Chapter 95

Despite everything that happened along the way, the gates of Dowal Crown finally came into view. As usual, a massive crowd of people stood in line before the entrance.

“We finally made it.”

“Indeed, Master Ryu.”

“My whole body hurts…”

“Now we just have to wait in that line.”

“Excuse me, everyone, but I have to take the wagon to a different area. Please step down for a moment.”

Aoi, Alice, Gen, and I followed Mark’s instructions. Ril and the others emerged from within me to look at the gates. While Mark went to park the wagon, the rest of us joined the queue.

“This is my first time in Dowal Crown. There are so many humans alongside the demi-humans,” Alice remarked.

“Dowal Crown isn’t just a mining city; it’s famous as a commercial powerhouse. It naturally attracts merchants from all over,” I explained, recycling the knowledge Mark had shared with me earlier.

Speaking of which, Aoi was still in her human form—was that going to be okay? She was technically my familiar now, so I hoped it wouldn’t be an issue. Ril and Karin had appeared in human form before, so I wanted to believe a simple explanation would suffice.

“Still, everyone is staring at you. I did some digging, and it seems the King is quite fond of you,” Gen noted.

“Don’t start. I’m just a Tamer—just a guy who happens to bring in rare materials.”

“Wait, Ryu, are you actually on good terms with the King of this country?”

“Not really. We just have a relationship where I ask him to forge weapons and armor using rare materials.”

In truth, there wasn’t much more to it than that. While I trusted his skills as a blacksmith, I had only seen Dowal’s “King” face a few times. I didn’t involve myself in national affairs.

“If anyone tries to use me to petition Dowal regarding his policies, tell them I can’t do anything.”

“I see. I was actually going to ask if you could request him to forge a sword for the Hero,” Alice admitted.

“Doesn’t the Hero have a personal blacksmith? I don’t know how good they are, though.”

“They’re skilled, but apparently they’re rarely in the workshop. They prefer to go out and gather their own materials.”

I see—the type who has the skill but insists on sourcing their own loot. Because of that, they’re never around when needed.

“Spoken like a true blacksmith for the Hero’s party. A ‘Battle Smith’ indeed.”

“Because of that, I’m often the one sent to drag the bastard back. He has no qualms about wandering into high-danger zones.”

Hahaha. The Hero’s party really is full of intense characters.

“Sorry to keep you waiting~!”

Mark returned just as our conversation hit a lull. After we filled him in on what we were talking about, he started rambling about how much I had done for the merchant community. He mentioned Karin’s feathers and the armored bird I had supplied—hearing him go on like that made me a little embarrassed.

『Ryu, it’s fine for us to stay in this form, right?』

『We’ve been humans for a while, but is this really okay?』

『It should be fine. If anything, I’m more worried about Aoi.』

『It will be fine. I believe the person heading this way will resolve any issues.』

Now that she mentioned it, someone was indeed running toward us. Looking in that direction, I saw the guard from the station I had met before.

“Master Ryu! It has been a long time. What brings you here this time?”

“Good to see you again. I’ve come to have my weapons maintained and to request some new gear.”

“I see. Then, please follow me.”

“Um, I’m not alone this time. I have others with me.”

The guard looked at the rest of the group. Upon seeing their faces, he spoke.

“So they are members of Master Ryu’s party. Then, all of you, please come this way.”

For some reason, we were ushered through as a priority. How did it end up like this?

“Uh, why are we being prioritized?”

“Orders from the King. He commanded that Master Ryu be let through immediately.”

“And the reason?”

“…Because he assumed you’d be bringing rare materials again.”

I didn’t expect to be given preferential treatment like this. Or was it to avoid chaos at the reception desk? No, it was definitely just Dowal’s greed.

“See? Ryu really is close with the King.”

“At this level of ‘outlier,’ I can’t even be surprised anymore.”

“I managed to skip the wait thanks to Ryu.”

The three of them have completely lost their sense of normalcy. Please, someone return to being a regular person.

“Party members, please present your cards.”

The three of them presented their cards as requested. I showed mine as well, but I wondered what to say about Aoi.

“Um, this lady is my familiar, so she doesn’t have a card…” I told the guard.

“Then I will verify her through Master Ryu’s card. You are Lady Aoi, correct?”

“Yes, that is me.”

“Then there is no problem. Master Ryu, the King has ordered that you come directly to him.”

The inspection ended surprisingly easily. Is this really okay, Dowal?!

“Understood. Sorry everyone, I have to go see Dowal for a bit.”

“Calling the King by his name without an honorific…”

“Normally, you’d be arrested for lèse-majesté.”¹

“I’ll go find an inn for us then,” Mark added.

I envied Mark’s unwavering pace. The other two were just standing there in shock. And so, I was forced to head to Dowal’s castle. I was definitely going to complain once I saw him.

“Hey! Dowal! What’s with the sudden summons?”

I entered the audience chamber as usual. There were two dwarves there: Dowal and his younger brother, Dolf.

“Why the sudden shouting? Did I do something?”

“Brother, surely it’s about what you said to the Hero?”

“That too! And why am I being given special treatment? I told you I don’t want to stand out!”

The surrounding knights looked confused by the casual exchange.

“It can’t be helped. You only ever bring materials that a normal person wouldn’t see in a lifetime. It’s better to bring you in without causing a commotion. Now, I heard you came to have Rou maintained and to commission new gear?”

“I have plenty of things I want to nitpick, but fine. This time, I want to request a blade made from a dragon’s claw.”

I presented one of Aoi’s claws. It was roughly 90 cm long—at this length, it could certainly be forged into a katana. Dowal and Dolf stepped down from their thrones to examine it closely.

“This is… definitely a dragon’s claw, but I’ve never seen its like before.”

“Given the size, it seems to belong to a dragon somewhere between medium and large-sized, wouldn’t you say, Brother?”

“However, this likely belongs to a very unique dragon. A dragon that has undergone a special evolution…”

“Suppleness akin to a Water Dragon, yet claws suited for attack like a Fire Dragon. Exactly what kind of dragon does this belong to?”

To think they could predict Aoi’s true form just from a claw—as expected of Dowal and Dolf, I couldn’t hide anything from their eyes. Just as I was about to explain, Aoi stepped forward from behind me.

“That claw belongs to me, Dwarf King.”

I had noticed her presence, but the knights had not; they hurriedly readied their weapons in a panic.

“Stop! Lower your weapons! You cannot win against her!! Do not provoke her!!”

At Dowal’s roar, the knights lowered their arms. I doubted she would have actually attacked them, but it’s never a good feeling to have weapons pointed at you. After confirming the weapons were lowered, Aoi spoke with the dignity of a Dragon Queen.

“I am Tiamat, one of the dragons who has a Soul Contract with Master Ryu. Or perhaps the title ‘Azure Queen’ is more familiar to you?”

At those words, the room filled with the sound of clanking armor from the surrounding knights. The rattling didn’t stop. Unfazed, Aoi looked at Dowal and Dolf. Once Dowal composed himself, he addressed her.

“I never imagined these claws belonged to you, the Dragon Queen herself.”

“Few have ever seen my true form. It cannot be helped. So, is it truly possible to forge Master Ryu’s gear from my claws?”

“Well… it is a bold request, but for that, we would require your flames. May we have your fire?”

Dowal had completely taken a subservient tone. He’d probably complain to me about this later.

“Then bring me something to burn. I shall provide fire for Master Ryu’s sake.”

“You have my gratitude. Hey! Bring a torch!”

Dowal barked at a person trembling in the distance, who scrambled away as if fleeing for their life.

“Aoi, isn’t that a bit much?”

“Is it? Their attitude toward you was beginning to look a bit too much like they were looking down on you.”

“Our relationship is supposed to look like that. Even Ouka is terrified.”

At the entrance of the audience chamber, one small dragon was indeed shivering.

“I suppose I did overdo it slightly.”

“Then please suppress that grumpy aura, too.”

She finally dialed back her aura. Aoi’s anger switch is far too dangerous. Shortly after, the person who had run off returned with a torch. Dowal took it and offered it to Aoi.

“If you would be so kind.”

Aoi took the torch and breathed a light spark onto it, igniting the flame.

“Is this sufficient?”

“Thank you very much.”

“Then, Master Ryu, shall we go?”

“Ah, I’m a bit curious, so I’ll watch the forging before I head out.”

“I understand. I shall come to collect you later then.”

“Thanks, Aoi.”

Aoi gave a polite bow and walked out with great dignity—taking the shivering Ouka with her. Once they were gone, Dowal and Dolf looked at me and shouted in unison.

““You make friends with way too many big shots!!””