REFDL 10

That’s how we parted ways after sharing our vows at the lake with Rotol.

I was happily rolling around in bed.

Crunch.

When domething hard got stuck between my teeth.

‘……?’

Was it a bone from yesterday’s hunted monster left in my mouth?

No. The round, squishy lump was half-buried in the mucous membrane inside my mouth.

My heart skipped a beat.

What, what is this?!

Frantic, I circled the nest restlessly before launching myself toward the lake.

I landed at the edge of the large lake. I thrust my face into the calm water.

I nearly fainted.

I knew it, but a dragon face was truly terrifying…

I rubbed my pounding chest with my front paw. The small comfort was that no one had seen my embarrassing state.

I opened my mouth wide toward the water again.

Something glistening caught my eye. My pupils trembled like an earthquake.

I hesitated and put my front claw into my mouth. I gently scraped and it came out surprisingly easily. It didn’t even hurt.

I stared at the round object that fell onto my forepaw. It was bright red like a ruby, with a subtle golden sheen. Just like my own scales.

…I’m a pearl oyster?!

No, what kind of dragon in this region grows pearls in his mouth?!

Flustered, I examined the red pearl. Its color was unusual, but no matter how I looked at it, it was a pearl. A beautiful, luminous pearl from a rare dragon.

…Oh.

My modern soul regained its composure.

It would probably fetch a high price. I’d keep it safe in the nest and add it to Rotol’s travel expenses when she left to join the Dragon Knights.

Caw!

Then, a crow monster cawed from somewhere.

Caw caw!

Startled, I jumped up.

Slip!

Ah.

I slipped on a damp rock and dropped the dragon pearl. The pearl escaped from my front paw and fell first to the spot where I would fall.

Crack!

‘…….’

With trembling claws, I scraped at the fragments.

It was useless.

Once shattered, the pearl crumbled into dust at the slightest touch.

Just…

I’ll just think of it as a pretty little pimple.

Dwelling on what was already done didn’t suit my nature. Besides, something else was far more important now.

Caw!

This was the punishment meted out to the insolent crow that dared touch a dragon, the ruler of the skies.

* * *

……Could it be that the crow is actually the strongest being in this world?

‘…….’

I buried my face in the white bedding. My hips wiggled.

Sniff.

This wasn’t crying. It was just… just cotton in my eyes.

Sniff!

That damn crow was filthy fast and agile.

Wasn’t that thing actually a hawk disguised as a crow?!

Even while fleeing, the thing would change direction and pounce at the slightest opportunity.

It pecked and clawed at me mercilessly. My scales were fine. 

Not even a scratch. The problem was my eyeball.

Kyak?!

I screamed when I got scratched. My eye burned like it was on fire.

I frantically plunged my head into the lake. After a while, it stopped hurting. Only the inner eyelid had been slightly scratched.

Kyak…….

I was completely deflated. Fortunately, my eyelids were thick; otherwise, I might have lost an eye.

It sent a chill down my spine. Any desire to fight back vanished.

Caw-ca-ca-caw!

Leaving the crow behind, cawing its triumphant cry, I limped back to my nest.

Night fell.

My dragon instincts suppressed by my human self burst into flames.

Master, have you lost your mind?

‘……’

It nagged not at my ears, but at my brain. I realized: even rage can be taught.

Master. What are you?

The strongest dragon!

My chest burned. I gritted my teeth and greeted the dawn. As soon as the sun rose, I headed straight for the lake.

I challenged the crow again, which darted out as if waiting for me.

Once more, I couldn’t touch a single feather. I didn’t give up. The crow’s flying skills were still formidable, but catching up was easier than the day before.

Caw!

The crow seemed startled by my growth too. Today, it couldn’t even land a proper attack and spent the whole time fleeing.

Grrr!

I felt my confidence soar again.

But it didn’t last long.

Kyak…….

As time passed, the emptiness in my mouth grew more and more hollow.

‘…….’

Actually, it was more than just hollow, it was irritating.

I was restless.

I turned over every last bit of junk I’d carefully collected. Even then, I couldn’t find a suitable replacement. In the end, I returned to the lake and searched for a pebble of similar size.

I wandered around until the day was almost over, but I didn’t find the perfect one.

Damn it…

It bothered me. It bothered me too much. The annoyance was so extreme it might give me a blood-spitting illness and kill me. Ugh.

Rotol noticed something was wrong and asked why.

I explained earnestly. Thanks to Rotol, my miming skills improved as much as my flying skills. It was impressive, but really useless…

After hearing the whole story, she chuckled and pulled out a large glass bead, handing it to me.

The milky-white bead emitted a subtle, rainbow-like glow of five colors. Even at a glance, it was clearly no ordinary object.

Unable to accept it, I hesitated, so she shoved her hand right into my mouth.

Mirim and Odan gasped and rushed over, surprised.

“Rotol… please… please stop.”

“Good dragons don’t bite! Got it?! No biting!”

Despite the vigorous interference, Rotol managed to slip the bead into the designated spot.

It fit perfectly. My eyes widened.

I wagged his tail vigorously.

Rotol grinned while the two grabbed onto her clothes.

“Taking care of your partner is the very virtue of a dragon knight.”

Rotoool!

Then she wiped her saliva-drenched hand on the bridge of my nose.

‘……’

2. Dragons are scary when angry

Kaelus was walking through the corridor.

The day was clear and bright.

Sunlight filtered through the pillars of the corridor, illuminating the knight’s footsteps.

His heavy footsteps made no sound; the man was like a living shadow.

His face, beyond handsome, was truly terrifying. Those working in the castle busied themselves glancing at him surreptitiously, pretending not to notice.

Kaelus did not even spare them a glance.

To be precise, he was unaware of it. He simply had no interest.

His eyes, set deep within their sockets, sank as he walked forward with long strides.

His mind felt foggy, as if shrouded in mist.

Though awake, his thoughts were elsewhere, and his body felt heavier than ever before.

“……”

The reason was clear.

He slowly curled his fingers, which had been hanging at his sides.

After returning to the capital, things had been ordinary for a while.

He delivered a condensed report on the Sea of Trees to the emperor and diligently attended to his duties, shuttling between the knight order and the duke’s household.

The anomaly occurred the moment his temporarily disrupted biological rhythm returned to normal.

The lingering scent of mud and grass, stubborn even after careful washing, had completely faded. His nerves, once as taut as during the civil war, had finally relaxed just a little.

While working, exhaustion overtook him, and he closed his eyes for a brief nap.

Beneath his eyelids, a tiny dragon suddenly appeared, trembling. His small form looked worse than a crumpled red bowtie.

Kaelus opened his eyes, startled.

The vision lasted only a fleeting moment.

Yet its afterimage lingered long.

That was the beginning.

Every time he closed his eyes and his thoughts drifted, that damn bowtie… that dragon appeared.

“There’s no trace of a curse… or magic…”

The mage stated honestly.

Kaelus, arms crossed, glared at the mage. The mage quietly slipped back behind Nitan’s back.

Nitan, who was wearing an expression of bewilderment, paid no mind. The mage peeked out from behind and finally voiced his opinion.

“Could it be…… that you’re simply concerned?”

“…No. That’s not it.”

Yet, despite his cold assertion, Kaelus’s ‘symptom’ persisted.

Frankly, it wasn’t severe.

It didn’t cause insomnia or unbearable irritation.

But ironically, that very aspect was what got under Kaelus’s skin.

More than the phenomenon itself, his own abnormal reaction to it was the real irritation.

“Why not just admit it?”

Nitan, who had observed him most closely, nodded in agreement.

“The mage’s diagnosis is accurate. The captain has belatedly fallen completely under the spell of a Kremlis’ charm….”

A sword hilt flew like lightning, striking Nitan squarely in the solar plexus.

The vice captain fell silently to the side with blood spurting from his mouth. The knights exchanged discreet glances. Even more discreet hands exchanged silver coins.

Even that vanished without a trace when Kaelus turned with a fierce glare.

Kaelus, who usually tolerated such pranks, now found even the slightest actions around him irritating.

Duke Kaelus acknowledged it.

Something incomprehensible was unfolding.

Perhaps something beyond his common sense to readily grasp or fully comprehend.

Something inexplicable and irresistible.

“……”

But it didn’t disrupt daily life, and he was too busy a man to expend energy on mere annoyances.

He returned to reality.

Heavy footsteps echoed down the lofty corridor.

A servant, who had spotted the duke approaching from afar, his face radiant as if bathed in a halo, hastily adjusted his clothes and posture.

With reddened cheeks, the servant knocked softly, announcing the Duke’s arrival inside.