The Mighty Dragons Are Dead

With the conclusion of the battle at Bull Rump City, the siege of Iron Hoof Island reached a clear stage.

The trace of the Wrath Knight Order was also discovered around the last major city, Bull Tendon City, which had not been parceled out and still belonged to the Marquis of Bull.

Not only did the Wrath Knight Order appear around Bull Tendon City, but magicians from the Goat Assembly also swaggered into the city to select various magic materials.

They made no attempt to avoid the encircling knight orders that were soon to besiege Bull Tendon City.

They were fearless.

"The Hemp Eagle Knights have locked down the Marquis of Bull’s location." After the meeting, Li Weiliam summoned his followers and announced the final battle plan set by the Second Prince, "All knight orders will immediately break camp and head to Bull Tendon City to join the First Prince and complete the encirclement of Milk Lake."

Liszt took a deep breath, "Earl, is this the final battle?"

Li Weiliam looked at his second son, who had been frantically claiming credit in the recent two battles, and felt extremely gratified, "Yes, this is indeed the final battle!"

After this battle ended, perhaps, the Tulip family might advance even further.

No matter what, it was always a pleasure to see one’s son grow up at such a chaotic juncture.

...

Ten kilometers away from Bull Tendon City lay a huge lake called Milk Lake.

In the center of the lake stood a towering Solitary Island, upon which was a castle, not too grandiose but slightly larger than Tulip Castle — Juniper Castle.

The name of the castle originated from the dense shrubs and small trees on Solitary Island — the junipers.

The fame of Juniper Castle was known throughout the Duchy of Sapphire, for it was the place where the precious cellar-aged spirit, "Juniper Wine," was produced. There was an obscure rumor that the Bull Marquis Family had a Dragon Elf with a lifespan of five hundred years, the Juniper Dragon Spirit, which specialized in brewing wine.

This Juniper Dragon Spirit was a gift from the First Grand Duke to his favorite youngest son.

It then became the Bull Family’s heirloom.

If the rumor was true, then the Duchy of Sapphire would have a total of two Dragon Elves — the Sapphire Family also had an Oat Dragon Elf.

Because Dragon Elves were so rare, scarcely more numerous than dragons themselves, few people knew what Dragon Elves actually looked like.

Liszt did not know either.

"I’ve gathered information about Dragon Elves, and the most reliable theory is that in order for an elf to evolve into a Dragon Elf, it needs the help of a dragon."

"A dragon’s help?" Paris rode a Li Dragon Horse alongside Liszt as they set out with the knight order.

Now that Liszt could mount a Landwalker Bird and charge at will, he lent Paris the Li Dragon Horse, so she could be quicker in coming to his aid when necessary.

"Or it can also be described as an ’infection,’ which is my own speculative conclusion," Liszt said. "Just like Dragon Breed Beasts and Dragon Breed Magic Beasts, dragons can probably ’infect’ a Greater Elf, which then uses the dragon’s miraculous power to transform and become a Dragon Elf."

"Is that so? I’ve heard that Dragon Elves are servants to dragons."

"That’s one theory. Dragon Elves are very friendly with dragons and enjoy living around them. I’ve seen some magic books that mention Dragon Elves appearing around evil dragons. However, there are also a few magic books and knight novels that suggest another interesting idea."

"What idea?"

"Dragon Elves are servants to dragons, but when a Dragon Elf evolves into an Elf King, the dragon will become its steed, subject to its command."

"Baron, does the Elf King really exist in this world?"

This was an interesting question. Most people might refute such a statement, believing the Elf King to be merely a legend, since from ancient times to the present no one had ever seen the Elf King, nor was there an accurate description of him—some said the Elf King was as large as a forest, others said he could ride dragons.

However.

Liszt replied, "He exists, the Elf King exists in this world."

"Really? What does the Elf King look like?" Paris asked with keen interest.

"I have not seen him, so I cannot answer."

His reliance was because the creatures of legend, one after another, appeared before his very eyes. First specters, then dragon wraiths, followed by liches, and soon sea serpents... Therefore, should the Elf King one day appear before him, he would not be surprised at all. This world is not Earth.

It doesn’t necessarily have to adhere to the theory of species evolution.

Paris did not dwell on whether the Elf King existed or not. Her thoughts shifted quickly, "Baron, why is the Marquis of Bull not called the Marquis of Iron Hoof Island, or why doesn’t he change his name to Andy Juniper?"

According to the ennoblement system, the correct title for a noble is the fief followed by the rank—for instance, Li Weiliam Tulip’s title is Coral Island’s Count; Liszt Tulip’s title is Baron of Fresh Flower Town.

Only the Marquis of Bull had the title Marquis of Bull and not Marquis of Iron Hoof Island.

"It is a remembrance," Liszt knew the interesting story behind it, "Before the Sapphire Family came to this sea area to establish a nation, they were in some place on the continent. Back then, the youngest son of the First Grand Duke had a nickname, Little Bull. When he was first ennobled, he was made Earl of Bull."

Afterward, when the Sapphire Family founded the nation, Little Bull was promoted to Marquis of Bull, with Iron Hoof Island as his fief.

Possibly not wanting to change this intimate relationship, the title of Marquis of Bull continued; as for the surname, it was more or less for the same reason, to emphasize the closeness to the Sapphire Family, the surname had always been Sapphire. Of course, it could also be that the Marquis of Bull didn’t actually have a Juniper Dragon Elf.

Without a Juniper Dragon Elf, naturally, he could not bear the surname Juniper.

...

After a day’s march, they reached the shores of Milk Lake.

The Knight Order that was besieging Iron Hoof Island had successfully rendezvoused, firmly surrounding the lake, ready to launch the final strike at any moment. Liszt was also making his final preparations; the entire campaign to besiege Iron Hoof Island boiled down to this last battle—if he missed this opportunity, it would be difficult to claim any battle honors.

Up until now, the news of the death of the Sapphire Dragon had not arrived, nor had the possible invading troops from Eagle Kingdom.

The battlefield became increasingly clear, and the Marquis of Bull was inescapable doom.

A cloth dampened with a bit of special resin, and he slowly wiped the Sky-Cleaving Greatsword; these maintenance tasks helped reduce weapon wear and tear and extended their lifespan.

Any weapon would wear down with constant use and ultimately become scrap.

Even a divine weapon forged from the teeth of a dragon would decay over time; only the rate of decay varied.

"Baron!" A messenger knight arrived, "The Earl asks that you get ready, in half an hour, please follow him to the banquet."

"I understand."

Half an hour later, Liszt, wearing Mithril Armor, accompanied by his father Li Weiliam and brother Levis, headed toward the First Prince’s tent to take part in the evening’s banquet—even in war, one could not stop the nobility from dining and drinking, and even wine cups were set out on the table.

Was this to be a bout of unrestrained revelry before the battle front?

Fortunately, the First Prince had not lost his senses. The first thing he said when presiding over the banquet was, "Everyone is limited to one beer only, to moisten your parched throats. After the war ends and the fury of the Sapphire Family has been vented, I will drink heartily with all of you!"