It doesn’t feel like the city has changed that much.
I go straight to the castle, as Captain Toruko says, and see Dutina standing in front of the thick gate.
“It’s been a while, everyone. I’ll guide you from here.”
Is all Dutina says before she starts walking, and we’re led to the throne room.
The throne is empty, but next to it are Yuini, the first princess of the Dragon Kingdom, and the captain of the royal guard.
“We have been waiting for you, Sora. Do you know what happened with my father… The previous dragon king?”
“Yes, I met him at the end.”
“I see… So you heard from him directly?”
I nod, and tell her I want to explore the dungeon.
Yuini turns to Alfriede, and back towards me.
“You will be going to the eighth floor, but no one other than my father has gone that far. After all, no one could even open that door. That means I don’t know what lies beyond it, so there is nothing we can do to help. Do you still want to go?”
“Yes, there’s something we need there.”
“I understand. But I don’t know what is there. How about you rest for today and go tomorrow? Sirk and Sahana probably want to see you too.”
We’re ready, but we might need a little rest.
We relaxed yesterday by going around Marte, but we pretty much didn’t rest on the way from the republic to the Dragon Kingdom. We didn’t push ourselves too hard, but surely that exhaustion has been building up.
Also, I get the feeling that Yuini wants to ask about Alzahak.
Then we meet up with Sirk and Sahana, and the first thing we hear is…
“Let’s have a match!”
He says as he takes Hikari away.
“Sora, you should talk with Yuini for a bit. Rurika and I will look after Hikari. Chris, stay with Sora.”
Says Sera, before herself and Rurika follow Hikari.
“He really is restless. He’s still just a child.”
Says Yuini, sounding troubled, but she’s looking at Sirk with care in her eyes.
In the end, I’m staying here to talk with Chris and Yuini. Sahana looks indecisive, but she’s worried about Sirk, so she leaves with Alfriede.
“Shouldn’t someone stay here to guard you?”
“Fufu, it’s all right. Or are you thinking of doing something bad?”
Don’t ask me that with a straight face.
Does she not have a sense of danger, or does she just trust us… I think it’s the latter, but it’s concerning.
Her level is actually higher than Chris’, so despite her calm demeanor, she can probably fight.
We move to Yuini’s office, and she serves us tea, which we drink calmly while talking about Alzahak’s last moments.
Well, I put it like that, but it’s not like he died. He was doing well even. I’m talking about the last time I saw him before he went over to that world.
“My father took action while thinking pretty far ahead.”
“Yes, it seems like it.”
He probably even gave me his fang with the idea of me making a god killing weapon in mind… Am I reading too much into it? Ah, maybe his intention was for me to give it to Ou or Ignis.
I also get the feeling that if we didn’t defeat Elizabeth, he would’ve ended it with his own hands. But I also feel like it would’ve been not because of any resentment, but to simply put an end to her rampage.
For some reason, I still feel that way after hearing from Yuini about her mother.
I honestly wouldn’t have it in my heart to feel that way if someone I care for was taken from me.
Thinking back, I feel like over half of my heart was taken over by anger towards Elizabeth for what she did to Mia. Then again, I so was desperate to take her down, that I didn’t really have the time to think about it.
“But what lies beyond the dungeon? My father told me nothing, so I’m also curious.”
“Have you been to the dungeon, Yuini?”
“Just once, and I went to the seventh floor. We were there to take laurel tree fruit, so I didn’t think about anything beyond that.”
I think the main part of the dungeon is the upper part, where they farm, and hunt monsters for meat.
“Ah, but if you’re going to the dungeon, be especially careful. I heard the monsters have become violent lately.”
And that means even the royal guard have been taking turns going to the dungeon too.
“I heard about it in Marte too, but these strange occurrences really are effects of the dragon king’s absence, aren’t they?”
“…I don’t know a lot about it, but I think there is a good chance.”
Her eyes tremble with uncertainty when she says this.
I want to be of help if I can, but unfortunately, I can’t think of any good ideas.
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Thanks for the treat.