“This is Solerei City,” Selena muttered while looking around. The city gave a different vibe than all the cities she had visited before.
The city was the combination of civilization and nature. There were a lot of tall trees with houses at the top, and each of them was connected either with ladders or bridges. Several buildings were also erected on the ground between the trees. Unlike the ones at the top, they were made of bricks and other more robust materials.
The buildings’ shapes looked mostly like a box, but that simplicity allowed a lot of other species to live.
There was a man with cat ears running on the wooden bridge, there was a group of harpies hanging around on the tree’s branches, and there were even humans and other races hanging around and drinking together on the side of the street.
“This is a place where familiars can mingle with others freely. It doesn’t matter if you are a human or any other race, they guarantee your right.” Selena inhaled deeply, impressed by the sight.
All those giant trees made the city even more look majestic, which took Nathan’s breath away.
“Where are we supposed to go?” Selena asked.
Nathan opened the letter and read it for her. “There is a white-colored building two blocks away from here. It has a golden dragon plaque on it, so we have to go there and ask about the dragon king’s current whereabouts.”
“Then, let’s go.”
“Sure.” Nathan took the lead while reading the instruction.
It didn’t take them a lot of time to find the building, especially with such a huge plaque hanging on top of its door.
The man known as the Dragon King was actually a leader of a mercenary organization, so the building they were asked to go to was actually one of its branches.
Nathan and Selena entered the building casually, finding an empty hall with two people standing behind a counter.
“Hello. I’ve been told to show this letter upon arrival.” Nathan showed the letter of recommendation, but surprisingly, the receptionists recognized the seal used in that letter.
One of them immediately said, “We have been notified about your arrival, Mr. Nathan. If you want to meet sir Dragon King, you can visit the hill on the east. It shouldn’t be too far away from this city.”
“Oh? Thank you.” Nathan nodded as he couldn’t help but think, ‘That was rather easy. I guess there won’t be anyone suddenly appearing out of nowhere that questions my identity.’
Once they left the building, Nathan asked, “I guess we should find a carriage going to that hill.”
“No. I’ll ask Risa and Sasha to help.” Selena asked.
“That’s also an option.” Now that Nathan thought about it, Vivian had never given him an allowance. He thought he needed to sell a core or something to raise enough money for the carriage, but it was unnecessary.
As soon as they left the city, Selena summoned her two familiars.
“Risa. You carry him,” said Selena. Considering Risa knew more about Nathan, it was only natural.
“I’ll be in your care.” Nathan nodded to Risa.
“Yes.” Risa moved to his back and circled her arms around Nathan’s chest. “Are you ready?”
“Anytime.”
Before Risa started flying, she fell silent for a moment. “Hmm?”
“Is there something wrong?”
“It’s nothing.” Risa shook her head. “You just smell good. What perfume are you using?”
“Huh?” Nathan tilted his head in confusion. “I don’t use one.”
“Really?” Risa looked shocked.
“What are you two doing?” Selena asked, her eyes slightly squinting as if she was a bit displeased.
“Ah. It’s nothing!” Nathan waved his hand as Risa nodded her head and took off.
This was the first time Risa was so close to Nathan that she didn’t realize that her drool was leaking out of the corner of her lips when flying. Her head remained close to Nathan’s neck, as if it were responding to her natural instinct. Because Selena had been giving her blood from time to time, she had never had a craving for blood, so she didn’t notice something was weird about Nathan.
Of course, it also meant Nathan didn’t know Risa’s weird behavior. They simply flew to the afore-mentioned hill, which took less than twenty minutes to arrive.
“I guess we have to climb the hill and find him somewhere. Is this hide and seek or something?” Nathan muttered while raising his head.
“I’m here to help.” Selena assured him.
When they were about to climb the hill, a roar suddenly broke the silence of the hill.
“Raaaaa!”
The ground shook, and the trees were swaying as if they were being blown by that roar.
“How can a human’s roar be this loud?” Nathan covered his ears. Selena dropped her rod, feeling her eardrums were about to burst.
Nathan immediately summoned Fenrir and Anubis.
That was when a silhouette suddenly jumped into the air. They couldn’t look at this person as his back was facing the sun.
“Run away!” Fenrir shouted while Anubis said, “There is someone who has the power equal to a hero?”
“!!!” Nathan raised his eyebrows. A person Anubis recognized as a hero was definitely not a weak man, as he was comparing it to his peak state. ‘A heroic figure? Something like Siegfried or Chiron?’
That person landed in front of them. His landing was so rough that he ended up creating a small crater underneath him. Even then, this person was still looking at them from above.
Nathan might not be the tallest, but he wasn’t that short either. Yet, this man was significantly taller than him. His spiky hair might have turned white, but that big, muscular body still didn’t lose its intensity despite his old age.
He gave the feeling of a beast, similar to Fenrir and Anubis. Even those two were ready to create an opportunity for Nathan to run away.
The man looked at Nathan as a smirk appeared on his face. “So you are Vivian’s disciple, Nathan. I’ve heard that you’re looking for me.”
Nathan raised his head. Despite him not exuding killing intent or pressuring him, Nathan’s body was shaking. Yet Nathan clenched his fists as a small, excited smile appeared on his face. ‘So this man is the dragon king?’