Letting the Light Green Gem Dragon be exposed was Liszt's choice. In any case, the news of the three dragons would sooner or later be revealed. Now that Flame Island was fully under his control, there was no harm in exposing it. Besides, Jade Mountain was the Light Green Gem Dragon's lair; mining here could not avoid the Light Green Gem Dragon.
And.
Once the Light Green Gem Dragon's soul imprint was complete, Liszt would have Emily try to get along with it and see whether they could work things out, becoming a new dragon rider in the future—she had talent and loyalty, so she ought to be nurtured vigorously and share Liszt's burden.
By all accounts, he was only twenty, yet he had to bear the weight of an entire kingdom. It truly was no easy task.
Of course, Emily was only fourteen this year, and the pressure of becoming a dragon rider was equally immense. Even Mage Ake, though already forty-four, was still not considered an adult sea monster by sea monster standards—Flame Kingdom was a nation founded by the young.
"Captain Emily, this... is this really His Highness's dragon mount?" Furnal Ink could scarcely believe it.
"Of course!"
Emily held her head high, filled with an inexplicable pride as though she shared in the glory.
Whenever Liszt accomplished something unbelievable, she felt herself grow wildly excited. And she remembered very clearly that night when the great lord had stroked her hair and told her—Grow up quickly, Emily. You are my dragon rider candidate!
Isen, the Light Green Gem Dragon, was the dragon the lord had chosen for her. All she had to do was grow up, pass Isen's test, earn its recognition, and ultimately succeed in riding a dragon.
*I will become a dragon rider and follow