The Kingdom of Lugunica stood amid internal strife and external threats.
Without the Divine Dragon as its ultimate trump card, the kingdom could very well be destroyed outright. This was the common consensus—lose the Divine Dragon, and everything would be lost.
Yet in Shendu's eyes, that was nothing more than wishful thinking born of complacency. Rather than relying on their own development, they chose to depend on external power. She truly could not understand how such people thought.
"Having said this, everyone should now understand the severity of the situation, correct? Therefore, maintaining the covenant concerns whether we can continue to survive. We began searching for the Dragon Priestess long ago."
"Now, the five candidates have all assembled. From among these five, the queen shall be born. A Dragon Priestess qualified to become king—the Royal Guard will swear eternal loyalty to the monarch! We shall never betray them."
As Captain of the Royal Guard, Marcos placed his right fist over his heart, expressing his loyalty to the future king, as well as the conditions of that loyalty.
This middle-aged knight spoke with stirring conviction. Even an ordinary listener could feel their blood boil merely hearing him. It was clear that he was far from simple.
"Very well, my speech is concluded. Before the election officially begins, there remains one final matter—that is to verify whether you truly possess the qualification. Although the insignia's detection rarely fails, there may still be oversights."
Marcos looked toward the candidates, each bearing a different expression, and continued, "Five esteemed ladies, please present your insignias!"
A dragon-shaped insignia—capable of verifying one's qualification as the Dragon Priestess.
If genuine, the insignia would naturally shine brilliantly, just as it had when Felt touched it previously.
"Ordinarily, those without the qualification cannot elicit any reaction from the insignia. For example—like this!"
Marcos lifted an insignia and placed it in his palm. There was no reaction whatsoever. Not the faintest glimmer of light appeared.
With his explanation, everyone finally understood that candidates for the throne were truly unique. Without the proper qualification, one could only be eliminated.
"What a tedious farce. Are you treating me like some performing monkey?"
For some reason, Priscilla felt as though she were being made into a spectacle. Yet with so many eyes upon her, she could not afford to appear overly arrogant.
Though Priscilla was prideful and self-assured as a royal candidate, she was certainly no fool. In such circumstances, she would not display petty caprice.
After a moment's thought, she still took out her insignia.
The other four candidates followed suit, raising their insignias high above their heads.
Bzz—bzz—
In an instant, multicolored light radiated from the insignias, illuminating the entire hall with a gentle, warm glow.
Shendu watched the scene with mild surprise. She realized that each candidate's insignia emitted a different color of light.
For instance, Priscilla's was orange. Emilia's was silver. Felt's was gold. Crusch's was green. Lastly, Anastasia's was purple.
Whether it was related to their hair color or not, the light released by their insignias matched their hair perfectly.
"Truly astonishing!"
"These five candidates indeed possess the qualification."
The civil and military officials stared at the spectacle, acknowledging their legitimacy.
Since they had been chosen by the Divine Dragon, they could not be ordinary individuals. With such people guiding the nation, prosperity would surely follow.
Truth be told, deceiving the dragon-shaped insignia was nearly impossible. The reason it could verify qualification was because the Divine Dragon had bestowed upon them magic stones, which were inlaid within the insignias.
"It seems there is no doubt regarding the identities of our esteemed candidates. In that case, the Royal Selection shall officially commence!"
"It should have begun long ago, Captain. Our time is quite valuable. Please proceed without further delay."
Anastasia wore a smile, yet her tone yielded not in the slightest. She clearly felt her time had been wasted.
That was indeed the case. The Hoshin Company had been battered senseless by the Divine Dragon Merchant Guild. Without her leadership as president, their losses might have been even worse.
At present, the Hoshin Company had nearly been driven out of the royal capital. Only in several other cities did they still maintain an advantage. Otherwise, Anastasia might already have gone bankrupt.
"Indeed, my own affairs are equally demanding. Let us proceed with the main agenda, Captain."
After brief consideration, Crusch spoke decisively as well.
"Such an old fossil. It should have started long ago. Wasting my time. As the most qualified candidate, I find these meaningless speeches unnecessary. You may as well hand the throne directly to me."
Priscilla remained as arrogant as ever, showing not the slightest respect toward Marcos, the captain of the knights.
Hearing her words, Marcos maintained basic composure. Taking a deep breath, he issued an order to the knight beside him.
"Bring in the Dragon History Stone!"
Once Marcos gave the command, over a dozen knights solemnly pulled aside the curtain hanging upon the wall. A massive dragon-shaped crest appeared before them. As dazzling light shone upon a certain spot, a stone slab revealed itself to their eyes.
Ever since the covenant with the Divine Dragon had been formed, this stone slab had played a crucial role.
In ordinary times, it could not only predict the weather, but also foresee disasters in the surrounding regions. Whether floods or earthquakes, it could detect them in advance.
Thus, the people of the kingdom revered this slab as the Divine Dragon's will, following its guidance at all times.
If the Divine Dragon deemed something correct, they would carry it out without hesitation.
Every person present wore an expression of reverence. To witness this legendary sacred relic of the Divine Dragon filled them with indescribable excitement.
Shendu, however, paid it little mind. She knew that if one's strength were sufficient and one's will enveloped a region, every occurrence within that domain could be perceived clearly.
The Divine Dragon merely communicated with the kingdom through this stone slab, issuing its various directives. There was nothing particularly mysterious about it.
"Heh, this is becoming interesting. The show grows more entertaining by the moment."
Shendu found it quite amusing, savoring the rare spectacle. She was curious to see what sort of decree the Divine Dragon would issue.
As a dragon from another world herself, she felt that the other dragon ought to show her at least a bit of courtesy.
"Candidates, under the gaze of the Divine Dragon, please introduce yourselves. Explain how you intend to govern and develop the kingdom should you become queen. Present your ideals."
Marcos offered a simple reminder. It resembled a job interview from a previous life—demonstrate your value and show what achievements you could bring.
So long as the Divine Dragon was satisfied, the ultimate victor would become queen. In other words, the dragon's judgment was absolute.
Understanding this process, Shendu glanced toward Emilia. Seeing her nervous expression, she could only shake her head helplessly.
I truly wonder what sort of astonishing remarks such a gentle and kind Emilia will make...
...
After Marcos finished his introduction, he turned his gaze toward Crusch. She was one of the candidates he personally acknowledged, and he chose to begin with her.
"Lady Crusch, we shall start with you."
Once her name was called, Crusch showed not the slightest trace of timidity. She strode forward with her head held high, standing tall like an iron-blooded soldier, inspiring admiration.
"You are all well aware of my background. Since the founding of the kingdom, the Karsten family has been a pillar of strength and has remained unwaveringly loyal. However, if I become queen, I will not renew the covenant with the Divine Dragon. I have my reasons for this."
The moment her words fell, an uproar erupted throughout the hall. This was far from what they had expected.
The military-clad young woman spoke with absolute certainty. After several seconds of stunned silence, fierce discussion broke out.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"The Divine Dragon protects everything in the kingdom—why would we abolish the covenant?"
"It is only because of the Divine Dragon that we enjoy our current peace and prosperity!"
Civil and military officials exchanged heated whispers, but they all shared one opinion: the covenant with the Divine Dragon must not be severed. Otherwise, the kingdom would fall into grave danger.
"Silence!"
Facing their puzzled gazes, Crusch showed no fear. She spun sharply and rebuked them.
The single word seemed to freeze the crowd in place. All eyes fixed upon her, waiting to hear what she intended.
"Excessive reliance on external power is the most disgraceful behavior of all!"
"I acknowledge that the Divine Dragon has brought immense benefits to the kingdom. In battle, a single dragon's breath can annihilate our enemies. Its magic can cure illness. Its blood can restore vitality to barren land. But—"
When she reached that word, her gaze sharpened. She swept her eyes across every civil and military official before continuing.
"But if the Divine Dragon were to disappear, we would be left without that external support. We would have to endure every disaster alone."
Her reasoning was firm and logical. Nothing was eternal. Steel must be forged by one's own hands. Relying solely on others would only lead to ruin.
If the kingdom wished to grow strong and prosperous, it needed to learn from other nations and reform its current model. Only through self-strengthening could true power be achieved.
"Impossible! The Divine Dragon loves our kingdom. How could it ever abandon us?"
"Indeed! You are worrying over nothing."
Some officials attempted to refute her, convinced that the Divine Dragon, bound by covenant, would protect them forever.
Crusch noticed the flicker of uncertainty in their eyes. They had already sensed the underlying risk. Her smile grew colder. To her, such people were nothing but parasites.
"There is no such thing as an eternal ally—not even the Divine Dragon. If we lose its protection, what then? With a nation in gradual decline, shall we oppose ever-strengthening neighboring countries?"
"At present, the entire kingdom is steeped in complacency. If I become queen, I will shatter that mindset. I will lead everyone toward strength and prosperity, forging a path different from that of reliance on the Divine Dragon!"
Crusch raised her right fist in solemn oath.
Some of the officials seemed to awaken. Applause broke out involuntarily, further stirring the already chaotic atmosphere.
Her words struck the upper echelon like a resounding slap. Even Shendu's eyes revealed a trace of approval. A ruler capable of reform and revitalization was no small matter.
If Crusch were to become queen, it might not be a bad outcome.
Her decisive and responsible temperament was not to be underestimated.
It also proved that she was no idealist, but rather a pragmatist.
"Very well. Next, Lady Anastasia, please present your introduction."
After hearing Crusch's speech, even Marcos felt admiration. After a brief pause, he turned to the next candidate.
The purple-haired young woman showed no stage fright. She stepped forward slowly, appearing like an ordinary girl next door. Once at the front, she calmly voiced her views.
"Saving the kingdom is simple. If I become queen, I will make every subject wealthy. We will wage campaigns against other nations, continuously seize profit, and ensure that every citizen enjoys a life of abundant material comfort."
"Within a few years, you will witness us unify the continent and become one of the wealthiest regions in the world."
Originally, Anastasia had prepared a more measured speech. However, after being suppressed relentlessly by the Divine Dragon Merchant Guild, she stood on the verge of collapse.
She urgently needed this speech to prove her worth and rally support to strengthen her own faction.
Compared to Crusch's cautious pragmatism, Anastasia's ambition was immense. She sought nothing less than continental unification and unmatched wealth.
Yet most listeners felt her words carried a degree of exaggeration.
After all, she could not even defeat the newly established Divine Dragon Merchant Guild, which had existed only a few months. How could she realize such grandiose dreams?
"Ahem. Let us proceed. Lady Felt, please share your ideals."
When her name was called, Felt walked forward with surprising grace, quite unlike the reluctant girl of the original timeline.
After Shendu's influence and guidance, Felt had changed considerably. She now stepped forward brimming with confidence, her gaze fixed upon the officials and the Council of Wise Men.
"My name is Felt. I grew up in the slums, yet I carry royal blood. If I become queen, I will communicate with the Divine Dragon to eliminate hidden threats internally, and expand our territory externally."
"I will grant the poor more chances to survive. That is my ideal as queen."
Her posture was elegant. She articulated each word clearly and firmly.
Shendu felt deeply satisfied and nodded unconsciously.
Her simple, unadorned ideal drew applause from several attendees. Many found themselves favorably impressed by this royal-blooded candidate.
Hearing her speech, Reinhard quietly exhaled in relief, resolving to support her from the bottom of his heart.
After finishing, Felt let out a breath and silently mouthed toward Shendu.
Big Sister, did you see? I did it.
"Very well. Next, Lady Emilia, please step forward and present your ideals."
When it was Emilia's turn, Marcos looked at her deeply, unable to suppress a trace of sorrow.
Her appearance—so identical to the legendary Witch of Envy—made it difficult for many to feel goodwill toward her.
However, just as Emilia was about to step forward and speak, she was abruptly interrupted.
The one who spoke was none other than Rickert, one of the members of the Council of Wise Men, known for harboring hostility and prejudice against the silver-haired half-elf.
An elderly man with sunken eyes, completely white hair, and a hunched back slowly walked forward. His gaze was filled with intense disgust as he stared at Emilia—and at several other candidates he clearly disapproved of.
Meanwhile, Marcos the elder stood aside silently, watching the spectacle. Though members of the same council, they differed in ideology.
Upon hearing that the Divine Dragon Merchant Guild was controlled behind the scenes by a silver-haired girl, Rickert and Kraken had refused any attempt at reconciliation. They had no interest in restoring their youth.
Thus, Marcos, Miklotov, and Wayne merely observed in silence.
"Wait! This Royal Selection is far too hasty. Just what kind of people have been chosen?"
"The House of Julius supports a commoner? The Astrea family backs an orphan? And the border count endorses a silver-haired half-demon? They are utterly unqualified to participate in this election!"
Rickert's expression darkened as he loudly denounced them, his eyes brimming with disgust and cold contempt, as though such people had no place in this world.