Chapter 343: Chapter 225: Delight
Early the next morning, with all arrangements in place at the city gate of Port of Wallens, David looked up to scan the surrounding block. It was densely packed with people who had come just to catch a glimpse of the ’Dragon Mage Governor’. He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
He had guessed right. Nifadora, despite being a Green Dragon with superior intelligence and decent acting skills, was still a Green Dragon at heart. After transforming into the human form of Tania, the Dragon Mage Governor, through the True Form Spell, she couldn’t fully mimic the cold and noble air particular to Metal Dragons, especially Silver Dragons. Especially when bidding farewell to him, that bewitching, watery gaze of hers was simply too enchanting.
David took a second look, wondering if Nifadora had recently put on a bit too much weight. As the human Governor, she seemed at least two sizes plumper than the Tania version. But just like her dragon form, she was plump in all the right places, with half of it contributing to her chest’s "collagen decoration."
At the same time, he realized he had worried too much. The onlooking crowd showed not a hint of suspicion; instead, their fervor grew even more intense. It was as if the Governor was bestowing upon them a new cosplay treat.
But considering the many dragons surrounding them, it likely never crossed the mortals’ minds that such a ’replacement’ could be possible. After all, Tania’s initial intention was merely to ’go out and play’ with him.
"Then we shall depart to survey the borders of your territory, my dear Governor." David, playing his part to the hilt, bowed his head in a half-kneel by the city gate, demonstrating his loyalty to ’Tania, the Dragon Mage Governor,’ as portrayed by Nifadora.
Behind David, the horde of Chromatic Dragons, typically synonymous with calamity and chaos in the eyes of humans, also ceremoniously saluted Nifadora.
"May the Dragon Queen’s blessings and good fortune be with you, my mighty Dragon Knights."
Nifadora chuckled. She drew the flashy Golden Ornamental Sword from her waist—a weapon good for nothing but showing off—and placed it on the dragon horn on David’s nose, a gesture of trust and entrustment.
This display of ’Governor Tania’s’ command over the dragon horde greatly reinforced the sense of security among the people of Wallens. They shouted praises: "Long live the Governor of Wallens!"
Humans are complex creatures, yet sometimes so simple. This scene was exactly what they wanted to see. Calamities bring destruction, but when the power of these calamities is captured and harnessed by humans, they see it as a source of pride and reliance.
This also reflected a certain mindset common in Western cultures and their education systems: They were always more eager to worship individual extraordinary powers. They hoped that someday a ’strong man’ would descend from the heavens to lead them out of the shackles of fate and overturn everything that had once oppressed them. But little did they know that by enjoying these benefits, they had inadvertently become tethered to the ’strong man’ they worshipped. They were now bound for another ’battlefield in hell’ on a chariot of fire. Their fortunes and lives all depended on ’one man’.
As David, the young Red Dragon who had been blocking the city gate, took to the skies with Mofei and the others under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Tania lifted the Invisibility Cloak from David’s head. Spreading her arms, she perched on the horns atop his head, her face a picture of petty triumph as she laughed aloud to the heavens.
Although David couldn’t see Tania at that moment, he imagined she probably resembled something akin to the Dragon Fighter from the cartoons he used to watch as a child.
Once they were sure no one was in sight, the Invisibility Cloak on Mofei’s back was also removed. Compared to the ’first-class cabin’ atop David’s head with its unobstructed view, Mofei’s back now awkwardly seated five humanoid creatures: Rune Lord Bergin sat at the neck in the best spot. With him were the Barbarian Rosinde and his Ogre wife Monado. The former Drow matriarch Naferutali, now robbed of all joy by the steel underpants David had forced her to wear, was also there, along with the half-Drow Alianna, who was nearly squeezed off towards Mofei’s tail.
Poor Mofei! Save for the two lightweight Drows, the others were each heavier than the last. Rune Lord Bergin’s usual full armor alone weighed nearly half a ton, making him a mobile fortress in his own right.
Feeling utterly overloaded, Mofei thought he was about to pass out. He wanted to shout out: aside from his boss and his sister, there were four other dragons! Why were they all crushing down on *him*?! He, Mofei, was just a young dragon, barely weaned! This reckless exploitation might stunt his growth! But then he realized that among those seated on his back, perhaps only Alianna could be bullied with his size and strength. The others were each fiercer than the last; two were even legendary figures! He didn’t dare utter a word. As his initial elation turned to misery, he consoled himself with the thought: these ’noble ones’ perched on him had unanimously chosen him as their mount for this journey! It was probably because they valued the ’safety features’ of him being a Sculpted Hide Dragon!
After all, there was that time he’d been surrounded by High Elves. He had withstood a barrage of more than thirty siege crossbow bolts without a peep, though his tail had gotten twisted. Meanwhile, that fraud Alfonse had gone down with just one arrow to the chest. Ha! Truly a disgrace to all mighty dragons!
Just as Mofei was raising his own spirits by belittling his companions, feeling less ’burdened’, Tania, sitting atop David’s head and enjoying the view, pointed eastward: