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Chapter 387 – Scolding
“Do you have some kind of disease that will kill you if you don’t do something?”
“I’m very sorry.”
“Hmm, but we had no choice.”
When we returned to the guest room, we were scolded by Driada, who had already heard about the commotion I had caused―or rather, got involved in, I think.
Ah, now I understood why Gerda, standing next to Driada, had a satisfied, smug look on her face. Maybe Gerda was somehow gathering information. I don’t know what she was doing or how she was doing it, but she was working fast.
“We can’t just sit back while they openly insult us.”
Saying that, Isla tugs at my clothes as we sit side by side. What? That’s what I thought, but it seemed she had no intention of backing down, so I lay down with my head on her lap, as Isla asked.
“That may be so, but… what is that?”
“I’m stroking him, as promised.”
“What’s that? That’s not fair.”
“We’ll switch later.”
“Well, that’s fine then.”
Are you sure you don’t mind? Well, I don’t mind.
“Then why did you accept the challenge of a duel?”
“That was a trap set by the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom. I think they wanted to see how good Kosuke was.”
“Eehh…?”
I was confused. What the hell does she mean? They wanted to see what I could do? That doesn’t make any sense.
“Well, to be precise, someone from the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom must have arranged it. I don’t think it was a state-sponsored plot.”
“What’s the point of knowing my personal ability, or rather, my fighting ability? I mean, the fact that the Dragon Knight and the guards of other countries were moved, even if it wasn’t the whole country, means that someone with a very high status sent them.”
If I had to guess, it would be someone with connections in the military service. Maybe it was the crown prince who carried the crystal bottle of Grande’s blood in his trembling hands. Well, it’s not good to have preconceived notions, is it? Reset, reset, reset.
“There is no doubt that he is a well-liked and well-connected person. I guess he’s trying to find out if Kosuke is a suitable partner for Grande-chan or something like that.”
“I don’t understand more and more. Even if it turns out that I am not suitable according to the criteria of the person who examines me, it has nothing to do with Grande and me.”
“The dragon beliefs of the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom, or rather the ancestral beliefs, are literally a religion.”
“Huh… that’s another annoying word that just popped up.”
Hawks. These are the so-called hardliners. If I had to use religious words to describe them, I would say they are fanatics or fundamentalists. I wonder if I am doomed to be bothered by such people no matter what it takes in this world.
“I don’t know the details, but isn’t the story of the ancestors of the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom about a dragon who fell in love with a human girl, took human form, and married her? It’s not like the girl who became the dragon’s mate was actually extremely strong and beat the dragon to a pulp and said, ‘You shall be my husband,’ or something like that, right?”
“Kosuke’s story is interesting.”
“Kosuke-kun, don’t ever tell this story to anyone in the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom, okay?”
Isla seemed to be amused, but Driada warned me in a serious tone not to talk about it. Is that an excuse to tell me not to talk? Don’t push it? Something like that. Well, I won’t talk about religious things because it’s dangerous to mention it.
“We’re getting off-topic. In other words, are you saying that someone on the side of the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom saw through the scheme and decided to take advantage of it, thus creating a debt of gratitude?
“Something like that. By taking advantage of that scheme and actually showing Kosuke’s power, it also includes the intention to discourage them from further strange attempts.”
“Hmm, I see… Will that plan work?”
“If you don’t act, you won’t get anything. The Joker is in our hands.”
Having said that, Isla turns her big eye to the pile of cushions. Surely that’s a joker for us and against the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom. When Grande says white, black becomes white in this country.
“Is there a countermeasure? Is it enough to just act with Grande?”
“Yes, that’s right. If they do anything wrong when you are with Grande-chan, they will probably incur her wrath, and the people of the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom won’t be able to touch you so easily.”
“But for my part, I don’t want to treat Grande like that, like a convenient card to be played. Grande may want it that way, but I’m against using it for our own convenience.”
Grande is only working with us because of her personal relationship with me. I don’t want to take advantage of that and act in a way that benefits the Merinard Kingdom.
“I knew Kosuke would say that. But you should explain the situation to Grande. After that, I think it’s better to let Grande make the decision.”
“I agree. Kosuke-kun and Grande-chan are equal partners, not in a relationship where one of you unilaterally protects the other, right?”
“That’s true, but… I’m afraid that if I speak badly, she’ll get angry and start raging.”
“”Ah.””
After all, Grande is very sweet to me, and she also has a very self-centered temperament, which is typical of dragons… Grande herself chose me as her mate, and others tested me to see if I was worthy. If she heard that I might have been seriously injured in such a way, it would not be surprising if she started to bring down this castle as it was.
“Well, I guess it’s more dangerous if she finds out when I’m not around… I’ll share the information with Grande, making sure to keep it as peaceful as possible.”
“Hmm, that’s a good idea.”
So that’s how we decided to wake up Grande. Right, it’s just in time for a snack. Hopefully, this will have some calming effect.