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Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi (Light Novel) - Volume 5, Chapter 1 - Tragedy of Apollo house and Mirabel's decision, Part 1-4
Volume 5, Chapter 1 - Tragedy of Apollo house and Mirabel's decision, Part 1-4
This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml
Part 1
-Don! Don…! Don!
The sun had just risen but Ash who spent a sleepless night was woken up by a loud knocking sound.
“What in the world…?”
He took the silver watch by his pillow side and noticed that it was just half past six. After he angrily took a look at the window, he became wide awake.
“Uwaa…!”
There was a huge eye looking through the gaps of the curtain. It was actually a dragon who was banging its nose against the window.
-Don! Don… Dododododo!”
He was worried that it may break the glass.
“Why is a dragon coming to my room!? Could it be another Necromancia attack!?”
So the Empire had finally shown their true colours and started attacking? Ash tried to leave the bed but he was stopped.
“Zzz…”
Eco rolled over and hugged Ash. Her hair was all over his shoulders, her arms were around his back and her soft face was on his chest…
-Mmm…
Ash was shocked by her sudden nibble.
“Hey, Eco… Please don’t bite that spot.”
Recently, her habit of nibbling had gotten less but she still had not gotten rid of her habit of a young dragon. Moreover, she was nibbling on Ash’s sensitive spot which troubled him. At that moment, there was a crack on the window.
“This is bad… It is not the right moment to let her continue nibbling.”
Ash carried Eco and they left the bed together. The next thing he knew, the glass was smashed into pieces. He managed to avoid the glass fragments at the last moment. At the same time, there were two dragons that were trying to squeeze their heads through the window. Their hard scales protect them from the sharp glass. Taking a closer look, Ash noticed that one of them was a Maestro while the other was a Hydra. After knowing that he was not attacked by a Necromancia, Ash breathed a sigh of relief.
“Morning, Ash!”
“Good morning, Ash-sama!”
Finally, he could see the faces of the two riders. They were the student council secretary Lucca and Jessica of the general affairs. Right beside them were Maestro Gawain and Rhiannon, the Hydra. Ash started to protest after he placed Eco who was still sleeping on the bed.
“Lucca! Jessica! What in the world are both of you doing!?”
Since the time Ash saved Gawain who was in danger of dying, Lucca had become emotionally attached to Ash. In the dragon riding academy, most of the girls were the more aggressive type, it was kind of rare to see someone as quiet as Lucca. The beauty that only an Eckbald possessed was out of this world. Ash was a little surprised to see Lucca acting rashly. Perhaps she was influenced by Jessica.
“Ash… I hoped that you would come with me to the Eckbald village. I want to introduce you to the village chief, my otou-sama.”
Her usual emotionless face had always given Ash a heck lot of trouble.
“Hold on! W-Why must you mention about the chief!?”
“P-Please don’t ask anymore than this.”
Lucca was suddenly blushing. This time, it was Jessica who pushed Lucca to aside. Jessica who was usually eyeing at Ash’s sperm, though her actions had always been eccentric, she was still undoubtedly one of the few beauties of the academy.
“Ash-sama, I have a request!”
“Hey, wait a minute! This is the third floor! How did a hydra get here…?”
“Well, climbing wall is not a problem for my Rhiannon.”
“Can’t you sympathize your Pal a little!”
Ash pitied her Pal. Although a Hydra may still be able to move on land, only when they were in the water did they show their true skills. It shouldn't be its own intention to walk on land. Let alone climbing the walls of the student’s dormitory, which doesn't seem to fit the actions of a proud dragon.
“Putting that aside, Ash-sama! I am about to leave Ansarivan. What about you? Do you have any plans of returning?”
“Now I remember… today is the start of the holiday.”
-The first day of the month of Leo.
It was the first day of the holidays for Ansarivan Dragon Riding Academy. Since it was a boarding school, most of the students returned to their hometown. Of course, not all of the students were going back home. There were also a small number of students who were forced to stay in for the holidays for certain reasons. Ash was one of them.
“Nope, I am not going home.”
After hearing, Jessica’s facial expression changes.
“What! If that’s the case, I too will stay back here!”
“Uuh… If I don’t return soon… I will be scolded by my otou-sama.”
Compare to Jessica who was in high spirits, Lucca looked sad. Lucca who carried the hopes of all Eckbald with her probably didn't have as much freedom as Jessica has.
“Sorry to disappoint you Jessica, but you must return with me.”
Suddenly, there was another voice.
“Rebecca-san!” shouted Ash.
There was a sweet smell from her red hair being blown by the winds. She looked like a war maiden in the legends when she was riding on Cú Chulainn.
“Sorry for the trouble that this stupid girl from my house had given you. The Randall family will cover the fees for mending the window. The servants fault is also the master’s fault.”
“Now that you mention it… I remember that Jessica was a servant in the Randall family.”
“Just that since she became a Breeder, she had forgotten about her place.” sighed Rebecca.
“Hmph! Could you stop calling me that? I don’t have the intention of serving the Randall family for my whole life!”
“I never thought of that. You are my important childhood friend. Also, your parents had asked me to take good care of you. That is why I have my duty to bring you back to meet your parents.”
Although her lips were smiling, there was not even a hint of smile in Rebecca's eyes. After Jessica saw Rebecca's determination, her elbows dropped in disappointment.
“Haa… I understand. However… I want Ash-sama to see me off!”
Ash gave a wry smile.
“I think that should be alright.”
The moment he answered, Jessica was once again with a big smile. But, she was then blushing and started to mumble.
“T-Then… According to my hometown’s custom…. There should be a parting k-kiss….”
“Hey! Jessica! When does our hometown have such a custom?”
Rebecca exposed Jessica’s lie with a wry smile.
“Hmph! Rebecca! Don’t you know how to look at the atmosphere?”
“I-I too would like you to see me off…”
While Jessica was in rage, Lucca shyly told Ash her wish.
“Of course.”
“T-Then… According to the Eckbald custom…. I want you to give me a princess carry.”
Ash’s heart skipped a beat when he first saw Lucca's blushing face.
“A-A princess carry!”
Ash was in a fix but Jessica shouted at Lucca:
“Hey! What are you trying to do in this mess! That must be a lie!?”
“Uuh…”
While Lucca turned speechless, the noise that Jessica made had spread throughout the school.
“Hey, can you believe it! The president and Jessica were making a night visit! And the other person… Could she be Lucca Sarlinen the genius girl from the basic class!?”
Suddenly, a huge number of students were gathering outside of the Apollo House. It was something for three girls to be standing on their dragons beside a window of a boy’s dormitory. To say nothing of Rebecca Randall who was the most popular person in the entire academy, Jessica was also one of the centers of attentions and let alone Lucca with her Yōsei like looks and her skills as a Dragner.
“I-I am just here to have Ash-sama see me off! Nothing else!”
Jessica tried to settle the misunderstanding by shouting towards the direction of the school.
“Hmm! By saying Ash-kun you mean… The Ash-kun who was knighted yesterday!?”
“The knighting ceremony was awesome!”
“I also want him to see me off!”
Right now all the girls were speaking with a shrill voice. Rebecca gave him a bitter smile while she was enjoying all of this.
“Seems like your popularity had sky rocketed after you became a Dragner.”
“The situation outside… It looks frightening somehow.”
“Yeah. I just saw around thirty dragons flying towards this window.”
Rebecca told him the unthinkable news with a calm face.
“Huh!?”
“Sorry, Ash. Though I have many reasons to help you… But if I show my true skills, the girls would suffer some grave injuries.”
“Hol-! Don’t leave me!”
“You should try to solve your own problem if you are a Dragner. Also… If it is alright, I would also want you to see me off.”
“…Eh?”
Unfortunately, Ash was not able to catch everything Rebecca said. Her voice disappeared behind the loud noise from Cú Chulainn flapping its wings.
“Good luck, Ash.”
Lucca too had reluctantly flew off with Gawain. Right after that, the Apollo House faced a terrible attack.
“Ash-kun! Please see me off!”
“Ash-kun, you might as well come to my home town with me…!”
“Hey! Don’t cut the queue!”
Most of the girls returning were riders of stradas. They were like bats gathering together for food at the window. But of course it was impossible for thirty riders of stradas to squeeze into the window at the same time. Soon, they started pushing around.
“P-Please be patient! Calm down! Please calm down!”
Ash was panicking.
Every single roar from the Strada was enough to shake up this entire old building.
“Hey!...How dare you! Ash-sama is my important- Nooooooo!”
Unlike Rebecca or Lucca, Jessica who stayed until the end was finally pushed off the wall together with Rhiannon.
“W-What should I do?”
Ash retreated until his back was facing the wall while he was watching the girls fighting for a spot. At that moment, Eco who had rolled herself into a ball while she was sleeping had woken up and was rubbing her eyes.
“Hmmm…. What’s all the noise about?”
“You ! How can you still think of sleeping!”
Eco was looking around in confusion. It seems that she wasn't fully awake yet and wasn't able to think properly. Ash shouted with all his might towards the window.
“I beg you! Could you please not make a mess in front of someone else’s window! I promise to see off every single one of you!”
Too bad for him, his voice was not received by them. Suddenly, Ash had a bad feeling.
“I couldn't be…”
His entire body was shivering in fear. Since some time ago, the wall facing the outside was creaking. It appeared that the Stradas were putting pressure on it.
“It is dangerous to stay here! Lets run Eco!”
“Huh…! Could you care to explain!”
“Later!”
Ash was running with Eco on his hands. He ran out through the door and out to the corridor. Just when he was sliding along the floor…
-Creak…! Eeeeekkkk……. !Do--------------n!
The next moment, there was a loud explosion. Ash cautiously took a peek through the cracks on the door while trembling. All he saw was dust flying around and even the corridor was affected.
“*Cough *!*Cough *!”
While covering up Eco who was coughing, Ash waited until the dust had settled down. Just moments later- After the dust had cleared up, what Ash saw was a clear sky. The morning rays were shining at the disastrous room. The wreckage of the wall was all over his room. It was a painful sight. Right now, with the wall facing the academy and the window destroyed, his room looked like a doll house that could be seen from the outside.
“Err… Eco, am I dreaming?”
“I think so?”
Ash and Eco were looking at the room with their mouths wide open.
Part 2
Ash was brought to the director’s office on the first day of the holiday. As for those girls who were the culprits, it seemed that they had ran back home as soon as possible. That was why Ash who was the victim was summoned.
“I see… Now I understand what had happened.”
Mirabel who was acting as the director replied coldly and drank from her cup of tea. The room was full of the smells of bergamot and the tea. Just like a robot, Mirabel’s face was emotionless the entire time. Does this princess even have the thing known as feelings…? Ash thought.
“The academy will take responsibility for mending the wall. Just some time before, I had asked the builders of this city and they estimated that they will be able to complete it in around two weeks time.”
“Really…! Thank you very much!”
Ash was grateful that she was able to deal with this situation without delay.
“The problem is… During the renovation, where am I to place you and Eco.”
“I see…”
“Can you borrow a room from any of your friends?”
“I don’t think that would be possible…”
Unfortunately, Max and Raymond had gone home. For Ash who didn't have many friends, they were the only two friends that he could rely on. Although there was an option of using it without asking for their permissions, Ash couldn't bring himself to do it.
-Bang!
The door behind him was opened with a slam. The next time he knew, Silvia and Eco was right beside him.
“How much longer are the two of you going to keep on talking!? Can’t you just give us a new room!”
Eco was pointing at Mirabel in anger.
“Anee-ue! Why do you call for Ash! That incident was caused by a few girls! It had nothing to do with Ash! Aren't you treating him like the culprit!?”
Silvia on the other hand was trying to speak up for Ash.
“Where are your manners? Don’t you know that it is rude to walk into a room without knocking? You won’t be given special treatment even if you are the descendant of the Avalon Holy Dragons Emperor’s family or my sister. “
Mirabel glared at both of them coldly.
“I am sorry… Anee-ue.”
Silvia stood still on her ground as if she had turned into a stone. On the other hand, Eco was trying to intimidate Mirabel by showing her sharp teeth.
“Hey you!... How dare you act like that even when you know that I am Avalon’s holy dragons' emperor family's Imperial Princess! Why don’t I try crushing the castle the next time? If I show you my true self, one or two Fontaine Place won’t…”
“Idiot! Stop spurting nonsense!”
Ash’s face was pale white when he was scolding Eco. Since that incident, the Knight’s government took Eco as a threat. As long as there is the possibility that Mirabel was here to keep an eye on Eco, they have to be careful with their own words. But to his surprise, Eco calm down with just a single shout. She turned her head around with her face blushing.
“I-I will listen to you… Just this time.”
Ash was taken aback from seeing Eco making such an expression for the first time. Just as he had expected, it was that transformation that had made a change of her heart. Although the gentle Eco looked a lot cuter, at the same time, it was also a little confusing.
“Ahem!”
Mirabel tried clearing her throat, returning everyone’s attention back to her.
“Silvia, you came at the right moment. Right now you are staying in the royal room in the Epona House right?”
“…What about it?”
Silvia was surprised.
“Until the renovation in the boy’s dormitory had been completed, Ash Blake and young dragon Eco will stay in your room for the time being.”
“What!”
“I won’t repeat for a second time. This is an order from your sister. You are not allowed to have any objections.”
Naturally, Silva was enraged.
“What do you mean by this! This is against our family motto where ‘A knight shouldn't carelessly touch another of the opposite sex’!”
“Hmm… Funny but I remember that I said to let Ash Blake and young dragon Eco stay in your room. When did I ever mention about touching Ash?”
“T-That…!”
Right at this moment, even Silvia’s earlobes were red.
“Right now, if I were to mention the family motto that you love so much, ‘A knight should help those who are in need’. Am I wrong?”
After she replied coldly, Mirabel looked like she had lost interest in the case regarding Ash. She kept on looking at the tea cup on her hand.
“I am done with you- What a pain, now a good cup of tea had turned cold.”
Part 3
Rebecca and Jessica had returned to the land ruled by the Randalls. Lucca on the other hand had returned to her village. After seeing them off, Ash and Eco once again returned to his room on the third floor of the Apollo House. They once again looked at the disastrous room. A bed full of glass fragments. A floor full with the remains of the wall. And the disorganized furniture. With the wall gone, the room became bright and windy. Looking down from above was a few curious onlookers. When their eyes came into contact with Ash’s, everyone scattered.
“Haa… First of all, I think we should try cleaning up a little. It is better to make it look a little more cheerful before the renovation starts.”
Turning around, Ash noticed that Eco was sulking.
“What’s wrong, Eco?”
“Hey. Do you really want to stay in Silvia’s room?”
“It is not like I have a choice. It was an order from Princess Mirabel. It seems that even Princess-sama did not dare to go against her.”
“I… I hate it.”
“What’s the matter? You don’t look like your usual self. Well, if we stay at Princess-sama's room, we may be able to eat Cosette’s delicious homemade cooking.”
“That’s not the point! And also, I am not someone who thinks about food for an entire day!”
Eco's face was red with anger and embarrassment.
“Is it… Sorry then.”
“It is fine if you understand. Anyway, just if you try to do something weird to Silvia… I will be sure to crush you!”
Eco was glaring at Ash.
“What do you mean by something weird!?”
With her ears fully red, Eco told Ash embarrassedly:
“T-To make it simple…. It is those perverted stuffs.”
“W-What are you even thinking!”
Ash stood still on his ground. He never expected Eco to speak of such a word. It kind of surprised him.
“Even I know about those stuffs… Don’t look down on me just because I am a young dragon.”
“Could the source of information be…. The Dragweiss?”
“…Some of them were from there, but most of them were from the picture books that Cosette lent me.”
“Hold on! Are they really… Just picture books!?”
In order to teach her the importance of aesthetic sensibility, Cosette had lent her picture books and books for children. For that, Ash was grateful to Cosette. However, there was a possibility that she mixed some books with adult content in them into the pile of picture books she had given to Eco.
“Anyhow, she is still this country’s princess. What you are worrying about will never happen, rest assured.”
In the worst possible case, I will be beheaded… Ash thought secretly.
“A-Alright… I understand.”
Once again, Eco was smiling and she looked at the room around her.
“Then… What can I do to help you?”
“You are trying to help?”
“What? Is it weird for me to help?”
“Definitely not weird, but rare. Ain't it always me who does the house work?”
“A-About that… It doesn't seem like I have a choice. I am a dragon. I don’t really understand how a human acts. But… I just feel like helping for today… Can’t I!?”
Eco puffed up her rosy coloured cheeks and stared at Ash.
“Why not? I even want to thank you.”
Ash gave a wry smile and tried to pat her head. But, Eco immediately dodged to a side.
“No! You mustn't touch!”
“Sorry… I didn't know that you dislike it this much.”
“N-No! It is okay it you are just patting, but you mustn't touch my horns. If they were just slightly touched, I… will turn weird. I felt like floating in the air when they were touched...”
Ash could calm down after seeing Eco’s face when she tried to explain her feelings.
“I understand. I promise I won’t touch your horns.”
Ash carefully patted Eco’s head. Her pink hair was fluffy and it gave his palm a nice feeling.
“Nn…”
Even when she was a dragon, Eco was smiling and shrugging her neck like what a cat would do. Her innocent smile had grabbed Ash’s attention. To be precise, it was her flower bud like lips. His heart was beating rapidly. This was actually the second time he had such a feeling. The first time was when Eco said that she won’t be satisfied with just being a Pal in the guest room in Fontaine Palace.
“…”
Eco probably felt the change in the atmosphere too and her body suddenly tense up. Perhaps she too was also thinking about the scenario in the Fontaine Palace. In a short while, just like that time, Eco closes her eyes. She also tried to purse her lips. Ash also noticed that her long eyelashes were also trembling.
-Eco…!
He suddenly remembered the word ‘beloved Pal’ in the knighting ceremony. During that time, Ash was only saying the standard pledge. But this was totally different. His feeling of love to Eco was born from deep in his heart. A feeling that couldn't be explained using something as simple as the relation of a Breeder and its Pal had grown. Right now, they didn't need any words.
Ash placed both his hands on Eco’s shoulders and closed their distance slowly. A sweet smell was surrounding them which made him dizzy. Right now, he felt as if his heart was going to explode. They were now at a distance where their nose could easily touch each other. Eco felt like being pierced through by the sunlight while she was waiting for Ash. Ash made up his mind and closed his eyes.
And then- he kissed Eco on her lips.
Part 4
“~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~!”
Since their kiss, Eco had been working silently with her back facing Ash the entire time. It seemed that she was too embarrassed to even look at Ash in the face. And of course, it was the same for Ash who felt as if his face was a ball of fire. Although the two of them at a first glance seemed to be dusting the room, there was actually zero progress. What they were doing was only messing up the already messed up room.
-What should I do? What should I say at times like this?
Just when Ash was anxious in trying to find the right words…
“Uwaaa…! Cute!”
Eco turned around and showed Ash a round object.
“Isn't this cute? Where did you find this stuffed toy?”
At that moment, Ash felt something was pricking at the back of his neck. It made him wonder what it was. The stuffed toy that Eco was holding seemed to be a dragon. Strictly speaking, its face was clumsily done. Furthermore, it's round body made it looks nothing like a majestic dragon. However, Eco seemed to take it as cute, and it made her forget about what had just happened previously.
“Err… Actually I don’t remember much about that when it came into my possession. No matter how I look at it, it looks just like a girl’s toy. It is probably not me who bought it.”
It was thanks to the toy that Ash was once again able to speak to Eco normally.
“Hmm… Strange.”
Eco was carrying the stuffed toy while she whipped off the dust on it.
“Hmm… When I moved to Ansarivan, I just took it with me without any reason. Perhaps there is a great meaning behind it was what I thought. Actually… There is a blank in my childhood memory.”
“… A blank in your memories?”
Eco was surprised.
“Aah. It was right about when I had my seventh birthday when I visited Albion Forest for the Orphan Ceremony. I just can’t recall my memories during that time.”
“Isn't that… The time when Mother Dragon bestowed me to you?”
“It seems so.”
“How come you can’t remember such an important event?”
Ash shrunk when he saw Eco start to get mad. Just like how they were finally able to speak normally, Eco’s temper had also returned.
“To be frank, I know nothing of it myself. It was just that I had a hunch that this toy had something to do with my lost memories and that’s the reason why I was reluctant to throw it away. However, because of the recent events, I totally forgot about it.”
“Then, can I keep it?”
Ash was taken by surprised.
“What do you mean by keeping it?”
“It is just like what I had said. Don’t you think it is sad for such a cute being to be left forgotten? I will take the trouble to take care of this kid.”
“How can you take care of it when it isn't even a living being? Argh, whatever suits you then.”
“Really!?”
Eco was full of excitement.
“Well, I don’t really mind.”
“That's great!”
Eco was so happy that she felt that she could even fly. She then rubbed the stuffed toy with her cheeks. Followed by that, she cuddled it like what a mother would do to her baby. Suddenly, she spoke of something that surprised Ash.
“This somehow looked like our baby…”
Eco suddenly stopped speaking before she could even finish her sentence. She the glared at Ash with eyes looking as if they were on fire.
“You heard anything?”
“No, nothing at all.”
Ash spoke with a serious look on his face.
“T-That’s right! N-Nothing happened! Nothing happened at all!”
As if her head was exploding in flames, Eco carried the toy and dashed out from the room.
“Actually, I heard every single word…”
Just as Ash was murmuring with his body also feeling as it was engulfed by fire…
“Sorry to interrupt, Ash-sama.”
Suddenly, there was a woman’s voice coming from behind.
“Uwaa!”
He noticed that it was Cosette after he turned around. She seemed to be wearing the same palace design maid attire today. She then gave a polite bow.
“Cosette-san! How did you get in?”
“To enter such an airy room is like a child’s play to me.”
Cosette smiled before she turned around to look at the blue sky.
“That can't be… This is the third floor! Putting that aside, why are you here?”
“I am here to meet you and Eco-chan. Had you forgotten about Princess Mirabel, Her Highness’s decision?”
Of course, it was impossible for him to forget about it to begin with. However, he still felt a little reluctant.
“Actually, can’t we reconsider about this? Putting Eco aside, don’t you think that it is wrong for a guy like me to enter Epona House where guys are not allowed?”
“For your own sake, I would advise you to follow her decision. Do you know what Princes Mirabel was also known as?”
“No… Nothing comes to mind at all.”
“Her nick name is actually Argento Magus. If we can describe Princess Veronica as a fighter, then Princess Mirabel is a thinker. Compare to Veronica, there are certain things that would make Mirabel a tougher opponent. Please be sure to be prepared mentally, Ash-sama.”
Ash sighed after he heard everything.
“…I understand. Please let me take some belongings like my pillow and clothes with me…”
“Alright then, meanwhile, I will try searching for Eco.”
Eco had not yet return since the moment she ran out from the room.
“Thank you. I think she should be somewhere around the dorm.”
“Huhu. That will be a simple task.”
Cosette ran towards the door nimbly while avoiding the disorganized furniture, but then she suddenly stopped and turned around to face Ash.
“By the way, Ash-sama.”
“What’s the matter?”
When Ash lifted his face, he saw Cosette’s face fully red. Ash was staring at her since it was rare to see her who was always calm to be blushing. Although she always stayed hidden behind Silvia’s shadow, she actually looked quite beautiful. With her right hand on her cheeks, she sighed. Then she said something outrageous.
“Ash-sama and Eco-chan's kiss looked very innocent indeed.”
“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
This time, it was Ash’s turn to be blushing.
“D-Don’t, Don’t tell me that you saw everything!?”
“It totally felt like an opera show. You looked so cute when you kissed without even needing any words to understand each other. My god, isn't that wonderful? Didn't Eco-chan also look cute when she was waiting to receive your kiss?”
“I beg you, please stop saying anymore than this! It is embarrassing!”
Right now, Ash felt like he was sitting on a mountain of needles. Cosette, too, had also seemed to realize that she overdid it, and replied with a playful smile.
“Rest assured, I won’t tell Princess-sama any of this.”
“How is the Princess-sama related to this!?”
“Hmm… I wonder… Huhu…”
Cosette left the room with her sentence ending with her laughter.
