“Whoa!”
With a sound that cuts through the sky, Sre flies higher with an excited expression.
Currently, I’m in the heart of the Empire, the capital Imperidium.
I’m both an enemy of the Empire and didn’t come through any official communication, so after a moment of hesitation, I confidently decided to enter the capital.
There’s quite a high-level magic formation barrier spread across the sky of the capital, but I don’t really mind.
[02:59:30]
If I were in a 4th state, dismantling a barrier like this would be a piece of cake.
Anyway, since I’ve entered the capital unscathed, I need to meet Duke Huangyeol…
“Woooaaa!!!”
Maybe it’s the thrill of flying after a long time, but Sre wants to dart around various spots in the capital, and I also decided to do a bit of flying for a ride.
Each time Sre pops in and out, the residents below cheer excitedly.
‘This is fun.’
It feels completely different from when I was broadcasting.
In the past, people would panic and flee when a dragon appeared.
It’s absolutely not common for residents, not even users, to cheer and go wild like this.
‘By the way…’
With just one breath from Sre, everyone below could be wiped out. Isn’t that a bit careless?
Not just any dragon, but the successor of the Ice Dragon Lord.
“Kuuh… Huh! What is it?”
“Your breath is seeping out.”
Of course, there’s no intention to shoot, but since Sre is still in the growing phase, it’s not skillful at controlling its power.
When it flies around with its mouth open, breath naturally leaks out.
It’s a type of mana and power, and while it’s so small that it won’t cause any damage, I didn’t come here to harm anyone.
I have no intention of hurting the residents.
Zing.
“What?”
Mana floats in the air, solidifying into a line and shoots towards me.
It’s a pure transmission without any intent to attack.
Currently, I have a shield up, and as a dragon itself is the master of magic, it blocks all but the most significant magic.
No matter the intent, as long as there’s protection, the transmission can never approach.
‘Hmm.’
Should I just take a peek?
─Damn it! Communication isn’t working at all! What’s up with the area around here?!
─It seems to be similar to a mana block zone! It’s impossible to break through unless the Six Swords arrive!
─Magic isn’t working! We need to approach directly and communicate…
─Approach the sky? Are you crazy? You want me to get hit by a breath attack?
─Then what do we do? If it stays like this, we’ll lose our lives…
─Number 16!!
─Connection established! Communication magic formation number 16!
“What’s going on?”
It seems very busy.
Boom! I can feel a huge disturbance beyond the connection made with mana.
I can feel it.
Following the disturbance, I saw the space where they were looking at me.
About fifteen people were managing dozens of magic formations.
The magic formations were lined up in rows, and large mana stones hung in the air here and there.
If you were to compare it to modern times, it felt similar to a control room.
People were bustling around the control room, and a man who seemed to be in charge sat in front of the 16th magic formation.
—Ahem, can you hear me? I am Esther, the head of the magical barrier of the Great Empire.
“I’m Lily Elbrite.”
“Ugh.”
“This is Sre.”
I patted Sre, who was wearing the saddle of circulation derived from the Red Horse.
Sre nodded with a content expression, looking at the place they were in with round eyes.
As expected of a dragon, it seemed to grasp the situation without needing to be told.
—Yes, both of you. Of course, I am well aware. If you have the time, could we have a private conversation elsewhere?
“We can talk here, too.”
Aren’t we already having a good chat?
I said that playfully, and the man beyond the magic formation broke into a cold sweat.
—R-Right. But this is not a fitting place for the master of the principality, the Queen of Elbrite, right…? Let us handle your business in a more suitable location.
“Hmm…”
I pondered.
Since I had come to have a conversation anyway, I could say it didn’t matter, but I had come prepared for a certain level of attack.
The Empire is an enemy, and I lost two of the territories and the Eight Swords due to their defeat in the war against me.
Naturally, they would harbor negative feelings towards me, and from the moment I crossed the barrier, I had been ready with shields and prepared to activate the fourth state at any moment.
But instead of attacking, they were prostrating themselves, seemingly trying to show their good side.
‘As expected, they’re clever.’
Having come this far, I was starting to be convinced of Duke Huangyeol’s thoughts and ideology, especially after sending Birang.
As long as I don’t intend to kill him, I wouldn’t be attacked by Duke Huangyeol in this land.
—If that’s not acceptable…
“Let’s go.”
—Thank you!
The man beyond the magic formation quickly bowed his head.
■
“Oh, please take a seat.”
“Yes.”
Following the guidance of Esther, the person in charge of the barrier, we arrived at quite a splendid reception room.
Even the table was made of gold, and from the small dishes to the wallpaper, floor, and furniture, everything was of the highest quality.
As expected of an empire called the Golden Empire.
“… I’ve eaten off something like this in my lifetime.”
While it seemed that Esther, who was in charge of the empire’s security, was experiencing this for the first time.
“I had the royal chef prepare as many different dishes as possible since I didn’t know your tastes.”
“I was told to prepare the food.”
“Thank you.”
“And the meal for the dragon… I mean, Sre has been placed over there.”
A giant plate sat on a large red carpet slightly away from the table.
Esther waved her hand lightly, and the servants standing respectfully opened the lid of the plate, which was larger than their own size.
Inside the plate was a beautifully cooked piece of meat.
It looked about a third the size of Sre, who had been shrunk down to the size of a bear.
“Meat!”
“This steak was crafted meticulously by the empire’s best chef, using 150-year-old imperial wine to age the finest quality meat known for its texture and flavor…”
Gulp!
“I drank it!!”
“Made… it.”
“That one’s bigger than I expected.”
Though his body was shrunk, the amount he ate hadn’t decreased.
In fact, in his transformed state, he needed to consume even more because it burned calories faster than in his normal state.
“Just give me lots of meat, even if it’s raw.”
He could digest even poisoned meat without a problem.
“…Alright.”
Esther quietly relayed the message to the servant beside her, already looking like she’d lost her mind.
Then, murmuring, “That chunk of meat costs as much as a house in the capital…” she returned to reality.
Her expression came back, as if her position of ‘noblewoman’ was not just for show.
“Please eat comfortably.”
“Then…”
Clink.
I also took a piece of the same meat that Sre had eaten.
Indeed, it was as delicious as its title suggested.
The empire’s best chef had created a masterpiece with the finest ingredients.
It was a dish of exception upon exception, but even while eating, I recalled other dishes.
“There’s nothing like Celestial Skewers.”
A mythical item obtained through a gacha draw, the Celestial Skewers.
I had thought it was a useless item, but it had a taste remarkable enough to impress not just ancient beasts but also users undergoing trials.
Even I momentarily lost my senses over its delicious flavor.
These days, whenever I felt bored, I’d try to recreate the Celestial Skewers, but for some reason, I couldn’t get it right.
“It’s definitely not mind control or hallucination… yet it’s strangely delicious.”
If it were like that, I, who had encountered countless demons, would’ve noticed, but it was nothing like that.
Rather, the Celestial Skewers were a dish much closer to the celestial race than the demon race.
The celestial race hardly had any abilities related to mind control.
“How is it?”
“It’s delicious. You really are the best.”
“Haha. Of course! Though I can’t compare to Lady Lily Elbrite.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course!”
Esther flattered me with all her might.
Yet, she kept glancing at the servant, seeming to wait for something.
Is she waiting for a message from above?
Clink.
“…If it’s not too much trouble, could I know the reason for your visit to the Empire?”
“Well… it’s simple, but can I ask a question first?”
“Go ahead.”
Clink.
I also set down my utensils.
Chop chop.
I’m done eating for now. It’s time to get to the main topic…
Chop chop chop chop chop.
Let’s move on…
Chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop chop.
“……”
You’re really eating well.
Even after all that energy spent flying, isn’t this too much?
‘You’ve already had over twenty plates.’
A crack appeared in Esther’s expression.
“…hahaha! You’re quite the eater. Hey, bring some more meat over here.”
“The leftovers will go to the other dukes when they arrive…”
“Hey! Didn’t I just say to bring it right now! Hurry up!”
At Esther’s shout, the servant hurriedly dashed out of the reception room.
Whether the Empire’s finances are running low or not, Sre smiled brightly and buried his head in the plate.
By the way, I just asked for any meat, but why do they keep bringing the highest-grade, uncooked meat?
They could just give me lamb or beef.
“Should I cover the meal expenses?”
“…No need. This much is… cough. It’s nothing.”
Really?
Isn’t your house gone, like, over twenty times?
It might look cheap compared to the Empire’s reputation, but the land prices in the capital known as the continent’s overlord can’t be low.
Of course, thousands of gold will be laughably trivial.
“You just need to buy a drink for the finance minister.”
“Will that really work?”
“…It should be fine.”
Are you going to question it?
The finance minister will probably understand once they see the situation in person, right?
Esther thought this and let out a small sigh.
Gulp.
“I’ve eaten it all.”
“…I’ll give you one more.”
That day, Sre consumed a total of thirty-seven plates of the highest-grade meat.
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