The Dragon Kingdom lies to the south of the Empire and to the east of the Theocracy.
By all logic, sharing borders with two such powerful nations should have brought the Dragon Kingdom a flourishing economy and active trade.
Yet the truth is the exact opposite.
Between the Dragon Kingdom and the Empire stand the massive [Flying Dragon Mountains] and the [Kazte Plains], where the Undead roam in great numbers.
As for the Theocracy, a vast lake separates the two, with only a narrow stretch of land forming their shared border.
Geographically, the Dragon Kingdom is isolated and difficult to access.
To the east lies a Beastman Country that frequently harasses its borders.
In this world, beastmen are the dominant race. Although the existence of the Dragon Race prevents them from becoming true overlords, their overwhelming numbers and physical strength far surpass those of humans. To a beastman, even a human of equal level is little more than a walking slab of meat.
Had the Six Great Gods not appeared six hundred years ago to liberate humanity and repel the beastmen, mankind might have been wiped out long ago.
Within the royal palace of the Dragon Kingdom.
Seated upon the throne at the highest point was a young girl. In a voice that anyone would find adorable, she issued her command.
"Then I'll leave the rest to you."
"As you command, Your Majesty."
The man speaking wore a full suit of knight's armor.
He was Cerabrate, captain of the Dragon Kingdom's only Adamantite Adventurer party.
His burning gaze lingered on the girl seated upon the throne, greed flickering in his eyes. After offering a respectful bow, he slowly withdrew.
Only after confirming that he had truly left did the girl on the throne let out a quiet sigh.
She was Draudillon, Queen of the Dragon Kingdom.
"When will days like this finally end?"
Looking at the now-empty hall, Draudillon dropped her façade and began to complain.
Every day she had to maintain an innocent persona, using this childish appearance to entice her subordinates. The strain of it left her deeply frustrated.
"Heh, that is your duty as Queen. Surely you do not wish to see the Dragon Kingdom destroyed."
From behind the throne, an elderly man stepped out at an unhurried pace. His beard reached his chest, and his face was lined with deep wrinkles.
He was the Dragon Kingdom's Prime Minister.
"What kind of queen ends up like me? Dressing like this every single day… what do they even call it again? Oh right, uniform appeal!"
At that, the Dragon Queen's temper flared. If it weren't for the sake of protecting the Dragon Kingdom, how could she possibly tolerate this?
"Your Majesty, please calm yourself. It is precisely because of your appearance that our soldiers fight with such high morale. Without question, you are a qualified ruler."
The Prime Minister explained patiently. This was hardly the first time. Nearly every time Draudillon complained, he gave the same answer.
"Hmph! I truly don't understand what those people are thinking. What about me is supposed to be charming?"
Draudillon let out a soft snort.
Her slender, bare legs swung back and forth as she sat upon the throne.
In her own eyes, this innocent, girlish form of hers had no charm whatsoever.
No curves to speak of, a petite frame—she looked as though a strong breeze could knock her over.
"On the contrary, Your Majesty, it is precisely this appearance that awakens a man's protective instincts."
"If used well, that instinct to protect can become a remarkably sharp weapon."
The Prime Minister smiled faintly, confidence evident in his tone. No one understood the Dragon Kingdom's circumstances better than he did.
In this land, no one could resist a young girl.
"Though Your Majesty's original form is quite beautiful, it would likely provoke hostility from other women. It's best to maintain the current appearance."
"What a hassle. So you're saying I have to stay like this the whole time?"
Draudillon pouted, her small, childlike form making the expression all the more adorable as she glared at the Prime Minister in open dissatisfaction.
If the kingdom weren't so desperately short on capable minds, she would never have chosen to work with him.
Even so, she had to admit that it was precisely because of the Prime Minister that the Dragon Kingdom had managed to endure to this day.
"What do we do next? The Beastmen are preparing to attack again. We might not be able to hold them off this time."
Draudillon shook her head as she brought up the situation at the front lines. The previously light atmosphere immediately fell silent.
"Are our troops truly insufficient?"
"You know the answer to that better than I do."
Her reply was sharp with irritation.
"Then I'm afraid there's only one option left."
The Prime Minister turned his gaze toward Draudillon on the throne. If they wanted to break this deadlock, they would have to rely on their young sovereign.
"Do we really have to do that?"
Draudillon hesitated. Of course she knew his plan: have Cerabrate launch a surprise attack and forcibly assassinate the commander of the Beastman army.
But remembering the greed in his eyes earlier made her skin crawl. That seasoned lolicon genuinely frightened her.
"If only Grandfather were here…"
She lowered her head as she spoke. The grandfather she referred to was the Brightness Dragon Lord, one of the True Dragon Lords and the founder of the Dragon Kingdom.
She herself was a descendant the Brightness Dragon Lord had left behind in the Dragon Kingdom, inheriting one-eighth of his Dragon Blood.
"His Majesty the Brightness Dragon Lord will return. After all, you are still here. All the more reason you must not allow the Dragon Kingdom to fall."
The Prime Minister let out a quiet sigh. Even in his lament, there was a subtle push, reminding her of the kingdom's significance.
"I understand. No matter the price, I will protect the Dragon Kingdom."
...
At an altitude of ten thousand meters, a dragon the size of an island hovered in the sky.
Beside it floated another dragon, its body pitch-black yet shimmering with seven-colored light, its expression unreadable.
"Brightness, aren't you going to take a look?"
The Heavenly Dragon Lord cast him a sidelong glance, speaking in a calm, even tone.
Having known each other for centuries, he understood the Brightness Dragon Lord's temperament well.
Both were unique among dragonkind. The Brightness Dragon Lord delighted in procreation, while the Heavenly Dragon Lord preferred sleeping and idling his time away. Strangely enough, they got along quite well.
The fact that he had accepted the Brightness Dragon Lord's invitation and taken the considerable risk of coming here to await an unknown Player was proof enough of that friendship.
"Let's wait until everything is over."
"I may not be a good father, but anyone who dares to covet the offspring of the Brightness Dragon Lord will die."
He might not have strong feelings for the Dragon Lord's daughter, but she was still his blood. Watching what had just happened left him thoroughly displeased.
Cerabrate, was it? The Beastman Country, was it? This Dragon Lord will remember you.
"As long as you're satisfied. I'll go back to sleep. Wake me when they arrive."
But just as the Heavenly Dragon Lord was about to close his eyes and drift back into slumber, an unfamiliar presence entered his senses.
His eyes snapped open, locking onto the distance. If he had fur, it would have stood on end.
"They're here."
Sensing the aura brushing against his scales, the Brightness Dragon Lord also grew alert, his expression turning solemn.
If negotiations fell apart, a great battle might break out. That was precisely why he had brought the Heavenly Dragon Lord with him.
With the Heavenly Dragon Lord, the most defensively formidable among the True Dragon Lords, and himself, a master of Wild Magic, he was confident he could at least ensure his own survival.
"Then let me see for myself… unknown Dragon Race Player."