Chapter 19
Hasu led Konstantinos through the Hokurin settlement, showing him around. Small as it was, she made sure he saw just how much Tatsuno had to offer.
Springfire. Steedraptors. And above all, the land itself—untouched by winter, yielding without end.
Hokurin lay somewhat inland, yet thanks to transport by Raptors, even fresh seafood was never in short supply.
As Konstantinos and his party looked on, clearly overwhelmed, Kiba at length gestured toward Ando, a faint smile playing at his lips.
“The dracling you entrusted to us has proven quite promising,” he said.
“We’ve found he takes to whatever we set before him.”
Caught off guard, Ando—who had been standing quietly to the side—bowed deeply, unsure how to respond.
Kiba continued.
“It was at his request. So—we thought we might send you home with a token.”
What was brought forth was a framed map. On fine paper, the terrain had been rendered in delicate shades of ink—an astonishingly precise view of the entire continent, as though seen from above.
Ando wasn’t the only one left speechless. Konstantinos drew in a sharp breath.
“He copied it himself,” Kiba said. “Once his training is complete, he will bring your country even greater benefit. You have every reason to be proud.”
“O-of course…!” Konstantinos straightened at once.
“A gift beyond measure. On behalf of His Majesty, I offer you my deepest thanks.”
This alone would win him the king’s favor—of that he had no doubt.
A path upward had just opened—and he was already imagining how far it might carry him.
Ando, for his part, struggled to keep his composure, bowing with all due formality so as not to disrupt the exchange.
In truth, his heart felt like it might burst clean out of his chest.
That was just a practice piece… Lord Kiba—Lady Yuki…
Seeing his practice map being presented like some priceless treasure, Ando’s stomach sank.
When had they even taken it? It didn’t matter now. He knew exactly whose doing this was—and there was no getting it back.
That night, the feast was opened to all—down to the humblest hands in service. Dishes made from every kind of ingredient were set out in abundance, and a clear, water-bright liquor—subtle at first, yet striking on the tongue—was poured without restraint.
Such open-handed hospitality soon put Konstantinos entirely at ease; whatever unease he had once felt in the presence of the Dracoserpens slipped away without a trace. By morning, he was already on his way north again, wearing a satisfied smile.
Just before they set out, Andri drew the First Unit aside and pressed a bottle into Theodoros’s hands. Hasu had prepared it, and Kiba had passed it along with instructions that it be given to the men. Tatsuno make—the bottle was large enough to hold in both arms—so it had been wrapped in a rough scrap of cloth to keep it from drawing attention.
“The road hasn’t been kind—and it won’t be, either,” Andri said.
“Still... it's good to see all of you. See it through, as you always do—then enjoy it once you’ve made it back.”
The men of the First Unit recognized it at once and let out low, stifled cheers.
Theodoros lifted his gaze to his young captain, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
“So—you’ve taken to drink, have you, sir. Then when you return, we shall make a proper occasion of it.”
“Don’t keep us waiting too long, Captain,” one of the men cut in with a grin. “When you’re back, sir, I’ll sort it—I know a place’ll do us right.”
Andri allowed himself a faint, restrained smile.
“I’ll hold you to that. Until then—keep yourselves in one piece.”
“Heh…same to you, Captain,” one of the men murmured, a crooked grin tugging at his lips. “Don’t go getting yourself killed on us, sir.”
Once the party had gone some distance, Hasu and the Dracoserpens exchanged a light clap of hands, satisfied with the result.
Before long, they cast off their formal attire and returned, as if nothing had happened, to their usual routines.
Even after the others had disappeared from sight, Ando remained where he stood, his gaze fixed on the northern horizon.
After a time, he sensed someone at his side. It was Kiba.
Ando bowed deeply, gathering himself.
“My Lord… you have my deepest thanks. I—truly, I cannot express my gratitude enough.”
Kiba inclined his head, his expression gentle.
“You carried yourself well. A fine beginning—worthy of the ties now forming between our lands. Not only these past months, but the hardships you’ve endured, the effort you’ve given—those are what brought us here. You’ve done more than enough.”
He reached out and, as before, rested a hand lightly atop Ando’s head.
At that touch, something warm stirred within Ando—steady, unfamiliar.
For the first time in his life, he felt it: a sense of accomplishment.
But just as quickly, he checked himself.
This had only been the beginning.
The true test would come next spring—when the Crown Prince, the rightful envoy, arrived.
Ando clenched his fist, resolve settling in his chest, then turned on his heel. Taking Kito’s reins and giving the signal, the steedraptor spread its wings and surged upward into the open sky, bearing him toward the Imperial Palace.
