Reborn as the Failed Lord with my Resource Gathering System.

A few moments before…

Maria had her sword drawn, eyes focused on Revina, who was standing only a few feet away from her.

Revina herself also had her white, shining blade drawn to the side, staring back at Maria with intent.

"Maria Gardina, was it? I read about you sometime back. A knight who had mysteriously gotten the rare Lord rank and was serving a simple noble. I figured it was best to keep it a secret before other nations began hunting for you, and to think you would dare to draw your blade at me."

She frowned. '

"As a knight, your loyalty falls to the throne and nothing else."

Maria had a calm look on her face, picking up on the soldiers that were now slowly surrounding her position.

She could easily take them all out if she wanted to; it wasn't really a big deal.

However, the King was a different issue.

Even if she was stronger, attacking a King could be seen as treason.

Then again, she had already made the first move to begin with.

Maria sighed. "My loyalty lies with my lord before all else. That said, I do not wish to raise my blade to the King of Lumberg either. Do you mind dropping your weapon? You have no chance of winning against me or my master's army."

Revina slightly frowned. As much as she hated it, Maria was right.

As a dragon master, she could feel the fear seeping through Exlor's core.

A dragon fears nothing unless they are sure of their defeat. Which then begged the question once again.

Dorian was really the Dragon Monarch after all?

Revina tightened the hold on her blade, trying to fight every reasonable thought telling her to give in.

Just when she thought she could fight it, she suddenly sensed something heartbreaking, surprising enough to cause her to suddenly turn her head to the right where her dragon was.

Yes, Exlor had been defeated.

The shocked look on her face turned into total submission as she lowered her blade and turned her eyes towards Maria.

"Looks like you were right; I was way in over my head."

With a slight shimmering light, the white blade she so tightly held disappeared in the blink of an eye.

"Your master is indeed the strongest. I submit."

Maria quickly did the same, sheathing her blade back before bowing her head in respect.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will be sure to inform my lord about it."

"There will be no need for that. I will do so myself."

…

Later that day…

'What the actual hell is happening here?'

Dorian had a shocked look on his face as he blinked multiple times, trying to understand the sudden position he found himself in.

Right before him was the dragon he had defeated, Exlor, lying on the ground with his head bowed, and beside him was Revina herself.

She, too, was on her knees in respect. This was even weirder since they were in the throne room and Dorian was seated on the throne, meant to be for the King and the King alone.

At the left side of the throne, Maria, Seraphina, and Lili stood.

Although, Lili sat on the ground, her head resting on Dorian's lap.

Then at the right side were Dorian's summons: the large cat, Flare; the True Dragon, Ciel; and then the chosen dragon, Celes, who stood massively behind them all in her white dragon form.

Still, of all of them, Dorian still had the most shocked expression on his face.

And here he thought he would have to face multiple backlashes for what happened, and yet, to his surprise, he was seated on the throne, with the King of Lumberg bowing before him.

"Dragon Monarch, I wasn't able to say this before, but I am truly sorry. On behalf of my dragon Exlor, I apologize for raising my hand against you."

Dorian was still confused, but he would be a fool if he were not to play it off as it were.

"I assume you are now convinced I am indeed the Dragon Monarch?" he asked.

Seraphina smiled, proud of what Dorian had become.

In response, Revina raised her head. "No one else could best Exlor in a fight, not even the other dragon masters."

Dorian narrowed his gaze.

There it was, yet another thing he had no knowledge about, and yet somehow it still ends up getting linked to him along the way.

"Exlor, I didn't hear a single word from you. You were the one who threatened to hurt my lord, not your mistress. Take your head from the ground and apologize," Ciel nagged from the back.

Exlor flinched at the mention of his name and then proceeded to open his mouth and speak with a shaky voice.

"You have my deepest apology, Dragon Monarch. If you wish, I will scream across the seven nations and announce to them that the Dragon Monarch is back."

"No, none of that, please." Dorian stretched his hand forward. "I understand you want to prove that you're sorry, but I would like my existence to remain a secret for now."

Revina looked at him. "Is there a reason for this?"

"For starters, I am sure you had to go through a lot of discrimination to sit on this throne as an elf. If people were to hear their King was bowing her head to someone like me, every bit of trust you had built all these years would crumble."

He went on.

"On the other hand, if people knew about me, it wouldn't take long for the news to spread about the Dragon Monarch, and then for it to reach the other dragon masters. That, I am certainly not ready to battle for a chance to be god."

Revina was shocked.

She took Dorian as the kind who would do anything as long as it benefited him. Becoming a god was as big a benefit as it would get. So why does he choose to refuse this?

"What do you mean, not ready to battle for a chance to be god?" Revina asked, her voice laced with confusion. "Is that not the ultimate goal for a Dragon Monarch?"

Dorian leaned back on the throne, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Perhaps for others. But I have my own reasons for wanting to avoid that path, at least for now. I have responsibilities here, people I care about, and a life that I've only just begun to build." He glanced at Lili, who was still resting on his lap, completely oblivious to the serious conversation taking place.

"Becoming a god," he continued, "would likely mean giving all of that up. And I'm not willing to do that, not when there's so much more I want to achieve without such a burden."

Revina remained silent, processing his words.

It was an unexpected answer, one that went against everything she had ever learned about the Dragon Monarchs.

The allure of godhood was said to be irresistible, a power that no one could refuse. Yet, here was Dorian, openly rejecting it.

"Very well," she finally said, bowing her head once more. "Your wish is my command, Dragon Monarch. Your existence will remain a secret, and I will ensure that no one within Lumberg speaks of this day."

"Thank you," Dorian replied, a small smile gracing his lips. "And please, just call me Dorian. No need for such formalities."

Revina looked up, a hint of surprise in her eyes, but then nodded. "As you wish… Dorian."

Ciel, who had been silently observing the entire exchange, finally spoke up, her voice a low rumble.

"Exlor, you heard the Monarch. No screaming across the seven nations. But a quiet apology to your… former opponent might be in order."

Exlor, still cowering, slowly raised his massive head and looked at Celes, who stood towering over him.

He let out a soft, almost mournful rumble, a sound that conveyed a deep sense of shame and regret. Celes simply nudged him gently with her snout, a gesture of quiet acceptance.

Dorian stood up from the throne, carefully shifting Lili, who stirred slightly but didn't wake.

"Now that that's settled," he said, looking at Revina, "I believe there are other matters to discuss. Matters concerning the future of Lumberg, perhaps?"

Revina rose to her feet, her expression resolute.

"Indeed, Dorian. I believe it's time we had a proper conversation, one that doesn't involve blades and threats."

Dorian smiled at her.

'Oh, you poor thing. It was bad enough I had to come up with a contract just so I could get what I need from you. Now you're telling me I am the Dragon Monarch for real, influential enough to make even you, a King, bow? Hahaha, this is too good. I am milking the shit out of this, even if it's the last thing I do!'

Maria glanced to the side.

Even if no one else could see it, she could see the sinister smile on his face, one he makes when he has found a new victim to lash out on.

She sighed.

"Just take it easy on her, my lord." her words were a whisper.