What was the difference between riding a dragon and riding a horse carriage?
Perhaps some people would say that riding a dragon was cool, while riding a horse carriage was normal. Riding a dragon was fast, while riding a horse carriage was slow, or that riding a dragon required strength, while riding a horse carriage only required a certain amount of money. But if it was me …
"Don't say such nonsense about how cool it looks. Riding a horse carriage is much more comfortable than riding a dragon. Didn't you think about what to do when there's a storm while flying in the sky?!"
There were endless dark clouds in front of us, and Little Red and I were drenched in rain, or perhaps I should say sleet and hail.
It wasn't exactly warm in the spring sky, and the low temperature caused the raindrops to freeze into tiny ice cubes that smacked against my head … I was already wearing a full set of armor.
Not far away, a Blue Dragon soared through the clouds. Lightning type dragons loved this type of weather the most. Abundant electricity would give their entire body a comfortable massage and replenish their energy. He was even moaning like a chicken being butchered … But judging from the Dragon Knight whose hair was already standing on end and half of his body was charred black, he was in an even worse state than I was. It seemed that there was still a huge difference between a half-blood dragon and a true dragon.
Dragons were a strange type of creature that emphasized dignity. They were so prideful that they could even be called arrogant. Usually, only young dragons would be willing to become dragon knights' contractors. Even older dragons with some experience and history wouldn't be willing to become someone else's mount … Well, let's not even talk about the professional mount that was currently hiding back in Xiluo. He was obviously an exception among exceptions. He was the only dragon I'd seen in so many years that had such low moral integrity … I could probably add Molly to the list as well.
Cough, normal Dragons would reject a Dragon Knight. This didn't matter if you had a good relationship or not. After all, no matter how good a relationship you had with a friend, if that friend wanted you to kneel down and let him ride you for several decades, the best result would probably be a fierce fight between you and him, and then they would go their separate ways.
As for the Knight novels where a dragon could be successfully abducted by offering some roasted meat or glass, if the dragon wasn't mentally retarded, then it would probably be an excuse to hide the true plot, such as a little dragon girl or a Knight Ji … cough cough, I think I went off topic.
There was a huge difference between a real dragon knight and a legendary dragon knight. Most of the stories went something like this: Some powerful knight who was addicted to knight novels would capture a small dragon and beat it to death. If he won, he would force the dragon to sign a subordinate contract or something.
Dragons were a group of particularly prideful creatures. If it wasn't for the overwhelming difference in strength, they would rather die than submit. Then, a powerful individual who finally became a Dragon Knight would be shocked to discover that the dragons that they could defeat were far weaker than themselves. This mount would basically be useless. It would take so much effort to obtain a means of transportation, and the dragon's father might even hunt them down. Wouldn't it be a waste?
If the Dragon Knight could wait for three to five hundred years, the young dragon might become an adult dragon. However, if a strong person could live for three to four hundred years, what use would an ordinary adult dragon with quasi-Legendary-level combat power be?
My conclusion was that even though the Dragon Knight looked mighty, unless it was a main character template that inexplicably recognized a master, it was probably a synonym for chicken ribs.
Looking at things now, the largest Dragon Knight squadron in the mortal plane was located in Bardi, and the Knight members were all mixed-blood dragons. They were likely siblings, signed a soul contract, subordinate contract, or something like that. The Dragon Knight and Dragon Knight were more like playmates.
"You're saying so much just to prove that this type of treatment is normal? She's obviously tormenting you. Are you a masochist, or is there something wrong with your head? You're hopeless. "
I was rendered speechless by the silly cat's sarcasm. But when I thought back to the past, I realized that this type of treatment was quite rare.
Although Little Red, as an Immemorial Red Dragon, was incredibly prideful, she was still quite nice to us old friends. Occasionally, she would take us on a flight or two at a critical moment. For example, last time when we had to rush back to Sulfur Mountain City to fight against the demons, she had made an exception and arrived just in time.
This time, I was going with the Dragon Knight Archduke to the Bardi capital. His steed was a Blue Dragon, the fastest of all Dragons. It would be impossible for Irene Béla to keep up with him. And since this matter involved the Dragons, Little Red, as the Underground Dragon Queen, was also intending to come into contact with the Dragon Cities on the surface. And so, it was quite normal for me to ask for a ride with her. Of course, I understood Dragons quite well, which was why I told her that I only needed to fly with her.
As for Molly? No matter what, she was Little Red's mother. Wasn't this the same as asking her "Is it okay if I ride your mother?" … There seemed to be something wrong here. Wasn't this the same as me asking Little Red "Is it okay if I ride you?"
Cough, cough, I tossed aside all thoughts of zombies and got back to the main topic. This time, Little Red was surprisingly easy to talk to. She said, "We're good sisters, so there's no need to treat me like an outsider. Just ride on my back." Although I felt like something was wrong here, it was still quite uncomfortable to be carried around in a daze, so I happily accepted. But in the end …
"It's fine if you're a small dragon that can't fly high. But Immemorial Red Dragons are clearly capable of flying in the clouds. Why do you have to endure the icy rain? You're a fire element dragon, so you should feel even more uncomfortable than I do."
"… Stop nagging. I'm willing. You don't want to endure the rain? Sure, I still have a seat for you. "
Little Red opened her mouth full of malice, revealing her sharp dragon teeth. She even spat out some dragon flames. When considering the possibility that I would "accidentally" be swallowed by the icy rain, I gulped and resolutely refused Little Red's suggestion.
"No need. I think it's better for me to sober up in the rain."
"… You do need to sober up."
Although I didn't know why she was angry, everyone around me seemed to be saying that I was in the wrong. Based on my past experience, it was indeed quite likely that I was in the wrong, so I decided to bear with it. Yep, it definitely wasn't that I was worried that she would throw me off, so I temporarily gave in.
Cough, at any rate, my armor was thick and I had high ice resistance. The icy rain's damage was completely negligible. Still, my feet felt rather cold and hungry. I remembered that I had filled my backpack with food when I arrived, so I took out a picnic cloth …
"… Roland, if you keep lighting a fire on my back to roast your feet and meat, I'll let you stay in the VIP seats in front of me."
And so, I fell silent for a moment and changed my method.
"Roast sausages and warm wine won't do either! I'm having so much trouble traveling in the rain, and you're actually drinking wine on my back! Do you know how much I have to endure as a red dragon? "
Then fly higher … I didn't say such a complaint out loud. That was because based on my many years of experience, if a woman was angry, the more she said, the more mistakes she would make. It was best to remain silent.
"I'll give you half of the wine when it's warm …"
"That's not the reason. Eh? This is fruit wine that you brewed yourself. Where did you get such good peaches … I want two-thirds!"
Alright then, thanks to the wine, Little Red no longer suddenly flew backwards or spun around. I also didn't need to tie myself to Little Red's back anymore. And so, I took out three barrels of wine and started a fire to roast Little Red … There was no helping it. Actually, one barrel was only enough for Little Red to drink half a mouthful.
After drinking wine, Little Red unexpectedly sighed and then suddenly rose up into the sky. She spread her wings and soared high into the clouds.
I looked at the various shapes of the clouds around me, making it seem as if I was in a fairyland. The warm sunlight made me feel much more comfortable. Of course, the happiest part was that I finally didn't need to be drenched in the rain above the clouds.
"Forget it. Getting angry at you will only make me feel worse. I already knew that getting angry at someone like you would be meaningless."
"… Hey, hey, hey! No matter what, I'm helping you out here. Can't you be a little more polite? Am I as unbearable as you say? Am I as infuriating as you say? "
"Yes."
Little Red's answer was resolute and decisive.
"Yes."
The silly cat interrupted again.
[Yes!]
My System was furiously reminding me of my existence.
For me, Little Red and Molly's journey together was both troublesome and an opportunity.
Little Red was the Dragon Queen of the Underground City. Just this identity alone determined that when Little Red appeared in front of other dragons, or even when she entered the Dragons' gathering grounds above ground, it would determine whether or not the Red and Black Dragons would be recognized by other Dragons. Perhaps we were just fooling around as if we were on a field trip, but no matter what the result of this trip was, it was destined to be recorded in history.
Obviously, Little Red and Molly's governing styles were completely different. Back then, even if Molly wanted to return to the surface, Little Red would at least try to reconcile with her.
The exact time that these two powerful Color Dragons had been exiled to the Underground World was no longer reliable. It was also unknown whether or not the dragons involved were still alive. In fact, nobody even knew the specific reason for their exile and how long they had been exiled. The only thing that could be confirmed was that these two types of dragons were the oldest inhabitants of the Underground World. They had been exiled far earlier than the Dark Elves and Lorci.
Dragons were capable of inheriting the knowledge of their ancestors while they were still in their eggs. That was why Red and Black Dragons were no good birds (I secretly glanced at Little Red). Since they had been exiled, it was likely that they had caused quite a bit of trouble back in the day. But, in my opinion, no law or punishment should harm their descendants. Now that the Red and Black Dragons were no longer around, it was reasonable for them to want to return to the surface.
"… Dragons wouldn't be Dragons if they were reasonable."
That was what Little Red said when I mentioned this. Ignoring the fact that her declaration seemed to have hit the nail on the head, I was actually rendered speechless because her words were far too reasonable. She even faintly felt proud of herself.
The more ancient a species was, the more they liked to emphasize their past glory. They would even place the teachings of their ancestors on a pedestal. It wasn't only humans and elves who were stubborn enough to say "the teachings of our ancestors can't be changed."
"Since there are past customs and traditions, and since everyone lived like this in the past, why should we change them?"
It was obvious that our trip here wouldn't go smoothly. But if we didn't try, Little Red wouldn't be satisfied, and neither would I be satisfied. After all, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Was this a good time? Of course it was a good time. One of the Dragons' three main residences was under threat. Their mortal enemy, the Titan Giants, was about to revive, and the Holy War was upon them. This Holy War would definitely drag the Dragons, who had always maintained their aloof attitude, into the fray. The entire species was in danger. If we didn't take advantage of the situation … cough, if we didn't help them in their hour of need, wouldn't we be wasting such a rare opportunity?
In times of danger, humans would naturally have lower limits. It was the same for Dragons. Not to mention, the two Color Dragons would be able to assist other dragons, which would be a powerful bargaining chip.
Our current situation would be the same as tying aid to political decisions. Although this would be rather despicable, it would always be unscrupulous to use any means necessary in battles between countries and species. Since this was the best option with the highest chance of success, why wouldn't we use it?
As long as we obtained the Dragons' approval, or even just tacit approval, the Underground's Black and Red Dragons would be able to openly appear in the mortal plane's skies on a large scale. This would also greatly increase our combat strength.
And once we accomplished something that no Dragon Queen or Dragon King had ever accomplished, Little Red's status would become even more stable. In fact, there would even be other Immemorial Dragons willing to work for her in order to return to the surface.
Of course, when considering the two Dragons' usual habits, I was also hesitant about whether or not I was opening the door to thieves. But when I thought about how there would be no "future" if they couldn't overcome this current calamity, I felt that it was worth a try. After all, with Dragon Queen Little Red watching over them, there wouldn't be any major trouble for the time being.
When I thought about trouble, I felt quite displeased as I glanced at Molly, who was slowly flying in the sky. Recently, she no longer had any expectations or pursuits. She seemed to be quite relaxed every day.
"She really knows how to cause trouble."
The moment Molly returned to the surface, she perfectly demonstrated just how evil an Immemorial Red Dragon could be. She attacked villages, kidnapped for ransom, became a mercenary, and even robbed other dragons. She was basically the perfect villain. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to enter the Calamity Rankings so quickly. And her status as a former Dragon Queen caused the surface residents' impression of the Underground Dragons to rapidly decrease.
"As expected, she's just like the records say."
"… Fortunately, most Black and Red Dragons are still in the Underground."
Every time Little Red heard such words, she would get so angry that she would grit her teeth. This type of attitude naturally made this trip even more difficult.
"Let's do our best and leave it to fate."
When I evaluated the success rate of this trip and felt that it was less than 30%, Little Red was quite optimistic.
"That's the only way. Why do I feel like the biggest trouble on this trip isn't even this? It feels like there's some other trouble waiting for me. Did I forget something? Or did I not notice something? "
"There's so much that you didn't notice!"
Alright then, I seemed to have accidentally touched on something, and started complaining again.
Finally, we stopped complaining. Our speed was much faster than before, but it would still take quite a while for us to catch up to Halent and his Blue Dragon mount. Actually, if it wasn't for the fact that Halent was waiting for us, his speed would likely have doubled.
"… That little fellow flies so quickly."
"By the way, that little fellow is at least 200 years old. If he's a little fellow, then what am I? A little fellow as well? Can't we go any faster? "
"This is about the highest speed we can go. If you think it's too slow, you can fly by yourself."
Were Blue Dragons really that fast? Actually, it was Little Red and Molly who were too slow. Blue Dragons were only about 30% faster than other dragons, and this was mainly due to their ability to control the wind. Halent's dragon had just reached adulthood, so he was at the peak of his speed. Naturally, he was much faster than us.
Were Immemorial Dragons supposed to fly faster than ordinary adult dragons? That was what most people thought as well. However, they didn't think too much about it. Large dragons didn't necessarily mean that they could run fast. Super dragons that were seven or eight times the size of adult dragons would also use up seven or eight times the energy consumption of young dragons.
Since they were called Immemorial Dragons, most of them were over a thousand years old. They spent most of their time sleeping or researching magic. Even hunting was done by their subordinates. Their stamina was actually much weaker than when they were younger. Plus, their enormous bodies put pressure on their internal organs. Even the beat of their wings seemed rather sluggish.
Of course, since Dragons were a species that naturally excelled in both physical and magic, most dragons would choose to use magic and their natural talents to increase their speed in battle. That was why no powerful dragon would be slow on the battlefield for a short period of time. However, if they were traveling from a distance, using their natural talents to increase their speed would be far too extravagant. As a result, adult and adult dragons were the fastest.
Dragons' bodies would basically stop growing after reaching the later stages of the Immemorial Dragon generation. At their level, magic and natural talents were far more important than physical combat. Even the stupidest White Dragon would be a top-level mage in a certain magic element. Their unique draconic spellcasting and special incantations would be even more powerful.
According to what I knew, Little Red was one of the few Immemorial Dragons who persisted in daily training, which was why she was incredibly strong in melee combat. She was also quite skilled in truth magic, fire magic, and spatial magic. After inheriting the position of Dragon Queen, she was also able to read the secret draconic techniques of Dragon City. Plus, she also trained hard (compared to other Dragons), so her power level had increased significantly. In fact, she was already at the threshold of advancing to the next power level.
This was obviously a great thing for our upcoming mission. After all, although we had been invited here to help, it was likely that fighting would be unavoidable when I thought about the extra tasks we had to complete and how arrogant the lizards were.
"I hope that this mission will be successful. Although I keep feeling like we're going to run into some major trouble. My premonitions have always been very accurate. For example, I told you that I should bring an umbrella when I left home, but you told me that you didn't need it. Look, isn't it raining? Judging from the weather, there might even be a typhoon … "
"Shut up, you jinx!"
Alright, looking at the tornado not far away, I obediently shut up.
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