A short flight on Flare’s back brought the venue into view. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say I saw a sea of dragons dancing through the sky.
Looking closer, the ground was crawling with them as well. Dragons of all shapes and sizes had converged upon a vast wasteland, a wide-open wilderness dotted with craggy mountain peaks.
"The numbers are… staggering," I muttered.
"Yes, and the variety is simply breathtaking! Dreadtails, High Metal Dragons, and so many high-ranking species that one rarely ever glimpses… I’m so moved!"
Lilia was beside herself with joy. Her eyes sparkled as if she were staring at a hoard of legendary jewels. I didn't know enough about the different species to share her specific enthusiasm, so my impression was limited to the fact that there sure were a lot of different types.
Oh, wait—I saw one I recognized. That was a Gunrock Dragon. Yeah, seeing it in the flesh, it really did look exactly like the "Sad Creature" I had sculpted. I could finally see why Megiddo and the others had been so confused.
I suppose I’ll just go with the title Megiddo suggested and call my work a "Winged Gunrock Dragon" from now on.
While I was lost in thought, Flare began her descent, landing in a corner of the wilderness. Once Lilia and I climbed down from her back, Flare used her humanization magic to return to her human form. I could understand her even when she was a dragon, but Lilia couldn't; Flare was likely being considerate of her.
"Hmm… As for the other Four Great Magic Dragons… it seems only Fafnir has arrived so far. Perhaps we reached the grounds a bit too early."
I looked around at Flare’s words, but there was indeed no sign of the others. Since both Eingana and Grandireas were massive beings exceeding a kilometer in length, they would have been impossible to miss if they were present. I saw several large dragons in the distance, but none that looked like they spanned a full kilometer.
Magnawell hadn't arrived yet either, but that was to be expected. We had actually arrived quite a bit earlier than the scheduled start time. Our goal was to finish our greetings with Eingana and Grandireas before the Dragon Carnival officially began. It was a bit of a miscalculation that those two weren't here yet, but…
"However, they will surely be here soon," Flare noted. "Neither would be so disrespectful as to arrive after Magnawell-sama. Besides, they'll need to address the participants from their respective squads, so they should be arriving early."
"That’s fine. We aren't in any particular rush, so if the timing doesn't work out now, we can meet them after the event."
"Umu… In that case, I apologize, Comrade, Duchess Lilia, but would you mind if we stopped by the Crimson Fang until Eingana and Grandireas arrive? I’d like to say a word to the young ones representing my squad."
"Oh, sure. That’s no problem."
"I don't mind either," Lilia added.
And so, we walked with Flare to the area where the members of the Crimson Fang were gathering. As I watched the various dragons we passed along the way, a question crossed my mind.
"Flare, are all of Magnawell’s subordinates dragons?"
"No, not all of them. There are non-dragons among our ranks… though, in terms of ratio, the Dragon Species is overwhelmingly dominant. Roughly sixty to seventy percent of the total force consists of dragons or those closely related to them."
"I see."
"I think I know what you’re wondering, Comrade. You’re curious about what the non-dragon subordinates do. We simply stagger the schedules. While the Dragon Carnival is an event restricted to our kind, there are separate opportunities provided for young members of other races to demonstrate their strength before Magnawell-sama."
That made sense. If only the dragons were given a chance like this, it would surely breed resentment among the other subordinates.
"By the way, some of the Squad Leaders guiding the youth today aren't dragons either. In fact, speaking of the devil…"
Following Flare’s gaze, I saw a woman who looked like a Tiger Beastman up ahead. Based on the conversation we just had, she was likely one of the Squad Leaders.
The Tiger Beastman spotted us—or rather, Flare—and immediately snapped into a rigid, ninety-degree bow.
"Boss! Good work today, ma’am!"
"Mm. Everything going smoothly?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Good. Then, I apologize for the suddenness, but could you gather the troops? I want to say a few words to them before the main event begins."
"Understood!"
Her voice was incredibly loud. She definitely gave off a hot-blooded, military vibe.
"Everyone, assemble!"
At the Tiger Beastman’s command, the dragons soaring above and those resting nearby converged with startling speed. They lined up in a disciplined formation sorted by size, moving with the precision of a veteran army. Actually, given their position, they essentially were an army.
"The Boss has words for you! Listen up!"
With that, the Tiger Beastman bowed and stepped aside for Flare. Flare took a single step forward and spoke quietly.
"You all have good eyes today. For some of you, this is your first time; for others, this may be your final chance to participate before you come of age. However, at this late hour, I have no intention of lecturing you on your mindset."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried a heavy weight that seemed to sharpen the very air with tension.
"In this era of peace, this is a rare and precious opportunity for you to experience something akin to true combat. While I hope you achieve great results… I do not care if you are defeated in these mock battles. Losing is not a disgrace; it is experience. Defeat is no shame, but failing to learn from that experience is. Therefore, I will give you one assignment. Leave this Dragon Carnival having learned at least one thing—in any form—that will nourish your future growth."
After delivering those weighted words, Flare allowed a small, proud smile to grace her lips.
"If you hold that assignment in your hearts, then you likely already know what comes next. I have always told you to be challengers. If you remember that, then I have nothing left to say… Burn your souls, and face this challenge with everything you have!"
As Flare finished her speech, the dragons let out a collective roar so powerful it shook the earth. Her encouragement had clearly struck a chord; the air was suddenly thick with a fierce, competitive heat.
Amidst the fervor, the Tiger Beastman clapped her hands once to get their attention.
"You heard the Boss! Engrave her words into your souls! Now, get to your final preparations. To lose because you were ill-prepared to show your true strength is the ultimate humiliation! Sharpen your minds and bodies so that doesn't happen! Dismissed!"
Flare watched the dragons scatter with a pleasant smile, then gestured for the Tiger Beastman to come closer.
"Make sure the other Squad Leaders know as well. Passion is good, but it can lead to unnecessary tension. If you see anyone whose nerves are getting the better of them, give them a quiet word of support. As the ones providing direct instruction, you Squad Leaders are better suited for that task than I am."
"Yes, ma’am!"
"I’m counting on you."
Flare patted the shoulder of the bowing Tiger Beastman and smiled. Standing there, she looked incredibly grand.
By delegating the follow-up care to her subordinates, she wasn't just looking after the rookies—she was showing trust in her Squad Leaders and helping them save face as well. Everything she did and said was just so incredibly cool.