The enormous Frost Dragon streaked through the sky like a bolt of blue lightning, following a familiar fixed route as it flew steadily toward the Sorcerer Kingdom.
The Sorcerer Kingdom was not particularly far away. At the Frost Dragon's astonishing speed, the journey would take less than half an hour.
Neia could have used an anchor point to teleport there directly, which would have been both fast and convenient.
However, teleportation was simply too expensive. For someone as frugal and careful with money as Neia, the price was difficult to accept.
She had therefore dismissed the option without a second thought.
Yet when she considered the tremendous victory they had achieved during this expedition, she suddenly felt tempted. Surely she could allow herself a small indulgence just this once?
After a difficult inner struggle, she finally decided to treat herself to a little luxury.
Of all the available flight packages, she and Nemu resolutely chose the most expensive one, the Frost Dragon route.
The Frost Dragon's broad, sturdy back served as Neia's temporary observation deck.
She stood firmly atop it with her arms spread wide, savoring the wondrous sensation of clouds rushing past her.
The sight appeared extremely dangerous, but in reality, she was perfectly safe.
The Frost Dragon had been equipped with a magical artifact called the [Magic Saddle].
Once the saddle was fitted onto a mount, its rider would remain completely stable regardless of how they moved.
The wind could not affect them at all. Not even a single strand of their hair would be disturbed.
"You humans really are all alike."
The Frost Dragon's voice interrupted Neia's thoughts. She returned to her senses and replied with a soft laugh.
"Compared to a dragon like you, we humans are undoubtedly insignificant."
Dragons had always been a popular subject among the people of the New World.
Legends claimed that dragons lived near E-Rantel, and that in ancient times, there had been dragons capable of freely controlling natural disasters and upheavals.
One of the 13 Heroes was said to have been a magic warrior who rode a three-headed dragon.
Dwarven legends told of a man who had slain a dragon single-handedly.
According to Lizardmen legends, resurrection magic was a miracle that only a legendary Lizardman carrying the blood of a Dragon Lord could perform.
Even the Eight Greed Kings had been described as beings comparable to colossal dragons.
Naturally, Neia could not help feeling a little excited about riding one herself.
"Hmph. You're quite perceptive."
The Frost Dragon raised his head, looking somewhat pleased with himself.
No dragon disliked flattery. This human was quite satisfactory, and she clearly knew how to behave.
"I am Torangealit. Human, I grant you permission to address me by my noble name."
Torangealit's voice was deep and powerful.
Neia froze for a moment, but quickly recovered.
"Thank you for your permission, Torangealit-sama. My name is Neia Baraja. You may simply call me Neia."
Neia was secretly delighted.
It was rare to have an opportunity to speak with a dragon, so she hurriedly introduced herself.
"Torangealit-sama, may I ask why you chose to work in aviation?"
After a brief silence, Neia gathered her courage and started a conversation. She listened eagerly, awaiting Torangealit's answer.
However, Torangealit did not respond immediately.
His massive body paused slightly, as though he were considering how best to answer.
"Which version would you like to hear?"
Huh?
There were different versions?
Seeing Neia's bewildered expression, Torangealit laughed before offering an explanation.
"Aviation is a great undertaking. It allows people to cross vast distances and explore unknown lands."
"To me, this is more than a mere occupation. It is a calling."
"I shall dedicate my strength to the Sorcerer Kingdom and protect every life that soars through its skies."
Torangealit spoke with such passion and conviction that his words were genuinely moving.
Before Neia could respond, however, he abruptly changed direction.
"Of course, that was the false answer."
"The truth is that I freeloaded for too long, so they threw me out and told me to find something to do."
Neia could not help bursting into laughter.
She had not expected him to possess such a humorous side.
"Tch. It's utterly depressing."
Perhaps Torangealit had been keeping his frustrations bottled up for too long. Now that he finally had someone willing to listen, he immediately launched into a lengthy complaint.
He was the child of Munuinia and Olasird'arc, and among all his brothers and sisters, he possessed the greatest physical strength.
Who could have imagined that he would one day fall so far and end up doing this kind of work?
As he spoke, a trace of resentment appeared in Torangealit's eyes.
As a mighty dragon, he should have been living a pleasant life, receiving tribute, eating and sleeping, then sleeping and eating, while occasionally bullying other races.
Instead, he now had to work hard simply to survive.
Of course, that alone was not entirely unacceptable.
What truly bothered Torangealit was that he and all his siblings had been driven out, while that "fat dragon" was still comfortably hiding at home.
Hejinmal, his half-brother.
A Frost, or rather, Fat Dragon over a hundred years old.
He was a complete shut-in. He had been that way in the abandoned Dwarven city, and he remained exactly the same in Nazarick.
Torangealit had never once seen him leave his room. His brothers and sisters even had to bring him all three of his daily meals.
He spent every day wearing a pair of tiny glasses, reading books and accumulating knowledge.
His combat abilities were terrible, he knew almost no magic, and even a younger brother born an entire generation after him could defeat him.
Yet someone like that had somehow earned the favor of Momonga-sama.
Torangealit simply could not understand it.
"Hmm... Perhaps gains and losses simply come together?"
Neia offered after a moment of hesitation.
Although her personality had changed considerably over the past three years, she was still not particularly skilled at comforting others, especially when that someone was a massive dragon.
In the end, she could only offer a few vague words of consolation.
"Never mind. I feel much better after getting that off my chest."
"Human, I truly like your eyes. They're filled with savagery and malice. Hahaha! One look at you, and anyone can tell that you're strong."
"Otherwise, I would never have started speaking to you."
Torangealit felt that his luck was unusually good today.
The creatures he had carried in the past either trembled in terror throughout the entire journey or kept their heads lowered in silence like ostriches.
A few had occasionally tried to speak with him, but he usually could not be bothered to respond.
First impressions were important, and strength mattered even more.
Only someone who met both requirements could persuade the prideful Torangealit to reluctantly lower himself and engage in conversation.
"Um... Thank you for the compliment."
Neia responded somewhat awkwardly.
She had never expected a dragon to interpret her fierce eyes as proof of her strength.
Those very eyes had once been the source of her insecurity and distress. Now, however, they had given her the opportunity to converse with a dragon.
"Are we almost at the city?"
Neia raised her head and looked past the dragon's back toward the distant horizon.
A landscape of rolling hills, dense forests, vast grasslands, and fields being diligently cultivated by Demihumans stretched out before her.
While they had been talking, they had unknowingly crossed into the Sorcerer Kingdom's territory.
The land was saturated with magical energy, making it seem like a world drawn straight from fantasy.
As the Frost Dragon gradually slowed down, Neia finally saw the capital of the Sorcerer Kingdom, [Endymion].
Three colossal statues stood in the heart of the city. They were statues of the Three Majesties.
Although they were still some distance away, Neia could already sense the overwhelming majesty radiating from them, filling her with reverence.
"Praise the Supreme Ones!"
She bowed devoutly.
For the residents of the Sorcerer Kingdom, bowing to these statues every morning and evening had become an ordinary part of daily life.
Anyone who saw the statues but failed to bow risked drawing criticism and hostility from the more fanatical believers nearby.
Should that person dare to question or object to the custom, they would likely find themselves branded a traitor.
Neia chose to remain silent on the matter.
She understood that everyone was free to follow their own faith, and there was nothing inherently wrong with that.
However, once that faith began interfering with the lives and happiness of others, it violated the core laws of the Sorcerer Kingdom. At that point, the Quagoa Security Squad would intervene.
"Such pointless theatrics."
Despite his complaint, Torangealit obediently performed an ancient Dragon Race salute toward the statues.
In the present-day Sorcerer Kingdom, offering such respects had become a form of unspoken political correctness.
It was said that the neighboring Slane Theocracy, in an attempt to compete with the Sorcerer Kingdom, had followed its example and erected statues of the Six Great Gods throughout its territory.
Torangealit found the practice deeply confusing. He simply could not understand how fanatics thought.
Still, if cooperating with such beliefs ensured his livelihood, there was no harm in playing along.
"Thank you for your business. We hope you'll fly with us again."
After arriving at a platform specifically constructed for aerial arrivals, Torangealit set Neia down, bringing his job to an end.
He swallowed the gold coins she handed him, storing them within the storage space in his stomach. After telling her they could speak again when he had time, he flew back into the sky.
He still had other orders to complete.
Life was not easy.
After waiting for a while, another Frost Dragon descended with Nemu.
The two had taken separate routes back to the Sorcerer Kingdom, one heading left and the other right.
Judging by the result, Neia had won their race.