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It was just when they thought they had sensed something that their bodies were pressed to the ground. They were still unable to move.

This wasn’t just a matter of difference in strength. They didn’t even comprehend what had happened.

 

“Oh, don’t do that. I know you could do it easily, and you wouldn’t even hesitate if I gave my permission.”

“Of course.”

 

“But, no. …More importantly, I wanted to talk to you. For instance, how have you been? Things like that.”

 

“I live a fairly peaceful life. Outside of my daughter getting married and my son leaving, I suppose.”

“Oh, so your daughter has been married? I will have to congratulate her.”

 

While they were talking very casually, the rest of the room was tense.

Harui was still keeping the queen’s Left Hands immobilized.

 

Even if he were to attack the queen now, they would not be able to do anything.

 

“So, is it true that the Thirteen Steps have moved?”

“It appears so. Though, it does seem like excessive power to unleash on our Dragon Master fledglings.”

 

“They likely want to measure our power for the upcoming war. There are degrees to the ease of annihilation, and it will affect the way they plan.”

 

“Do you also think it will come to war then?”

 

“You told me about the Great Shift in the letter. If that really happens, and Makoku really knows about it, then yes. There will be war. The king of Makoku is wise. He won’t hesitate. It wouldn’t have taken him long to realize that the only road to survival is through invasion.”

 

“Leon will be participating in the exercise. I wonder if he’ll be okay.”

“He’ll manage. I’ve trained him to be able to handle any situation by himself. The real problem is this palace.”

 

“What’s wrong with the palace?”

 

“Don’t pretend like you don’t know. That’s why you wrote to me about the Thirteen Steps, isn’t it? Makoku is sending out assassins. Powerful assassins. And that’s where all eyes will be directed at. Now, if that were their intention, it could only mean that this place is what will be targeted.”

 

“That’s just it. It’s not very nice. What if ‘Stone Eye’ were to come? Do you think that it’s possible?”

“Basilisk, huh? …I doubt it.”

 

“Oh? And why is that?”

“There are still too many uncertainties. I can only see it happening if they were certain of being able to kill you. So no, not here. Not yet.”

 

“Still, it’s possible, I think. It’s the reason you came, isn’t it, Harui?”

“I don’t know anything about what Makoku is sure of. But if they did come, it would suggest to me that they knew all of the escape routes and could kill all of the guards. No doubt they’d have ways of containing the Dragon Master grounds as well.”

 

When Harui was working at the palace, there had been a number of escape routes for the queen.

 

There was the secret passage that Leon had recently found that connected to the garden.

There was the one that led to the west tower from the front passage.

 

There was a trap door that led to the entrance through a back alley.

There was a long, hidden staircase that led to a passage that connected to the dragon stables.

 

All of these places were made so that the queen’s dragon could land there.

Furthermore, each passage was completely independent of the other.

 

Harui knew all of them and suggested that the enemy might have a way of dealing with them.

 

“What a frightening thought.”

“The king of Makoku would need that much certainty, or else he would not send out Basilisk.”

 

“So, it won’t happen this time?”

“That’s what I believe.”

 

“But if you are wrong, can you win?”

“No. There is no way for me to prevent that. Not with my magic. Not if I fought for the rest of my life.”

 

“Oh? Don’t you know that a child will always surpass the parent?”

“I broke that bond already, so we are not family.”

 

“…I see. Still, I do worry.”

“Perhaps Leon will be able to put up a good fight in a few years. Still, I have my doubts.”

 

“Well, that is something to look forward to, isn’t it?”

In spite of the gravity of the situation, the queen laughed merrily.

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