Chapter 819

【 THE RED DRAGON KING】

The red dragon that appeared before the players was none other than Tiberia, the very same red dragon whom had once freeloaded in the Elven Forest for nearly a year.

Hearing someone call her name, Tiberia quickly noticed the players following behind Romanus, a hint of confusion flashing across her face.

“…Elves?”

But the moment she recognized Little Salty Cat and the others, her crimson eyes immediately lit up.

“Oh it’s you guys? How did you end up here on Dragon Island?”

“During the Demons’ invasion of Seigues, Dragon Islands sent many of their dragons to help us. This time, we’re here on behalf of the Elven Forest and the Church of Life to personally express our gratitude.”

Little Salty Cat replied with a cheerful smile.

“Demon invasion…?”

Tiberia’s expression shifted slightly.

Before the players could continue, she suddenly flew into a rage. Turning toward the silver dragon beside her, she roared angrily,

“Agnès! When did Dragon Island send dragons into battle? Why didn’t you tell me about something this fun?!”

“Tiberia… Uncle and Mother specifically instructed that because you failed to complete your mission on time and even damaged the Goddess of Life’s temple, you must spend three years reflecting here on Dragon Island. So until your confinement ends, you are forbidden from taking part in anything related to the outside world, lest you cause even more trouble.”

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The silver dragon answered calmly, her voice graceful and pleasant.

“That’s prejudice! I’ve already apologized to Lady Zero, and she had already forgave me! The elves of the Elven Forest forgave me too! In fact, I get along great with everyone there, and I completed my mission perfectly well!”

Tiberia protested indignantly.

Then she turned toward the players.

“Tell her. Isn’t that right?”

Little Salty Cat and the other veteran players replied with cheerful grins.

“Yeah! Tiberia really is our friend.”

Of course she was.

This red dragon, whose muscles far exceeded her brains, making even Meryer look clever by comparison, was far greedier than any black dragon when it came to food. Thus, during her stay in the Elven Forest, she frequently traded her own dragon scales for meals, allowing the players to fleece her through all sorts of indirect schemes.

So to the players, Tiberia was nothing less than an outstanding “dragon scale supplier.”

“See? I told you! We’re great friends!”

Tiberia looked thoroughly satisfied as she smugly glanced at the silver dragon beside her.

Then she muttered,

“No… This time, I have to earn permission to leave the island. Staying here every single day is so boring I’m going to die.”

“Then you’ll have to obtain Mother’s approval.”

The silver dragon replied calmly.

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After speaking, she looked toward the players, who were curiously observing her. She lowered her head slightly in an elegant draconic greeting.

“Friends from the Elven Forest, I am Agnès. The Grand Elder has instructed me to escort you to Dragon Valley.”

“Hey, Li Mu, Little Salty Cat, Féng. This overly serious dragon is my little sister. She may look all proper and disciplined, but she’s actually incredibly curious about everything from the Elven Forest, especially all those games you invented. She plays them every single day until la—”

“—Tiberia!”

The silver dragon shot the red dragon a glare, clearly dissatisfied at having her exposed.

However, the players noticed that her long tail had curled up slightly.

The players participating in the Dragon Island diplomatic mission were all seasoned veterans to anything dragon related by now since every one of them either had a dragon companion or shared a close relationship with dragons, so they understood many of the dragons’ subtle habits.

For example, whenever a dragon curled its tail, it usually meant it was embarrassed or shy.

Seeing Agnès become flustered, Tiberia burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! It’s not like it’s anything embarrassing. Why can’t I say it? Even the Ancestral Mother is addicted to Gwent! Hmm… Let me think… What was your favorite game again? I think it was… uh… Mejung? No… Wait… its called Mahjong, right?”

Tiberia tilted her head.

“Tiberia!”

The silver dragon now sounded genuinely irritated.

“Tch. You’re way too shy. How can you even call yourself a silver dragon? I have no idea how you’ll manage once you start traveling across the continent.”

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Tiberia rolled her eyes.

Watching the red and silver dragons bicker nonstop, the players wore rather peculiar expressions.

Meanwhile, the golden dragon Romanus introduced them.

“Tiberia and Agnès are both children of Lord Hertos. They get along very well, though they’re always seemed arguing everytime.”

“Lord Hertos is Dragon Island’s Red Dragon King and the Grand Elder serving this current five-century term. He and Lady Andrea, the younger sister of Platinum Dragon King Reinhardt, are husband and wife.”

As though recalling an amusing piece of gossip, the golden dragon chuckled mischievously and lowered his voice.

“Heh. Don’t be fooled by Lord Hertos’ fiery temper. He’s actually quite afraid of his wife. That’s rather famous throughout here in Dragon Island…”

A red dragon and a silver dragon… married?

Henpecked?

The players’ expressions became wonderfully colorful.

After spending so long in the game, they were practically dragon experts.

Chromatic dragons and metallic dragons had always been at odds, especially black and red dragons versus gold and silver dragons.

Not to mention becoming lovers, even becoming ordinary friends was uncommon.

Furthermore, chromatic dragons traditionally had very weak family bonds, far less intimate than metallic dragons. Therefore, most of the time they never even formed lasting marriages, simply partnering temporarily to produce offspring before going their separate ways.

So a red dragon marrying a silver dragon…

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It was the first time any of them had ever heard of such a thing.

“Dragon Island is a place where metallic dragons and chromatic dragons coexist peacefully. To be selected as Grand Elder, one must possess not only overwhelming strength, but also considerable influence within both dragon factions, along with the respect of dragonkind as a whole.”

“It’s relatively simple with the chromatic faction. As long as you’re stronger than they are, they’ll acknowledge you. But the metallic faction value not only strength, they also care about one’s alignment.”

“Because of that, Dragon Island’s Grand Elders have always been metallic dragon gods. So Lord Hertos becoming Grand Elder despite being a chromatic dragon is unprecedented.”

“Of course, that’s also because he married a silver dragon. Although he belongs to the chromatic faction, his personal alignment leans toward neutrality, allowing him to earn the recognition of the metallic faction.”

Romanus patiently explained.

After listening to the golden dragon’s explanation, the players gradually gained a clearer understanding of Dragon Island’s political structure.

Dragon Island was home to thousands upon thousands of dragons, housing over ninety-five percent of all dragons throughout the World of Seigues.

The island was governed by a Council of Elders centered around the Dragon Gods. The Grand Elder made the decisions, while the council voted to determine Dragon Island’s major affairs.

Naturally, this only applied when the Ancestral Dragon chose not to intervene.

Once the Ancestral Dragon personally stepped in, She alone could decide everything on Dragon Island.

Compared to the various powers on the continent, the dragons’ Council of Elders was far more loosely organized, functioning more like an alliance.

However, if anyone foolish enough dared violate Dragon Island’s taboos and stir up trouble, they would inevitably face the wrath of the Dragon Gods.

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One particularly important rule on Dragon Island was that dragons were free to spar with one another, but the act of killing a fellow dragon was absolutely forbidden.

This regulation existed specifically to prevent conflict between both chromatic and metallic factions.

Having learned the basics of Dragon Island, the players continued flying deeper inland alongside the golden dragon.

This time, however, they were led by both Tiberia and Agnès.

Along the way, they crossed forests and soared over towering mountains.

After roughly half an hour of flight, an enormous canyon finally came into view.

Its scale rivaled the great northwestern canyon of the Elven Forest.

The towering cliffs on both sides were covered with dragon nests in which hundreds upon hundreds of dragons poked their heads out from their homes, curiously observing the players.

Most of the dragons on the left cliff were chromatic dragons whereas most on the right were metallic dragons.

Meanwhile, dragons could be seen flying overhead and crawling along the canyon floor everywhere one looked.

This…

…was truly a world that solely belonged to dragons.

Faced with such an overwhelming number of dragons, even the players could not suppress their excitement.

Romanus smiled warmly.

“Everyone, welcome to my homeland, Dragon Valley.”

The players continued riding atop the dragons, gradually arriving at the heart of Dragon Valley, a vast basin.

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Countless gigantic stone pillars stood within it, arranged in a massive ring.

The pillars were covered in ancient Dragon Script, giving them an aura of timeless mystery.

Fortunately, after entering Dragon Island, the game’s translation system had officially unlocked Dragon Language, thereby allowing the players to read the inscriptions.

Most recorded the history of dragonkind or preserved the inheritances of Dragon Language magic.

At the far end of the basin stood an enormous cavern.

Its depths were dark and unfathomable.

The group landed upon the stone platform before the cave entrance.

At the same time, more and more curious dragons flew toward the basin from every direction, gathering around to observe the players.

Being stared at by so many dragons at once, even these well-traveled players felt their scalps tingle.

It couldn’t be helped.

The dragons’ innate Dragon Might was simply too overwhelming.

Even though none of them were intentionally releasing pressure, the players could still feel a faint but unmistakable sense of oppression.

“Grand Elder, our allied friends from the Elven Forest have arrived.”

Agnès folded her wings and bowed respectfully toward the cave.

Silence.

A cool breeze swept across the platform, carrying several withered leaves across the ground.

The players exchanged puzzled glances.

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“Grand Elder, the friends from the Elven Forest have arrived.”

Agnès repeated.

Still no response.

The silver dragon looked apologetically at the players behind her and said awkwardly,

“My apologies… The Grand Elder… He… I remember he is currently accompanying our Divine Ancestral Mother. Perhaps… perhaps he didn’t hear us.”

“Tch. You’re far too honest, always making excuses for that old fart. If you ask me, he’s obviously gotten so absorbed in playing games that he forgot everything else!”

Tiberia curled her lips.

Then she raised her voice toward the cave.

“Hey Old Fart! Quick playing! The guests are already here!”

Still nothing.

Tiberia became furious.

She took a deep breath, puffed out her cheeks, and bellowed toward the depths of the cavern.

“You old henpecked fossil! Stop playing games already and get out here to greet the guests!”

Her voice echoed thunderously through the cave and across Dragon Valley.

The players stood dumbfounded.

The surrounding dragons also widened their eyes, looking at Tiberia with expressions filled equally with admiration and shock.

Moments later, the earth began to tremble.

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An enraged dragon’s roar exploded from deep within the cavern.

“Tiberia! You wretched little brat! How many times have I told you? Call me ‘Honorable Grand Elder,’ or ‘His Majesty the Great Red Dragon King!’”

A colossal red dragon, hundreds of meters long, emerged from the cave.

He glared furiously at Tiberia.

“You hopeless little rascal! Can’t you learn even a little from your younger sister?!”

“Tch. Would you have come out if I called you that? I won’t! Old Fart! Old Smelly Fart!”

Tiberia rolled her eyes without the slightest concern.

“You little brat! You’re asking for another beating!”

The Red Dragon King roared.

“Who’s really asking for it? Mother has told you so many times to stop playing Gwent. Tsk, you’re already the Grand Elder. Can’t you stop acting like a little kid who still hasn’t had enough of his toys?”

Tiberia replied while swaying her head back and forth.

“You…!”

The Red Dragon King’s eyes widened.

“Pfft…”

Soft laughter drifted over from the dragons gathered outside the basin.

For a moment, Dragon Valley was filled with cheerful laughter.

Hearing everyone laughing, a vein seemed to pop on the Red Dragon King’s forehead.

With a loud crack, he crushed a massive boulder beside the cave with one claw.

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Then he slowly raised his head and swept his cold gaze across the dragons watching from the cliffs as a vast Dragon Might spread outward.

The spectators immediately shuddered, turned around, and fled as fast as they could, each trying to outrun the others.

Only then did the Red Dragon King withdraw his gaze.

He grabbed Tiberia in one claw, preparing to give her a thorough beating.

“You little troublemaker. Time to teach you another lesson!”

“Ahem… Father, our guests are waiting.”

Agnès coughed lightly, reminding him.

The Red Dragon King froze.

His eyes shifted.

Only then did he notice the group of elves wearing rather awkward expressions, the young dragon beside them staring wide-eyed in astonishment, and Romanus covering his forehead, apparently unable to bear witnessing the current spectacle.

The Red Dragon King: “…”

“Ahem… So, our allied friends from the Elven Forest have already arrived. Welcome. I am Hertos, Grand Elder of Dragon Island…”

The Red Dragon King released Tiberia from his grasp.

In an instant, his entire demeanor transformed into one of transcendent dignity.

Standing tall with his chest proudly lifted and his gaze profound, the golden sunlight reflected brilliantly from his crimson scales, making him appear noble and mysterious.

At that moment, the Red Dragon King truly resembled an ancient, wise Dragon God who had weathered countless ages.

He was completely different from the furious dragon of only moments before.

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Unfortunately…

Having already witnessed his earlier behavior, the players found it rather difficult to genuinely feel any reverence toward him.

Li Mu glanced at Evé, who was disguised as Féng.

She gave him a slight nod.

Taking a deep breath, Li Mu stepped forward and performed a formal elven salute.

“Your Majesty, the Red Dragon King, we are the Chosen Ones of Her Grace, the Goddess of Life. We have come today on behalf of Her to express our heartfelt gratitude to Dragon Island.”

“My name is Li Mu. This is Féng, the leader of our delegation, and this is…”

He then proceeded to introduce each of the players accompanying the mission.

Immediately afterward, Little Salty Cat and the others reached into their robes and took out one ring after another.

Under Romanus’ astonished gaze, Tiberia’s greedy stare, and Agnès’ surprised expression, they began producing pile after pile of dazzling precious “gems.”

“These are the gifts we’ve brought for this visit.”

Demacia said with a smile.

Then, silently, he added in his heart:

—All made of resin.

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