The White Cat That Swore Vengeance Was Just Lazing on the Dragon King’s Lap - Volume 2 - Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Report

A few days after Asahi and the others were sent to Idocrase, Jade called out to Ruri, stopping in mid-stroll. He lifted her up into his arms, naturally bringing her to eye-level so he could look at her with his deep greenish-blue eyes.

Ruri’s pulse raced just a tad bit faster.

“Ruri, I’ll be leaving with Finn and Claus for a few days. If you need anything, make sure to tell either Euclase or Agate.”

“Where will you be going, Jade-sama?”

“I’ll be going to the Nation of the Spirit King. I won’t be back for a few days, so make sure not to do anything crazy while I’m away.”

“With all due respect, I am not a child,” said Ruri, slightly miffed at being talked to as if she were an unruly adolescent.

“You tend to suddenly disappear. The thought of something happening while I’m away worries me; that’s all. Why don’t you accompany me on my trip, Ruri?”

While she wanted to go along since she wouldn’t be able to see him for a while, she also wanted to go back to Chelsie’s house.

As Ruri hesitated, Claus stepped in and rebuked his king. “We cannot do that, Your Majesty. Finn and I will also be in the meetings, meaning there will be no one left to tend to Ruri in the meantime.”

“Yes, I had almost forgotten,” said Jade, letting out a sigh of disappointment. He gave Ruri one last hug before reluctantly putting her back on the ground. “It’s unfortunate, but reasonable. I couldn’t just leave you all on your own, after all.”

“I don’t necessarily need someone to ‘tend’ to me all hours of the day. I can manage on my own,” Ruri replied. Regardless of whether she went or not, she felt offended that they both thought she wasn’t reliable enough to be left by herself.

“Yes, we understand that. That isn’t what he meant by that...” Claus hastily replied with an awkward smile.

Ruri simply looked at him, head atilt.

“I believe it’s time, gentlemen,” Finn urged, prompting Jade to turn his attention away from Ruri.

“Oh, Jade-sama? I’m thinking of going to Chelsie-san’s house. I might be away by the time you come back from your journey.”

“I see. Very well. Be safe on your way, then. I’ll make sure to bring you back a souvenir.” He petted Ruri’s head a couple of times, and then walked away with Claus and Finn.

It wasn’t long before Ruri spotted three gigantic dragons taking to the skies; it appeared they were going to the Nation of the Spirit King in their dragon forms. Ruri stood there, seeing Jade off until he was completely out of sight.

After a few days and a few shifts at the diner, which had been closed due to the wartime situation, Ruri made her way to Chelsie’s house in the woods. She had thought that flying there would take several days, but Kotaro could apparently travel there in several hours. It was a feat that only the supreme-level wind spirit could accomplish, one that filled Ruri with admiration.

Before long, they arrived at Chelsie’s house. There it was, standing alone in a clearance smack-dab in the middle of a dense group of trees.

“Chelsie-san, I’m back~!” Ruri announced, returning to human form and opening the front door.

Chelsie came out from the back with a wry smile. “I swear, you’re always a bundle of energy, aren’t you? Now, come in,” she said, but her eyes stopped at Kotaro, who stood beside Ruri. “Would that happen to be Kotaro?”

“That it is. Well? How do you like my new body? It’s soft and fluffy, just like how Ruri likes,” Kotaro bragged with his chest puffed out proudly.

“So you knew about him this entire time? I wish you had filled me in,” Ruri said.

“Listen, I didn’t know in the very beginning either. Well, I did know by the time of your last visit, but Kotaro told me to keep it a secret.”

“Yes, I wanted to surprise you, Ruri.”

Settling into the room, Chelsie quickly began to prepare tea. Ruri pulled out the sweets she’d purchased in the royal capital, placed them on plates, and set them on the table. Once she set the tea Chelsie prepared next to them and took her seat, they began to talk.

“Assume you’re here today to talk about Asahi?”

“That’s right. Asahi and the other four who came with us have been sent off to Idocrase.”

“Idocrase, eh? Well, I’d say that’s an appropriate place. Perfect place for folks with no one to turn to.”

“What kind of place is it, might I ask?”

“It’s a territory with a large amount of farmland. It’s often called the Nation of the Dragon King’s food bank. You know Finn, correct?”

“Very well, yes.”

“Finn’s father is the lord of that land.”

“Oh wow...” Ruri said in casual admiration, thinking that he must have had a good upbringing. Finn’s father was the person who’d adopted Ewan and was his uncle by way of marriage.

“It’s filled with live-in laborers from out of town and orphans working there, so it’s a perfect place for someone summoned to this world without a home or anyone to rely on. Farming might be rough on them, but the lord and lady of the land are decent people, so they’ll be in a good crowd.”

It sounded like a reliable place if Finn’s parents ran it. On top of that, Chelsie vouched for it. They would probably do fine. Ruri was somewhat relieved, but...

“Aside from Asahi, I spoke to the other four as well. They were freed from Asahi’s Bewitchment and apologized to me, so we had a straight conversation.”

“That a fact?”

“...I was honestly surprised. I was also scared. Scared that her Bewitchment power could change personalities so much.”

“I bet.”

“Asahi grew up spoiled, surrounded by people under her Bewitchment. I’m a little worried if she’ll fare alright suddenly being dropped into a tougher environment.” Granted, she was less worried about Asahi and more the people around her.

“Well, what will be, will be. I mentioned it before, but Idocrase’s lord and lady are scrupulous people, so they’ll deal with Asahi in a fair manner.”

“Still, here’s hoping she’ll finally start coming to grips with reality.”

She was hoping that the stormy waves of society would help build her up to be a halfway-decent adult in due time—or, at least, mature enough to hold the semblance of a conversation.

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

Later, after going to check on them, Joshua gave Ruri a status update on Asahi and the others.

Idocrase was abundant with farmland, so it was called the “food bank” of the Nation of the Dragon King. It grew harvestable produce all year long, but as the years rolled on, they started to grow shorthanded. Because of that, they employed the work of out-of-town laborers, orphans, and single mothers.

Asahi and Ruri’s former classmates were sent to this territory filled with working expatriates. They were there to atone for spearheading the war along with the upper brass of Nadasha and inciting mayhem for both Nadasha and the Nation of the Dragon King. This was done as a punishment and to keep tabs on them, but more so than that, it was also an act of clemency—granting Asahi and the others, refugees from another world with nowhere to go, a chance to live on their own.

The four former classmates seemed to comprehend this right away, but Asahi was—in classic fashion—Asahi. She was acting as if she were unjustly arrested and sentenced to indentured servitude, inquiring of the lord of the land, “So how long do I have to be here before I’m released?”

The other four rushed to apologize, but the lord didn’t seem too pleased with Asahi’s language toward him. He didn’t appreciate her remarks, seeing as how he was taking in a group of troublemakers out of the goodness of his heart.

Once that first bit of commotion was out of the way, however, the five started their new lives. They were given farmwork, difficult work under even the best circumstances. And since none of them were accustomed to that sort of labor, it was a steep learning curve. Despite that, the classmates worked themselves to the bone without a single complaint. Gradually, they became accustomed to Idocrase life and blended in with the locals.

However, just as Ruri feared, Asahi did not similarly acclimate. She had enjoyed her entire life spoiled rotten, so there was no possible way she would happily perform such demanding labor without complaint. She inconvenienced everyone around her by depending on them for every little thing.

Because it happened so frequently, it started to dissuade people from dealing with her. Meanwhile, her classmates grew more and more accustomed with each passing day. This rift caused Asahi to feel massively out of the loop.

In the past, Asahi didn’t need to say a word to have everyone offer her their assistance. Even back in school, when she had student cleaning and daily class-helper duties, if she were to show any sign of reluctance toward the task, everybody would prioritize helping her. Since she’d received the same treatment in Nadasha as well, Asahi couldn’t wrap her head around the sudden shift in reception after coming to Idocrase.

Asahi didn’t understand why no one was coming to her aid, but even that became normal in due time. Now that her Bewitchment effects were gone, there was no one around to grant her self-centered requests. Unable to grasp that concept, Asahi wept to herself often. She eventually began to skip the work provided for her, causing everyone else to look upon her even more harshly and throwing her further outside the circle—and the vicious cycle would repeat.

Joshua finished giving his report, and after taking it all in, Ruri’s reaction was much to be expected. This news matched her expectations—she’d figured it wouldn’t work out for Asahi unless she had other people wiping her nose for her.

The days rolled on. On a certain day, Ruri heard word that the lord and lady of the land had finally had enough. They callously rebuked Asahi, who refused to see reality for what it was, and forced her to get to work, her tears falling on deaf ears.

Perhaps Asahi knew they weren’t willing to hear her opinions because she eventually got into the habit of working as she should—albeit crying all the while. She probably realized they were people she shouldn’t oppose.

Once Ruri heard that, she found herself clapping. Asahi was probably on the right track, even if she was technically being forced to take it.

She silently prayed that not only Asahi but her former classmates as well would be able to live soundly in their new surroundings.

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

Jade, Finn, and Claus were on their way back from their business in the Nation of the Spirit King, their national ally. Since the three of them could fly while in dragon form, they were taking the skies back to the Nation of the Dragon King. It was faster than traveling by land since the Nation of the Spirit King was located much further than Nadasha, the neighboring land which had been utterly trounced in their recent invasion attempt. While Nadasha’s usage of the Spirit Slayer magic was bloodcurdling, thanks to the assistance of Rin, a spirit of the highest level, they managed to get by without any issues.

Nadasha’s repeated declarations of war in the past were met with a quick and easy defeat by their dragonkin opposition, what with their mighty bodies and mana. Yet the current king pushed for war despite not having the resources to fund it, never once considering the people of his land, and imposed massive taxes, stating that they were for the war. For several years, citizens of Nadasha who struggled to keep themselves fed flooded in droves into the Nation of the Dragon King, and that number continued to grow even to this date. Despite this, as they heard from Joshua’s reports, they turned the heavy taxes into funds to buy weapons.

Faced with Nadasha’s intolerable deeds, the upper brass of the Nation of the Dragon King came to the decision not to send them back from whence they came, like in the past, but to remove the Land of Nadasha completely. However, due to the alliance treaty, the Nation of the Dragon King was not allowed to attack other countries and make them part of their own territory, even if it was in retaliation. In order to do so, the Alliance of Four Nations needed to discuss it, and the other three nations needed to give their consent.

Jade and his entourage visited the Nation of the Spirit King for that very discussion. It went relatively smoothly, with the alliance agreeing with the Nation of the Dragon King’s decision. The information Joshua had compiled and the current state of Nadasha, showing no consideration toward their people and creating a mass exodus, served as the biggest deciding factors.

Jade and his men would begin preparing for their invasion on Nadasha once they made their return. However, before that, Jade had a cuddle deficiency that needed rectifying.

“I knew I should have brought Ruri along,” Jade mentally muttered toward no one in particular.

Claus awkwardly smiled and replied, “It would have been a disaster if Ruri had been taken away while we were occupied, so leaving her behind was the reasonable decision.”

There were many nations that coveted Beloveds. None would do something as foolish as forcing a Beloved to accompany them, but it was a different story if they gained their consent. If Ruri were to be convinced to go of her own free will while Jade and the others were away in a meeting, they would be completely out of luck.

With that fear in mind, they couldn’t possibly bring Ruri along with them. They couldn’t afford to because Ruri was the first Beloved to appear in the Nation of the Dragon King in many years. But she had also become a major part of Jade’s life in general—so much so that he felt depressed from just a few days away from her.

“While I think the Nation of the Spirit King would be alright considering they have a Beloved that is still young, the Nation of the Beast King, on the other hand...” said Claus. Jade and Finn both looked discomforted at this.

The Alliance of Four Nations was composed of the Nation of the Dragon King, led by the titular Dragon King where humans and dragonkin coexisted; the Nation of the Spirit King, home to a Beloved and ruled by one of the only Qilins in the world; the Imperial Nation, the strongest out of the human nations and ruled by the Emperor; and the Nation of the Beast King, ruled by its titular Beast King and filled with demi-humans and a bird demi-human Beloved.

The Beloved of the Nation of the Beast King had a “chipper” personality, to put it nicely, and she had her eye on being Jade’s wife. Jade wasn’t a fan of hers and would constantly shoot down her countless attempts at trying to court him, but she never took “no” for an answer, even to this date.

However, this wasn’t just an issue for Jade; it was an issue for the Nation of the Beast King as well. Jade marrying her meant that their Beloved would go off to the Nation of the Dragon King. With the Nation of the Beast King possessing more wasteland than farmland and having limited rainfall, the Beloved’s presence greatly affected their harvest. It was a marriage they sincerely wanted to avoid happening.

However, the Nation of the Dragon King had a Beloved of their own now. From the Nation of the Beast King’s perspective, if there was a chance of their own Beloved going to the Nation of the Dragon King, then it was inevitable that they’d want to invite the Nation of the Dragon King’s Beloved over to their side to compensate. And since the Imperial Nation had no Beloveds of their own either, it was very likely that they would also try to make contact with Ruri if she were left unattended.

It was a mystery as to where they procured their information since it hadn’t been officially announced yet, but the news of a Beloved showing up in the Nation of the Dragon King seemed to pique the interests of both the Beast King and the Emperor.

The problem Jade had faced at the meeting was that their Beloved, who accompanied the Beast King, had not only tried her hand at courting Jade like usual, but she had suggested that if he brought their newly discovered Beloved to the Nation of the Beast King, they could be wed without issue.

Jade staunchly refused to hand over Ruri, making sure that the topic didn’t proceed any further, but the Nation of the Beast King’s Beloved still hadn’t given up.

“Well, Your Majesty, if you had a fiancée, then she might give up.”

“Finn, you’re starting to sound like Agate.”

They eventually ended up on the same old topic.

“Lord Agate has a selection of girls suitable for you, Your Majesty.”

Jade grimaced.

“Your Majesty, I would appreciate it if you would refrain from grimacing. You were the one who let it slip that you had someone you’re interested in.”

Jade sighed wearily. “I thought saying that would lessen her drive a bit, but instead...”

“It just added more fuel to her fire. It was almost as if you didn’t deny that you had interest in her,” Claus replied with a wry smile. Then a thought suddenly came upon him. “If Ruri were human or demi-human, then this might not have turned out to be that much of a problem, don’t you think?”

Jade thought wistfully of Ruri. There had been individuals with compatible wavelengths in the past, but Ruri was the first to feel so comfortable. Normally, one would marry someone with a compatible wavelength, but meeting someone who was specifically compatible was not easy. There were those among the long-living dragonkin that journeyed to find that special someone, but many of them ended up compromising to a certain degree.

“Ruri, huh? True, it’s not every day you run into anyone with a mana wavelength quite like Ruri’s. I probably would’ve given it some thought if she weren’t a cat. Ruri is going to be my standard from now on, so finding someone to marry just might be impossible.”

“Lord Agate would go mad with rage if he heard that after all of his tireless searching, Your Majesty.”

“I bet he would,” Jade said with a small chortle.

Talking about Ruri at length made Jade’s urge to see her unbearable. It would be a bit of a detour, but he couldn’t pass up a chance to go to her.

“Finn, Claus, we’ll be heading to Chelsie’s house.”

Finn and Claus simultaneously blinked in surprise.

Jade ignored them completely and changed their flight trajectory.