Chapter 174: A Stroke Of Bad Luck 2

"..."

Julian looked at the crowd of Dragons gathering around him with a flat face.

The situation was rather troublesome now. Just moments ago, he had been enjoying a pleasant night view, but now the Dragons were watching him with hostile eyes.

And the person who had caused all of it was still laughing with satisfaction right in front of him.

"So, he really is a human?"

"How dare he disguise himself as a Dragon in our territory."

"And look at those two girls! They aren’t even of the Dragon race!"

The whispers grew louder. Some Dragons began to move closer, while others looked over Julian and his group with contemptuous eyes.

"B-boss..."

Monk tugged at the hem of Julian’s clothes with a trembling hand.

"W-what do we do? They’re all looking at us!"

The rabbit girl hid behind Julian. Her ears were lowered, and her face grew even paler as she watched the Dragons begin to surround them.

’...Monk is really going to become rabbit skewers this time!’

Monk was almost in tears.

Lumi didn’t look any better. The white-furred fox stood near Julian’s feet, its nine tails moving restlessly.

However, its presence drew the attention of a few Dragons.

"Wait! That fox... Isn’t it a Voidborn?"

"A Voidborn?"

"That’s right! I heard the Drazhuel Clan lost a Voidborn not long ago!"

"Don’t tell me it’s the same fox?"

Hearing the name Drazhuel, Lumi stiffened at once. Its nine tails stopped moving for a moment, then it pressed even closer to Julian’s feet.

Julian noticed the change as well.

It seemed things had just gotten worse.

"So, this human is the one who took that Voidborn away?"

"Did he steal it?"

"Then what is his purpose in coming to Qiezhuran territory?"

Question after question began to ring out. Some of the Dragons were already speaking as if Julian were truly an infiltrator with a suspicious purpose.

’...You could at least ask first, couldn’t you?’

Julian felt a little annoyed, but refuting every rumor rising from a crowd like this was clearly not easy.

What’s more, he still had to think about the safety of Monk, Lumi, and Felicya.

Julian lowered his head slightly and looked at the goat girl still in his arms.

"..."

Felicya showed no reaction at all. She simply leaned against Julian comfortably, as if the commotion around them had nothing to do with her.

Julian felt a little envious watching her.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t do the same.

"Did you all see that!?"

Damien finally spoke again.

"This human isn’t only disguising himself as a Dragon! He even brought along the Voidborn that the Drazhuel Clan is searching for!"

"He’s right!"

"In that case, we can’t just let them leave!"

Hearing that support, Damien’s smile grew wider. He stepped forward and looked at Julian arrogantly.

"Human! You disguised yourself as a Dragon and entered the territory of the Qiezhuran Clan under a false identity. You even brought a Voidborn with a suspicious origin!"

Julian stayed silent.

"Therefore, I will take you and every creature with you to prison!"

"W-WHAT!?"

Monk flinched at once.

"Eeek—! They’re all so scary!"

"Grrrr!"

Lumi growled as well, but instead of moving forward, the fox drew even closer to Julian.

’...Prison? Seriously?’

Julian felt an awkward smile form in his mind.

He hadn’t even finished looking around this place, and now Damien wanted to throw him in prison.

But Julian quickly weighed the situation.

Damien was only Rank-C, but the Dragons gathering around them were growing in number. Julian didn’t know their strength, especially if the commotion drew the attention of Rank-A Dragons or even higher.

He himself was Rank-B.

Fighting Damien wasn’t the biggest problem. What was troublesome was the possibility of having to face every Dragon in this place while Monk, Lumi, and Felicya were with him.

Julian clearly didn’t want to create unnecessary chaos.

’...It’s better to settle this without fighting.’

Having made his decision, Julian finally opened his mouth.

"I’m here with Elder Garph’s permission."

Damien snorted.

"You’ve already said that before!"

"And I have proof."

Julian took a badge out of his storage.

The badge bore an intricate Dragon carving, in a shape easily distinguished from ordinary objects.

A few Dragons noticed it right away.

"...Wait, isn’t that..."

"The Elder’s Badge?"

"Look at the carving! That’s Elder Garph’s!"

The crowd filled with whispers again.

This time, some of the Dragons looked hesitant. They naturally knew Garph’s standing in the Qiezhuran Clan, and the presence of that badge made Damien’s accusation sound less simple than before.

Damien himself frowned slightly.

He hadn’t expected Julian to have something like that.

"Hmph! So you even brought an Elder’s Badge!"

"..."

"But that doesn’t prove you haven’t done something suspicious!"

Julian looked at him calmly.

"This badge was given to me directly by Elder Garph."

"Who can verify that what you say is true!?"

Damien retorted immediately.

"Even if Elder Garph really did give it to you, that doesn’t mean you can disguise yourself and roam around as you please!"

A few Dragons looked at one another.

They began to seem unsure about what they ought to do.

Julian understood that the badge wouldn’t make Damien stop looking for trouble right away. But at the very least, the Dragons who had supported him earlier were now reconsidering the accusation.

That was enough for now.

"Then, call Elder Garph."

"...What?"

"If you doubt my words, you can confirm it with him directly."

Damien fell silent for a moment.

Of course, he didn’t want to call Garph. That old Dragon already treated Julian as an honored guest, and if Garph came, everything Damien had done might go to waste.

"Hmph! There’s no need to bother Elder Garph over something like this!"

Damien folded his arms.

"You’re still coming with me. We can check everything once you’re in prison!"

Julian almost wanted to curse.

He had offered a way to settle everything, yet Damien had refused it.

But Julian had no intention of simply following that Dragon’s wishes.

"In that case, I’ll wait right here until someone calls him."

"No need!"

Damien retorted immediately, then glanced at a few Dragons nearby.

"You lot! Help me take them away!"

A few Dragons began to move, though some of them looked hesitant after seeing the Elder’s Badge in Julian’s hand.

"B-boss..."

Monk tugged at his clothes again.

Lumi growled softly, while Felicya still leaned lazily in his arms.

Julian watched the Dragons beginning to approach.

In truth, he could still try to fight back. But using force in Qiezhuran territory would only make the problem bigger, especially after Garph had treated him so well.

And Julian didn’t want to cause trouble with an entire Clan just because of Damien.

So he stayed where he stood, holding the badge.

"I’ve already said I came with Elder Garph’s permission. If you want to arrest me, at least confirm it with him first."

The Dragons who were about to approach stopped in their tracks again.

"You aren’t foolish enough to defy an elder’s order, are you?"

Damien looked even more irritated when he heard what Julian said.

"Why did you stop!? He’s just a human!"

But before those Dragons could give an answer, a voice came from behind the crowd.

"...What is going on here?"

Several Dragons turned at once. When they saw who had arrived, they immediately stepped aside and bowed their heads.

"E-Elder Garph!?"

Julian shifted his gaze as well, seeing Garph, who had just arrived in the middle of the crowd.

His stiff shoulders relaxed all at once, and in his mind, his eyes lit up brightly.

’Oh, finally! Damn, I really thought I was going to be thrown in prison!’