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About two hours later, precisely when Lucella was making meatball soup from the minced meat of the Ice Mammoth, she sensed something familiar.

“Hmm?”

A pressure as if the sky itself was screaming—a familiar sensation. It was an extraordinary energy enveloping a dragon, the dragon aura, and not just any dragon, but that of an elderly dragon who, with age, had gained power close to that of a god, imposing a pressure that could make heaven and earth kneel.

Jumping out of the nest and looking up at the sky, the source of the dragon aura became immediately apparent.

A minor dragon Variant was flying straight, and the one riding on its back landed in front of Kafal’s nest.

The figure looked human in form.

Wearing a pure white shirt with frills and pants resembling the attire of competitive swordsmanship. The distinctive feature was the vividly blue hair that undulated like fins, belonging to a young nobleman.

“How carefree. Not even aware of the disturbance.”

With a sigh, almost a scoff, he spoke.

“…Your Majesty the Azure Dragon King of Sylnir.”

The weight on her spine felt heavy, and Lucella felt like her knees might buckle just from facing him.

The southeastern side of the Setulev Kingdom faced the Sylnir Sea.

The coastline was calm, bustling with activities such as fishing and maritime trade. However, a little away from the land, there was the turbulent sea, the territorial waters of the Blue Dragons where ordinary people could not survive and return.

The leader of that group, the Azure Dragon King of Sylnir, Togul.

Not just a leader but bearing the title of ‘Dragon King,’ he, despite his youthful appearance in human form, was an ancient dragon over 1000 years old.

And, in a strange twist of fate, Togul held the position of ‘paternal grandfather on the father’s side’ for Lucella.

Kafal had formed a couple with Togul’s child, Lufa, laying an egg. Then, after losing both Lufa and her own offspring, she passed on the offspring’s name to Lucella.

There was power in the name of a dragon. Lucella, having gained that name, became part of the Sylnir Sea’s group. And by demonstrating power befitting the name, she was acknowledged as a member of the group.

“Your Majesty, why have you come to a place like this?”

Kafal, still in human form, also emerged from the nest, leaving the knife behind.

The cooking apron scattered like sparks. This body and clothing were all woven with magic.

“The Regalia of the Setulev Kingdom went berserk.”
“What…?”
“It’s beyond the mountain. Probably by now, it has likely slipped out of human control and started roaming while scattering its power.”

Togul conveyed the major event in the human realm with a very matter-of-fact tone, making it clear that it wasn’t particularly important to him.

“‘Berserk’…”

Lucella, as part of her knowledge, was aware of that phenomenon. Also, she knew that it was a catastrophic event that should never happen. The berserk of the Regalia was said to occur due to excessive use.

In fact, the countries invaded by Maltgartz used the Regalia to resist to the utmost, ultimately causing it to go berserk.

Maltgartz subdued and consumed that Regalia.

Having conquered many countries, Maltgartz not only seized many Regalia but also disliked the idea of the bloodline of the Regalia users in the conquered countries holding authority. Thus, Maltgartz decided to ‘synthesize’ the Regalia.

By feeding Regalia to Regalia and consolidating them, Maltgartz enhanced their power.

In this way, Maltgartz created a powerful Regalia that could control the environment of vast territories…

“Lucella!”

In the midst of swirling dragon aura thicker than usual, human presence couldn’t be sensed. Even before sensing the presence, Viola’s voice echoed. Hastening footsteps reached Lucella, and she finally noticed that the Golden Helmet had gathered.

Ascending the mountain path were Tim, Wein, and Viola. Instead of his usual armor, Tim carried a lighter load on his back. It was Monica in sportswear.

“If His Majesty the Azure Dragon King is here, then perhaps…”
“Are you also here about the Regalia?”

Viola nodded.

While Togul might have sensed the situation through some kind of extrasensory perception, their information likely came through Duke Foster.

“But why is Monica here? Or rather, is she okay? She looks unwell.”

Monica, carried by Tim, stumbled as she tried to get down and was supported by Viola. Her face was flushed, and even though it was a cool day, sweat beaded on her forehead. Her eyes seemed unfocused as if not quite aligned.

“Since a while ago, she suddenly got a fever, and magic doesn’t seem to cure it. Besides, when we said we were going to the mountain, she insisted on coming along,” Viola explained.

In her hazy state, Monica still frowned, glaring at Togul with displeasure.

“…Did you call me? My head is so noisy; I feel like I’m going to die!”
“I do not summon humans. However, there is a strange presence lingering around her. It seems this one is being called by the Regalia.”

Even though Monica addressed Togul directly, he didn’t respond directly to her. Perhaps that was the line he chose to draw as a Dragon King. However, he began speaking to Lucella in the human language rather than Dragonian.

The words were understandable to anyone listening nearby.

“The Regalia calls people?”

While the berserk of the Regalia was a known story, Lucella had never heard that it could call people.

“And not Viola, but Monica? According to the Maurice Measurement Index…”
“Maurice! Maurice, huh? Hahaha, I haven’t heard that nostalgic name in a while! A foolish man who claimed to be a sage and boasted of commanding the power of dragons! It was truly human-like arrogance. Because of his foolishness, he tore himself apart and died—I witnessed it with my own eyes!” The Blue Dragon King laughed, dismissing the renowned figure from a thousand years ago whose name still lingered in the human world.

“The so-called ‘compatibility rate’ the humans use is just an indicator of how close one is to being an authority figure imprinted on the Regalia. It has nothing to do with the original intention of the Regalia.”
“Then, why is that?”
“Ask the Regalia. I cannot say if it has the intellect to answer.”

Togul spoke with no apparent interest.

In reality, what was more important than the reason was first resolving the situation.

“Is there a way to stop the berserk of the Regalia?”
“Why do you ask me that? The Regalia is a tool for humans; the answer lies in human knowledge.”
“…Wait until the berserk subsides. Destroy it. Or calm it with a Regalia of the same kind. In other words, the Regalia of water, ‘Wisdom Eye Vortex’…”

Using a Regalia of the same kind, with the same water attribute, could calm it.

And there was another method.

The power wielded by the Regalia mimicked that of a dragon. If the Regalia could do it, then logically, a dragon could as well. Even if it was impossible for ordinary people, Lucella, who had become part of the blue dragon bloodline that governed water by virtue of her name, could do it.

“…I, for my part, believe it should be left alone for a while. It would be a good lesson for the impudent mankind. But, you will meddle, won’t you?”
Yes.”

Lucella nodded without hesitation.

If the berserk Regalia were to roam freely, Setulev would no longer be able to maintain its territory. In the recent battle, Kugutfulm was struck by a rain of destruction, the city was on the verge of being submerged, and there were casualties. Something far worse than that could happen throughout the country if the Regalia didn’t return.

“Then, I shall give you the means.”
“Huh?”
“Why are you surprised?”

Togul looked somewhat offended by Lucella’s surprise.

Lucella finally understood why Togul had come here.

“It is better for you to return alive than to die. Go. And accomplish it, child of Luja, Lucella.”

Author’s Note:

I’m bringing this up a bit too late, but when I mention “人(person/human)” and “人族 (mankind)” it usually includes other races like elves and dwarves. I only use the term ‘人間 (human being)’ when specifically talking about the human race or trying to emphasize it.

Translator’s Note:

This is somewhat lost in translation as 人 in particular is often the default way to refer to humans, even if it doesn’t necessarily limit it to humans only.