Chapter 609 - Meeting of Kindred Spirits
"Mion. I'm home."
"Welcome ba…ck."
Mion swiftly hid behind me.
She knew Argenta-san, but Emeraldia-san was a first meeting, after all.
"Mion-sama, forgive our intrusion. This is Emeraldia, the Emerald Dragon."
"Eh! Ah! Ugh???"
Emeraldia-san, peering over Argenta-san's shoulder and seeing Mion, looked incredibly surprised.
It's probably because she recognized Mion as the Jade Goddess…
"Emeraldia. This is Mion-sama."
"Ah, yes."
Argenta-san exuded an aura of "get it together," forcing Emeraldia-san to reluctantly accept.
"Eh, I'm Emera…ldia."
"Ah, I'm Mion…"
Indeed, these two really do seem alike.
I thought Mion had gotten completely used to talking normally lately, but perhaps it was just with familiar people.
"Where are the White Dragon Princess and the others?"
"Ah, they're already in the living room, waiting for snacks."
"Roger."
So, I escorted the two to the living room.
Assuming the dragons would want to talk amongst themselves first, Mion and I went to prepare tea and snacks.
"Oh, right. This is a souvenir from Argenta-san. Flower seeds, apparently."
"Oh, how wonderful!"
The Dragon Capital is up north, apparently even further north than Bell-senpai's headquarters, so maybe they're cold-weather flowers?
Well, I can probably just leave that part to them now.
"Here you go."
"Mm."
Today's snacks were cookies with Rumorella Jam. And I suppose I'd add some Torotoro Dried Papu Fruit, since Emeraldia-san seems to like it.
Putting that aside for a moment,
"Mion. Do you dislike Emeraldia-san?"
"Ah, no. I was just surprised by a sudden stranger…"
"Ugh, sorry. I should have contacted you via guild call."
She pets Lupi cutely, and just as I heard, she seems kind to fairies and phantom beasts.
I told Mion about what happened after she appeared with Argenta-san. That she doesn't seem like a bad person.
Not a person, but a dragon.
"It's fine now. She's Shou-kun's guest, after all."
"Roger. Just don't push yourself too hard."
"Yes."
When I returned to the living room with tea and snacks, the White Dragon Princess and Emeraldia-san were doting on Lupi, Leda, and Roy.
Lupi and the others seemed happy, so that was fine, but…
"Fluffy, fluffy~"
"Uhehe…"
Emeraldia-san's sloppy face was a bit scary…
I really wondered if she was alright, and looking at Argenta-san, she gave a small, very apologetic bow.
"Althena-chan. It's snack time."
"Snacks~♪"
"Emeraldia. You, too, take a seat."
"…Yes."
There were exactly enough chairs, so El-san must have prepared them.
And Emeraldia-san's eyes, which had been fixated on Lupi and the others, were now glued to the Torotoro Dried Papu Fruit.
"Well then, itadakimasu."
"Itadakimasu~"
Watching the White Dragon Princess begin to eat deliciously, Emeraldia-san also took a bite of the Torotoro Dried Papu Fruit…
"!!"
Yep, she seems to like it.
Perhaps because she finally got to taste what she had been looking for, she was eating it, savoring each bite. More importantly, was it enough to make her cry?
And, that aside, one thing just occurred to me.
"Mion. Where are Sweee and the others?"
I kept my voice low out of consideration for our guests. Mion, understanding my intention, replied,
"Ah, yes. Sweee-chan and the others suddenly said they were going to True-kun's place."
"Hmm…"
I bet those guys know about Emeraldia-san.
If you go straight west from where we rescued the fairies, you'd reach Emeraldia-san's vicinity.
Well, if they don't want to meet her, that's fine, but Emeraldia-san said,
"I'm going to live here…"
Ah, yes. I knew she'd say that.
"That will not do, Emeraldia."
Said Argenta-san.
The faint vein popping on her forehead was scary…
"Ugh, but… the Princess lives here…"
Emeraldia-san grumbled, but then,
"Emera, that's not allowed. You haven't repaid anything yet."
"Ah, ugh…"
The White Dragon Princess, who had suddenly become resolute, said that, and Emeraldia-san shrunk. Argenta-san also nodded vigorously.
Well, if I said yes here, Azure-san and Vermilion-san would definitely complain.
"For a while, you will assist Argenta in the Dragon Capital. Then, as a reward, you may come here."
"Ughhh…"
Emeraldia-san was on the verge of tears, but the White Dragon Princess calmly ignored her and accepted another cookie from Mion.
"Mion. It seems we're running low, so bring the rest from the storehouse."
"Yes."
As Mion left her seat, El-san refilled the tea.
I don't know what will happen in the future, but it wouldn't hurt to let Emeraldia-san eat a lot today.
If she were to return to her original location, Marie-nee might need her help.
"However, Princess. There isn't really any work we can assign to Emeraldia right now…"
"Nothing?"
"Whether it's replacing Vermilion or replacing Azure, she cannot command subordinates."
Argenta-san is so blunt with her own family, isn't she?
If that's the case, I feel like she could just work under Argenta-san…
"Is there nothing Emera can do alone?"
"Well… if there was anything that could be of use to Shou-sama…"
She glanced at me, or rather, I was suddenly passed the ball, which was troublesome…
[Chaos Empire has been founded!]
"What?!"