Welch was Grand Duke Kunsitan's captain of the guard, as well as a Wyvern Knight.
But Grand Duke Kunsitan had died in battle, so Welch naturally had to be punished. Red Castle stripped him of his right to ride a wyvern. However, he had not severed his contract with his wyvern, so he still possessed abundant Dragon Breath.
He was proficient in dragon language and was one of the few Dragon Language Messengers recognized by the Shadowflame Dragon.
Moreover, when Grand Duke Kunsitan died in battle, Lord Welch had been assisting the Shadowflame Dragon in combat. It was difficult to truly accuse him of dereliction of duty, and he had already been punished. With public sympathy on his side, he was able to smoothly assume the post of Minister of Volcanoes.
"So I'm not going to be Lord Quintke's assistant, but Lord Welch's assistant?" Russell asked.
Baron Roman said earnestly, "It makes no difference whose assistant you are. The point isn't for you to become an assistant, but for you to learn dragon language."
His elder brother Roland added, "Russell, study hard. In the future, you might have the chance to become Minister of Volcanoes and one of the Grand Duchy's elders! Then I'll work hard too and seek a ministerial post. When that happens, the three of us—father and sons—will be three elders!"
Baron Roman rebuked him, "Don't get ahead of yourself!"
Yet the upturned corners of his mouth gave away his mood without fail. Clearly, Baron Roman was also looking forward to that day.
Three elders from one father and his two sons—it truly would have been a fine tale.
But Russell's shake of the head interrupted their reverie. "Sorry, Father. I can learn some dragon language, but I won't serve as the Assistant Volcano Minister."
"Why?" Roland