The Do-Over Damsel Conquers the Dragon Emperor Vol.2, page 1
Table of Contents
Copyright
Character Page
Prologue
Chapter 1: The Laid-Back Life and Riot of the False Emperor
Chapter 2: Infiltrating the Neutrahl Dragon Knights
Chapter 3: A Supply Line from Siblings
Chapter 4: The Network of Betrayal
Chapter 5: A Contract of Blood and Rescuing the Dragon Emperor
Epilogue
Interlude: The Fall of the Dragon Consort in Conference Room One
Afterword
Other Series Pt. 1
Other Series Pt. 2
The Do-Over Damsel Conquers the Dragon Emperor Vol.2
Sarasa Nagase
Translation by piyo
Illustration by Mitsuya Fuji
Title Design by Arbash Mughal
Editing by Elijah Baldwin
Proofreading by A.M. Perrone and Charis Messier
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
YARINAOSHI REIJO WA RYUTEIHEIKA O KORYAKU CHU Vol.2
©Sarasa Nagase 2020
First published in Japan in 2020 by KADOKAWA CORPORATION, Tokyo.
English translation rights arranged with KADOKAWA CORPORATION, Tokyo.
English translation ©2023 Cross Infinite World
All rights reserved. In accordance with U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, email the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the email below.
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First Digital Edition: June 2023
ISBN: 979-8-88560-038-5
First Print Edition: July 2023
ISBN: 979-8-88560-039-2
Prologue
THE female commander with a sword pressed against her throat couldn’t hide her shock when the twelve-year-old Jill appeared on the battlefield.
“Are you the commander? Really?” the woman asked in disbelief.
“That I am. Are you Princess Elentzia Teos Rave?”
“That’s right. And you are?”
“Jill Cervel. The commander of this squad.”
“A Cervel, huh? If I remember correctly, you’re Crown Prince Gerald’s fiancée… Hmm, I see. So that’s what’s going on.”
The female commander from the enemy empire closed her eyes to process the situation. She showed no signs of resistance, but Jill hastened the conversation.
“We’ll take you prisoner. Your life will be spared, so please tell your troops to surrender. I wouldn’t expect any backup,” Jill said.
The plan that Gerald had entrusted Jill with went well. She had successfully lured Princess Elentzia’s squad and isolated it. Even the dauntless first princess of the Dragon Knights was no match for the anti-flight magic circles. Should she show hostility, her squad’s massacre was inevitable.
“Prince Gerald has commanded me not to take lives needlessly,” Jill informed her.
“…Not surprised. I’m sure Vissel had instructed him to do as much. Haha, I’m so very grateful. I went along with his plan, and in the end, I…” murmured Elentzia before she was abruptly cut off.
“Enemy raid! Enemy raid!”
A warning horn blared just as a wave of magic was unleashed from the Rakia Mountains, forming a cross-like pattern. Cries of agony and anguish filled the air.
My squad’s been fragmented?! Where did the attack come from? Jill thought. Her skin crawled at the immense magical energy from beyond the border as her subordinate shouted the answer to her unspoken question.
“From the peak of the Rakia Mountains! The crimson flag! It’s the Rave Imperial Army!”
“Hadis Teos Rave!” Jill said his name like it was a curse. “Did he cross the Rakia Mountains?!”
This must’ve been the rumored army under direct command of the Rave Emperor. Jill had no doubt he’d come to save Elentzia.
“Jill, let’s take Princess Elentzia and retreat. We don’t stand a chance,” the cool-headed vice commander advised. But Jill couldn’t believe those words.
“We’re choosing to flee without putting up a fight?!” she cried.
“That blow rendered our anti-flight magic circles useless. Our squad has been fragmented. There will be too much of a delay in giving orders. They took us completely by surprise. I don’t doubt that the enemy’s aware of our plans.”
“Impossible. Prince Gerald’s plans have been foiled? How could this be?” Jill’s grip tightened around her sword.
“The Rave Emperor bested Crown Prince Gerald in the past,” the vice commander pointed out. “I’d like to question the emperor’s sanity, but it’s logical to assume that he fooled even his allies and made preparations in secret. They weren’t supposed to receive any backup.”
Elentzia tried to smile, but her stunned face at the sight of backup had proved this analysis correct. The vice commander directed his sharp gaze towards the Rakia Mountains.
“We defeated the Neutrahl Dragon Knights and captured their commander, Princess Elentzia,” he said. “These results should be more than enough for our first battle. If the enemy recaptures Her Highness and destroys our path of retreat, all our efforts would be wasted.”
“…Got it. We’ll retreat! Relay the message to all troops in secret!” Jill ordered.
“You came to save me…Hadis,” murmured Elentzia under her breath. A dry laugh escaped her lips.
Jill tightened her grip on her sword. “Unfortunately for you, you’ll be coming with us.”
“You came for me?” she continued to mutter to herself. “The person who disgracefully dismissed your plan and agreed to cooperate with Vissel? No… You… You had your suspicions from the start. You knew that this was going to happen.” Elentzia staggered as she got up. She was smiling but looked like she would burst into tears at any moment. “What a foolish child. You should just toss me aside. I’m merely your pathetic half-sister, a person who can neither be friend nor foe,” the princess murmured.
“Please don’t move!” Jill shouted. “If you resist, I’ll—”
Suddenly, something came from below, knocking Jill’s sword away. A hidden dagger?!
Jill hadn’t let her guard down, but she was intimidated by Elentzia, who remained smiling in this hopeless situation. Jill’s subordinates pointed their bow and sword at Elentzia.
“We can’t let you go, princess! Zeke!” Camila shouted.
“Right behind ya!”
“Wait, Camila! Zeke!” Jill yelled.
Jill, who had jumped away from Elentzia, saw the princess hold the dagger to her throat rather than brandish it towards her captors.
“What are you— Your Highness!”
“I refuse to become a burden. If I were to be captured here, you’d definitely come to save me,” Elentzia said, continuing to speak to someone who wasn’t there. “You were always a kind child. Yet, to protect ourselves, we rejected you, calling you cursed and a monster… We’re much more monstrous and cursed compared to you.”
“Camila! Fire! Stop her!”
The moment the vice commander’s orders echoed, arrows pierced Elentzia’s shoulder and leg. She grit her teeth with a grin and remained standing. As though she clutched her own life in her hands, she refused to let go of the dagger pointed towards her throat.
“I’m sorry for being a useless older sister,” Elentzia said.
“…Please…stop! Your Highness, we’re not here to take your life!” Jill cried.
“I’m sorry that I couldn’t be on your side. At the very least, from here on out, I won’t be your enemy, Hadis. That’s the best apology that I can offer.”
With a beautiful smile, Elentzia pierced her own throat. Her silver hair turned red with her blood, and the light left her dark eyes.
Jill could only stare in shock. She never intended to take unnecessary lives in this battle. She planned on ending it with as few casualties as possible.
Jill’s first battle had taught her that such a plan wasn’t feasible in war. What thoughts ran through Hadis’s mind when he saw the death of the half-sister he’d come to save? The absence of a follow-up attack from Hadis’s army after that was telling.
He was probably sad, Jill thought. Or would he have smiled and charged forward, pretending it never happened? Jill’s memory remained as vivid as ever, even bringing back the smell of blood that wouldn’t wash from the hair she’d been growing out. She couldn’t ask him this question, and she couldn’t hear the answer.
This tragic incident would occur two years from now.
This was a story from the future to Jill, who’d gone back in time
She was overcome with an odd feeling as she looked up at the empire’s sky. Why am I here? Why did I cross through time and the kingdom’s boundaries?
“Ah, these cabbages are wonderful! They look so fresh and green! We’ll use these today,” a familiar voice exclaimed.
Seriously, what am I doing right now?
“Freshly picked vegetables are the best. I’m glad I planted these. If the good weather continues, these seeds will become big and ripe produce. I’m looking forward to— Agh?!”
Unable to restrain herself, Jill kicked the back of her husband.
“Why are you leisurely picking vegetables, Your Majesty?!” she snapped.
“Why? What else can I do? Not like I can enter the imperial capital,” said Hadis after he turned around. Protecting the cabbages, he fell face-first into the soil, but he didn’t seem angry in the slightest.
Hadis Teos Rave was the emperor of the enemy empire and was supposed to be one of Jill’s greatest enemies. Oddly enough, he was now her husband, wearing an apron and gloves to do some gardening. Even with his less-than-majestic appearance, there was no doubt he was still certainly the emperor of the Rave Empire.
Indeed, he was the emperor. And yet…
“Do you really think now is the time to be growing cabbages?!” shouted Jill.
“Don’t worry, I never put all my eggs in one basket. The strawberries are about to ripen,” he replied casually.
“That’s not the issue! You should focus on the current situation!”
“What use is there for that? Tonight, we’ll be having pot-au-feu.”
“Pot-au-feu…” she repeated.
“I got a large chunk of salted pork, so we’ll cut it into big pieces and stew them. It’ll melt in your mouth.”
“Melt in my mouth…”
Jill, weak to all things food-related, envisioned a piping hot pot-au-feu filled with large chunks of delicious meat. Hadis’s expert cooking made it even more appetizing. The pork would be marbled with fat and was certain to be delicious. Jill gulped, then came back to her senses.
“That’s not what I’m talking about, Your Majesty,” she huffed.
“The potatoes are also growing well. This region’s warm even within the Rave Empire. With spring on the horizon, the garden will get the boost it needs.”
“Hey! Are you listening to me?! We’re wanted people, Your Majesty! We can’t even use our magic much right now, so we’ve no time to work the fields—”
“Oi! Your Majesty, Captain! I’m back, and look! Today was a good fishing day!” Zeke called.
“Look, look, Jill! I got this large bird!” Camila yelled.
Hadis stood up with a broad smile when he heard the voices of his subordinates from beyond the half-broken stone wall.
“Let’s prepare the bird so that it can be stored. We should also sprinkle some salt on the fish while it’s fresh and grill them,” Hadis suggested.
“Oh, sounds good! There’s a river here, and the mountains are filled with beasts worth hunting,” Zeke agreed.
“Quite so! I worried what would happen to us at first, but things have been peachy thus far,” said Camila.
The subordinates nodded to each other while Jill’s fists trembled.
“Zeke! Camila! How can you two just go with the flow given this situation?!”
Jill’s voice echoed into the blue sky, and a baby bird she’d been looking after chirped in surprise.
Chapter 1: The Laid-Back Life and Riot of the False Emperor
JILL widened her eyes in shock at the shadow that passed over the clear blue sky of the floating city of Beilburg. The shadow had a long torso, large wings, and glittering, durable scales with a green sheen. Its legs alone were as tall as Jill, but it silently and gracefully landed in Beilburg Castle’s courtyard.
“A dragon… Your Majesty, there’s a dragon! Why?!” yelped Jill, looking up at her tall and slender husband standing beside her. She was caught off guard and awed by the three dragons that were lined up.
Hadis blinked his beautiful gold eyes and gave her a quizzical expression. “Why? They’ve come to take us to the imperial capital. I asked my older brother to send the dragons that have been in the care of the imperial family instead of a retinue to pick us up.”
“Pick us up?! So we’re riding them? We’re not taking something like a horse and carriage?!”
“Ah… Right, dragons aren’t native to Kratos, so they aren’t used as a means of transportation there,” muttered Hadis. Jill nodded.
The continent of Platy was divided into east and west regions by the sacred Rakia Mountains. Jill’s homeland, the Kratos Kingdom, was to the west. It was governed by the Kratos royal family and blessed with the protection of the Goddess of love, Kratos. The region in the east was where Jill was currently—the Rave Empire. This empire was ruled by the Rave imperial family and diligently protected by the Dragon God of logic, Rave.
“I-I-I’ve never seen them up close before!” Jill exclaimed, clapping her hands together in her excitement. She’d battled against dragons before, dodging their flames and punching them in the head, but to Jill, that was a different kind of experience.
Hadis gave a strained smile. “You’re not scared?” he asked.
“Not at all! It has always been a dream of mine to ride a dragon! I always wanted my own dragon! But I heard that they don’t like magic…” she sighed.
“More accurately, they don’t like Goddess Kratos’s magic,” corrected a serpentine beast with small wings as he slithered on top of Hadis’s shoulder. This creature was the Dragon God Rave—well, Jill decided to treat him like a creature.
Hadis furrowed his immaculate eyebrows and whispered, “Rave, stay inside me for now. You’ll draw too much attention.”
“Come on! I gotta show myself to the dragons as the Dragon God.”
“Can dragons see you, Rave?” Jill asked, lowering her voice.
To prepare for the trip to the imperial capital, most of the servants hastily helped to fit the saddles and load their bags. No one seemed to be paying attention to the trio. Besides, Rave could only be seen and heard by people with immense magic power.
Rave lowered his voice to play along with Jill. “Well, I am a dragon, after all. It’s only humans who normally can’t see me.”
“Really? So, Sauté can see you too?”
Jill had two things in her backpack. One was a handmade stuffed bear that Hadis gave her with the awfully suggestive comment: “Think of that bear as an extension of me.” The other was a baby chick that she’d been allowed to look after. The former was called Hadis Bear, while the latter was named Sauté. Just hearing those names would cause people to cringe, but Jill didn’t mind.
Sauté, who’d heard its name and recently gotten better at jumping, stuck its head out from a gap in Jill’s backpack and gave an energetic chirp.
Rave laughed. “You can see me, can’t you? Hey! Don’t peck me! It hurts, you baby bird! You want Hadis to sauté you?!”
“Peep!”
“Sauté, please behave in there with His Majesty Bear,” Jill said before posing her question. “Um, so if they dislike Goddess Kratos’s magic, that means, I’m…” she trailed off.
Because the Goddess served as a guardian for her people, humans of the Kratos Kingdom were usually born with some form of magic. Jill, who was born in Kratos and possessed immense magic power, must’ve been the perfect target to be hated by dragons.
She remained anxious, but Hadis suddenly scooped her up. His beautiful face approached hers and she gulped. By this point, Jill was used to being picked up by Hadis, but she could never get used to his long eyelashes, captivating golden eyes, and thin lips that called out her name.
“Don’t worry. You’re the wife of the Dragon Emperor—the Dragon Consort. The gold ring is proof that you’ve got the Dragon God’s blessing, so they understand,” he said.
“Huh, really? So I can ride a dragon?!” Jill instantly perked up in his arms.
“If you’re with Hadis, you can probably ride one no problem, Missy,” Rave said. “Dragons just tend to dislike people with Kratos’s magic, after all. Doesn’t mean you can’t forcibly ride one, but without a dragon’s consent, they won’t protect you and they’ll fly extra high. You’d get altitude sickness, and they won’t listen to you.”
