#768 Gluten Fears

At the wedding reception, the first round of the Special Dragon Challenge ended in Veil’s victory.

“Tch, it can’t be! Where did my calculations go wrong?!”

The opposing dragon sounded like a stereotypical nerdy villain who just got outsmarted.

“Those who resort to rough play lose. That’s the unspoken rule of the game,” responds Veil, seemingly pulling some wisdom out of nowhere. “You raced well for a beginner. The contest was neck and neck until the very end, but you couldn’t resist the dragon’s innate push for dominance at the crucial moment. That was your downfall.”

“So... I lost because of my inherent impatience and recklessness?”

This might seem all serious and intense, but remember, it’s just entertainment at a wedding reception.

“I see...! We dragons possess great power. Hence, we often fall into the misconception that we can somehow manage things through sheer force in the end...! When it becomes a close match, we always end up making the first move. Perhaps we lack that patience...?!’’

“Exactly. It’s more likely to become a decisive weakness in battles where the opponents are evenly matched in strength or in contests where the rules don’t favor the use of a dragon’s power.’’

“And you’re saying that’s our shortcoming as dragons...?! Did you challenge me to teach me this, Sis Veil?”

I doubt it.

I can only think she’s just spouting whatever she comes up with on the spot.

Veil’s background in farm life might’ve taught her to sound profound, though.

But who is she imitating?

Me?

“We dragons must evolve, too. I truly hope this duel will be a stepping stone for you.”

“Sis Veil...!”

“That said, you lost, so it’s punishment time.”

“Wait, what?!”

A punishment?

Was that part of the rules?

“For the losing Crowley Seima, your punishment is to drink... this!”

Thunk!

She places a large pot in front of him.

Where did that even come from?

The pot is filled with...?!

“A 100% concentrated dragon essence... essentially gonkotsu broth! It’s so potent for humans that I need to dilute it a hundred times! But for a fellow dragon, it’s just right!!!”

When Veil got into ramen-making, she concocted this ultimate broth by simmering her fellow dragon. 

Given its origins, it was too potent for humans, verging on lethal.

Is she really going to make him drink that as punishment?

Is this okay?!

“Nghhh! I lost, so I’ll accept the winner’s decree! If Sis Veil commands it, I, Crowley Seima, will drink every drop!!!”

He’s brave, isn’t he?

He lifts the pot, preparing to drink.

Wait! Shouldn’t he revert to his dragon form first?!

The volume might be too much for his human form...!

“Gulp! Gulp gulp gulp gulp... Ahh! I drank it all!”

He seems fine.

Well, he’s fundamentally a dragon, I guess.

“Yeeeeeeeeeeeees!!! Goodbye to the endless days of getting rid of that bottomless broth!”

Veil just settled her past liabilities, all the while presenting her product!

Since when did you become so innovative, Veil?!

“Now, onto the second roundddd,” announces the dragon Seidour. 

She’s a dragoness who has interacted with Veil and Ardheg a lot.

By the way, is she not in the Decem Dracones?

...Not ranked? 

But she’s in the Top 50?

...I see.

“I propose... a dragon broth-making contest!”

“Kuahhhhhh! As the seventh-ranked dragon in the Decem Dracones, Tiqila, I won’t loseeeeeeeeeee!”

The opponent, another dragoness, jumps into a new pot and turns up the heat.

Since dragons are generally gorgeous, seeing two socialites boiling themselves was an eerie sight.

This might be too much for kids, so I made Platy send Junior and Norito away.

...Now, where were we?

Do they just boil each other... and then what?

Even if you tried to test one’s endurance, a hundred degrees is like tepid water to a dragon.

Comparing flavors with the broth they’ve got is too intense for human consumption.

So, it just resulted in a mess.

“I’ll give the broth to you once more, Sis Veil.”

“Whaaaaaat?! The dragon essence I finally used up is back and has doubleeeeeeeeeeeeeed?!”

Not only is there the broth from Seidour but also from the other female dragon she competed against.

Veil finds herself stuck with a surplus once again.

Meanwhile, the dragon from the previous match fainted, realizing the harsh consequence of what he just downed as punishment.

Moving on, the next match is overseen by Alexander.

The opponent dragon tried to flee immediately, but one can’t escape from the mightiest dragon.

“Don’t worry. I won’t challenge you to a brute-force match. We’ll compete in a manner fitting for humans. I’ve got just the thing!”

A real commitment to introduce one’s field of expertise.

“A compliment contest!”

“A compliment contest?!”

“We find the best attributes of all the people here and praise them! Whoever gives the most compliments wins! Simple, right?”

“I-If there’s even a slight chance of beating Brother Alexander in a test of pure skill, I should try... V-Very well, I, Wildebagi, ranked sixth, will take you on!!!”

And so, the fiercest compliment battle led by the strongest dragon begins.

The attendees find themselves amidst a storm of praises.

“You must be the reigning king of the demon race. Your reign is remarkably just and compassionate, truly commendable.”

“You, the Mermaid King, are friends with Ardheg, am I correct? Your ability to connect beyond racial barriers is truly fitting for a king of the vast oceans.”

“Congratulations on your marriage, demon bride. I’ve heard of the exquisite clothes you make. I wish you had a store at the base of my mountain.”

“Hello, little boy, how old are you? Three? Good job being able to say your age.”

As expected, Alexander could easily spot and praise the merits of anyone he saw.

His opponent, on the other hand...

“Hey, you, human male! ...Nice, uh, smooth head!”

“And that female human... Impressive, balanced figure! Your flat chest is functional!!!”

While he tried to shower everyone with praise, it came off awkwardly.

As I thought, complimenting people is hard.

In the end, Alexander won, and the third match concluded.

...How long will this go on?

Next up was Proto-Geyser Dragon Typhon...

“Why do I have to do this?”

Her refusal led to a forfeited game.

Typhon, the ancestral dragon ruler, sure is capricious.

Lastly, the bride finally makes her appearance as the competition approaches the end.

Bloody Mary exudes a queenly aura in her wedding gown.

“Who’s the unlucky dragon that’ll face me?”

Despite wearing pure white, her dark aura was overwhelming.

The opposing dragon quivers at her presence.

“Becoming Graugrinzel Bloody Mary’s first victim after her transformation is quite an honor. I’ll teach you the true meaning of fear.”

“S-Sis...? This is a celebration. Maybe tone it down...?”

For the record, even after marriage, Ardheg still refers to her as Sis.

“Don’t worry. I know how to read the room. My proposed contest is... making miso soup!”

Miso soup?!

“Every married woman makes miso soup for her husband every morning!”

That’s a personal opinion.

“ “Now that I’m proudly wedded to Ardheg, I wonder if any culinary expert can rival the miso soup I make? Today, I’ve chosen top-tier wheat gluten from the farm as my ingredient!”

Today’s special: wheat miso soup.

It was genuinely terrifying.

Bloody Mary won.