Storeus, the Lightning Dragon
Hestia Village.
Isabella, the administrator, watched the dawn cautiously brighten beyond the eastern horizon and thought,
'They should be returning soon.'
This expedition was one of the most important matters she had overseen as administrator.
If it produced worthwhile results, skilled adventurers would begin flocking to the village.
And where adventurers gathered, merchants would naturally follow.
For that reason, preparations were underway at the eastern gate for a welcome celebration honoring the first expedition.
When celebrating, the louder and more extravagant, the better.
Until then, Isabella intended to begin her day by handling the work that had piled up.
"Administrator."
"What is it?"
"The weather seems to have taken a turn for the worse. I came to ask whether we should proceed with the preparations."
The weather had worsened?
Isabella found that difficult to believe.
She had checked the sky only thirty minutes earlier, and it had been perfectly clear.
"Let's have a look."
Isabella rose from her seat and stepped outside.
The man had not been exaggerating.
What entered her sight was exactly what everyone else had seen.
"What in the world…?"
The sky, which had been completely cloudless, was now filled with gloomy black clouds rolling like waves.
"Could the Iorga side have summoned those clouds?"
"No. The Blue Eye does not create storm clouds recklessly."
"Then…"
There was only one being capable of creating clouds like these.
"Why is that unruly bastard here…?"
Storeus, the Thunder Dragon.
It was known that the Storeus spawns held territory in the southwest.
Storeus himself, however, had no interest in ruling land.
He lived aboard the clouds in the sky, drifting wherever the wind carried him.
He was a calamity in the shape of an idler, wandering without purpose and hurling lightning whenever boredom struck or something displeased him.
And now, Storeus had come to the Far East—a place he had never once visited before.
'Why?'
The clouds rolled rapidly toward the Far East and the Demonic Lands.
As the colors of dawn emerged across the sky, the clouds merged with the darkness hanging over the eastern frontier.
Rrrrrumble—!
A deafening roar shook heaven and earth.
***
The Demonic Lands.
—So there was a reason the Boss settled here. She has been keeping all these amusing things to herself!
The corners of Storeus's long snout twisted upward.
To most, it might have looked like a simple smile.
But to Erika, who knew exactly what Storeus was like, nothing could have been more chilling.
One wrong move, and every one of them could die.
Erika cautiously stepped forward and bowed.
"I greet the great embodiment of lightning, Storeus, the Lightning Dragon."
—Do not greet me, inferior creature.
His sinister tone clashed sharply with his booming laughter.
At that moment, something pierced through the dense demonic energy and swept toward the adventurers.
"U-Ugh…"
"Haa… Haa…"
It was a primal fear unlike anything they had ever experienced.
The sensation naturally brought a single name to mind.
Dragon Fear.
It was the difference in rank between mortals and immortals.
Even Erika, a dragon spawn herself, was not exempt from it.
Storeus pointed one claw toward the ground.
—Since when were you permitted to hold your head so high before me? Kneel and show proper respect, insolent creature.
One by one, the adventurers dropped to their knees.
Erika, however, did not kneel so easily.
No.
She could not.
She possessed the pride of an Iorga spawn.
She could not casually kneel before anyone other than Iorga.
But at the same time, as Captain Erika, she had to swallow that pride if she wished to protect the expedition.
Just as she was about to lower herself, someone placed a hand on her shoulder.
It was the armored knight.
He was stopping her from kneeling.
"W-What are you doing?"
The tension made Erika stammer.
Her face had gone deathly pale.
Did this fool have any idea what Storeus would do if someone offended him?
She wanted to tell him to let go, but it was already too late.
Storeus had not missed even that brief moment.
—Oh? You refuse to let another person's child kneel before someone else?
Storeus chuckled.
It was already over.
The moment that laughter stopped, he would become a bolt of lightning and reduce them all to dust.
—Interesting.
—Very interesting indeed.
But contrary to Erika's expectations, Storeus did not summon lightning.
Instead, he simply turned away.
—I have other business. Make your way back at your leisure.
Then Storeus flew off.
Everyone stood there in stunned silence.
It felt as though a storm capable of sweeping away the world had merely brushed past them.
'Why did he just leave?'
This had been the perfect opportunity for the notoriously quarrelsome Storeus to cause trouble.
'He calmly left because he had other business?'
Impossible.
Even if he had somewhere else to be, turning them into a handful of ash would have taken no effort at all.
That included Erika, an Iorga spawn and one of the strongest among them.
'Then it must have been because of the armored knight.'
A man who had committed the insolence of holding his head high before Storeus, yet whom the dragon could not casually touch.
'Who in the world is this person?'
Whatever the reason, Storeus did not change his mind, and the expedition returned safely to the village.
After the grand welcome celebration, Erika tried to speak with the armored knight.
But by the time she went looking for him, he had already disappeared.
***
The clouds that had traveled toward the Far East stopped before Valdrova Castle.
They formed an enormous thundercloud, like a great mountain floating in the air.
It looked large enough to flatten the entire castle if it unleashed its lightning.
Luri stood before the main gate, staring up at it.
She knew who controlled that storm cloud.
And she had already sensed that he was coming here.
Boom!
With the sound of thunder, a shape appeared before her.
The enormous head of a dragon emerged directly in front of her.
Her body flinched at the instinctive terror it inspired, but she forced herself to show proper respect and bowed.
"I greet the great embodiment of lightning, Storeus, the Lightning Dragon."
"Is your master inside?"
"She is currently away. She should return soon, so if you would wait for a short while—"
"Yes, she'll be back soon enough. I saw her on the way here."
"…"
Luri immediately understood.
Storeus already knew where Valdrova was.
He had seen her himself.
The armor might have been capable of deceiving dragon spawns, but another dragon would have recognized her at once.
—Until your master returns, I shall pass the time here. Take me to the guest room and bring me alcohol, Silverwind girl.
"My apologies, but while this is my master Valdrova's castle, it was also built for humans. You may find it somewhat cramped in your current form."
—Hm. It is rather cramped.
His enormous form gradually dissolved.
A moment later, he polymorphed into a man.
His dark blue hair was wild like a stallion's mane.
His fierce eyes looked as though everything in the world displeased him, while an arrogant grin rested beneath his beard.
"It has been a long time since I wore this form."
"So, when are you bringing me my alcohol?"
"…I will guide you to the reception room first. This way, please."
Luri turned away and led him forward.
Though she welcomed the guest with her usual composure, even she was being crushed by his presence.
Sweat soaked the hands she held neatly before her.
'Raw power without the slightest consideration for others…'
Dragons knew that their mere presence inspired fear in people.
That was why they usually concealed their true forms or used magic to suppress their aura.
Such behavior was common among those known as guardian dragons.
Storeus, however, was different.
Overwhelming others suited his temperament far better than showing consideration.
Luri was no exception.
From the moment they had met, he had been focusing his pressure on her, trying to shatter her professional expression.
'I have to endure this…'
Luri guided him into the reception room and offered him a glass.
"Cumbersome."
Storeus tossed the glass aside, snatched the bottle from her hand, and drank directly from it.
Despite the liquor's high alcohol content, he emptied half the bottle in one gulp.
Storeus furrowed his brow and complained,
"Cheap."
"Does our dear Princeps live far too frugally?"
"Her Highness does not enjoy alcohol, nor does she have any desire to collect valuable goods…"
"And were you taught to serve guests this cheap swill because of that?"
"My apologies. I will do my utmost to satisfy you on your next visit."
"So your master believes she will have a next time."
Storeus's gaze settled on Luri.
She did her best to suppress her instincts.
"Drinking alone is no fun."
"It seems I need a companion."
"Little one."
"Yes."
"Do you know how to drink?"
"…"
"Answer me."
"…I do not."
"Then you can learn today. Bring another glass."
"An elder is offering you a drink. Are you saying you intend to refuse?"
"…"
"You have lived for so long, yet you haven't grown even a handspan taller."
"Has your mind remained that of a child as well?"
"How ridiculous."
"Is this how your master wishes you to remain?"
He did not ease the pressure in the slightest.
Luri had no choice but to retrieve another glass.
"Receive it with both hands."
"Politely."
"…Yes."
He filled the large whiskey glass almost to the brim.
The harsh scent stung her nose.
"Drink it all in one go."
"…"
"If you take your time or try any tricks, you will have to drink another."
Luri slowly raised the glass to her lips.
The closer it came to her mouth, the more violently the liquid inside trembled.
"Luri."
A clear, beautiful woman's voice filled the reception room.
"Put the glass down."
Storeus turned his head.
Crimson hair.
Two pairs of horns.
Golden eyes.
Despite her normally gentle appearance, her expression was solemn.
"What are you doing?"
"Are you disobeying your master's command?"
The pressure surrounding Luri's body vanished.
She lowered the glass and folded her hands neatly over her apron.
"Welcome back, Master."
"Luri, would you leave us alone for a moment?"
"No. I should remain and attend to you—"
"It's all right."
Valdrova smiled gently and touched her cheek.
"You did well."
Though Luri's expression had not faltered even once, Valdrova already knew she had reached her limit.
"Then…"
Luri carefully left the room.
Once the door closed, Valdrova faced Storeus alone.
"It has been a long time, Valdrova."
"It has, Storeus."
They exchanged a simple greeting, calling each other by name.
"And thank you."
"For what?"
"For educating that insolent servant?"
"For not revealing my identity in front of everyone."
Valdrova added,
"And I would prefer it if you didn't torment Luri."
"Luri…"
"So that insolent thing even has a name."
Storeus laughed dismissively.
"And do not thank me for something like that."
"What amusement would I gain from exposing your little game?"
"The great Red Dragon is finally enjoying herself. Why would I interfere?"
"If anything, you are the one who needs this kind of diversion."
"Though I could hardly stand watching that insolent Iorga girl enjoy herself."
He was referring to Erika.
"There was no need to humiliate her that badly."
"Why should I care if someone else's child is humiliated?"
"Wouldn't her humiliation only benefit you?"
"I don't enjoy things like that."
"How revoltingly virtuous."
"How long do you intend to keep playing the good child, Boss?"
Boss.
At that word, Valdrova tightly closed her eyes.
"You possess such overwhelming strength, yet you have never created a single spawn."
"The only one you command is another dragon's spawn."
"You have gathered no wealth, and you have no desire to enjoy yourself."
"Just when I thought you had finally found something pleasurable…"
Storeus gave a derisive laugh.
"You became engaged to a sickly human?"
"Ferda is far more extraordinary than you think."
Valdrova immediately refuted him.
Her response displeased Storeus.
"What is so extraordinary about him?"
"He can do things I cannot."
"Is that so?"
"To me, he looks like nothing more than an ant that struts around a little more proudly than the others."
He raised his index finger.
"What do you think would happen if I crushed him with this finger?"
"…"
"It's obvious."
"He would burst without the slightest resistance—"
"Storeus."
Valdrova's tone dropped.
"That man is going to become my husband."
"Do not speak carelessly about him."
Storeus did not back down.
His gaze pressed against her.
"And what will you do if I do?"
Valdrova answered without wavering.
"I will become angry."
She carefully placed a hand over her chest.
"I would be very angry with you."
"What a ridiculous thing to say."
"Have you ever truly been angry with anyone, Boss?"
"I have."
Valdrova replied,
"I simply stopped because I regretted it every time."
"You are prepared to regret it for that human?"
"If my hesitation caused Ferda to be hurt, there would be nothing I regretted more."
Storeus withdrew the finger he had been about to drive into the table.
Then he threw himself back onto the sofa.
"Do you love that human?"
"Iorga said the same thing once."
"Though hers was not a human, but an elf."
"A high elf, was it?"
"Those eccentric creatures who worship the World Tree as their mother."
"You know what happened to her, do you not?"
"I do."
Valdrova still remembered it clearly.
Iorga had killed her fiancé with her own hands.
And she had suffered terribly afterward.
Valdrova had wanted to approach her and offer comfort.
"Even that clever woman, so full of confidence in her own brilliance, failed."
"What makes you think you can succeed where she could not?"
"…"
"Humans and elves are nothing more than pets."
"Playing with them a few times may be entertaining, but the moment you take responsibility for them, they become troublesome."
"And that is exactly what has happened to you."
"I can already see you fretting over whether the tiny flame before you might go out."
"Storeus."
Her golden eyes looked directly at him.
The emotion within them was neither hostility nor anger.
It was pity.
"Stop saying cruel things you don't truly mean."
Valdrova pitied him.
Storeus, who had been mocking her and deliberately provoking her, was the one whose face twisted.
"This is why I can never like you."
"No one could ever like you."
Storeus rose from his seat.
"For the sake of our old ties, I will limit myself to a warning, Boss."
"You may kill the things that emerge from the Demonic Lands."
"But do not set foot any deeper than that."
"For your own sake…"
"And for the sake of this continent."
"This was the decision made by the White One."
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