Even though nothing had been prearranged, everyone’s departure date overlapped with the day the Dragon Emperor and Empress returned to the mainland.
“Until later, come play again.”
“Let’s meet in Radea.”
Amid the various words flying back and forth, dragons and ships departed carrying friends from Laica.  Naturally, the Dragon Emperor and Emperess returned on a dragon escorted by the Noitral Dragon Knight Order.

“Your Majesty!  Your Majesty, I’ll be the one giving you a lift home on a dragon!”

sensei put a saddle on a red dragon and is now excitedly pulling my older brother’s hand.

Despite being the Dragon Empress, she apparently hadn’t had her own dragon until now.  She herself had been dejectedly saying, “They must hate me.”  Having seen her punching dragons senseless throughout the training camp, we can only agree.

Although, by some twist of fate, the very red dragon she had been punching during the camp suddenly showed up during departure preparations and volunteered to be the dragon to deliver the Dragon Empress home, or so was said.

“Are you really sure this is safe Rave?  …What do you mean not guaranteed?  Hey, don’t look away.”
“It’s fine!  If the dragon doesn’t listen, I will punch him!”
“Wouldn’t we also crash if you do that!?  Actually, have you ever flown a dragon before?”
“Eh?  They fly on their own, right?”
“Uh, yeah… about that, wouldn’t it be better if I held the reins this time…?”
“No!  This is my dragon!  Oh yeah, I need to give my dragon a name!”
“He says he doesn’t want to be called Steak.”
“How did you know before I said it!?”

The two seem to be quarreling over who will hold the dragon’s reins, so it’s probably already been decided that the two of them will return on the same dragon.  Lutiya couldn’t help but let out a sigh.

“Everything alright?”
“About what?”

Lutiya reflexively glared back at Noin who called out to him from behind.  Noin gave a wry smile.

“You’ll be living together in the Imperial Castle from now on, right?  Everyone is worried on whether you’d be okay seeing that every day.”
“The Imperial Castle is big, so it’s not like we’ll necessarily see each other every day. Hades-sensee should especially be busy.”
“I’ll listen if you need to complain.  I’ll be residing in the Imperial Capital anyway.”
“Mind your own business.  Get treated like a country bumpkin at the Imperial Capital Military Academy and be crushed.”
“If I get bullied, then perhaps I’ll consult His Highness Prince Rutiya for advice.”
“Consult with the Noitral Dragon Knight Order.  I’m pretty sure they invited you to observe them.”

Noin, already able to handle a green dragon at his age, had been personally scouted by Elynsia to join the Noitral Dragon Knight Order after graduation.

“Since it’s you, couldn’t you already become a dragon knight just as you are?”
“I suppose so.  I’ll probably end up in the care of the Noitral Dragon Knight Order someday.”

Despite Lutiya being the one to egg him on, he felt a slight sting in his chest.  He would eventually return to the Grand Duchy of Laica, but Noin could go anywhere.

Noin stood beside Lutiya.

“I think Laica needs an excellent Dragon Knight Order.”

When Lutiya looked up, Noin was staring out beyond the sea.

“I understand what Gunter-sensei and everyone else said.  Even though they were trained in Laica, talent doesn’t stay in Laica.  But if a prominent and outstanding dragon knight order that doesn’t lose to the Noitral Dragon Knight Order were to be established in Laica, I think they would stay.  —What are your thoughts, Your Highness the Grand Duke of Laica?”

Lutiya was taken aback at the mischievous question and then got annoyed.

“You! It would take some extremely careful maneuvering for Laica to have its own dragon knight order!  There’s no way you don’t know that!  Don’t throw impossible demands at me!”
“Even if it’s impossible for you right now, you will be able to do it.”

Considering that Noin didn’t dodge when Lutiya smacked the back of his head, he probably understood, at least somewhat, the impossibility he was asking for.

“Hey, Lutiya!  And you too, Noin.  It’s time to depart.”

Calling out their names was Elynsia.  When Lutiya looked over, he saw that Jill ended up sitting on the saddle with Hades holding the reins.  She was sulking, but the matter seemed settled for the time being.  Truthfully, the arrangement of Hades sitting in the front with Jill taking the reins from behind was impossible to begin with.

“Shall we go?  You’re also going as far as Imperial Capital, right?”
“Lutiya.”

As Lutiya stopped the foot he had just begun to move, Noin held out his right hand.

“I’ll be in your care from here on too.”
“What’s with you?  Getting all formal like that… it’s creepy.”
“Well, I didn’t think we’d be able to set out together like this.”

—If that’s how he feels, then it’s the same for me.

When Lutiya first came to the La Baia Military Academy. He was tired of everything.  Noin, who kept telling him to straighten his collar, was dazzling and annoying.  He thought they’d be at odds forever.  Never had he imagined that by fighting, that by winning and losing, they could become friends who looked towards the same future.

“…You’re… being serious.”
“Because you’re always getting out of doing things.”

Lutiya clasped back with his right hand.

“Then, become the Empire’s number one soldier.”
“In that case, you become the Empire’s number one statesman.”

Afterwards, for just a moment, they tightly gripped each other’s hands before letting go.

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