Chapter 73: I’m Just Gonna Say a Number
Ten days, twenty times.
There are three ways to get to the Extreme North Land of the Dragon Race.
The first way is the normal route. But whether you fly as a person or a dragon, it takes forever!
The second method is using space magic for teleportation. The upside? You save a LOT of time! The downside? In the entire Dragon Race, only about five tribes can actually use space magic well and often—
And here’s the kicker: Three of those tribes’ dragon kings are currently being manipulated by General Leon!
The third option involves riding a specific mode of transportation. It still takes a few days to reach the Extreme North Land, but it’s infinitely faster than flapping your wings for days!
And so, the Young Dragon Department from Saint His Academy decided to go with the third option.
As for the “mode of transportation,” it’s everyone’s favorite school bus—
The Leviathan!
Don’t be fooled by these docile giants; they’re one of the few tribes that know how to use space magic.
Sure, their style is different from Rave and the gang, but for a trip, it’s more than sufficient.
The journey starts at the academy and is expected to take three days to reach the Extreme North Land.
Noia, with her fully packed backpack, obediently stood behind a group of seniors as they filed into the Leviathan’s teleportation beam.
“Hey, look! There’s a little cutie going with us!” one senior exclaimed.
“Are there extra slots? I remember a senior saying it’s been ages since a Young Dragon Department signed up for the Extreme North Land exam.”
Just as they were chatting, a tall senior turned around, bent slightly, and resting her hands on her knees, smiling broadly asked, “Little cutie, what’s your name?”
“Noia, Noia K. Melkway.”
Upon hearing this, the senior looked slightly surprised. “You’re that famous Noia from the Young Dragon Department?”
Noia’s face went beet red, and she tightened her grip on her backpack straps. “N-no, I’m not famous at all…”
She had never really talked to other teenage dragons before, so being suddenly addressed made her a bit nervous.
“I’m Yuna from the Thunder Dragon Race! So glad to meet you, Noia!”
“The Thunder Dragon Race…”
Noia blinked and looked up and down at the senior named Yuna. “But I thought Thunder Dragons were generally tall and lanky?”
Noia recalled that during a family sports day at the academy a few years back, her dad almost got ambushed by a tall Thunder Dragon.
But he outplayed them in the end and won the race!
“What do you mean, little Noia? Are you saying I’m not in great shape?” Yuna feigned anger.
Noia panicked and waved her hands. “No, no, I meant…”
Yuna pouted but didn’t press it further. “Relax, I was just teasing you! The tall and lanky ones are Electric Dragons; I’m a Thunder Dragon.”
Noia’s eyes lit up with realization. “Oh, right! My bad!”
“No worries, it happens! A lot of people get us mixed up.”
Yuna was pretty easygoing, so she didn’t mind the mix-up.
“Did you come here alone to sign up?” Yuna asked.
Noia nodded. “Yeah.”
“The Extreme North Land is a tough place to be; the Dangerous Species that live there are tough and durable. If you aren’t careful, you might just get hurt,” Yuna said seriously.
But Noia showed no signs of being scared. “I know, Yuna.”
Yuna blinked, surprised; this little one had determination written all over her.
Was it that she didn’t know fear, or was she genuinely capable?
From Yuna’s perspective, she leaned toward the latter.
After all, Saint His Academy is a place overflowing with geniuses, and it takes something special to stand out in such a place.
“Yuna, we’re off to do a practical exam, you’re not thinking about bringing a little kid along who might slow us down, are you?” a senior beside them commented.
Yuna shot him a look. “Mind your own business, Anton.”
Anton shrugged, looking unfazed.
Yuna rolled her eyes at him and turned back to Noia, putting on her warm smile again. “Don’t worry, Noia. If you run into trouble, you can always come find me.”
“Okay, thank you, senior!”
Yuna smiled and continued to chat away with Noia as they waited in line.
Once everyone was aboard the Leviathan, Yuna went to find her classmates.
Before heading off, she reminded Noia repeatedly to seek her out if she ever needed help.
Noia promised she would.
What a nice senior!
Noia stood at the back of the Leviathan, enjoying the view of the dragon’s massive rear.
To make the trip less boring, the school had even set up some basic accommodations.
Thank goodness Leviathans are so well-behaved; otherwise, trying to throw a party on any dragon’s back would have them flipping out in an instant.
Looking around, all the seniors had companions, while Noia was stuck all alone.
Suddenly, she found herself missing her little sea dragon best friend.
This exam, once you count the travel time, would take around ten days.
And outside of Yuna, she didn’t know anyone else at all.
She blinked her big, beautiful eyes before plopping down cross-legged, easing her backpack into her lap.
Her silver tail dangled behind her, and her chin rested softly on her backpack.
A gentle breeze ruffled her bangs as she half-lidded her eyes, making her look a bit lonely.
After a while, Noia quietly murmured, “Oh, if only Helena were here…”
“I guessed someone was missing me,” a familiar voice chimed in from behind.
Noia whipped her head around to see a splash of blue.
“Helena…”
“Honestly, you took off so fast this morning, I could barely keep up!” Helena said as she dropped her own backpack and plopped down next to Noia.
Still a bit dazed by her best friend’s sudden appearance, Noia asked, “What are you doing here?”
“Why am I here… hmm, good question!” Helena pretended to ponder. After a beat, she replied, “Because there are two slots available; one for you and one for me. Perfect fit!”
“…I can count, Helena, I meant why did you sign up too?”
“Because I couldn’t let my little silver dragon buddy spend three whole days and nights in the freezing cold all alone, surrounded by strangers, and d*e of loneliness! So I had to come along!”
“I’m not scared to be alone…”
“Well, you may not be scared, but you wouldn’t like it, would you?”
Noia opened her mouth to retort, but the words refused to come out.
Helena was right; she wasn’t afraid of attending the exam alone; she simply didn’t like the feeling of being isolated.
Having grown up with her sister and with dad and mom being model parents, Noia hadn’t really experienced being alone other than during those first few days of school.
She thought this would finally be her chance to test herself, but then her best friend just HAD to tag along.
Hmph, fine! Next time for sure! After all, there are plenty of practical exams at the academy, Noia secretly thought.
The two friends chatted away for a bit before suddenly noticing that the Leviathan was slowing down and descending.
“What’s going on? Didn’t they say we were heading directly to the Extreme North Land?” Noia asked.
“Didn’t you hear?” Helena asked back.
“Hear what?”
“There’s a tourist group traveling with us this time.”
Noia’s lips twitched a bit. “A t-tourist group? How is that even a thing?!”
Helena shrugged and patted the giant scales beneath her. “Even Uncle Leviathan needs to eat! We’re heading to the exam and also picking up a tourist group for some quick cash. Limited edition tickets, make it rain!”
Noia simply covered her face, coming to terms with it.
The route continued with the Leviathan stopping here and there to pick up a bunch of travelers headed to the Extreme North Land.
Noia had zero interest and was even beginning to feel drowsy.
Until, half an hour later, she spotted… her mom’s Silver Dragon Temple from afar.
“Wow, that’s your place, Noia! Are your mom and dad going to the Extreme North Land too?” Helena asked, slightly excited.
Noia, after a moment of thought, sprang up and pulled Helena to one side to secretly observe.
“What’s up, Noia? Aren’t you going to say hi to your mom and dad?” Helena questioned.
Noia shook her head. “Helena, remember how you said you envied the way my family interacts?”
“Uh-huh!”
The great filial daughter, Noia, smirked faintly. “This time, I’ll show you how they really interact when no one’s watching.”
“Eh?”
“I’m just gonna say a number. Ten days—they’ll definitely kiss at least twenty times!”
And this is the confidence instilled by exemplary parents.
—The Silver Dragon Princess, Noia K. Melkway.
