A cathedral with its ceiling blown away, using the sky as its roof and the stars as its illumination.
Inside that cathedral, which seemed like it would collapse with just a gust of wind due to the cracks spreading everywhere, a star came in and sat on a chair.
[…I miss it.]
[You burned more fiercely than anyone.]
[I miss it, I long for it.]
As the star looked at the statue of the sun god, who was smiling warmly, the star’s own smile faded as if reminiscing.
[…If only I could go back.]
After saying that, the star tightly shut its eyes and reached out toward the sky.
[…I won’t go back.]
[I can’t go back.]
[…Kh…]
Wearing a crazed smile once more, the star shed tears while laughing at the same time.
[I will not return.]
[Not until I have taken revenge on those who betrayed me!]
The dimming star regained its manic glow and unfolded a map.
[Demon Realm.]
I will go to the Demon Realm.
I will abandon the dragon territory, which is too difficult to touch due to the elders, and use the neutral zone to reach the Demon Realm.
[…Void, even after reincarnating, you’ve given up on ascending…?]
[Laughable, so laughable.]
[That’s right! After the sage, the Demon King would be a good next step.]
Following the path shown by the Milky Way, the star walked slowly.
[Kh, khaha…]
[They say a princess was born among the dragons…]
[…The Birth Festival.]
Muttering to itself, the star staggered barefoot through the snow.
Currently, both the Demon Realm and the human continent were bustling with excitement.
The grandest festival of the dragons, the Birth Festival, was being held again after 1,200 years.
Due to repeated delays, foreign dignitaries had sent gifts only to have them returned, set out for the festival only to turn back upon hearing of another postponement.
After much chaos, the rulers of each nation departed a little later than planned.
The festival lasted for three days.
On the first day, the royals were congratulated, and a banquet was held.
On the second day, high-ranking visitors from various nations greeted the newborn royal and introduced themselves.
On the third and final day, the royal dragon promised peace to the dragon race and celebrated with a grand festival.
The major figures of each nation had already set out.
The president of the Republic departed for the Unified Kingdom.
The crown prince of the Kingdom left in place of the deranged king.
The Empire, having lost its grand magician and many elite mages to either death or disappearance, was in turmoil but still sent the emperor himself.
From the Demon Realm, Destiny, the Demon King of Fate, who had won the power struggle in Void’s absence, headed for the Kingdom.
Of course, even if the rulers of various nations were making their way to the festival,
from the perspective of the dragons, they were only given special seating, not truly honored guest status.
No matter how powerful the other races were, in the eyes of the dragons,
they were nothing more than insignificant creatures.
Thus, throughout the long history of dragon festivals, the so-called “guest of honor” seats had never once been filled.
But for the first time in the dragons’ long history, those guest seats were about to be occupied.
“U-Um! A-Are you sure I can really sit here?”
“You’re our princess’s friend, aren’t you? Of course, you can sit.”
Ramir trembled all over as she hesitantly asked Lavender in front of the guest seat.
Lavender simply gave her a wide grin.
A friend of the dragon princess, someone so precious they wouldn’t even mind keeping her in their eyes.
The elders held a brief meeting.
“Sis, of course, we should give it to her.”
“Yeah, we should.”
“Right?! It’s okay, isn’t it?!”
“What use is pride?”
“I agree~!”
After a very short meeting, it was decided that Ramir would receive a single VIP seat.
Void was also a friend of Minho, but since she was more of a secretary, she was not given a VIP seat.
Besides, she had immigrated here, so she wasn’t really a guest anymore.
Ramir trembled all over, wondering how she should face the President of the Republic and the Emperor of the Empire.
‘M-Minho…!’
Holding back tears, she could only call out Minho’s name longingly.
Of course, there was no reply.
Today was the day of the Birth Festival.
“Wow~”
It was her second time seeing the incredible dragons.
No matter how many times she saw them, the sight was awe-inspiring.
“…Minho, we have to go. Aunt is calling.”
“Okay!”
“Let’s go, let’s go~!”
In front, Emila unnie grabbed my hand and pulled me along, while behind me, my other sister gently pushed my small back.
Thanks to them, I didn’t have to use any effort and just gazed at the vast plaza ahead.
Amazing.
No matter how many times I saw it, it was breathtakingly beautiful.
The setup hadn’t changed from before.
Even the pickets were the same, except for a few additions from Emila unnie.
[(Hooray) Princess Emila forever! (Cheer)]
[(ㅠ) Don’t get sick! Princess Emila!! (ㅠ)]
[(M) All three of you are so pretty!! (Admiration)]
Various drawings of us three siblings? Or sisters? were scattered all around.
They depicted my sisters lifting me up, as if they were holding me high.
And right in front of the platform where we stood was the elders’ seating.
Behind them was the special seating.
“…Void unnie and Damian are mixed in there.”
As always, Void unnie and Damian were stuck in the middle.
Seeing them like that made me smile brightly.
“Kyaaaah!!”
“Adorable!!!”
“You’re so beautiful, princess!!!”
The dragons’ enthusiasm was still as intense as ever.
At first, it had been overwhelming, but now, I was just grateful.
“Hehe.”
As I smiled and waved, the cheers grew even louder.
“M-Minho, hi?”
“Ramir?!”
“Yeah, I came too.”
Ramir didn’t look too good.
Why was she here?
I soon found my answer.
The sign in front of Ramir.
[VIP Seat.]
So she was a VIP?
Makes sense—she’s my friend, after all.
“Yeah! Let’s have fun!”
“I-I guess so.”
Ramir looked nervous, probably because of all the dragons around.
She kept trembling.
Seeing her so tense, I gave her a big, bright smile.
Then, I noticed the elder grandmothers and grandfathers below us smiling as well.
As I took my seat, my mom smiled warmly beside me.
Next to her was my dad, and next to him was my older sister.
Emila unnie, who had practically become my shadow, sat right next to me, holding my hand tightly.
She must be feeling nervous.
“Unnie, are you nervous?”
“Mm-mm. I’m fine.”
She said she wasn’t, but she definitely looked nervous.
Tilting my head in curiosity, I saw Emila unnie glance at the dragons and tighten her grip on my hand.
“…I didn’t think they would welcome me.”
“They’ve changed a lot.”
She said that and then glanced at Dad.
“Little Uncle must have worked hard for this.”
“…It’s touching.”
For the first time, Emila unnie’s usually expressionless face crumbled with emotion.
Her expression looked complicated, as if she was reflecting on her past.
Lost in thought, Emila unnie finally spoke again.
“If you cry, Minho will cover for you.”
Emila unnie said that as she sniffled.
“Okay.”
“…I’m happy. Now, I could die without regrets.”
“Unnie?!”
Emila unnie had an expression of true salvation, as if she was about to ascend to the afterlife.
She couldn’t go like this!
I quickly shook her body, and Emila unnie finally snapped back to her senses.
“…Minho.”
“Ah, you can’t leave yet!”
“I was joking.”
“…I got tricked.”
Seeing unnie sneaking in a little smile was so cute that I couldn’t even get mad.
While we were talking, a group of people dressed in extravagant clothing entered.
Just from a glance, they looked like VIPs.
A man dressed in luxurious gold and red robes, exuding an air of arrogance.
Behind him, a man in a simple black suit, though his chest bore a blue gemstone badge, glared at the arrogant man.
Following them, a man with blue hair dressed in white, and finally, a woman in deep purple robes that made her look like an astrologer.
The four of them walked in together and sat not in the VIP section but in the special seats.
‘Why are they sitting in the special seats?’
Why not the VIP section?
The four of them were surprised in the next moment.
They spotted Ramir and seemed utterly shocked.
Especially the man in the black suit—he intensified his glare at the arrogant man.
“…Hik.”
Under their gaze, Ramir shrank back.
She had already been trembling, but now, with all those eyes on her, she curled up even more.
It was honestly pitiful.
“Are you okay, Ramir?”
“…M-Minho….”
Ramir’s eyes were spinning.
As I expressed my concern, she started shaking even more.
I didn’t fully understand the situation, but I could tell she was on the verge of passing out.
The President of the Republic was utterly stunned.
‘…She’s alive?’
There hadn’t been any reports of her survival, so he had been at ease.
But now—she was alive.
And not only that, she was seated in the VIP section.
That meant the dragons considered her important enough to be treated as a guest of honor.
How on earth did that happen?
The President was completely bewildered.
‘Was this a scheme by the Emperor?!’
He shot a glare at the Emperor, but the Emperor looked just as dumbfounded.
‘…Why is she there…?’
He was already overwhelmed with the chaos of the Grand Mage’s disappearance and the deaths of many wizards, and now, an elf noble he thought was dead had returned.
‘She was alive? But why didn’t she report it?’
But then, the Emperor’s thoughts halted completely.
“…!!”
There, among the royal seating, sat two of the Empire’s missing test subjects.
‘…This is bad!’
He had wondered where they had disappeared to, but to think they had escaped to the Dragon Kingdom.
The young Emperor swallowed hard, trying his best to maintain a composed appearance.
‘I’ll just blame it all on the Grand Mage’s reckless actions.’
‘…That guy is missing anyway, so it doesn’t matter…!!’
As usual, hypocrites blaming other hypocrites.