Evil Dragon, Without a Princess, I Had to Transform Myself!-Chapter 54 : Even Breathing Gets Taxed

Outside the carriage, the sudden commotion obviously disturbed the idle evil dragon.
She pulled open the carriage curtains.
Outside was a rather dilapidated stone road, with both sides crowded with ragged refugee convoys. Each person was emaciated and sallow, their numb eyes containing just a hint of hope that could shatter at any moment, helplessly seeking any soil where they could take root.
Such scenes didn't move Patunasankus at all.
The evil dragon had seen refugee waves much larger than this before.
It only had a tiny bit to do with her.
Hmm... just a tiny bit of connection.
Occasionally, some robust refugees saw the luxurious carriage gifted by Duchess Pascal and, blinded by greed, harbored some ill intentions.
But after glimpsing Loranhir's cold, blade-like face and oppressive heartbeat, their burning flames of greed were instantly extinguished.
Patunasankus felt bored. She wanted to see rivers of blood.
Things would have passed like this, until a refugee recognized Loranhir.
The iconic holy sword (though inexplicably covered in ash), delicate features, even somewhat stern facial lines, plus the legendary Heart of the Red Queen.
Undoubtedly the household name, the Destined Strongest Hero of the Dawn Kingdom.
"Hero, the Hero has come!"
Someone shouted, followed by an overwhelming chorus of agreement. Finally, there was some expression in the refugees' eyes.
"The Hero has come, everyone is saved!"
"No more worrying about displacement. The Hero has come, everything will be peaceful."
Countless refugees' expectations surged like a tide, like water accumulated in a reservoir for months suddenly breaking through the dam and rushing out. This momentum created a feeling that was extraordinarily terrifying, making one feel its enormous pressure.
For a moment, Patunasankus saw Loranhir's shoulders trembling. Sunlight fell on her shoulders as if unable to bear some weight.
Fear? Dread?
As if to see Loranhir's reaction, Patunasankus stared intently at her face.
Yes, but also not quite.
How strange for a dragon to feel.
"Are all these refugees here because of the dense goblin activity signs around? How strange. Could goblin activity alone cause such severe effects? That's unlikely."
Elaphia surveyed the surroundings. There were very many refugee convoys, and judging by their direction, they were all heading to Bluefin Bay.
She thought about it and found it understandable.
Though Bluefin Bay was an independent city-state, with Grand Mage Oz stationed there, it was obviously an excellent refuge with goblin activities becoming increasingly rampant.
Especially with the old king not governing, normal people knew the armies of various regions definitely couldn't be counted on, let alone handling such matters.
She wondered if Bluefin Bay's arrogant nobility and wealthy families would be willing to accept so many refugees. Elaphia still remembered the trouble she encountered during a brief stay in Bluefin Bay over a hundred years ago.
But not moving meant death—there were no other choices.
"They all seem to have found something again," Elaphia observed carefully, then concluded, "Seems they have high expectations for you, Hero."
Loranhir looked around, not knowing how to react.
She always lived carrying certain things, and those things were very heavy.
The heaviest was probably something called expectations.
Usually given by others.
Then there was morality.
Loranhir had never known how to deal with such things.
She just went with the flow.
Silently, Loranhir took the reins from Elaphia and quietly accelerated toward Bluefin Bay.
The papyrus in her clothing felt somewhat rough and thick.
○
Bluefin Bay was a famous trading city-state, the commercial pearl of the Dawn Kingdom. The shimmering sea surface sparkled under the morning glow.
The towering city walls resembled giants from ancient legends. Ships about to set sail in the harbor showed the usual busy scene before casting off.
Below the flying seagulls, sailors carried large amounts of precious cargo.
"These bloodsuckers are richer than they were a hundred years ago." Elaphia gritted her teeth.
"If our trend was still about treasure amounts, we'd have to come here for pillaging sooner or later." Patunasankus calculated inwardly.
"Where is Oz's mage tower?" Loranhir looked around.
"Thank you all for the journey," Hedica rode over from the rear of the convoy. "There's a guard checkpoint ahead. Once I deliver the last survivors of Astraea City here, my final duty will be complete."
After queuing for a long time, the convoy was predictably stopped at the checkpoint. Loranhir jumped down from the carriage to negotiate.
Elaphia immediately covered her face with her hood and hid in the carriage, facing Patunasankus inside.
"Why are you coming in for no reason?"
Patunasankus blinked.
"...I caused some trouble in this city before. Even though over a hundred years have passed, I'm afraid of meeting acquaintances," Elaphia seemed somewhat guilty as she twisted her body. "Just hiding for a bit."
Just after getting off the carriage, Loranhir saw a man in black uniform with a small mustache. He wore a smart tricorn hat with the brim slightly lowered. Two fully armed mercenaries followed behind him.
"What business do you have?" Loranhir asked.
"Taxation."
The tax official was decisive and straightforward. Holding a thick ledger and glancing at the luxurious carriage, he showed no expression.
"Entering the city gets taxed, leaving the city gets taxed, one entry and exit gets taxed, carrying weapons gets taxed, luxury carriages get extra tax..."
"I..." Loranhir's mouth twitched.
The tax official frowned and retreated behind the mercenaries.
"Complaining about taxes also gets taxed," he said.
"..."
"Wasting my time also gets taxed." The tax official frowned even deeper.
Loranhir was completely speechless. She suddenly understood why Elaphia had such a bad impression of this city.
She simply showed her kingdom-certified Hero's medal.
"Hero? We don't need you. Having Grand Mage Oz's protection is enough." The tax official was unmoved, even somewhat disdainful.
His words made Loranhir instantly relieved.
Good that they didn't need her, good that they didn't need her.
"Wait a moment," the tax official suddenly lowered his head and flipped through his ledger briefly, raising his hand to signal.
"...?" Loranhir instinctively felt that just entering the city would bankrupt her.
"Hero's medals are on the tax exemption list. You can enter the city tax-free!" The tax official's tone became respectful instantly, making Loranhir feel quite uncomfortable.
"But these mud-legs can't."
Then he pointed at Hedica's refugee convoy behind.
"So I hate this place." Hearing the conversation outside, Elaphia covered her face inside the carriage.
"This place has always been like this?"
Patunasankus rested her cheeks on her hands, looking outside while thinking whether any evil dragons had robbed this place before.
"No, not quite." Elaphia shook her head. "Before, even breathing got taxed."
"...Cough cough."
Patunasankus was stunned for a moment and nearly choked on a flame.
"Why can't we enter?" The tax official's words made Hedica rush over anxiously.
She thought that having finally brought her fellow townspeople to a relatively safe place, even though she had broken her oath, she had to get this group of old, weak, sick, and disabled people into the city. This was her responsibility.
"Let me see the form you filled out. From the ruined city of Astraea..."
The tax official obviously hesitated, asking, "Can you pay taxes?"
Hedica looked back at her dust-covered fellow townspeople.
They had already struggled enough just to squeeze out compensation for Loranhir as thanks. How could they have any money left to pay taxes?
"...No." she answered.
"Please go to the yellow line to fill out city entry applications." The tax official immediately pointed to the distant, long refugee application queue.
"Hero, this way please."