It was nothing more than insurance against an invasion from the North.

The Saber family’s security network was impregnable. Not only was it difficult to break through, traps were also scattered everywhere. Also, no one would be surprising if someone from the kingdom betrayed them again.

However, as Rave made a fuss about meeting up, and since Zeke and Camila were headed there as well, Hades decided that argue would have been too troublesome and just did as he was told.

He never expected to meet who he met there.

“As expected, you look terrible.”

After laying eyes on Hades, that was the first thing Listeard said.

The azure blue sky was obstructed by row after row of overlapping trees. Whenever a refreshing breeze blew by, they’d sway.

This one brother sure is strange.

Just by being there, the atmosphere suddenly became lighter.

“I made the right decision to come. What a blessing. Are you eating properly? Have you slept at all?’

“Ah, His Highness Listeard looks like the God of Salvation…”

“…It’s true. I thought I was going to die because of the suffocating atmosphere. A weight has been lifted off my shoulders…”

Camila and Zeke, who had been silent up until then, suddenly expressed their exhuastion. Grimacing, Listeard told his subordinates—the Dragon Knights—to prepare for to rest. Only then did Hades realize it—

—Since he fled from the villa of the Saber family, he had barely eaten or drank a thing.

Inwardly, Hades could feel Rave heaving a sigh of relief. When he lifted his head, he found Listeard glaring at him.

“What? The development is as you predicted. Be prouder.”

“…You didn’t even mention you were going to come…”

“I am the only one able to slip through Chris Saber’s security network to come and support you. Do you know how much trouble I went through to be here?”

Hades was annoyed by Listeard’s proud declaration, but he couldn’t muster a single kind, probably because he was solely focused on considering his options.

“I… never asked you to.”

“Hmph, then why do you look so glum? Keep your head up.”

“…”

“…Good grief. It was your own decision. Cheer up. What’s the matter with you”

“—How dare you say that to me.”

He meant to be sarcastic. However, his older brother was unfazed.

“Don’t hesitate, you are on the right path.”

Those words pierced straight through him.

“You didn’t try to get involved in Kratos’ internal conflict because of Lady Jill. You also didn’t risk the lives of the people of the Rave Empire to win the favor of the Dragon Princess. Despite being swayed by love, you never forgot your reason. You are a fine Dragon Emperor.”

“…Achieving Jill’s desires wasn’t impossible. I could have just not moved the army, feigned ignorance, cooperated with Prince Geraldo, and deposed the Southern King…”

“At what cost? Being looked down on as a puppet Dragon Emperor who’d do absolutely anything for the sake of the Dragon Princess? What a joke. You’d only suffer repercussions for it later—and they’d be much worse than the current matter we have at hand. Lady Jill would suffer even more than she is now. She’d have ended up caught between her homeland and you.”

“—That’s merely a hypothesis. It might just be my paranoia leading me to think they’re all enemies.”

“Don’t be silly. Vissel and I talked about this. Kratos bears hostility towards us—that’s for certain.”

Listeard was bold enough to get that out of the way.

“You didn’t try to deceive Lady Jill. You made it clear to her that she had to choose between her homeland and you. As a Dragon Princess, it was a necessary decision to make. How she interacts with her family is a matter of her choosing.”

What is he acting high and mighty for?

Hades was getting annoyed.

“But, well… You ended up making the decision first, and drew a poor hand.”

Listeard sighed as if he knew what was going on.

“—It must’ve been hard for you. You did well.”

As a finishing touch, Listeard reached out and patted Hades on the head.

Once his subordinates informed them that a tent had been set up, Listeard turned his back to Hades.

“Anyway, rest for now. That’s right, Frida made you cookies—ouch!?”

“You’re so annoying! So annoying! Even though you know nothing!”

While headbutting Listeard’s back, Hades unleashed the feelings smoldering inside his chest.

“Jill, you idiot! I worked so hard, so why did you choose your family!?”

“We don’t know that yet—Ouch! That hurts! Stop it, Hades!”

“Shut up! How am I supposed to know that!? I didn’t have a family anyway!”

“W-when you say that, I feel—”

“—Unbelievable!”

Hades roared as he headbutted his brother’s back.

“I don’t expect Jill to come after me or show any understanding, anyway! She chose her homeland over me! She doubted me! She looked at me as if I had deceived her! Unforgivable!”

“…By the way, what happened to the Dragon Princess’ Sacred Relic… The ring?”

“…”

“I’m your older brother. There’s no point in holding back—I get it! Lady Jill won’t believe it, I get it, so stop headbutting me in the same exact spot over and over again!”

“The Dragon Princess’ Sacred Relic will become invalid later. It’s a weapon that can’t be used against me anyway.”

A weapon made of Heavenly Blade to protect the Dragon Emperor. Reason wouldn’t allow the Dragon Emperor to be harmed by the Dragon Queen’s Sacred Relic. If she couldn’t comprehend that and foolishly tried to point the sacred relic at him, he’d just smash it into pieces in front of her very eyes.

What kind of expression will she make? Will she be hurt? Or will she be happy for being liberated?

—Either would be fine.

Not everything would go according to her wishes. She wouldn’t be getting rid of him that easily.

It’s your just deserts. Your fault for toying with me.

Hades scoffed, resting his forehead against his brother’s back.

“I gave the signal to Rho. Jill won’t be able to make it in time. I’ll be the one to save Natalie. Jill will be my spoils of war after attacking the Saber family.”

“It’s an effective way to keep them in check. As long as the Dragon Emperor reigns, the dragons will fly—even in the sky of Kratos.”

Yes, I have to remind Kratos.

The Rave Empire was no longer divided. If they dared to attempt anything, they’d be the ones in trouble.

“It will be a sight to see. The Dragon Emperor shall make himself known—hey, why are you hitting me again? What are you dissatisfied with?”

“Your very existence.”

“It seems that I was being too soft on you—don’t kick me in the shin!”

Hades finally looked down at his brother, who was kneeling on the ground and snorted.

“We can rest for now, but we’ll be surrounded in a few hours, so we’ll have to disguise ourselves. We’re going to break through the Saber family’s defenses head-on. So, with this small number of people—”

“—I understand. We’ll give an opportunity for Natalie and the others to escape.”

“…I wish you were a little scared of me, like Jill.”

“Why would an older brother be afraid of his younger brother?”

Frustrated by Listeard’s nonchalant response, Hades kicked him in the shin again.

Hades left behind his tearful and seething older brother and looked up at the skies where no dragon flew.

He came that far.

Everything is set.

I’ll give it everything I got.

“Do your best.”

Inside his chest, Rave showed his support.

See, even the God of Reason says so.

---

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***T/N: G-guys, at least please try communicating first…

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