Translator: AnubisTL
How could Creekwood Town be so orderly, even prosperous, under monster rule? This directly contradicted what Earl Mills had told him—that monsters were savage, bloodthirsty, slaughtered humans, and seized land.
Indeed.
The Flower Knight was deeply grateful for the numerous favors and support Earl Mills had shown him early in his adventuring career. Upon receiving the call for help, he immediately set aside his current tasks and rushed to the wilderness.
Though young, he was no longer the greenhorn adventurer who easily swayed by one-sided accounts.
His extensive experience had taught him to observe cautiously and think independently.
The current harmonious and prosperous state of Creekwood Town struck him like a massive question mark, filling him with profound confusion and suspicion.
Thus, he decided to pause his actions.
His primary task was to investigate thoroughly, uncover the truth behind the situation, and then carefully consider his next steps.
In the tavern, Charles, with his naturally humorous and enthusiastic personality, knowledgeable conversation, and generous rounds of drinks, quickly befriended several tables of adventurers.
Over rounds of drinks and lively conversation, he guided the conversation, gradually piecing together the sequence of events and learning about the twenty-year-old feud between the Ironforged Tribe and the Albert Family.
He confirmed that the dragonkind who had attacked the nobles years ago had been juvenile dragons, now likely adolescent dragons.
The fact that his familiars could display such remarkable organization and combat prowess meant their chief must be exceptionally skilled, likely comparable to an ordinary young dragon, or perhaps even on the verge of becoming an adult dragon.
Yet Charles felt no fear. He had absolute confidence in his own abilities.
His original plan was to first assassinate the young green dragon boss occupying this area, liberating Creekwood Town. Then, he would employ guerrilla tactics to raid and disrupt the Ironforged Tribe's strongholds along the Scaly Earth Rift Road, steadily weakening their forces and sowing panic. During this process, he would seize opportunities to investigate the true leader of the Ironforged Tribe—the hybrid dragon—uncovering its strength, habits, and weaknesses, and waiting for the optimal moment to strike a decisive blow, thus fulfilling the earl's revenge mission.
But now...
The prosperity and order he witnessed firsthand were starkly different from the brutal rule he had expected. His once-clear plan had instantly become muddled and full of variables, forcing him to adjust his strategy.
"Though the Ironforged Tribe's leader is a chromatic evil dragon, their current conduct hardly seems evil," Charles thought as he walked alone through the night-shrouded streets of the town, his mind churning with conflicting thoughts.
He was known throughout the land as the Flower Knight, not merely for his striking appearance and charisma, but more so for his unwavering adherence to the noble code of knighthood: punishing the wicked, promoting good, and protecting the weak.
He was no racist.
While he had indeed slain dragons, these were evil dragons that rampaged along the coast, burning villages, slaughtering fishermen, and plundering wealth. His criteria for judgment were based on actions, not the color of their scales.
Even if a metallic dragon committed atrocities, he would draw his sword against it.
Conversely, even a chromatic dragon would not face his prejudice or hostility, provided its rule was not built upon the trampling of life and order.
Years of adventuring had taught him a profound lesson:
—The goodness, evil, or neutrality of an intelligent creature should not be judged by racial or bloodline biases, but by its concrete deeds.
Yet, Earl Mills's favor was equally real and weighed heavily upon him.
The helping hand extended in times of crisis, the shelter provided at critical moments—these were the indispensable cornerstones of his path.
To repay a single drop of kindness with a gushing spring—this was the fundamental principle of a knight's conduct.
To completely disregard the Earl's request and stand idly by if the reality differed from his description would be a grave violation of his principle of repaying kindness with unwavering loyalty.
After much deliberation and careful consideration, the Flower Knight decided to remain in Creekwood Town for a while longer, refraining from immediate action.
Could this fleeting scene of peace and prosperity be merely a carefully crafted illusion by the Ironforged Tribe? A trap set to deceive potential avengers and righteous individuals?
He didn't mind laying down roots in this peculiar town ruled by monsters, living like a true resident and patiently observing every movement, every word, every action.
He would delve into its very fabric to discern its true nature.
Should he uncover any evidence of the Ironforged Tribe's hidden evil schemes, oppressive acts, or substantial threats to the surrounding region in the days to come, he would unhesitatingly fulfill his knightly duty, striking with the force of a thunderbolt and the weight of a mountain.
"Mr. Mills' private army should be arriving in this area soon."
"Perfect. I can use this opportunity to personally assess the true strength of the dragon that rules the Ironforged Tribe."
The Flower Knight pondered in silence.
Whether the subsequent course of action would be war or peace, an assault or a strategic withdrawal, it was crucial for him to accurately assess the true strength of the dragons here—especially the leader of the dragon pack, known as the Ominous Star of Death and the Sky-Rending Wing.
Moreover, Earl Mills had dispatched his private army with the clear intention of creating a diversion and covering for the Flower Knight. He already knew the army's planned route and approximate timing through the Earl's channels.
Soon, three days had passed.
This was a critical period for the Ironforged Tribe to establish their foothold in the region. To be safe, Garos remained stationed in Needleleaf Valley, not yet returning to the Frontierlands.
With his current terrifying speed, he could reach the area around the Scaly Earth Rift Road in an instant should any trouble arise.
At this moment, brilliant golden lightning crackled around Garos, clearly indicating he was in his frenzy state. Yet his breathing remained long and steady, as if the burden were negligible.
Once I officially enter my young stage, maintaining this frenzy state should become as effortless as breathing, Garos calculated silently.
At this stage, the frenzy state no longer drained his energy severely, allowing him to sustain it for extended periods. However, he was still some way from achieving a state where it would become as effortless and instinctive as breathing.
Whoosh!
He took a deep breath of the valley's crisp, cold air. The violent, swirling golden lightning that had been crackling around him receded like a tide, vanishing completely beneath his thick dragon scales.
Almost simultaneously, Iron Dragon Solgorn's steady, calm mental voice resonated within his mind:
"We've detected a human army approximately fifty kilometers from the outer defenses of the Scaly Earth Rift Road."
"Their numbers are substantial, their direction is unmistakably toward the Scaly Earth Rift Road, and they are well-equipped. The Albert Family's crest is clearly emblazoned on their armor and banners."
What was inevitable had finally arrived.
The Albert Family could not tolerate the Ironforged Tribe occupying their territory and had dispatched their private army to retaliate.
After a brief moment of contemplation, the red-iron dragon calmly replied:
"Keep the battlefield beyond the Scaly Earth Rift Road. I don't want the Ironforged Tribe's territory affected. Prepare your familiars to meet the enemy."
To firmly establish their first foothold at the wilderness's edge and pave the way for a large-scale invasion, the Ironforged Tribe had dispatched a formidable vanguard.
In addition to powerful monster bosses, the three wild monster lords they had subdued earlier in the Frontierlands now resided in Crescent Moon Valley, the former territory of the werewolf clan. There, they honed their claws and fangs, awaiting the call to war.
The Ironforged Tribe's vast horde of ferocious familiars wasn't merely for show.
Now was the time for them to prove their worth, exchanging battlefield glory for honor and rewards.
"Understood! Those foolhardy humans are doomed to never return. This wilderness will be their final burial ground."
The spirit link snapped, and the iron dragon clearly began mobilizing his forces, preparing for war.
Bathed in the cold, bright moonlight, the red-iron dragon narrowed his eyes, gazing toward the distant mountains, his pupils gleaming with thoughtful intensity.
The Earl's private army had been discovered far too quickly, as obvious as a torch-wielding march through the wilderness.
Logically, regardless of whether they were detected by hidden sentries along the way, a covert, surprise attack would always be superior to a frontal assault.
Garos refused to believe that a human earl would adhere to any so-called "knightly spirit" and insist on a fair, open duel.
Beyond this visible force, another, more dangerous and lethal blade might be hidden in the shadows.
Perhaps Garos was being overly suspicious, but his ingrained caution, a key factor in his growth beyond innate talent, prevented him from ignoring potential threats.
However, given the earl's limited experience, it was hard to imagine how he could imagine how I have transformed from a relatively unremarkable juvenile dragon into the current King of the Frontierlands in just twenty years.
Whether through overt or covert means, the danger he posed to Garos couldn't be too great.
If this hadn't happened to him personally, Garos himself wouldn't have believed it.
"My hibernation periods always far exceed the norm... It won't hurt to stretch this body a bit before then."
With his decision made, the red-iron dragon no longer hesitated.
He spread his wings and soared into the heavens, his massive form vanishing into the thick night sky.
(End of the Chapter)
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