Speculation
I’m walking through the palace corridor with Father, carrying the large backpack containing the dragon egg. Brother Chris came with us too, so it’s the three of us in the capital.
Some people give me a “What is that?” kind of look, but when they notice Father and the palace attendants and knights walking alongside me, they quickly realize this is not something to interfere with and slip away.
To prevent the backpack straps from digging into my shoulders and to make sure it wouldn’t be a disaster even if I dropped it, the straps and entire pack have been padded with cotton. Rosarina, the maid who helps with sewing, did a great job as always.
This time, we were led directly to the meeting room, where the people I met last time—and Duke Clondale—were already seated.
“Ah, Reinhardt. You’re up to something interesting again… or maybe it’s more accurate to say you’ve been dragged into something, hmm?” said Duke Clondale.
I looked to Father, who nodded, so I responded, “Duke Clondale, everyone, it’s been a while,” and bowed my head with the backpack still on.
“The egg is in that pack, I take it? First, why don’t you place it on the cushioned chair,” said Elder Rufas from the Magic Tower, likely the eldest in the room.
“Thank you very much,” I said, and seeing a chair next to where I was probably meant to sit, I took off the backpack and placed it there.
“The King has arrived,” came the announcement, and everyone stood up.
Once His Majesty was seated, everyone sat down again.
“Reinhardt, it’s been a while. I didn’t expect to see you again so soon, certainly not within a year. I’m sure everyone wants to see it—show us the dragon egg,” the king said.
“Your Majesty, as I mentioned previously, no one but Hardt can carry the dragon egg. He’ll need to approach Your Majesty, if that’s acceptable.”
“I’d like a closer look, so it’s fine.”
I shouldered the backpack again and approached the King. One of the people seated on the edge took out a cushion and placed it on the table for me.
“Thank you very much,” I said, set the backpack on the floor, took out the dragon egg, and gently placed it on the cushion. That same man then tried to move the egg but…
“It’s too heavy—I can’t move it,” he told the others.
“Let’s all stand for a moment,” said three of them, standing up to give me space. I dragged the cushion over to the King’s side.
“May we also take a closer look?” asked Elder Rufas.
“Everyone wants to see it up close—go ahead,” the King allowed.
“It’s glowing on the surface.”
“It looks a lot like a dragon scale.”
“Reinhardt, may I try holding the egg?” Duke Clondale asked.
“Of course.”
“Let’s see… ugh, I can lift it, but it’s too heavy to carry,” he said, returning it to the cushion.
“Let me try—ugh, it’s really heavy. I can’t even lift it,” one by one, they all tried, and they seemed convinced that I’d been telling the truth.
“We didn’t doubt you, but we needed to confirm it for ourselves. Forgive us,” said Elder Rufas. Was I making a face?
“That should be enough. Reinhardt, return to your seat with the dragon egg. I want to hear the full story,” said the King.
I picked up the egg from the cushion, returned it to the backpack, and went back to my seat.
Then I told them everything—from the World Tree, to the third blessing, to the purification of the dragon’s curse.
“I thought you were hiding something during our first meeting… so it was a third blessing,” Elder Rufas murmured.
“At the time, we didn’t know what the blessing was,” Father added. “Besides, it now seems that all the blessings were necessary for the dragon’s purification.”
“Indeed. Healing the World Tree, cleansing the dragon’s curse—it all fits together. Marquis, why do you think Reinhardt was chosen?”
“… Most likely because of his mana. Reinhardt has more than all of us. His mana exceeds 10,000.”
“Over 10,000? But he’s not even eight yet!”
“Yes. I believe that’s why Fenrir, the dragon, and even the World Tree have taken a liking to him.”
We had already decided to use the explanation about mana to avoid mentioning my family or past life. Those secrets must be protected.
“So that explains the dragon. What about the mana reservoir that nearly turned into a curse and consumed the dragon? What are your thoughts on that?”
“I suspect it’s on the beastkin side of the forest.”
“And your reasoning?”
“Because a Saintess has descended there. I came to that conclusion from a book about saints that I read in the library of Duke Clondale’s mansion.”
What do you think about this chapter?
