Demon Prince 42

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Chapter 42. To The Mountain Where The Dragon Lives

"Was there really a dragon?"

"Yes. It was wounded, though. Any info from the guild?"

"None. If someone failed to capture a divine beast like a dragon, the guilds of every country would have heard about it by now. If a military or adventurer officially took on the task, it would be known. The fact that there’s no word means it was an unofficial hunt. And for an unofficial hunt of a divine beast, we’re talking about a big organization, maybe even a nation."

So, there's a high chance it was a nation acting unofficially. What a pain.

"You don’t look so good. Are you okay?"

"Yes, just a bit of a headache."

This is probably because I inherited the Dragon King’s emblem. Since returning to the capital, it’s been getting worse.

"Well, now that the report’s over, I’ll head back."

"Got it. Good work this time. I'll calculate the reward for the dragon materials, so come pick it up later. Get some rest."

After finishing my conversation with the guild master, I head back to the castle. I gather everyone in my room to discuss things while I lie down. By the time I reach the room, the pain has worsened, and I can barely keep my clothes on.

"Are you okay, onii-chan?"

"Is it getting worse?"

"Yeah, but I took a painkiller potion, so it should get better soon. I’m fine."

"Is it because of the Dragon King’s emblem, Jun?"

[Probably, yes. Honestly, that’s the only thing I can think of.]

"Is there no way to cure this, Fenrir-sama?"

[The only way is to pass the Dragon King’s emblem to someone else.]

"In that case, let me inherit it, Jun. Give it to me."

[Don’t. It was a miracle that Jun could inherit it. If you try, you might not survive.]

"What do you mean?"

According to Fenrir, the Dragon King’s emblem can only be held by a dragon. For someone like me, a demon, to hold it causes a strong rejection. The fact that I was able to inherit it at all is a miracle.

"So, what do we do? We can’t just leave Jun like this."

[The best option is to pass it to a dragon. Luckily, I know a divine beast dragon. I’ll take him there.]

"Understood. I’ll prepare a fast carriage."

[No, a carriage would take too long. It's very far, in fact, in another country. Normal means won’t work.]

"What? Which country?"

[Was it the Vellria Kingdom? There's a cave in the mountains on the border with this country. A carriage would take too long.]

"But there's no other way. Jun can only teleport to places he’s already been, and in his current state, he can’t use magic properly."

[I said I’d take him myself, didn’t I? He’ll ride on my back. A carriage would take months, but I’ll get there in two days. This time is special.]

"I see. Please, take care of my son."

[Don’t worry about it. This country has taken care of my family. And Jun is my daughter’s contract holder. I won’t abandon him.]

"Th-thank you."

"I said not to worry. Now, Demon Lord, Jun won’t be able to move much, and even two days will require preparation. Take care of that for him. Don’t forget the painkillers."

"Got it. I’ll make preparations immediately. Sebas!"

"Understood. I’ll prepare right away."

"Will it just be Fenrir and Jun going?"

[No, Demon Lord, my whole family will accompany him. We can keep up and handle any attacks along the way.]

"Alright, I’m counting on you."

[Leave it to us."]

And so, the plan was set. We would head to the mountain where the divine beast dragon lived, with Fenrir’s family. Once preparations were complete, we would depart.

"I wish I could go too."

"We’ll just have to bear it. I’d love to go, but it would only slow things down and burden Jun. Let’s leave it to Fenrir’s group."

"I should be wherever Jun goes, but I’m sorry, Jun."

"Lily wants to go too, but she’ll hold back. Sorry, Jun."

"Thanks, everyone. Don’t worry. I’ll teleport back quickly once it’s over."

The painkiller started kicking in, and I felt much better. These potions are incredible. No wonder they cost three gold coins a bottle. But if I keep using them, they’ll eventually stop working. It’s good we’re not taking a carriage, as it would take too long. There’s no guarantee the symptoms won’t worsen, so we need to hurry. I really need to thank Fenrir’s family.

[Are the preparations done?]

"Yes. They’re complete."

[Then get on. If it’s tough, you can sleep. My daughters will ride with you to support you. Understood, girls?]

"Woof!"

[Okay!]

[Leave it to us!]

The eldest daughter gently pulls my head onto her lap, forcing me to lie down. Hati climbs on top of my stomach. The second daughter sits while holding my legs.

"Um, is that really a stable way to sit? Won’t it be bumpy when you start running?"

[It’ll be fine, fine. Just leave it to your big sis.]

"Woof!"

"No problem, no problem."

Are they really okay? Well, they’re Fenrir’s daughters, so they should be.

"Fenrir, I’m counting on you. When you return, I’ll treat you to as much food as you want."

[Heh, we’ll eat a lot, then. Prepare plenty. Alright, let’s go.]

[Demon Lord, no need to worry about your son. We’ll be back soon.]

And so, Fenrir and his family take off running. They’re so fast. Faster than a bullet train, maybe. Yet, even though I’m on his back, I can’t feel the wind. The sisters are manipulating the wind to prevent it from hitting me.

[At this speed, you’d get cold and exhausted if the wind hit you.]

[The wind pressure would be intense, too. It’d be tough on a weakened body.]

"Woof!"

That makes sense. Even without a name or emblem, as divine beasts, Fenrir’s family is amazing. They can support me on a fast-moving wolf and control the wind at the same time. And they don’t even seem to be bouncing around. Their physical abilities are incredible.

"So, what’s this divine beast dragon we’re going to see like?"

[Well, it’s definitely strong."]

[I think it’s the Holy Dragon, right? It has beautiful white scales.]

[Ah, I hadn’t mentioned it yet, had I? The dragon we’re going to see is a good guy, but he’s overly serious and inflexible. Don’t lie or try to trick him, or he won’t help you.]

Good. He’s a good guy. I don’t plan on lying or tricking him, so that’s fine.

[Also, he’s obsessed with beautiful and cute things. If you upset him, offer a gift.]

Now’s not the time to tell me that. I wonder if I have anything in my magic pouch...

[Don’t worry, Jun. I’ve got some jewels. If we need to calm him down or offer something in return, we’ll use those.]

"Thank you."

Hati’s dad is really considerate. It’s hard to believe this is the same guy who slept through Hati’s disappearance. So polite, too. When I mention this...

[Well, I do love sleeping. That day was perfect for a nap, and I just dozed right off. Haha.]

[It’s no laughing matter! Honestly, why are all the men in this family so obsessed with sleep? These days, they’re always in those beds you provided, sleeping whenever they can.]

Now that I think about it, I often see the women of Fenrir’s family around the castle, but the men, not so much. The women even go out into the city, and I’ve tagged along a few times.

[Alright, I’m going to speed up a bit. Girls, hold him steady.]

""Sure thing!""

They can go even faster? That’s impressive. I’m really glad Fenrir’s family is with me. When we get back to the castle, I’ll make sure to thank them properly. That’s a promise I made to myself.