After parting ways with Adele and leaving the Count's residence, Perdes entered a deserted alley.
Late at night, the full moon that brightly illuminated the world disappeared behind the clouds.
Perdes glanced around the empty surroundings, then looked down the dark alley and spoke.
“You may come out now, Byblos.”
For a moment, a cold night breeze brushed past his hair.
The full moon, which had been hiding behind the clouds, revealed itself and poured out its bright moonlight like a spotlight on his head, who was standing inside the alley.
“That’s amazing.”
That person was Byblos.
“I clearly erased any traces of my presence, but how did you know I was nearby?”
“I didn’t notice it, I just pointed it out. I thought that since Byblos is so curious, you would definitely not leave and would eavesdrop on our conversation.”
"Ha."
Byblos laughed in amazement and crossed his arms.
“So basically, you just stabbed me once, and I ended up getting stabbed myself.”
Perdes answered with a smile and then asked.
“If you had stayed near me, you would have heard the whole conversation between me and her.”
“Yeah. I heard.”
Byblos' eyes narrowed.
“I’ve heard it all, from very tearful love stories to some pretty rude things.”
Byblos strode towards Perdes and grabbed his shoulder tightly.
“I thought you were cute so I said yes and no, but now you don’t even know where you are and are trying to climb all the way to the top of my head.”
He was gripping it so tightly that it felt like his bones were going to break.
Although it was extremely painful, Perdes did not blink an eye and stared straight into the sharp eyes.
“Do you want to die?”
“...How could that be?”
He couldn't help but let his voice tremble in pain.
As a groan began to escape instead of a voice, Perdes caught his breath and continued speaking.
“And... you have no intention of killing me.”
“How can you guarantee that?”
“If you were going to kill me, you wouldn’t be asking me this. You would’ve just cut off my head.”
“...”
“Isn’t it?”
“Fuck.”
Byblos muttered a soft curse, let go of Perdes' shoulder, and ran his hands through his hair.
“I’ve thought that since the first time I met you, you’re such an unlucky and annoying guy.”
"Thank you."
“Oh my. What on earth did you eat to be so shameless...”
Byblos clicked his tongue and shook his head.
Perdes straightened his slightly wrinkled collar and said.
“Now that it’s come to this, please help me one more time.”
Byblos' eyebrows rose at the shameless request.
“I told you clearly. I am not a means of transportation.”
“I clearly told you that I don’t think so.”
“But why are you trying to ride on my back again as if it were a given?”
“Because there’s no other way to get to Leopold’s estate in one go.”
“Why not? There’s a teleport.”
There was silence for a moment.
Perdes, who realized the hidden meaning of his words belatedly, asked with some surprise.
“Have you ever been to Leopold’s estate?”
Byblos, on the other hand, frowned as if he was troubled by what he said.
“You’ve been there before.”
"...That's right."
Since he could not take back what he had said, and since he could not fool the quick-witted Perdes by denying it now, Byblos readily admitted it.
“I’ve been there a few times a long time ago.”
“Not once, but several times.”
“...”
The more he spoke, the more he felt like he was losing, so Byblos kept his mouth shut.
“You have never been to the imperial capital, but you have been to Leopold’s estate several times. I guess there must be something special about it.”
Perdes rested his chin on his hand and said what he had guessed.
“I think that special business has something to do with the red dragon that is sleeping in Leopold’s estate... Is that correct?”
“...You’re shameless and have such a quick wit. What an easy life that must be.”
That's what it was like.
Perdes had many questions he wanted to ask, such as the relationship between Byblos and the red dragon, but he did not ask anymore as his expression was not very good.
“I was already worried about riding on Byblos’s back again, but now I can use teleportation. That’s good news.”
Byblos snorted.
“For someone who cares about that, his attitude is too shameless.”
“As you know, I have a bit of a shameless personality.”
“Haha, wouldn’t it be annoying if you couldn’t speak?”
“Does that mean you hate me?”
“Yeah. I hate you so much I could die.”
Byblos spoke with a frown, but Perdes smiled as if he had been praised.
“What are you so excited about?”
“I laughed because I was glad to have become close with Byblos.”
“What the hell is this? When did we become friends?”
“Then I’ll say no.”
“...I really don’t like that guy.”
Byblos grumbled that he didn't know why he had to help this guy, but he steadily drew a magic circle on the floor.
'This is the teleportation magic circle used by dragons.'
Perdes thought it would be similar to the magic circle used in teleportation scrolls, but it wasn't.
Perdes engraved a magic circle he had never seen before into his eyes and head.
“Keep in mind that you may feel dizzy after moving a long distance in one breath.”
“Yes. Thank you for your concern.”
“I’m not worried, I’m just telling you in advance so you don’t collapse and bother me.”
That's what he's worried about.
If he said that, Byblos would get angry again, so Perdes nodded silently.
“Then go.”
As Perdes climbed onto the magic circle, Byblos touched the magic circle and injected mana into it.
Then a blindingly bright blue light enveloped them.
After a while, the light completely disappeared and there was nothing left.
Byblos warned him in advance that it could be dizzying, but he didn't expect it to be this bad.
Perdes frowned and clutched his chest.
His eyes were spinning and his stomach was churning as if he had been spinning in place hundreds of times.
He sat down on the floor with a dizzying feeling that everything he had eaten a few days ago was going to come back up again.
“Are you okay?”
Then Byblos patted him on the back and asked.
Perdes nodded in response.
“Your expression doesn’t look okay at all.”
"It's okay."
It wasn't just empty words, things were really getting better little by little.
As his dizzy vision gradually stabilized, the surrounding scenery came into view.
Soot-covered trees and ground.
Hot air rises from the ground.
“Is this a volcano?”
“Yes. It was originally a normal mountain, but it became a volcano when that guy fell asleep here.”
The guy Byblos is talking about must be a red dragon.
It seems that they were quite close, judging by the way Byblos called him friendly.
'So that's why you showed interest in Adele?'
Because she was blessed by the red dragon?
He doesn't think that's the only reason.
Perdes stared at Byblos, who was looking around as if reminiscing.
Byblos, sensing those gazes, looked down at Perdes.
“What? Do you have something to say?”
“It’s nothing.”
“It’s a bit bland.”
Byblos glanced around again and asked.
“Are you going straight to Duke Leopold’s residence?”
"Yes."
“Then I’ll stay here, and when you’re done, come back here.”
It seemed as though Byblos had a special reason for wanting to stay here, but Perdes nodded without asking too deeply.
It also seemed as though Byblos didn't want to talk.
It was also because Perdes did not want him to follow.
“I will be back in two hours.”
An hour would be enough to check if Aldor was at Duke Leopold's residence.
Perdes quickly descended from the mountain and headed to the Duke's residence.
“Hello, Your Highness?”
The knight standing guard at the back gate of the Duke's residence was startled when he saw him and opened his eyes wide.
“Why is Your Highness here... no, why is he coming down from the volcano...?”
“I’ll explain later, so just open the door.”
"Yes, yes!"
After entering the Duke's residence, Perdes headed straight to the knights' quarters.
There will be.
No, it has to be there.
So that Adele won't be disappointed.
He really hoped Aldor would stay in his quarters, as he wouldn't do anything dangerous.
“...None.”
His wish was not fulfilled.
Perdes ran his hand over the neatly made bed without a single wrinkle.
It was cold. He couldn't feel any warmth at all.
It meant that it had been quite some time since Aldor had left his bed.
He may haven't come back yet.
...Maybe he has already gone somewhere.
“I’ll have to look for it.”
Rather than wandering around the large Duke's mansion looking for him, it was faster and more certain to ask if anyone had seen him.
“I have something to ask you.”
Perdes called out to a knight who happened to be passing by in the hallway.
“Lord Perdes?”
The knight reacted in the same way as the knight who had been standing guard.
“I heard you went far away. When did you come back?”
“Just now. More importantly, I don’t see Sir Aldor. Do you know where he is?”
The knight nodded.
“If it's the vice-captain, he is in the capital with the captain.”
Late at night, the full moon that brightly illuminated the world disappeared behind the clouds.
Perdes glanced around the empty surroundings, then looked down the dark alley and spoke.
“You may come out now, Byblos.”
For a moment, a cold night breeze brushed past his hair.
The full moon, which had been hiding behind the clouds, revealed itself and poured out its bright moonlight like a spotlight on his head, who was standing inside the alley.
“That’s amazing.”
That person was Byblos.
“I clearly erased any traces of my presence, but how did you know I was nearby?”
“I didn’t notice it, I just pointed it out. I thought that since Byblos is so curious, you would definitely not leave and would eavesdrop on our conversation.”
"Ha."
Byblos laughed in amazement and crossed his arms.
“So basically, you just stabbed me once, and I ended up getting stabbed myself.”
Perdes answered with a smile and then asked.
“If you had stayed near me, you would have heard the whole conversation between me and her.”
“Yeah. I heard.”
Byblos' eyes narrowed.
“I’ve heard it all, from very tearful love stories to some pretty rude things.”
Byblos strode towards Perdes and grabbed his shoulder tightly.
“I thought you were cute so I said yes and no, but now you don’t even know where you are and are trying to climb all the way to the top of my head.”
He was gripping it so tightly that it felt like his bones were going to break.
Although it was extremely painful, Perdes did not blink an eye and stared straight into the sharp eyes.
“Do you want to die?”
“...How could that be?”
He couldn't help but let his voice tremble in pain.
As a groan began to escape instead of a voice, Perdes caught his breath and continued speaking.
“And... you have no intention of killing me.”
“How can you guarantee that?”
“If you were going to kill me, you wouldn’t be asking me this. You would’ve just cut off my head.”
“...”
“Isn’t it?”
“Fuck.”
Byblos muttered a soft curse, let go of Perdes' shoulder, and ran his hands through his hair.
“I’ve thought that since the first time I met you, you’re such an unlucky and annoying guy.”
"Thank you."
“Oh my. What on earth did you eat to be so shameless...”
Byblos clicked his tongue and shook his head.
Perdes straightened his slightly wrinkled collar and said.
“Now that it’s come to this, please help me one more time.”
Byblos' eyebrows rose at the shameless request.
“I told you clearly. I am not a means of transportation.”
“I clearly told you that I don’t think so.”
“But why are you trying to ride on my back again as if it were a given?”
“Because there’s no other way to get to Leopold’s estate in one go.”
“Why not? There’s a teleport.”
There was silence for a moment.
Perdes, who realized the hidden meaning of his words belatedly, asked with some surprise.
“Have you ever been to Leopold’s estate?”
Byblos, on the other hand, frowned as if he was troubled by what he said.
“You’ve been there before.”
"...That's right."
Since he could not take back what he had said, and since he could not fool the quick-witted Perdes by denying it now, Byblos readily admitted it.
“I’ve been there a few times a long time ago.”
“Not once, but several times.”
“...”
The more he spoke, the more he felt like he was losing, so Byblos kept his mouth shut.
“You have never been to the imperial capital, but you have been to Leopold’s estate several times. I guess there must be something special about it.”
Perdes rested his chin on his hand and said what he had guessed.
“I think that special business has something to do with the red dragon that is sleeping in Leopold’s estate... Is that correct?”
“...You’re shameless and have such a quick wit. What an easy life that must be.”
That's what it was like.
Perdes had many questions he wanted to ask, such as the relationship between Byblos and the red dragon, but he did not ask anymore as his expression was not very good.
“I was already worried about riding on Byblos’s back again, but now I can use teleportation. That’s good news.”
Byblos snorted.
“For someone who cares about that, his attitude is too shameless.”
“As you know, I have a bit of a shameless personality.”
“Haha, wouldn’t it be annoying if you couldn’t speak?”
“Does that mean you hate me?”
“Yeah. I hate you so much I could die.”
Byblos spoke with a frown, but Perdes smiled as if he had been praised.
“What are you so excited about?”
“I laughed because I was glad to have become close with Byblos.”
“What the hell is this? When did we become friends?”
“Then I’ll say no.”
“...I really don’t like that guy.”
Byblos grumbled that he didn't know why he had to help this guy, but he steadily drew a magic circle on the floor.
'This is the teleportation magic circle used by dragons.'
Perdes thought it would be similar to the magic circle used in teleportation scrolls, but it wasn't.
Perdes engraved a magic circle he had never seen before into his eyes and head.
“Keep in mind that you may feel dizzy after moving a long distance in one breath.”
“Yes. Thank you for your concern.”
“I’m not worried, I’m just telling you in advance so you don’t collapse and bother me.”
That's what he's worried about.
If he said that, Byblos would get angry again, so Perdes nodded silently.
“Then go.”
As Perdes climbed onto the magic circle, Byblos touched the magic circle and injected mana into it.
Then a blindingly bright blue light enveloped them.
After a while, the light completely disappeared and there was nothing left.
***
Byblos warned him in advance that it could be dizzying, but he didn't expect it to be this bad.
Perdes frowned and clutched his chest.
His eyes were spinning and his stomach was churning as if he had been spinning in place hundreds of times.
He sat down on the floor with a dizzying feeling that everything he had eaten a few days ago was going to come back up again.
“Are you okay?”
Then Byblos patted him on the back and asked.
Perdes nodded in response.
“Your expression doesn’t look okay at all.”
"It's okay."
It wasn't just empty words, things were really getting better little by little.
As his dizzy vision gradually stabilized, the surrounding scenery came into view.
Soot-covered trees and ground.
Hot air rises from the ground.
“Is this a volcano?”
“Yes. It was originally a normal mountain, but it became a volcano when that guy fell asleep here.”
The guy Byblos is talking about must be a red dragon.
It seems that they were quite close, judging by the way Byblos called him friendly.
'So that's why you showed interest in Adele?'
Because she was blessed by the red dragon?
He doesn't think that's the only reason.
Perdes stared at Byblos, who was looking around as if reminiscing.
Byblos, sensing those gazes, looked down at Perdes.
“What? Do you have something to say?”
“It’s nothing.”
“It’s a bit bland.”
Byblos glanced around again and asked.
“Are you going straight to Duke Leopold’s residence?”
"Yes."
“Then I’ll stay here, and when you’re done, come back here.”
It seemed as though Byblos had a special reason for wanting to stay here, but Perdes nodded without asking too deeply.
It also seemed as though Byblos didn't want to talk.
It was also because Perdes did not want him to follow.
“I will be back in two hours.”
An hour would be enough to check if Aldor was at Duke Leopold's residence.
Perdes quickly descended from the mountain and headed to the Duke's residence.
“Hello, Your Highness?”
The knight standing guard at the back gate of the Duke's residence was startled when he saw him and opened his eyes wide.
“Why is Your Highness here... no, why is he coming down from the volcano...?”
“I’ll explain later, so just open the door.”
"Yes, yes!"
After entering the Duke's residence, Perdes headed straight to the knights' quarters.
There will be.
No, it has to be there.
So that Adele won't be disappointed.
He really hoped Aldor would stay in his quarters, as he wouldn't do anything dangerous.
“...None.”
His wish was not fulfilled.
Perdes ran his hand over the neatly made bed without a single wrinkle.
It was cold. He couldn't feel any warmth at all.
It meant that it had been quite some time since Aldor had left his bed.
He may haven't come back yet.
...Maybe he has already gone somewhere.
“I’ll have to look for it.”
Rather than wandering around the large Duke's mansion looking for him, it was faster and more certain to ask if anyone had seen him.
“I have something to ask you.”
Perdes called out to a knight who happened to be passing by in the hallway.
“Lord Perdes?”
The knight reacted in the same way as the knight who had been standing guard.
“I heard you went far away. When did you come back?”
“Just now. More importantly, I don’t see Sir Aldor. Do you know where he is?”
The knight nodded.
“If it's the vice-captain, he is in the capital with the captain.”
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