A sound like the creaking of metal resounded, the airship's altitude lowered with a
jerk.
"Kyah"
"Piih"
The silver haired girl and little dragon who were hugging each other while trembling
raised a scream at Hajime who was showing a really nice smile in a savage manner.
The blonde haired female made contact using something like a radio toward the place
that seemed to be the bridge and asked what was happening.
[Roze-sama-. The damage to the ship is horrible, we cannot maintain our floating
power-]
The magnified voice resounded to the whole ship. The silver haired girl who was called
Roze quickly returned to her senses, and then she turned her gaze at the little
dragon――Kuwaibel. Kuwaibel turned its gaze at Roze and nodded once.
"Piiii~~~"
It raised a high-pitched cry. Silver light overflowed from its small body which gently
enveloped the airship.
[Floating power increasing, 50 percent. Please just a bit more, Kuwaibel-sama.]
"Pii, pipih"
Kuwaibel puffed up his chest with a face that looked a bit triumphant, as though to say
"Just leave it to me!" . It seemed that the declining ship was recovering its floating
power with the help of that special silver power.
Roze let out a relieved sigh and she tightly hugged again her beloved friend and
partner Kuwaibel. She then returned her gaze at Hajime and Tio who were looking at
them with very interested gaze.
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 237 | 582
She stood up, put down Kuwaibel beside her, and then she showed an elegant bow that
resembled a courtesy. Her hair was ruffled from the wind, her clothes was also a
modest thing that looked like an overall, yet her appearance had a gracefulness that
would make people who saw her to get taken aback.
"It's a great honor to be able to meet you for the first time, dragon knight-sama, true
dragon-sama. I am Avenst Kingdom's queen Roze Phiris Avenst. As the representative
of the dragon kingdom, my greatest thanks for your assistance in this chance.
...Unfortunately we are in this kind of condition, so we cannot even show you our
gratitude satisfactorily, but please, you can rest your wings in our ship Rozeria by all
means."
The two comprehended, indeed this girl's attire looked shabby, but now they could
understand the reason of the refinement this girl was clad with. It seemed that
Hajime's prediction that she wasn't just a mere pirate was correct.
Roze's words caused the gaze of the blonde haired male and female at both her sides
to wander around. It was a fact that they were saved, but the two people in front of
them were too much of an unknown. As people whose mission was to protect the
queen's safety, Tio's existence added with Hajime's deed and great power were
making them hesitate if it was okay to simply approach these two.
"Piih. Pipii!"
"Ah, hey-, Ku-chan! That's impolite!"
They couldn't possibly defy these two, but they also couldn't abandon their
wariness...the blonde haired duo were unconsciously putting themselves on guard,
but Kuwaibel only gave a glance at the duo who were like that before he quickly flew
out and began to fly around Hajime and Tio happily.
Roze was yelling "Come back hereee~e!" with an angry face, but Kuwaibel looked
really curious about Tio in her dragon's form, so he was flying in front of Tio's nose tip
while sending a deeply interested gaze.
"Tio."
"Acknowledged."
With Hajime's call, Tio enveloped her body with a cocoon of black magic power light.
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 238 | 582
The cocoon was shrinking whizzingly. Right after that, the magic power scattered like
a bursting bubble and from inside Tio appeared in her usual appearance.
"...Holy cow. She really can turn into human. It's just like in legend."
"Even when I see it with this eyes, I still cannot believe it."
"Nee-san. Can you punch me a bit? I think I'm hallucinating."
The pilot who was saved by Hajime――Bovid was putting his hand on his forehead
while muttering, while the blonde hair duo were also opening their eyes wide in
disbelief.
Hajime and Tio ignored their shock and landed on the deck. When they did that, Tio
was floating with the dragon wings she let out, but Hajime was normally stepping on
the air and walked down, so everyone including Roze stared with their eyes almost
jumping out from the socket.
Under Hajime's feet that were walking normally as though he was going down a stair
were crimson ripples spreading with each step. Everyone was staring at that
wordlessly. Even after Hajime had stood on the deck, the gaze of everyone was still
glued on Hajime's feet.
"Oi, come back to your senses. We also have various things that we want to ask. The
time is limited y'know."
Hajime tapped his foot while saying that. Hearing that, Roze and others returned to
their senses with 'hah' and their gaze met Hajime. Though their gaze still kept glancing
at Hajime's feet.
"Tha, that's rude of us. E, excuse me dragon knight-sama. For you to come down here,
can I take that to mean that you are going to give us the honor by resting your wings
on our ship?"
"I'm not a dragon knight, and depending on the situation I'll leave right away
but...well, it's true that for the time being I'm thinking of talking with you guys."
The blonde hair duo frowned at Hajime's wording. They reflexively were about to say
something, but then Bovid elbowed them saying "Don't get in her majesty's way" .
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 239 | 582
"Is that so...I'm glad. Welcome, dragon knight-sama, true dragon-sama. If it won't
displease you, can I please ask for your name?"
"That's why I told you I'm not a dragon knight. ...I am Hajime, and this is Tio."
"Nice to meet thou, queen-sama with circumstance."
"Yes, it's an honor to meet the two of you, Hajime-sama, Tio-sama."
Roze smiled widely while adding 'sama' when calling the two of them. While she
introduced herself as a queen of a country, it seemed she completely saw Hajime and
Tio as above her. Surely the reason of her attitude like this was related with the
unfamiliar terms she were using before this.
Anyway, they were able to create a friendly atmosphere unlike with the army faction,
so Hajime turned his gaze to another direction. Lured by that, the gaze of Roze and
others followed Hajime's and there they caught sight of the thing that Hajime was
looking at. It was a giant mass of metal. The part of the mother ship that was forcefully
purged.
"Excuse me, that's..."
Roze raised a questioning voice. Hajime manipulated his Cross Velt in exchange for
replying to her. The metal mass that was surrounded by barrier was approaching
following the Cross Velts' movement.
"Well, it's nothing. This guys are innocent after all, so as expected making them fall
together is just too much."
"E, err..."
Giving only a glance at the bewildered Roze, Hajime used convergence transmutation
to dissolve the metal mass in front of his eyes into particle state. The sight of the
gigantic mass of metal surrounded by crimson sparks and rustlingly vanished into
sand shape made everyone speechless.
Although, the true surprise came after that. The state inside was exposed when the
outer wall was vanishing. Inside there was,
"Wha-. Dragons are, that many inside there..."
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 240 | 582
"Chih, so it's something like this. So inside there is the fuel store of those guys' ship."
Roze pressed her hands on her mouth and leaked out a whisper, and Bovid was
clicking his tongue while saying the correct answer.
The room where nearly a hundred dragon species were locked in dissolved in the blink
of eye. Several fist sized metal lumps were created above Hajime's hand and they were
then stored into "Treasure Warehouse II".
Perhaps because the dragons hadn't flown for long, when the cage locking them in was
gone, they were falling without even able to fly. They fell with a flop on the barrier
floor that Hajime spread and then they looked around in astonishment while sitting.
"This is troubling. It would be great if they can just fly away quickly but...they don't
even have the strength to fly huh."
"Uumu. It wouldst take some effort to care for this number. What to do, Goshujinsama? There art also an option to use cheatmate and mine metamorphosis magic to
forcefully remodel their body though?"
Tio suggested using the magic that once transformed the enemy monsters in the holy
precincts into black dragons. Hajime carefully pondered that suggestion, but the
problem was resolved before he could give the answer.
"Piih, PiiIIIhpipih"
Kuwaibel flew up in front of the dragons that weren't trying to fly away and then his
body shined silver. The overflowing light was scattering like rain while showering the
dragons. After a while, the dragons were starting to move their wings in
bewilderment.
At first it was slowly. As though to ascertain the feeling. As though to recall the past.
One dragon, and then one more dragon was floating, and the dragons began to dance
in the sky.
"Monarch dragon...was it? That was how those guys called this rug rat dragon."
"Yes. A dragon that grant power to the dragon species. He is truly ought to be called as
the king of dragon."
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 241 | 582
Dragons in various size were flying around the small dragon clad in silver in adoration,
as though they were offering their respect. Hajime and Tio's expression turned
admiring while watching that sight.
Before long, the dragons flapped their wings powerfully and became a single flock that
flew away. Most likely there was also a floating island at that direction. Kuwaibel was
clearly giving out instruction to them to fly over there. It was certain that they would
be able to rest their wings there.
"Thank you very much Hajime-sama, Tio-sama. To think that the two of you were able
to save those children in the middle of that battle...how very admirable. As the
representative of the dragon kingdom that love dragon and wish to be together with
dragon, I offer the two of you my gratitude."
Roze who stepped forward gracefully bowed her head deeply.
It appeared that Roze and her group were harboring feeling of affection to the dragon
species, different from the army faction. Seeing that their side also had sky battlecraft
and airship, Hajime thought that they were using the energy body that seemed to
come from the dragon's heart, but based on what he saw from Roze's behavior then
perhaps there was other method than that. No matter how he couldn't imagine this
group killing dragon and took out their core.
While Hajime and Tio's interest was stimulated inside their heart thinking that there
were more and more things he wanted to ask with this, they were guided by Roze to
go to the reception room. That was how it went but...
The terrible condition inside the ship that was littered with holes, the crews running
around for repair, and then the strange noise that sometimes resounded and the
condition that made it seemed like the airship would fall anytime, those factors caused
Hajime to ask "...Is this airship okay?" . In respond to that, Roze's reply was "I, it's
fine you know?" with question mark inside her sentence and her gaze swimming
around everywhere. In the end, Hajime rushed around to repair the ship.
He wanted to be spared of the ship crashing while they were talking, so he made them
guide him to the broken area and performed repair one after another using
transmutation. If there was lack of material, Hajime used a part of the material that he
snatched in great amount from the mother ship.
Right after crimson spark surged, the damaged place became just like new in the blink
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 242 | 582
of eye. The absurd spectacle caused all the crews including Roze to goggle.
Even when they were in the middle of moving to the next place, their gaze was nailed
at Hajime's hand. When the hand moved to right, their gaze would also go to right,
when it moved to left their gaze would also go left. When Hajime tried rotating his arm
in a cir~cle, their gaze would also rotate in a cir~cle.
...To the right a bit faster-. The gazes went to the right swiftly-. Left-, but it was a
feint, it was up! Refusing to get tricked the gaze went up! Left up down right left right
up-! What the-left up right left right left-, ah, mistaken!?
"Just what art thou doing, Goshujin-sama and also queen-sama too."
"Ah, no, sorry. Because these guys are moving too obediently, that I unintentionally..."
"My, my apologize. It feels like it would be a defeat if our gaze get left behind, that I
unintentionally..."
The people around the blushing Roze were also making an expression like "Damn it,
we unintentionally..." in harmony. Perhaps they were unexpectedly a group that
could easily get into a certain mood.
With various happenings like that,Hajime and Tio who were invited into the reception
room finally sat down on a stiff sofa. A steamy beverage was put in front of them. Most
likely it was something similar like tea. A slightly sweet fragrance tickled their nose.
In front of the two was Roze. The blonde hair duo were standing in attention behind
her. Midway to this room Hajime and Tio learned that both of them were siblings, the
older sister was Olga Crow, and the little brother was Jean Crow. They seemed to be
Roze's imperial guards. The elder sister was the captain of the imperial guards, and
the little brother was the vice captain. They could also pilot sky battlecraft, but they
were an expert in close quarter combat. It seemed that usually they were also aiding
Roze's daily life.
"Hajime-sama, Tio-sama. Forgive me for being too straight, but can I be allowed to ask
what kind of objective the two of you have? We...we have a goal, a mission. I think
that if it's the legendary true dragon-sama then your understanding must have
grasped it already but...like this, for the two of you to rush to our side in our time of
danger, is it allowed for me to hold a hope that the two of you can give us your
cooperation?"
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 243 | 582
"Wait, wait a bit. Calm down for now."
From the middle of her talk, Roze's body was leaning forward and she kept talking on
and on. Hajime pushed forward both his hands to stop her. Roze pulled back her body
in panic and she corrected her posture in shame.
"I'll say this first, but I'm notthe dragon knight you queen-san talked about, I also don't
understand what you mean by true dragon. The reason is because we aren't a dweller
of this world."
"...Not a dweller of this world? Forgive me, I don't really understand what do you
mean by that."
"I meant that literally, we are human from different world. A world where there isn't a
black rain like here, where the civilization isn't collapsing. There are multiple
countries in existence there and they more or less believe in order and law."
Roze's expression was getting more and more bewildered.
Hajime smiled wryly understandingly and he talked the summary of their experience
of coming to this world. Whether they would believe it or not in the end, Hajime would
leave it to their own decision. For the time being, he conveyed to Roze that with the
premise that they were from another world, he wished for her to teach him about this
world, the situation, and about the unfamiliar terms that sometimes came out in their
conversation.
"It's a story that I cannot believe so suddenly but...for now, I understand that this
talk itself won't progress without me explaining the situation. Having said that, I don't
know from where do I have to start explaining..."
"Right...then, first, what is that black rain? Teach us starting from there. What
happened that now the land is polluted by that rain?"
"So from there. So it's really true, that the two of you doesn't know about this
world..."
Roze took a gulp of the drink with her mind still shaken by bewilderment and for now
she reset herself. She pondered for a bit thinking how should she explain, and then
she began to talk.
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 244 | 582
"The black rain, it is said to be the proof of the fallen monarch dragon――Helmut's
grief and rage."
In the past, at the time where the black rain still didn't exist, in the center of dragon
kingdom Avenst where Roze's ancestor was acting as the king, there was an era of
peace where dragon and human coexisted.
"In that era, when dragon and human reached a certain age, it was the custom for them
to choose a partner to exchange friendship of a lifetime. One of the monarch dragons
who were the partner of the dragon kingdom royalty in such era, was the evil dragon
Helmut."
"Monarch dragon, what does that mean?"
"Monarch dragon, they are dragon that possess special power even among the dragon
species. They possess silver scales, bestow strength to the dragon species and the land,
and they are able to exchange words with human. They are the ruling kind among the
dragons that will only exchange friendship with the royalty of the dragon kingdom."
The oldest and strongest country――Dragon Kingdom Avenst. A part of the reason of
that status was because in a world where dragon was human's greatest friend, the
kingdom royalty was the only one that could exchange friendship with the dragon's
ruling kind.
"I see. That country surely was a country with influence huh."
"Yes. The center of the world was without a doubt located in the dragon kingdom.
However, even that era was approached by the end. ――It was the development of
technology."
Except the existence of dragons and ores and the like that possessed special energy,
there wasn't any mysterious power like magic or anything in this world. It was
inevitable for technology to develop here just like in earth. The difference was at the
point thatin place of electricity and gas,this world was using an energy that was called
sky core.
"Sky core, is that the sky blue ore that is even smaller than grains of sand?"
"So you know about that.... Yes, exactly. It is a special ore with traits where it can be
changed into various kinetic energy, stimulate the growth of crops, or even neutralize
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 245 | 582
gravity. It's an ore that is really hard to be collected, but it can even allow an airship
this big and sky battlecrafts to fly like this, and it can also produce light, heat, cold for
our daily life."
"...This ship, it's not using that thing that is like the dragon's heart?"
"-. Obviously-. Please don't lump us together like those Qwailent bunches-"
"...Calm down. I'm completely ignorant what is common sense and what is not in this
world. I'll properly listen to queen-san's story, so please explain."
"ah, my, my apologize."
Roze whose boiling temper got cooled by Hajime's calm words cleared her throat.
According to the explanation that she resumed, the thing that seemed like the dragon's
heart――that was something that was called dragon core, it seemed that even just a
cubic centimeter of it possessed the same amount of energy of a fist sized sky core.
Naturally, processing dragon core was very much better in labor and efficiency, but it
seemed that Roze and others who were the descendant of dragon kingdom who didn't
discard their country's ideal of coexisting with dragon even now when their country
had perished, they were only using sky core. Because of that, their airship's spec was
several level lower compared to the airship of their enemy――Sky Divine Country
Qwailent. They also had difficulty in resupply, so they were always struggling with
lacks of materials.
Somehow, it made it hard to drink the richly fragrant tea in front of them...
"Nkuh. This is delicious. Second please."
"Ah, yes."
Hajime-san mercilessly asked for second. Right after Roze was explaining with a bitter
smile about their destitute living situation. The expression of the Crow siblings
shuddered. 'Is this man's nerve made from special alloy wire!?' They wondered.
"And? The continuation?"
"Ah, yes. Eerr...that's right. While the technology development is continuing, a
certain researcher discovered it. That the dragon core is far more efficient than sky
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 246 | 582
core. The dragons who were the great companion of mankind had their remains
buried courteously even after death. The dragon core that should be called as that
dragon's soul was buried along with the dragon's remain, returning back to the land.
That was the norm in that time."
"So curiosity, stepped across that common sense?"
"I don't understand the feeling of that researcher. In the record, it was said that at the
end of his research he created the fastest aircraft at that time using the dragon core of
his partner who died from an unforeseen accident. And then, he didn't create anything
other than that. ...It's possible, that man might only wished to fly together in the sky
one more time using an aircraft that is inserted with the soul of his departed friend."
The truth of the matter was unknown. However, the fact was that at the same time
with that man's discovery, the countries all over the world also noticed it. The value of
dragon core.
And then, it began. The cruel and terrifying act of dragon hunting.
Technology that made use of sky core required extremely much effort starting from
the collection of the sky core. Sky core at the very least need to be fist sized to be
useful, but the sky core that could be collected was only small things that were like
sand. Just collecting it and compressing it into usable size consumed so much time and
cost. Major effort was necessary just to research it.
Those necessities were removed by using dragon core. The research advanced rapidly
and technology was developed with striking momentum.
"It was said that the countries all over the world unanimously gathered dragon core
and the technology race intensified. In the middle of that, it was only the dragon
kingdom that was trying to stop the tide of the world that is making dragon hunting
as right. The kingdom used all kind of method. Economic sanction, preferential
treatment from the dragon kingdom, the export of sky core...sometimes they even
used military force along with the monarch dragons."
"...How long they could do that?"
Roze made a troubled smile at Hajime's words.
While the countries around them were continuing to develop technology, they
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 247 | 582
rejected dragon hunting as wrong――that had the same meaning as being left behind
by the world. Even if they were an influential country, but if their technology level was
overwhelmingly left behind, it wasn't hard to imagine what kind of evaluation other
countries would have against them.
Even so the dragon kingdom continued to reject dragon hunting was because the
dragon species shouldered the role as balancer of the world. It wasn't something that
was proven scientifically. It was something like a superstitious belief. But, it was
believed that dragons had a role of taking in toxic substance of the world into their
body, and then they purified it to return it back to the world.
That was the belief in the dragon kingdom.
In a world where technology development advanced, a fact without proof wasn't
worthy to be believed in. Even when the dragon kingdom persuaded that if the dragon
hunting continued at this rate a calamity would occur, no one bothered to listen.
Like that the authority of dragon kingdom wavered, their influence lowered, and
shadow was looming on their power.
"The one who showed unease at such situation was the first prince of the dragon
kingdom at that time. He became unable to endure the declining of his homeland. He
casted away the belief as superstition and strongly appealed for technology
development using dragon core."
"Naturally, it didn't end well wasn't it?"
"Yes. In the record, harsh writings about him...like he was the shame of dragon
kingdom, or a traitor were written. However, even when he was showered with
criticism from all the people of his homeland, he didn't stop. ...No, exactly because
he loved his homeland from the bottom of his heard, that he couldn't stop anymore."
"...I can picture it somehow. So he did it?"
Hajime looked up to the ceiling with an air that seemed to say 'dear god'. Tio too
seemed to be able to imagine what happened. She sighed as though to say that it was
depressing just hearing it.
Even while smiling bitterly at the two, Roze talked with sadness at the forefront of her
eyes.
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 248 | 582
How the prince, laid his hand on the monarch dragon who was his greatest friend.
A research of dragon core technology that was advanced behind closed door. As the
last finishing touch, he murdered his partner, and with that dragon core――he
constructed a gigantic flying warship that used the dragon core of monarch dragon for
the first time in the world.
That ship's majesty was tremendous, to the degree that the military balance at that
time was tilted slightly just by that one warship.
Surely that prince felt relieved with that. With that his homeland was saved. There
would be peace. The other countries wouldn't make light of them anymore than this,
they wouldn't be invaded so easily.
"Thus, the dragon kingdom recovered its authority, but in exchange they lost their
pride and persuasiveness huh."
"Must be. Even if they called for the cessation of dragon hunting, no one wouldst listen
to them. After all, they hath murdered a king of dragon to create a warship. Even
putting aside other countries, the kingdom's own people wouldst be the one that gave
up on the country most of all."
"Exactly as you said. A storm visited the dragon country and they even met a crisis of
internal disunity. But then, an occurrence so terrifying as though to say something like
the risk of civil war is just a trivial thing was starting to happen."
Black rain was starting to fall.
"Coming this far, the world finally noticed that they were mistaken. The true identity
of the black rain is the end of the road of the energy that is released from sky core and
dragon core. This thing that is dispersed into the air and changed in nature possesses
a property that doesn't grant vitality but instead steal it."
"I see. Let's put aside the detail about the underlying theory, it's true then that the
dragon race, and perhaps the sky core are really balancer of this world."
"Fumu. The world art holding true above a balance. Noon and night, man and woman,
positive and negative...it's natural for a negative energy to also exist if a positive
energy exist. The dragon species and sky core take in negative energy, they then turn
that energy into positive energy that they release back, when the released energy
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 249 | 582
accomplished their role they wouldst turn into negative energy, then that energy
wouldst be taken in by dragon species and sky core once more....the world art in
circulation."
The role of dragon species that was proved for the first time with the manifestation of
calamity.
However, mankind who noticed that fact then charged headlong to the unforeseen
direction.
"The dignity of the dragon species was trampled down. The choice that mankind took
wasn't the abolishment of dragon hunting, or the safeguard of dragon race――it was
cultivation."
"Oou. I knew it already but...even in different world, human's karma is really deep
anywhere huh."
Several countries publicized their breeding farms that were made in secret. Mankind
had already soaked their hand with sin that couldn't be taken back since before the
danger of the world. They made those breeding farms not because they thought that
this would happen in advance, they surely didn't even imagine that it would turn out
like this. Their conduct of selling over the know-how of the cultivation brazenly to the
world, just how foolish was that.
Who would be angry at the deed of mankind?
That was obvious. The royalty of dragon.
They believed. The royalty and people of the dragon kingdom loved them the dragon
species from the heart, even when the country was on the verge of danger the people
didn't give up to coexist with the dragon species. Because of that they believed, that
surely human and dragon could walk together once more.
They endured. Even when dragon species was losing life one after another from
dragon hunting, even when their relative monarch dragon was killed by the prince,
because ifthey rampaged following their emotion then the dragon kingdom they loved
would be crushed by the countries all over the world.
"The king made a decision. He told the father of monarch dragons who is his
partner――Sutherland, that human and dragon should part with each other for once.
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 250 | 582
The king said to take away all the dragon species and escape to the end of the world.
If there are people that survived from the black rain, at that time the king asked for
the dragon to grant a chance for the two sides start over one more time. Sutherland
accepted and decided to part from mankind. However, that decision was a bit too late."
"...So Sutherland's child, couldn't put up with it?"
Sutherland's child,the twin elder brother ofthe murdered monarch dragon――Helmut
attacked a cultivation place and the country it resided in before his father's decision.
At the same time with that, it was an incident that was enough to erase the light of the
coexistence faction that still hadn't vanished yet. Every country that obtained a just
cause carried out the capture and subjugation of the dragon kingdom using their
fleets.
"It was an alliance of many countries, yet regardless of that their pace was orderly, and
their subjugation strategy was swift and precise. Even Sutherland who boasted of an
unequalled strength, the best that he could do was to let some number of dragons to
escape."
"That was their aim huh. Perhaps the breeding farms were also provocation. It was to
eliminate the remaining coexistence faction and completely taking down monarch
dragons that were still a threat."
"That, must be it. The dragon species that were massing to depart to the end of the
world were pushed back by the quantity of the allied army and they were falling to the
ground. Sutherland's children were killed one after another, or else their wings
plucked and captured...it was truly a hellish picture. At the very least, it was enough
to transform Helmut into evil dragon."
His siblings murdered, their dignity crushed underfoot, the black emotion that had
been piling mountain high, when he saw his siblings trampled before his eyes once
more――it snapped. Helmut's mind crumbled and something awoke inside him.
It was said that the moment Helmut raised a howl that planted fear inside everyone
that listened, the sky that should be clear was covered with dark clouds in the blink of
eye, and then black rain was starting to rain in impeccable timing.
"Fumu. Based from what I heard here...the power of circulation that dragon race
possessed, was it reversed in this case? However, if this monarch dragon possessed a
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 251 | 582
power to the degree that couldst manipulate the weather, I don't think that they
wouldst lose against mankind in the first place though..."
"How common. Wasn't it the rage and hatred that surpassed the limit that pushed up
the rank of this Helmut? Aa, could it be, he evolved into this true dragon that queensan mentioned before?"
Roze smiled wryly at the quick understanding of the two while giving affirmation.
True dragon was said to be the ancestor of the dragon kingdom's royalty and the
monarch dragons. Its power was immense, and it was told that it could manipulate
heaven and earth and could also transform into human, and so on. There was nothing
left of its existence except in legend, a fairy-tale existence.
There wasn't any record of Helmut transforming into human, but it seemed that he
was called as a historical true dragon that evolved from monarch dragon due to the
aspect of manipulating weather. However, it was also an ability that was limited to
covering the world with cloudy weather that made black rain fell.
"Tio-sama is able to transform into human, and that overwhelming ability...you
manipulated wind and flame before this. That, as expected you are a true dragon..."
"No no, I'm not a true dragon. It's the reverse. I'm not a dragon that turn into human.
The correct recognition art I am a human that turn into dragon."
"Human, become dragon?"
"In our world...no, more accurately in Tio's world, there is that kind of race. Her
family is all able to transform into dragon. If they are really true dragon, then that will
be a bargain sale of fairy-tale existence."
Hajime cackled saying "Well, even though she isn't a true dragon, but she is a god
dragon though" while sending Tio a teasing gaze. Tio looked aside saying "I didn't say
any lie" . (TN: True dragon's kanji is read as shinryuu, while accidentally god dragon's
kanji is also read as shinryuu. Also the kanji for dragon of the god dragon here is for
eastern dragon.)
Seeing the relaxed relationship of the two, Roze asked timidly.
"That, then, as expected about the two of you being dragon knight-sama and true
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dragon-sama..."
"From what I can guess, this dragon knight is also an existence from a fairy-tale, and
he was the true dragon's partner, isn't that right? But it's completely different. Tio can
become dragon but she is a fully fledged human, and even if you say partner but she
isn't my friend, but my wife."
"Wi, wife..."
"Mu, mumu-. Wi, wife...that's the first time someone called me that. What's this, this
itchy feeling in mine chest. Goshujin-sama, this child, she is really a good child!"
Tio got all bashful and fidgety from getting called as wife for the first time. The eyes
she were looking Roze with were suddenly filled with color of affection. Really, what a
simple dragon.
Ignoring the writhing Tio, Hajime prompted Roze to continue talking. The simple
dragon "Nou nou, Goshujin-sama. I'm thy wife" leaning on him was annoying, so for
the time being he made her quiet with a slap. Seeing the hopelss dragon raising a
coquettish voice "Ahanh" while collapsing on the sofa in ecstasy, the gaze of Roze and
others became nailed on Tio.
Hajime's cough made them returned to reality.
"Ah, e, errrr...that's right. Helmut who became true dragon and began covering the
world with black rain was said to have lost his former heart. Without discriminating
human or dragon, he raised a loud laugh as though enjoying the destruction while
trampling over everything."
"So that guy degenerated completely. The birth of evil dragon, is it."
"Yes. It was said that Sutherland began a deathly battle in order to stop his fallen son.
At the same time, his spouse Detmers led their surviving children back to the dragon
kingdom."
There was one reason for that. In order to save their friend.
It was unknown whether Sutherland was able to stop Helmut. Even if for example he
could, mankind would perish under the black rain that was rapidly covering the whole
world. Their beloved dragon kingdom would die out.
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Sutherland possessed an exceptional strength even among the monarch dragons. And
if he fought seriously, then other would only become a hindrance to him.
Understanding that, amidst the falling black rain, Detmers and others dashed in order
to save the humans that had cornered them.
"The essence of monarch dragon's power is invigoration. And then, sky core has the
property to neutralize gravity."
"So that's, the reason of the floating islands."
"Yes. But, as expected although they are monarch dragon, they couldn't do something
like making the whole land float. What they could do was only making land with
particularly abundant sky core to float. Even so, there is no mistake that we can live
like this is thanks to the act of Detmers-sama and others that they carried out by
staking their life."
Kuwaibel who was snuggling up beside Roze raised a sad cry. Surely he understood
the content of their talk. Roze gently caressed such Kuwaibel.
"This child is a memento from Detmers-sama. At that time it still wasn't time to give
birth, but Detmers-sama who was in the verge of death because of the black rain and
using up enormous power cut up her own body and left behind an egg. She said, this
child who will be born someday, will be the hope as the last monarch dragon."
It seemed that Helmut didn't come chasing after the floating land. According to the
record, it seemed he watched the floating island while laughing. It was as though he
was looking forward to the crisis that mankind would taste from there on.
Roze who took a breath after finishing the long story moistened her parched throat.
And then, she faced Hajime with a gaze that was filled with determination unlike
before this.
"After twenty years passed since that day of tragedy, the dragon kingdom that
continued to exist in the sky received an invasion from sky pirate. Our country was
stolen. At that time I was still a baby, I was able to survive thanks to my parents' close
aides taking me away along with Kuwaibel's egg."
Even without her saying anything, it could be guessed that the king and queen had
died from Roze's expression.
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 254 | 582
The dragon kingdom perished and Sky Divine Country Qwailent came into being. The
king was the air pirate's leader. He monopolized the limited resource. Roze and others
who were chased out were reduced to air pirate, the slipped through the divine
country's eyes and stole resource, and protected the people of the dragon kingdom
who escaped together with them until now.
Like that, when Roze became ten years old, Kuwaibel was finally born. The people of
the former dragon kingdom were boiled up by the birth of hope, at the same time, they
kept hiding Kuwaibel's existence who was still weak so that the divine country
wouldn't realize it no matter what.
"Even that end with today. My stomach froze when Kuwaibel came out to the
battlefield but...from there, to think we were able to encounter Hajime-sama and
Tio-sama..."
"Fuuh? And?"
Although Roze faltered for a moment at Hajime's penetrating gaze, she immediately
returned back a blazing gaze.
"I beg you. Please lend us your strength. The strength to take back the land of dragon
kingdom Avenst."
It seemed that in the deepest part of dragon kingdom Avenst, there was a spring that
could grant power to monarch dragon. If they could go there, even Kuwaibel who was
still only a few years old would become able to use a power that equaled a grown
dragon even if just temporarily.
There if Hajime and TIo's strength was combined with Avenst's mother ship and other
airships, then it would also be possible to defeat the evil dragon Helmut, explained
Roze earnestly.
Hajime glanced at Tio beside him. Tio's expression was pondering something, but she
noticed Hajime's gaze and shrugged, leaving him to make the decision.
Hajime scratched on his cheek and he lowered his eyebrows a bit while,
"For now, let's put it on hold."
He answered. Roze went "Eeh, isn't this the scene where you gladly accept!?" in fluster
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 255 | 582
because her expectation was betrayed. Hajime said "Something like that is the domain
of a hero somewhere or the abyss-san" and deflected easily.
Tio was staring at such Hajime with an expression that didn't expect it. As expected, if
Hajime was told something that easily went outside the category of adventure like
'please go to a war with a country, and then please defeat the evil dragon and save the
world', Tio thought that he would refuse promptly.
For Hajime whose basis was swift decision, it was a really half-baked answer.
"Well, what. Even us, after hearing the story just now we ain't just going to say "Oh is
that so, yes, we will do anything". Various things happened today and we are tired. For
now we are going to rest, think it carefully, and then we will give our decision
tomorrow. You don't mind right?"
"Tha, that's right. Indeed I'm too impatient just now. Even though Hajime-sama and
Tio-sama has just finished with a battle of that degree, my deepest apologize for my
inattentiveness. We have prepared a room. It is a modest thing, but later on we will
bring you your dinner, so please rest at ease tonight."
"Ou. Much obliged, I won't hold back then. Okay Tio, let's go."
"Ri, right."
Hajime emptied his tea and stood up abruptly. He led Tio and got out of the room. A
crew that would guide them immediately appeared and took them to their room. Roze
was staring fixedly at the back of such Hajime and Tio with an expression that was a
mix of hope and unease.
The airship Rozeria was gliding through the night sky where multitude of stars were
shining.
At a corner of the ship's rear deck, there were the figures of Hajime and Tio. Both of
them were sitting at the edge of the deck. Their legs were thrown out to the empty air.
The sea of clouds that were shining from the reflection of the stars let the eyes of the
two of them to enjoy the sight to their heart's content.
"And, why didst thou put the decision on hold, Goshujin-sama?"
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 256 | 582
Tio asked Hajime while watching him with a sidelong glance. Hajime was also
similarly watching Tio with a sidelong glance while he opened his mouth.
"I'm thinking of deciding after hearing of what you want to do."
"What I want to do?"
Tio tilted her head. Hajime nodded.
"Yeah. What do you want to do Tio? The restoration of the dragon kingdom doesn't
matter, but you have a tii~ny bit on your mind about this evil dragon aren't you?"
"...So thou noticed Goshujin-sama."
Getting seen through like this even though she shouldn't have taken any conspicuous
attitude caused Tio's cheeks to redden from feeling too embarrassed. She thought that
he really looked at her closely.
Tio slowly opened her mouth as though she was choosing her words.
"I thought that it was similar, just a bit. Of their way of living, and their last days."
"Is it about, the dragon race's country in the past?"
"Yes. I understand Helmut's feeling, just a little. At that time, when I saw Haha-ue and
mine comrades crucified, a black flame was certainly born inside me. A flame of hatred
that only wished to burn others, even myself." (TN: Haha-ue=mother, used in samurai
families)
Hajime returned a silence at Tio who was talking bit by bit.He kept quiet while looking
forward, lending his ear at Tio's story.
"I was able to stop because of Chichi-ue's words. I was able to change the black flame
into power to protect. Helmut art surely the me of that time that couldst not stop."
(TN: Chichi-ue=father)
That was why she couldn't just be indifferent to this. When she thought that the fallen
king of dragon would continue to ravage this world with black rain even from here on
forever, for some reason, the feeling that this was intolerable was welling up inside.
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 257 | 582
"This is just a retelling from Yue..."The track that Tio had walked through until now.
Thatis Tio's everything"isn't that right? That's just a meaningless supposition. Helmut
was unable to win against himself. Tio Claus won against herself. That's all there is to
it right?"
"Fufu, thou art right."
Tio smiled fondly and nodded at the words of Hajime that sounded a bit displeased,
as though to say 'don't lump together the stupid idiot that ruin the world with my Tio'.
A quiet time was flowing for a while.
Hajime glanced once more at Tio before he scratched a bit roughly on his head.
"Aah, geez. Stop being indecisive and say your answer already. I'm asking you here,
what do you want to do huh? You are too considerate to other people other than
yourself at various things. I'm telling you, show some selfishness sometimes other
than with your perverted attitude."
"Goshujin-sama..."
Tio blinked. And then, she reflexively closed her eyes and hid her expression toward
Hajime who was staring at her fixedly. She then whispered.
"I want to end this. This art completely unrelated with us. The scale art too big to call
it an adventure. The opponent's strength art unknown. This is just mine ego talking. I
understand all that. However――I wish to end this."
That was Tio's true feeling. It was Tio's selfishness that came from her sentimentality,
based from her ego, for the sake to cheer up herself.
Hajime who heard that,
"Roger. Let's end this. We are going to end the evil dragon Helmut's everything, just
for our own convenience."
He easily consented to it.
When Tio turned her face, she found Hajime's face that looked somewhat happy there.
An expression of happiness from listening to Tio's selfishness.
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 258 | 582
'Aah, no more-' Tio yelled out her indescribable feeling in her heart while leaping at
her beloved master.
The light of stars shining in the night sky enveloped the two with faint gentle light.
Roze's group at that time.
"Awa, awawawah. The two of them, doing that in this kind of place-. Aa, amazing-"
"Ro, Roze-sama-. You mustn't look-. Co, come on, we understood already that they
didn't disappear, let's go back inside quickly!"
"Pii, piiii"
"Kuwaibel-sama.... It looks like you are hiding your face with your wings, but it's
obvious you are completely looking from the gaps there."
"Ou ou. As expected from the legendary dragon knight-sama yeah. Doing that on the
deck so brazenly. How envious."
"Bovid-. What are you doing looking so unashamedly like that! Quickly take Roze-sama
inside the ship! Roze-sama too, please release your hands from the railing! Come on,
quickly-. Hey, your strength increases-. Just how interested are you-"
Roze-sama was grasping the railing tightly and wouldn'tlet go with her nose breathing
roughly. Olga was desperately trying to take her back inside the ship, but her hold was
so tight it made her shudder wondering just where did she hide this much strength!
Kuwaibel in his own way was hiding his face with his wings while also thoroughly
peeking from the gaps. Jean acted the straight-man, but Kuwaibel's gaze completely
stuck!
Seeing such covert pervert duo of monarch dragon and queen, it was only Bovid who
was cackling while nonchalantly making his swift retreat.
Because he noticed that Hajime's gaze was seizing their figure from across the
shoulder of Tio who he embraced closely.
t r a i t o r A I Z E N 259 | 582
A few seconds after Bovid vanished, crimson spark surged in the night sky