#769 What is Strength?

Here’s a record of the intermission matches that happened at the Dragon Wedding Reception:

1. Veil makes use of the opponent’s sabotage and finishes first.

2. The second match was a messy, voided game due to unclear victory conditions.

3. The third game was voided because the opponent dragon fainted from a slap by a young lady teased for her modest bust.

4. The fourth game was null because Typhon wasn’t in the mood.

5. And in the fifth, Bloody Mary stunned all with her terrifying miso soup.

***

“Wait just a moment!!!” 

One of the dragons who had stormed into the wedding reception raised his voice.

Isn’t he their leader, Charleartz, or something?

“What’s with this nonsense competition? We dragons are the supreme beings, with power as our essence! And you’re saying the game’s decided on such foolish bases?”

“Heh, you want a real challenge?”

“Gnghhhhhhhh!”

Veil steps closer, making Charleartz back away.

If it came down to a show of strength, he’d be crushed by Alexander.

And though Alexander may steal the show, the rest of the dragons were monsters in their own right.

Veil, though ranked eighth among the Decem Dracones, had grown more formidable, now easily overpowering Bloody Mary, who once held the first spot.

Then, there’s Bloody Mary herself, the number one.

And then, Typhon, the ancestral dragon from which all others sprang.

No matter how I look at it, I can only anticipate a scene where they mow down their enemies.

“You sure about this? Do you want to switch to a straightforward battle of strengths? I can feel my destructive impulse itching to let loose, you know!”

“Nghhhh...!”

The opposing side sensed Veil’s power, frozen in apprehension.

Just as things were about to conclude...!

“Hold on a moment, Sis Veil.” 

Ardheg steps in.

Our groom, donning a pristine white tuxedo.

“If we go by order, our match is next. Please don’t steal my moment.”

“Aww, you wanna go at it too? All right, it’s your big day, after all. I’ll step aside,” Veil concedes, probably trying to let her younger brother have his moment in the spotlight.

“Of course, it only makes sense if I’m the one to fight. They’ve come questioning my strength after all...”

“Doubts? Isn’t it a fact that you used underhanded tactics to steal the Geyser Dragon position?!” one-sidedly snarls the other party. “We dragons believe power is everything! No matter how skilled one is in other areas, there’s no value without strength! Will you spew twisted logic and obscure the truth like the others before you? You fake Geyser Dragon!!!”

“You always present the same argument. Is it really so dishonorable that I ignored the succession rules and directly challenged Father?”

“That’s right! A dragon that prioritizes power behaving so shamefully is unforgivable...!”

“So let me ask, in turn, does the fact that I directly challenged and defeated Father, who was the strongest at the time, have nothing to do with true strength?”

“Ack!”

“By blindly following the rules set by Father and fighting as you’re told, do you claim to truly value power?”

“Grrrr...!”

The counter-argument hit a nerve that his opponent could do nothing but grumble.

Who would have thought that the once-clumsy Ardheg could offer such a composed and precise viewpoint?

“Charleartz, only our duel remains in the intermission showdown of the reception.”

“Like I said, this isn’t some mere intermission...!”

“But you desire a battle of strength, don’t you? Then, I’ll gladly accept your challenge.”

“What?!”

“I’m proposing a contest where strength will determine the victor.”

The venue buzzes at Ardheg’s declaration.

Even unrelated demons and merfolk were engrossed in the development.

“Pff, fwahahaha!!!”

He reacts with loud laughter.

“It seems you’ve become too cocky, fake Dragon Emperor! Instead of sneaking around in the shadows, you’ve come here to face me directly! You’re oblivious to the terror of Charleartz, the second-ranked of the Decem Dracones!!!”

“Ever since I started interacting with mankind, I’ve always pondered: what does ‘strength’ truly mean?”

“Will you listen to me?!”

By the way, if you wanna know what terror truly means, just think of Bloody Mary’s miso soup. 

“We dragons are powerful. It’s innate, we’re born as the mightiest creatures on earth. We believe so fervently in our strength that we don’t seek other means to prove ourselves... On the other hand, humanity is weak.”

Of course humanity is.

Our bodies aren’t invincible and have short lifespans, especially from a dragon’s perspective.

With just one puff, mankind might be completely obliterated. For a dragon, humans, insects, and leaves might all be equally weak and insignificant.

“Yet, humans stand up against those more powerful than themselves. Against monsters, those with power, and even against dragons like us. If needed, they muster their wit, summon their courage, and challenge foes far mightier than them. Sometimes, they even win.”

“Wh-What’s your point...?!”

“Even if born weak, they train and grow stronger, filling the gaps in their abilities with wisdom, determination, and luck to grasp victories that can’t be repeated twice. Humans have achieved this not once, but many times.”

A powerful dragon, inherently strong, crushes the weak.

With honed skill, strength, and determination, a fragile human pulls off an underdog victory against a stronger foe.

Which is truly the more challenging, the more noble of the two?

“Brother Charleartz. In human society, there are people called adventurers. They delve into dungeons, reaping various rewards as their job. Once, I invited them into my castle and got a chance to observe their work. It was quite impressive.”

“Again, what’s your point, telling me all this?!”

“It’s about the terms of our contest. A contest rooted in human culture, based on true capability. How about we face off in a mock adventurer’s challenge?”

The venue is astir at Ardheg’s proposal.

Could this be... a repeat of the dungeon conquest competition held at the Dragon Emperor’s castle long ago?

“Monster hunting is part of an adventurer’s job description.”

Guess I was mistaken.

“You and I will play the adventurers, hunting those who play monsters, and whoever completes their hunt first wins. What do you think?”

“Hmph! What a ludicrous idea...!!!”

The other dragon’s response, full of disdain, seems a bit forced.

“So, you want to decide our fates by playing humans, huh? I don’t understand why dragons like you are so obsessed with them! But I must admit, a true power contest sounds appealing. It suits our nature. Very well, I’ll take you on!”

With that acceptance, the challenge was set.

The new Geyser Dragon, Ardheg, vs. Decem Dracones Rank Two Charleartz.

The game? A monster hunt based on human adventurers!

Monster hunting!!!

“And what exactly are we hunting?”

Every hunt needs a target. Where would this one come from?

Considering Ardheg has the impressive Dragon Emperor’s dungeon, would they use monsters from there?

But even if they take on human forms, they’re still dragons.

Even the strongest, most fearsome monster would be too easy for them, right?

That much seemed clear, especially given Charleartz’s confidence.

“Kukuku...! Bring on anything. I’ll reduce it to ashes in a blink.”

“Well, regular monsters won’t stand a chance against us dragons. So, I’ve thought of someone special to be our target.”

“Huh?”

“Go ahead, Brother Alexander.”

“Hungyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?!?!?!”

Charleartz was flabbergasted, letting out a weird squawk.

There stood Alexander, having returned to his dragon form, the strongest of dragons!

“Mm, leave it to me. I do, after all, find myself targeted by adventurers as the dungeon guardian. I am the true prey for adventurers!”

Although, it’s doubtful that any adventurer would actually dare challenge Alexander.

No one even thinks they could reach such an exalted being.

He’s practically worshipped.

That’s just how mighty the most powerful dragon, Alexander, is!

“Damn it! You’ve got to be kiddingggggggggggg!!!”

The opponent hounds with overwhelming force.

“A match against Brother Alexander is impossibleeeee! Nobody can beat hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiim! The moment you face him, you’re done for!”

“Calm down, brother,” says Ardheg coolly. “As I said earlier, the true strength of humans lies in their ability to face even those stronger than themselves with wisdom and courage. If we dragons are to mimic that strength, our opponent should be someone stronger than us. Who better than Brother Alexander?”

“But he’s too stronggggggggggg! It’s impossible! I’ll lose! You call this a maaaaaaaaaatch?!”

“So, you only fight those weaker than yourself? You only engage in battles you know you can win?”

Ardheg’s voice had a sharp tinge to it.

“Humans challenge even the mightiest foes when necessary. For those they hold dear, without fearing death. That is the strength of humans. You say dragons can’t do what humans can?”

“Hngh...!!!”

“If you win this battle, I’ll concede the title of Geyser Dragon. Isn’t that worth risking everything for? If you back down now, it’ll damage your dragon pride, no?”

“D-D-D-Damn it allllll!!!”

Overwhelmed by the argument and determination, Charleartz snapped.

“Fine, I’ll do ittttttttt! Brother Alexander or whoever, I don’t care! I’ll defeat anyone and claim the title of Geyser Dragon for myself! Keep your promise, Ardheggggggggggg!”

“That’s the spirit, Brother Charleartz!!!”

Isn’t Charleartz just being manipulated by Ardheg?

Reading and leading on one’s emotions... as expected of the Dragon Emperor!!!