#629 Dragon Harem

I’m Bloody Mary, the Graugrinzel Dragon.

I feel like it’s been a long time, but at the same time, not really.

After all, I’m always with my beloved Ardheg.

The only one I care about and am willing to submit to is Ardheg, the official Emperor Geyser Dragon.

Dragons are the most powerful race standing atop all living beings. 

And the dragon that stands above them is the Emperor Geyser Dragon.

Geyser Dragon Ardheg reigns at the top of dragons in both name and substance, a perfect being no one can defy.

Well, technically, there are several stronger dragons than him...

But substantially, it’s not a lie if my Ardheg is called the ruler of all dragons!

As expected of the dragon I have set my eyes on. 

He used to doubt whether he qualified for the position when he first took over.

To become a full-fledged Geyser Dragon, Ardheg devoted himself to building a habitat and spent his time diligently visiting the mountains where his dragon acquaintances lived to make a proper castle.

But one day, he concluded that he didn’t need to build from scratch, so I invited him to my mountain dungeon, the Black Widow’s Mountain, and let him make it the new Geyser Dragon’s home.

It’s only natural for those who serve the emperor to offer up their place.

Apparently, humans call this the fruit of one’s life labor assisting her husband’s career! Kyaa!

Thus, my dreaded Black Mountain has become a love nest for us, husband and wife.

I’m thinking of changing our dungeon’s name from the ill-omened Black Widow Mountain to Black Lovebirds Mountain.  

...

There’s something that I’ve been harboring in my mind for a while now. Something I heard about some time ago.

It’s about our creator, the founder of all, including the deities—the ancient of all ancients. Gaia, the Mother Goddess of All, appeared at a rare time and wove these words, “Dragons are changing in the future, so why don’t we change their ecology too? Like other creatures, they will mate and reproduce sexually to increase in number.”

She even said something along the lines of, “Then, should the Geyser Dragon not have a dragoness to mate with as his queen? Hmm?”

I don’t remember if she actually said it in that casual tone, however.

I believe she also said that the dragoness who was to be the queen of the Emperor Geyser Dragon would be given a unique title, which is...

The Gwynn Dragon.

Sounds numbingly noble and powerful, yet alluring, if I say so myself.

I was once obsessed with the title of Geyser Dragon and tried to obtain it at any cost.

Although my wish did not come true and Ardheg became the Geyser Dragon, it might not be a bad idea to be the queen he loves.

Gwynn Dragon Bloody Mary.

It has a beautiful ring to it!

I can picture it in my mind; it sounds and looks good!

The first-ever Gwynn Dragon will be I, Bloody Mary!

We’ve been together for so long, and now, we have a dedicated place to live.

No one can tear us apart! I’m as good as the Dragon Empress now!

May I?

May I officially call myself Dragon Empress from now on?

Is it wrong of me to feel conceited about this?

But one day...

* * *

My chances of becoming the Gwynn Dragon were on the verge of collapse.

“Aahn♥ Lord Ardheg, you’re so cool and handsome today ♥♥♥”

“I am so happy to serve you ♥♥♥”

“Would you like me to massage your feet? Perhaps your back? ♥♥♥”

“Lord Ardheggg ♥ I feel so hot♥ Should I take off my clothes? ♥♥♥”

...What is with these vixens?

Rather, dragonesses? 

I took my eyes off the Ardheg for a moment, and a bunch of unfamiliar Grinzel dragons was swarming around him!!!

When did this happen?!?!?!

“Where the heck did you all come frommmmasdfghjkllllll?!”

“Kyaaa!” “Lady Bloody Mary has gone maaaaaaad!!!”

You even transformed into your human forms!

Where did the most powerful race of dragons learn such flirtatious gestures?!

“Moreover! How dare you wenches invade my dungeon?!”

“Oh dear, please don’t get the wrong idea, Bloody Mary!” says one of the humanized dragonesses, wiggling her body around. “You passed ownership rights to Lord Ardheg, didn’t you?~”

“If so, the ruler of this dungeon is now Lord Ardheg. If he invites us, we nobodies will have no choice but to obey him!”

Ardheg?!

You invited them?! What is your intention in inviting these flirtatious dragons?

“I was just about to go about my Dragon Emperor business today when I saw them already in the hall...!”

“Whaaaaaat?!”

“And weren’t they your underlings? Any of your allies are welcome here, so...!”

And you gave them your word, just like that?!

Underling who?! I’m gonna rip their wings and tails off, oraaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

“Ooooh, Lady Mary is sooooo scary ♥”

“She’s like a demonnn ♥ Save us, Lord Ardheggg ♥♥♥”

Heeeeeeeeeeeey!!!

Don’t turn to Ardheg for every little thingggggggggggggggg!!!

“But, but! It’s not a lie when we said we used to obey your orders, Lady Mary.”

“Huh?!”

It’s true that during the struggle for the succession of the Geyser Dragon, I had many dragons under my control.

But I merely gathered them as a countermeasure to Alexander, who might eventually intervene in the battle...!

“You mean you were among them?”

“Yes! But you don’t seem to remember any of us. Even when we met here, you didn’t recognize us until we started explaining.”

“In the end, we’re just a bunch of insignificant dragons who don’t deserve to take up space in your memory.”

The dragons under my command were no longer needed after the Geyser Dragon succession war ended, and at one point, they rebelled against me, so I dismissed them.

No, they’re free to rebel against me, but they rebelled against Ardheg and insulted him, which was intolerable.

Ardheg executed their ringleader, Agivend. I thought he’d also tear Agivend’s accomplices limb by limb, but his compassion allowed them to go free and only banished them.

But now, they dare to return and butter up to Ardheg...!

“So you’re returning a favor with spite, I see!!!”

“Wonggg, we just want to return the favor! Teehee.”

Her way of talking is getting on my nervessss!

“We realized it during the battle with that stupid Agivend. Lord Ardheg truly deserves the title of Geyser Dragon.”

“I already knew that!”

“That’s why we came back in shame to serve Geyser Dragon Ardheg. We wanted to show our loyalty to him by being by his side, even if we don’t hold any significant positions.”

“None of you know any shame, do you?”

“You’re too noisy, Lady Mary. Could you shut up for a moment?”

“Excuse me?!”

How dare you talk to me, whom you once feared as the guardian dragon!

“After all, now that we all answer to Lord Ardheg, that makes us equals, right? We’re all just servant dragons under the emperor’s command.”

“N-No!”

Don’t underestimate me!

Even if we are both subject to Ardheg, there’s still a clear difference between you and me!

“Hm... Do you think of yourself as the Dragon Emperor’s queen, the Gwynn Dragon, perhaps?”

“?!”

How do they know that?!

The title of Gwynn Dragon is a suggestion Mother Gaia uttered on the spur of the moment!

I understand the deities have the power to turn any idea they have into the laws of the world, but something blurted out of the blue shouldn’t have made it to that many ears...!

Only I, standing by and listening, should be the only dragon who knows that!

I don’t think the Mother Goddess has told any other dragon. Not to mention, they, who ran away after I lost to Veil that time, wouldn’t have had a chance to eavesdrop!  

And yet...!

“Gwynn Dragon, what a dreamy title!”

“Oh, how we’d love to be the Gwynn Dragon too, since we couldn’t become the Geyser Dragon. We have the qualifications as dragonesses, anyway...”

“We won’t let you do as you please and hog everything to yourself, Sis Mary. Okay?”

I knew it...!

They’re...

They’re clearly aiming for the title of Gwynn Dragon!

The reason they came back was not to show their loyalty as servants. They’re putting up a façade so that they can become the second most powerful dragon after the emperor, the Dragon Empress!

But how?!

Where did they get leaked information on the Gwynn Dragon?!