Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 4 Prologue

Prologue

Lautreamont Knight Country, people call it the country of Dragon Breeders.

To the north is the Zepharos Empire, while to the south is the Chevron Kingdom.

Sandwiched between the two major powers, a small country with a population of no more than five million, has a special academy.

Ansarivan Dragon Riding Academy.

Educating and guiding teenage boys and girls who form a contract with dragons -- an academy for Dragon Breeders.

Part 1

"Let us celebrate Ash’s discharge, kanpai!"

Rebecca, the student council president, with a brilliant smile leads the rest by raising her glass.

This place is a students’ restaurant ‘La Tene’. And a private party is being held tonight to celebrate Ash’s discharge from the hospital.

"Congratulations on your recovery, Ash. From tomorrow onwards the student council will have many chores that will keep you busy."

Rebecca says with a sly smile.

"I thought I had become used to being scared off by your way of dealing with things where you never take your life as a priority... It seems that I’ve underestimated your foolishness."

Max uses his fingers to adjust the position of his spectacles, and speaks to Ash ironically with a poker face.

"Hey, Ash...... is this heaven? Not only Eco, Princess Silvia, Rebecca onee-san are here... Even Lukka Sarlinen is also present! Jessica may be crazy, but in fact she is very popular among the boys! Harem bastard! "

The one who is whispering to Ash’s ear is Raymond. He must have been getting carried away for being in the student council where there are many beautiful girls.

"I can stand you no longer... at least this time you got to taste some bitterness, right? Next time, I'll never allow you to act rashly."

On the other hand, Silvia without changing her serious attitude continues to lecture Ash.

"Hehe. When the message about Ash-sama’s discharge was received, Her Royal Highness Princess was obviously over the moon -"

Cosette, the maid beside, exposes her mask with a smile.

"Cosette! Why do you always speak the unnecessary-?"

That...... Thanks to Ash’s help, I’m back to my old self and Gawain is also very grateful.

Lukka who is almost hidden behind Silvia puts her whole effort to express her gratitude.

Although she is originally a quiet person and is often expressionless, she is a delightful girl like a yousei, but after the selective training camp, Ash feels that he can get along with her better. Although, during the recuperation period, she is the one who grabbed the chance to take care of Ash's daily needs.

"Don’t worry about it, you and Gawain had also saved my life. If not because of the dragon riding dance being a success, I might not have lived."

Ash's answer causes Lukka’s face to blush and lower her head. After a moment, she raises her head again with determination.

That...... if you are willing, then in the summer holidays, you can follow me back to the Ecbald village.

"Ash-sama! Since the training camp, every night my body feels lonely! Tonight I swear to not let you sleep!"

Jessica, at one side with a provocative voice interrupts Lukka who is putting in effort to reveal her thoughts to Ash, while moving closer to Ash.

"Hey, Jessica don’t you think you are simply speaking without thinking!"

Silvia immediately looks at her in disgust.

"Why is Her Royal Highness Princess angry? This is my problem with Ash-sama? Or is that Her Royal Highness Princess is interested in..."

"H-How is that possible! I just cannot stand your shameless words and deeds!"

Silvia and Jessica who don't want to back down makes Ash being to sweat.

Say, isn't Eco too quiet today...... Ash thinks so and he glances at the seat next to him-

"Gurr."

Eco gets attracted to the roast chicken.

According to the waitress, this roast chicken dish is carefully baked with the Chevron tender chicken.

"Hold on. You must first pray to the Virgin before you can eat."

Ash quietly whispers to Eco. It is a basic etiquette to pray to St Rosa Maria before eating.

Seeing Eco has a strong appetite, everyone cannot help but smile.

Even though he knows that they don't mean anything bad, Ash still feels embarrassed.

The truth is, the young dragon Eco is Ash's Pal. There is nothing wrong even when she is said to be his family.

Because she is connected with Ash through the dragon’s contract- ‘Seikoku’.

- But then again......

Ash recalls the time the selective training camp was held at the Allonne's lakeside.

Milgauss again had summoned the Necromancia to attack.

With everyone’s effort they managed to repel the enemy, but Ash was seriously injured and needed to stay in hospital for recuperation for two weeks after his return to Ansarivan.

- That Milgauss...... he said Eco is the 'Avalon’s Imperial Princess'. In the end, what does he mean?

Ash wants to ask Angela-sensei as soon as possible.

But Angela is on duty at the Willingham Mausoleum, and has not come back yet. The secret chamber that Angela discovered a while ago, its investigation is still on-going.

-Imperial Princess......

Even when in the past, which Ash is reluctant to think about it, the day he must face it seriously may have arrived instead. His reason for becoming Eco’s owner.

Unlike other dragons, the reason Eco was born as a girl.

And the reason why Eco was born into this era...

Just when Ash was thinking, the prayers to the Virgin had ended.

"Let's eat!"

To save time from cutting, Eco gives the chicken a bite right away. The moment her teeth pierce the meat, the juices with a "pssss" flood out.

"Hafuhafu...... nnn ~ how come this is so delicious!"

In order to protect this happy face, no matter what, he had to settle things with Milgauss. Just as Ash makes up his mind, Rebecca begins to speak to him.

"What’s the problem? You look preoccupied."

"Nothing, err..."

"You may have many unanswered questions, but forget about it, at least for tonight. This feast is to celebrate your discharge from hospital."

It seems that nothing can stay hidden from Rebecca.

"Haha... You're right. Then I’ll relax and enjoy the night."

After Ash squeezes out a smile with some effort, he gulps down the liquid in the glass-

"Cough! R-Rebecca-san...... is this...?"

"Why make such a fuss, it is only some grape juice."

In his memory, he seems to have heard before something similar...... remembering this, Ash gave a bitter smile.

"Don't worry about it. There are many children from the Chevron Kingdom next to us, who drink this as if they are drinking water."

"But this is the Knight Country..."

"Ash, you are too old fashioned. After a long time in the hospital, surely you must have accumulated a lot of stress. Tonight’s feast is for everyone to have a good time, what’s the problem if everyone indulges a little?"

Rebecca says, smiling.

"If Ash-sama has really accumulated stress for so long, I can always accompany you! I'll help you squeeze you out clean, not even a drop will be left!"

Jessica is holding another bottle and suddenly leans over.

Even though the feast started not long ago, her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes are in a watery state.

"Stop thinking anything shameless! Anyway, the thing that I have accumulated is nothing but pressure!"

While Ash is trying to talk back -

"Something...... is approaching."

Lukka looks up at the ceiling and mutters. The unique ears that only an Ecbald have are showing their reaction by twitching.

Ash eyes are directed to Lukka –

- Toooooooom!

An explosion like impact causes the glasses in the shop to shake.

"What is happening?"

Rebecca shouts in a nervous voice.

Just when everyone is showing a shocked expression, and intends to rush to the window to take a closer look -

“Pardon me!”

A woman wearing a yellowish green dragsuit majestically opens the door.

"I am the first-class palace messenger, Olietta Blanc! The Paladin has sent letters to be received by Princess Silvia, Her Royal Highness!"

Part 2

Silvia who has put on her pyjamas is sitting at the table, reading the letters sent by her father.

The feast is still on-going in the student’s restaurant ‘La Tene’, but Silvia had left before twelve midnight.

Her father’s letter is making her worry endlessly.

Her father has seldom held a pen, and to even make a big fuss to write, the situation should be very urgent.

"Hu......? Just for only such things."

After reading the letter, Silvia moans and groans.

"Haa, father really know how to give people trouble."

Silvia throws the letter onto the table and lies down on her bed. After tightly hugging a large size pillow that needs both hands to hold it, she roll around her bed. Because she was troubled.

"Your actions are bad Princess-sama."

Even when Cosette rebukes her while bringing the herbal tea before bedtime, but Silvia still continues to roll around.

“What did the Paladin state in his letter?”

“He ordered me to...... attend the Continental Congress ‘Elysium’ together.”

"Then I should congratulate Princess-sama."

- Continental Congress ‘Elysium’

For every five years the leader of each country will gather for the congress, such is the tradition of the Ark Strada continent.

The Holy Espada Agency. As the core of the Rosa Maria religion, it is in charge of the every congress.

The location is decided by the Espada’s Pope through divination.

This year's conference has entered its seventh term, and the decided location is Lautreamont Knight Country’s capital Fontaine City.

Certainly everyone in her home town, Fontaine City, has gotten caught in the mess.

"Do you know that it is this congress that will change the fate of this continent? It is a burden too heavy for me."

"Are these the only things mentioned? According to my observation, Princess-sama is troubled by some other things?"

Once finished, Cosette exposes a smile.

"Why... are you so sure?"

"Because the Princess-sama now is full of a 'woman’s expression'."

"D-Don’t talk nonsense! How can there be any woman's expression!"

"Please excuse me." Cosette politely informs Silvia, takes the Paladin’s letter and reads.

"Oh my! Written on the letter is ‘When returning home, be sure to bring Ash Blake and and young dragon Eco with you’. What type of situation is this?"

Cosette seems to have a gloating look.

"... This means that the father has also heard rumours about both of them."

"Uhuhu. Going on a journey to go back to Fontaine City together with Ash-sama? Now I know why Princess-sama is troubled. Princess-sama is controlling Lancelot’s reins while Ash-sama is tightly holding your waist from behind-

"Stop having that strange delusion! I tell you, I don’t have any little shameless ideas! Moreover, our Lautreamont family have the family rules that state ‘boys and girls mustn't ride together after seven’! That...... I’ll return home on Lancelot, while there will be no problem for him to walk there.”

"My my, what’s there for you to be shy about? Obviously you have ridden with Ash-sama several times."

"...!"

At that moment, she remembers the ride with Ash which gives Silvia a shock. As if she can feel Ash's hands holding her waist tightly.

"Y-You, be quiet!"

Silvia, knowing her face is red, grabs the pillow and throws it at Cosette with force.

"Mail Dragon ~ A.S.B.1365.7 ~" is closed.

References and Translation Notes

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