That guy was definitely up to no good.
ā€œYou said none of you saw his face, right?ā€ (Anos)
ā€œRight.ā€ (Ramon)
ā€œAnd the ring he was wearing, did it look like this?ā€ (Anos)
I showed him the Selection Pledge Jewel I had obtained at Everastanzetta.
ā€œY-Yeah, I’m pretty sure this was the one. I think his was a little brighter, but it had the same gemstone.ā€ (Ramon)
Since I hadn’t formed any pact with any god, my Pledge Jewel didn’t contain any flame.
Nonetheless, there was no doubt that his ring was a Pledge Jewel.
Which meant that the one who offered the dragon to the Royalists was one of the Selected Eight.
But was it Ahid or someone else?
ā€œDid he say anything else?ā€ (Anos)
ā€œNo, nothing in partic— Ah, come to think of it, Zerceus-sama said that the familiar was a falcon.ā€ (Ramon)
When it came to familiars, demons preferred to use owls while humans favored falcons.
However, that wasn’t to say that sufficiently skilled tamers couldn’t use any other sorts of familiars.
ā€œIf that’s all, then it’s nothing unusual. Or is there something else?ā€ (Anos)
ā€œā€¦Ah, no, it’s just to say that we don’t know anything yet. But apparently, he thinks he’s seen that falcon in Gairadite’s royal palace beforeā€¦ā€ (Ramon)
After the war with Azesion, Zerceus, along with Erio and Melheis, had visited Gairadite several times to negotiate with the humans.
So he may have visited the palace during those times.
ā€œBut still, no one is normally capable of telling one falcon from another, so I wonder if that wasn’t just Zerceus-sama’s imagination.ā€ (Ramon)
ā€œHmm. Good work. Tell him to let me know if he finds out anything else.ā€ (Anos)
ā€œGot it.ā€ (Ramon)
Ramon left, looking relieved.
He had become quite obedient. Which meant that his collar was working just fine.
ā€œHey… Didn’t he say something kind of distressing just now…?ā€ (Sasha)
Sasha was grabbing her own head, looking dismayed as she foresaw incoming trouble.
ā€œAre the humans from the palace and the draconids working together?ā€ asked Misha, who was standing next to me.
ā€œI don’t know yet, but it looks like we’d better find out. Lay.ā€ (Anos)
Lay, who was with Misa, turned to us with his refreshing smile.
ā€œLet’s go to the palace. Hopefully it’s still worth something.ā€ (Anos)
ā€œSure.ā€ (Lay)
I called Eleonore and Zeshia back to us, and cast the <Transition Gatom> spell.
We reappeared in Gairadite.
Right in front of the royal palace.
ā€œShould we proceed like this? We use both <Illusion Mimicry Lynel> and <Concealed Magic Power Najila> to sneak inside and investigate whatever we can.ā€ (Eleonore)
ā€œLike… hide-and-seekā€¦ā€ Zeshia murmured happily.
ā€œThen let’s do that.ā€ (Anos)
After casting <Illusion Mimicry Lynel> and <Concealed Magic Power Najila> to hide our appearances and magic power, we skipped past the gatekeepers and walked through the main gate.
After entering the palace grounds and proceeding for a while, I heard a certain sound and stopped.
ā€œWhat’s wrong?ā€ Sasha asked as she turned around curiously.
ā€œListen.ā€ (Anos)
She replied with a gesture to show she was listening.
A faint, high-pitched screech echoed.
ā€œIsn’t thatā€¦ā€ (Sasha)
ā€œA dragon cry.ā€ Misha said.
ā€œIt looks like the main building and underground land of the royal palace have now become a dragon domain.ā€ Lay said as he looked around the palace with a grim gaze.
Though he was trying to scan the interior with his Magic Eyes, the dragon domain was blocking his vision.
ā€œWhat does this mean? That there’s a dragon nest right under the palace…?ā€ (Sasha)
ā€œMaybe. We’d be lucky if that was all.ā€ (Anos)
The royal palace was reluctant to subjugate the dragons.
I thought it was just out of incompetence, but I never expected it was anything less likely.
ā€œPerhaps they keep dragons in here.ā€ (Anos)
ā€œIn the royal palace?! But the humans suffered from dragon attacks, right? What are they trying to accomplish by risking them attacking their own people…?!ā€ Sasha exclaimed in shock.
ā€œIt’s still only a possibility.ā€ (Anos)
ā€œAhh, but maybe we should give up on the hide-and-seek, then. We’ll be fine if they find us, but if they were to release any dragons on the city of Azesion, thenā€¦ā€ Eleonore said in a grave tone.
Assuming that the royal palace was keeping dragons, there was no guarantee that they would resort to desperate measures if cornered.
ā€œBut we can’t just turn back, can we? If the palace does keep dragons in here, we need to find the culprits.ā€ (Misa)
I nodded to Misa’s words.
ā€œThere is a way to get through the front door.ā€ (Anos)
My eyes met with Lay’s.
As the Hero Kanon, the royal palace would welcome him with their heads down.
ā€œā€¦I don’t think I’m going to like this, but I suppose this is no time to complain.ā€ (Lay)
ā€œThen let’s leave at once.ā€ (Anos)
Using <Transition Gatom>, I teleported us to the main auditorium of the Hero Academy this time.
At that same moment, I cast <Illusion Mimicry Lynel> and <Concealed Magic Power Najila> on ourselves.
ā€œNow go talk to Headmaster Zamira.’ (Anos)
Lay nodded.
ā€œHopefully, he’ll accept to show me around the palace.ā€ he said while walking through the door.
ā€œMisa, you should go with him. If you tell them you’re his fiancĆ©e, I’m sure they’ll welcome you.ā€ (Anos)
ā€œAh… Ahaha… I’d better make sure Dad never finds out about thisā€¦ā€ (Misa)
Though Misa laughed nervously, she stood next to Lay with a slightly happy look on her face.
ā€œAnd be careful. No doubt welcoming the Hero Kanon isn’t the only thing on their agenda.ā€ (Anos)
Lay stopped and flashed a troubled smile.
ā€œā€¦I just hope humans aren’t that foolish.ā€ (Lay)
The two left the auditorium.