Duke Pendragon

Silence descended upon the back garden.

Wooong!

A brilliant light emitted from the dragon's figure seemed to be reflected in the dazed eyes of the humans. Soon, the dragon's enormous form disappeared, and a slender humanoid slowly descended to the ground.

Even though it was a dark night, the young man's intelligent blue hair and green eyes could be seen clearly. However, unlike humans, his ears were pointed, and everyone quickly realized that Ellagrian had taken on the form of those he protected.

"Oh, Wise Dragon, this is the land protected by the Queen of All Dragons, Lord Soldrake. For what reason have you…"

No one dared to step out at first. After a moment of silence, Vincent spoke calmly, even in the face of an unexpected situation. Ellagrian's dark green eyes headed towards Vincent. A burst of bizarre energy washed over Vincent, and he felt faint for a moment.

"I came here at the request of the queen."

"Ah…"

All the figures of Pendragon took on relieved expressions. It was obvious that Soldrake had requested Ellagrian to protect the castle during her absence after realizing the danger it was in. And as long as a dragon was here, the castle was invincible.

'Hmm…'

However, Vincent felt a little strange. As a master of the Twilight Tower, he knew about dragons a little bit better than ordinary humans. The Wise Dragon Ellagrian was rather gentle as the guardian of the elves, but he wasn't very favorable to humans. In particular, he was always objective and had a clear sense of critical faculties. He wouldn't accept Soldrake's request without a particular reason.

"Please excuse me, but what kind of request did you receive from Lord Soldrake?"

A light appeared in Ellagrian's eyes when she heard Vincent's question. The human's attitude was clearly different from others of his kind. Usually, they would be trembling with fear or kowtow obediently when they were in his presence.

"It was to protect the blood of the dragon's flagbearer, Alan Pendragon, until the queen arrived. Hmm, is that human with strange energy the enemy of you humans?"

His eyes headed to Number 1.

Ellagrian's eyes held a hint of interest as she gazed over the assassin. Even though a dragon had descended, Number 1 was glaring with yellow eyes filled with hatred and fury.

There was no hostility in the dragon's eyes. He was simply watching the assassins as if finding him interesting. However, Number 1 was finally forced to turn his head after a while. It was impossible to continue receiving Ellagrian's gaze, which was filled with subtle, but immeasurable energy.

"You are a human born with the tip of Çarcas' authority."

"…..!"

"Ah…!"

The eyes of Number 1 wriggled, and Vincent let out a gasp after coming to a realization.

Death God Çarcas.

It certainly made sense that he was the source of the assassin's mysterious technique. No other explanations would have been possible unless it was black magic.

"Keugh! Is this the end…? How cheap. Another dragon appears and lends a hand while I deal with a dragon and her companion."

Number 1's mouth curled up into a twisted smile inside the mask.

He felt resentment and anger.

He could not come to accept the fact that he was nothing but a mere human in front of the absolute power of dragons. Why had he spent so much effort trying to avenge his brothers until now?

As such, Number 1 overcame his fear and shouted bitterly.

"This is unfair! Are you not the guardian of the elves? Why have you come to help the Pendragons? You have nothing to do with them!"

"Help? I have not come here to help Pendragon."

"What…?"

Everyone was taken aback by the dragon's answer. However, Ellagrian continued with an indifferent expression.

"Pendragon prevented the forest I protect from being swept away by the wars of humans. In response, the queen only asked me to protect the blood of Pendragon for a while, and it wasn't unreasonable for me to accept. In other words, I will not become involved even if you humans fight each other to death."

"Hmm…!"

Vincent's expression changed once again. Ellagrian was standing leisurely in place with his arms folded. According to the dragon's words, he would only protect the direct descendants of the Pendragon family. He would not interfere in any other matters.

In the end…

Fwoosh!

"I will take your word for it."

A bloodthirsty spirit once again swirled violently around the figure of Number 1.

"Argos."

"Hm…"

Vincent called out softly, and spirit began to concentrate in the old fighter's fists.

Fwooosh!

The end of Vincent's sword began trembling lightly and the blade began to glow with a blue hue. He wasn't as strong as Isla or Killian, but he was also a knight with outstanding skills. In addition, even as he ruled over the kingdom for the past seven years as its regent, he never skipped out on even a day of training.

Most importantly, he was adept at reading the enemy's moves and reacting.

"Kuhaha! I can still take two lives! I will soothe the souls of the brothers who departed today by killing the two of you!"

Kwararak!

The daggers of the strongest assassin danced wildly while shining under the light of surrounding torces.

***

"Kuhuh?"

Karuta suddenly called out while sitting on the roof of the carriage. Since he was much less susceptible to the cold than humans as an orc, he had been leisurely sitting on the carriage's roof with his arms crossed.

"Why?"

Eltuan called out and peeked out of her hood while pressing against Karuta. She was wearing a robe made of fur, and she had been using the orc's broad back as a pillar to lean against.

Karuta felt a little embarrassed by the peculiar sensation he felt from her body, but he continued with a cough.

"Kuhum! I felt a very strong energy from the castle. Anyways, get away from me."

"It's because I'm cold."

"Ah, if it's cold, then crawl into the carriage! Why do you insist on staying next to an orc and…"

"It's much warmer to be by your side."

"….."

Karuta was a brave warrior with nothing to fear in the world, but he had no proper means to cope with Eltuan's direct personality. It was even more so because both of them were creatures receiving the blessing of the Earth God.

In the end, it was always up to him to change the subject.

"A, anyways, something has appeared. Hey! Killian! You feel it too, right?"

Karuta shouted towards Killian, who was sitting in the coachman's seat. The burly knight nodded in response.

"Hmm! Only the lord or Lord Soldrake could possess such a type of spirit. Perhaps the two of them have finally returned."

"That's not it. I would have known right away if they had. But this, I definitely…"

Karuta's thick brows wriggled as he concentrated. Although the spirit was strong enough to shock him, it was rather familiar. This meant that it could only be someone he knew…

"Kuah! I remembered!"

Karuta shouted suddenly before continuing.

"That one time! I felt it when the Pendragon scarecrow opened the tomb! It's a dragon, a dragon!"

"Dragon…!"

On the day Raven became the true Duke of Pendragons, all the dragons in the world had flocked to the top of Mount Ancona to the Pendragon family's mausoleum. Karuta clearly remembered feeling the same spirit at that time.

"We should hurry. Your Majesty! We will be speeding up a bit."

"As you see fit."

Elena responded while holding the hands of her sleeping granddaughter. Killian pulled on the reins harder.

***

The royal carriage passed through the castle gate at a high speed, and soon, Killian and Karuta ran to the castle's back garden along with the other knights.

"Kuhul?"

"Huh!"

Both of them became wide-eyed. The first thing that caught their eye was a young man who was emitting an enormous energy similar to that of a mountain. The two immediately realized that the young man was the one responsible for the spirit they sensed earlier on.

However, it wasn't simply because of the dragon's presence that the two were greatly surprised.

"Hugh! Hu…"

"Kuhm…"

More than a hundred soldiers and knights were lined up in a circle, and within the perimeter stood Vincent and Argos. Vincent was dressed in his armor, which was a rare sight, and his figure was colored with blood. Argos had his one arm hanging limply on the side.

Both men were taking in ragged breaths.

A person wearing a strange mask was standing in front of the two figures like a stone statue.

"Regent Ron!"

"Hey! Scarecrows! You all right?"

Killian and Karuta took out their weapons before rushing toward the two like the wind.

"Hagh! Sir Killian, there you are…"

Vincent spoke while keeping his blade pointed at his opponent. Ever since they started serving the same lord, Killian had never seen Vincent in such a shape before.

"Old scarecrow. Are you okay?"

Although they didn't share a great friendship, Karuta respected Argos as a strong warrior. The orc stood in front of the old fighter and asked while turning his head.

"Huhu! It wouldn't have been strange if I crossed the river of death any moment now."

Contrary to his words, the old fighter's eyes were still full of vigor and energy. Karuta grinned upon seeing it.

"Kekugh! You seem a bit too energetic to return to the Earth God. Anyways, what the hell is that scarecrow bastard? And why is that dragon…"

Karuta spoke while looking at Number 1 and staring glances at Ellagrian. The assassin's yellow eyes were slowly losing their light, and the dragon was simply observing the situation like a bystander with his arms crossed.

"That man is the true head of the Shadow Brotherhood. He is the oldest brother of the two siblings that Sir Killian and Mister Karuta killed today. Keugh…"

"If you don't want to die, stop talking! Hey, what are you bastards doing!? Aren't you going to take care of the regent?"

Killian roared while holding Vincent, and the soldiers hurried forward before taking over.

"Phew… I'm still fine. Anyways, is Her Majesty the Queen and Princess Elsia safe?"

For Killian and Karuta to have arrived so soon must have meant that the two were okay. Nevertheless, Vincent asked, knowing well that the two figures were of the most precious people to his lord.

"The two of them are fine. Anyways, this man is the leader of those assassins?"

Killian glared at Number 1 while tightening the grasp on his sword.

"The battle is already over. His heart has already ruptured after receiving Master Argos' blow."

"Oh, really? But why is he still…"

"It's because that human was born with the spirit of the Death God. He will not meet true death until all of the godly spirit has drained from his body."

The answer came from Ellagrian.

"Hmm…"

Ellagrian slowly walked into the center after standing still all this time. Despite possessing a tall, slender physique, everyone felt quite overwhelmed by the dragon's presence. The atmosphere and spirit exuded by the dragon was the same as when they faced Soldrake.

"Wise Dragon Ellagrian, I am grateful to you for your kindness."

Vincent bowed while being helped by the soldiers.

"I do not show kindness, human. I only returned what I received from the queen. And… now that I have finished my job, I will be returning."

"What? But…"

Ellagrian had been tasked with protecting all of the Pendragon's relatives in the castle. Since there were possibilities of further threats…

"Ah!"

Vincent exclaimed after coming to a realization. Ellagrian had made it clear when he first appeared. His mission would continue until the 'Queen' arrived.

"Your spirits are definitely different from any other humans. It was impressive. And you."

Ellagrian's gaze turned as he gradually transformed back into his draconic form while rising in the air.

"Illeyna and I have already forgiven you. In addition, the Earth God still shows his love for your race. If you have time, come to my forest."

"Ah… Yes!"

Eltuan could not hide her joy and shock as she bowed to the guardian of the elves. The long-cherished wish of the Elves of the Great Forest of Assia was finally coming true.

Kwaaaaaa!

Ellagrian quickly flew away while sparkling in the dark sky. However, everyone's eyes lingered in the sky even after the dragon disappeared.

Then…

"Ah!"

Regardless of race, the figures of Pendragon slowly became wide-eyed. In the far distance, Ellagrian had made three large turns. In its place, two griffons could be seen slowly growing larger in size. The people of Pendragon immediately realized the significance of the griffons.

It was the long-awaited return of their King, Alan Pendragon.