“And who are these people?”
“We are not sure. We have not grasped their true identity yet. However, they should be Dwarves.”
“Dwarves…Umu.”
Olasird’arc glanced at the great door behind him.
Behind that door was the Dwarven City’s former treasury.
No matter how many times Olasird’arc had attacked it, it had not opened or been destroyed. The protective magic worked on it by the Dwarven runesmiths had defended their treasures from all the attacks he had brought to bear on it.
His obsession with the contents of the vault had long faded, and that door was little more than a scratching post for his claws. However, when he heard about the Dwarves, the smoldering embers in his heart ignited once more.
If these Dwarves could make it here, perhaps they might have a way to open this vault.
Is it time to abandon the Quagoa? The Dwarves are more useful, in various ways.
As Olasird’arc contemplated these matters, he glared coldly at the Quagoa beneath him, and the Quagoa Lord’s pleas finally came to an end.
“I am sure that you will be able to defeat the Dwarves or whatnot with contemptuous ease, White Dragon Lord-sama. Please, lend your strength to us! Needless to say, when they are defeated we will offer up double the sum from just now, no more than that!”
His greed tickled by that last line, Olasird’arc’s face twitched.
“…I see. I shall consider it.”
“Please wait! White Dragon Lord-sama, the enemy is close! And the Dwarves seek to retake this city!”
Olasird’arc turned his keen gaze upon the Quagoa.
“What do you mean by that? Are you implying that these measly Dwarves can evict me from my nest?”
“I did not say that! But, there’s no telling what the Dwarves intend to do! For all we know, they might have a way to destroy this city!”
“Do you not think they would have done so already if that was the case?”
“It is very likely they intend to destroy the city from the inside!”
“Hm,” Olasird’arc thought. It seemed a little far-fetched, but it could not be entirely ruled out.
This place was absolutely necessary for the creation of a Draconic Empire.
After claiming the Dwarves’ Royal Palace, he had ordered his wives to lay their eggs here, and then raise his children as they grew.
In the past, they had randomly found a place to lay eggs and left them there, or kicked them out of the nest a year or two after they were born. That would not strengthen the Draconic race.
I must increase the number of my offspring, and then subjugate the Frost Giants. Then, I can completely dominate this mountain range, Olasird’arc had thought.
The Frost Giants and the Frost Dragons were the apex predators of this mountain range. Therefore, they had struggled for a long time to determine who was the top dog.
The Frost Giants were immune to cold, which meant that the Frost Dragons’ trump card of icy Dragon breath could not harm them. The power of the massive weapons which the Frost Giants wielded could not be overlooked, even by Dragons. If they came in numbers, the Dragons might well be defeated. Indeed, there were Frost Dragons who had lost to Frost Giants, and who were used as hounds by them.
Naturally, the Frost Dragons knew that too. If Olasird’arc were one of them, he would not miss the chance to destroy a powerful foe before their numbers could increase. If he had to abandon this territory, then the Frost Giant tribes would surely unite to attack them before he could seize a new seat of power.
Olasird’arc regarded his concubines, sprawled lazily around the room.
They were three female Dragons.
There was the youngest of them, with a single alabaster horn, Mianatalon=Fuviness.
The one who had fought with Olasird’arc for territory many times, Munuinia=Ilyslym.
And then there was the only Dragon in residence here who could use divine magic (albeit only of the 1st tier), Kilystran=Denshushua.
“What do you think?
“…Why not help them? After all, the miserable little Dwarves are hardly fearsome foes.”
“I agree too. Frankly speaking, I don’t care what they say. But if the Dwarves attack, knowing that we’re here, that would be equivalent to looking down on us. We ought to carve fear into the hearts of those cocky little creatures.”
He turned his gaze from Muninia — who was scratching at the floor with a sharp claw — and towards Kilystran.
“And what say you?”
After addressing Kilystran, she tilted her head.
“I oppose and approve of it. I oppose it because we cannot be sure that these attackers really are Dwarves. In addition, if they’re attacking while aware of our presence, they must have surely taken our power into consideration. However, while the very idea of destroying the city is absurd, a mechanism capable of doing so is not out of the reach of Dwarven technology. It would be foolish not to respond to that.”
Olasird’arc smiled bitterly. She had such a twisted personality. That was why he liked her.
“So, the ayes have it. — Well then. I shall accept your request, inferior Quagoa.”
“Yes! You have our deepest thanks!”
As Olasird’arc glared coldly at the Quagoa kowtowing before him, he made a pronouncement.
“However, you must offer ten times the previous amount of tribute.”
“Ten! Ten times?!”
Olasird’arc snorted at the Quagoa Lord, who had raised his head.
“You do not even know who is attacking. That much should be expected…Then, what will you do? If you cannot produce the requisite amount, then you can deal with it yourselves.”
“Please, please wait! We will offer the tribute! Please let us offer the tribute!”
Suddenly, Olasird’arc thought of something.
Could the Quagoa actually pay that much gold? Or was it because the Dwarves were unimaginably powerful foes, which was why they were trying their best to get him to commit no matter how much they had to pay?
Well, it doesn’t matter. If they can’t pay, then just as Munuinia said, I will carve an indelible terror into the hearts of those weaklings (Quagoa).
“Then, begone.”
“Yes! But… when can we expect your arrival?”
“Soon. Until then, wait.”
“Yes!”
As Olasird’arc watched the Quagoa leave, Mianatalon asked: “Will you be going in person?”
“As if. Of course not.”
Olasird’arc was the most powerful Dragon here. That being the case, it would be foolish for him to actually fight on the behalf of his slaves even if he was paid. Therefore—
“Who should I send over… Whose child would be best?”
They were all his children. Every Dragon here with the exception of his concubines was bound to Olasird’arc by blood.
“In that case, send my child.”
“Yours? Who?”
Kilystran had birthed four children for Olasird’arc, and each of them was a Dragon of over a century of age. They were far more powerful than the Quagoa.
“The eldest, of course.”
“Hejinmal, then?”
Olasird’arc frowned.
“That boy might look like that, but he has a good head on his shoulders and he will see the opposition for what they really are. If they turn out to be Dwarves, don’t you think he’ll bring about a most agreeable negotiation? You must be starting to tire of Quagoa slaves, no?”
“Can he do all that? Can the other children not do it?”
Olasird’arc agreed with what Munuinia said.
“Better than Toranjelit, at least.”
“…Kilystran. The most important thing for Dragons is the power of their bodies. One cannot defeat power and speed with one’s head. Olasird’arc beat me because his body was stronger than mine. Remember that. Toranjelit’s superior body is far better than that of Hejinmal’s!”