"So? Want to think it over?"
"Sorry. You're a good person, but we're not a good match."
Naohara snapped back to his senses and shook his head frantically. For a split second, he had let his imagination wander in that direction. His whole body had practically convulsed, and he had nearly thrown up.
As expected of an Adamantite adventurer. To say something like that in the middle of the guild hall without changing expression was something ordinary people simply could not do.
Naohara wasn't against romance. If it were anyone else on the team, he might even consider it.
The twin rogues, the captain, even the petite masked girl. He would at least be willing to give it a try.
As for Gagaran… the only ones who could fall for her were probably people with rather special tastes.
"Enough, Gagaran. Stop joking around. We're here for serious business."
Tina cut her off. If this continued, Blue Roses' reputation would only suffer. The male adventurers around them already looked terrified.
Naohara shot Tina a grateful look. She really was a good person.
"So, what did you want with me?"
After steadying himself, Naohara asked. He didn't believe this encounter was a coincidence. Judging by the situation, they had clearly been waiting for him at the Adventurer's Guild.
"It's like this. Every adventurer with Adamantite-level strength is an asset to the Kingdom. Your team's ability has long since met that standard."
"I can act as your recommender and introduce you to the Kingdom's Princess. She can personally vouch for you to be recognized as Adamantite adventurers."
Lakyus stepped forward and explained.
As a close friend of the Golden Princess, Lakyus truly cared about her.
She knew her friend's situation was far from ideal, so she hoped to introduce Naohara and his companions to her. Forming ties with Adamantite adventurers could only bring benefits.
"I see."
Naohara understood immediately. It had to be said, Lakyus treated the Golden Princess very well. As for what the Princess herself was thinking, that was another matter.
After a moment's thought, Naohara smiled and agreed. If there was a shortcut, why not take it? He wasn't worried about being schemed against.
In this world, strength was everything.
"Then I'll trouble you with it."
Seeing that Naohara did not refuse, Lakyus secretly let out a sigh of relief. She had tried speaking with the two Doppelgängers earlier, but they had ignored her completely.
If Ainzach hadn't advised her to wait for Naohara's return, she might have given up.
Thinking about it, Lakyus gave Naohara a puzzled glance. Someone this easy to talk to, yet his companions had such cold personalities. Was that what people called complementary temperaments?
"Then let me congratulate you in advance on becoming Adamantite adventurers."
Lakyus smiled.
A burst of cheers erupted. The adventurers who had been watching from the sidelines quickly gathered around.
Witnessing the rise of new Adamantite adventurers stirred excitement throughout the hall.
Yet while Naohara and the others were surrounded by laughter and celebration, the dragons elsewhere were in a thoroughly foul mood.
...
[Argland: Council State] was formed two centuries ago after the war between the Demon Gods and the Thirteen Heroes, uniting numerous sub-ethnic nations.
Amid layers of mountain ranges, the demi-human races built their city-states. Its political structure closely resembles that of the [Karsanas City-State Alliance], as both are federations of city-states. Situated northwest of the [Re-Estize Kingdom], it occupies a peninsula surrounded by sea on three sides, the true northwestern edge of the continent, facing the [Holy Kingdom] across the water.
As a multi-racial federation, it operates under a parliamentary system. Councilors elected from the various races oversee governance and maintain balance among them.
In addition, five Dragon Lords serve as lifetime councilors, led by one of the True Dragon Lords, the [Platinum Dragon Lord]. The other four are the Blue Sky Dragon Lord, the Diamond Dragon Lord, the Obsidian Dragon Lord, and the Wyrm Dragon Lord.
At the very center of the Argland Council State, upon the vast platform once occupied by the Platinum Dragon Lord, several Dragon Lords were locked in a heated argument.
"Still no news?"
A massive dragon clad in pitch-black scales glanced to the side as he spoke in a low voice. It was the Obsidian Dragon Lord, one of the lifetime councilors.
The one he addressed was a blue-hued giant dragon—the Blue Sky Dragon Lord.
"No. We can't establish contact with the Platinum Dragon Lord at all. Something is blocking the transmission."
The Blue Sky Dragon Lord shook his head and let out a quiet sigh.
The other dragons' expressions darkened.
"Before he left, the Platinum Dragon Lord sent us a telepathic message. He said he was going to investigate the Players. Could this be related?"
The Diamond Dragon Lord spoke, his mood clearly sour.
With the Platinum Dragon Lord missing, the Argland Council State no longer had a True Dragon Lord to anchor it. If something truly happened, the few of them—mere Dragon Lords—would not be enough to defend this land.
"I suspected that as well," the Blue Sky Dragon Lord said, shaking his head. "But the intelligence from E-Rantel made me dismiss the idea."
"According to the reports, the Platinum Dragon Lord fought another pitch-black dragon near E-Rantel."
"The outcome is unclear. But after that battle, he disappeared."
"A pitch-black dragon? An unknown True Dragon Lord?"
The Obsidian Dragon Lord searched through a century of memory, yet found no record of such a being. He looked at the others in confusion.
"If not a True Dragon Lord, then what? A Player?" the Wyrm Dragon Lord snapped impatiently.
"You—!"
The Obsidian Dragon Lord fixed him with an icy glare. In the end, however, he merely gave a cold snort and said nothing further.
This was no time for internal strife.
Watching the exchange, the Diamond Dragon Lord shook his head helplessly. Dragons were like this by nature. Their pride ran deep; they would never bow to any being outside their own kind.
In the past, the presence of the Platinum Dragon Lord had kept the peace. Now that he was gone, the tensions that had long simmered beneath the surface were laid bare.
Nothing might happen in the short term. But if this dragged on, who could say?
After the platform finally fell silent, the Blue Sky Dragon Lord spoke again.
"This is what troubles me most. If the opponent were a Player, I could at least request aid from the other True Dragon Lords…"
He exhaled heavily. The situation gave him no small headache.
If the Platinum Dragon Lord had vanished because of a Player, then appealing to the other True Dragon Lords would be possible. When it came to Players, even those who disliked one another would not stand idle.
But that did not appear to be the case.
They did not know the identity of the pitch-black dragon who fought the Platinum Dragon Lord, but they could rule out the possibility that it was a Player.
There were no dragons among the Players—at most, there had been Dragonoids. This much had been confirmed through intelligence passed down from the Six Great Gods and the Eight Greed Kings.
When the matter involved two True Dragon Lords, the others would never interfere. Among dragons, strength was absolute. Only a dragon could defeat another dragon.
Even if the Platinum Dragon Lord had been slain, no True Dragon Lord would risk offending an unknown equal for his sake.
Moreover, the Platinum Dragon Lord was not dead. Though his whereabouts were unknown, they could clearly sense that he still lived.
Only his life force felt unstable, rising and falling without pattern.
"Do nothing for now. We'll wait."
With no solution in sight, the great dragons departed one by one.
Left alone on the vast platform, the Blue Sky Dragon Lord closed his eyes. After confirming that the others had truly left, he slowly rose and walked toward a nearby pillar.
Inside it rested an unremarkable crystal sword, so plain it looked like nothing more than an ornament.
"Let there never come a day when I must use you."