ITK C418: The New Emperor’s Growth Part 4 – Completion of the Dragon Emperor Castle

My name is Ardheg, the new Dragon Emperor.

It’s been a few months since I took over the title of Geyser Dragon.

As to how I’ve been spending my time…

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“…”
“…It’s still not good enough.”

Along with my father’s merciless chides, I myself became aware of my repetitive failures.
You see, I’ve yet to fulfill my first task as the Geyser Dragon. And that is to build the Dragon Emperor’s Castle.

As a matter of convenience, the Geyser Dragon, who stands at the top of the dragon world, is allowed to have an overwhelming advantage over others.
Creating the Dragon Emperor’s Castle is one such example.

Dragons usually have dungeons as their home, but the Geyser Dragon creates their own.

The powerful mana it emits is materialized and turned into a dungeon.
Although innately a powerful being, only the Geyser Dragon is permitted to create a castle dungeon— the Dragon Emperor’s Castle.

When my father was in power, he built a large and magnificent castle of his own.

Since I have inherited the imperial throne, I must follow in my predecessor’s footsteps and set out to build the Dragon Emperor’s Castle.
Alas, even after several months have passed…

…It is far from completion.

“Well, it’s looking much better compared to the first one, at least…” says my father, the previous Geyser Dragon.

The fact that my father, who was so arrogant and insolent, is acting considerate toward me is almost hard to believe.

“Then again, it’s still pretty small.”

The (temporary) Dragon Emperor’s Castle erected in front of me, materialized by my mana…
Is painfully tiny.

However, I also think it has a decent scale now compared to my first attempt, just as Father said.

If we base it on human standards, I’d say it’s about the size of what one commoner would live in—a shed.

Such is the vibe the Dragon Emperor’s Castle gives.

“You still lack imagination. You have enough mana, but if you don’t have a clear image of how you want to materialize that, it won’t work out.”

I guess my ability to visualize is pretty bad.
My imagination can only realize a shed at best. When it comes to a huge castle, I don’t know how to visualize the finer details.
Is that why I’m not succeeding?

“This is the result of all my hard work over the past few months…?!”

The first castle I created was a crude shack that was not even close to this.
If we compare the two, you can say I’ve made some progress.

However, the fact that it’s not up to the required standard is the same now as it was then.
It’s just not enough.

“…Do I not have a Dragon Emperor’s talent after all?”
“Ooph… He’s depressed in spirits again! Keep at it! Persevere until the limits of your power!”

Father encourages me as I crumble into my own inadequacy.
It has been the same cycle as of late.

“…What a pathetic emperor you are,” says another person with us… or another dragon?

Anyway, it’s my sister, Bloody Mary.

“Your incompetence is why the dungeon has taken you so much time and effort to build. It’s humiliating that such a useless dragon is our representative.”

Sis Mary was originally the second most powerful dragon and was the most aggressive in her pursuit of becoming the next Geyser Dragon.

That’s why she can’t tolerate a small fry like me to be crowned the emperor.
Even now, she comes here to make snarky comments.

“…This is why I don’t want a weakling as the Geyser Dragon. You’re lucky. Then again, those who got crowned out of luck don’t go far in terms of strength.”

My sister’s right.
I was just lucky enough to become the Geyser Dragon.

It was only with my friends’ help that I was able to defeat Father. Brother Alexander and Sis Veil, who are much more powerful, refused the title on their own accord, leaving me to take over as the successor.
Then again, it’s not as if I wasn’t forced into it either…

“I’m not worthy to be the Geyser Dragon after all”
“Ah… not again!”

Father sighs as he watches me bawling.

“How many times have I told you Ardheg can be sensitive, Mary? The tsundere concept is still alien in the dragon world.”
“What’s a tsundere?”
“That’s what the saint told me when I went to his farm previously. He said your behavior is much like a tsundere’s.”
“Okay… But what’s a tsundere?!”

I’m here on my knees, devastated, yet the two of them are arguing about what’s a tsundere and don’t seem to care about me at all!

I wasn’t worth anyone’s attention, to begin with, anyway!
Fine! I’ll just go down in history as the weakest Geyser Dragon eveeeeeeeeer!!!

“Ugh, this is getting old. Go on, comfort him, Mary.”
“Why me?”
“You made him cry, so it’s only right that you should take responsibility. And besides, if you treat him nicely now, you’ll get a big boost in him liking you.”
“Y-You think so…?”

Haa… I don’t feel like doing anything anymore…
Maybe I should stop acting like a Geyser Dragon and go back to being a regular dragon.

“Hey, do you have a moment?”

What is it, Sis Mary?
I feel tormented right now. If you’re going to verbally abuse me, please do it another time.

“Stop sulking. You’re doing great as the Geyser Dragon.”

This again?
You’re going to flatter me with sweet words, and then you drag me down.
I’m not falling for it a second time.

“He got even worse…”
“So what if you can’t build the Dragon Emperor Castle? You’re just a little clumsy, that’s all! Of all the generations of Geyser Dragons, it’s not that big of a deal if at least one doesn’t have a place to live!”
“Uh, I’m not so sure about that…” interrupts Father.

Witty of him to insert a comment. After all, he’s the previous Geyser Dragon.

“If you really want a place to live, why not come to my dungeon?”
“Huh?!”
“Black Widow’s Mountain is one of the best in the world in terms of size and interior luxury! It’s almost as good as a Geyser Dragon’s castle!”
“What is she talking about?”
“All dragons obey the Geyser Dragon! If you want, it’s all yours! And then, we can live together… And then our love nest… Hehehehe!!!”
“If you’re going to use sophistry, at least see through it till the end. Don’t just go all delusional on us.”

As Sis Mary and Father argue about something… a visitor arrives.
It’s Prince Arowana of the mermaid race.

“Lord Ardheg! It’s been a while!”
“Lord Arowana!”

Prince Arowana and I are best friends.
We are warriors who stood up to and defeated Father during our journey together.

Even after I succeeded the dragon throne, he still visits me from time to time like so.
We transform into our human forms accordingly and give each other a tight embrace.

“…Tsk.”
“Why are you jealous of your husband’s friends too?”

Sis Mary and Father follow suit and transform into their human forms.

But this is a problem.
Prince Arowana came all the way here to see me, but the castle isn’t even complete yet.

All because I have a poor imagination!

“I see…you can’t materialize the image of your palace because you lack imagination?”

Pardon?

“How about you use our palace as a reference? You remember it well, don’t you, since you’ve gone there several times?”

Ah.
As I was told, I tried to materialize the Dragon Emperor’s Castle, remembering the palace Prince Arowana lives in.

And it’s done.

The design has a bit of a mermaid flair to it, but it’s a huge structure that can be considered a castle!

“Wow! With just one piece of advice from you, Lord Arowana, the Dragon Emperor’s Castle is complete!”
“Not at all! That was all you and your Dragon Archon power, Lord Ardheg!”

As expected of the mermaid race’s future king. What simple yet precise advice!

But why is Sis Mary reproachfully glaring at the prince?

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