Dragonlord

Ep 45. Lords Are Mean. (2)

“Ah, Enforcer Alpid. I didn’t expect you to be back on duty so quick.”

Iris was in the midst of scanning the documents piled on her desk. She didn’t even bother to look up at the agent who’d walked into her office as she replied.

“If I can work, I work. Especially when we’re down a person.”

Unfortunately, despite Patrick’s insistence of being fine, he’d been laid off until he was fully recovered. The mage hadn’t been able to be healed like Iris: various ailments and wounds that had suffered too long couldn’t be healed through magic.

‘Although by that logic, I shouldn’t have been healed either, but…’

The enforcer’s thoughts trailed off as the agent placed more documents on her desk. Only then did Iris pay some attention to him, eyeing the new files from top to bottom.

“What is this?”

“It’s the files we have on the red dragon and the two students from last night. The chief’s worried about Eisenhoff’s information leaking out through them.”

Iris scoffed at the supposed ‘worry’ as she skimmed the papers. It contained their appearances, addresses, frequented establishments, and even the details of people they lived with.

And, somewhat to her expectation, Zion’s file displayed an image of a blue-haired boy. He looked nothing like the feminine white-haired student she’d been seeing time and time again.

“So basically, the chief wants me to go silence them.”

“…He wanted to keep Eisenhoff’s arrest a secret, with him being a runaway criminal and all. It could lead to the general public questioning the capability of the enforcement sector…”

“Well, I’ll be damned. Of course he’s worried about saving face.”

Iris crumpled the document in her hand, flinging it into the trash can. The vexed enforcer then rose from her seat, scowling at the agent.

“Locations?”

“…If you’re planning to go immediately, the red dragon’s last sighting was near Ilm Street, entering Rockfeller Tavern. Both students are still at the Magic Institute.”

Iris immediately opened up a portal behind her, connecting her office to the reported tavern. She dismissively wove her hand at the agent, disappearing into the spell.

“Go tell the chief I can’t wait for him to retire.”

✧ ✧ ✧

Ilias was on the verge of tears as she gulped down her 15th mug of beer.

“…Lass? Y’alright?”

The tavernkeep worriedly looked at the dragon girl as he brought out a 16th from the bar.

The red dragon put down her emptied mug, looking at the burly man with teary eyes.

“…She didn’t have to send me off like that…”

“Uh?”

“I just wanted to see what a class was like! Do you know how lonely I was at home?! And even my sister looked away…it’s only been a few years, and she’s grown so cold. I bet it’s that stupid institution’s fault.”

Ilias was practically bawling as she snatched the 16th mug from the tavernkeep’s hands, gulping it down in one go. The keep shook his head as he watched the red dragon drink herself to oblivion.

‘I’ve seen a lot of crazy drunkards, but never have I seen a dragon become one.’

After the mug showed its bottom, Ilias’ head fell onto the table alongside the emptied cup, her drooling voice reverberating into the wooden table beneath her face.

“…Lords are mean.”

“Uh…right, landlords. Can never get ‘em off your back.”

The red dragon angrily raised her head, pouting back at the unrelated response.

“She’s not a landlord! She’s a lord!”

“Aight, I’m done here. Anyone else wanna give it a try?”

The tavernkeep glanced back at the other patrons filling the tables. Everyone either shrugged, laughed, or ignored him. Some shouted towards the drunken dragon from across the tavern floors.

“Not a worry, lass! You’ll find someone else!”

“Yeah, forget about ‘em!”

“Didn’t sound like she was talkin’ about a love affair…”

Truth be told, this wasn’t Ilias’ first visit at this tavern, nor was it her first time drinking here. But it definitely was her first time drinking like a whale while sulking over…well, anything.

‘Light used to be so cute back then. We went everywhere together...can’t believe she let Lord Serenis send me off like that.’

To be fair, Light had told Ilias over and over that the dragon couldn’t accompany her to school; that just wasn’t how it worked.

Unfortunately, for the dragon who’d never attended a school, that message only translated to ‘it’s fine to come as long as you’re not accompanying me there.’

Which still wasn’t how it worked.

While the youngling reflected on their adamant refusal of her presence, a red portal suddenly opened up by the far wall as Iris swiftly jumped out of the glowing light, spotting Ilias immediately.

“Now, where’s…huh?”

The dragon raised her head to order a 17th helping.

“Hey keep…gimme another.”

“Aye, right away.”

Just as the tavernkeep was about to fetch the dragon her 17th cup, Ilias tugged on his shirt. She reached into her jacket’s pockets, producing a gold coin from inside.

“Oh yeah…here. Coin.”

“Ah shucks, I told you that you paid ‘nuff for at least 50 beers now!”

“Hehe, who cares…I’m rich…lord made me rich…”

“Pft. Aight then, lemme getcha somethin’ to eat with all that liquor.”

“Thank yoouuuu….”

Iris blinked in confusion. She could clearly see the dragon’s red tail and horns; it was definitely the dragon she’d seen last night, the one she had on file.

What she hadn’t expected was to find the dragon drunk and delirious.

‘…Then again, what else would someone do at a tavern.’

Meanwhile, the not-so-drunk patrons were all staring at Iris. Being citizens of Partivine, they knew the enforcer all too well for being one of their most accomplished local officers. With her flashy appearance and all, they were expecting her to do something.

But Iris simply stood there, shoulders sagged while picturing how talking to a drunk dragon would go. If talking to drunk humans was anything to go by, it wasn’t going to go well. She’d elected to see Ilias first because she didn’t want to interrupt the students being lectured, but clearly, better life decisions could’ve been made.

The enforcer slowly reached her coat’s inner pocket, producing a small glass jar filled with tiny black pills. She plucked one out and threw it into her mouth, crunching down with a distasteful look as strode over to the red dragon.

‘I need a raise. I’m not getting paid nearly enough for this.’