Chapter 38
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
Volume 2 + Chapter 38: Here To Collect A Debt
Gran’s pupils were filled with shock—shock so deep it seemed he couldn’t accept what he was hearing.
Because it simply couldn’t be true.
“Your Majesty, is this really true? Or… could it just be a coincidence…?”
“Do you know anything about the Black Tide in Golde?” Xia Lulu asked.
Gran shook his head. “I don’t know much about the Black Tide phenomenon in Golde, but I’ve heard of the disaster that ravaged the region. I heard Her Highness the Princess took care of it?”
“She did. As for the truth behind the Black Tide, right now only three people know about it—me, Xia Yi, and Serra. It must not be shared with anyone else.”
“Your Majesty… then the truth behind the Black Tide, does it have something to do with the Black Coffin?”
“The truth of the Black Tide… is the dragon curse.”
“What—?!”
Gran followed the line of reasoning just a little, and a chill ran down his spine.
“The Black Tide in Golde is the dragon curse. Every creature within it is a half-dragon, infected by that curse. Under the control of a certain will, they form a collective—taking action as one, following unified commands. In Golde, they harvest life, turning all other races into half-dragon monsters. The horde grows, becoming an ever-expanding disaster that can’t be ignored.”
Xia Lulu explained to Gran:
“In this mission, Xia Yi discovered the Black Tide’s base deep beneath the sea—a city of ancient ruins. There was a Black Coffin there. The Black Tide was performing some kind of ritual, offering sacrifices to the coffin for a mysterious purpose. Unfortunately, in the end, the ancient city collapsed, and Xia Yi never had a chance to examine the corpse inside the Black Coffin.”
“How could this be…”
Gran was overwhelmed by the sheer astonishment of it all.
“Gran, what level of dragon curse do you think is capable of something like this?”
The moment Xia Lulu asked that question, Gran already had his answer.
Only a Dragon King’s Curse could do it. No matter how strong a regular dragon’s curse was, its power had limits.
But dragons of royal blood were… different.
“That Black Coffin—could it possibly belong to anyone else?” Xia Lulu pressed.
“…No.”
Gran lowered his head.
There was no doubt.
That Black Coffin was the very same one that had once vanished from the Dragon Kingdom.
And now—it had appeared in the sea off the coast of Golde…
The gravity of the situation was no longer on the same level as before.
“Your Majesty, what would you have me do?” Gran asked, bowing loyally.
He was a clever man.
The Silver Dragon Queen hadn’t come to him just to tell a story and pass the time.
These were major secrets within the dragon race. The more one knew, the more dangerous their position became.
He had to take the initiative and show his stance.
“Gran, your resolve is as firm as ever. But haven’t you considered other possibilities?” Xia Lulu asked with a light smile. “Like the owner of the Black Coffin… returning, just as foretold in the prophecy.”
> “The return of the True King shall be marked by the false king’s blood as sacrifice.”
That prophecy had once circulated through the Dragon Kingdom, but now only the elder generation of dragons knew of it.
Who first spoke it was no longer traceable.
But no one dared utter those words in front of Xia Lulu.
Only those dragons sentenced to death had ever dared to shout this forbidden prophecy upon the execution platform.
“Your Majesty, I only believe what I see with my own eyes. You are the ruler who reigns over the Dragon Kingdom.”
“……”
Xia Lulu fell silent.
The ten seconds that followed were brief, yet to Gran, they felt excruciating—like being boiled alive in a vat of oil.
“Gran, I’m entrusting the search for the Black Coffin to you.”
“Your Majesty…!”
“Though the Black Tide has been destroyed, the Black Coffin’s whereabouts remain unknown. Our dragon race has now become the hero of Golde. After so many years of war, the people of Golde have begun to long for our rule once again. We can fully use the banner of ‘saving Golde’ to take power—swiftly seize control of all coastal cities and search for the Black Coffin. We must not allow any foreign race even the slightest chance to come into contact with it. I entrust this secret mission—to find the Black Coffin—to you.”
“I accept the command.”
Gran let out a breath of relief; only after hearing Her Majesty’s command did his heart finally settle back into his chest.
Xia Lulu walked over to the window. Gazing out at the sky, heavy with dark clouds, the confident ease on her face had long since vanished.
She truly wished… time could slow down.
—
Nighttime.
After finishing dinner, Xia Yi wiped her mouth.
Utterly satisfied~!
“Your Highness, how was dinner?” Serra asked.
“Not bad—just the way I like it,” Xia Yi replied with a smile.
Normally, because nutrition had to be taken into account, the menu was adjusted accordingly. Serra couldn’t just cook whatever Xia Yi liked.
But today was an exception—it was all her favorites.
“This meal was approved by Her Majesty. She wanted to reward you, Your Highness.”
“Eh? Xia Lulu being that generous…?”
“Your Highness, Her Majesty has always doted on you.”
“So what… if she has?”
Xia Yi put on an indifferent act.
But such performances were useless in front of Serra—she saw right through it instantly.
Faced with Serra’s smiling expression, Xia Yi grew more and more embarrassed, and could only try to change the subject.
“Serra, aren’t you going to Golde?”
“No,” Serra replied. “Because I’m Your Highness’s personal maid. Serving you is what matters most to me.”
“Serra’s performance this time was also very impressive. You’ve done a great deal. Is there anything you want?”
“As for rewards, Her Majesty has already given them. You don’t need to worry about that, Your Highness.”
“Oh, alright then. But if there is something you want, you must tell me! I’ll make it happen!” Xia Yi said, patting her little chest confidently.
Truthfully, what Serra really wanted was to see her little princess throw a tantrum, get flustered, fall to the floor, and cry in frustration.
Too bad that kind of thing couldn’t be said out loud—what a shame.
“Your Highness, is there anything else you need me to do?”
“Nothing really! After your bath, Serra, you should head back and get some rest early too! You haven’t had much rest at all lately!”
“As you command, Your Highness,” Serra replied.
—
Later that night.
“Ahaha~”
Later in the evening, Xia Yi had finished washing up, changed into her sleepwear, and flopped onto her bed.
Serra had also followed orders and gone to rest early.
Xia Yi took out a manga and started reading, swinging her feet and giggling nonstop.
What a blissful life~ Ehehe… now I can start posing…
“Ahem, just a little posing doesn’t count as full-on posing!” Xia Yi muttered to herself.
Time passed, and as it grew closer to bedtime, she started to feel sleepy and was about to set the manga aside—when suddenly—
“Huh? Th-this can’t be!”
A soft pink glow lit up on her lower abdomen—it was the dream demon mark Ella had left behind.
Xia Yi’s expression instantly changed.
Crap—how did I forget about her?!
Miss Succubus Ella… tonight, she’s here to collect her debt, with interest, from the little princess!
