While the Evilusroid and the Dragon Bone Soldier were competing to build their reputation in City W, Regalia was having an unofficial meeting with the president of the Dragon Company.
Even in a war zone where soldiers were shedding blood, the rulers exchanged smiles and pleasantries. When Regalia received a proposal from Hisberk for a meeting, she gladly accepted it.
At that moment, she felt confident that Hisberk wouldn’t attack or suppress her since they were part of the established powers—a code among the elite. Breaking it would invite scorn from all cities.
“Welcome, President Regalia.”
“Thank you for the invitation, President Hisberk.”
Under the Dragon Sky, the two met in the skyscraper of the Dragon Company, with smiles plastered all over their faces. However, their words and hidden emotions were anything but light.
“Recently, you’ve been making some interesting things.”
“Our researchers are quite capable.”
“Haha! I never expected a copycat to appear so quickly. Maybe it’s because you’re young that your company seems to accomplish remarkable things with such ease.”
You guys copied our android, didn’t you?
Yep. Your technology is quite tasty.
You little brat.
A conversation laced with hidden blades exchanged as some treaties were also discussed—a sort of collusion proposal to exchange techniques and fill each other’s gaps.
Having no reason to decline, Regalia accepted it. As she shook hands with Hisberk, she smiled inwardly calculating the benefits the Evilus Corporation would reap.
“Now that we’re in agreement, there’s something I’d like to ask.”
“Go ahead.”
“I want to know who created that android.”
The words became short. Before Regalia could even frown at the shifting atmosphere, Hisberk suddenly got close and lightly clasped Regalia’s arm.
At that moment, the two guards behind her jolted in surprise, but before they could move, Hisberk stopped them with just a gaze.
“Ugh!?”
“Uh, Miss…!”
Vira and Kitty, both possessing abilities beyond an A-class Hero, were instantly subdued. Regalia realized the situation was becoming serious. The Majesty of Kings awakened within her.
The king met the dragon’s gaze, trying hard to shake off the weight pressing down on her entire being.
“You must know this is quite rude.”
“Oh, to endure that! But then again, running a company at your age isn’t something you can do by mere fortune.”
“Other corporations would never allow this, Hisberk.”
“To talk with the vigor of a king, yet say such mundane things, how naïve, little lady.”
Hisberk looked down on Regalia with a rather disappointed expression.
“You must be able to solve situations on your own to truly be called a king. Right now, you’re far from kingly.”
“…You didn’t create this situation just to give me advice, did you?”
“Oh, right. I’ll ask you again.”
The dragon’s gaze bore into Regalia. It began piercing through her memories and soul.
“Where is the one who created Yongabyeong?”
Having the chance to meet her kin after centuries, the obsession of a creature that had been alone for so long enveloped Regalia.
Faced with that obsession, Regalia sighed inwardly.
“Again, it’s because of the Scientist.”
At this point, it seemed that all the world’s troubles stemmed from the Scientist. She thought it was beginning to feel like that.
* * *
Biiiiiing-!
The wristwatch started to beep wildly.
I quickly gathered some tools on the experimental table and exited the laboratory. Ayle, who had transformed into a magical girl, was with me.
As I stepped into the hallway, I noticed combatants in alarm rushing around. Among them, I spotted Galm casually exercising and Arima, finishing her makeup and strutting around in her boots, which made me frown.
“……Didn’t you both get the alarm? What’s with the nonchalance?”
“We’re about to fight, so I have to warm up.”
“This is my battle stance! You don’t understand how important stage makeup is to a magician.”
But seeing the confident Galm and Arima made me chuckle. Well, they must have their reasons for acting that way.
I scratched my head slightly and directed my words towards Arima.
“Arima, you can teleport, right? Let’s head to City D immediately.”
“Uh, well… I don’t think I can.”
“What? What do you mean…?”
“Actually, I’ve been trying since earlier, but I can’t.”
“So, what the heck does that mean─.”
Listening to Arima’s words about being unable to teleport, I recalled that his teleportation wasn’t a superpower but a magical item, and that he was no longer the only magician in this world.
Wasn’t this common in other novels too? Dragons were the origin of magic. Creatures that spread magic to humans. No dragon was worse at handling magic than humans, not even a great mage.
When a naturally talented human trains their magic to reach the level of a dragon, they are called a great mage. But when a dragon handles magic at a level similar to a great mage? That’s called a young dragon.
“Moving by magic is impossible?”
“Right. I think I can manage to get close, but I can’t directly enter the city.”
“…Fine. Let’s just go there and take it from there.”
“Okay-♠.”
Chijijijik-!
As Arima gestured in the air, the space tore open, revealing a barren wasteland, with a long road stretching endlessly.
The moment we dropped onto the empty road, Arima looked at me as if asking what to do next.
I silently reached into my pocket. A stiff, square, toy-sized robot came out.
“Falcon, I need your help.”
[You called, Master?]
Emerging from my grasp, Falcon quickly regained its original size. Climbing into a cockpit large enough to hold all five of us, I ordered Falcon.
“Fly, Falcon. Faster than anyone.”
[Yes, sir.]
“Our destination is City D.”
To the dragon’s lair coiled inside the city.
The falcon of lizard hunting quickly took to the skies.
* * *
In Regalia’s solitary confinement.
Regalia, along with Vira and Kitty, fidgeted with her wristwatch, her movements akin to a child unable to suppress anxiety.
“……Just hold on a little longer, miss.”
“Hmm-? What do you mean, hold on?”
“Aren’t you worried whether your well-being is in danger?”
Regalia looked at Kitty, her expression showing disbelief at Kitty’s words.
“Why would I be worried about that? I’ll be safe and free soon.”
“What do you mean…?”
“I just contacted some of the executives. They’ll notice if something’s wrong with me and come to rescue me.”
Hearing Regalia’s words, Kitty furrowed her brow in confusion. This was a secret detention center of the Dragon Company, entirely cut off from external contact. They were so confident that they hadn’t confiscated anything from the two guards.
Indeed, after trying to contact her smartphone for some time, Kitty found that she could not communicate with the outside world. How could calling in the executives even be possible?
“Could it be…?”
“Right. It’s a device made by scientist.”
“……That shouldn’t be possible— I’m sorry. That was a slip of the tongue, Miss.”
Hearing Regalia’s words, Kitty sighed. Ever since she picked up that damned vagrant on the street, everything seemed to have gone wrong. She felt like that man was the root of all their troubles.
But it was also a fact that the scientific genius was favored by the lady, so Kitty swallowed the words that were trying to escape her.
“Well, he did seem to have some skills even if he was a weird guy…”
It was indeed malicious that such excellent skills were of no help to the boss, only tormenting her.
While Kitty inwardly cursed that scientist, a loud thud echoed from somewhere. It was impossible to gauge how huge the noise was given how soundproofed the place was.
After a few resounding bangs, Vira instinctively hugged Regalia and Kitty.
“Miss-!”
A moment later, as Vira’s barrier enveloped the two─ the upper part of the building they were trapped in suddenly whipped away. Something colossal had ripped off the upper structure.
Above the empty ceiling, the cloudy sky became visible. Strange, trail-like clouds spread across the sky.
“Are you alright, Miss?”
“……I’m fine, but what’s that—.”
“How did this happen…?”
As Vira and Kitty surveyed the surroundings after rescuing the boss, they were momentarily speechless at the sight before them. It was a scene straight out of a children’s animation that the boss loved to watch.
That is, a massive robot and an even bigger dinosaur brawling.
[─Boss!? Are you alright!?]
Just then, a voice with a hint of the scientist’s tone echoed from the robot’s mouth, making the boss chuckle bitterly while simultaneously looking at Kitty.
With a look that seemed to ask, didn’t I say this would happen?
