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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Xrecker
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His full name was Gabriel.
Gav for short.
The Dragonkin, bearing the name of an archangel, welcomed us warmly.
He appeared to be in his early twenties, about the same age as Ozma.
But I knew that appearances could be deceiving among demons. And since Dragonkin used polymorph magic to alter their forms, their appearance had little to do with their actual age.
Gav, his shirtless, muscular physique on full display, left soon after greeting us, perhaps due to his duties as chieftain.
I watched him leave and asked Ozma,
“Is he the one you want to defeat?”
“…Yes.”
“I was expecting someone more… unpleasant. He seems quite affable.”
Ozma nodded, as if unable to deny it.
“That’s why he’s so popular among the younger demons. If it weren’t for his obsession with fighting, he would have become one of the Four Heavenly Kings a long time ago.”
“Obsession with fighting?”
“Yes. Dragonkin, originally Earth Dragons, are known for their physical strength and close-combat abilities. He’s been challenging strong opponents from various races since he was a hatchling.”
He had been traveling since he was a hatchling?
Just how old was he?
“He’s a little over two hundred years old, I believe. Elves and dragons have similar lifespans.”
“Wait, the martial arts tournament is only for young demons, right? Is two hundred years old considered… young?”
“It is, by dragon standards.”
While technically true, it still felt strange.
Anyway, after Gav left, Ozma gave us a tour of the village.
She hadn’t been here often, as the location of the exchange changed every year. Each race took turns hosting it, and it had been almost ten years since she last visited Dragon Mountain.
The most striking feature of the Dragonkin village was the unusually high ceilings of the buildings.
This was to accommodate their true forms. Whether they chose to live in their polymorph or dragon form was a matter of personal preference, so the buildings were built large enough to accommodate both.
We entered a grand building, presumably built for visitors, and a neatly dressed maid approached us.
“Welcome. How may I help you?”
“We need a room. For three.”
“Right away.”
The maid bowed politely and led us down a long corridor.
We reached our room, and after receiving the keys from the maid, Ozma said,
“The exchange will officially begin tomorrow. All the facilities in this building are available for the guests, so feel free to enjoy yourselves.”
“What are you planning to do, Princess Ozma?”
“I’m going to rest in my room. The preliminary rounds of the tournament start tomorrow. …I’ll see you at dinner.”
With that, Ozma opened her door and entered.
Well, we were all tired from our journey.
I fiddled with the key in my hand and said to Camilla,
“I’ll see you later.”
“What time?”
“How about 5 PM? We have to eat dinner together anyway.”
“Alright.”
We agreed to meet for dinner and went to our respective rooms.
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Dragons were wealthy.
Not only did they have a natural affinity for shiny objects, but Earth Dragons, heavily influenced by the earth element, were also exceptionally skilled at finding gemstones.
This village, built with their wealth, was the epitome of luxury.
Sulfur hot springs, all-you-can-eat restaurants, spas, massage parlors, cafeterias, even a ping-pong table.
They had everything.
“Paradise.”
After resting in my room, I had an early dinner and then, parting ways with the women, went to the sulfur hot springs.
The slightly sulfuric smell was the only downside. Soaking in the hot water soothed my tired muscles after days of travel.
The only drawback was having to wear my mask in the presence of others.
Slide
Just then,
Someone entered the hot spring.
While their silhouette was obscured by the steam, their large frame suggested they were a man.
I quickly put on my dog mask.
The man approached and, recognizing me, smiled.
“You!”
It was Gav, the Dragonkin chieftain.
He walked over and slapped me on the back with his large hand.
“You’re Ozma’s follower, right? Nice to meet you! Gyahaha!”
He grinned, revealing his sharp teeth, and then plopped down into the hot spring, splashing water everywhere.
He didn’t seem to care.
I, having gotten a face full of hot water, smiled awkwardly and asked,
“What a coincidence. I thought this was the hot spring for guests. I didn’t expect to see the chieftain here.”
“Ah, that? It’s nothing. The village hot springs are too crowded. I can’t relax there. This one is for guests, so it’s usually empty. I practically have it all to myself.”
He casually admitted to abusing his authority. It was clearly not his first time.
He placed a folded towel on his head, rested his arms on the edge of the hot spring, and sighed contentedly.
While we could have simply enjoyed the hot springs in silence, it was hard to ignore each other’s presence.
I fiddled with my mask and spoke first.
“What do you think of Ozma?”
Gav, turning his head, asked,
“Are you asking me?”
“Yes.”
He scratched his chin awkwardly.
“I don’t really have an opinion. Well, she’s the Demon Lord’s daughter, so she’s stronger than most, I guess.”
He sounded genuinely indifferent.
Unfortunately for Ozma, her rival didn’t even consider her a threat.
I thanked him and fell silent, feeling the awkwardness.
But Gav, having started the conversation, continued,
“Where are you from? You seem much stronger than Ozma.”
“Me?”
“Yes. I can see it clearly. The wind spirits are fluttering around you, eager for your attention.”
He tapped his eye.
I couldn’t see anything, which was rather unfair.
Since he had already seen through me, I admitted to being a wind mage.
I embellished the story of how I joined the Demon Lord’s army, but that was nothing new.
Gav, leaning back against the rocks, listened to my story with interest, then said,
“Would you be interested in participating in the martial arts tournament?”
“Excuse me?”
“You seem young, and the tournament is open to all young demons. It’s a good opportunity to make a name for yourself.”
I was taken aback by his sudden invitation.
“May I ask why you’re offering me this opportunity?”
Gav grinned, a predatory glint in his eyes.
“Because you’re strong. I want to fight you.”
“Is that the only reason?”
“Isn’t that enough?”
Ozma’s description of him as a battle maniac seemed accurate.
I tried to decline, but Gav, rising from the hot spring, said, “Then I’ll see you in the arena!” and, with a hearty laugh, left.
He was a free spirit.
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