Koko wa Ore ni Makasete Saki ni Ike to Itte kara 10 Nen ga Tattara Densetsu ni Natteita

Kathe looked very smug as she said,

"Leea. It was I who befriended Ruck and then asked him to help defend the water dragons!"

"Your Majesty. Please refer to her as Princess Leea."

Dorgo said, not being able to bear it.

But judging from the way Kathe talked, maybe they were rather close.

"S-sorry."

Kathe bowed her head.

But Leea didn't seem to understand. She smiled and tilted her head to the side.

Kathe was a Wind Dragon Ruler, but Leea was also a princess.

If they were humans, it would be like members of two different royal families.

So it was likely that a certain amount of ceremony was expected when in front of guests like us.

Especially since Eric, the king of Mendilibar was present.

Manners were an important part of diplomacy.

Still, it was all very time-consuming, and I would have preferred everyone to be able to talk frankly.

However, I was just a lowly subject and it was not my position to say such a thing.

I glanced over to Eric.

If anyone could say anything here, it was him.

"…?"

However, Eric did not detect the motive in my glance.

He just grinned back.

Eric was very useless.

I glanced over to Kathe. But Kathe was still being rebuked by her father.

She was likely useless as well.

But then Kathe noticed my glance and nodded reassuringly.

"…! Yes, I understand."

"Your Majesty?"

Leea said in surprise as Kathe suddenly began to nod.

"Your Highness! You and I are both rulers. And so is King Eric. And Ruck is a friend."

"…Yes."

Leea said with hesitation.

"Let's do away with the formalities!"

"!"

Kathe's words were surprising.

I did not think she would understand my intention so clearly.

"…Your Majesty."

Dorgo tried to admonish her again, but Leea spoke first.

"Yes, Sister Kathe. I would be delighted!"

"I knew it! I knew it!"

Kathe said. Then she looked at her father with a smug expression.

"Dorgo! Even Princess Leea agrees with me!"

"…But."

"And you agree too, don't you, Eric?"

"Yes. I do."

Eric said with his usual smile.

And with that, Kathe looked even smugger.

"See?"

"Do as you please, Your Majesty…"

"Muhahaha…"

Kathe was able to defeat Dorgo and his fixation on manners and diplomacy.

Leea watched this exchange and sighed with relief.

She was still a child and seemed to not enjoy these formalities.

"Mister Ruck. Mister Ruck."

"What is it?"

"Please call me Leea!"

"But…"

Even I didn't feel quite comfortable with that.

But she then looked very sad.

"If it's too much…"

Princess or not, it was hard to deny a child after being asked like that.

"Very well. Leea. And please call me Ruck. Or even Locke."

"Thank you! Ruck!"

Of course, I would not do it in front of other subjects.

I didn't know much about dragon culture, but that was how it was with humans.

"Ruck. Please come this way. I want to show you the settlement and the palace.

Leea said as she took my hand.

"Everyone, please follow me!"

She said as she started to walk.

And like that, we moved out of the large room with the teleportation circle.

In front of us, there was a wide and long hallway made of stone.

"It's very big."

"It is because water dragons live here."

Dragons were big. And so they needed a big place to live in.

"This is amazing."

"There's so much space."

"Groof!"

Shia and Serulis were also surprised.

Grulf was sniffing everything in sight.

I was worried. I had to stop him before it was too late.

"…Grulf. Don't go around marking things, alright?"

"Groof."

I didn't know if he understood me or not, but his tail was wagging vigorously.

"This is an unused building that is close to the water dragon palace!"

"I see."

I looked around with much interest.

It wasn't just big, but there were lots of small details. Each pillar and each wall was made with great skill.

As I looked around with awe, Kathe said,

"Ruck. Don't you have to cast your spells on the magic circle room?"

"Oh, right. I should do it quickly. Leea. Would it be alright if I cast protection magic on the magic circle room?"

"Yes. Thank you!"

I had Leea's permission, and so I started to cast the protection magic.

"Oh, wow!"

Leea said as she watched.

"It's just ordinary magic."

"It's still amazing! I am so happy to be able to witness magic from the famous Ruck!"

"Right? Ruck really is amazing."

Kathe said, very proud for some reason.

I cast magic on the walls, floor, and ceiling.

Now no one would be able to break inside.

Even a rain of comets would not be enough.

"I should also have everyone registered to the lock."

I had accidentally locked Dorgo out of the Wind Dragon Palace.

And so I had everyone registered before I forgot about it.