After a brief wait, the other leaders entered one after another.
When the Elven High Priest, Galadriel, walked in from the entrance, the surrounding temperature seemed to drop half a degree.
Her silver-purple hair hung down to her knees, and her light purple eyes carried a calmness and sense of distance forged over countless years.
Star patterns were embroidered upon her white priestess robes, and her bare feet made no sound as she stepped on the black jade floor.
She walked over to the seat of the elves and stood still, her tranquil gaze sweeping across the entire hall.
Elanor immediately reined in the liveliness she had displayed while chatting with Esper, standing respectfully behind Galadriel.
Once the two were seated, a crisp and hurried set of footsteps echoed from deep within the hall.
Then, a slightly lazy voice sounded.
“Oh my, if it isn't our great High Priest. We haven't seen each other for hundreds of years, yet it seems you've gained a few more wrinkles on your face.”
Esper followed the voice and saw a dark elf casually pulling out a chair and plopping down directly opposite the elves' seats.
Her long, silver-purple hair covered her back, and her amethyst-like eyes carried an undisguised provocation.
Galadriel did not look at Nephelia, merely picking up the teacup in front of her to take a sip before slowly speaking.
“Nephelia. Your upbringing is as dreadful as it was when you left the Forest of Star Whispers.”
“Is that so? Well, that old geezer taught me well, after all.”
Nephelia smiled pleasantly, but her smile was sharp as blades.
Voices around the entire Roundtable quieted down.
Galadriel placed the teacup back onto the tabletop, the bottom tapping lightly against the wood.
Elanor tugged at the High Priest's sleeve, whispering something in a low voice. But Galadriel did not answer, merely patting the back of her hand gently.
Nephelia watched this scene and snorted, but she did not press further. She turned, her trailing gown sweeping a semicircle across the wooden floor, and walked straight toward Esper.
“Are you Esper?”
Her tone was a bit softer than when facing Galadriel, but it still carried a scrutinizing edge.
“Ah, yes, I am.”
“Dinoman mentioned you to me. He said you beat him half to death.”
“...That was a puppet. Not him in person. And in the end, I wasn't even the one who beat him.”
“Same difference.”
Nephelia waved her hand dismissively, her amethyst eyes sweeping Esper from top to bottom as the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.
She then leaned in closer, lowering her voice so only the two of them could hear.
“Do you know how Dinoman described you?”
“...I'd rather not know.”
“He said you're as awesome as a dinosaur.”
“...Is that really supposed to be a compliment?”
“Of course.”
Nephelia's smile remained unchanged as she spoke, but the amusement in her eyes was far more genuine than when she faced Galadriel.
Then she straightened up, her long dress sweeping the floor, and turned back to walk toward her own seat. Before leaving, she offered a light nod to Eladia as a greeting.
Before Esper could process this brief encounter, another set of footsteps approached from behind.
The steps were extremely light, almost silent, but intentionally landed heavier five paces away to alert her of someone's approach.
She turned around.
A dark brown high ponytail was tied behind her head, her deep brown eyes sharp and tranquil.
A set of form-fitting dark gray light leather armor wrapped around her tall, slender body, with a black tight shirt extending from her collar to her wrists beneath.
She cradled a sword in her arms, its sheath made of plain black leather without any ornamentation.
Her appearance was ordinary, an unextraordinary female face, yet her presence constantly radiated an extraordinary aura.
The Sword Saint, Rihanna Valen.
“...Senior Sword Saint.”
“Mm. Thank you for looking after Renn.”
Her voice was not loud, and her pace was unhurried, every word carrying a composure forged by long years.
“...No, I was the one who was looked after. Renn helped me a lot as well.”
Esper shook her head.
“How are his injuries?”
“He has fully recovered. He also asked me to pass along that he looks forward to cooperating with you during the next Abyss Expedition.”
Esper fell silent for a moment.
She recalled that morning outside the tavern, the empty sleeve swaying in the dawn breeze.
Then she nodded.
“Mm. I understand.”
Rihanna stood motionless, her fingers lightly rubbing against the sheath.
The silence dragged on for several beats.
Her lips parted slightly.
“...It's nothing. Take care.”
She turned around, her steps remaining light as she walked toward the seats of the Storm Empire.
Looking at her receding back, Esper vaguely caught the question she had left unasked.
Yulia. She wanted to ask, but didn't.
“Esper...”
Eladia gently nudged her elbow from the side.
“What are you thinking about...?”
“...Just thinking about things I shouldn't be thinking about.”
“Is Lady Esper planning to get perverted?!”
Like thunder crashing on flat land, a crisp and bright voice exploded into Esper's ears, making her feel as if she were going deaf.
She covered her ears and turned her head.
Big, amber eyes.
Followed by a face.
Her entire face was practically pressed against hers.
Esper paused, then took half a step back.
When had this girl gotten so close?
Step, step.
The pig-nosed bighead immediately leaned forward half a step as well.
“Lady Esper, may I ask, is it true that you and the Saintess sleep together every day? Is it true that your sexual orientation is towards women? Is it true that you have a special ability to rapidly boost affection from the same sex?”
“...Who are you?”
Esper sighed and asked.
“Ah? Oh, right, haven't I introduced myself yet?”
She took two steps back, her bright red ear-length short hair, along with her tight traveling leather armor and pleated short skirt, shaking with her movements.
“I'm Ignis, a fire dragon!”
“...What?”
“I'm a fire dragon!”
She puffed out her chest, looking thoroughly pleased with herself.
“...How old are you?”
“Hmm? Around six or seven hundred.”
“...Six or seven?”
“Eh?!”
Ignis, who had been wearing a brilliant smile a moment ago, instantly looked as though she had suffered a massive blow and setback.
“How could you say that about me?! Even by Dragon Clan standards, I'm an adult!!”
“...In that case, you should feel even more ashamed. The questions you asked just now weren't very polite, were they?”
Esper sighed, unable to refrain from speaking as she looked at her ridiculous behavior.
“This is my professional dedication!”
“What kind of profession requires you to ask things like that?”
“Writing books!”
She pulled a book out from beneath her skirt and slapped it against Esper's chest.
Why from under your skirt...
“Here! This is my flagship work!”
“...What kind of nonsense do you write that requires asking such questions?”
Esper muttered as she took the book.
The cover looked strangely familiar.
“《How to Tame a... Fire Dragon...?》”
Esper looked up.
Ignis had a triumphant expression, her entire face practically shouting "praise me".
Esper looked back down.
She flipped through a few pages.
The text and descriptions were identical to those in her memory.
Esper looked up again.
Ignis held her head high with her eyes closed, snorting two faint puffs of fiery breath from her nose.
“...”
“...Haven't you read it? My editor said this one is the best-seller...”
Esper's legs went weak, and she nearly collapsed into Eladia's arms.
“Esper!”
“I'm, I'm fine.”
She stood up shakily.
“...What is... that book...?”
Eladia looked at the novel in Esper's hand with a bit of confusion, her eyes filled with curiosity.
“...It's best if you don't read it.”
“Eh?! Has someone really not read it?”
Ignis visibly fell into disappointment once more.
“...I've read it.”
Esper rubbed her forehead and spoke in anguish.
More than just read it!
It was the most widely circulated R18 book on the continent.
Positions and play styles that bordered on grotesque, a surprisingly engaging plot, and detailed research into the specifics of Dragon Clan life.
Under the combination of these three factors, the book achieved unprecedented and unmatched popularity across the continent.
The author's style—clearly writing with melancholic melodrama while desperately pouring their soul into absurd logic and practical encounters—had delivered a massive shock to Esper during her childhood.
She still remembered Ellie holding that book with a mischievous smirk.
“This is a book only adults can read. A little sister like Lonia definitely can't read it, right?”
“You're the little sister! Give it to me!”
The very next day, her elder sister discovered it.
“Lady Esper? Lady Esper?”
Ignis's calling snapped Esper back to reality.
“...I've long heard of your esteemed work.”
“Hmm? So I really am famous then! In that case, those three questions...”
“No comment.”
“Eh?! Tell me!”
Esper switched into stone statue mode.
Maintaining a cold expression, no matter what unhinged nonsense came from the other side, she used her exquisite body control to hold her reaction firmly in deadpan.jpg territory until Ignis finally walked off crying.
“Alright... Eladia...”
She turned around and found Eladia intently clutching a book.
A copy of 《How to Tame a Fire Dragon》 that had been slipped to her at some point.
Her big eyes were filled with immense confusion.
“...Stop reading that.”
“Ah...? Oh...”
She closed the book, but her eyes were filled with undisguisable disappointment.
“...Forget it, keep reading if you want.”
Esper decided not to bother with it.
After another while, the remaining leaders entered one after another.
When the Beast King, Fenrir, walked in, her brown wolf tail swung rhythmically behind her.
The moment Kane saw Fenrir enter, she trotted over to fall in behind her.
The king of the winged race, that guy named Icarus, entered while playing a lute.
Descending from above, he cradled his cloud lute in his arms, smiling warmly and politely acknowledging everyone.
Astra immediately slapped her hand over her face, looking as if she couldn't bear to watch.
Next was the dwarfs' Ultimate Smith, Barton, who looked about the same size as Kaylar, but sported a full bushy beard.
Esperfite's Pope, Ann, shakily took his seat under Riddell's encouragement.
“There are so many people... so scary... I feel like I can't breathe...”
The youth pressed his hand tightly to his chest as he muttered palely, causing everyone to display an awkward expression in unison.
He intentionally lowered his voice, but failed to realize that even lowered, his words still carried into everyone's ears.
“Don't panic, Your Holiness. Take a deep breath. Just pretend they're a bunch of potatoes...”
Riddell painstakingly advised him while wiping away non-existent sweat.
“Then wouldn't that make me shredded potatoes...”
It had the exact opposite effect.
“You're the potato! At the very least, I'd be a tomato! Potatoes have nothing to do with red at all!”
Ignis was still protesting loudly, making everyone feel even more awkward.
Who on earth allowed this dragon in here?
Oh, Wald. Never mind then... wait, is it really fine...?
Next was Beatrice of the Church of Radiance.
Behind her was the annoying pink-haired girl who, according to Yat's description, had turned entirely into a ill-fated lover combined with a tsundere and loyal pup alongside Constantine.
That was the Disciplinary Cardinal, Cecilia.
Her eyes briefly locked with Esper's for a moment before looking away.
Then, a silver-white figure walked in through the doorway.
The whispers in the hall abruptly subsided at that moment, as though all sound had been gently pressed down by an invisible hand.
Long, silver-white hair cascaded down from her shoulders to her waist like a waterfall woven from moonlight.
Her low twin-tails swayed gently with every step she took, her tiny transparent crystal horns glimmering softly under the gentle glow of the ceiling runes.
A thin, arrow-shaped black tail hung quietly past her skirt, swaying forcefully without stopping despite her clear effort to restrain it.
She wore the formal deep-black dress of the Demon Realm, her collar inlaid with a ring of silver embroidery.
Her crimson eyes stared quietly straight ahead, looking at no one's face as she walked straight toward the seat labeled "Demon".
The Demon King, Rafina Thun.
Esper's hands clenched tightly at her sides.
She should look away right now. Fina was the Demon King, and she was the Hero.
In a setting like this, any unnecessary glance would be magnified, interpreted, and exploited.
Yet she simply couldn't turn her gaze away.
Fina seemed to have changed a bit.
Her posture while walking was steadier than before, and the lines of her shoulders and back no longer held the slight timid contraction of her younger days.
Only those crimson eyes remained the same as before, quietly downturned, refusing to actively meet anyone's gaze.
As if hiding herself away in a place no one could reach.
“...Esper.”
Eladia's voice was soft, and her grip on Esper's fingers tightened slightly further.
The warm sensation of her palm transmitted through the leather gloves, as if pulling Esper back a step from a perilous edge.
At the other end of the Roundtable, Rafina took her seat among the demon delegation. Beside her sat Eliza, who had silently followed behind her into the accompanying position of the Demon Realm.
Eliza was still staring at Esper and at Eladia behind her, an indescribably complex emotion surging in her eyes, as if she wished to consume Esper whole.
Rafina was different.
She did not look at Esper, not once from start to finish.
But her tail kept swaying, never stopping for a second from the moment she entered until now.
Rate on N.U.
