Chapter 212
‘Whoa. This is insane.’
Lloyd almost reflexively covered his mouth.
Inside the wide-open vault sat a pile of dragon bones.
It was enormous.
A museum dinosaur fossil?
This was on a completely different level.
If properly assembled like a museum display, it would easily stretch two hundred meters.
Just the skull alone was as big as a city bus.
But what Lloyd focused on wasn’t the size or scale of the bones.
‘It has three horns.’
The dragon skull had three horns.
To be precise, it originally had four, but one horn on the left temple had been broken off.
So there were two horns on top of its head, and only one on the right temple.
It looked strangely familiar.
‘Of course. I’ve seen it to death as a symbol, not the real thing.’
The Death God Mark with the dragon’s head and wings.
The suspicious mark buried with the Undead Mastodon near the Frontera Estate.
The mark he had seen countless times when chasing Cannavaro in Namaran.
And… the mark used by the shadowy figure who stood beside Queen Alicia in the novel Iron Blooded Knight—back when she became a tyrant.
The dragon’s head in that mark looked exactly like this.
Even the broken horn on the left temple.
The way the remaining three horns angled.
It was too similar to be a coincidence.
‘It’s basically copy-paste.’
He was sure of it.
With that conviction, Lloyd opened his mouth.
“Your Majesty, I dare to ask a question.”
“Ask.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Did you say these dragon bones were spoils obtained after subjugating the Black Wizards?”
“That is so.”
Queen Alicia chuckled.
A hint of pride showed on her face.
“They hid it in the deepest part of the laboratory. They resisted desperately to protect it.”
“The remnants of the Black Wizards, you mean?”
“Indeed. It was as if they were protecting their most important treasure. Perhaps the reagents and powerful magical tools they used were extracted or processed from these dragon bones. Like the black gem you mined in Namaran.”
“You knew I took that?”
Lloyd jolted.
A bitter smile tugged at the Queen’s lips.
“I heard it through Black Wizard Cannavaro’s confession. No—he brought it up about five times even though I didn’t ask. He seemed very resentful that you stole it.”
“…”
“Anyway, I was only able to claim this as mine after wiping out the entire group and beheading the last leader. Honestly, I was so surprised at the time.”
Satisfaction lingered in Queen Alicia’s eyes as she looked at the dragon bones.
Well, Lloyd thought, it made sense.
‘Because it’s dragon bones.’
A dragon’s bones were an enormous treasure in themselves.
Extract the Mana properly, and they become a powerful magical source—just like the Black Wizards had done. Process the bone itself, and you could create national-treasure-class weapons.
But she had obtained an entire dragon skeleton.
It was only natural that the Queen would be openly pleased.
‘And the Queen doesn’t know it yet, but if my guess is right, this subjugation is a truly tremendous achievement.’
Simply because she uprooted a dangerous group of Black Wizards?
Or because she obtained precious dragon bones?
No.
In Lloyd’s view, this subjugation carried something far more important.
It was the achievement of seemingly eliminating the mastermind that had never been revealed in Iron Blooded Knight.
‘It’s almost certain. The skull’s horns match the Death God Mark. What does that mean?’
It meant the Black Wizards were the ones using that mark.
It meant they were the ones who buried the Undead Mastodon near the Frontera Estate.
And… it meant the mysterious aide who latched onto the corrupted Queen Alicia in the novel was tied to them as well.
‘But wow. It’s getting resolved all at once like this.’
The aide who had never been properly revealed, even by the end of the first part. The forces everyone expected to emerge as the mastermind in the second part.
The ones who stayed in the dark when publication of the second part was suspended.
‘So I was subtly worried. Because they were the kind of people even I couldn’t predict, despite having read the novel. I was worried I’d get blindsided later.’
But Queen Alicia had swept them away.
It felt like a toothache disappearing.
It felt like the girl next door paying off my loan.
The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to bow to Her Majesty.
‘And she probably doesn’t even know what kind of feat she just pulled off.’
Lloyd suppressed a laugh.
Still—good was good.
If even these unsettling people had been taken care of, it was something to welcome with open arms.
It was like getting something for nothing.
Like a mosquito falling into the sink water and drowning on its own without you even spraying insecticide.
In other words, a perfect free ride.
Organizing his thoughts, Lloyd asked,
“Then, Your Majesty, you wish to create a large-scale garden using these dragon bones?”
“That is so. I was thinking of assembling the dragon’s skeleton in a kneeling posture on the ground, and erecting a statue in front of it.”
“Are you perhaps referring to a statue modeled after Your Majesty?”
“Indeed. That’s why you’re so easy to work with. You always grasp my intentions without me having to explain them.”
Queen Alicia smiled contentedly.
She continued.
“You must be wondering why I would use precious dragon bones to create mere sculptures and a garden. Simple vanity? No. There is something more important than that.”
“Do you need a showcase to display the prestige of the Magentano Royal Family to the outside world?”
“You even guessed that?”
“Yes, a little…”
“Your guess is correct.”
Queen Alicia continued.
“At present, who in this Lorasia Continent would dare to oppose our Magentano Royal Family head-on? No one. Militarily, economically, in all fields—does anyone dare to boast that they surpass our Royal Family? There is none.”
Her voice was arrogant, and just as confident.
Lloyd nodded inwardly.
It was true.
Her Majesty’s words were ‘almost’ factual, even judged coldly.
That was how much the Magentano Royal Family was wielding the power of its heyday.
In 21st-century terms?
Perhaps it was like Russia in a world without the United States.
It was no exaggeration to say they were halfway to becoming the hegemon of the Lorasia Continent.
‘The Sultanate was the only rival—like China.’
And they had just properly reconciled with that Sultanate.
In effect, a potentially threatening power had disappeared.
‘So now? She’s decided it’s time to elevate the Royal Family’s authority, unify the nobles, raise international standing, and crush the spirit of any country that might dare to challenge them—just like the Sultanate did with the Monster Domino Operation.’
Socially.
In the logic of international power.
It was a project with benefits in every direction.
Come to think of it, something similar existed in Earth’s history.
France at its height.
King Louis XIV, the Sun King.
He poured immense funds into making the wealth and authority of the Bourbon dynasty unmistakable to all.
The palace and gardens he expanded and built so diligently.
Versailles.
And now, here before his eyes, Queen Alicia was laying out her requirements with that same solemn gaze.
“First, expand the rear garden of the Royal Palace for the garden to be constructed.”
Yes, ma’am.
“Also, the scale to be secured by expanding the existing rear garden should be at least eight hundred hectares. The total length of the paths to be placed in the garden should be at least twenty kilometers. And a waterway of about thirty kilometers should also be laid out.”
Yes, ma’am.
“And at least two hundred thousand trees of the most diverse and beautiful species should be planted, and the dragon’s skeleton should be installed in a kneeling posture in the main space of the garden, with my statue standing proudly in front of it.”
Of course, ma’am.
“And there is something else that is most important.”
Just say it, ma’am.
“I would like a beautiful waterway placed around the dragon’s skeleton and my statue. Of course, the waterway should be able to accommodate ships that can comfortably carry up to fifty people, and these ships should be able to enter the garden from the Magena River of the Royal Capital along the waterway, admire my statue and the dragon sculpture, and then exit the garden through the waterway on the opposite side.”
…Please spare me, ma’am.
After that, the Queen’s requirements were endless.
And meticulous, down to the details.
That’s right.
Queen Alicia was a very meticulous client, with clear guidelines for what she wanted.
So Lloyd—
‘Wow.’
While exclaiming inwardly, he memorized every single request.
And at the same time, he welcomed them.
‘This kind of client is easier.’
Suddenly, he was reminded of his days working in South Korea.
Once, he was called to a private home interior construction site.
And the client had been a real nightmare.
Because he exploited people?
Or abused the workers?
No.
‘He was an amateurish, indecisive, vague nice guy.’
That was when Lloyd learned something for the first time.
The most frustrating client wasn’t the openly nasty one.
It was the vague nice guy who didn’t even know what he wanted.
‘I didn’t believe it at first, but it was true.’
That client was really—
Like adding liquor to liquor.
Like adding water to water.
He just kept saying to make it look good.
He said it would be nice if it was reasonably okay.
When he first commissioned the work, he had a truly pleasant face and a laid-back attitude.
But once the work started?
‘He slowly changed.’
The demands gradually increased.
He kept wanting more and more.
The reason was simple.
‘Because he didn’t know what he wanted when he first commissioned the job.’
So, halfway through the work, he began “discovering” his preferences one by one.
‘Oh, now that I see it, I think gray would be better than white for the first-floor entrance tiles?’
‘I’m sorry, but now that I think about it, maybe we should try a different style for the front door….’
‘Now that I see it, I think it would be better to remove the shower booth in the bathroom again.’
…And so on.
Of course, it would’ve been fine if it ended there.
Because Lloyd diligently reflected every requested change.
But that site didn’t end nicely.
‘Ah, now that I see it, I think the first one was best. Let’s go back to that.’
…Because of the client’s cheerful request.
In the end, that site got completely overturned.
‘Ugh. It still pisses me off just thinking about it.’
Lost in that memory, Lloyd clenched his fist without realizing it.
Then he looked at Queen Alicia and felt relieved again.
Thank goodness.
Her Majesty wasn’t that kind of person.
“Then, if we apply all the things you mentioned to the construction, is that correct?”
“That is so. Harmoniously, without missing any of the elements I mentioned. I will provide ample funding and manpower, so there is no need to worry about that. What do you think, eldest son of the Frontera Family?”
“I dare to think it is very excellent.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course.”
“Good. But I’m sure you’ve already thought of the conditions you want from Me in exchange for this construction, haven’t you?”
“That is also a matter of course.”
“Speak.”
Both the Queen and Lloyd knew each other well.
They also knew neither of them was an easy opponent.
So there was no need for drawn-out back-and-forth.
After Her Majesty finished listing the construction requirements, it was naturally Lloyd’s turn.
Queen Alicia’s gaze deepened as she looked at him.
He was talented and quick-witted—useful.
But he had also become difficult to exploit.
‘Tsk. To think he’d casually put one foot in with the Sultan.’
She didn’t expect the day would come when she’d have to coax him by granting his requests every time she assigned him work.
The Queen clicked her tongue, feeling a little bitter.
Lloyd spoke politely.
“Then, I dare to present to Your Majesty the matter I wish to request.”
It was still too early to openly refuse Her Majesty’s work.
So since he had taken it on anyway, he would demand compensation.
Very clear compensation.
A full set of national-treasure-class weapons—about a dozen.
And a legendary-potion-level bone broth extract, enough to fill a two-liter bottle.
Vowing to squeeze it all out, Lloyd said,
“I, Lloyd Frontera, wish to obtain an exemption from labor for the next ten years if I successfully complete this construction.”
“…What?”
Queen Alicia’s eyebrows twitched.
An outrageous request.
Her surprise quickly turned into displeasure.
To refuse the work she would assign for ten years.
How dare he.
It was the moment she was about to sternly rebuke him—
When Lloyd’s clear, brazen words followed immediately.
“If such a request does not please you, then I, Lloyd Frontera, wish to be granted a large piece of dragon bone instead of the ten-year exemption from labor.”