Reborn as a Hated Noble Family, We Start an Industrial Revolution

The silence in the Hall of Eternal Flame lasted for only three seconds.

​Three seconds where Roland’s gray eyes locked intently onto Seraphina’s red ones. Three seconds where the dragon princess’s tears fell, striking the unforgiving obsidian floor.

​And exactly on the fourth second... an explosion of blistering heat shattered everything.

​Hsssh! CRACK!

​Ignis stomped his scaled foot. The heavy impact triggered a web of cracks and sparked a shower of embers. The temperature around the bridge spiked drastically in a heartbeat, suffocating the lungs.

​”BLACK MAGIC!” Ignis roared.

​The dragon prince’s voice boomed, ricocheting wildly among the crater’s stalactites. His crimson hair looked as though it were genuinely ablaze. He pointed his razor-sharp talon straight at Roland’s chest.

​”You dare poison the Crown Princess’s mind with cheap illusions?! What kind of foul demon did you plant in her head, huh, you lowly human?!”

​On the steps of the hall, the Council of Elders began to murmur restlessly. Several ancient dragons nodded in agreement, casting suspicious glares at the crystal projector in Rianor’s hand. The rest merely stared at Seraphina with furrowed brows.

​Upon his throne, Emperor Tharazion froze like a golden statue. His vertically-slit eyes didn’t blink even once, simply watching this chaos unfold in absolute silence.

​Facing the wrath of the fire dragon, Roland didn’t flinch.

​”I did not come here bearing illusion magic, Prince Ignis,” Roland answered. His voice was extraordinarily flat. ”I brought a hidden history. If the truth feels like poison to your ego... Tch, that is none of my business.”

​Ignis’s jaw ground audibly. The copper scales along his neck hissed, releasing hot steam. ”Shut your mouth, insect! I will rip your throat out and—”

​”Enough.”

​That gentle interruption didn’t come from Roland, nor the Emperor.

​Seraphina stepped down. Her white silk gown fluttered softly. The girl no longer bowed her head. Her chin was held high. She roughly wiped the remaining tears from her cheeks, then strode with absolute certainty until she stood right beside Roland.

​”There is no magic manipulating my mind, Ignis,” Seraphina stated firmly. Her red eyes sharpened. ”My sanity is one hundred percent intact. And my heart... has never changed.”

​The Princess turned around, looking straight at the colossal throne.

​”His Majesty Emperor Tharazion. Father,” Seraphina called out loudly, cutting through the whispers of the Council. ”I have made my decision.”

​The hall abruptly fell dead silent. Only the residual pops of magma from the chasm could be heard. Gurgle... pop...

​”With full consciousness, at this very second... I renounce my entire right of succession to the throne of Draconia.” Seraphina’s declaration was delivered without a single shred of hesitation.

​The room seemingly imploded with shock. The corners of Roland’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.

​Seraphina turned to look at Ignis. ”You want this throne, don’t you? Take it. Wear the crown. You can be the next Emperor.”

​Seraphina’s fingers tightly intertwined with Roland’s hand right in front of her people. ”In exchange... let me freely choose my life partner.”

​CRACK! The obsidian stone beneath Ignis’s foot pulverized.

​The dragon prince’s face flushed a boiling red. Receiving the throne as a charity handout from the woman he desired? That pulverized his pride far worse than being stabbed in the back with a sword!

​”DO NOT BELITTLE ME, SERAPHINA!” Ignis roared in fury, his chest heaving hot breaths. ”I am a dragon knight of Draconia! I refuse to accept your pity for the sake of a human!”

​”Hold your wrath, Ignis.”

​That heavy baritone vibration rippled out once more. Tharazion finally stood up. His three-meter-tall posture clad in golden scales instantly vacuumed all the oxygen out of the room.

​The Emperor stared intently at his daughter. ”Do you realize what you just said, Seraphina?”

​”I am fully aware of it, Father,” Seraphina replied without lowering her head even a fraction.

​Tharazion gave a slow nod. His golden-yellow eyes then shifted, tearing through Roland’s defenses like a spear.

​”You demand my daughter. You demand the heir to the throne of Draconia,” Tharazion growled lowly. ”What can you offer in return, Human?”

​Roland straightened his back. Returning the giant predator’s gaze without an ounce of dread.

​”Whatever you ask, Your Majesty. Even my life.”

​Hearing that fatalistic answer, Tharazion carved a faint, terrifying smile.

​”Draconia possesses a timeless tradition,” Tharazion’s voice echoed, filling the hall. ”For any outsider who audaciously demands the right to dragon’s blood... he must prove himself through blood.”

​The Emperor extended one hand into the air. ”The ancient laws call it: The Blood Duel.”

​A demonic smirk instantly bloomed on Ignis’s lips. He had found the perfect loophole. The legality to slaughter this insect in public.

​”I volunteer!” Ignis struck his copper chest with surging enthusiasm. ”I am Draconia’s representative, Your Majesty! I will make sure this human is incinerated without even a bone left behind!”

​”The Altar of the Ancestral Breath,” Tharazion decided, ignoring his general’s euphoria. ”Tomorrow, the exact moment the first light of dawn touches the crater’s peak.”

​The Emperor locked eyes with Roland. ”Only the two of you in the arena. Only one victor retains the right to walk away with his life.”

​”Accepted,” Roland replied without missing a beat.

​”What, are you insane, Roland?!” Seraphina shrieked in a panic.

​The girl tightly gripped the sleeve of the diplomat’s coat. ”You have no idea how terrifying Ignis is in the arena! His scales are as thick as armor! He’ll burn you alive!”

​Roland looked at her beautifully panicked face. A warm smile was carved onto his lips. His thumb reached out, gently wiping the remaining wetness from the princess’s cheek.

​”Back then, I let you walk alone through the portal to hell to come here,” he whispered. ”I’ve traveled thousands of kilometers to get here. If I have to die tomorrow morning... at least I’ll die for the right reason.”

​”Hah, this is the stupidest suicide idea ever,” Eva snorted from behind. She unsheathed her dagger halfway. ”Let me go down there and slice that arrogant lizard’s neck tomorrow morning.”

​”No... This is my fight,” Roland cut in sharply.

​”Tch,” Eva roughly shoved the hilt of her dagger back into its sheath.

​Beside her, Adul hugged his radio tightly and forced his legs to take a step forward.

​”L-Lord Roland...” he called out, his pale lips trembling. ”L-let me do it. I... I survived facing Lady Selene...”

​Roland turned to the boy radiating the faded yellow Aura. He patted Adul’s shoulder reassuringly.

​”You’ve fought enough, Adul,” Roland rejected gently. ”Your mission right now is to keep that radio broadcasting. Save your lightning. Tomorrow is my turn.”

​Adul bowed his head deeply. His teeth bit down hard on his lower lip to hold back a sob.

​Out of everyone, only Rianor didn’t offer himself up or panic.

​The genius architect stood perfectly still. His Arcanotech Bracer hummed. Whirrr... His analytical gray eyes stared intently at Roland.

​”Are you sure about your decision?” he asked flatly.

​”Absolutely sure,” Roland answered.

​Rianor gave a slow nod. The corner of his lips pulled up a fraction of a millimeter. ”In that case, do not forget the lethal lessons from Sister Rhea.”

​A thin smirk was carved onto Roland’s face. He took off his diplomatic coat and handed it to Adul. From behind the back of his shirt, a black leather scabbard was exposed.

​Shwing! Roland drew his weapon. The sharp ring of metal sliced through the sweltering air of the hall. It wasn’t a broad-bladed greatsword, let alone an axe.

​Rather, it was a Rapier—a phenomenally thin and lightweight thrusting sword, created purely for a singular purpose: speed and blind-spot precision.

​Seeing the weapon, Ignis instantly exploded into condescending laughter.

​”Hahaha! What the hell is that?!” he mocked. ”You plan on scratching my scales with that fragile toothpick, Human?!”

​Roland rotated his wrist, executing an elegant, wind-slicing slash. Swoosh. He stared dead into Ignis’s reptilian pupils.

​”You will be surprised by how easily this toothpick will gouge your eyeballs out tomorrow morning,” he replied coldly.

​Ignis’s laughter choked. His scales hissed furiously. Before the dragon prince could throw a tantrum, Tharazion had already raised his hand.

​”Enough! Prepare yourselves,” the Emperor decreed. ”Blood will flow at sunrise.”

​Ignis bowed stiffly. He threw a psychopathic glare at Roland, then turned and marched away. His followers among the Council of Elders trailed behind him silently.

​Tharazion stepped down from his dais, stopping right beside Roland.

​”You are either a phenomenally brave young man, or excessively foolish,” he murmured super quietly. ”Ignis knows no mercy in the arena. Only your own resilience can save your life tomorrow.”

​”I understand perfectly, Your Majesty,” Roland answered with a polite bow.

​Tharazion gave a short snort, then departed, leaving the hall without looking back.

​In the boiling volcanic hall, only the party from the North remained. Eva looked away toward the doors. Despite her constant scoffing, a relieved smile couldn’t be hidden. Adul wiped his snot on his sleeve. Meanwhile, Rianor stood like a statue, offering them total privacy.

​Seraphina was still trembling violently where she stood. Roland re-sheathed his rapier, stepping slowly closer.

​”Why did you do all this, you idiot?” Seraphina sobbed, lightly punching Roland’s chest. ”Why bother coming here? Why couldn’t you just let me live with my decision here?”

​”Because I made a promise,” Roland whispered softly, his fingers caressing the princess’s jawline.

​”That was a stupid promise, Roland! You could die tomorrow morning!”

​”Hmm, I know. And I might just die happy because of that stupidity.” Roland chuckled softly.

​Seraphina’s defenses completely crumbled. She lunged forward, crashing into him and throwing her arms around Roland’s neck as tightly as possible. She buried her face in the crook of his neck, letting her tears soak through his shirt.

​”Please... don’t die tomorrow,” she whispered in desperation.

​Roland returned the embrace. Wrapping his arms around the dragon princess’s waist, absorbing her warmth.

​”I will try with all my might,” Roland whispered back.