“I apologize for resolving this matter by force. I promise that this time, I won’t try questioning you by force. But in return, I will
keep on asking until you answer me. Remember, I will keep on asking.”

Silvia was quite stubborn. She even smiled towards Eco with her face full of confidence.

“I can’t believe it…”

Eco sighed.

“Sorry, Eco-chan.”

At that moment, Cosette returned from the kitchen with a silver tray full of snacks and tea.

“That toy that Eco-chan was holding right now… It probably belongs to Princess-sama a long time ago.”

“How can it be…?”

Whilst she was surprised, Eco took a bite on the vanilla flavoured crepe that Cosette handed to her. If it was the usual Eco, she would
definitely shout out ‘Delicious!’ on the first bite, but right now, she was with a serious looks. As expected, even Eco couldn’t enjoy her
favorite food properly.

“What Cosette said is true. That toy is definitely an important thing to me during my childhood.”

Silvia spoke calmly as if she was trying to teach a child who knew nothing.

“Ha!? That’s impossible! I understand none of these!”

Eco placed her half eaten crepe back on her plate. Ash was surprised that she prioritized the argument before her crepe.

“I knew it the moment I saw it. There is only one of this stuffed toy in the whole world. It is a very important toy.”

“How can you have such confidence!?”

“You don’t even know the worth of that toy. Anyone who knows its worth would recognize it on their first sight.”

“Arrrrrggh! That explanation is totally unacceptable!”

''Eco was once again in rage, but at least Silvia knew her limit. Thanks to that, the atmosphere did not turn out to be any worst than this…'' Ash secretly thought.

“Come on you two…”

Cosette was obviously not at all troubled. She seems to be enjoying this.

“Haa… I seems like I don’t have a choice.”

Ash sighed.

“Please listen carefully, Princess-sama. That stuffed toy was in my closet. I gave it to Eco since she seems to like it.”

“Hey! Why did you tell that to her!?”

Eco was scolding Ash with her face red.

“What else can I do? If I leave it to both of you, the same thing will continue onwards again and again.”

“I… want this to be a secret between the both of us.”

Eco’s mumbling caught Ash’s attention.

“What did you say?”

“N-Nothing! I don’t even know you!”

Eco averted her face in anger. ''Why must she get angry...?'' Ash wondered.

On the other hand, Silvia was staring at Ash.

“Ash… you said that this toy was in your closet?”

“That seems to be the case.”

Ash shrugged his shoulders.

“Actually, I am not really clear about it. Believe me or not, there was a blank in my memories… I don’t even know how it came into my
possession. I don’t even know about its worst if not because of Cosette.”

Silvia was staring at Ash so intently almost as if she was going to pierce a hole in his forehead. She then asked a weird question.

“When is your birthday?”

“Huh? The third on the month of Aries… What about that?”

After Ash answered honestly, Cosette spoke in surprise:

“Oh, what a coincidence. It seems that Princess-sama was also born in the month of Aries. By the way, hers is in the seventh.”

“Hmm… That’s the first time I had heard of it.”

“Huhu… So Ash-sama is the bigger brother by four days.

“T-That… isn’t it…”

“Ash!”

Silvia suddenly leaned against him. Ash could see her breast that was covered by the thin cloth of the summer clothes.

“Princess-sama?”

“Even though this may seems abrupt, but do you still remember the date you went for the Orphan Ceremony?”

“Err… I don’t really remember about the details, but it shouldn’t be far away from my seventh birthday. Since my hometown was at a far
away village, I started my journey when I was still six. I remembered that I had my seventh birthday in a horse carriage.”

Once they reach the age of seven, every citizen of the Knight Country must visit Albion Forest.

For Ash, I he had departed after his seventh birthday, he would never be able to arrive at Albion Forest in a month time.

“By the way, does the date I went for the Orphan Ceremony matters?”

“…No, Nothing. I have something that I want to discuss with Cosette. Please stay here for the moment.”

Silvia suddenly stood up and dragged Cosette by the hand with her.

“What a weird Princess.”

Ash took a drink from the cup of red tea.

===Part 11===
After Silvia entered the makeup room, with an ‘Ahem’, she cleared her throat.

“What do you want to talk about, Princess-sama?”

“About that…”

“It doesn’t seem like something easy.”

Since she had been with Silvia for quite some time, Cosette immediately knew what she was thinking.

“Aah… That’s right.”

“I will do everything you tell me to if it is in my ability to do so. If the situation required, I could even be Princess-sama’s limbs or
even your shield… That’s my duty.”

Silvia made up her mind and told her wish.

“Actually, I want you to return to the palace and investigate the name list of the children who went to the orphan ceremony as the same
day as me. This should be an easy one for you, no?”

However, Cosette told Silvia something out of her imagination.

“The records of the Orphan Ceremony is the country’s top secret. Even if you are a Princess, you will be breaching the law by trying to
investigate it.”

“Then, your duty would be to avoid it. Please, I could only put my hopes on you. With your ability, reading top secret documents should
not be a problem, right?”

“That doesn’t sound nice, Princess-sama. The ability that I only knew of was an ancient technique that was passed down in the Shelly’s
family and some spying technique. All of them were used to protect the Lautreamont family.”

“I understand that, but…!”

Silvia grabbed her shoulders and looked at Cosette with her puppy eyes.

“Of course I will do it if this is your order. But, what will you do if Ash-sama is really that boy?”

Silvia’s face almost burst out in flames.

“I-I just want to know about it! That’s right, I only want to know about the truth!”

Cosette gave a wry smile.

“Hmm… Putting that aside, during the time when I am not in, when the night comes and Eco had slept, aren’t '''the two of you''' alone together?”

“When the night comes…. The two of us…!?”

This time, steam emerged from her ears. Her heart was beating none stop.

“W-W-What are you talking about! Don’t you have any shame! How shameless! I…I believe that Ash was not someone insolence! That is why
there is no point behind your question!”

Silvia snapped and Cosette nodded.

“I too had the same feeling.”

“Then why bother asking!”

Cosette smiled and took out something. I was a stack of paper held together by a paper clip.

“What’s that?”

“Huhu… A copy of ‘Shelley family’s secret. A recipe to make men dream’. Although I want to use it during this summer to teach Princess-
sama some cooking… But this is a good chance to try it. Although Princess-sama don’t have any actual experience, but isn't this a good
chance to show your cooking skills to Ash-sama?”

Silvia felt as if her body was on fire.

“Hold on! W-W-Why must I show Ash my cooking skills?”

“If I am not mistaken, The Lautreamont Family Motto did mention that ‘to shoot a general you must first shoot his horse’, am I right?”

“What does it had to do with this?”

“In the Shelley’s Family Motto, there is something like this: To get the man you like, you muts first fill his stomach’.”

“What kind of family motto is that!?”

“Huhu… When Ash-sama’s stomach is empty, and Princess-sama gave him your homemade cooking, he would surely fall for you.”

“…Fall for me!?”

Cosette was like a devil whispering into Silvia’s ears.

“When a Princess who doesn’t look like she knew any cooking made a meal, which man wouldn’t be moved by it?”

“Cut the crap! I never want Ash to take notice of me! Never! I-It s just that I had some interest in cooking since a long time ago. I
will accept you offer because of this.”

Cosette handed her the recipe while smiling.
[[Image:SnRK v05 096.jpg|thumb]]

“Now, I had received my orders from Princess-sama and I will depart from Ansarivan immediately.”

“Huh? Immediately?”

“It is better if we act quickly, Princess-sama.”

Cosette lifted the both sides of her skirt slightly and bowed gracefully.

Suddenly, like a mist, Cosette disappeared from Silvia’s sight like a magician.

“H-Hey! Cosette? … Do you really want to depart at this moment?”

Silvia became worried when she heard no reply.

“Please hold on, Cosette! You should allow me to have some mental preparation before…!”

Silvia looked around the room with tears in her eyes. It looks like Cosette had really departed.

“Tsk… She never takes me seriously!”

After Silvia mumbled in regrets, she took a long hard look at the recipe given to her.

"The Stuffed Toy Dragon~A.S.B.1365.8~" is closed.

<noinclude>

==References and Translation Notes==
<references />

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|-
| Back to [[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Prologue|Prologue]]
| Return to [[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Chapter 2|Chapter 2]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Chapter 1

2014-04-26T18:41:14Z

128.163.8.92: /* Part 6 */

==Chapter 1 - Tragedy of Apollo house and Mirabel's decision==
===Part 1===
''-Don! Don…! Don!''

The sun had just raised but Ash who spent a sleepless night was waken up by a loud knocking sound.

“What in the world…?”

He took that silver watch by his pillow side and noticed that it was just half past six.

After he angrily took a look at the window, he became wide awake.

“Uwaa…!”

There was a huge eye looking through the gaps of the curtain.

It was actually a dragon who was banging its nose against the window.

''-Don! Don… Dododododo!”''

He was worried that it may break the glass.

“Why is a dragon coming to my room!? Could it be another Necromancia attack!?”

So the Empire had finally shown their true colours and started attacking? Ash tried to leave the bed but he was stopped.

“Zzz…”

Eco rolled over and hugged Ash.

Her hair was all over his shoulders and her arms were around his back.

And also her soft face that was on his chest…

''-Mmm…''

Ash was shocked by her sudden nibble.

“Hey, Eco… Please don’t bite that spot.”

Recently, her habit of nibbling had gotten less but she still had not gotten rid of her habit of a young dragon. Moreover, she was
nibbling on Ash’s sensitive spot which troubled him.

At that moment, there was a crack on the window.

“This is bad… It is not the right moment to let her continue nibbling.”

Ash carried Eco and they leave the bed together. The next thing he knew, the glass was smashed into pieces.

He managed to avoid the glass fragments at the last moment.

At the same time, there were two dragons that were trying to squeeze their heads into the window. Their hard scales protect them from the
sharp glass.

By taking a closer look, Ash noticed that one of them was a Maestro while the other was a Hydra. After knowing that he was not attacked by
a Necromancia, Ash breathe a sigh of relieve.

“Morning, Ash!”

“Good morning, Ash-sama!”

Finally, he could see the faces of the two riders.

They were the student council secretary Lucca and Jessica of the general affairs. Right beside them were Maestro Gawain and Rhiannon the
Hydra.

Ash started to protest after he placed Eco who was still sleeping on the bed.

“Lucca! Jessica! What in the world are both of you doing!?”

Since the time Ash saved Gawain who was in danger of dying, Lucca had become emotionally attached to Ash. In the dragon riding academy,
most of the girls are the more aggressive type, it was kind of rare to see someone as quite as Lucca. The beauty that only an Eckbald
possessed was out of this world.

Ash was a little surprise to see Lucca acting rashly. Perhaps she was influenced by Jessica.

“Ash… I hoped that you would come with me to the Eckbald village. I want to introduce you to the village chief, my otou-sama.” <ref>In the
raw version, Lucca called her father otou-sama, but the kanji written was foster father.</ref>

Her usual emotionless face had always given Ash a heck lot of trouble.

“Hold on! W-Why must you mention about the chief!?”

“P-Please don’t ask anymore than this.”

Lucca was suddenly blushing.

This time, it was Jessica who pushed Lucca to aside.

Jessica who was usually eyeing at Ash’s sperm, though her actions had always been eccentric, she was still undoubtable one of the few
beauties of the academy.

“Ash-sama, I have a request!”

“Hey, wait a minute! This is the third floor! How did a hydra get here…?”

“Well. Climbing wall is not a problem for my Rhiannon.”

“Can’t you sympathize your Pal a little!”

Ash pitied her Pal. Although a Hydra may still be able to move on land, but only when they are in the water they are able to show their
true skills. It shouldn’t be its own intention to walk on land. Let alone climbing the walls of the student’s dormitory, which doesn’t
seem to fit the actions of a proud dragon.

“Putting that aside, Ash-sama! I am about to leave Ansarivan. What about you? Do you have any plans of returning?”

“Now I remember… today is the start of the holiday.”

-The first day of the month of Leo.

It was the first day of the holidays for Ansaraivan Dragon Riding Academy. Since it was a boarding school, most of the student will return
to their hometown.

Of course, not all of the students were going back home. There were also a small amount of students that were forced to stay in for the
holidays for certain reasons.

Ash was one of them.

“Nope, I am not going home.”

After hearing, Jessica’s facial expression changes.

“What! If that’s the case, I too will stay back here!”

“Uuh… If I don’t return soon… I will be scolded by my otou-sama.”

Compare to Jessica who was in high spirit, Lucca looks sad. Lucca who carry the hopes of all Eckbald with her probably doesn’t have as much freedom as Jessica has.

“Sorry to disappoint you Jessica, but you must return with me.”
[[Image:SnRK v05 044.jpg|thumb]]

Suddenly, there was another voice.

“Rebecca-san!”

Ash shouted.

There was a sweet smell from her red hair being blown by the winds. She looking like a war maiden in the legends when she was riding on Cú
Chulainn.

“Sorry for the trouble that this stupid girl from my house had given you. The Randall family will cover the fees for mending the window.
The servants fault is also the master’s fault.”

“Now that you mention it… I remember that Jessica was a servant in the Randall family.”

“Just that since she became a Breeder, she had forgotten about her place.”

Rebecca sighed.

“Hmph! Could stop calling me that? I don’t have the intention of serving the Randall family for my whole life!”

“I never thought of that. You are my important childhood friend. Also, your parents had asked me to take good care of you. That is why I
have my duty to bring you back to meet your parents.”

Although her lips were smiling, there was not even a hint of smile in Rebecca’s eyes. After Jessica saw Rebecca’s determination, her
elbows dropped in disappointment.

“Haa… I understand. However… I want Ash-sama to see me off!”

Ash gave a wry smile.

“I think that should be alright.”

The moment he answered, Jessica was once again with a big smile. But, she was then blushing and started to mumble.

“T-Then… According to my hometown’s custom…. There should be a parting k-kiss….”

“Hey! Jessica! When does our hometown have such a custom?”

Rebecca exposed Jessica’s lie with a wry smile.

“Hmph! Rebecca! Don’t you know how to look at the atmosphere?”

“I-I too would like you to see me off…”

While Jessica was in rage, Lucca shyly told Ash her wish.

“Of course.”

“T-Then… According to the Eckbald custom…. I want you to give me a princess carry.”

Ash’s heart skipped a beat when he first saw Lucca’s blushing face.

“A-A princess carry!”

Ash was in a fixed but Jessica shouted at Lucca:

“Hey! What are you trying to do in this mess! That must be a lie!?”

“Uuh…”

While Lucca turned speechless, the noise that Jessica made had spread throughout the school.

“Hey, can you believe it! The president and Jessica were making a night visit! And the other person… Could she be Lucca Sarlinen the
genius girl from the basic class!?”

Suddenly, a huge number of students were gathering outside of the Apollo House. It was something for three girls to be standing on their
dragons beside a window of a boy’s dormitory.

To say nothing of Rebecca Randall who was the most popular person in the entire academy, Jessica was also one of the centers of attentions
and let alone Lucca with her Yōsei like looks and her skills as a Dragner.

“I-I am just here to have Ash-sama see me off! Nothing else!”

Jessica tried to settle the misunderstanding by shouting towards the direction of the school.

“Hmm! By saying Ash-kun you mean… The Ash-kun who was knighted yesterday!?”

“The knighting ceremony was awesome!”

“I also want him to see me off!”

Right now all the girls were speaking with s shrill voice.

Rebecca gave him a bitter smile while she was enjoying all of this.

“Seems like your popularity had sky rocketed after you become a Dragner.”

“The situation outside… Somehow, it looks frightening.”

“Yeah. I just saw around thirty dragons flying towards this window.”

Rebecca told him the unthinkable news with a calm face.

“Huh!?”

“Sorry, Ash. Though I have many reasons to help you… But if I show my true skills, the girls would suffer some grave injuries.”

“Hol-! Don’t leave me!”

“You should try to solve your own problem if you are a Dragner. Also… If it is alright, I would also want you to see me off.”

“…Eh?”

Unfortunately, Ash was not able to catch everything Rebecca said. Her voice disappeared behind the loud noise from Cú Chulainn flapping
its wings.

“Good luck, Ash.”

Lucca too had reluctantly flew off with Gawain.

Right after that, the Apollo House faced a terrible attack.

“Ash-kun! Please see me off!”

“Ash-kun, you might as well come to my home town with me…!”

“Hey! Don’t cut the queue!”

Most of the girls returning were riders of stradas. They were like bats gathering together for food at the window.

But of course it was impossible for thirty riders of stradas to squeeze into the window at the same time.

Soon, they started pushing around.

“P-Please be patient! Calm down! Please calm down!”

Ash was panicking.

Every single roar from the Strada was enough to shake up this entire old building.

“Hey!...How dare you! Ash-sama is my important- Nooooooo!”

Unlike Rebecca or Lucca, Jessica who stayed until the end was finally pushed off the wall together with Rhiannon.

“W-What should I do?”

Ash retreated until his back was facing the wall while he was watching the girls fighting for a spot.

At that moment, Eco who had rolled herself into a ball while she was sleeping had woken up and was rubbing her eyes.

“Hmmm…. What’s all the noise about?”

“You ! How can you still think of sleeping!”

Eco was looking around in confusion. It seems that she wasn’t fully awake yet and wasn’t able to think properly.

Ash shouted with all his might towards the window.

“I beg you! Could you please not make a mess in front of someone else’s window! I promise to see off every single one of you!”

Too bad for him, his voice was not received by them.

Suddenly, Ash had a bad feeling.

“I couldn’t be…”

His entire body was shivering in fear. Since some time ago, the wall facing the outside was creaking. It appears that the Stradas were
putting pressure on it.

“It is dangerous to stay here! Lets run Eco!”

“Huh…! Could you care to explain!”

“Later!”

Ash was running with Eco on his hands.

He ran out through the door and out to the corridor.

Just when he was sliding along the floor…

''-Creak…! Eeeeekkkk……. !Do--------------n!''

The next moment, there was a loud explosion.

Ash cautiously took a peek through the cracks on the door while trembling. All he sees was dust flying around and even the corridor was
affected.

''“*Cough *!*Cough *!”''

While covering up Eco who was coughing, Ash waited until the dust had settled down.

Just moments later-

After the dust had cleared up, what Ash saw was a clear sky.

The morning rays were shining at the disastrous room.

The wreckage of the wall was all over his room. It was a painful sight.

Right now, with the wall that was facing the academy and the window destroyed, his room looked like a doll house that can be seen from the
outside.

“Err… Eco, am I dreaming?”

“I think so?”

Ash and Eco were looking at the room with their mouths wide open.

===Part 2===
Ash was brought to the director’s office on the first day of the holiday.

As for those girls who were the culprit, it seems that they had ran back home as soon as possible. That is why Ash who was the victim was summoned.

“I see… Now I understand what had happened.”

Mirabel who was acting as the director replied coldly and drank from her cup of tea.

The room was full of the smells of bergamot and the tea.

Just like a robot, Mirabel’s face was emotionless the entire time. ''Does this princess even have the thing known as feelings…?'' Ash thought.

“The academy will take responsible for mending the wall. Just some time before, I had asked the builders of this city and they estimated
that they will be able to complete it in around two weeks time.”

“Really…! Thank you very much!”

Ash was grateful that she was able to deal with this situation without delay.

“The problem is… During the renovation, where am I to place you and Eco.”

“I see…”

“Can you borrow a room from any of your friends?”

“I don’t think that would be possible…”

Unfortunately, Max and Raymond had gone home. For Ash who doesn’t have many friends, these were the’ only two friends that he could rely
on. Although there was an option of using it without asking for their permissions, but Ash couldn’t bring himself to do it.

''-Bang!''

The door behind him was opened with a slam.

The next time he knew, Silvia and Eco was right beside him.

“How much longer are the two of you going to keep on talking!? Can’t you just give us a new room!”

Eco was pointing at Mirabel in anger.

“Anee-ue! Why do you call for Ash! That incident was caused by a few girls! It had nothing to do with Ash! Aren’t you treating him like
the culprit!?”

Silvia on the other hand was trying to speak up for Ash.

“Where are your manners? Don’t you know that it is rude to walk into a room without knocking? You won’t be given special treatment even if
you are the descendant of the Avalon Holy Dragons Emperor’s family or my sister. “

Mirabel glared at both of them coldly.

“I am sorry… Anee-ue.”

Silvia stood still on her ground as if she had turned into a stone.

On the other hand, Eco was trying to intimidate Mirabel by showing her sharp teeth.

“Hey you!... How dare you act like that even when you know that I am Avalon’s holy dragons' emperor family's Imperial Princess! Why don’t
I try crushing the castle the next time? If I show you my true self, one or two Fontaine Place won’t…”

“Idiot! Stop spurting nonsense!”

Ash’s face was pale white when he was scolding Eco.

Since that incident, the Knight’s government took Eco as a treat. As long as there is the possibility that Mirabel was here to keep an eye
on Eco, they have to be careful with their own words.

But to his surprise, Eco calm down with just a single shout.

She turned her head around with her face blushing.

“I-I will listen to you… Just this time.”

Ash was taken aback from seeing Eco making such an expression for the first time. Just as he had expected, it was that transformation that
had made a change of her heart. Although the gentle Eco looked a lot cuter, at the same time, it was also a little confusing.

“Ahem!”

Mirabel tried clearing her throat and everyone’s attention was back on her.

“Silvia, you came at the right moment. Right now you are staying in the royal room in the Epona House right?”

“…What about it?”

Silvia was surprised.

“Until the renovation in the boy’s dormitory had been completed, Ash Blake and young dragon Eco will stay in your room for the time
being.”

“What!”

“I won’t repeat for a second time. This is an order from your sister. You are not allowed to have any objections.”

Naturally, Silva was enraged.

“What do you mean by this! This is against our family motto where ‘A knight shouldn’t carelessly touch another of the opposite sex’!”

“Hmm… Funny but I remember that I said to let Ash Blake and young dragon Eco stay in your room. When did I ever mention about touching
Ash?”

“T-That…!”

Right at this moment, even Silvia’s earlobes were red.

“Right now, if I were to mention the family motto that you love so much, ‘A knight should help those who are in need’. Am I wrong?”

After she replied coldly, Mirabel looked like she had lost interest in the case regarding Ash. She kept on looking at the tea cup on her
hand.

“I am done with you- What a pain, now a good cup of tea had turned cold.”

===Part 3===
Rebecca and Jessica had returned to the land ruled by the Randalls.

Lucca on the other hand had returned to her village.

After seeing them off, Ash and Eco once again returned to his room on the third floor of the Apollo House.

They once again looked at the disastrous room.

A bed full of glass fragments.

A floor full with the remains of the wall.

And the disorganized furniture.

With the wall gone, the room became bright and windy. Looking down from above was a few curious onlookers. When their eyes came into
contact with Ash’s, everyone scattered.

“Haa… First of all, I think we should try cleaning up a little. It is better to make it look a little more cheerful before the renovation
starts.”

Turning around, Ash noticed that Eco was sulking.

“What’s wrong, Eco?”

“Hey. Do you really want to stay in Silvia’s room?”

“It is not like I have a choice. It was an order from Princess Mirabel. It seems that even Princess-sama did not dare to go against her.”

“I… I hate it.”

“What’s the matter? You don’t look like your usual self. Well, if we stay at Princess-sama’s room, we may be able to eat Cosette’s
delicious homemade cooking.”

“That’s not the point! And also, I am not someone who thinks about food for an entire day!”

Eco face was red with anger and embarrassment.

“Is it… Sorry then.”

“It is fine if you understand. Anyway, just if you try to do something weird to Silvia… I will be sure to crush you!”

Eco was glaring at Ash.

“What do you mean by something weird!?”

With her ears fully red, Eco told Ash embarrassedly:

“T-To make it simple…. It is those perverted stuffs.”

“W-What are you even thinking!”

Ash stood still on his ground. He never expects Eco to speak of such a word. It kind of surprise him.

“Even I knew about those stuffs… Don’t look down on me just because I am a young dragon.”

“Could the source of information be…. The Dragweiss?”

“…Some of them were from there, but most of them were from the picture books that Cosette lend to me.”

“Hold on! Are they really… Just picture books!?”

In order to teach her the importance of aesthetic sensibility, Cosette had lent her picture books and books for children. For that, Ash
was grateful for Cosette.

However, there is a possibility that she mixed some picture books for adult in them.

“Anyhow, she is still this country’s princess. What you are worrying about will never happen, rest assure.”

''In the worst possible case, I will be beheaded…'' Ash thought secretly.

“A-Alright… I understand.”

Once again, Eco was smiling and she looked at the room around her.

“Then… What can I do to help you?”

“You are trying to help?”

“What? Is it weird for me to help?”

“Definitely not weird, but rare. Ain’t it always me who complete the house work?”

“A-About that… It doesn’t seem like I have a choice. I am a dragon. I don’t really understand how a human acts. But… I just feel like
helping for today… Can’t I!?”

Eco puffed up her rosy coloured checks and stared at Ash.

“Why not? I even want to thank you.”

Ash gave a wry smile and tried to pat her head.

But, Eco immediately dodge to a side.

“No! You mustn’t touch!”

“Sorry… I don’t know that you dislike it this much.”

“N-No! It is okay it you are just patting, but you mustn’t touch my horns. If they were just slightly touched, I… will turn weird. I felt
like floating in the air when they were touched...”

Ash could calm down after seeing Eco’s face when she tried to explain her feelings.

“I understand. I promise I won’t touch your horns.”

Ash carefully patted Eco’s head.

Her pink hair was fluffy and it gave his palm a nice feeling.

“Nn…”

Even when she was a dragon, Eco was smiling and shrugging her neck like what a cat would do.

Her innocent smile had grabbed Ash’s attention.

To be precise, it was her flower bud like lips.

His heart was beating rapidly.

This was actually the second time he had such a feeling.

The first time was when Eco said that she won’t be satisfied with just being a Pal in the guest room in Fontaine Palace.

“…”

Eco probably felt the change in the atmosphere too and her body suddenly tense up. Perhaps she too was also thinking about the scenario in
the Fontaine Palace.

In a short while, just like that time, Eco closes her eyes.

She also tried to purse her lips.

Ash also noticed that her long eyelashes were also trembling.

''-Eco…!''
[[Image:SnRK v05 060.jpg|thumb]]

The suddenly remembered the word ‘beloved Pal’ in the knighting ceremony.

During that time, Ash was only saying the standard pledge.

But this was totally different.

His feeling of love to Eco was born from deep in his heart. A feeling that could be explained using something a simple as the relation of
a Breeder and its Pal had grown.

Right now, they don’t need any words.

Ash placed both his hands on Eco’s shoulders and he closes their distance slowly.

A sweet smell was surrounding them which made him dizzy.

Right now, he felt as if his heart was going to explode.

They were now at a distance where their nose could easily touch each other.

Eco felt like being pierced through by the sunlight while she was waiting for Ash.

Ash made up his mind and closed his eyes.

And then- he kissed Eco on her lips.

===Part 4===
“~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~!”

Since their kiss, Eco had been working silently with her back facing Ash the entire time.

It seemed that she was too embarrassed to even look at Ash in the face.

And of course, it was the same for Ash.

Ash felt as if his face was a ball of fire.

Although the two of them at a first glance seems to be dusting the room, actually there was zero progress. What they were doing were only
messing up the already messed up room.

''-What should I do? What should I say at times like this?''

Just when Ash was anxious in trying to find the right words…

“Uwaaa…! Cute!”

Eco turned around and showed Ash a round object.

“Isn’t this cute? Where did you find this stuff toy?”

At that moment, Ash felt something was pricking at the back of his neck. I made him wonder what it was.

The stuffed toy that Eco was holding seems to be a dragon. Strictly speaking, its face was clumsily done.

Furthermore, it round body made it looks nothing like a majestic dragon.

However, Eco seems to take it as cute and it made her forget about what had just happened previously.

“Err… Actually I don’t remember much about that when it came into my possession. No matter how I look at it, looked just like a girl’s
toy. It is probably not me who bought it.”

It was thanks to the toy that Ash was once again able to speak to Eco normally.

“Hmm… Strange.”

Eco was carrying the stuffed toy while she whipped off the dust on it.

“Hmm… When I move to Ansarivan, I just took it with me without any reason. Perhaps that is a great meaning behind it was what I thought.
Actually… There is a blank in my childhood memory.”

“… A blank in your memories?”

Eco was surprised.

“Aah. I was right about when I had my seventh birthday when I visited Albion Forest for the Orphan Ceremony. I just can’t recall my
memories during that time.”

“Isn’t that… The time when Mother Dragon bestowed me to you?”

“It seems so.”

“How come you can’t remember such an important event?”

Ash shrunk when he saw Eco started to get mad. Just when they were finally able to speak normally, it seems that Eco’s temper had also
returned.

“To be frank, I know nothing of it myself. It was just that I had a hunch that this toy had something to do with my lost memories and
that’s the reason why I was reluctant to throw it away. However, because of the recent events, I totally forgot about it.”

“Then, can I keep it?’

Ash was taken by surprised.

“What do you mean by keeping it?”

“It is just like what I had said. Don’t you think it is sad for such a cute being to be left forgotten? I will take the trouble to take
care of this kid.”

“How can you take care of it when it isn’t even a living being? Well, whatever suits you then.”

“Really!?”

Eco was full of excitement.

“Well, I don’t really mind.”

“That great!”

Eco was so happy that felt that she could even fly. She then rubbed the stuffed toy with her checks.

Followed by that, she cuddled it like what a mother would do to her baby.

Suddenly, she spoke of something that surprised Ash.

“This somehow looked like our baby…”

Eco suddenly stopped speaking before she could even finish her sentence. She the glared at Ash with her eyes as if they were on fire.

“You heard anything?”

“No, nothing at all.”

Ash spoke with a serious look on his face.

“T-That’s right! N-Nothing happened! Nothing happened at all!”

As if her head was exploding in flames, Eco carried the toy and dashed out from the room.

“Actually, I heard every single word…”

Just when Ash was murmuring as he felt as if his body was on fire…

“Sorry to interrupt, Ash-sama.”

Suddenly, there was a woman’s voice coming from behind.

“Uwaa!”

He noticed that it was Cosette after he turned around. She seems to be wearing that same palace design maid attire today. She then gave a
polite bow.

“Cosette-san! How did you get in?”

“To enter such an airy room is like a child’s play to me.”

Cosette smiled when she turned around to look at the blue sky.

“That couldn’t be… This is the third floor! Putting that aside, why are you here?”

“I am here to meet you and Eco-chan. Had you forgotten about Princess Mirabel, Her Highness’s decision?”

Of course, it was impossible for him to forget about it to begin with. However, he still felt a little reluctant.

“Actually, can’t we reconsider about this? Putting Eco aside, don’t you think that it is wrong for a guy like me to enter Epona House
where guys are not allowed?”

“For your own sake, I would advise you to follow her decision. Do you know what Princes Mirabel was also known as?”

“No… Actually none at all.”

“Her nick name is actually Argento Magus If we can describe Princess Veronica as a fighter, then Princess Mirabel is a thinker. Compare to
Veronica, there were certain things that would made Mirabel a tougher opponent. Please be sure to be prepared mentally, Ash-sama.”

Ash sighed after he heard everything.

“…I understand. Please let me take some belongings with me like my pillow and cloths…”

“Alright then, meanwhile, I will try searching for Eco.”

Eco had not yet return since the moment she ran out from the room.

“Thank you. I think she should be somewhere around the dorm.”

“Huhu. That will be a simple task.”

Cosette ran towards the door nimbly while she was avoiding the disorganized furniture, but then, she suddenly stopped and turned around to
face Ash.

“By the way, Ash-sama.”

“What’s the matter?”

When Ash lifted his face, he saw Cosette’s face full of red. Ash was staring at her since it was rare to see her who was always calm to be
blushing.

Although she always stayed hidden behind Silvia’s shadow, she actually looked quite beautiful.

With her right hand on her checks, she sighed.

Then she said something outrageous.

“Ash-sama and Eco-chan’s kiss looks very innocent indeed.”

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

This time, it was Ash’s turn to be blushing.

“D-Don’t, Don’t tell me that you saw everything!?”

“It totally felt like an opera show. You looked so cute when you kiss without even needing and words to understand each other. My god,
isn’t that wonderful? Don’t Eco-chan looked cute to when she was waiting to receive your kiss?”

“I beg you, please stop saying anymore than this! It is embarrassing!”

Right now, Ash felt like he was sitting on a mountain of needles.

Cosette to had seemed to realized that she over did it replied with a playful smile.

“Rest assure, I won’t tell Princess-sama any of this.”

“How is Princeass-sama related to this!?”

“Hmm… I wonder… Huhu…”

Cosette left the room with her sentence ending with her laughter.

===Part 5===
The moment Ash finished gathering all his basic daily needs, Cosette was back with Eco. Together, the three of the marched towards Epona House.

Although it was around evening, the sun was still high up in the sky.

After passing through a grove of mixed trees, they were welcomed by a stern looking gate.

Even the cicada had stopped making noise.

Although they were just walking, they were all full of sweat.

By taking a peak beside, Eco looked as if she was suffering from the heat of the high summer temperature. She looked like a Hydra who was
looking for water on dry land.

Compare to Ash, Eco was only carrying her stuffed toy.

On the other hand, Cosette didn’t even break a sweat.

“We had arrived.”

She turned around and smiled at both Ash and Eco.

Through the gate, they could see a garden that was separated into two halves by the walk way. It must have been well tended by a good
gardener. Even Ash who doesn’t have any interest in gardening was amazed by it.

At the back of the garden stood an elegant looking building.

That was Epona House, the dormitory for advance class girls.

“We had finally arrived…”

Ash placed his baggage which was full of daily needs and clothing on the ground.

''How long does it actually take to walk here from Apollo House…'' Ash couldn’t be bothered to even think about it.

This dragon riding academy where human and dragons coexist had a very large land area.

In it, there were numerous classes, a church, a lecture hall, a library, a canteen, seven dragon houses, four dormitories, a sports
ground… It even included an arena that was used during events.

Although there was the shopping district and the housing are beyond the school walls, compare to the size of the academy, they just looked
like extras. That the reason why Ansarivan was called an academic city.

Putting that aside, the distance between the boys dormitory and the girls dormitory must had been arranged on purpose by the academy.

“Please enter.”

Cosette pushed opened the heavy looking gate and welcomed both of them in.

===Part 6===
On the top most floor of Epona House was the room of royal use.

It looked like a high class hotel suit and it even had a large space.

Apart from a heater in the living room, there was also a dining room, a study room, bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, etc. In a room that
has everything, it looked as if it was another world compare to the normal student’s room.

Silvia was walking up and down around her room alone, worrying endlessly.

“Argh! What’s wrong with me! Why couldn’t I calm down! Even my family motto stated that ‘Always stay calm, especially in a pinch’!”

Even though she wasn’t even in a pinch, Silvia couldn’t stop worrying. It was about time for Cosette to arrive with Ash and Eco.

“That’s it!”

Silvia stopped in her tracks for a moment and then she dashed into the makeup room and stood in front of a mirror.

She applied a thin layer of makeup on her face.

She tried combing her hair many times.

Her clothings and accessories were chosen by Cosette.

She put on her camisole, a skirt with two layers of frills, her panty socks and a necklace made from bright dragon crystals that acted at
jewels.

In front of the mirror, she was just like her usual…. No, she was at least twice as more beautiful than she usually was.

Silvia turned red when she realized how beautiful she was.

“Why would I dress myself up! It is alright by just sticking to what I usually do!”

Ash was about to arrive.

Until the boy’s dormitory was done with its renovation, Ash was going to stay here for two weeks.

Her hearts started to beat rapidly from thinking about it.

“This feeling… It is that same feeling as ''that time…''”

Silvia recalled her memories.

Around the time of her seventh birthday, she met a boy in Albion Forest.

''“Why? Why would I have this feeling of returning to the time when I was seven years old whenever I think about Ash…?”''

Silvia suddenly regained her sense.

“Stop! Stop! Stop! Doesn’t this mean that I am looking forward for him to arrive!? Right… I should change back into my normal chothing…”
[[Image:SnRK v05 006.jpg|thumb|'' ''…!'' Silvia immediately snapped out from the confusion. She just remembered that right now, she was
only wearing her undergarments. '']]

Silvia left the makeup room and entered the living room. She swiftly removed all her clothings except for her undergarments. She then
walked along the corridor towards the changing room.

Suddenly, the door opened right in front of her eyes.

“Princess-sama, we had returned.”

Cosette walked in with a smile.

“Princess-sama!?”

Ash was standing right behind Cosette with his eyes wide opened. ''Why is his face red? Is it because of the heat?''

“…!”

Silvia immediately snapped out from the confusion. She just remembered that right now, she was only wearing her undergarments.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaa!”

Silvia ran and hid behind the door while screaming at the top of her voice.

===Part 7===
“Hey you! Just until when are young going to keep on staring!”

“Ouch!”

Ash came back to his sense after he was stomped on the leg by Eco.

Just when he had stepped in through the grand entrance, he was greeted by Silvia in only her undergarments. The white coloured lace will
forever be imprinted in his mind.

''By the way, why was Silvia wearing only those?'' No matter how hot the weather can be, it doesn’t suit her image.

“I am going to check on Princess-sama. Could the both of you wait here for a moment, please?”

With a happy smile on her face, Cosette disappeared into the corridor. In just a moment-

“No. This definitely doesn’t look natural.”

“No no. It definitely fits you well.”

“But… Won’t this make me look like I am looking forward to their arrival?”

“Huh? Aren’t you?”

Their entire conversation was heard by Ash.

“Come on! This is a disgrace! How dare they make a dragon wait by the entrance!”

Eco who was standing right beside Ash was in rage. The toy that she had with her which had a carelessly made face was further squashed by
Eco’s abnormal strength.

Ash pitied the toy. If this continued to keep on, Ash would probably be the next victim.

“Sorry for the wait.”

Just when Ash was about to be surrounded by his fear, Cosette had returned to the entrance with Silvia was hiding right behind her.

Ash’s heart skipped a beat when he saw Silvia’s clothing. It gave a completely different feel compare to the school uniform that she
usually wears. A lot of her skin was exposed from wearing the camisole. It had totally grabbed his attention.

“Please come in.”

Ash regained his sense after her heard Cosette’s voice.

“S-Sorry for the intrusion.”

In opposite to Ash, Eco was looking around the room with a hint of worry.

“Even so… You are just a Princess of the Royal Knight’s Family and you get to have such a great room?”

Perhaps she was mad from being asked to wait at the entrance, Eco was saying anything that would sooth her anger.

In truth, even Ash was amazed by the room itself. Just the entrance itself is wider than Ash’s room. There were even expensive looking
pictures along the wall and carvings of dragons.

“Please don’t be mad. This room was specially made for the royals, it would be natural if Princess-sama is staying here.”

Ash tried to calm her down.

“But, I am also a Princess of the dragons! Why would there be such a larger difference in our treatment!?”

“It is not like I want to stay in this room either!”

Silvia tried to speak up for herself even when she was being threatened by Eco.

“I even tried telling the academy to let me have the same treatment as the rest of the students, but they never listen…”

Suddenly, Silvia stood still on her ground. There was not even a slightest movement.

“Princess-sama… What’s wrong? You don’t look good.”

Ash was worried about her but she didn’t reply.

She kept on staring at the stuffed toy that Eco was carrying with her with her ice blue eyes.

Silvia then suddenly leaped towards Eco and grabbed her shoulders.

“Eco! Can you tell me how did that toy fall into your possession?”

Eco became confused.

“I-It has nothing to do with you.”

“Please tell me! This is very important!”

Silvia shouted loudly.

“… I picked it up.”

Eco mumbled when she turned her head to aside. It seemed that she did not want to tell Silvia that it was a gift from Ash. Ash was
wondering on why she would be insisting on it.

“You picked it up? When? Where?”

Silvia was being persistent.

“Come on! Why do I need to tell you?”

Eco lost her patience and roared.

“…Why can’t you tell me?”

“T-That’s because… I don’t have the obligation to tell you.”

“Now I see, you are playing dumb… It seems I must resolve to this.”

Suddenly, Silvia leaped towards Eco with both of her hands stretched out.

“Hey!... Don’t joke with me!”

Eco dodge with the toy in her arms.

With the royal room as the stage, the two of them started running around like a bunch of kids. In just a blink of an eye, both of them
disappeared behind a door.

“Err… What is this all about?”

Ash who was left behind turned around and questioned Cosette.

“Cosette-san?”

To his surprised, Cosette too was transfixed on her own spot. It was rare to see her making a face like that.

Cosette then regained her sense after being called out to by Ash and started explaining.

“I just remember about it… I fear that that stuffed toy…. Is an important treasure to Princess-sama during her childhood.”

Ash was surprised by her answer.

“Wait a moment! That shouldn’t be possible! There should be many more stuffed toys with the same design, no?”

Cosette answered calmly.

“No. There ain’t. That toy is the one and only in this world. It was a limited edition item. It was actually made from a famous artist
from Chevron Kingdom called Leonard De Mirabeau and was given to the five year old Princess-sama.”

“Really? That clumsily made toy is…”

“That’s not it… Its weird look was actually Mirabeau-sama’s style. Didn’t people usually say that there was only a silver line that
separates a genius and a madman? If that stuffed toy was bought to an antique auction… It should be priced at five million Eccles at
minimum.”

Cosette told him the shocking truth with s straight face.

“Five million…!”

Ash turned speechless.

His face had turned pale.

''-Five million Eccles!''

Ash couldn’t even imagine that amount of money. He just knew that he won’t be able to finish it by living the rest of his days enjoying
life. He never knew that such a treasure was hidden in his closet.

“W-We should try stopping them first!”

Ash started searching for them in the huge room.

===Part 8===
“Finally! You won’t be able to escape!”

Eco who ran into Silvia’s room was now like a rat in the bag. There was only one exit and the windows were too high to jump from since
this was the top most floor.

“Tsk… You are being persistent!”

Eco backed off to the wall and like a mother protecting her child, she tried to intimidate Silvia.

For one moment, Silvia was awed by her beauty, but the next instant, she roared:

“You haven’t told me anything yet! I just want to know how this toy came into your possession!”

“Why would you even want to know!?”

“T-That… I had my own reasons! Please, Eco!”

“Hmph… I had mine too. I will never tell you, only you!”

Both of them were glaring at each other with any intention of backing off.

Silvia realized that whatever she said was useless.

“Now you have done it. Although it is not to my liking… I must resolve this by force.”

“What! Who do you think I am! See that if you can do it!”

“Fine with me!”

Silvia leaped forward without mercy.

Although she must avoid Eco’s abnormal strength, Eco’s actions had always been straight forward and were always easy to read.

On the other hand, apart from the Drag Arts, Silvia had mastered many more fighting styles. It is a normal thing to do for something who
was born in the Lautreamont Royal Knight’s Family.

After struggling on the ground like brats, Silvia came out as the winner.

“Now you have been captured!”

Silvia was pressing Eco’s tiny body on the floor and without giving her a chance to fight back, she rode on Eco.

“Tsk… Let me go!”

“Is there any idiot in this world that would move off once they are being asked to?”

The winner had been decided. Even when Eco had her abnormal strength, she could never be able to beat Silvia.

But, there was a reason why Silvia could beat her easily.

Eco had never let go of the stuffed toy even after she was pressed down against the floor. If Eco would’ just let go of that toy, the
fight could still drag on. No, it could even be Silvia who was pressed down against the floor.

“Please, Eco! This is not an order. Although it was not a long time since the day I met you, I always think you as a friend. That is why…
Could you please tell me?’

Just when Silvia was begging Eco with a trembling voice…

“Eco! Princess-sama!”

The door opened with a bang and Ash came running in.

Silvia turned around to look at Ash while she was pressing Eco down against the floor.

“Hold on, Ash! I never have the intention to harm Eco! I just want to ask Eco about it… no matter what!”

“But, Princess-sama doesn’t act like the usual you. Even so, Eco is my Pal, I won’t forgive anyone who try to harm her, even if it is
Princess-sama.”

After Ash murmured sadly, he showed her his left arm.

Silvia knew that he had his abnormally large Seikoku covered in a bandage.

“Your Seikoku…?”

Silvia was in lost of words.

The Seikoku under the bandage was obviously blinking with glowing lights. That was a signal given when the Pal was in danger.

For example, even though Silvia did not have any intentions of harming Eco, but Eco felt that she was in danger and sent the signal to her
owner Ash for help…

“Sorry, Eco… I am really sorry. I am in the wrong for scaring you…. But, I have my own reasons. Please, Eco! Please tell me for the sake
of our friendship!”

Silvia was forcing out an answer from Eco.

“…Eco?”

Eco did not reply. Just as Silvia became confused, Eco was surrounded by a glowing light.

“Hey, Eco! What’s wrong?”

Eco still did not reply. Right now, Eco was like a doll, showing no expression.

Even her eyes seemed to be reflecting nothing.

“Urgh…!”

The next instant, Silvia was being blast of by a string wind.

“Princess-sama!”

Followed by Ash’s shout, Silvia’s back bang against the wall. She almost couldn’t breathe because of it.

===Part 9===
“Princess-sama!”

Just when Ash was trying to help Silvia out, Cosette arrived.

“I will take care of Princess-sama. Ash-sama, go help Eco-chan! This is no laughing matter!”

Cosette’s voice seemed to be more serious and nervous than usual.

“Understood!”

Ash ran straight towards Eco.

His Sikoku started to hurt.

He remembered that feeling.

He had the similar feeling when Eco was awaken in the capital, Fontaine.

Although the pain was not as strong as that time, Ash knew that this was the sign before her transformation into a dragon.

Eco stood up slowly with the cute stuffed toy dropping on the floor.

Strictly speaking, she was not standing.

There was a gap in between her feet and the floor.

She was actually floating…!

Her limbs were now surrounded by the mysterious light that was so bright that they could not look at it directly.

However, Ash continued to move forward.

“Stop, Eco! If you are to be awaken here…”

In the worst possible case, this Epona House will be destroyed. No, it could even be related to the city’s survivability…

Eco had long been label as an element of danger by many countries’s government. The reason why Mirabel was sent to become the academy’s director was to keep an eye on Eco.

''If she is to transform into a dragon right now…!''

Ash moved forward without giving any though and hugged Eco.

A huge amount of magic was flowing out from her tiny body. If he had been careless, he would even be swallowed by the magic and lost
conscious.

Ash shouted with all his might into Eco’s ears.

“Get a grip of yourself! I…I like the way you are now! It is okay if you just stay as you are! You don’t have to force yourself to change
into your true self!”

It seems that Ash’s words had gotten through and the magic that was surrounding Eco had disappeared. Even the lights were no longer there.
Ash’s Seikoku too had stopped responding.

“We are saved…”

Ash breathe a sigh of relieve.

“…Huh?”

Eco blinked her eyes in surprise and murmured.

“What had I done…? Why are you…?”

Realizing that she was in Ash’s arms, Eco leaped off from Ash’s arms with her face red in embarrassment.

===Part 10===
“I am sorry for what had happened just now. I-I never thought that you were so much against it…. No I shouldn’t make any excuses. A knight must admit his own faults. I deeply apologize!”

After the group had sat on a dining table in the living room, Silvia apologized to Eco sincerely.

“Hmph… I guess this should be sufficient.”

Silvia’s eagerness to apologize by bowing her head had started to confuse Eco. Even though she still continued to puff up her checks in
protest, but at least she had accepted Silvia’s apology. Ash who noticed it breathe a sigh of relieves.

“…Since everything had been settled, please allow me to ask. How did that stuffed toy came into your possession?”

Silvia’s words had cause Eco to be enraged again.

“Ha!? You….. Just apologize and yet you still was to ask!?”

“I apologize for resolving this matter by force. I promise that this time, I won’t try questioning you by force. But in return, I will
keep on asking until you answer me. Remember, I will keep on asking.”

Silvia was quite stubborn. She even smiled towards Eco with her face full of confidence.

“I can’t believe it…”

Eco sighed.

“Sorry, Eco-chan.”

At that moment, Cosette returned from the kitchen with a silver tray full of snacks and tea.

“That toy that Eco-chan was holding right now… It probably belongs to Princess-sama a long time ago.”

“How can it be…?”

Whilst she was surprised, Eco took a bite on the vanilla flavoured crepe that Cosette handed to her. If it was the usual Eco, she would
definitely shout out ‘Delicious!’ on the first bite, but right now, she was with a serious looks. As expected, even Eco couldn’t enjoy her
favorite food properly.

“What Cosette said is true. That toy is definitely an important thing to me during my childhood.”

Silvia spoke calmly as if she was trying to teach a child who knew nothing.

“Ha!? That’s impossible! I understand none of these!”

Eco placed her half eaten crepe back on her plate. Ash was surprised that she prioritized the argument before her crepe.

“I knew it the moment I saw it. There is only one of this stuffed toy in the whole world. It is a very important toy.”

“How can you have such confidence!?”

“You don’t even know the worth of that toy. Anyone who knows its worth would recognize it on their first sight.”

“Arrrrrggh! That explanation is totally unacceptable!”

''Eco was once again in rage, but at least Silvia knew her limit. Thanks to that, the atmosphere did not turn out to be any worst than this…'' Ash secretly thought.

“Come on you two…”

Cosette was obviously not at all troubled. She seems to be enjoying this.

“Haa… I seems like I don’t have a choice.”

Ash sighed.

“Please listen carefully, Princess-sama. That stuffed toy was in my closet. I gave it to Eco since she seems to like it.”

“Hey! Why did you tell that to her!?”

Eco was scolding Ash with her face red.

“What else can I do? If I leave it to both of you, the same thing will continue onwards again and again.”

“I… want this to be a secret between the both of us.”

Eco’s mumbling caught Ash’s attention.

“What did you say?”

“N-Nothing! I don’t even know you!”

Eco averted her face in anger. ''Why must she get angry...?'' Ash wondered.

On the other hand, Silvia was staring at Ash.

“Ash… you said that this toy was in your closet?”

“That seems to be the case.”

Ash shrugged his shoulders.

“Actually, I am not really clear about it. Believe me or not, there was a blank in my memories… I don’t even know how it came into my
possession. I don’t even know about its worst if not because of Cosette.”

Silvia was staring at Ash so intently almost as if she was going to pierce a hole in his forehead. She then asked a weird question.

“When is your birthday?”

“Huh? The third on the month of Aries… What about that?”

After Ash answered honestly, Cosette spoke in surprise:

“Oh, what a coincidence. It seems that Princess-sama was also born in the month of Aries. By the way, hers is in the seventh.”

“Hmm… That’s the first time I had heard of it.”

“Huhu… So Ash-sama is the bigger brother by four days.

“T-That… isn’t it…”

“Ash!”

Silvia suddenly leaned against him. Ash could see her breast that was covered by the thin cloth of the summer clothes.

“Princess-sama?”

“Even though this may seems abrupt, but do you still remember the date you went for the Orphan Ceremony?”

“Err… I don’t really remember about the details, but it shouldn’t be far away from my seventh birthday. Since my hometown was at a far
away village, I started my journey when I was still six. I remembered that I had my seventh birthday in a horse carriage.”

Once they reach the age of seven, every citizen of the Knight Country must visit Albion Forest.

For Ash, I he had departed after his seventh birthday, he would never be able to arrive at Albion Forest in a month time.

“By the way, does the date I went for the Orphan Ceremony matters?”

“…No, Nothing. I have something that I want to discuss with Cosette. Please stay here for the moment.”

Silvia suddenly stood up and dragged Cosette by the hand with her.

“What a weird Princess.”

Ash took a drink from the cup of red tea.

===Part 11===
After Silvia entered the makeup room, with an ‘Ahem’, she cleared her throat.

“What do you want to talk about, Princess-sama?”

“About that…”

“It doesn’t seem like something easy.”

Since she had been with Silvia for quite some time, Cosette immediately knew what she was thinking.

“Aah… That’s right.”

“I will do everything you tell me to if it is in my ability to do so. If the situation required, I could even be Princess-sama’s limbs or
even your shield… That’s my duty.”

Silvia made up her mind and told her wish.

“Actually, I want you to return to the palace and investigate the name list of the children who went to the orphan ceremony as the same
day as me. This should be an easy one for you, no?”

However, Cosette told Silvia something out of her imagination.

“The records of the Orphan Ceremony is the country’s top secret. Even if you are a Princess, you will be breaching the law by trying to
investigate it.”

“Then, your duty would be to avoid it. Please, I could only put my hopes on you. With your ability, reading top secret documents should
not be a problem, right?”

“That doesn’t sound nice, Princess-sama. The ability that I only knew of was an ancient technique that was passed down in the Shelly’s
family and some spying technique. All of them were used to protect the Lautreamont family.”

“I understand that, but…!”

Silvia grabbed her shoulders and looked at Cosette with her puppy eyes.

“Of course I will do it if this is your order. But, what will you do if Ash-sama is really that boy?”

Silvia’s face almost burst out in flames.

“I-I just want to know about it! That’s right, I only want to know about the truth!”

Cosette gave a wry smile.

“Hmm… Putting that aside, during the time when I am not in, when the night comes and Eco had slept, aren’t '''the two of you''' alone together?”

“When the night comes…. The two of us…!?”

This time, steam emerged from her ears. Her heart was beating none stop.

“W-W-What are you talking about! Don’t you have any shame! How shameless! I…I believe that Ash was not someone insolence! That is why
there is no point behind your question!”

Silvia snapped and Cosette nodded.

“I too had the same feeling.”

“Then why bother asking!”

Cosette smiled and took out something. I was a stack of paper held together by a paper clip.

“What’s that?”

“Huhu… A copy of ‘Shelley family’s secret. A recipe to make men dream’. Although I want to use it during this summer to teach Princess-
sama some cooking… But this is a good chance to try it. Although Princess-sama don’t have any actual experience, but isn't this a good
chance to show your cooking skills to Ash-sama?”

Silvia felt as if her body was on fire.

“Hold on! W-W-Why must I show Ash my cooking skills?”

“If I am not mistaken, The Lautreamont Family Motto did mention that ‘to shoot a general you must first shoot his horse’, am I right?”

“What does it had to do with this?”

“In the Shelley’s Family Motto, there is something like this: To get the man you like, you muts first fill his stomach’.”

“What kind of family motto is that!?”

“Huhu… When Ash-sama’s stomach is empty, and Princess-sama gave him your homemade cooking, he would surely fall for you.”

“…Fall for me!?”

Cosette was like a devil whispering into Silvia’s ears.

“When a Princess who doesn’t look like she knew any cooking made a meal, which man wouldn’t be moved by it?”

“Cut the crap! I never want Ash to take notice of me! Never! I-It s just that I had some interest in cooking since a long time ago. I
will accept you offer because of this.”

Cosette handed her the recipe while smiling.
[[Image:SnRK v05 096.jpg|thumb]]

“Now, I had received my orders from Princess-sama and I will depart from Ansarivan immediately.”

“Huh? Immediately?”

“It is better if we act quickly, Princess-sama.”

Cosette lifted the both sides of her skirt slightly and bowed gracefully.

Suddenly, like a mist, Cosette disappeared from Silvia’s sight like a magician.

“H-Hey! Cosette? … Do you really want to depart at this moment?”

Silvia became worried when she heard no reply.

“Please hold on, Cosette! You should allow me to have some mental preparation before…!”

Silvia looked around the room with tears in her eyes. It looks like Cosette had really departed.

“Tsk… She never takes me seriously!”

After Silvia mumbled in regrets, she took a long hard look at the recipe given to her.

"The Stuffed Toy Dragon~A.S.B.1365.8~" is closed.

<noinclude>

==References and Translation Notes==
<references />

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|-
| Back to [[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Prologue|Prologue]]
| Return to [[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Chapter 2|Chapter 2]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Chapter 1

2014-04-26T18:39:09Z

128.163.8.92: /* Part 5 */

==Chapter 1 - Tragedy of Apollo house and Mirabel's decision==
===Part 1===
''-Don! Don…! Don!''

The sun had just raised but Ash who spent a sleepless night was waken up by a loud knocking sound.

“What in the world…?”

He took that silver watch by his pillow side and noticed that it was just half past six.

After he angrily took a look at the window, he became wide awake.

“Uwaa…!”

There was a huge eye looking through the gaps of the curtain.

It was actually a dragon who was banging its nose against the window.

''-Don! Don… Dododododo!”''

He was worried that it may break the glass.

“Why is a dragon coming to my room!? Could it be another Necromancia attack!?”

So the Empire had finally shown their true colours and started attacking? Ash tried to leave the bed but he was stopped.

“Zzz…”

Eco rolled over and hugged Ash.

Her hair was all over his shoulders and her arms were around his back.

And also her soft face that was on his chest…

''-Mmm…''

Ash was shocked by her sudden nibble.

“Hey, Eco… Please don’t bite that spot.”

Recently, her habit of nibbling had gotten less but she still had not gotten rid of her habit of a young dragon. Moreover, she was
nibbling on Ash’s sensitive spot which troubled him.

At that moment, there was a crack on the window.

“This is bad… It is not the right moment to let her continue nibbling.”

Ash carried Eco and they leave the bed together. The next thing he knew, the glass was smashed into pieces.

He managed to avoid the glass fragments at the last moment.

At the same time, there were two dragons that were trying to squeeze their heads into the window. Their hard scales protect them from the
sharp glass.

By taking a closer look, Ash noticed that one of them was a Maestro while the other was a Hydra. After knowing that he was not attacked by
a Necromancia, Ash breathe a sigh of relieve.

“Morning, Ash!”

“Good morning, Ash-sama!”

Finally, he could see the faces of the two riders.

They were the student council secretary Lucca and Jessica of the general affairs. Right beside them were Maestro Gawain and Rhiannon the
Hydra.

Ash started to protest after he placed Eco who was still sleeping on the bed.

“Lucca! Jessica! What in the world are both of you doing!?”

Since the time Ash saved Gawain who was in danger of dying, Lucca had become emotionally attached to Ash. In the dragon riding academy,
most of the girls are the more aggressive type, it was kind of rare to see someone as quite as Lucca. The beauty that only an Eckbald
possessed was out of this world.

Ash was a little surprise to see Lucca acting rashly. Perhaps she was influenced by Jessica.

“Ash… I hoped that you would come with me to the Eckbald village. I want to introduce you to the village chief, my otou-sama.” <ref>In the
raw version, Lucca called her father otou-sama, but the kanji written was foster father.</ref>

Her usual emotionless face had always given Ash a heck lot of trouble.

“Hold on! W-Why must you mention about the chief!?”

“P-Please don’t ask anymore than this.”

Lucca was suddenly blushing.

This time, it was Jessica who pushed Lucca to aside.

Jessica who was usually eyeing at Ash’s sperm, though her actions had always been eccentric, she was still undoubtable one of the few
beauties of the academy.

“Ash-sama, I have a request!”

“Hey, wait a minute! This is the third floor! How did a hydra get here…?”

“Well. Climbing wall is not a problem for my Rhiannon.”

“Can’t you sympathize your Pal a little!”

Ash pitied her Pal. Although a Hydra may still be able to move on land, but only when they are in the water they are able to show their
true skills. It shouldn’t be its own intention to walk on land. Let alone climbing the walls of the student’s dormitory, which doesn’t
seem to fit the actions of a proud dragon.

“Putting that aside, Ash-sama! I am about to leave Ansarivan. What about you? Do you have any plans of returning?”

“Now I remember… today is the start of the holiday.”

-The first day of the month of Leo.

It was the first day of the holidays for Ansaraivan Dragon Riding Academy. Since it was a boarding school, most of the student will return
to their hometown.

Of course, not all of the students were going back home. There were also a small amount of students that were forced to stay in for the
holidays for certain reasons.

Ash was one of them.

“Nope, I am not going home.”

After hearing, Jessica’s facial expression changes.

“What! If that’s the case, I too will stay back here!”

“Uuh… If I don’t return soon… I will be scolded by my otou-sama.”

Compare to Jessica who was in high spirit, Lucca looks sad. Lucca who carry the hopes of all Eckbald with her probably doesn’t have as much freedom as Jessica has.

“Sorry to disappoint you Jessica, but you must return with me.”
[[Image:SnRK v05 044.jpg|thumb]]

Suddenly, there was another voice.

“Rebecca-san!”

Ash shouted.

There was a sweet smell from her red hair being blown by the winds. She looking like a war maiden in the legends when she was riding on Cú
Chulainn.

“Sorry for the trouble that this stupid girl from my house had given you. The Randall family will cover the fees for mending the window.
The servants fault is also the master’s fault.”

“Now that you mention it… I remember that Jessica was a servant in the Randall family.”

“Just that since she became a Breeder, she had forgotten about her place.”

Rebecca sighed.

“Hmph! Could stop calling me that? I don’t have the intention of serving the Randall family for my whole life!”

“I never thought of that. You are my important childhood friend. Also, your parents had asked me to take good care of you. That is why I
have my duty to bring you back to meet your parents.”

Although her lips were smiling, there was not even a hint of smile in Rebecca’s eyes. After Jessica saw Rebecca’s determination, her
elbows dropped in disappointment.

“Haa… I understand. However… I want Ash-sama to see me off!”

Ash gave a wry smile.

“I think that should be alright.”

The moment he answered, Jessica was once again with a big smile. But, she was then blushing and started to mumble.

“T-Then… According to my hometown’s custom…. There should be a parting k-kiss….”

“Hey! Jessica! When does our hometown have such a custom?”

Rebecca exposed Jessica’s lie with a wry smile.

“Hmph! Rebecca! Don’t you know how to look at the atmosphere?”

“I-I too would like you to see me off…”

While Jessica was in rage, Lucca shyly told Ash her wish.

“Of course.”

“T-Then… According to the Eckbald custom…. I want you to give me a princess carry.”

Ash’s heart skipped a beat when he first saw Lucca’s blushing face.

“A-A princess carry!”

Ash was in a fixed but Jessica shouted at Lucca:

“Hey! What are you trying to do in this mess! That must be a lie!?”

“Uuh…”

While Lucca turned speechless, the noise that Jessica made had spread throughout the school.

“Hey, can you believe it! The president and Jessica were making a night visit! And the other person… Could she be Lucca Sarlinen the
genius girl from the basic class!?”

Suddenly, a huge number of students were gathering outside of the Apollo House. It was something for three girls to be standing on their
dragons beside a window of a boy’s dormitory.

To say nothing of Rebecca Randall who was the most popular person in the entire academy, Jessica was also one of the centers of attentions
and let alone Lucca with her Yōsei like looks and her skills as a Dragner.

“I-I am just here to have Ash-sama see me off! Nothing else!”

Jessica tried to settle the misunderstanding by shouting towards the direction of the school.

“Hmm! By saying Ash-kun you mean… The Ash-kun who was knighted yesterday!?”

“The knighting ceremony was awesome!”

“I also want him to see me off!”

Right now all the girls were speaking with s shrill voice.

Rebecca gave him a bitter smile while she was enjoying all of this.

“Seems like your popularity had sky rocketed after you become a Dragner.”

“The situation outside… Somehow, it looks frightening.”

“Yeah. I just saw around thirty dragons flying towards this window.”

Rebecca told him the unthinkable news with a calm face.

“Huh!?”

“Sorry, Ash. Though I have many reasons to help you… But if I show my true skills, the girls would suffer some grave injuries.”

“Hol-! Don’t leave me!”

“You should try to solve your own problem if you are a Dragner. Also… If it is alright, I would also want you to see me off.”

“…Eh?”

Unfortunately, Ash was not able to catch everything Rebecca said. Her voice disappeared behind the loud noise from Cú Chulainn flapping
its wings.

“Good luck, Ash.”

Lucca too had reluctantly flew off with Gawain.

Right after that, the Apollo House faced a terrible attack.

“Ash-kun! Please see me off!”

“Ash-kun, you might as well come to my home town with me…!”

“Hey! Don’t cut the queue!”

Most of the girls returning were riders of stradas. They were like bats gathering together for food at the window.

But of course it was impossible for thirty riders of stradas to squeeze into the window at the same time.

Soon, they started pushing around.

“P-Please be patient! Calm down! Please calm down!”

Ash was panicking.

Every single roar from the Strada was enough to shake up this entire old building.

“Hey!...How dare you! Ash-sama is my important- Nooooooo!”

Unlike Rebecca or Lucca, Jessica who stayed until the end was finally pushed off the wall together with Rhiannon.

“W-What should I do?”

Ash retreated until his back was facing the wall while he was watching the girls fighting for a spot.

At that moment, Eco who had rolled herself into a ball while she was sleeping had woken up and was rubbing her eyes.

“Hmmm…. What’s all the noise about?”

“You ! How can you still think of sleeping!”

Eco was looking around in confusion. It seems that she wasn’t fully awake yet and wasn’t able to think properly.

Ash shouted with all his might towards the window.

“I beg you! Could you please not make a mess in front of someone else’s window! I promise to see off every single one of you!”

Too bad for him, his voice was not received by them.

Suddenly, Ash had a bad feeling.

“I couldn’t be…”

His entire body was shivering in fear. Since some time ago, the wall facing the outside was creaking. It appears that the Stradas were
putting pressure on it.

“It is dangerous to stay here! Lets run Eco!”

“Huh…! Could you care to explain!”

“Later!”

Ash was running with Eco on his hands.

He ran out through the door and out to the corridor.

Just when he was sliding along the floor…

''-Creak…! Eeeeekkkk……. !Do--------------n!''

The next moment, there was a loud explosion.

Ash cautiously took a peek through the cracks on the door while trembling. All he sees was dust flying around and even the corridor was
affected.

''“*Cough *!*Cough *!”''

While covering up Eco who was coughing, Ash waited until the dust had settled down.

Just moments later-

After the dust had cleared up, what Ash saw was a clear sky.

The morning rays were shining at the disastrous room.

The wreckage of the wall was all over his room. It was a painful sight.

Right now, with the wall that was facing the academy and the window destroyed, his room looked like a doll house that can be seen from the
outside.

“Err… Eco, am I dreaming?”

“I think so?”

Ash and Eco were looking at the room with their mouths wide open.

===Part 2===
Ash was brought to the director’s office on the first day of the holiday.

As for those girls who were the culprit, it seems that they had ran back home as soon as possible. That is why Ash who was the victim was summoned.

“I see… Now I understand what had happened.”

Mirabel who was acting as the director replied coldly and drank from her cup of tea.

The room was full of the smells of bergamot and the tea.

Just like a robot, Mirabel’s face was emotionless the entire time. ''Does this princess even have the thing known as feelings…?'' Ash thought.

“The academy will take responsible for mending the wall. Just some time before, I had asked the builders of this city and they estimated
that they will be able to complete it in around two weeks time.”

“Really…! Thank you very much!”

Ash was grateful that she was able to deal with this situation without delay.

“The problem is… During the renovation, where am I to place you and Eco.”

“I see…”

“Can you borrow a room from any of your friends?”

“I don’t think that would be possible…”

Unfortunately, Max and Raymond had gone home. For Ash who doesn’t have many friends, these were the’ only two friends that he could rely
on. Although there was an option of using it without asking for their permissions, but Ash couldn’t bring himself to do it.

''-Bang!''

The door behind him was opened with a slam.

The next time he knew, Silvia and Eco was right beside him.

“How much longer are the two of you going to keep on talking!? Can’t you just give us a new room!”

Eco was pointing at Mirabel in anger.

“Anee-ue! Why do you call for Ash! That incident was caused by a few girls! It had nothing to do with Ash! Aren’t you treating him like
the culprit!?”

Silvia on the other hand was trying to speak up for Ash.

“Where are your manners? Don’t you know that it is rude to walk into a room without knocking? You won’t be given special treatment even if
you are the descendant of the Avalon Holy Dragons Emperor’s family or my sister. “

Mirabel glared at both of them coldly.

“I am sorry… Anee-ue.”

Silvia stood still on her ground as if she had turned into a stone.

On the other hand, Eco was trying to intimidate Mirabel by showing her sharp teeth.

“Hey you!... How dare you act like that even when you know that I am Avalon’s holy dragons' emperor family's Imperial Princess! Why don’t
I try crushing the castle the next time? If I show you my true self, one or two Fontaine Place won’t…”

“Idiot! Stop spurting nonsense!”

Ash’s face was pale white when he was scolding Eco.

Since that incident, the Knight’s government took Eco as a treat. As long as there is the possibility that Mirabel was here to keep an eye
on Eco, they have to be careful with their own words.

But to his surprise, Eco calm down with just a single shout.

She turned her head around with her face blushing.

“I-I will listen to you… Just this time.”

Ash was taken aback from seeing Eco making such an expression for the first time. Just as he had expected, it was that transformation that
had made a change of her heart. Although the gentle Eco looked a lot cuter, at the same time, it was also a little confusing.

“Ahem!”

Mirabel tried clearing her throat and everyone’s attention was back on her.

“Silvia, you came at the right moment. Right now you are staying in the royal room in the Epona House right?”

“…What about it?”

Silvia was surprised.

“Until the renovation in the boy’s dormitory had been completed, Ash Blake and young dragon Eco will stay in your room for the time
being.”

“What!”

“I won’t repeat for a second time. This is an order from your sister. You are not allowed to have any objections.”

Naturally, Silva was enraged.

“What do you mean by this! This is against our family motto where ‘A knight shouldn’t carelessly touch another of the opposite sex’!”

“Hmm… Funny but I remember that I said to let Ash Blake and young dragon Eco stay in your room. When did I ever mention about touching
Ash?”

“T-That…!”

Right at this moment, even Silvia’s earlobes were red.

“Right now, if I were to mention the family motto that you love so much, ‘A knight should help those who are in need’. Am I wrong?”

After she replied coldly, Mirabel looked like she had lost interest in the case regarding Ash. She kept on looking at the tea cup on her
hand.

“I am done with you- What a pain, now a good cup of tea had turned cold.”

===Part 3===
Rebecca and Jessica had returned to the land ruled by the Randalls.

Lucca on the other hand had returned to her village.

After seeing them off, Ash and Eco once again returned to his room on the third floor of the Apollo House.

They once again looked at the disastrous room.

A bed full of glass fragments.

A floor full with the remains of the wall.

And the disorganized furniture.

With the wall gone, the room became bright and windy. Looking down from above was a few curious onlookers. When their eyes came into
contact with Ash’s, everyone scattered.

“Haa… First of all, I think we should try cleaning up a little. It is better to make it look a little more cheerful before the renovation
starts.”

Turning around, Ash noticed that Eco was sulking.

“What’s wrong, Eco?”

“Hey. Do you really want to stay in Silvia’s room?”

“It is not like I have a choice. It was an order from Princess Mirabel. It seems that even Princess-sama did not dare to go against her.”

“I… I hate it.”

“What’s the matter? You don’t look like your usual self. Well, if we stay at Princess-sama’s room, we may be able to eat Cosette’s
delicious homemade cooking.”

“That’s not the point! And also, I am not someone who thinks about food for an entire day!”

Eco face was red with anger and embarrassment.

“Is it… Sorry then.”

“It is fine if you understand. Anyway, just if you try to do something weird to Silvia… I will be sure to crush you!”

Eco was glaring at Ash.

“What do you mean by something weird!?”

With her ears fully red, Eco told Ash embarrassedly:

“T-To make it simple…. It is those perverted stuffs.”

“W-What are you even thinking!”

Ash stood still on his ground. He never expects Eco to speak of such a word. It kind of surprise him.

“Even I knew about those stuffs… Don’t look down on me just because I am a young dragon.”

“Could the source of information be…. The Dragweiss?”

“…Some of them were from there, but most of them were from the picture books that Cosette lend to me.”

“Hold on! Are they really… Just picture books!?”

In order to teach her the importance of aesthetic sensibility, Cosette had lent her picture books and books for children. For that, Ash
was grateful for Cosette.

However, there is a possibility that she mixed some picture books for adult in them.

“Anyhow, she is still this country’s princess. What you are worrying about will never happen, rest assure.”

''In the worst possible case, I will be beheaded…'' Ash thought secretly.

“A-Alright… I understand.”

Once again, Eco was smiling and she looked at the room around her.

“Then… What can I do to help you?”

“You are trying to help?”

“What? Is it weird for me to help?”

“Definitely not weird, but rare. Ain’t it always me who complete the house work?”

“A-About that… It doesn’t seem like I have a choice. I am a dragon. I don’t really understand how a human acts. But… I just feel like
helping for today… Can’t I!?”

Eco puffed up her rosy coloured checks and stared at Ash.

“Why not? I even want to thank you.”

Ash gave a wry smile and tried to pat her head.

But, Eco immediately dodge to a side.

“No! You mustn’t touch!”

“Sorry… I don’t know that you dislike it this much.”

“N-No! It is okay it you are just patting, but you mustn’t touch my horns. If they were just slightly touched, I… will turn weird. I felt
like floating in the air when they were touched...”

Ash could calm down after seeing Eco’s face when she tried to explain her feelings.

“I understand. I promise I won’t touch your horns.”

Ash carefully patted Eco’s head.

Her pink hair was fluffy and it gave his palm a nice feeling.

“Nn…”

Even when she was a dragon, Eco was smiling and shrugging her neck like what a cat would do.

Her innocent smile had grabbed Ash’s attention.

To be precise, it was her flower bud like lips.

His heart was beating rapidly.

This was actually the second time he had such a feeling.

The first time was when Eco said that she won’t be satisfied with just being a Pal in the guest room in Fontaine Palace.

“…”

Eco probably felt the change in the atmosphere too and her body suddenly tense up. Perhaps she too was also thinking about the scenario in
the Fontaine Palace.

In a short while, just like that time, Eco closes her eyes.

She also tried to purse her lips.

Ash also noticed that her long eyelashes were also trembling.

''-Eco…!''
[[Image:SnRK v05 060.jpg|thumb]]

The suddenly remembered the word ‘beloved Pal’ in the knighting ceremony.

During that time, Ash was only saying the standard pledge.

But this was totally different.

His feeling of love to Eco was born from deep in his heart. A feeling that could be explained using something a simple as the relation of
a Breeder and its Pal had grown.

Right now, they don’t need any words.

Ash placed both his hands on Eco’s shoulders and he closes their distance slowly.

A sweet smell was surrounding them which made him dizzy.

Right now, he felt as if his heart was going to explode.

They were now at a distance where their nose could easily touch each other.

Eco felt like being pierced through by the sunlight while she was waiting for Ash.

Ash made up his mind and closed his eyes.

And then- he kissed Eco on her lips.

===Part 4===
“~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~!”

Since their kiss, Eco had been working silently with her back facing Ash the entire time.

It seemed that she was too embarrassed to even look at Ash in the face.

And of course, it was the same for Ash.

Ash felt as if his face was a ball of fire.

Although the two of them at a first glance seems to be dusting the room, actually there was zero progress. What they were doing were only
messing up the already messed up room.

''-What should I do? What should I say at times like this?''

Just when Ash was anxious in trying to find the right words…

“Uwaaa…! Cute!”

Eco turned around and showed Ash a round object.

“Isn’t this cute? Where did you find this stuff toy?”

At that moment, Ash felt something was pricking at the back of his neck. I made him wonder what it was.

The stuffed toy that Eco was holding seems to be a dragon. Strictly speaking, its face was clumsily done.

Furthermore, it round body made it looks nothing like a majestic dragon.

However, Eco seems to take it as cute and it made her forget about what had just happened previously.

“Err… Actually I don’t remember much about that when it came into my possession. No matter how I look at it, looked just like a girl’s
toy. It is probably not me who bought it.”

It was thanks to the toy that Ash was once again able to speak to Eco normally.

“Hmm… Strange.”

Eco was carrying the stuffed toy while she whipped off the dust on it.

“Hmm… When I move to Ansarivan, I just took it with me without any reason. Perhaps that is a great meaning behind it was what I thought.
Actually… There is a blank in my childhood memory.”

“… A blank in your memories?”

Eco was surprised.

“Aah. I was right about when I had my seventh birthday when I visited Albion Forest for the Orphan Ceremony. I just can’t recall my
memories during that time.”

“Isn’t that… The time when Mother Dragon bestowed me to you?”

“It seems so.”

“How come you can’t remember such an important event?”

Ash shrunk when he saw Eco started to get mad. Just when they were finally able to speak normally, it seems that Eco’s temper had also
returned.

“To be frank, I know nothing of it myself. It was just that I had a hunch that this toy had something to do with my lost memories and
that’s the reason why I was reluctant to throw it away. However, because of the recent events, I totally forgot about it.”

“Then, can I keep it?’

Ash was taken by surprised.

“What do you mean by keeping it?”

“It is just like what I had said. Don’t you think it is sad for such a cute being to be left forgotten? I will take the trouble to take
care of this kid.”

“How can you take care of it when it isn’t even a living being? Well, whatever suits you then.”

“Really!?”

Eco was full of excitement.

“Well, I don’t really mind.”

“That great!”

Eco was so happy that felt that she could even fly. She then rubbed the stuffed toy with her checks.

Followed by that, she cuddled it like what a mother would do to her baby.

Suddenly, she spoke of something that surprised Ash.

“This somehow looked like our baby…”

Eco suddenly stopped speaking before she could even finish her sentence. She the glared at Ash with her eyes as if they were on fire.

“You heard anything?”

“No, nothing at all.”

Ash spoke with a serious look on his face.

“T-That’s right! N-Nothing happened! Nothing happened at all!”

As if her head was exploding in flames, Eco carried the toy and dashed out from the room.

“Actually, I heard every single word…”

Just when Ash was murmuring as he felt as if his body was on fire…

“Sorry to interrupt, Ash-sama.”

Suddenly, there was a woman’s voice coming from behind.

“Uwaa!”

He noticed that it was Cosette after he turned around. She seems to be wearing that same palace design maid attire today. She then gave a
polite bow.

“Cosette-san! How did you get in?”

“To enter such an airy room is like a child’s play to me.”

Cosette smiled when she turned around to look at the blue sky.

“That couldn’t be… This is the third floor! Putting that aside, why are you here?”

“I am here to meet you and Eco-chan. Had you forgotten about Princess Mirabel, Her Highness’s decision?”

Of course, it was impossible for him to forget about it to begin with. However, he still felt a little reluctant.

“Actually, can’t we reconsider about this? Putting Eco aside, don’t you think that it is wrong for a guy like me to enter Epona House
where guys are not allowed?”

“For your own sake, I would advise you to follow her decision. Do you know what Princes Mirabel was also known as?”

“No… Actually none at all.”

“Her nick name is actually Argento Magus If we can describe Princess Veronica as a fighter, then Princess Mirabel is a thinker. Compare to
Veronica, there were certain things that would made Mirabel a tougher opponent. Please be sure to be prepared mentally, Ash-sama.”

Ash sighed after he heard everything.

“…I understand. Please let me take some belongings with me like my pillow and cloths…”

“Alright then, meanwhile, I will try searching for Eco.”

Eco had not yet return since the moment she ran out from the room.

“Thank you. I think she should be somewhere around the dorm.”

“Huhu. That will be a simple task.”

Cosette ran towards the door nimbly while she was avoiding the disorganized furniture, but then, she suddenly stopped and turned around to
face Ash.

“By the way, Ash-sama.”

“What’s the matter?”

When Ash lifted his face, he saw Cosette’s face full of red. Ash was staring at her since it was rare to see her who was always calm to be
blushing.

Although she always stayed hidden behind Silvia’s shadow, she actually looked quite beautiful.

With her right hand on her checks, she sighed.

Then she said something outrageous.

“Ash-sama and Eco-chan’s kiss looks very innocent indeed.”

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

This time, it was Ash’s turn to be blushing.

“D-Don’t, Don’t tell me that you saw everything!?”

“It totally felt like an opera show. You looked so cute when you kiss without even needing and words to understand each other. My god,
isn’t that wonderful? Don’t Eco-chan looked cute to when she was waiting to receive your kiss?”

“I beg you, please stop saying anymore than this! It is embarrassing!”

Right now, Ash felt like he was sitting on a mountain of needles.

Cosette to had seemed to realized that she over did it replied with a playful smile.

“Rest assure, I won’t tell Princess-sama any of this.”

“How is Princeass-sama related to this!?”

“Hmm… I wonder… Huhu…”

Cosette left the room with her sentence ending with her laughter.

===Part 5===
The moment Ash finished gathering all his basic daily needs, Cosette was back with Eco. Together, the three of the marched towards Epona House.

Although it was around evening, the sun was still high up in the sky.

After passing through a grove of mixed trees, they were welcomed by a stern looking gate.

Even the cicada had stopped making noise.

Although they were just walking, they were all full of sweat.

By taking a peak beside, Eco looked as if she was suffering from the heat of the high summer temperature. She looked like a Hydra who was
looking for water on dry land.

Compare to Ash, Eco was only carrying her stuffed toy.

On the other hand, Cosette didn’t even break a sweat.

“We had arrived.”

She turned around and smiled at both Ash and Eco.

Through the gate, they could see a garden that was separated into two halves by the walk way. It must have been well tended by a good
gardener. Even Ash who doesn’t have any interest in gardening was amazed by it.

At the back of the garden stood an elegant looking building.

That was Epona House, the dormitory for advance class girls.

“We had finally arrived…”

Ash placed his baggage which was full of daily needs and clothing on the ground.

''How long does it actually take to walk here from Apollo House…'' Ash couldn’t be bothered to even think about it.

This dragon riding academy where human and dragons coexist had a very large land area.

In it, there were numerous classes, a church, a lecture hall, a library, a canteen, seven dragon houses, four dormitories, a sports
ground… It even included an arena that was used during events.

Although there was the shopping district and the housing are beyond the school walls, compare to the size of the academy, they just looked
like extras. That the reason why Ansarivan was called an academic city.

Putting that aside, the distance between the boys dormitory and the girls dormitory must had been arranged on purpose by the academy.

“Please enter.”

Cosette pushed opened the heavy looking gate and welcomed both of them in.

===Part 6===
On the top most floor of Epona House was the room of royal use.

It looked like a high class hotel suit and it even had a large space.

Apart from a heater in the living room, there was also a dining room, a study room, bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, etc. In a room that
has everything, it looked as if it was another world compare to the normal student’s room.

Silvia was walking up and down around her room alone, worrying endlessly.

“Argh! What’s wrong with me! Why couldn’t I calm down! Even my family motto stated that ‘Always stay calm, especially in a pinch’!”

Even though she wasn’t even in a pinch, Silvia couldn’t stop worrying. It was about time for Cosette to arrive with Ash and Eco.

“That’s it!”

Silvia stopped in her tracks for a moment and then she dashed into the makeup room and stood in front of a mirror.

She applied a thin layer of makeup on her face.

She tried combing her hair many times.

Her clothings and accessories were chosen by Cosette.

She put on her camisole, a skirt with two layers of frills, her panty socks and a necklace made from bright dragon crystals that acted at
jewels.

In front of the mirror, she was just like her usual…. No, she was at least twice as more beautiful than she usually was.

Silvia turned red when she realized how beautiful she was.

“Why would I dress myself up! It is alright by just sticking to what I usually do!”

Ash was about to arrive.

Until the boy’s dormitory was done with its renovation, Ash was going to stay here for two weeks.

Her hearts started to beat rapidly from thinking about it.

“This feeling… It is that same feeling as ''that time…''”

Silvia recalled her memories.

Around the time of her seventh birthday, she met a boy in Albion Forest.

''-Why? Why would I have this feeling of returning to the time when I was seven years old whenever I think about Ash…?”''

Silvia suddenly regained her sense.

“Stop! Stop! Stop! Doesn’t this mean that I am looking forward for him to arrive!? Right… I should change back into my normal chothing…”
[[Image:SnRK v05 006.jpg|thumb|'' ''…!'' Silvia immediately snapped out from the confusion. She just remembered that right now, she was
only wearing her undergarments. '']]

Silvia left the makeup room and entered the living room. She swiftly removed all her clothings except for her undergarments. She then
walked along the corridor towards the changing room.

Suddenly, the door opened right in front of her eyes.

“Princess-sama, we had returned.”

Cosette walked in with a smile.

“Princess-sama!?”

Ash was standing right behind Cosette with his eyes wide opened. ''Why is his face red? Is it because of the heat?''

“…!”

Silvia immediately snapped out from the confusion. She just remembered that right now, she was only wearing her undergarments.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaa!”

Silvia ran and hid behind the door while screaming at the top of her voice.

===Part 7===
“Hey you! Just until when are young going to keep on staring!”

“Ouch!”

Ash came back to his sense after he was stomped on the leg by Eco.

Just when he had stepped in through the grand entrance, he was greeted by Silvia in only her undergarments. The white coloured lace will
forever be imprinted in his mind.

''By the way, why was Silvia wearing only those?'' No matter how hot the weather can be, it doesn’t suit her image.

“I am going to check on Princess-sama. Could the both of you wait here for a moment, please?”

With a happy smile on her face, Cosette disappeared into the corridor. In just a moment-

“No. This definitely doesn’t look natural.”

“No no. It definitely fits you well.”

“But… Won’t this make me look like I am looking forward to their arrival?”

“Huh? Aren’t you?”

Their entire conversation was heard by Ash.

“Come on! This is a disgrace! How dare they make a dragon wait by the entrance!”

Eco who was standing right beside Ash was in rage. The toy that she had with her which had a carelessly made face was further squashed by
Eco’s abnormal strength.

Ash pitied the toy. If this continued to keep on, Ash would probably be the next victim.

“Sorry for the wait.”

Just when Ash was about to be surrounded by his fear, Cosette had returned to the entrance with Silvia was hiding right behind her.

Ash’s heart skipped a beat when he saw Silvia’s clothing. It gave a completely different feel compare to the school uniform that she
usually wears. A lot of her skin was exposed from wearing the camisole. It had totally grabbed his attention.

“Please come in.”

Ash regained his sense after her heard Cosette’s voice.

“S-Sorry for the intrusion.”

In opposite to Ash, Eco was looking around the room with a hint of worry.

“Even so… You are just a Princess of the Royal Knight’s Family and you get to have such a great room?”

Perhaps she was mad from being asked to wait at the entrance, Eco was saying anything that would sooth her anger.

In truth, even Ash was amazed by the room itself. Just the entrance itself is wider than Ash’s room. There were even expensive looking
pictures along the wall and carvings of dragons.

“Please don’t be mad. This room was specially made for the royals, it would be natural if Princess-sama is staying here.”

Ash tried to calm her down.

“But, I am also a Princess of the dragons! Why would there be such a larger difference in our treatment!?”

“It is not like I want to stay in this room either!”

Silvia tried to speak up for herself even when she was being threatened by Eco.

“I even tried telling the academy to let me have the same treatment as the rest of the students, but they never listen…”

Suddenly, Silvia stood still on her ground. There was not even a slightest movement.

“Princess-sama… What’s wrong? You don’t look good.”

Ash was worried about her but she didn’t reply.

She kept on staring at the stuffed toy that Eco was carrying with her with her ice blue eyes.

Silvia then suddenly leaped towards Eco and grabbed her shoulders.

“Eco! Can you tell me how did that toy fall into your possession?”

Eco became confused.

“I-It has nothing to do with you.”

“Please tell me! This is very important!”

Silvia shouted loudly.

“… I picked it up.”

Eco mumbled when she turned her head to aside. It seemed that she did not want to tell Silvia that it was a gift from Ash. Ash was
wondering on why she would be insisting on it.

“You picked it up? When? Where?”

Silvia was being persistent.

“Come on! Why do I need to tell you?”

Eco lost her patience and roared.

“…Why can’t you tell me?”

“T-That’s because… I don’t have the obligation to tell you.”

“Now I see, you are playing dumb… It seems I must resolve to this.”

Suddenly, Silvia leaped towards Eco with both of her hands stretched out.

“Hey!... Don’t joke with me!”

Eco dodge with the toy in her arms.

With the royal room as the stage, the two of them started running around like a bunch of kids. In just a blink of an eye, both of them
disappeared behind a door.

“Err… What is this all about?”

Ash who was left behind turned around and questioned Cosette.

“Cosette-san?”

To his surprised, Cosette too was transfixed on her own spot. It was rare to see her making a face like that.

Cosette then regained her sense after being called out to by Ash and started explaining.

“I just remember about it… I fear that that stuffed toy…. Is an important treasure to Princess-sama during her childhood.”

Ash was surprised by her answer.

“Wait a moment! That shouldn’t be possible! There should be many more stuffed toys with the same design, no?”

Cosette answered calmly.

“No. There ain’t. That toy is the one and only in this world. It was a limited edition item. It was actually made from a famous artist
from Chevron Kingdom called Leonard De Mirabeau and was given to the five year old Princess-sama.”

“Really? That clumsily made toy is…”

“That’s not it… Its weird look was actually Mirabeau-sama’s style. Didn’t people usually say that there was only a silver line that
separates a genius and a madman? If that stuffed toy was bought to an antique auction… It should be priced at five million Eccles at
minimum.”

Cosette told him the shocking truth with s straight face.

“Five million…!”

Ash turned speechless.

His face had turned pale.

''-Five million Eccles!''

Ash couldn’t even imagine that amount of money. He just knew that he won’t be able to finish it by living the rest of his days enjoying
life. He never knew that such a treasure was hidden in his closet.

“W-We should try stopping them first!”

Ash started searching for them in the huge room.

===Part 8===
“Finally! You won’t be able to escape!”

Eco who ran into Silvia’s room was now like a rat in the bag. There was only one exit and the windows were too high to jump from since
this was the top most floor.

“Tsk… You are being persistent!”

Eco backed off to the wall and like a mother protecting her child, she tried to intimidate Silvia.

For one moment, Silvia was awed by her beauty, but the next instant, she roared:

“You haven’t told me anything yet! I just want to know how this toy came into your possession!”

“Why would you even want to know!?”

“T-That… I had my own reasons! Please, Eco!”

“Hmph… I had mine too. I will never tell you, only you!”

Both of them were glaring at each other with any intention of backing off.

Silvia realized that whatever she said was useless.

“Now you have done it. Although it is not to my liking… I must resolve this by force.”

“What! Who do you think I am! See that if you can do it!”

“Fine with me!”

Silvia leaped forward without mercy.

Although she must avoid Eco’s abnormal strength, Eco’s actions had always been straight forward and were always easy to read.

On the other hand, apart from the Drag Arts, Silvia had mastered many more fighting styles. It is a normal thing to do for something who
was born in the Lautreamont Royal Knight’s Family.

After struggling on the ground like brats, Silvia came out as the winner.

“Now you have been captured!”

Silvia was pressing Eco’s tiny body on the floor and without giving her a chance to fight back, she rode on Eco.

“Tsk… Let me go!”

“Is there any idiot in this world that would move off once they are being asked to?”

The winner had been decided. Even when Eco had her abnormal strength, she could never be able to beat Silvia.

But, there was a reason why Silvia could beat her easily.

Eco had never let go of the stuffed toy even after she was pressed down against the floor. If Eco would’ just let go of that toy, the
fight could still drag on. No, it could even be Silvia who was pressed down against the floor.

“Please, Eco! This is not an order. Although it was not a long time since the day I met you, I always think you as a friend. That is why…
Could you please tell me?’

Just when Silvia was begging Eco with a trembling voice…

“Eco! Princess-sama!”

The door opened with a bang and Ash came running in.

Silvia turned around to look at Ash while she was pressing Eco down against the floor.

“Hold on, Ash! I never have the intention to harm Eco! I just want to ask Eco about it… no matter what!”

“But, Princess-sama doesn’t act like the usual you. Even so, Eco is my Pal, I won’t forgive anyone who try to harm her, even if it is
Princess-sama.”

After Ash murmured sadly, he showed her his left arm.

Silvia knew that he had his abnormally large Seikoku covered in a bandage.

“Your Seikoku…?”

Silvia was in lost of words.

The Seikoku under the bandage was obviously blinking with glowing lights. That was a signal given when the Pal was in danger.

For example, even though Silvia did not have any intentions of harming Eco, but Eco felt that she was in danger and sent the signal to her
owner Ash for help…

“Sorry, Eco… I am really sorry. I am in the wrong for scaring you…. But, I have my own reasons. Please, Eco! Please tell me for the sake
of our friendship!”

Silvia was forcing out an answer from Eco.

“…Eco?”

Eco did not reply. Just as Silvia became confused, Eco was surrounded by a glowing light.

“Hey, Eco! What’s wrong?”

Eco still did not reply. Right now, Eco was like a doll, showing no expression.

Even her eyes seemed to be reflecting nothing.

“Urgh…!”

The next instant, Silvia was being blast of by a string wind.

“Princess-sama!”

Followed by Ash’s shout, Silvia’s back bang against the wall. She almost couldn’t breathe because of it.

===Part 9===
“Princess-sama!”

Just when Ash was trying to help Silvia out, Cosette arrived.

“I will take care of Princess-sama. Ash-sama, go help Eco-chan! This is no laughing matter!”

Cosette’s voice seemed to be more serious and nervous than usual.

“Understood!”

Ash ran straight towards Eco.

His Sikoku started to hurt.

He remembered that feeling.

He had the similar feeling when Eco was awaken in the capital, Fontaine.

Although the pain was not as strong as that time, Ash knew that this was the sign before her transformation into a dragon.

Eco stood up slowly with the cute stuffed toy dropping on the floor.

Strictly speaking, she was not standing.

There was a gap in between her feet and the floor.

She was actually floating…!

Her limbs were now surrounded by the mysterious light that was so bright that they could not look at it directly.

However, Ash continued to move forward.

“Stop, Eco! If you are to be awaken here…”

In the worst possible case, this Epona House will be destroyed. No, it could even be related to the city’s survivability…

Eco had long been label as an element of danger by many countries’s government. The reason why Mirabel was sent to become the academy’s director was to keep an eye on Eco.

''If she is to transform into a dragon right now…!''

Ash moved forward without giving any though and hugged Eco.

A huge amount of magic was flowing out from her tiny body. If he had been careless, he would even be swallowed by the magic and lost
conscious.

Ash shouted with all his might into Eco’s ears.

“Get a grip of yourself! I…I like the way you are now! It is okay if you just stay as you are! You don’t have to force yourself to change
into your true self!”

It seems that Ash’s words had gotten through and the magic that was surrounding Eco had disappeared. Even the lights were no longer there.
Ash’s Seikoku too had stopped responding.

“We are saved…”

Ash breathe a sigh of relieve.

“…Huh?”

Eco blinked her eyes in surprise and murmured.

“What had I done…? Why are you…?”

Realizing that she was in Ash’s arms, Eco leaped off from Ash’s arms with her face red in embarrassment.

===Part 10===
“I am sorry for what had happened just now. I-I never thought that you were so much against it…. No I shouldn’t make any excuses. A knight must admit his own faults. I deeply apologize!”

After the group had sat on a dining table in the living room, Silvia apologized to Eco sincerely.

“Hmph… I guess this should be sufficient.”

Silvia’s eagerness to apologize by bowing her head had started to confuse Eco. Even though she still continued to puff up her checks in
protest, but at least she had accepted Silvia’s apology. Ash who noticed it breathe a sigh of relieves.

“…Since everything had been settled, please allow me to ask. How did that stuffed toy came into your possession?”

Silvia’s words had cause Eco to be enraged again.

“Ha!? You….. Just apologize and yet you still was to ask!?”

“I apologize for resolving this matter by force. I promise that this time, I won’t try questioning you by force. But in return, I will
keep on asking until you answer me. Remember, I will keep on asking.”

Silvia was quite stubborn. She even smiled towards Eco with her face full of confidence.

“I can’t believe it…”

Eco sighed.

“Sorry, Eco-chan.”

At that moment, Cosette returned from the kitchen with a silver tray full of snacks and tea.

“That toy that Eco-chan was holding right now… It probably belongs to Princess-sama a long time ago.”

“How can it be…?”

Whilst she was surprised, Eco took a bite on the vanilla flavoured crepe that Cosette handed to her. If it was the usual Eco, she would
definitely shout out ‘Delicious!’ on the first bite, but right now, she was with a serious looks. As expected, even Eco couldn’t enjoy her
favorite food properly.

“What Cosette said is true. That toy is definitely an important thing to me during my childhood.”

Silvia spoke calmly as if she was trying to teach a child who knew nothing.

“Ha!? That’s impossible! I understand none of these!”

Eco placed her half eaten crepe back on her plate. Ash was surprised that she prioritized the argument before her crepe.

“I knew it the moment I saw it. There is only one of this stuffed toy in the whole world. It is a very important toy.”

“How can you have such confidence!?”

“You don’t even know the worth of that toy. Anyone who knows its worth would recognize it on their first sight.”

“Arrrrrggh! That explanation is totally unacceptable!”

''Eco was once again in rage, but at least Silvia knew her limit. Thanks to that, the atmosphere did not turn out to be any worst than this…'' Ash secretly thought.

“Come on you two…”

Cosette was obviously not at all troubled. She seems to be enjoying this.

“Haa… I seems like I don’t have a choice.”

Ash sighed.

“Please listen carefully, Princess-sama. That stuffed toy was in my closet. I gave it to Eco since she seems to like it.”

“Hey! Why did you tell that to her!?”

Eco was scolding Ash with her face red.

“What else can I do? If I leave it to both of you, the same thing will continue onwards again and again.”

“I… want this to be a secret between the both of us.”

Eco’s mumbling caught Ash’s attention.

“What did you say?”

“N-Nothing! I don’t even know you!”

Eco averted her face in anger. ''Why must she get angry...?'' Ash wondered.

On the other hand, Silvia was staring at Ash.

“Ash… you said that this toy was in your closet?”

“That seems to be the case.”

Ash shrugged his shoulders.

“Actually, I am not really clear about it. Believe me or not, there was a blank in my memories… I don’t even know how it came into my
possession. I don’t even know about its worst if not because of Cosette.”

Silvia was staring at Ash so intently almost as if she was going to pierce a hole in his forehead. She then asked a weird question.

“When is your birthday?”

“Huh? The third on the month of Aries… What about that?”

After Ash answered honestly, Cosette spoke in surprise:

“Oh, what a coincidence. It seems that Princess-sama was also born in the month of Aries. By the way, hers is in the seventh.”

“Hmm… That’s the first time I had heard of it.”

“Huhu… So Ash-sama is the bigger brother by four days.

“T-That… isn’t it…”

“Ash!”

Silvia suddenly leaned against him. Ash could see her breast that was covered by the thin cloth of the summer clothes.

“Princess-sama?”

“Even though this may seems abrupt, but do you still remember the date you went for the Orphan Ceremony?”

“Err… I don’t really remember about the details, but it shouldn’t be far away from my seventh birthday. Since my hometown was at a far
away village, I started my journey when I was still six. I remembered that I had my seventh birthday in a horse carriage.”

Once they reach the age of seven, every citizen of the Knight Country must visit Albion Forest.

For Ash, I he had departed after his seventh birthday, he would never be able to arrive at Albion Forest in a month time.

“By the way, does the date I went for the Orphan Ceremony matters?”

“…No, Nothing. I have something that I want to discuss with Cosette. Please stay here for the moment.”

Silvia suddenly stood up and dragged Cosette by the hand with her.

“What a weird Princess.”

Ash took a drink from the cup of red tea.

===Part 11===
After Silvia entered the makeup room, with an ‘Ahem’, she cleared her throat.

“What do you want to talk about, Princess-sama?”

“About that…”

“It doesn’t seem like something easy.”

Since she had been with Silvia for quite some time, Cosette immediately knew what she was thinking.

“Aah… That’s right.”

“I will do everything you tell me to if it is in my ability to do so. If the situation required, I could even be Princess-sama’s limbs or
even your shield… That’s my duty.”

Silvia made up her mind and told her wish.

“Actually, I want you to return to the palace and investigate the name list of the children who went to the orphan ceremony as the same
day as me. This should be an easy one for you, no?”

However, Cosette told Silvia something out of her imagination.

“The records of the Orphan Ceremony is the country’s top secret. Even if you are a Princess, you will be breaching the law by trying to
investigate it.”

“Then, your duty would be to avoid it. Please, I could only put my hopes on you. With your ability, reading top secret documents should
not be a problem, right?”

“That doesn’t sound nice, Princess-sama. The ability that I only knew of was an ancient technique that was passed down in the Shelly’s
family and some spying technique. All of them were used to protect the Lautreamont family.”

“I understand that, but…!”

Silvia grabbed her shoulders and looked at Cosette with her puppy eyes.

“Of course I will do it if this is your order. But, what will you do if Ash-sama is really that boy?”

Silvia’s face almost burst out in flames.

“I-I just want to know about it! That’s right, I only want to know about the truth!”

Cosette gave a wry smile.

“Hmm… Putting that aside, during the time when I am not in, when the night comes and Eco had slept, aren’t '''the two of you''' alone together?”

“When the night comes…. The two of us…!?”

This time, steam emerged from her ears. Her heart was beating none stop.

“W-W-What are you talking about! Don’t you have any shame! How shameless! I…I believe that Ash was not someone insolence! That is why
there is no point behind your question!”

Silvia snapped and Cosette nodded.

“I too had the same feeling.”

“Then why bother asking!”

Cosette smiled and took out something. I was a stack of paper held together by a paper clip.

“What’s that?”

“Huhu… A copy of ‘Shelley family’s secret. A recipe to make men dream’. Although I want to use it during this summer to teach Princess-
sama some cooking… But this is a good chance to try it. Although Princess-sama don’t have any actual experience, but isn't this a good
chance to show your cooking skills to Ash-sama?”

Silvia felt as if her body was on fire.

“Hold on! W-W-Why must I show Ash my cooking skills?”

“If I am not mistaken, The Lautreamont Family Motto did mention that ‘to shoot a general you must first shoot his horse’, am I right?”

“What does it had to do with this?”

“In the Shelley’s Family Motto, there is something like this: To get the man you like, you muts first fill his stomach’.”

“What kind of family motto is that!?”

“Huhu… When Ash-sama’s stomach is empty, and Princess-sama gave him your homemade cooking, he would surely fall for you.”

“…Fall for me!?”

Cosette was like a devil whispering into Silvia’s ears.

“When a Princess who doesn’t look like she knew any cooking made a meal, which man wouldn’t be moved by it?”

“Cut the crap! I never want Ash to take notice of me! Never! I-It s just that I had some interest in cooking since a long time ago. I
will accept you offer because of this.”

Cosette handed her the recipe while smiling.
[[Image:SnRK v05 096.jpg|thumb]]

“Now, I had received my orders from Princess-sama and I will depart from Ansarivan immediately.”

“Huh? Immediately?”

“It is better if we act quickly, Princess-sama.”

Cosette lifted the both sides of her skirt slightly and bowed gracefully.

Suddenly, like a mist, Cosette disappeared from Silvia’s sight like a magician.

“H-Hey! Cosette? … Do you really want to depart at this moment?”

Silvia became worried when she heard no reply.

“Please hold on, Cosette! You should allow me to have some mental preparation before…!”

Silvia looked around the room with tears in her eyes. It looks like Cosette had really departed.

“Tsk… She never takes me seriously!”

After Silvia mumbled in regrets, she took a long hard look at the recipe given to her.

"The Stuffed Toy Dragon~A.S.B.1365.8~" is closed.

<noinclude>

==References and Translation Notes==
<references />

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|-
| Back to [[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Prologue|Prologue]]
| Return to [[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Chapter 2|Chapter 2]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Chapter 1

2014-04-26T18:33:36Z

128.163.8.92: /* Part 4 */

==Chapter 1 - Tragedy of Apollo house and Mirabel's decision==
===Part 1===
''-Don! Don…! Don!''

The sun had just raised but Ash who spent a sleepless night was waken up by a loud knocking sound.

“What in the world…?”

He took that silver watch by his pillow side and noticed that it was just half past six.

After he angrily took a look at the window, he became wide awake.

“Uwaa…!”

There was a huge eye looking through the gaps of the curtain.

It was actually a dragon who was banging its nose against the window.

''-Don! Don… Dododododo!”''

He was worried that it may break the glass.

“Why is a dragon coming to my room!? Could it be another Necromancia attack!?”

So the Empire had finally shown their true colours and started attacking? Ash tried to leave the bed but he was stopped.

“Zzz…”

Eco rolled over and hugged Ash.

Her hair was all over his shoulders and her arms were around his back.

And also her soft face that was on his chest…

''-Mmm…''

Ash was shocked by her sudden nibble.

“Hey, Eco… Please don’t bite that spot.”

Recently, her habit of nibbling had gotten less but she still had not gotten rid of her habit of a young dragon. Moreover, she was
nibbling on Ash’s sensitive spot which troubled him.

At that moment, there was a crack on the window.

“This is bad… It is not the right moment to let her continue nibbling.”

Ash carried Eco and they leave the bed together. The next thing he knew, the glass was smashed into pieces.

He managed to avoid the glass fragments at the last moment.

At the same time, there were two dragons that were trying to squeeze their heads into the window. Their hard scales protect them from the
sharp glass.

By taking a closer look, Ash noticed that one of them was a Maestro while the other was a Hydra. After knowing that he was not attacked by
a Necromancia, Ash breathe a sigh of relieve.

“Morning, Ash!”

“Good morning, Ash-sama!”

Finally, he could see the faces of the two riders.

They were the student council secretary Lucca and Jessica of the general affairs. Right beside them were Maestro Gawain and Rhiannon the
Hydra.

Ash started to protest after he placed Eco who was still sleeping on the bed.

“Lucca! Jessica! What in the world are both of you doing!?”

Since the time Ash saved Gawain who was in danger of dying, Lucca had become emotionally attached to Ash. In the dragon riding academy,
most of the girls are the more aggressive type, it was kind of rare to see someone as quite as Lucca. The beauty that only an Eckbald
possessed was out of this world.

Ash was a little surprise to see Lucca acting rashly. Perhaps she was influenced by Jessica.

“Ash… I hoped that you would come with me to the Eckbald village. I want to introduce you to the village chief, my otou-sama.” <ref>In the
raw version, Lucca called her father otou-sama, but the kanji written was foster father.</ref>

Her usual emotionless face had always given Ash a heck lot of trouble.

“Hold on! W-Why must you mention about the chief!?”

“P-Please don’t ask anymore than this.”

Lucca was suddenly blushing.

This time, it was Jessica who pushed Lucca to aside.

Jessica who was usually eyeing at Ash’s sperm, though her actions had always been eccentric, she was still undoubtable one of the few
beauties of the academy.

“Ash-sama, I have a request!”

“Hey, wait a minute! This is the third floor! How did a hydra get here…?”

“Well. Climbing wall is not a problem for my Rhiannon.”

“Can’t you sympathize your Pal a little!”

Ash pitied her Pal. Although a Hydra may still be able to move on land, but only when they are in the water they are able to show their
true skills. It shouldn’t be its own intention to walk on land. Let alone climbing the walls of the student’s dormitory, which doesn’t
seem to fit the actions of a proud dragon.

“Putting that aside, Ash-sama! I am about to leave Ansarivan. What about you? Do you have any plans of returning?”

“Now I remember… today is the start of the holiday.”

-The first day of the month of Leo.

It was the first day of the holidays for Ansaraivan Dragon Riding Academy. Since it was a boarding school, most of the student will return
to their hometown.

Of course, not all of the students were going back home. There were also a small amount of students that were forced to stay in for the
holidays for certain reasons.

Ash was one of them.

“Nope, I am not going home.”

After hearing, Jessica’s facial expression changes.

“What! If that’s the case, I too will stay back here!”

“Uuh… If I don’t return soon… I will be scolded by my otou-sama.”

Compare to Jessica who was in high spirit, Lucca looks sad. Lucca who carry the hopes of all Eckbald with her probably doesn’t have as much freedom as Jessica has.

“Sorry to disappoint you Jessica, but you must return with me.”
[[Image:SnRK v05 044.jpg|thumb]]

Suddenly, there was another voice.

“Rebecca-san!”

Ash shouted.

There was a sweet smell from her red hair being blown by the winds. She looking like a war maiden in the legends when she was riding on Cú
Chulainn.

“Sorry for the trouble that this stupid girl from my house had given you. The Randall family will cover the fees for mending the window.
The servants fault is also the master’s fault.”

“Now that you mention it… I remember that Jessica was a servant in the Randall family.”

“Just that since she became a Breeder, she had forgotten about her place.”

Rebecca sighed.

“Hmph! Could stop calling me that? I don’t have the intention of serving the Randall family for my whole life!”

“I never thought of that. You are my important childhood friend. Also, your parents had asked me to take good care of you. That is why I
have my duty to bring you back to meet your parents.”

Although her lips were smiling, there was not even a hint of smile in Rebecca’s eyes. After Jessica saw Rebecca’s determination, her
elbows dropped in disappointment.

“Haa… I understand. However… I want Ash-sama to see me off!”

Ash gave a wry smile.

“I think that should be alright.”

The moment he answered, Jessica was once again with a big smile. But, she was then blushing and started to mumble.

“T-Then… According to my hometown’s custom…. There should be a parting k-kiss….”

“Hey! Jessica! When does our hometown have such a custom?”

Rebecca exposed Jessica’s lie with a wry smile.

“Hmph! Rebecca! Don’t you know how to look at the atmosphere?”

“I-I too would like you to see me off…”

While Jessica was in rage, Lucca shyly told Ash her wish.

“Of course.”

“T-Then… According to the Eckbald custom…. I want you to give me a princess carry.”

Ash’s heart skipped a beat when he first saw Lucca’s blushing face.

“A-A princess carry!”

Ash was in a fixed but Jessica shouted at Lucca:

“Hey! What are you trying to do in this mess! That must be a lie!?”

“Uuh…”

While Lucca turned speechless, the noise that Jessica made had spread throughout the school.

“Hey, can you believe it! The president and Jessica were making a night visit! And the other person… Could she be Lucca Sarlinen the
genius girl from the basic class!?”

Suddenly, a huge number of students were gathering outside of the Apollo House. It was something for three girls to be standing on their
dragons beside a window of a boy’s dormitory.

To say nothing of Rebecca Randall who was the most popular person in the entire academy, Jessica was also one of the centers of attentions
and let alone Lucca with her Yōsei like looks and her skills as a Dragner.

“I-I am just here to have Ash-sama see me off! Nothing else!”

Jessica tried to settle the misunderstanding by shouting towards the direction of the school.

“Hmm! By saying Ash-kun you mean… The Ash-kun who was knighted yesterday!?”

“The knighting ceremony was awesome!”

“I also want him to see me off!”

Right now all the girls were speaking with s shrill voice.

Rebecca gave him a bitter smile while she was enjoying all of this.

“Seems like your popularity had sky rocketed after you become a Dragner.”

“The situation outside… Somehow, it looks frightening.”

“Yeah. I just saw around thirty dragons flying towards this window.”

Rebecca told him the unthinkable news with a calm face.

“Huh!?”

“Sorry, Ash. Though I have many reasons to help you… But if I show my true skills, the girls would suffer some grave injuries.”

“Hol-! Don’t leave me!”

“You should try to solve your own problem if you are a Dragner. Also… If it is alright, I would also want you to see me off.”

“…Eh?”

Unfortunately, Ash was not able to catch everything Rebecca said. Her voice disappeared behind the loud noise from Cú Chulainn flapping
its wings.

“Good luck, Ash.”

Lucca too had reluctantly flew off with Gawain.

Right after that, the Apollo House faced a terrible attack.

“Ash-kun! Please see me off!”

“Ash-kun, you might as well come to my home town with me…!”

“Hey! Don’t cut the queue!”

Most of the girls returning were riders of stradas. They were like bats gathering together for food at the window.

But of course it was impossible for thirty riders of stradas to squeeze into the window at the same time.

Soon, they started pushing around.

“P-Please be patient! Calm down! Please calm down!”

Ash was panicking.

Every single roar from the Strada was enough to shake up this entire old building.

“Hey!...How dare you! Ash-sama is my important- Nooooooo!”

Unlike Rebecca or Lucca, Jessica who stayed until the end was finally pushed off the wall together with Rhiannon.

“W-What should I do?”

Ash retreated until his back was facing the wall while he was watching the girls fighting for a spot.

At that moment, Eco who had rolled herself into a ball while she was sleeping had woken up and was rubbing her eyes.

“Hmmm…. What’s all the noise about?”

“You ! How can you still think of sleeping!”

Eco was looking around in confusion. It seems that she wasn’t fully awake yet and wasn’t able to think properly.

Ash shouted with all his might towards the window.

“I beg you! Could you please not make a mess in front of someone else’s window! I promise to see off every single one of you!”

Too bad for him, his voice was not received by them.

Suddenly, Ash had a bad feeling.

“I couldn’t be…”

His entire body was shivering in fear. Since some time ago, the wall facing the outside was creaking. It appears that the Stradas were
putting pressure on it.

“It is dangerous to stay here! Lets run Eco!”

“Huh…! Could you care to explain!”

“Later!”

Ash was running with Eco on his hands.

He ran out through the door and out to the corridor.

Just when he was sliding along the floor…

''-Creak…! Eeeeekkkk……. !Do--------------n!''

The next moment, there was a loud explosion.

Ash cautiously took a peek through the cracks on the door while trembling. All he sees was dust flying around and even the corridor was
affected.

''“*Cough *!*Cough *!”''

While covering up Eco who was coughing, Ash waited until the dust had settled down.

Just moments later-

After the dust had cleared up, what Ash saw was a clear sky.

The morning rays were shining at the disastrous room.

The wreckage of the wall was all over his room. It was a painful sight.

Right now, with the wall that was facing the academy and the window destroyed, his room looked like a doll house that can be seen from the
outside.

“Err… Eco, am I dreaming?”

“I think so?”

Ash and Eco were looking at the room with their mouths wide open.

===Part 2===
Ash was brought to the director’s office on the first day of the holiday.

As for those girls who were the culprit, it seems that they had ran back home as soon as possible. That is why Ash who was the victim was summoned.

“I see… Now I understand what had happened.”

Mirabel who was acting as the director replied coldly and drank from her cup of tea.

The room was full of the smells of bergamot and the tea.

Just like a robot, Mirabel’s face was emotionless the entire time. ''Does this princess even have the thing known as feelings…?'' Ash thought.

“The academy will take responsible for mending the wall. Just some time before, I had asked the builders of this city and they estimated
that they will be able to complete it in around two weeks time.”

“Really…! Thank you very much!”

Ash was grateful that she was able to deal with this situation without delay.

“The problem is… During the renovation, where am I to place you and Eco.”

“I see…”

“Can you borrow a room from any of your friends?”

“I don’t think that would be possible…”

Unfortunately, Max and Raymond had gone home. For Ash who doesn’t have many friends, these were the’ only two friends that he could rely
on. Although there was an option of using it without asking for their permissions, but Ash couldn’t bring himself to do it.

''-Bang!''

The door behind him was opened with a slam.

The next time he knew, Silvia and Eco was right beside him.

“How much longer are the two of you going to keep on talking!? Can’t you just give us a new room!”

Eco was pointing at Mirabel in anger.

“Anee-ue! Why do you call for Ash! That incident was caused by a few girls! It had nothing to do with Ash! Aren’t you treating him like
the culprit!?”

Silvia on the other hand was trying to speak up for Ash.

“Where are your manners? Don’t you know that it is rude to walk into a room without knocking? You won’t be given special treatment even if
you are the descendant of the Avalon Holy Dragons Emperor’s family or my sister. “

Mirabel glared at both of them coldly.

“I am sorry… Anee-ue.”

Silvia stood still on her ground as if she had turned into a stone.

On the other hand, Eco was trying to intimidate Mirabel by showing her sharp teeth.

“Hey you!... How dare you act like that even when you know that I am Avalon’s holy dragons' emperor family's Imperial Princess! Why don’t
I try crushing the castle the next time? If I show you my true self, one or two Fontaine Place won’t…”

“Idiot! Stop spurting nonsense!”

Ash’s face was pale white when he was scolding Eco.

Since that incident, the Knight’s government took Eco as a treat. As long as there is the possibility that Mirabel was here to keep an eye
on Eco, they have to be careful with their own words.

But to his surprise, Eco calm down with just a single shout.

She turned her head around with her face blushing.

“I-I will listen to you… Just this time.”

Ash was taken aback from seeing Eco making such an expression for the first time. Just as he had expected, it was that transformation that
had made a change of her heart. Although the gentle Eco looked a lot cuter, at the same time, it was also a little confusing.

“Ahem!”

Mirabel tried clearing her throat and everyone’s attention was back on her.

“Silvia, you came at the right moment. Right now you are staying in the royal room in the Epona House right?”

“…What about it?”

Silvia was surprised.

“Until the renovation in the boy’s dormitory had been completed, Ash Blake and young dragon Eco will stay in your room for the time
being.”

“What!”

“I won’t repeat for a second time. This is an order from your sister. You are not allowed to have any objections.”

Naturally, Silva was enraged.

“What do you mean by this! This is against our family motto where ‘A knight shouldn’t carelessly touch another of the opposite sex’!”

“Hmm… Funny but I remember that I said to let Ash Blake and young dragon Eco stay in your room. When did I ever mention about touching
Ash?”

“T-That…!”

Right at this moment, even Silvia’s earlobes were red.

“Right now, if I were to mention the family motto that you love so much, ‘A knight should help those who are in need’. Am I wrong?”

After she replied coldly, Mirabel looked like she had lost interest in the case regarding Ash. She kept on looking at the tea cup on her
hand.

“I am done with you- What a pain, now a good cup of tea had turned cold.”

===Part 3===
Rebecca and Jessica had returned to the land ruled by the Randalls.

Lucca on the other hand had returned to her village.

After seeing them off, Ash and Eco once again returned to his room on the third floor of the Apollo House.

They once again looked at the disastrous room.

A bed full of glass fragments.

A floor full with the remains of the wall.

And the disorganized furniture.

With the wall gone, the room became bright and windy. Looking down from above was a few curious onlookers. When their eyes came into
contact with Ash’s, everyone scattered.

“Haa… First of all, I think we should try cleaning up a little. It is better to make it look a little more cheerful before the renovation
starts.”

Turning around, Ash noticed that Eco was sulking.

“What’s wrong, Eco?”

“Hey. Do you really want to stay in Silvia’s room?”

“It is not like I have a choice. It was an order from Princess Mirabel. It seems that even Princess-sama did not dare to go against her.”

“I… I hate it.”

“What’s the matter? You don’t look like your usual self. Well, if we stay at Princess-sama’s room, we may be able to eat Cosette’s
delicious homemade cooking.”

“That’s not the point! And also, I am not someone who thinks about food for an entire day!”

Eco face was red with anger and embarrassment.

“Is it… Sorry then.”

“It is fine if you understand. Anyway, just if you try to do something weird to Silvia… I will be sure to crush you!”

Eco was glaring at Ash.

“What do you mean by something weird!?”

With her ears fully red, Eco told Ash embarrassedly:

“T-To make it simple…. It is those perverted stuffs.”

“W-What are you even thinking!”

Ash stood still on his ground. He never expects Eco to speak of such a word. It kind of surprise him.

“Even I knew about those stuffs… Don’t look down on me just because I am a young dragon.”

“Could the source of information be…. The Dragweiss?”

“…Some of them were from there, but most of them were from the picture books that Cosette lend to me.”

“Hold on! Are they really… Just picture books!?”

In order to teach her the importance of aesthetic sensibility, Cosette had lent her picture books and books for children. For that, Ash
was grateful for Cosette.

However, there is a possibility that she mixed some picture books for adult in them.

“Anyhow, she is still this country’s princess. What you are worrying about will never happen, rest assure.”

''In the worst possible case, I will be beheaded…'' Ash thought secretly.

“A-Alright… I understand.”

Once again, Eco was smiling and she looked at the room around her.

“Then… What can I do to help you?”

“You are trying to help?”

“What? Is it weird for me to help?”

“Definitely not weird, but rare. Ain’t it always me who complete the house work?”

“A-About that… It doesn’t seem like I have a choice. I am a dragon. I don’t really understand how a human acts. But… I just feel like
helping for today… Can’t I!?”

Eco puffed up her rosy coloured checks and stared at Ash.

“Why not? I even want to thank you.”

Ash gave a wry smile and tried to pat her head.

But, Eco immediately dodge to a side.

“No! You mustn’t touch!”

“Sorry… I don’t know that you dislike it this much.”

“N-No! It is okay it you are just patting, but you mustn’t touch my horns. If they were just slightly touched, I… will turn weird. I felt
like floating in the air when they were touched...”

Ash could calm down after seeing Eco’s face when she tried to explain her feelings.

“I understand. I promise I won’t touch your horns.”

Ash carefully patted Eco’s head.

Her pink hair was fluffy and it gave his palm a nice feeling.

“Nn…”

Even when she was a dragon, Eco was smiling and shrugging her neck like what a cat would do.

Her innocent smile had grabbed Ash’s attention.

To be precise, it was her flower bud like lips.

His heart was beating rapidly.

This was actually the second time he had such a feeling.

The first time was when Eco said that she won’t be satisfied with just being a Pal in the guest room in Fontaine Palace.

“…”

Eco probably felt the change in the atmosphere too and her body suddenly tense up. Perhaps she too was also thinking about the scenario in
the Fontaine Palace.

In a short while, just like that time, Eco closes her eyes.

She also tried to purse her lips.

Ash also noticed that her long eyelashes were also trembling.

''-Eco…!''
[[Image:SnRK v05 060.jpg|thumb]]

The suddenly remembered the word ‘beloved Pal’ in the knighting ceremony.

During that time, Ash was only saying the standard pledge.

But this was totally different.

His feeling of love to Eco was born from deep in his heart. A feeling that could be explained using something a simple as the relation of
a Breeder and its Pal had grown.

Right now, they don’t need any words.

Ash placed both his hands on Eco’s shoulders and he closes their distance slowly.

A sweet smell was surrounding them which made him dizzy.

Right now, he felt as if his heart was going to explode.

They were now at a distance where their nose could easily touch each other.

Eco felt like being pierced through by the sunlight while she was waiting for Ash.

Ash made up his mind and closed his eyes.

And then- he kissed Eco on her lips.

===Part 4===
“~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~!”

Since their kiss, Eco had been working silently with her back facing Ash the entire time.

It seemed that she was too embarrassed to even look at Ash in the face.

And of course, it was the same for Ash.

Ash felt as if his face was a ball of fire.

Although the two of them at a first glance seems to be dusting the room, actually there was zero progress. What they were doing were only
messing up the already messed up room.

''-What should I do? What should I say at times like this?''

Just when Ash was anxious in trying to find the right words…

“Uwaaa…! Cute!”

Eco turned around and showed Ash a round object.

“Isn’t this cute? Where did you find this stuff toy?”

At that moment, Ash felt something was pricking at the back of his neck. I made him wonder what it was.

The stuffed toy that Eco was holding seems to be a dragon. Strictly speaking, its face was clumsily done.

Furthermore, it round body made it looks nothing like a majestic dragon.

However, Eco seems to take it as cute and it made her forget about what had just happened previously.

“Err… Actually I don’t remember much about that when it came into my possession. No matter how I look at it, looked just like a girl’s
toy. It is probably not me who bought it.”

It was thanks to the toy that Ash was once again able to speak to Eco normally.

“Hmm… Strange.”

Eco was carrying the stuffed toy while she whipped off the dust on it.

“Hmm… When I move to Ansarivan, I just took it with me without any reason. Perhaps that is a great meaning behind it was what I thought.
Actually… There is a blank in my childhood memory.”

“… A blank in your memories?”

Eco was surprised.

“Aah. I was right about when I had my seventh birthday when I visited Albion Forest for the Orphan Ceremony. I just can’t recall my
memories during that time.”

“Isn’t that… The time when Mother Dragon bestowed me to you?”

“It seems so.”

“How come you can’t remember such an important event?”

Ash shrunk when he saw Eco started to get mad. Just when they were finally able to speak normally, it seems that Eco’s temper had also
returned.

“To be frank, I know nothing of it myself. It was just that I had a hunch that this toy had something to do with my lost memories and
that’s the reason why I was reluctant to throw it away. However, because of the recent events, I totally forgot about it.”

“Then, can I keep it?’

Ash was taken by surprised.

“What do you mean by keeping it?”

“It is just like what I had said. Don’t you think it is sad for such a cute being to be left forgotten? I will take the trouble to take
care of this kid.”

“How can you take care of it when it isn’t even a living being? Well, whatever suits you then.”

“Really!?”

Eco was full of excitement.

“Well, I don’t really mind.”

“That great!”

Eco was so happy that felt that she could even fly. She then rubbed the stuffed toy with her checks.

Followed by that, she cuddled it like what a mother would do to her baby.

Suddenly, she spoke of something that surprised Ash.

“This somehow looked like our baby…”

Eco suddenly stopped speaking before she could even finish her sentence. She the glared at Ash with her eyes as if they were on fire.

“You heard anything?”

“No, nothing at all.”

Ash spoke with a serious look on his face.

“T-That’s right! N-Nothing happened! Nothing happened at all!”

As if her head was exploding in flames, Eco carried the toy and dashed out from the room.

“Actually, I heard every single word…”

Just when Ash was murmuring as he felt as if his body was on fire…

“Sorry to interrupt, Ash-sama.”

Suddenly, there was a woman’s voice coming from behind.

“Uwaa!”

He noticed that it was Cosette after he turned around. She seems to be wearing that same palace design maid attire today. She then gave a
polite bow.

“Cosette-san! How did you get in?”

“To enter such an airy room is like a child’s play to me.”

Cosette smiled when she turned around to look at the blue sky.

“That couldn’t be… This is the third floor! Putting that aside, why are you here?”

“I am here to meet you and Eco-chan. Had you forgotten about Princess Mirabel, Her Highness’s decision?”

Of course, it was impossible for him to forget about it to begin with. However, he still felt a little reluctant.

“Actually, can’t we reconsider about this? Putting Eco aside, don’t you think that it is wrong for a guy like me to enter Epona House
where guys are not allowed?”

“For your own sake, I would advise you to follow her decision. Do you know what Princes Mirabel was also known as?”

“No… Actually none at all.”

“Her nick name is actually Argento Magus If we can describe Princess Veronica as a fighter, then Princess Mirabel is a thinker. Compare to
Veronica, there were certain things that would made Mirabel a tougher opponent. Please be sure to be prepared mentally, Ash-sama.”

Ash sighed after he heard everything.

“…I understand. Please let me take some belongings with me like my pillow and cloths…”

“Alright then, meanwhile, I will try searching for Eco.”

Eco had not yet return since the moment she ran out from the room.

“Thank you. I think she should be somewhere around the dorm.”

“Huhu. That will be a simple task.”

Cosette ran towards the door nimbly while she was avoiding the disorganized furniture, but then, she suddenly stopped and turned around to
face Ash.

“By the way, Ash-sama.”

“What’s the matter?”

When Ash lifted his face, he saw Cosette’s face full of red. Ash was staring at her since it was rare to see her who was always calm to be
blushing.

Although she always stayed hidden behind Silvia’s shadow, she actually looked quite beautiful.

With her right hand on her checks, she sighed.

Then she said something outrageous.

“Ash-sama and Eco-chan’s kiss looks very innocent indeed.”

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

This time, it was Ash’s turn to be blushing.

“D-Don’t, Don’t tell me that you saw everything!?”

“It totally felt like an opera show. You looked so cute when you kiss without even needing and words to understand each other. My god,
isn’t that wonderful? Don’t Eco-chan looked cute to when she was waiting to receive your kiss?”

“I beg you, please stop saying anymore than this! It is embarrassing!”

Right now, Ash felt like he was sitting on a mountain of needles.

Cosette to had seemed to realized that she over did it replied with a playful smile.

“Rest assure, I won’t tell Princess-sama any of this.”

“How is Princeass-sama related to this!?”

“Hmm… I wonder… Huhu…”

Cosette left the room with her sentence ending with her laughter.

===Part 5===
The moment Ash finished gathering all his basic daily needs, Cosette was back with Eco. Together, the three of the marched towards Epona House.

Although it was around evening, the sun was still high up in the sky.

After passing through a grove of mixed trees, they were welcomed by a stern looking gate.

Even the cicada had stopped making noise.

Although they were just walking, they were all full of sweat.

By taking a peak beside, Eco looked as if she was suffering from the heat of the high summer temperature. She looked like a Hydra who was
looking for water on dry land.

Compare to Ash, Eco was only carrying her stuffed toy.

On the other hand, Cosette didn’t even break a sweat.

“We had arrived.”

She turned around and smiled at both Ash and Eco.

Through the gate, they could see a garden that was separated into two halves by the walk way. It must have been well tended by a good
gardener. Even Ash who doesn’t have any interest in gardening was amazed by it.

At the back of the garden stood an elegant looking building.

That was Epona House, the dormitory for advance class girls.

“We had finally arrived…”

Ash placed his baggage which was full of daily needs and clothings on the ground.

''How long does it actually take use to walk her from Apollo House…'' Ash couldn’t be bothered to even think about it.

This dragon riding academy where human and dragons coexist had a very large land area.

In it, there were numerous classes, a church, a lecture hall, a library, a canteen, seven dragon houses, four dormitories, a sports
ground… It even included an arena that was used during events.

Although there was the shopping district and the housing are beyond the school walls, compare to the size of the academy, they just looked
like extras. That the reason why Ansarivan was called an academic city.

Putting that aside, the distance between the boys dormitory and the girls dormitory must had been arranged on purpose by the academy.

“Please enter.”

Cosette pushed opened the heavy looking gate and welcomed both of them in.

===Part 6===
On the top most floor of Epona House was the room of royal use.

It looked like a high class hotel suit and it even had a large space.

Apart from a heater in the living room, there was also a dining room, a study room, bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, etc. In a room that
has everything, it looked as if it was another world compare to the normal student’s room.

Silvia was walking up and down around her room alone, worrying endlessly.

“Argh! What’s wrong with me! Why couldn’t I calm down! Even my family motto stated that ‘Always stay calm, especially in a pinch’!”

Even though she wasn’t even in a pinch, Silvia couldn’t stop worrying. It was about time for Cosette to arrive with Ash and Eco.

“That’s it!”

Silvia stopped in her tracks for a moment and then she dashed into the makeup room and stood in front of a mirror.

She applied a thin layer of makeup on her face.

She tried combing her hair many times.

Her clothings and accessories were chosen by Cosette.

She put on her camisole, a skirt with two layers of frills, her panty socks and a necklace made from bright dragon crystals that acted at
jewels.

In front of the mirror, she was just like her usual…. No, she was at least twice as more beautiful than she usually was.

Silvia turned red when she realized how beautiful she was.

“Why would I dress myself up! It is alright by just sticking to what I usually do!”

Ash was about to arrive.

Until the boy’s dormitory was done with its renovation, Ash was going to stay here for two weeks.

Her hearts started to beat rapidly from thinking about it.

“This feeling… It is that same feeling as ''that time…''”

Silvia recalled her memories.

Around the time of her seventh birthday, she met a boy in Albion Forest.

''-Why? Why would I have this feeling of returning to the time when I was seven years old whenever I think about Ash…?”''

Silvia suddenly regained her sense.

“Stop! Stop! Stop! Doesn’t this mean that I am looking forward for him to arrive!? Right… I should change back into my normal chothing…”
[[Image:SnRK v05 006.jpg|thumb|'' ''…!'' Silvia immediately snapped out from the confusion. She just remembered that right now, she was
only wearing her undergarments. '']]

Silvia left the makeup room and entered the living room. She swiftly removed all her clothings except for her undergarments. She then
walked along the corridor towards the changing room.

Suddenly, the door opened right in front of her eyes.

“Princess-sama, we had returned.”

Cosette walked in with a smile.

“Princess-sama!?”

Ash was standing right behind Cosette with his eyes wide opened. ''Why is his face red? Is it because of the heat?''

“…!”

Silvia immediately snapped out from the confusion. She just remembered that right now, she was only wearing her undergarments.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaa!”

Silvia ran and hid behind the door while screaming at the top of her voice.

===Part 7===
“Hey you! Just until when are young going to keep on staring!”

“Ouch!”

Ash came back to his sense after he was stomped on the leg by Eco.

Just when he had stepped in through the grand entrance, he was greeted by Silvia in only her undergarments. The white coloured lace will
forever be imprinted in his mind.

''By the way, why was Silvia wearing only those?'' No matter how hot the weather can be, it doesn’t suit her image.

“I am going to check on Princess-sama. Could the both of you wait here for a moment, please?”

With a happy smile on her face, Cosette disappeared into the corridor. In just a moment-

“No. This definitely doesn’t look natural.”

“No no. It definitely fits you well.”

“But… Won’t this make me look like I am looking forward to their arrival?”

“Huh? Aren’t you?”

Their entire conversation was heard by Ash.

“Come on! This is a disgrace! How dare they make a dragon wait by the entrance!”

Eco who was standing right beside Ash was in rage. The toy that she had with her which had a carelessly made face was further squashed by
Eco’s abnormal strength.

Ash pitied the toy. If this continued to keep on, Ash would probably be the next victim.

“Sorry for the wait.”

Just when Ash was about to be surrounded by his fear, Cosette had returned to the entrance with Silvia was hiding right behind her.

Ash’s heart skipped a beat when he saw Silvia’s clothing. It gave a completely different feel compare to the school uniform that she
usually wears. A lot of her skin was exposed from wearing the camisole. It had totally grabbed his attention.

“Please come in.”

Ash regained his sense after her heard Cosette’s voice.

“S-Sorry for the intrusion.”

In opposite to Ash, Eco was looking around the room with a hint of worry.

“Even so… You are just a Princess of the Royal Knight’s Family and you get to have such a great room?”

Perhaps she was mad from being asked to wait at the entrance, Eco was saying anything that would sooth her anger.

In truth, even Ash was amazed by the room itself. Just the entrance itself is wider than Ash’s room. There were even expensive looking
pictures along the wall and carvings of dragons.

“Please don’t be mad. This room was specially made for the royals, it would be natural if Princess-sama is staying here.”

Ash tried to calm her down.

“But, I am also a Princess of the dragons! Why would there be such a larger difference in our treatment!?”

“It is not like I want to stay in this room either!”

Silvia tried to speak up for herself even when she was being threatened by Eco.

“I even tried telling the academy to let me have the same treatment as the rest of the students, but they never listen…”

Suddenly, Silvia stood still on her ground. There was not even a slightest movement.

“Princess-sama… What’s wrong? You don’t look good.”

Ash was worried about her but she didn’t reply.

She kept on staring at the stuffed toy that Eco was carrying with her with her ice blue eyes.

Silvia then suddenly leaped towards Eco and grabbed her shoulders.

“Eco! Can you tell me how did that toy fall into your possession?”

Eco became confused.

“I-It has nothing to do with you.”

“Please tell me! This is very important!”

Silvia shouted loudly.

“… I picked it up.”

Eco mumbled when she turned her head to aside. It seemed that she did not want to tell Silvia that it was a gift from Ash. Ash was
wondering on why she would be insisting on it.

“You picked it up? When? Where?”

Silvia was being persistent.

“Come on! Why do I need to tell you?”

Eco lost her patience and roared.

“…Why can’t you tell me?”

“T-That’s because… I don’t have the obligation to tell you.”

“Now I see, you are playing dumb… It seems I must resolve to this.”

Suddenly, Silvia leaped towards Eco with both of her hands stretched out.

“Hey!... Don’t joke with me!”

Eco dodge with the toy in her arms.

With the royal room as the stage, the two of them started running around like a bunch of kids. In just a blink of an eye, both of them
disappeared behind a door.

“Err… What is this all about?”

Ash who was left behind turned around and questioned Cosette.

“Cosette-san?”

To his surprised, Cosette too was transfixed on her own spot. It was rare to see her making a face like that.

Cosette then regained her sense after being called out to by Ash and started explaining.

“I just remember about it… I fear that that stuffed toy…. Is an important treasure to Princess-sama during her childhood.”

Ash was surprised by her answer.

“Wait a moment! That shouldn’t be possible! There should be many more stuffed toys with the same design, no?”

Cosette answered calmly.

“No. There ain’t. That toy is the one and only in this world. It was a limited edition item. It was actually made from a famous artist
from Chevron Kingdom called Leonard De Mirabeau and was given to the five year old Princess-sama.”

“Really? That clumsily made toy is…”

“That’s not it… Its weird look was actually Mirabeau-sama’s style. Didn’t people usually say that there was only a silver line that
separates a genius and a madman? If that stuffed toy was bought to an antique auction… It should be priced at five million Eccles at
minimum.”

Cosette told him the shocking truth with s straight face.

“Five million…!”

Ash turned speechless.

His face had turned pale.

''-Five million Eccles!''

Ash couldn’t even imagine that amount of money. He just knew that he won’t be able to finish it by living the rest of his days enjoying
life. He never knew that such a treasure was hidden in his closet.

“W-We should try stopping them first!”

Ash started searching for them in the huge room.

===Part 8===
“Finally! You won’t be able to escape!”

Eco who ran into Silvia’s room was now like a rat in the bag. There was only one exit and the windows were too high to jump from since
this was the top most floor.

“Tsk… You are being persistent!”

Eco backed off to the wall and like a mother protecting her child, she tried to intimidate Silvia.

For one moment, Silvia was awed by her beauty, but the next instant, she roared:

“You haven’t told me anything yet! I just want to know how this toy came into your possession!”

“Why would you even want to know!?”

“T-That… I had my own reasons! Please, Eco!”

“Hmph… I had mine too. I will never tell you, only you!”

Both of them were glaring at each other with any intention of backing off.

Silvia realized that whatever she said was useless.

“Now you have done it. Although it is not to my liking… I must resolve this by force.”

“What! Who do you think I am! See that if you can do it!”

“Fine with me!”

Silvia leaped forward without mercy.

Although she must avoid Eco’s abnormal strength, Eco’s actions had always been straight forward and were always easy to read.

On the other hand, apart from the Drag Arts, Silvia had mastered many more fighting styles. It is a normal thing to do for something who
was born in the Lautreamont Royal Knight’s Family.

After struggling on the ground like brats, Silvia came out as the winner.

“Now you have been captured!”

Silvia was pressing Eco’s tiny body on the floor and without giving her a chance to fight back, she rode on Eco.

“Tsk… Let me go!”

“Is there any idiot in this world that would move off once they are being asked to?”

The winner had been decided. Even when Eco had her abnormal strength, she could never be able to beat Silvia.

But, there was a reason why Silvia could beat her easily.

Eco had never let go of the stuffed toy even after she was pressed down against the floor. If Eco would’ just let go of that toy, the
fight could still drag on. No, it could even be Silvia who was pressed down against the floor.

“Please, Eco! This is not an order. Although it was not a long time since the day I met you, I always think you as a friend. That is why…
Could you please tell me?’

Just when Silvia was begging Eco with a trembling voice…

“Eco! Princess-sama!”

The door opened with a bang and Ash came running in.

Silvia turned around to look at Ash while she was pressing Eco down against the floor.

“Hold on, Ash! I never have the intention to harm Eco! I just want to ask Eco about it… no matter what!”

“But, Princess-sama doesn’t act like the usual you. Even so, Eco is my Pal, I won’t forgive anyone who try to harm her, even if it is
Princess-sama.”

After Ash murmured sadly, he showed her his left arm.

Silvia knew that he had his abnormally large Seikoku covered in a bandage.

“Your Seikoku…?”

Silvia was in lost of words.

The Seikoku under the bandage was obviously blinking with glowing lights. That was a signal given when the Pal was in danger.

For example, even though Silvia did not have any intentions of harming Eco, but Eco felt that she was in danger and sent the signal to her
owner Ash for help…

“Sorry, Eco… I am really sorry. I am in the wrong for scaring you…. But, I have my own reasons. Please, Eco! Please tell me for the sake
of our friendship!”

Silvia was forcing out an answer from Eco.

“…Eco?”

Eco did not reply. Just as Silvia became confused, Eco was surrounded by a glowing light.

“Hey, Eco! What’s wrong?”

Eco still did not reply. Right now, Eco was like a doll, showing no expression.

Even her eyes seemed to be reflecting nothing.

“Urgh…!”

The next instant, Silvia was being blast of by a string wind.

“Princess-sama!”

Followed by Ash’s shout, Silvia’s back bang against the wall. She almost couldn’t breathe because of it.

===Part 9===
“Princess-sama!”

Just when Ash was trying to help Silvia out, Cosette arrived.

“I will take care of Princess-sama. Ash-sama, go help Eco-chan! This is no laughing matter!”

Cosette’s voice seemed to be more serious and nervous than usual.

“Understood!”

Ash ran straight towards Eco.

His Sikoku started to hurt.

He remembered that feeling.

He had the similar feeling when Eco was awaken in the capital, Fontaine.

Although the pain was not as strong as that time, Ash knew that this was the sign before her transformation into a dragon.

Eco stood up slowly with the cute stuffed toy dropping on the floor.

Strictly speaking, she was not standing.

There was a gap in between her feet and the floor.

She was actually floating…!

Her limbs were now surrounded by the mysterious light that was so bright that they could not look at it directly.

However, Ash continued to move forward.

“Stop, Eco! If you are to be awaken here…”

In the worst possible case, this Epona House will be destroyed. No, it could even be related to the city’s survivability…

Eco had long been label as an element of danger by many countries’s government. The reason why Mirabel was sent to become the academy’s director was to keep an eye on Eco.

''If she is to transform into a dragon right now…!''

Ash moved forward without giving any though and hugged Eco.

A huge amount of magic was flowing out from her tiny body. If he had been careless, he would even be swallowed by the magic and lost
conscious.

Ash shouted with all his might into Eco’s ears.

“Get a grip of yourself! I…I like the way you are now! It is okay if you just stay as you are! You don’t have to force yourself to change
into your true self!”

It seems that Ash’s words had gotten through and the magic that was surrounding Eco had disappeared. Even the lights were no longer there.
Ash’s Seikoku too had stopped responding.

“We are saved…”

Ash breathe a sigh of relieve.

“…Huh?”

Eco blinked her eyes in surprise and murmured.

“What had I done…? Why are you…?”

Realizing that she was in Ash’s arms, Eco leaped off from Ash’s arms with her face red in embarrassment.

===Part 10===
“I am sorry for what had happened just now. I-I never thought that you were so much against it…. No I shouldn’t make any excuses. A knight must admit his own faults. I deeply apologize!”

After the group had sat on a dining table in the living room, Silvia apologized to Eco sincerely.

“Hmph… I guess this should be sufficient.”

Silvia’s eagerness to apologize by bowing her head had started to confuse Eco. Even though she still continued to puff up her checks in
protest, but at least she had accepted Silvia’s apology. Ash who noticed it breathe a sigh of relieves.

“…Since everything had been settled, please allow me to ask. How did that stuffed toy came into your possession?”

Silvia’s words had cause Eco to be enraged again.

“Ha!? You….. Just apologize and yet you still was to ask!?”

“I apologize for resolving this matter by force. I promise that this time, I won’t try questioning you by force. But in return, I will
keep on asking until you answer me. Remember, I will keep on asking.”

Silvia was quite stubborn. She even smiled towards Eco with her face full of confidence.

“I can’t believe it…”

Eco sighed.

“Sorry, Eco-chan.”

At that moment, Cosette returned from the kitchen with a silver tray full of snacks and tea.

“That toy that Eco-chan was holding right now… It probably belongs to Princess-sama a long time ago.”

“How can it be…?”

Whilst she was surprised, Eco took a bite on the vanilla flavoured crepe that Cosette handed to her. If it was the usual Eco, she would
definitely shout out ‘Delicious!’ on the first bite, but right now, she was with a serious looks. As expected, even Eco couldn’t enjoy her
favorite food properly.

“What Cosette said is true. That toy is definitely an important thing to me during my childhood.”

Silvia spoke calmly as if she was trying to teach a child who knew nothing.

“Ha!? That’s impossible! I understand none of these!”

Eco placed her half eaten crepe back on her plate. Ash was surprised that she prioritized the argument before her crepe.

“I knew it the moment I saw it. There is only one of this stuffed toy in the whole world. It is a very important toy.”

“How can you have such confidence!?”

“You don’t even know the worth of that toy. Anyone who knows its worth would recognize it on their first sight.”

“Arrrrrggh! That explanation is totally unacceptable!”

''Eco was once again in rage, but at least Silvia knew her limit. Thanks to that, the atmosphere did not turn out to be any worst than this…'' Ash secretly thought.

“Come on you two…”

Cosette was obviously not at all troubled. She seems to be enjoying this.

“Haa… I seems like I don’t have a choice.”

Ash sighed.

“Please listen carefully, Princess-sama. That stuffed toy was in my closet. I gave it to Eco since she seems to like it.”

“Hey! Why did you tell that to her!?”

Eco was scolding Ash with her face red.

“What else can I do? If I leave it to both of you, the same thing will continue onwards again and again.”

“I… want this to be a secret between the both of us.”

Eco’s mumbling caught Ash’s attention.

“What did you say?”

“N-Nothing! I don’t even know you!”

Eco averted her face in anger. ''Why must she get angry...?'' Ash wondered.

On the other hand, Silvia was staring at Ash.

“Ash… you said that this toy was in your closet?”

“That seems to be the case.”

Ash shrugged his shoulders.

“Actually, I am not really clear about it. Believe me or not, there was a blank in my memories… I don’t even know how it came into my
possession. I don’t even know about its worst if not because of Cosette.”

Silvia was staring at Ash so intently almost as if she was going to pierce a hole in his forehead. She then asked a weird question.

“When is your birthday?”

“Huh? The third on the month of Aries… What about that?”

After Ash answered honestly, Cosette spoke in surprise:

“Oh, what a coincidence. It seems that Princess-sama was also born in the month of Aries. By the way, hers is in the seventh.”

“Hmm… That’s the first time I had heard of it.”

“Huhu… So Ash-sama is the bigger brother by four days.

“T-That… isn’t it…”

“Ash!”

Silvia suddenly leaned against him. Ash could see her breast that was covered by the thin cloth of the summer clothes.

“Princess-sama?”

“Even though this may seems abrupt, but do you still remember the date you went for the Orphan Ceremony?”

“Err… I don’t really remember about the details, but it shouldn’t be far away from my seventh birthday. Since my hometown was at a far
away village, I started my journey when I was still six. I remembered that I had my seventh birthday in a horse carriage.”

Once they reach the age of seven, every citizen of the Knight Country must visit Albion Forest.

For Ash, I he had departed after his seventh birthday, he would never be able to arrive at Albion Forest in a month time.

“By the way, does the date I went for the Orphan Ceremony matters?”

“…No, Nothing. I have something that I want to discuss with Cosette. Please stay here for the moment.”

Silvia suddenly stood up and dragged Cosette by the hand with her.

“What a weird Princess.”

Ash took a drink from the cup of red tea.

===Part 11===
After Silvia entered the makeup room, with an ‘Ahem’, she cleared her throat.

“What do you want to talk about, Princess-sama?”

“About that…”

“It doesn’t seem like something easy.”

Since she had been with Silvia for quite some time, Cosette immediately knew what she was thinking.

“Aah… That’s right.”

“I will do everything you tell me to if it is in my ability to do so. If the situation required, I could even be Princess-sama’s limbs or
even your shield… That’s my duty.”

Silvia made up her mind and told her wish.

“Actually, I want you to return to the palace and investigate the name list of the children who went to the orphan ceremony as the same
day as me. This should be an easy one for you, no?”

However, Cosette told Silvia something out of her imagination.

“The records of the Orphan Ceremony is the country’s top secret. Even if you are a Princess, you will be breaching the law by trying to
investigate it.”

“Then, your duty would be to avoid it. Please, I could only put my hopes on you. With your ability, reading top secret documents should
not be a problem, right?”

“That doesn’t sound nice, Princess-sama. The ability that I only knew of was an ancient technique that was passed down in the Shelly’s
family and some spying technique. All of them were used to protect the Lautreamont family.”

“I understand that, but…!”

Silvia grabbed her shoulders and looked at Cosette with her puppy eyes.

“Of course I will do it if this is your order. But, what will you do if Ash-sama is really that boy?”

Silvia’s face almost burst out in flames.

“I-I just want to know about it! That’s right, I only want to know about the truth!”

Cosette gave a wry smile.

“Hmm… Putting that aside, during the time when I am not in, when the night comes and Eco had slept, aren’t '''the two of you''' alone together?”

“When the night comes…. The two of us…!?”

This time, steam emerged from her ears. Her heart was beating none stop.

“W-W-What are you talking about! Don’t you have any shame! How shameless! I…I believe that Ash was not someone insolence! That is why
there is no point behind your question!”

Silvia snapped and Cosette nodded.

“I too had the same feeling.”

“Then why bother asking!”

Cosette smiled and took out something. I was a stack of paper held together by a paper clip.

“What’s that?”

“Huhu… A copy of ‘Shelley family’s secret. A recipe to make men dream’. Although I want to use it during this summer to teach Princess-
sama some cooking… But this is a good chance to try it. Although Princess-sama don’t have any actual experience, but isn't this a good
chance to show your cooking skills to Ash-sama?”

Silvia felt as if her body was on fire.

“Hold on! W-W-Why must I show Ash my cooking skills?”

“If I am not mistaken, The Lautreamont Family Motto did mention that ‘to shoot a general you must first shoot his horse’, am I right?”

“What does it had to do with this?”

“In the Shelley’s Family Motto, there is something like this: To get the man you like, you muts first fill his stomach’.”

“What kind of family motto is that!?”

“Huhu… When Ash-sama’s stomach is empty, and Princess-sama gave him your homemade cooking, he would surely fall for you.”

“…Fall for me!?”

Cosette was like a devil whispering into Silvia’s ears.

“When a Princess who doesn’t look like she knew any cooking made a meal, which man wouldn’t be moved by it?”

“Cut the crap! I never want Ash to take notice of me! Never! I-It s just that I had some interest in cooking since a long time ago. I
will accept you offer because of this.”

Cosette handed her the recipe while smiling.
[[Image:SnRK v05 096.jpg|thumb]]

“Now, I had received my orders from Princess-sama and I will depart from Ansarivan immediately.”

“Huh? Immediately?”

“It is better if we act quickly, Princess-sama.”

Cosette lifted the both sides of her skirt slightly and bowed gracefully.

Suddenly, like a mist, Cosette disappeared from Silvia’s sight like a magician.

“H-Hey! Cosette? … Do you really want to depart at this moment?”

Silvia became worried when she heard no reply.

“Please hold on, Cosette! You should allow me to have some mental preparation before…!”

Silvia looked around the room with tears in her eyes. It looks like Cosette had really departed.

“Tsk… She never takes me seriously!”

After Silvia mumbled in regrets, she took a long hard look at the recipe given to her.

"The Stuffed Toy Dragon~A.S.B.1365.8~" is closed.

<noinclude>

==References and Translation Notes==
<references />

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|-
| Back to [[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Prologue|Prologue]]
| Return to [[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 5 Chapter 2|Chapter 2]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 4 Chapter 8

2014-04-26T16:25:01Z

128.163.8.92: /* Part 9 */

==Chapter 8 - Avalon's Imperial Princess==
===Part 1===
In armory of the Zepharos mothership Beowolf––under Dr. Hoffman’s command the battle is in full swing.

Eco was naked and floating amid the magic guided device–– Inside ‘Yggdrasill’s’ capsule. There are also several groups of technicians working around her. This was out of Anya’s area of understanding. She could only stand by the wall and watch silently.

But, she understood well the pain that Eco was feeling.

The cold voice was followed by its echo when it was reflected on the metal body.

“The cartridge has been filled. Prepare for launching.”

“The countdown starts now. Ten, nine, eight… Three, two, one-.”

“Launching compressed magic!”

A red beam shot out followed by a loud gun shooting sound. Anya felt that even the ship was vibrating.

“…!”

Then, there were air bubbles coming from Eco’s mouth. If not because of the liquid she was in, her scream would definitely be heard.

Anya couldn’t bear to see Eco suffering and looked away.

Eco’s body had already taken at least ten shots of the compressed magic.

Eco regained her consciousness after the start of the experiment. At the beginning, she was struggling in the water, but ‘Yggdrasill’s’ capsule was not at all affected.

After repeatedly receiving of dozens of compressed magic bolts, she lost her strength.

Right now, she is just like the living dead. Her blank eyes were now lifeless and it was terrible. It was pure torture. Even so, the group of researchers led by Dr. Hoffman were not at all shaken and continued silently.

“There is no significant change on the appearance of α. There are no abnormalities on her respiratory system. No magic fluctuation can be seen.” Without realizing, the group of researchers started to refer Eco as α.

Eco is a human, a young dragon and also a living being––But this group of human had taken everything from her. To them, Eco was just experimental material α. Who knows if they want to remove their feeling of guilt by calling her with symbols… Anya secretly thought so.

At this moment, Dr. Hoffman’s voice is heard by Anya.

“Still no changes… It seems like we don’t have any more choices. Activate all the Millennium.”

Anya turned pale when she heard that.

This means that they had decided to utilize full power on ‘Yggdrasil’.

===Part 2===
“*Sob*… It was all… My fault. *Sob*…”

In the maid’s bedroom on the ground floor of the palace.

Prim was lying on the bed with her pillow wet with tears.

Only Ash and Silvia beside her bed. Cosette was standing by the door outside the room.

Prim cried while she told them about the whole incident.

Prim arrived at the ancient palace when she was chasing Eco, who was emotionally distressed and running away.

She had met a few suspicious people there.

Seeing the enemy suddenly attack, Eco appeared and became the bait to let Prim escape.

When Prim regained conscious, Eco was no longer there.

After hearing, Ash felt something suspicious.

“Why did you go to the ancient palace?”

“That’s because… It was my entire fault! It was my bad to say such things!”

“Prim“ Silvia said patiently. “Please stay calm. Compared to you... Ash is the one suffering the most.”

After being advised so by Silvia, Prim rubbed off her tears which started clearing up.

“You are right. Sorry…”

“Prim-san, please tell me everything before Eco was kidnapped!”

Prim nodded.

“I had no ill intention, it was just that… Ash-sama is a human and Eco is a dragon… So I thought that Eco would feel lonely after Ash-sama married with a human girl. The moment I told her that, Eco rushed out of the room.”

“What…!”

Who would have thought of this, Ash was speechless.

“Idiot! You… Why do you have to tell her this!”

Silvia was mad.

“If I am Eco… I will definitely feel hurt if someone told that to me! Even when Eco is a dragon, her thoughts are still those of a very young girl’s. She should know very well that her situation is special. Why was she born as a human? Why was she not born as a dragon… If I am Eco, I might even never feel secure.”

“Princess…”

Ash looked on in surprise at Silvia who was able to keen Eco's thoughts.

“Recently, she had gotten used to the school life. She was also being loved by everyone as the student council’s mascot. Even so, to Eco, the only person she could trust in… Is no other than Ash.”

“And I… Have said something terrible…”

“Strictly speaking, Eco is still a young dragon who is not even a year old. Can’t you be a little more indirect in your––”

“Forget it, Princess. Right now, we could never solve the problem even after lecturing Prim-san. What’s more, if they had this planned, no matter what Prim-san said, Eco would still have been kidnapped.”

“…You are right. But how are we going to rescue Eco?” Silvia nodded.

She was in agreement with Ash.

“Prim-san… Could you describe those people who attacked?”

Ash was praying while asking. His only clue is Prim being the witness.

“Err… They pretended to be the palace servants. But, they didn’t look like citizens of the Knight Country. For their skin color, it looked like they are the Tantalos…. Also, the person who attacked me is a short girl.”

“A Tantalos girl…!” Ash was feeling Déjà vu.

It was like he had found the last piece of puzzle in his memory.

“It was the girl who followed Milgauss!”

Ash’s fists were shaking. The world he was seeing was dyed in red. Even though he only had a feeling that Milgauss was the culprit, still, after making sure, he was still in rage.

“Since we know who the criminal is-”

Silvia immediately stopped Ash who intended to rush out from the room.

“Hold on, Ash! Where do you think you are going to?”

“The ballroom, of course! I want to settle thing with Milgauss!”

“Keep your calm! Do you think that Milgauss will admit it even after you find and confront him?”

“…Maybe not.”

Ash turned speechless.

Silvia was right, no matter how emotional he became, Eco still wouldn’t be able to return safely.”

Just as if she was trying to have Ash cooled down, Silvia made a suggestion in a calm voice:

“Don’t you think that this is a good time to save Eco when Milgauss is busy with the masquerade?”

“What do you mean?”

“Milgauss couldn’t even be bothered by an activity with long history such as this continental congress and will do anything just to capture Eco. Even when I don’t know what his intentions are, but capturing Eco alive is their priority. I am sure that their lackeys won’t do anything to harm Eco when the mastermind is absent.”

After listening to Silvia’s analysis, Ash gave a breath of relieve.

“The problem remains is, where is Eco’s location. Since Ash’s ‘Seikoku’ is not reacting, it means that Eco was being hidden in an enclosed place. For example something that could be a barrier to cut off magic… Anyway, it must be done with the proper equipment. It just can’t be a rally point that they have just constructed.”

“An enclosed place with proper equipment? That’s it, Milgauss has Klaus backing him up…”

Last evening, an airship flew past the evening sky…

The black ship that was waving the Empire’s flag proudly…

Ash remembered.

Ash and Silvia exchanged glances and shouted at the same time:

“Beowolf!”

===Part 3===
––W-Will… I die just like this…

Eco thought so.

The liquid in the capsule kept on rotating and Eco’s body was being swept along by it.

Every time her shoulders or waist touches the glass, her body will move slowly in the opposite direction.

It seems like the liquid was made of special materials. Luckily, it doesn’t affect her breathing. But after suffering a few shots from the magic device, her body turned numb.

This feeling is like an empty mind floating in mid air.

––If I could just… Continue sleeping… Then I won’t feel any pain…

Just when Eco thought so... A power, that surpassed all the previous ones, was released upon her.

“Noooooooooo…!”

Even though she thought that she shouted in pain, in truth they were just air bubbles coming out from her mouth.

A bright light flashes and the water churns rapidly. Just like being swallowed by a tsunami, her body kept on rotating and kept on hitting the glass around her.

––Wh… Why do I have to suffer this kind of pain.

It had passed the limit of her brain to just think of what they are going to do to her. She could only feel that her body had been injected with a vast amount of magic.

The pain she felt is just like her body being ripped open.

It felt like her organs were being messed up by someone.

-Urgh… It hurts…. It hurts…. I beg you all, please stop.

It is pointless no matter how she shouted in her mind, the magic was still being forced into the body. Eco’s body was jerking nonstop and she was struggling.

You might as well do me a favor by killing me––Eco gave up.

“…!”

At the next moment- The Necromancia’s slimy tentacles began attacking her from all directions.

Eco couldn’t understand. Where did those tentacles appear from in this enclosed environment?

The tentacles, which were wriggling like snakes, slowly snatched her freedom.

Her arms, waist, legs… were entangled by those tentacles. -Stop! This must be an illusion! It is this device that was making me hallucinate…!

Eco tried to stay conscious and opened her eyes widely.

At that moment, the tentacles disappeared.

The feelings of being entangled by those tentacles also disappeared.

However, not long after that, she lost focus and the tentacles appeared again and had her waist was surrounded.

In a blink of an eye, she was lifted by those tentacles.

-Stop!

[[Image:SnRK V04 183.jpg|thumb|Her arms, waist, legs… were entangled by those tentacles. -Stop! This must be an illusion! It is this device that was making me hallucinate…!]]

An abnormally thick tentacle was approaching Eco’s face.

Eco kept her teeth closed with her might. If she was to be careless, the tentacle will surely wriggle into her mouth. Eco had Goosebumps just by think about it.

Eco initially wanted to ask for Ash’s help. She hoped that he could save him from this hell.

However, from the point she woke up in this device, she couldn’t even summon Ash.

Her Astral Flow with Ash had also been cut off.

The loss of her communication had put her in fear.

Eco was shocked that the loss of her connection with Ash would put her in such great fear.

––I am really an idiot. I only knew what is precious to me after I had lost it.

This experience had made her wanted to treasure Ash much more.

That’s right, without Ash, I can’t do anything… I am really a good for nothing.

-Don…

At that instant, there was something moving in her body.

===Part 4===
“Something is wrong! The magic indicator is showing an abnormal value!”

“We found an unknown magic source! Its power is increasing!”

“We have lost control of ‘Yggdrasill’! It ignored the emergency stop signal!”

The continuous bad news had made Dr. Hoffman turn pale.

The laboratory was as if in a fire and a tense atmosphere was spreading.

All the technicians now carried a panicked look while they were busy dealing with the buttons and controls under their hands.

“What happened…?”

Anya who was looking from aside wondered.

Basically, there presently seemed nothing abnormal with Eco, who was in the capsule.

Even though she was shot by the high power compressed magic and had struggled like she was having a nightmare, yet nothing dramatic had happened.

But the indicator was still indicating an abnormal value. Also, they were losing control of ‘Yggdrasill’.

The situation had suddenly become tense.

Even the emergency trigger had been triggered and the bell was ringing loudly.

-Dong!

At that instant, Anya heard something from the ground.

“What is that… Sound?”

As if to prove that it was not an illusion, ‘Yggdrasill's’ magic indicator exploded.

“Uwaa!”

Something groaned and then many of the surrounding devices started to explode with red flames. More of the technicians were now abandoning their posts, running away in fear.

“Don’t panic! Keep calm!”

Dr. Hoffman shouted but not even a single soul was listening.

Because in everyone’s sights was Eco.

Although she was still caged in the capsule. Eco’s body was now glowing with a dim light.

Even Anya was captivated by the sight in front.

“Dr. Hoffman! Let’s escape!” A young researcher advised Dr. Hoffman.

The rest of the researchers were agreeing with him and anxiously looked at Dr. Hoffman.

Anya left the wall and walk towards Dr. Hoffman’s back.

“Dr. Hoffman, I also think that it would be wise if we escape now.”

“No!” Dr. Hoffman yelled.

Anya was stunned by Dr. Hoffman’s aura. She had thought of him as a kind old man and was forced to act cruel as a researcher. Who would know that he would have such a stubborn side.

“What are you thinking! Even an outsider like me knows that this is dangerous! Isn’t there Millennium attached to that device too?”

What Anya was actually worried about ''is'' the existence of the Millenniums. Just in case the Millenniums explode… Anya was thinking. Let alone Beowolf, it is not even surprising if entire capital city of Fontain disappeared from the maps forever.

However, Dr. Hoffman shook his head slowly.

“…I won’t. That will not happen. The energy in the Millenniums has run dry.”

“What?”

“All the magic energy… Was fully absorbed by experimental material α.”

“-!”

Anya looked at Eco dumbstruck.

The intensity of Eco’s light was getting stronger, past the level where one couldn’t look at her directly. Those ‘Dong’ sounds had become clearer.

Even though there were no dangers of the Millennium exploding, it doesn’t mean that they were free from danger. Eco right now is seen as the bomb.

Later, there was the loud sound of something breaking.

Different from the normal explosions, that explosion sounds like it was originated from something being applied pressure on.

“α… α is escaping!”

A researcher shouted.

The capsule containing Eco was now in ruins and the liquid was flowing out like waterfall.

Eco can be seen floating with her eyes closed- in a short moment, she disappeared. What’s left is only stardust like magic particles floating in the air.

“She… Disappeared…?”

Anya dumbstruck, murmured alone.

===Part 5===
“Hey… Somethings wrong with Beowolf!?”

When Maestro Lancelot reached the landing space at a height of twenty meters, Silvia shouted:

“That is…!”

Ash who was riding on Lancelot behind Silvia widened his eyes.

The sacred airship Esperanza, airship Crown Solas and air ship Silvanus were lined up together.

On the other hand, the huge airship Beowolf was parked quite some distance away from the trio.

The suspicious thing was the black smoke emerging from Beowolf.

Could it be a fire?

If Eco is inside… Ash was too scared to think about it.

“Urgh…!”

At this moment, Ash felt a burning sensation from his left hand.

Although he nearly screamed in pain, he managed to tolerate with it.

It felt like suddenly putting his hand into a furnace.

“Is everything alright, Ash!?”

Silvia was worried about him and turned around and asked, but Ash couldn’t even reply because of the pain.

The ‘Seikoku’ engraved on his left arm was slowly moaning.

A while later, there was a glaring light coming out from his left arm and his sleeve up to his shoulders was burned off. Even the bandage was burned into pieces.

In a blink of an eye, Ash’s ‘Seikoku’ on his left arm was exposed.

“Wha…!”

The ‘Seikoku’ on his hand was glowing with a different light intensity from time to time.

Ash was panicking.

It will be alright if it was just glowing but the heat and the pain sensations had no intention of stopping.

It felt that his left arm is going to explode anytime.

“Hey… What is actually happening?”

Silvia was in shock while holding the reins which was probably caused by the fright she experience from seeing Ash’s ‘Seikoku’s’ reaction.

“I don’t know… But I am now sure that I am again connected to Eco!”

Just like responding to Ash’s left arm, there was an object glowing in the sky.

“Ash! Look upwards!”

Silvia who noticed the abnormality was pointing at the sky. Ash too had noticed.

There was something glowing on the sky above the landing area.

“That is…”

The mysterious light was floating in the sky as if it was decorating it.

On the other hand, the full moon didn’t look as charming as before.

By taking a closer look, it was an egg with beautiful flow lines.

There was a big emblem that was carved on the pearl like egg. At a first glance, it looked like a royal emblem.

To be more specific, that emblem looked like Ash’s ‘Seikoku’.

-Don… Don… Don…

There was a frighteningly deep beating sound from the egg.

The confusing part is, it moved with the same rhythm as the glow on Ash’s ‘Seikoku’.

Ash immediately understood.

“I couldn’t be more wrong… Eco is in that egg!”

“How is that possible? What are you talking about…?”

“Princess, I beg you. Please take me there!”

“…Alright. I believe in you. Fly Lancelot! Fly higher!”

But Lancelot ignored her orders. It stayed at the twenty meters height and looked at the egg with its head up.

“Hei… Lancelot? Anything wrong? Fly immediately!”

Even though Silvia shouted strictly, Lancelot still ignored her orders. On the other hand, it did an emergency landing at a corner of the landing space.

“What are you doing? Are you disobeying my orders, Lancelot!”

“…It is useless, Princess. It seems that Lancelot has its own reason.”

“What did you say?!”

Silvia looked at Ash with an imposing manner.

“Do you know what Lancelot was thinking?”

“…I am not sure. It was probably affected by the ‘Seikoku’. I don’t know why, but I could somehow understand what Lancelot was thinking.”

After Ash and Silvia were forced to alight from Lancelot unwillingly, Lancelot again spread its wings and shoot up into the sky.

Looking at Lancelot’s direction, Ash found out something important.

“Princess! There are more and more… Maestros gathering together!”

Groups of Maestros were gathering from all directions. It had become an amazing night view created by the light from the Maestro’s magic.

One by one the Maestros appeared and gathered at the corner of the sky.

For Maestros, whose total numbers were already small to begin with, to gather together, it was unheard of even in the old times––

===Part 6===
“What is actually happening…?”

Lancelot left its master and flew off on its own.

Although this had given Silvia a great blow, the view of the night sky still gave her a deep impression.

Silvia could clearly hear the ‘Pssshh’ sounds of the beating of the wings.

When she had personally realized the dream like view, all her attention had been captured by it.

That egg even had wings growing out of it and feathers with silver lights were falling off. It was like snows that beautify the night sky.

Then- there was a crack from the egg shell.

The winged egg split into two-

“Uoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!”

A roar as if it was a horn announcing the end to the world could be heard all over.

Silvia who couldn’t look straight into the glaring light closed her eyes. When she reopened her eyes, the winged egg was no longer there. It was replaced by something that was not of this world.

To describe this thing with a word will be either – GOD or DEVIL.

However what Silvia said was insulting.

“What a scary monster…!”

[[Image:SnRK V04 193.jpg|thumb|What a scary monster…!]]

“Stop! You are not allowed to say that!”

Ash shouted and brought Silvia back o her sense.

“That must be...Eco. I can feel it... I can feel it!”

“Sorry, Ash...”

Although Silvia was annoyed by her gaffe, she still couldn’t believe that it was Eco.

Later, Eco landed slowly while being surrounded by numerous Maestros.

Although the pink fur and the red eyes is similar to Eco, but her horns looked sharp and fierce and doesn’t at all look like Eco’s round stubs.

Also, there was a third horn in between the two horns. It was like a unicorn’s horn and stood up straight.

Her wings, which were spread out widely, were different from a normal Maestro’s. It made one think of an angel’s wings.

Followed by a loud bang, Eco landed.

Eco lifted up her gigantic hind leg up high- And The large airship that had been the pride of the Empire was squashed in a few seconds.

With the conning tower being right at the middle, Beowolf had been squashed into a V shape and it immediately exploded.

Yet, Eco was not at all affected.

Eco probably lost interest in Beowolf and tried to wriggle her long neck. She slowly lowered her center of gravity.

The target of her scarlet eyes was the window of the tall Fontaine Palace.

===Part 7===
––An unidentified flying object appeared above the capital and all the Maestros in the country disobeyed their masters’ orders and gathered together.

Veronica, who received the emergency report, brought Glenn, the captain of her escorts, along with her to the ballroom at the highest floor of the palace.

Anyway, there were important guests in the ballroom that gathered from all over the continent. No matter what happened, she must protect their safety in the name of the pride of the Knight’s country.

At the same time, she must bring back her father Oswald with her. He had most probably changed his appearance and was drinking while mingling in the crowd.

While running on the long corridor, Veronica questioned Glenn:

“Did you too lose contact with your pal?”

“It totally ignored my summons and ignored my request to present me my Ark. From the looks of the current situation, where all the Maestros are gathering in the capital’s sky, it probably has something to do with the unidentified flying object.”

“Then, our pride, the Holy Dragners of Lautreamont can be considered no more. If the Empire attacked us at this moment, without the protection of the Maestros, this country will fall in just a single night.”

For the inability to defend... “I don’t have an excuse to offer.” <ref>面目次第も有りません have also the meaning of ‘It is a shame I don’t have the power to…’</ref>

Glenn lowered his head somberly.

===Part 8===
When Veronica and Glenn arrived at the ballroom the palace music, along with the party atmosphere of the nobles, had disappeared.

Most of the guests were by the glass window and were looking downwards in shock. From there they can view the landing tarmac for the airships.

“That’s…!”

Veronica was also looking downwards through the glass window.

“It is dangerous to stand beside the window, Princess!”

Glenn warned her but Veronica ignored him.

There was a change in the landing area.

A living object glowing with a silver light suddenly landed there.

''-Uoooooooooooooooooo…!''

It was immediately followed by a loud roar that will make one feel like covering the ears.

It was stated in the previous report that ‘an unidentified flying object that looked like a huge egg’, but it seemed that the huge egg had hatched when Veronica was on her way.

The unbelievable thing is, that huge monster had easily split the Empire’s huge airship Beowolf into two with just one stomp.

Right at this moment, there was a man from the crowd was making a fuss.

“Ooh, what is happening! How can a dragon of the Knight’s… Destroy the Empire's most advance airship which is our country’s pride! I don’t think that this is some simple matter!”

The man's words caused an uproar in the ballroom.

Until a moment ago, everyone had just found out that this monster is a dragon.

Talking about a dragon, everyone will think about Lautreamont Knight Country.

“Is that person… Klaus Viderhausen! He is obviously trying to cause a stir!”

Veronica angrily scolded and glared at the Empire’s young noble.

However, there was a man who stupidly tried to argue with Klaus.

“Nonsense! That monster had nothing to do with our country!”

Although the man was wearing a lion shaped mask, judging from his plum body, Veronica immediately knew who he is.

He is her father, Oswald.

“Klaus-dono! This is the truth! That monster has nothing to do with us! Please believe in me!”

“Hu… What you said was not at all convincing. Anyway, everyone here is a witness.”

Klaus was not even bothered by Oswald.

It was because what Klaus said is true. A huge dragon that suddenly appeared and with no warning had destroyed the Empire’s airship right in front of everyone here.

Nothing could be worst than this.

Chevron Kingdom and Zepharos Empire, who had never see each other eye to eye, were originally going to discuss about furthering peace between them in tomorrow’s continental congress ‘Elysium’.

To Chevron Kingdom and its ally Lautreamont Knight Country this should be a historical event.

“Stop… Let alone the Emperor, not even one royal from the Empire attends. It is a total joke. The Empire has never wanted peace––”

Just as Veronica finished her sentence, there were people screaming from everywhere.

Everyone was in a panic.

All the guests who were wearing their mask, everyone, including the musicians and the waiters, were trying to escape.

Apart from Oswald, who was now crying, Klaus, who had just previously put the blame on the Knight Country, was also fleeing.

“What…!”

Veronica who immediately turned around was also sweating tremendously.

There was a pair of scarlet eyes looking into one of the many palace windows.

She spent a few seconds to figure out that the dragon had stretched its neck and was looking into Fontaine Palace.

“Glenn, if I try to slash the pair of eyes with my huge sword… Do you think I have any chance of winning?”

“Please forgive my rudeness… Even if Princess... You are no match for it.”

Glenn told the truth directly.

"Why must you be this honest?"

Veronica was sulking while she confronted the dragon eyes.

The round eyes.

''It looked like a baby’s pairs of eyes. Although it looked naïve, if this monster just rubbed its nose on the palace walls... Fontaine Palace will turn into dust in seconds. Furthermore, it will be a hill full of bricks and corpses…'' Veronica could still manage a smile.

Even though she was thinking of such scenario.

“Kuku… So this is of feeling of my life being controlled by others. I praise you, my child!”

Seeing that Veronica had no intention of escaping, Captain Glenn advised her in panic:

“Princess, please retreat!”

“I mustn’t. Some of the guests are still here.”

Veronica looked around the empty ballroom.

There was a man with a mask standing at the middle of the dance floor.

The man was wearing a elegant suit. However his hair color was like a cloth stained with blood.

He is obviously the guy in the reports–– Milgauss.

Veronica looked at him in admiration.

“Hmm… You indeed look a little like Julius. Remove your mask!”

To her surprise, he actually did it. He could be seen silently removing his mask and threw it to a side as if he doesn’t need it anymore.

“-!”

Veronica’s eyes widened.

The handsome face beneath the mask was undoubtedly Julius of ten years later who had now become a seinen.<ref>青年, man with age range between 20-
30.</ref>

He no longer had the rebellious feel with him in his teenage years and was replaced by a feeling of a weapon that had been well polished.

“So you are Julius…!”

As if to sweep away her worries, Julius walked to the side of the window. At the same time, the dragon’s face disappeared as if it had lost interest with the empty ballroom.

Julius was standing by the window looking at the huge dragon.

“Kukuku… I have been waiting for this moment for a long time!”

That sinful voice and the devil like smile made Veronica feel uneasy.

Glenn took a step forward as if trying to ask on behalf of Veronica.

He unsheathed his sword that was on his waist.

“You can’t be Julius, no? My friend would never show such a malicious smile."

“Oh, Glenn McGuire! I remembered you are one of the guys that appeared in Julius’s memories. It should be suitable to use ‘it has been a long time’ in this situation, don’t you think so?”

“What do you mean!”

“You still don’t get it? This body is indeed Julius’s. However, I am not Julius... Although I can peek into Julius’s memories anytime."

“What is happening…?”

Veronica was curious but it was not bothered by the man.

“Kneel! Quick! Look carefully! You are witnessing a historical moment!”

The man was acting like a holy man in the religious painting. He spread his arms widely and declared his name.

“I am Mordred! The descendant of the Nehalennia’s dark dragons’ king’s family.”

Vreonica couldn’t believe what she had just heard.

The Maestro that Julius sacrificed his life to kill is named Mordred. It is also Julius’s Pal.

''Is it possible that Mordred has taken over Julius’s body?''

In regards of Nehalennia’s dark dragons’ king’s family–– Veronica had only recently heard about this name.

The ‘Old Testament of the Stella Biblia’ that Dr. Angela Cornwell found in Willingham Mausoleum.

Basically, Veronica had read through the copy of the book.

She recalled a part of the book.

“…After the wise dragon Inbroke, two major bloodlines were formed. They are the Avalon’s holy dragons emperor family and the Nehalennia’s dark dragons king family. An endless war started between these two families. After the members of the two families reincarnated, they will encounter each other, hate each other and kill each other.”

The person in front had introduced himself as the descendant of the Nehalennia’s dark dragons’ king’s family.

Then, who is the person who should be representing the descendant of the Avalon’s holy dragons’ emperor’s family-?

At this moment, Veronica stopped thinking because of Glenn’s shout.

“So I see… You are the root of evil! I knew that Julius didn’t turn crazy! He will always be loyal to his beliefs and tried to have you removed even when he had to commit a crime in the Knight Country!... Return Julius to us!”

Followed by a shout, Glenn reduced their distance and there was a silver flash.

However, Mordred easily parried Glenn’s slash.

“Urgh!”

Glenn growled.

Morderd had stopped the high speed slash with only his index and middle finger.

Glenn could be seen standing still while holding his sword. No, that’s not the case, Veronica understands well.

It was not that Glenn was not moving, it was because that he was unable to move.

Mordred had overpowered Glenn with just two fingers.

“Hmph… I will let you experience the punishment for being disobedient to a ''god''." Mordred gave a cold smile

Immediately after, there was a flash.

“Gwaaa!”

Glenn was knocked up into the air while unable to even resist. He knocked into the wall hard and became unconscious.

Veronica didn’t even have the time to care about Glenn and stared at Mordred.

“…I don’t understand. As far as I know, you should have a good relationship with Julius. Didn’t you even present him with an ark?”

“Hmph, the one who has a good relationship with Julius is another me. That me who acknowledged Julius as its master and associated with him quite well."

“Another me? What are you talking about?”

“Let me generously explain it to you as your last gift before you die. There were two personalities in Mordred. If it was to be a human, it would be called a split personality.”

“What happened to the other personality?”

“It has disappeared together with the body. Ironically, although it was itself, Julius had originally planned to kill me. For my part, to prevent myself from dying, I sacrificed my body and changed into this spiritual form and inhabited Julius’s body.”

Upon saying that, Mordred looked out of the window.

Right beside the palace, the dragon was standing on its hind legs and was looking around curiously. It seemed to be troubled because it couldn’t understand what was happening.

Mordred declared to that dragon:

“Descendant of the Avalon’s holy dragons’ emperor’s family, I will take that body of yours!”

“Now I understand, so this is what you planned…!”

At this stage. Veronica finally found out what Mordred is aiming for.

Mordred had once lost his body in the past when it was killed by Julius.

However, if it could take over the body of the descendant of the Avalon’s holy dragons’ emperor’s family, it can once again be born as the strongest dragon…!

“That will never happen, Mordred!”

Veronica unsheathed the huge sword on her waist.

Even though she knew that he was not an opponent that she could win in a direct confrontation, she still couldn’t bear to watch idly from the side.

''I will kill Mordred together with Julius’s body before he can manage to take over Avalon’s body-'' Veronica rushed forward while thinking.

Even when it's her brother’s body that we are dealing with... She had no intention of showing any mercy.

But, before Veronica could land a hit on Mordred, suddenly, there was darkness emerging from his body and spread all over the ballroom.

“Urgh… What is this dark mist… My conscious…!”

The moment she was surrounded by the darkness, Veronica felt a strong feeling of vomiting and fainting.

===Part 9===
After struggling for some time in the darkness––without knowing what was happening–– The darkness had finally disappeared.

“Are you alright, Veronica?”

There was a guy who held out his hand to Veronica who was struggling to stand up.
[[Image:SnRK V04 207.jpg|thumb|To her surprise; Mordred, who should be busy with taking over Avalon’s descendent's body, is attempting to help her up.]]
“You…!”

There was killing intent in Veronica’s eyes.

To her surprise; Mordred, who should be busy with taking over Avalon’s descendent's body, is attempting to help her up.

However, there was no longer evilness on his face.

“You… Could you be Julius?”

“Ahh, that is me. You are still the same old you for not calling me ‘Anii-ue’.”

It seemed that, because Mordred was gone, Julius was able to take back his body.

“Of course… You F.O.O.L”

Upon hearing that Julius smiled, but he immediately returned back to his serious expression.

“Sorry, but now is not the time for us siblings to be arguing. Mordred's spirit has already inhibited Eco’s body. We have the obligation to defeat Mordred and protect this city.”

At that instant, Veronica felt a pain from her head as if she had just been struck.

“Hold on! Did you just say Eco? That huge dragon… is actually Eco?”

“I will explain the details to you later. Can you stand up?”

“Hmph… Whom do you think you are talking to!”

Using the huge sword as a walking stick, Veronica put all her effort into standing up. But, it was probably the side effect of inhaling in the darkness, in the end, she fell down again.

“Princess!”

The person who reached Veronica first was Glenn. Although he was badly injured, he had regained consciousness.

Glenn held on to Veronica and glared at Julius.

“Julius… I have numerous things that I want to tell you, but please allow me to tell you this first.”

“I can guess what you want to say but be my guest.”

While facing the calm Julius, Glenn, with mixed feelings, shouted to Julius:

“You… Damn you!”

===Part 10===

Seeing that the Empire’s airship was easily crushed, the sacredship Esperanza and magicship Crown Solas flew off immediately.

Only the magicship Silvanus remained at its location overlooking the whole incident.

Although Silvanus had yet to attack Eco, Ash was still worried since it's captain is Veronica.

Even so, seeing that Silvanus still hasn’t made its decision, Veronica was probably not aboard the ship. They were most probably waiting for Veronica’s orders.

On the other hand, if Veronica had boarded the ship, there is a high chance that she will issue an attack on Eco. To protect the capital, Veronica will make this decision without any hesitation. Anyway, Silvanus' fire power is not something that can be ignored.

“I… I will protect Eco!”

Ash made up his mind and rushed forward.

“Hold on, Ash. Do you want to be crushed!”

Silvia blocked Ash with her arms spread.

“Please move aside, Princess! Who will protect Eco if I don’t!”

“Please keep your calm! Even so, what can you do!? How are you going to ride Eco who has just turned into... that? What’s more, what are you going to do to ride on Eco?”

“I…”

Silvia was right. During the time when the Necromancia attacked Ansarivan, he received help from Silvia and Lancelot.

But luck was not on his side. Lancelot who he could place his hope on had not yet returned after it gathered with the rest of the Maestros. The group of Maestros were still circling above in the sky while waiting for something to happen.

To his relief, after Eco crushed Beowolf, she had not made any frightening actions. Although Ash was sweating tremendously during the time she looked into Fontaine Palace through the window, he was lucky that she turned away immediately.

Right now, Eco was only looking around and sniffing the buildings around her as if to figure out what was happening. In regards to what had happened to her body, she probably hasn’t figured it out yet.

“In conclusion, we must keep her as far from the town as possible. In the case that she enters into the town…"

Upon listening to Silvia’s assumption, Ash was shaking in fear.

Fontaine City has a population of around a million.

In another words, a million lives were now in Eco’s hands.

The severity of the current situation no longer only involved Ash and Eco.

“Guooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo…!”

At that moment, Eco was roaring in pain and started to struggle. There was a change in her appearance that was originally surrounded by a silver light.

Just like a white cloth that came in contact with ink, a black color was slowly taking over the white.

“…Eco? What’s happening!”

Ash could only look on as Eco transformed, without being able to do anything.

The change in her skin was only the start.

Her angle like feathers had transformed into a crow like wings.

The previous middle horn of the three horns had disappeared and her pair of horns had turned into spiral shape.

Also, her four limbs were growing at a fast speed. It will be better to describe her as a giant like body rather than a huge beast. That huge body gave a evil feeling.

Last of all, there were nine eyes on its face where each was glowing with red light.

“Nine eyes…!”

Ash remembered something.

Eco once had a nightmare.

In her dream, was Eco attacked by the nine eyed dragon…?

-Don!

At that moment Eco, who had turned into that black dragon, gave out a real dragon breath.

The flame emitted pierced the sky and scattered the dark clouds.

If this flame were aimed at Fontaine Palace or the town… Ash felt Goosebumps just by thinking of it.

“Silvia, so you are here!”

At this moment, there was a fierce voice coming from behind.

It was Veronica and Glenn when they turned around.

Glenn was badly injured and looked more like an old rag.

Apart from that–– There was another man following Veronica.

It was already surprising if a person was allowed to walk side by side with Veronica, yet it was far more surprising when they noticed the man’s hair color.

“Milgauss! Why are you here!”

Ash felt that he was having more Goosebumps all over his body. At the same time, he felt that Milgauss looked familiar. He remembered that he had seen that face in a portrait.

“Are you… Anii-ue?!”

Silvia shouted before Ash.

“Yeah. Although it is a little hard to believe, I am Julius. But I don’t have the time to give you any explanations right now. Firstly, we need to get rid of Mordred’s spirit from Eco’s body–– Ash...”

When his name was suddenly called by Julius, Ash became nervous.

The person in front of him really felt like Prince Julius Lautreamont.

Julius stepped forward and placed his hand on Ash’s shoulder.

“Only you, as Eco's master, can save her. Understood?”

“Yes. I thought of that myself too.”

Julius smiled.

“Good answer. I will take the responsibility to bring you to Eco.”

“But… How are you going to do it?”

“Don’t worry. We have a way for that.”

After he finished his sentence, Julius was actually pointing at... The Magicship Silvanus was resting at the far end of the landing area.

===Part 11===
“Ara. I don’t remembered inviting you here… Dark Dragon King Mordred.”

In the dragon workshop, Navi and Mordred were having a confrontation. She was sitting on her favorite chair with her legs crossed.

“Kuku. This is your last time to be able to be this relaxed.”

Mordred’s spirit had still maintained Julius’s voice. It was probably because it had inhabited Julius’s body for more than ten years… At least Navi thought so.

“I have taken over sixty percent of Eco’s body. It is only a matter of time before I can fully take control of her body. Avalon is losing.”

“…”

“Next, if I can fuse together with you, I can be fully awakened as the Dark Dragon King. Follow me. Even though you are now called Navi… But… I clearly know that you are not a normal navigator. You are the incarnation of the Dragweiss.”

“Ara. Just what I imagined of the Dark Dragon King. You have made quite some investigations on your own.”

“Fuse with me quickly. Give me the supreme knowledge. Strictly speaking, Avalon and Nehalennia have the same roots… I should also be qualified to fuse with you.”

“I don’t disagree with this.”

Upon hearing Navi’s answer, Mordred smiled.

“So you agree?”

“No I don’t. It is because I don’t like Nehalennia.”

“…What do you say?”

“I'm rooting for Avalon's Imperial Princess and her knight. Especially her knight… Ash Blake, he is far manlier than you.”

“Hmph… what a fox you are. Since it has came to this… I will use force-”

Suddenly, there were numerous tentacles coming from under Mordred’s legs. They were like snakes that had found their prey and attacked Navi.

===Part 12===
“I am sorry. Could everyone apart from Ash and I leave this ship?”

Upon stepping into Silvanus’s wheelhouse, Julius spoke coldly.

The crew––responsible for the control of the wheel, communications and the rest––turned around and looked Julius in confusion. Then they are all suddenly frightened, as is they see a ghost.

They shouldn’t be blamed since the prince, that should have been executed years ago, was standing in front of them and had asked them to do something unreasonable.

“Hold on… Prince Julius! What do you plan to do?”

Seeing that Ash was requesting an explanation, at the same time Julius answered, he turned around and looked at Veronica who was preparing to sit on the captain’s seat.

“I just don’t want the rest of the people to die with us. Veronica, I hoped that you could also help me by giving out the orders.”

“Do you think that I would even listen to that joke?”

“If the sister is stubborn, the elder brother will have to face some trouble.”

The next instant, with lightning speed, Julius seized Veronica from behind. He was holding a hidden gun. It was a mechanical gun that the military of the Empire used.

Julius even chose to place the tip at Veronica’s temple.

“There is not much time. You should try to listen to your brother sometimes, Veronica.”

“Are you kidding! Silvanus is my magicship. Don’t even think of always doing what you wanted to, Julius.”

“As I have said before, I am your brother. Maybe you are a perfect princess in front of our people, but I knew your Achilles heel. If you still disobey me, I will expose it in front of everyone.”

“What Achilles heel?”

“I know that you love Silvia. There are Silvia portraits in your room. The clothes that Silva wore, Silvia’s growth record, the poem that you wrote from missing Silvia and also Silvia’s human sized doll––”

“I- I promise! Keep quite immediately!”

Ash was in a shock. He had never expected Veronica to surrender easily.

“Everyone, leave the ship immediately! This is an order from Veronica Lautreamont! No one is allowed to disobey!”

It was a direct order from Princess Veronica-sama... All the crew members rushed out from the wheelhouse.

===Part 13===
When everyone had left the magicship, Julius operated Silvanus while sitting on the pilot’s seat.

With a sudden shake of the magicship, Ash held tightly onto the communication officer's former seat to avoid falling on the floor. Looking out through one of the round cockpit windows, the magicship was rising further and further away from the ground.

It was a totally different experience from sitting on a dragon. When this lump of metal was flying with passengers–– At the same time Ash was amazed, he also started to worry about crashing.

Julius, while he was piloting Silvanus, started telling Ash the whole story.

===Part 14===
Although what Julius said was hard to believe, basically, the dragons were separated into the Avalon’s holy dragons’ emperor’s family and the Nehalennia’s dark dragons’ king’s family. The two families had incarnated since the ancient times and are still fighting each other right unto this day.

Also, Eco is Avalon’s holy dragons’ emperor’s family’s descendant.

In another words, Eco is the Imperial Princess of the dragons.

“…Even after I had heard of such things, it is still hard for me to believe this. Eco, who has been living with me, is obviously a girl who sleeps late, a glutton and a hot headed girl...”

“I know how you feel. When I found out that my pal is the descendant for the Nehalennia’s dark dragons’ king’s family, I was also astounded. In the beginning, I was also troubled by why was I chosen.”

Julius spoke on.

“Back to the topic, Avalon’s Imperial Princess’s body is really huge. Even though she is still a young dragon, she had this unbelievably huge size… It is totally unbelievable.”

After Julius pressed a few buttons on the dashboard, Eco’s body was shown on the huge screen in front.

Silvanus was three hundred meters above land and was looking at Fontaine city from the sky above.

From the screen, they can see Eco's back that had turned black because of being taken over by Mordred.

With its frightening spiral horns and nine eyes… It is exactly the image of the dark dragon king.

Eco, who was originally standing on two legs, was now standing on all four because of the pain caused by Mordred’s take over.

The worrying part is, Eco was not moving at all and yet she doesn’t look as if she is sleeping…

“Could it be that Eco is fighting Mordred?”

Julius shook his head in disagreement.

“It is impossible. Judging from the huge change of her body, I am afraid that… Eco doesn’t even have the strength to fight back.”

“Is it…”

“But not all hope is lost. In my opinion, Navi is also fighting against Mordred.”

“Navi?”

Why would he mention Navi’s name at such a time?

Before that, how would Julius know about Navi?

“Navi is the incarnation of the Dragweiss. If Navi could keep on fighting back, even after Mordred has fully taken over Eco’s body, he still couldn’t be fully awaken.”

“What do you mean?”

“Regardless of the Avalon’s holy dragons’ emperor or the Nehalennia’s dark dragons’ king, both of them must fuse with the Dragweiss to obtain its supreme knowledge, only then can they receive their true power. I believe that Mordred right now is trying his best to make Navi his own.”

“How come… you know so much about him?”

“That was because I shared the same body with Mordred. Just like what he did to me, to blend into the human society, I could also look into his memories.”

After hearing what Julius had said, Ash was still confused. However, there exists things that could be easily understood without the need for good brains.

“In another words, this is a great time for a counter attack while Mordred is busy dealing with Navi, right?”

“That’s right. This is our only chance for victory. If you can ride on Eco, by chasing Mordred’s spirit out, then you can save Eco and the capital together.”

Ash nodded in agreement to what Julius had said.

“I am willing to give it a try. No matter if it is Avalon or Nehalennia… I don’t think I even know what they mean. I only know that Eco is my pal.”

When Ash turned around and prepared to walk back to the hatch, Julius spoke from behind:

“Although I don’t know why you were chosen… But I am glad that you are Eco’s knight.”

===Part 15===
“Urgh…”

Ash arrived at the hatch and found that the winds were cold. Such temperatures were unheard of during the summer.

Ash was carrying a parachute–– This is a decision made by Julius and him beforehand.

When Silvanus had come close to Eco, Ash will jump off from the deck with the help of the parachute.

After landing, it's all up to Ash.

Basically, Ash had gone through the parachute landing practices at the academy.

Ash had never intended to become a soldier and had always thought that the academy was wrong to force them to go through those kinds of practices.

Anyway. The academy is not a military school–– But who would've expected that those practices would be useful right now.

“…Right there.”

Ash was looking down towards the ground from the bow and had located Eco’s back.

Although her fur had turned black the enormous amount of magic surrounding her were shooting off strong rays of light, he won’t have to worry about missing his target.

He must make use of the time that Navi was fighting against Mordred to land on Eco’s head.

Julius voice emerged from the magic communication device:

“Ash, you may jump anytime.”

“Roger that.”

Ash looked downwards for one more time.

For such a huge beast, her only blind spot will be her head.

Ash tried to imagine himself riding on Eco’s head.

To his surprise, it was not at all scary.

The ‘Seikoku’ on his left arm was getting warm and was flickering with dim light.

It felt as if his ‘Seikoku’ was urging him to move quickly.

Suddenly- Eco lifted her neck and shot a dragon breath towards Silvanus.

“…Urgh!”

A bright light pierced through the night sky. Ash surrendered against the shaking deck and fell down. Although Julius had barely avoided a direct hit, by giving the ship an emergency turn, the strong breath had burned one side of the ship into ashes.

There was smoke and fire emerging from the ship itself and it had begun to falter as it lost balance.

“Tsk…! If you kill me, Eco will die too! If that happens, you also couldn’t get your hands on Eco’s body that you desired that much...! How could someone be this stupid?”

When Ash was groaning, Julius voice could be heard once again through the communication machine:

“Ash, are you alright!”

“Yes, I am!”

“Silvanus is going to do an emergency landing! Jump quickly!”

“I also intend to do that!”

Ash clenched his teeth and jumped off from the deck.

The moment his feet left the deck, Mordred gave a second dragons breath.

Looking backwards, he saw that Silvanus’s fuselage suffered a direct hit from the dragon breath.

Ash shuddered. He was lucky that he had jumped off earlier or else he would be turned into dust also.

Although Julius had said there were going to do an emergency ‘landing’, judging from the speed Silvanus was moving downwards, it looked like it was crashing.

Finally, the unbalanced ship disappeared at the other end of the palace walls- Then a fire pillar could be seen followed by a loud explosion.

“Prince Julius…!”

Ash was sad but there was nothing he could do about it.

Julius had risked his life to fly him into the night sky.

The only thing he can do right now is to complete his mission in return.

Ash's body was moving downwards because of gravity's pull.

His face and ears felt like being crushed by the rushing air pressure.

“Now is the time!”

Ash had got the timing right and pulled the rip cord, the parachute spread open.

An amazing braking force had caused the parachute to slow down.

If another dragon breath was shot off, Ash would certainly be hit but Ash prayed that he will not have such bad luck.

“Wait for me, Eco. I will protect you… I swear!”

===Part 16===
“Damn! Where am I?”

Eco found out that she was in a cage when she woke up. When she was looking at her body, she found out that she was wearing a dress with low standards.

This style is obviously not of Eco’s preference.

Any dress in Fontaine Palace’s changing room looked better that this. It is even as heavy as lead and it felt more like a binding item rather than an evening dress.

On the other side of the cage was a wide white space. The walls, the floor and the ceiling were white. Not even a speck of dust that could be found.

“How dare anyone to cage a dragon like me in this cage… What were they even thinking!?”

Eco was definitely confused. Yet she still vaguely remembered that she was awakened as a dragon. She even remembered that she had become huge and was looking at the whole of Fontaine palace.

But her memories stopped there.

“Tsk… It seems that you are alright since you are so energetic even in such a situation as this.”

It was a familiar voice.

“Navi? You…!”

Navi was standing outside of the cage. Even though Eco disliked Navi, but in such a situation, Eco was grateful that Navi was here and felt that Navi was like an angel.

The Eco’s angel was now looking like a rag-doll.

Navi, who was always acting calm and give out a noble like feeling, was now seen with mussed up hair and even her evening dress was in rags. All over her body were the marks of being bound.

“What happened? This doesn’t look like you at all…”

Eco was taking a closer look at Navi.

“Hmm… I am only accompanying Mordred in his game. It was just that, his tentacle fetish has given me some trouble!”

“Mordred? Who is that?”

“Please lend me your hand.”

Eco stretched her hand through the gaps between the bars of the cage. After Navi held her hand, a mass amount of knowledge flowed into her brain.

In a blink of an eye, Eco knew everything that had happened. Only now did she realize that she is in her spiritual from.

“To make it simple… That person called Mordred is trying to take over my body, right?”

“That’s right. Anyway, during the time I was running around, he had done nothing bad. But if it's to destroy this capital, it will be an easy task for him.”

“Hmm… So I am such a great dragon.”

According to Navi’s information, Eco is Avalon’s Imperial Princess.

“Huhu. Now Ash is going to look at me differently.”

Seeing that Eco was feeling proud, Navi sighed.

“As long as he can survive. He seems to be doing something foolhardy again.”

Navi held Eco’s hand again and Eco closed her eyes.

That current situation was sent into Eco’s brain as projections.

“What…!”

Eco was speechless.

Under the night sky- Ash leaned out from Silvanus’s deck.

The next instant, Mordred gave a dragon breath to the ground.

Silvanus was hit and was now gliding down from the sky, as if it was a paper plane.

On the other hand, Ash jumped into the air and was falling with his head pointing downwards.

“Hold on… Is he crazy!?”

At that moment, Eco clearly heard Ash’s mumble.

"Wait for me, Eco. I will protect you… I swear!”

In a short moment, tears started to flow from her eyes. Even though she was a spirit, her tears still kept on flowing. Even the Dragweiss couldn’t give an explanation. A warm feeling was haunting her heart… What was that feeling?

“Why…Why? Why would he… try to do so many things for me? Even when I… Have caused many, many troubles for him?”

Navi stretched her hand into the cage and patted her head.

“Do you even have to ask? It is because you are his pal.”

Eco rubbed off her tears and lifted her head.

“Navi, please tell me what can I do for him.”

“Teehee. That’s more like it.”

Navi smiled and waved her hand lightly. With a flash, the cage disappeared. At the same time, the black dress that limits Eco’s movement was broken into particles and a pure white evening dress was reveled from beneath.

In a short time, Navi removed Mordred’s seal.

“I must say that… You are very good.”

Eco was scoping out her dress. Its design compromised of the elements of elegance and purity. It is as if it was made to be worn by the Avalon’s Imperial Princess.

“No matter how great I am, I can't help you with the upcoming step. Understood?”

Eco nodded in reply.

“Then, what should I do?”

After Navi smiled, she cheekily said:

“Of course you are to present him your originally made Ark and the Avalon’s Imperial Princess.”

The next instant, Eco became confused.

“What? Are you serious?”

As if it was natural to do so, Navi nodded without any hesitation.

“All the mimics that you have created, for various emergencies in the past… are useless against Mordred.”

“But, how, am I supposed to do this impossible task!?”

An original Ark could not be completed easily.

It was because Eco had seen her ancestor’s blueprint; she understands how hard it can be. An Ark is not only a strong magic weapon, at the same time, it is also a perfect art masterpiece.

Not to mention that Eco was still a young dragon that was not even a year old without any experience. Navi’s suggestion was like asking a baby to build a palace.

“Anyway, it would not be called difficult if the blueprint could be easily created.”

Eco gave up before she even started but Navi ignored it.

“Rest assured, you must believe in your own ability. You are an Imperial Princess who is the blood descendant of Avalon.”

“But… But what we must think about is not only the armour itself, there is also the Ark-weapon…”

“Listen carefully, the shape itself doesn’t matter. It is the mental power of the creator that decides the strength of the Ark. Even if you don’t know the shape, as long as you focus, the shape of the Ark will be formed.”

“Really…?”

“Yeah. Also, you don’t have to worry about the Ark-weapon. Avalon has a treasured sword that's been passed down through the generations. Just use it.”

After a moment of silent, Eco mumbled:

“…I had always disliked you since the first time I met you. Regardless of your relaxed attitude or your looks that was similar to mine or your overly large breast… I hate them and hate them very much! However… It's funny in the way that I felt you're trustable.”

Eco lifted her head and smile.

Navi also returned a smile.

At the same moment, Eco felt that a light had pierced through that darkness that had been blocking her eyes.

She didn't want to look for trouble anymore.

And she definitely doesn’t want to give in before taking up the challenge.

While the evening dress was swaying, Eco spoke with confidence:

“Just wait and see. I will definitely complete my original Ark!”

===Part 17===
“Damn… What kind of joke is this!”

Although Ash had finally landed on Eco–– Still... the landing spot was her back and not her head. It was exactly beside the joints between the body and the wings.

That same pair of wings were like the wings of a new born bird. They are still wet and unable to fly right away.

Maybe this is my only life saver… Ash secretly thought.

Black fur was growing from her uneven skin. It felt like a Necromancia. He must get rid of Mordred’s spirit and return Eco to her original appearance as soon as possible.

To achieve this, he must try to ride her gigantic body. However… Ash was looking at Eco’s head from afar.

Connected to her back, that was as wide as prairie, was a long neck that looked as if it was a stairway climbing up to heaven. And her head, with the spiral horns, was at the other end of that neck.

His current aim was to ride on her head and try to control her using his will as a dragner. However… The distance between them was huge. It was like trying to climb the dangerous Xenoglavia Mountains without any climbing tools.

“Stop it! …This is not the time to give up.”

Ash threw aside the parachute and moved forward while pushing aside the fur that was taller than himself.

“Now I really looked like a louse…”

In reality, Mordred treated Ash ''as'' nothing but a louse. That is why he was not bothered by Ash at all.

“Just wait and see. Your overconfidence will be the cause of your death, Mordred…”

Although Ash kept on talking to himself to boost his confidence, but every time he looked towards her head, he felt like falling apart.

Suddenly, there was a change in the night sky.

Those Maestros, who were originally circling in the sky, started to make their move.

Those Maestros could be seen gliding towards Mordred and had him surrounded.

“Grrrrrrrrrrrrr…”

Mordred lifted his neck and gave a threatening growl. However, before he even managed an attack, the Maestros activated their magic all at the same time.

With a flash, chains that were made from magic appeared. Numerous chains now tied down the huge dragon’s neck, front legs, hind legs, tail…

“Guuuoooooooooooooooooooo…!”

Mordred was struggling with all his might but the chains wouldn’t budge even a little.

“They…!”

It can’t be wrong. These Maestros were trying to seal Mordred’s movement. Who knows if they were thinking that the dragon worthy to take to top is not Mordred but Eco.

At that moment, a Maestro landed right in front of Ash. Its pair of horns looking like a deer’s, also looked familiar to Ash. Then a clear voice could be heard coming from behind the dragon.

“Ash… Hurry up!”

“Lucca!? Why are you here?”

That is. The Maestro that suddenly appeared from above was Gawain, and Lucca was riding on its back. Ash felt nostalgic.

Lucca while feeling worried gave Ash a short explanation.

“Err… The Maestros in the dragon house seven were all escaping together. I risked my life to cling onto Gawain… In the end, I found out that I was already here.”

“Did Rebecca and Max come together?”

Lucca shook her head. It was probably Ash's mistake that he felt that Lucca’s ears were slightly drooping.

“Only I noticed that something was going on with the Maestros…”

“Is that so…”

As if to interrupt Ash’s and Lucca’s conversation, Gawain roared with its jaws opened.

It was as if trying to tell Ash to ride on it quickly. Ash naturally didn’t reject this offer.

“Thank you!”

Just as Ash sat on Gawain’s back, Gawain flapped its wings.

After piercing through the night sky, Gawain’s altitude was increasing while following along the direction of Mordred’s neck. Lucca’s riding skills were as good as ever and could only be described as perfect.

Ash was clinging tightly to Lucca’s thin waist to avoid from dropping off.

However, Mordred would not stay silent. Although he was being tied down, it was still struggling and roaring loudly.

Suddenly, magic cannons continued to appear in the sky and were firing at Gawain.

Ash was trembling when he saw those cannons.

It was because those cannons looked like the weapon that Ash used during his fight with Milgauss in Willingham Mausoleum. The only difference is, each cannon was around Gawain’s size.

“Magic shield Aegis…!”

“Need not worry… It will be alright as long as we are not hit.”

Lucca was not at all shaken.

As if she had fused with Gawain, she was controlling Gawain by moving left and right and dangerously avoided the crossing light rays.

Gawain even used its dragon breath and one by one the magic canons were destroyed.

When Gawain had successfully passed Mordred’s head, all the magic cannons had disappeared.

“Ash, nows the time…!”

Just when Lucca shouted, Gawain did a somersault.

At the point where the sky was upside down, Ash jumped down.

He drew a big locus in the night sky and successfully lands in between the two horns. Looking from a close distance, the horns looked more like an altar than a horn.

When his feet landed on that spot, he felt satisfied. It was probably his dragner’s intuition that told him this is the best riding spot.

“Listen carefully Eco!”

Ash was shouting with all his might at his ‘Seikoku’ that was connected to Eco:

“Right now, I am going to ride you! I swear I will be successful in riding you! Whether you are an Imperial Princess or not it has nothing to do with me! So what if you are an imperial princess? You are always bad tempered, try to solve anything with force, a sleepy head, only have crepes in your eyes and feel like wanting to bite greedily whenever you see meat. Are these what an Imperial Princess should do! Even if you really are an Imperial Princess, I will never approve it!... I only know that–– I am your knight, and you are my pal. Things are just as simple as this!”

The next instant, there was a change in his left arm that was dense with ‘Seikoku’.

The ‘Seikoku’ can be seen emitting rays of light that were able to light up the entire night sky. Then patterns started to crawl just like some living things.

No, the patterns were growing.

“W-What had happened…?”

Just when Ash was feeling confused, his ‘Seikoku’ started to spread outwards towards Ash entire body with his left arm as the starting point.

Ash found that his connection with Eco had become stronger.

Although he couldn’t communicate with Eco verbally, yet, he was sure that he was connected to Eco…!

But, Ash's thinking only lasted for a short moment.

“Guuuuuuuoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo…!”

Mordred was back on the move. He had broken one of the chains and was standing on two legs.

“Auuu…!”

Lucca groaned. The wind created when Mordred stood up had affected Gawain. Although it was not blown away by the wind, it was obvious that it could not retain its balance. However, Lucca shouted:

“Don’t worry about me… I am alright! Ash, just focus on saving Eco…!”

Then, Lucca and Gawain finally fall back and disappeared from Ash’s line of sight.

“Lucca…!”

Ash stretched his arm but he could only grab the air.

The Maestros that were scattered in the sky tried to make another chain to tie down Mordred’s upper body.

But before Mordred could be sealed, it forcefully shook its neck.

“Uwaaaaaaaaa!”

Ash lost his balance and was thrown up into Fontaine Palace like a cannonball.

-This is a lie… It must be…?

He was approaching the tower in the middle of Fontaine Palace.

If he was to hit into such stone wall…he will definitely die.

-Is this the end…? Is Eco and I… Going to end right here?

Right at this moment.

『Almete, Gorjal, Peto…』

The voice of the spell was coming from his ‘Seikoku’ that had spread all over his body.

『Espaldar, Brafoneras, Faldaje…』

It was definitely Eco’s voice.

『Escarcelas, Bufetas, Hombreras, Brazales…』

Compare to the previous times, every single word that Eco said was followed by a deep tone.

『Codales, Antebrazos, Manoplas…』

Without any reason, Ash felt courage from within.

『Quijotes, Guardas, Grebas… Escarpes…』

Lastly, Eco was left with the last word.

『-Espolón!』

Ash, who was quickly going to crash into Fontaine Palace, was surrounded by holy light.

It felt as if he was surrounded by angel’s wings.

Even though Ash had an illusion of himself ascending to heaven... Eco’s voice had disrupted these peaceful feeling.

『“You absolutely must accept my feelings!”』

===Part 18===
As he opened his eyes, Ash was standing at the highest point of Fontaine Palace.

“I- I am saved?”

He saw Mordred was standing ferociously with only two legs while still being bound by the chains of the Maestros.

All of the nine eyes were burning deeply with the flames of rage and each looked like a scarlet star. Even though he was trying his best to break free from the existing chains, those Maestros kept on creating new chains.

“This… What is this feeling?”

Ash was looking at his own body.

His entire body was emitting heat and was overflowing with magic.

It has to be the Ark that Eco presented to me–– Yet to Ash’s dismay, what he was wearing right now was still his cloths that looked like rags.

There was not even an Ark that could be seen.

Even so, Ash still continued to feel safe as if he was protected by the Ark. Furthermore, the ‘Seikoku’ that was on his entire body was alive.

What is happening?

『Hey, why are you daydreaming! Quickly use the Ark-weapon!』

Eco’s voice was once again could be heard in his mind

“Eco…? What is happening?”

『T-that is…?』

Without any reason, Eco became silent. It felt as if she was embarrassed because of a certain something.

As if to speak on Eco’s behalf, another voice appeared in his mind.

『Huhu. That is an original Ark that Eco has created on her own. However, it is still incomplete and even the shape has not been decided on yet.』

“This voice… Are you Navi!”

『The Ark represents proof of the oath of a dragon that swears to hand over their body and feelings to their knight. At the same time, it was a proof that it was connected to the Master’s heart. Right now, you are recognized as Avalon’s knight.』

『I-I only wanted to get back my own body!... It was never meant to be given to you!』 Eco expectantly added.

『Ara? Who is the person who was crying because she was worried about Ash? I wonder.』

『"Sh-Shut up!"』

Eco and Navi seemed to have started an argument.

Ash made a difficult smile because only they could still have the mood to quarrel even during such a dangerous situation.

All the negative emotions like insecurity and fear had disappeared.

However- Right after that, Ash had a bad premonition as if a pair of cold hands held on to his spirit. When he raised his head, Mordred’s eyes were filled with sparks and were marking him.

It had obviously begun to take notice of Ash who had only just previously been disregarded as a louse.

“Guuuuuoooooooooooooooooooooo…!”

Although Mordred was still bound by those magic chains, after putting in some effort, he still managed to open his jaws

There was a ball of light that could be seen appearing in front of his nose and it was slowly expanding-

Ash felt a large amount of energy from it. It was thanks to the Ark that his senses had sharpened.

Navi warned Ash in his mind.

『That’s bad. Even though Mordred has not completely fused with me, he is still very strong…!』

“Rest assured. I will personally deal with it.”

Ash immediately started to search for information regarding his Ark-weapon. Thanks to his experience in equipping those mimics, his was able to complete his search in a short time.

Ash smiled from within his heart.

The Ark-weapon forming in his mind was undoubtedly the strongest sword that had ever existed.

Ash readied his posture and started to chant the spell.

“An iron that could slash through anything…”

For every word he said, his ‘Seikoku’ that was all over his body was emitting heat and reacted strongly to it.

"A holy sword meant for a knight of all knights––”

At the same time... Ash felt an overflowing unlimited amount of magic emanating from his palm.

The one and only treasured sword that had been passed down through generations by generations in the Avalon’s holy dragons’ emperor’s family had now shaped its form in Ash’s palm.

“Appear–– Excalibur!”

It was not only a huge brave and beautiful sword but also an Ark-weapon.

On its silvery white hilt were many scarlet colored Millenniums and they were shining brightly.

After he wielded the holy sword with both hands tightly, Ash leaped.

At the same time, Mordred was about ready to throw out its dragon breath.

That one ball of light, started to emerge, with such overwhelming power that could destroy the entire capital, to ground level, within the blink of an eye. Followed by some purple electric bolts flashing around Mordred’s head, the ball of light was released at Ash’s direction.

To make matters worse, Ash couldn’t avoid it because the entirety of Fontaine Palace and the capitol City were right behind him.

No–– In reality, I won’t even need to avoid it.

“Uooooooooooooooooooooooooo!”

Ash as if he had forgotten about his fear rushed towards the ball of light.

In respons to Ash’s verve, the Millenniums at the hilt of the holy sword increased their radiance giving out a bright light.

The presently shapeless Ark was releasing all its magic.

“Kirisakeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!” <ref>斬り裂け. Means to get split and break apart.</ref>

Just before being swallowed by that attack, Ash swung the most powerful strike.

––Cut!!! <ref>斬. Ii was a word that was usually shouted when someone wanted to cut/slash/chop/kill off something.</ref>

At the same time the lump of energy was split into two, Ash was in mid-air. His vision was full of white and he could see nothing at all.

If not because of the protection he received from the Ark, all the cells in his body would have been vaporized to hot plasma. Ash was indeed slashing through such high amount of thermal energy.

In the end, his vision finally widened.

The dragon breath that was sliced into two had its trajectory changed and each had landed at the Fontainia plains on both sides of the capital and had exploded.

Although it was a huge explosion, apart from the strong wind, Fontaine City remained intact.

Ash lifted again Excalibur and pointed it at Mordred’s head.

At that moment, there was a creepy voice coming from Ash’s mind.

…Hold on! If you harm this body, the daughter of Avalon will also be––

The nine eyes kept on blinking as if it still had something to say.

“Haa! Now you start to beg from me… Know your place, Mordred!”

Ash remained determined and continued to land at the head.

Of course Ash knew that this body originally belonged to Eco.

He never had the intention to simply slash around with this sword.

However, to get rid of Mordred’s spirit, he needs Eco to bear with it for a few more moments.

What Ash intended to do was not to kill Eco but to make her lose her strength.

Where is the best place to land my attack?

There is not enough time to think of such complicated problems.

It is because apart from Eco’s and his own life, Ash was burdened with the lives of millions of residents of the capital. Ash decided to wager everything he had in the only possibility he could think of.

“Eat this, Mordred!”
[[Image:SnRK V04 243.jpg|thumb|“Eat this, Mordred!”]]

Ash was landing at full speed.

''What are you trying to do…? Do you want to follow the Julius's footsteps and become a ‘dragon slayer’? I can’t understand this, I just can’t understand this…!''

Ash didn’t reply and had no intention of doing so.

“Whether you are a god or a devil-”

Ash’s sword and Mordred’s horn clashed with each other.

“All the dragons will have to listen to my command, not to mention––”

After he had pinpointed the crucial point to release Eco, Ash swung Excalibur-

“If it is my '''P.A.L'''!”

Followed by a sound of a metal clashing with rocks, the night sky was swallowed by a white light.

The thing that was chopped off by Ash and was flying in mid-air was the left horn.

“Guuuuooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo…!”

Mordred’s roar was echoing in the night.

===Part 19===

『“Huhu. Mordred must be running away with his tail curled up behind him<ref>A proverb. Basically, if an animal is defeated, it will run off with its tail between its legs thus making sure it is not wagging in the air to be bitten off.</ref> even though a spirit shouldn't have any tails.” 』

Mordred’s spirit was running under the night sky towards the east while he was seen by Navi.

On the eastern side of the country is Chevron Kingdom’s land.

『“So in the end he has escaped to Chevron Kingdom… I must wait until he rises again before I can have him captured. Right now... I should give praise to Avalon’s Knight." 』

Navi gave herself a cheer and smiled.

Eco’s spirit was no longer beside her.

===Part 20===

Ash’s final blow had chopped off Eco’s left horn.

Last month during the time Ash was in the infirmary, he had bitten Eco’s horn. Furthermore, her left horn being chopped off made her recall that feeling.

It was that ‘happy’ feeling that dragged Eco’s spirit out.

Her heart's memories and her body memories.

When both of them were thinking the same thing, Eco’s spirit managed to take back its own body and the combined effort got rid of Mordred’s spirit.

Not only is this method impractical, its succession rate too is just as low.

However, Eco’s clearly remembered the feeling that Ash gave her.

––Navi had seen it all.

The body of the huge dragon had started undergoing changes inside the glaring light.

The skin color that was originally black had turned back to its original silvery white color.

As for those nine creepy eyes, they had merged and returned to two clear scarlet eyes.

Then-

The body that was bigger than Fontaine Palace was shrinking slowly and, after some time, finally turned back into a young teenage girl with pink hair.

Ash gently hugged the angel like naked body in mid-air.

Although Eco was blushing, she still placed her hand on Ash’s back and hugged her knight.

"Princess of Avalon ~A.S.B.1365.7~" is closed.
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==References and Translation Notes==
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