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Chapter 270 part 2

Liu Yuu, who had been considered equal to Vaje by Dreissen, showed signs of awakening to the power and spiritual presence befitting the next Water Dragon Emperor through battles with her mother, Ryoukichi, against the remaining Sea Demon Kings. She had now reached a level surpassing Vaje’s.

Unaware that Quinn had slightly relaxed his stern expression at Vaje and her combat, Liu Yuu, in a resolute voice, called out to her fellow dragonkins.

「Everyone, please calm down. We are not fighting as individuals. We are a group, a team.

We also have to do this in our battle against the faux dragons of the upcoming Demon King’s army. How much can we achieve fighting as individuals against an army-functional faux dragon?」

Liu Yuu’s words, underpinned by her experience as Ryuuguu Kingdom’s princess, fighting alongside many of her kin and her vastly superior mother, Ryoukichi, against the Sea Demons’ large forces, carried convincing weight.

Dran was impressed at Liu Yuu, wondering from when had she grown so much, seeing that now she was beginning to embody the dignity of the next Water Dragon Emperor.

Although Winchant and the others were unaware of Dreissen and his companions’ true identities, they were informed about Liu Yuu’s background. They promptly obeyed the words of the next Water Dragon Emperor, a figure even more formidable than themselves.

Vaje observed Liu Yuu’s demeanor with a mix of annoyance and, more notably, joy. The evolution of the girl who was once an equal combat playmate wasn’t as straightforward for Vaje.

Liu Yuu’s words made the young dragonkins, who had been fighting individually and disjointedly, collaborate with each other. Despite their unrefined coordination, they managed to repel the faux dragons, sparing Quinn from further deepening the wrinkles on his forehead.

After the first wave of faux dragons was annihilated, the young dragonkins were permitted to rest and then assembled in front of Dreissen and his group in their dragon forms.

Klaubord, Winchant, and Freala, conscious of their earlier mishaps in the battle, stood awkwardly contracted in front of Dreissen, who was crossing his arms.

Quinn, though casting a severe gaze, refrained from uttering curses. As a pinnacle figure among the dragonkin, he controlled his urge to blame his kin impulsively.

Hanma expressed relief that there were no injuries and was grateful that his worries were for nothing.

Dowben, reassured by witnessing the terrestrial dragonkin’s strength, found this experience educational as a servant of Lord Dreissen.

「Hmm, so you managed to take down the first wave, but how’d it go fighting them? Those faux dragons’ basic abilities were inferior to yours, but you still seemed to struggle a ton with their weird special powers.」

Dreissen bluntly stated what he had observed, leaving Klaubord and the other three struggling combatants speechless.

For them, who had been victorious without even having to engage in significant battles against those other than their own, the fight against the faux dragons turned out to be a more challenging struggle than expected.

It was Freala who first spoke up. Resembling her mother in strong-willed nature, she was not one to fabricate falsehoods for vanity or self-esteem.

「In the past, we could overturn some disadvantages with our innate dragon strength, but this time it was different. I deeply felt the need to learn new ways of combat.」

「Hmm, you’ve learned that sheer natural power isn’t always enough to secure victory.」

Following Freala, Winchant and Klaubord shared their reflections on the battle’s challenges. Dreissen inwardly admired the ability to reflect honestly, appreciating the positive aspect of sincere introspection. However, he couldn’t help but acknowledge his leniency towards his own kind.

「You’re correct, Freala. I’m embarrassed to admit that I hadn’t considered how to fight or what I would do if my best weapons did not work. That was the biggest reason that led to my underwhelming performance this time.」

「We three were too fixated on individual combat, narrowing our perspectives. In this regard, Vaje and Liu Yuu fought with broader visions. The gap in our combat experience was evident.」

「So both Klaubord and Winchant were able to recognize their issues in the battle properly. The correct understanding is the first step to improvement. In that regard, you have sufficient self-awareness.

Then there’s no need for me to expressly tell you, as I’m sure you already understand the mindset and approach you should have from here on.」

With a pause, Dreissen shifted his gaze to Vaje and Liu Yuu. It seemed unnecessary to reiterate his point to these two, given their performance in the battle a while ago.

「Vaje and Liu Yuu, your combat was stable. Individually, I have no concerns about you facing the Demon King’s army, but group battles are often inevitable. Liu Yuu, given your position, direct participation might be difficult, but would you continue to engage in group combat for now?」

Only a very few faux dragons in the Demon King’s army were strong enough to give Vaje and Liu Yuu a tough fight, likely limited to the queen of the faux dragons counted among the Six Demon Generals, or those of a similar rank.

Vaje and Liu Yuu, with their current strength, could delegate the handling of the Demon Army’s faux dragons to other dragonkins of the Mores mountains, while they might undertake separate missions to ambush the Demon King’s main camp and headquarters.

「I’ve long understood Winchant and his team’s capabilities, but their collective combat styles and tendencies are still unclear to me. Continuing to gain experience fighting alongside them seems wise. What are your thoughts, Liu Yuu?」

「I agree. Our understanding of each other is still insufficient after just one joint battle.

It might be challenging for me to join the fight against the Demon King’s army, but fighting alongside Freala and the others still holds significance.」

「If that’s the case, I have no objections for you to resume training with the faux dragons. Train diligently, understand each other’s rhythms. This will lead to a brighter future for the Mores mountains, the Barony of Berne, and the dragonkin.」

As Dreissen finished, he operated the device to prepare the next batch of faux dragons. New materials were added to the glass sphere, and soon, creatures resembling faux dragon embryos began to squirm

Though Dreissen had considered deploying these faux dragons against the Demon King’s army, he ultimately limited their use to training within Caravis Tower due to their grotesque appearance and the nature of their creation.

Dreissen couldn’t help but feel a certain pity for the faux dragons created for his own unilateral purposes, but they lacked souls to be considered truly alive, possessing neither their own will nor intelligence.

They were beings that could be aptly described as organic golems or robots, specifically created for the purpose of exterminating the dragonkin. They were incapable of feeling anger or sadness about being created only to be defeated; such concepts were inherently absent in them.

「Now, let’s resume training with the faux dragons, keeping in mind what I’ve said. But first, let’s refresh ourselves with a light meal.」

Dreissen’s words with a mischievous grin that seemed out of place on his stern face were almost simultaneous with the ripples that appeared in the space around their entrance and the appearance of new faces.
Lilyeltiel, carrying baskets brimming with supplies, and Lilyana, in dragon-human form, bearing a large wooden box, made their entrance.

The appearance of Lilyana, the warlord of Ryuuguu Kingdom, was unexpected to the dragons of the Mores mountains, familiar only with Lilyeltiel, the Dragon Succubus goddess.

Liu Yuu showed no surprise, likely having anticipated or known of Lilyana’s visit.

While the goddess of Dragon Succubus, Lilyeltiel, was a known figure, the presence of Lilyana, a warlord from Ryuuguu Kingdom, was a surprise to the dragons of the Mores mountains seeing her for the first time.

「Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your hard work in training. I’ve brought some refreshments, along with a new participant.」

The basket hanging from Lilyeltiel’s arm and the wooden box carried by Lilyana tantalized aromas of food, beverages, and fruit water.

Lilyana, with her thunder and lightning dragon lineage, greeted her future lord and the young Mores mountain kin with a warm, approachable smile, her boldness evident in any setting.

「Greetings, peers of the Mores mountains. I am Lilyana, serving Lady Ryoukichi, the Water Dragon Emperor of Ryuuguu Kingdom. I have heard that our princess is participating in this event, and I have taken the liberty of visiting her.」

「Lilyana, have you obtained Her Majesty’s permission?」

Aware of Lilyana’s inclination to defy expectations, Liu Yuu, though she doubted it, inquired just to confirm. Upon this question, Lilyana, putting the wooden box down, shook her head with an expression of disbelief.

「That’s quite an unexpected question, Lady Liu Yuu. Despite my nature, I am a general of a nation. I am not senile enough to act without considering the repercussions of my actions on others. Ahahaha,」

「That’s debatable. You know exactly what you’re capable of compensating for, which is why you often take actions that stray off the beaten path.」

「Hmm, it’s reassuring to see that my future lord understands his subjects so well. Rest assured, even I wouldn’t dare to fabricate lies in such a situation.」

Liu Yuu and Vaje wholeheartedly agreed, noticing Dreissen and Quinn in Lilyana’s gaze.

The upper echelons of Ryuuguu Kingdom were already aware that the man frequently invited to the castle by Ryoukichi and Liu Yuu was a transcendent being, before whom even their own lord had to prostrate himself.

When Lilyana first heard about it, she seriously agonized over whether she should faint on the spot or pretend she never heard it. Well, she handled it far better than Vaje, who once resorted to borderline abusive language.

Dreissen, the source of these troubles, decided to speak up to smooth over the situation.

「First, thank you for the refreshments. Liu Yuu, there is no lie in Lilyana’s words. Indeed, there’s no need for doubt. Moreover, having a general who has been on the frontlines battling Ocean Demons for years join us will surely make this training session more fruitful.」

The cause is you, sir, thought the vassals of Ryuuguu Kingdom, though they didn’t voice it. Regardless, Lilyana’s participation did make the training more practical and fruitful, just as Dreissen had said, which was a relief.