Chapter 18

Episode 18: Sky Dragoons and the Wall of Status

The day after visiting Freigel’s estate—

At our familiar academy, I called together my close friends, those I’d shared both good times and bad with. And now…

“…A drake, huh.”

I stood in front of the massive creature, its wings outstretched and its roar echoing through the air, staring it down with cautious awe.

The drake had been arranged for our journey to the Vulcan Empire—one of several provided by Princess Valtlune and her personal detachment of sky dragoons. Larger than a human by a fair margin, this beast was one of the Empire’s military-grade war drakes.

In my past life, I’d fought sky dragoons before. The drakes’ erratic and rapid aerial movements had made them a real pain to deal with.

“Whoa… It’s a drake! That’s amazing… This is my first time seeing one.”

Stiano’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he reached a hand toward the creature.

Hey, careful! That thing might bite.

Personally, I’d never dream of casually touching one of those beasts. Still, I couldn’t blame him—his curiosity made sense. During wartime, drakes were a common sight. But in peaceful times like these, a commoner born in the Kingdom of Reshfeld wouldn’t ever get the chance to see one up close.

Even I found the sight of such a massive creature calmly letting people ride it a bit surreal.

“This one comes from one of the finest bloodlines in the Empire,” Princess Valtlune said, a hint of pride in her voice. “We breed many types of drakes in the Vulcan Empire, but this species is unmatched in speed, intelligence, and combat capability.”

As she boasted, a chill ran down my spine.

“…Still, it’s odd, don’t you think? How come you’re always glued to Princess Valtlune’s side, Aldia?”

That frigid voice.

Valtlune was standing right beside me.

And not far away, watching us with sharp eyes and a slightly sour expression, was Petra.

“Petra, listen—”

“Hmph!”

Yeah, I figured. No room for excuses.

Even if I told her we were connected from a previous life, there’s no way she’d believe me. I’d probably think someone was mocking me too if they said that to my face.

At the moment, most of my close friends were gathered here. Ady and Tredia were still attending the military academy, so they weren’t present, but the rest of us—me, Stiano, Petra, Ambros, Mia, and Freigel—had all come.

Though I wouldn’t call them outsiders exactly, Princess Valtlune and the sky dragoons she brought had also joined us.

It was quite the crowd.

Good thing we weren’t in a busy, high-traffic area. That would’ve turned into a scene.

“Your Highness! Who exactly are these people?”

One of the younger sky dragoons stepped forward and asked the question plainly. Clearly, he was curious.

“They’re very dear guests of mine,” Valtlune replied smoothly. “I intend to bring them to the Vulcan Empire. Is there a problem with that?”

The young dragoon backed off, his face stiff.

Judging by the way he carried himself, he was probably a noble’s son.

While he addressed the princess, his eyes sharpened when they landed on Freigel.

Freigel was the fourth son of the Marquis of Margunoia, a noble house of the Kingdom of Reshfeld. It was no surprise a Vulcan noble would find it hard to accept that one of their own princesses was on friendly terms with a foreign noble.

I was sure rumors about her broken engagement to Prince Yuris had already spread throughout the Empire.

“…Your Highness, I beg your pardon for speaking so boldly, but I must object to allowing these individuals into the Empire’s territory.”

As expected, the young man voiced his disapproval. He didn’t want us entering the Vulcan Empire.

“Oh? And why is that?”

“You yourself are aware of how delicate our current relationship with the Kingdom of Reshfeld is, are you not? And yet, you would welcome one of their nobles as a guest? Do you truly believe His Majesty the Emperor would permit such a thing!?”

Well… that was a pretty reasonable argument.

“I have no intention of asking my father’s permission. Why should I need it to invite a few friends to my homeland?”

“…Even if we were to overlook the noble from the Kingdom,” the dragoon pressed, “the others are commoners, aren’t they? To treat them as honored guests… it would tarnish your reputation, Your Highness.”

Ah, yes. The Vulcan Empire was infamous for its strict classism.

Even during the war, their noble-supremacy values were plain to see. Almost all their commanding officers were sons and daughters of noble families. It wasn’t until the final days of the war—when the Empire had grown truly desperate—that commoners began to rise in the ranks.

So, this guy’s prejudice wasn’t surprising. It was just how things were.

“…Are you implying I lack the judgment to see worth in a person?”

“N-No! Of course not, Your Highness! I would never presume—!”

“Then who I befriend and who I choose to welcome to my homeland is my decision alone, is it not?”

“I… That is…”

The dragoon choked on his words, his lips pressed in a tight line.

Then, teeth clenched, he bowed his head low.

“Sir Linos. These people are my honored guests. I expect you to treat them with due courtesy.”

“…! My sincerest apologies, Your Highness. I… I ask your leave to take some time to reflect!”

Without waiting for a response, the man—Sir Linos—mounted his drake and soared into the sky.

The other sky dragoons watched him in stunned silence.

Only one among them, a brawny man with a towering frame, let out a roar of outrage:

“Oi, Linos! You’re abandoning your post!?”