TSMMT Ch 131

The Dragon Hatchling

The dragon stared intently at her with mysterious eyes. Though clearly possessing the form of a child with lingering baby fat, those inorganic eyes belonged to something non-human.

Why? Why does this dragon know about me? Is it because it's a messenger of the gods?

Come to think of it, it mentioned a rift. A rift... Does it mean I shouldn't exist in this time?

A swirl of chaotic thoughts overwhelmed her mind.

[Dragon] "I came to restore order."

Her question caused the onlookers to flinch.

[Dianna] "Does that mean... you intend to kill me?"

[Dragon] "Yes. That was my purpose. Yet I failed."

The creature's voice betrayed no resentment or anger. Though it had clearly attempted to murder her, its tone remained as serene as still water.

Logaple glared at the dragon.

[Logaple] "We must kill it."

The dragon responded with an impassive expression.

[Dragon] "Doing so will only bring greater calamity. If you slay me, my kin will gladly eradicate you all. If you wish for the world's destruction, proceed."

Dianna flinched. Hearing such words uttered with absolute gravity heightened her dread.

Inez inquired, prompting Dianna to translate.

[Inez] "What is it saying?"

[Dianna] "It says that if we kill it, the other dragons will not remain idle."

The knights' expressions hardened, their aura turning hostile.

[Inez] "That is an absurd threat. If that were true, why didn't the other dragons attack when the Founding King slew a dragon, or when His Majesty killed one?"

His point was logical.

Dianna narrowed her eyes, glaring at the dragon. Regardless, the creature's expression remained unchanged, not merely stoic, but completely devoid of emotion.

Crossing his arms, Adel, who had been quietly lost in thought, spoke up.

[Adel] "Dian, this dragon currently possesses no strength whatsoever."

Her face stiffened.

[Dianna] "You want me to spare the dragon."

[Adel] "Frankly, yes."

She looked at him, overwhelmed by indescribable emotions. This creature had harbored murderous intent toward her and attempted to kill her, yet Adel was advocating to spare its life.

She suppressed the strange resentment welling up inside. Adel was obsessed with dragons. Furthermore, keeping it alive was necessary to uncover the identity of the energy mass presumed to be a dragon. Yet, what was this feeling lingering in her chest?

He, too, threw himself forward to protect me...

[Dragon] "I am in pain. Make your decision quickly."

Even wounded and facing death, the dragon showed no fear, accepting mortality with calm indifference. Its eyes reflected her face like a clear lake. Looking into those eyes, Dianna felt a bizarre sensation.

Why does it feel so familiar?

A nostalgic sensation swept over her, as though she had known this dragon before. Disturbed by the odd feeling, she tried to avert her gaze.

In her judgment as well, executing this dragon was the correct choice. Did the creature perceive her inner turmoil?

The dragon's face gradually shifted.

[Dragon] "Wait... Why is my aura...? Could you be...!"

The boy jolted violently. Trying to rise, the dragon groaned and collapsed back onto the ground as blood gushed from its wounds. Staring at Dianna, the dragon tried to speak, but lost consciousness and slumped over.

Dianna instinctively stepped toward the dragon before pausing.

[Adel] "The title of dragon slayer is hardly an empty boast. To inflict such severe wounds on a dragon, even a hatchling..."

He muttered as he observed the fallen dragon.

Dianna felt a faint shock at his indifferent tone; his demeanor, viewing the dragon purely as a fascinating specimen, felt unfamiliar.

Yet, a part of her understood his point. Guiscard's aura had been feeble compared to the brilliant silver beam unleashed by the dragon, piteously small. Yet he had willingly thrown his body forward to protect her.

Guiscard... Guiscard... Guiscard...

Dianna looked at the fallen dragon—no, the boy—lying motionless with eyes closed. Grimacing in pain, the child appeared remarkably human, evoking a chilling sense of guilt just by looking at him.

Sasha, who had been watching quietly, stepped forward.

[Sasha] "We must keep him alive."

The knights bellowed in protest.

[Logaple] "We must execute him!"

[Inez] "He dared attempt to assassinate His Majesty!"

[Bill] "He must die immediately!"

[Logaple] "Your Majesty!"

Dianna looked back and forth between the dragon and Guiscard.

Reason dictated that the creature must be executed. Yet was that correct?

The dragon warned that slaying it would invite attacks from its kin. The dragons killed by Guiscard or Arunkel, the Founding King, had surely been fully grown adults.

What if the rules were different for a hatchling? Humans reacted similarly. Killing a child was more than enough to incite furious vengeance. What if the same applied to dragons? What if this hatchling had a mother?

[Inez] "Dragons are dangerous creatures."

[Sasha] "That dragon currently possesses next to no power. It poured all its strength into that single strike."

Sasha spoke, and Dianna noticed the spirit summoned beside her nodding. Spirits didn't lie, lacking the very concept of deceit.

She spoke with a troubled expression.

[Dianna] "However, there is no guarantee it will not regain its strength."

[Adel] "There is... a way to address that."

He waved his hand openly, and an intricate seal manifested on the fallen dragon's forehead.

[Adel] "For now, let us suppress its mana with this."

His voice sounded subtly excited, provoking a faint aversion within Dianna.

[Dianna] "What do you intend to do by keeping the dragon alive?"

[Adel] "We must uncover answers."

[Dianna] "..."

[Adel] "Dianna, though I can't reveal everything, this is a monumental matter. There are far too many things we must investigate."

[Dianna] "Do you intend to torture it?"

Sensing the repulsion in her words, Adel offered a bittersweet smile.

[Adel] "Hardly. If it refuses to speak, we execute it immediately. There is no other option."

Dianna stared intently at the dragon. The fallen hatchling was breathing painfully.

[Adel] "The survival of Lodbrog itself may hang in the balance. I beg of you."

At his plea, Dianna nodded slowly.

Executing a dragon possessing the physical form of a five-year-old child felt repulsive, as did killing a creature that held knowledge about her, or destroying one of the two massive energy sources that had suddenly manifested.

Above all, the target the dragon sought to kill was her. The responsibility lay entirely upon her shoulders. Dianna recognized this truth; therefore, she needed to discover where this dragon originated and why it sought her death.

[Dianna] "Very well."

The knights' faces contorted at her decision. As they opened their mouths to object, Dianna looked at them and spoke with calm authority.

[Dianna] "When His Majesty is incapacitated, the Queen possesses the authority to make decisions on the King's behalf, correct?"

[Logaple] "..."

[Dianna] "As his wife and the Queen of this nation, I decree: the dragon lives. So long as it poses no threat to us, we shall preserve its life."

The knights stared at her in astonishment. They finally realized the choice she was making and the path she intended to tread. Their expressions wavered between relief and sorrow.

[Logaple] "Your Majesty..."

His face lit up with radiant emotion.

Dianna lowered her head. When Guiscard threw himself forward to save her and suffered those horrible wounds, her decision had already been made.

I can't leave this man. I must not leave. I owe him a colossal debt.

Perhaps I am using this 'debt' as an excuse to remain by his side. Even so, it doesn't matter.

This couldn't be undone. She couldn't turn a blind eye to the devotion of a man who had sacrificed his own body to shield her.

Dianna Brienne ultimately crawled back into the clutches of fate. Yet, her face no longer bore the marks of agony.

After a moment of deliberation, she turned to address them.

[Dianna] "However, the one who wounded and repelled the dragon is His Majesty. Thus, ownership of the dragon belongs to the Royal Palace."

[Adel] "That... I understand."

[Dianna] "If Guiscard awakens later and decrees the dragon must die, it shall be executed immediately. Any investigation must conclude before then."

When she addressed the knights, they nodded reluctantly despite their dissatisfaction.

[Dianna] "Furthermore, I fear causing unrest within the realm. Knowledge of this dragon's existence should be restricted strictly to those present here."

[Adel] "Dian..."

[Dianna] "Maintain absolute secrecy regarding His Majesty's immortality and the dragon's capture."

[Adel] "Why go to such lengths...?"

[Dianna] "If word spreads that a dragon was captured, other dragons connected to it might mobilize."

Adel wore a look of understanding at her explanation.

The woman who had wailed bitterly over Guiscard had regained her composure, methodically addressing critical details others had overlooked.

Spare the dragon and investigate it, yet ownership remains strictly with the royal house, while Adelheit Blake assumes all associated risks.

[Dianna] "It is impossible for people to have missed that giant dragon. Inform the public only that the dragon was repelled."

Keep its capture secret as well, given the peril warned by the dragon.

The knights present were not inclined toward strategic intellect; though dissatisfied with her decision, they had missed her calm authority.

[Dianna] "Additionally, the Neust Academy capital branch must handle the custody."

[Adel] "If it's the capital, that is far more dangerous..."

[Dianna] "No. It must be there."

Stepping away from the others' gazes, she whispered quietly to him.

[Dianna] "Because the premier mages of Neust are gathered there."

His face gradually stiffened. That fact was known only to a select few even within Neust.

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