Chapter 680: Dragon (5)

“I think we should stop now, Marceline. Dialugia’s face is just getting worse…”

“Don’t take it too seriously, Dialugia. If the day when I have to choose a spouse comes, I just thought it wasn’t bad to choose him as a spouse.”

“Oh, no, Marceline.”

“…”

“…”

“Marceline didn’t covet your mate, so you don’t have to look like that, Dialugia.”

It seemed she was bothered that Dialugia kept making unpleasant faces for some reason.

‘It’s not because of that.’

It wasn’t because of Marceline’s lines.

Other dragons didn’t know the reason behind Dialugia’s state, but I could tell.

Perhaps when I talked about the past, she remembered painful memories. I didn’t know what she was thinking exactly, but it must’ve been a memory painful enough to remain as trauma to her.

As I held her hand, I felt her trembling body slowly calming down. Genorziah saw it, smiled slowly, and nodded. Perhaps she noticed what kind of situation it was.

As Dialugia immediately spoke up, changing the subject, I had no choice but to realize that I was right. I thought about whether her change of posture was a little sudden, but that didn’t make them uncomfortable. In a way, it was the most anticipated event for the ones present.

“I had to introduce Dialuria as well… I’ll bring her now, Genozirah.”

“Right. I almost forgot the purpose of coming here. A dragon that isn’t even ten years old yet…”

“I’m a little nervous.”

“Me too.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

The room immediately turned noisy. I thought that only about two of the dragons had come to see Dialuria, but I realized then that all of them were interested.

‘It’s a really peculiar race.’

Naturally, I couldn’t understand their behavior by human standards. Who would have thought that a race with a small number of individuals since they hated having children would like children so much?

It might’ve been a behavior inscribed in their genes, or it could be because the culture and mindset of dragons were completely different from mine. It didn’t matter much, but if I wrote a dissertation on the ecology of dragons, wouldn’t it sell well?

The dragons were all talking about Dialuria as if they were excited to see her.

“The future of the race…” or “I don’t know how long it has been.” The faces of those spitting out the same lines were basically equipped with excitement.

It was then that Tol To-ri stepped into the reception room.

“Hello, I’m Dialuria.”

The educated greeting was very different from the usual Dialuria.

‘What? Why are you so quiet?’

Of course, she was usually quiet, but that time, it seemed she thought that she should show the calmest attitude she could muster.

Even though I didn’t comment or coach her, she seemed to have understood her position well.

“Ooh.”

“I’m Genozirah. Nice to meet you, Dialuria.”

“You can call me Aunt Marceline.”

“Nice to meet you, Dialuria.”

“You’re really small. You’re not even ten years old yet, yet you’re already clever enough to be able to change like that.”

“You’re so cute.”

It looked like they were desperately holding back the desire to rush and hug her. As soon as various compliments struck, Dialugia’s lips curved into a smile. She boasted about herself every day, so how glad would she be for them to compliment her like that?

Even at a glance, I felt that she wanted to open her mouth and chatter with them. Eventually, she could no longer stand it. She spoke up.

“She has a good heart and is adapting well to the new environment. Even in her class, she maintains the top ranks every time… Even though she had a short sleep period, she’s smart enough to keep up with their progress right away.”

“Class…?”

“Ah, yes, Dialuria lives with humans and other races, Genozirah.”

“It was true, then? What I saw through something called the Goddess’ Mirror.”

“Yes, actually, it was at the recommendation of my spouse…”

“May I ask why you came to think of that?”

“There is no other reason. I just wanted her to hang out with kids of her age. I don’t know what you think about it, but… I thought it was normal. I wanted her to learn the ability to develop and build positive relationships with smoothly.”

“Why?”

“I thought those things were important. Dare I say I thought this was what the dragons really needed.”

“Interesting. Even though you are chosen by the Goddess, and you are a dragon’s mate, I didn’t think you would tell us what we need.”

It was the silver-haired dragon that had been pouting her lips from before who spoke aggressively.

‘She was making an unpleasant expression from before. I knew it. ‘

It feels like I had caught one of those types. It seemed that she didn’t like that a mere human was defining them.

‘Sigh…’

It wasn’t extreme, but it was similar to a form of racial supremacy.

She could utter such words simply because her wings and tail hadn’t been cut off by Tactic Kim Hyunsung yet, and I didn’t have to make her realize her helplessness.

For the time being, my priority was to sweet talk them.

“Of course you may be offended… It isn’t unreasonable for you, who are in the role of defending the continent, to feel that humans and other races are not the ones to walk with but the ones to protect. You have lived through the years and have a great power to match it. If I hadn’t become a dragon’s spouse, I would have thought the same thing as you.”

“…”

“Like the gods on the continent, you might have thought that dragons are a race that deserves idolization.”

“Then you mean we do not?”

“Sorry, but yes.”

The hot-tempered one stood up right away, making a loud sound.

“Apart from their responsibilities and their abilities, I thought that dragons were a race that had to live in harmony and communicate with others. I feel that you have to live on the same boat without standing on top of someone else.”

“You will have to take responsibility for what you say, human.”

‘I don’t have to take responsibility. If you hit me, Tactic Kim Hyunsung will come running.’

“That’s why I think the Goddess made you that way.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s not worth hearing, Genozirah.”

“I’m afraid I might distort the will of the Goddess, but I think your ability to choose a lifelong mate, share your soul and heart with that mate, and close your eyes with that mate is for that reason.”

“So what do you mean?”

“Have you ever wondered why you could choose a spouse regardless of race?”

“…”

“I wonder if you have ever wondered why you can live with someone you consider inferior for a lifetime.”

“That’s nonsense…”

“What the Goddess really wants from you… maybe it’s living with other races. It may not be standing on top, but together. At least, I think so, and that’s why I wanted to make Dialuria feel it. I want to make her feel everything about people living on the continent in different cultures, different types of life, and in different ways.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Casseliana!”

“Genozirah… this human is mocking and looking down on us.”

“That’s not the case, Casseliana.”

“What…”

“This human is right.”

Honestly, I didn’t know if I was. I was just talking of things that came into my mind.

However, no one would say anything else to Genozirah, who was already drunk in the light, even though I was the one who said that it was plausible.

Honestly, I didn’t know why the one who designed the dragons on the continent thought of giving such abilities to dragons. In some cases, it was definitely something worth thinking about.

“Did the Goddess say so, spouse of Dialugia?”

“No.”

“I think now I know… why our kind has failed.”

“What are you talking about, Genozirah?”

“Our race has always been looking for causes from outside. That was the problem. After listening to Dialugia’s partner, I understand now. Why did the Goddess give us such powers? Has anyone ever thought deeply like this human? No one would have seriously thought why they could choose a mate without distinction of race. It was natural to decay. Thinking we’re above everyone, we naturally became forgotten…”

“…”

“It wasn’t the spoiled everything. It was us that have been living the wrong way. We tried to stand on top of them and oppress them. When they increase their strength, we become vigilant, and when humans reach out, we shook their hands off. Wasn’t it similar to other races? We haven’t been able to change our ways even though we have had many years to look at the way of life of many different races.”

“…”

“The only thing that we did was hide in our place, pretending that all the reasons for our suffering were the inferior ones. We didn’t try to understand anything and instead let go of our responsibilities.”

“…”

“This ability, which we have considered the most annoying, cumbersome, and useless, is a light that guides our kind to the right path. We have to get along and live as a unit. That’s the true way the Goddess wants us to live.”

“…”

“She didn’t want us to protect them. She wanted us to live together with them.”

“However…”

It was an unusual atmosphere. Seeing the silver-haired dragon biting her lips tightly, I felt she had to admit that she was wrong.

I was worried about Dialuria, who got in an awkward position in a rather cold atmosphere. She must be embarrassed because strange words were popping up suddenly.

As expected, she was reading the room, but immediately opened her mouth.

“I like having friends too.”

“Dialuria.”

“I like being together with them, and it’s fun. Of course, there are times when I feel the difference in the way we think, but I still like my friends. I like living with humans, talking with elves, and the continent where I live now.”

The pure words of a child came in and struck them.

“I want to live like this. Like my dad said, I want to grow up with others.”

“Everyone will die before you, Dialuria. Your friends won’t be able to understand you.”

‘This bastard just says what she wants.’

However, Dialuria was unstoppable.

“It’s a responsibility that comes with the strength I have, the strength I will have, Casseliana. Our people have a soul that can handle sorrow.”

‘Wheeew! What a good blow. I don’t know whose daughter she is, but she’s good at talking.’

𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

“I know I’m being shameless, but I want to ask you. At the end to come, let me be with my mother and father…”

She even lowered her head slightly. I was worried about how to speak up, but the problem had solved itself.

Dialuria’s short lines silenced the room.

No one could easily reply to that, but Genozirah quietly stroked Dialuria’s hair, patted her head, and walked. I didn’t know what to say for a moment in the sudden act, but I had to follow her.

Eventually, Genozirah’s body, after going to an empty space, shone brightly and began to change into the shape of a dragon twice the size of Dialugia.

I didn’t know if it would be appropriate to say that it was old-fashioned, but her appearance felt like a well-made statue.

After stretching out her neck, she let out a great roar.

“Roooooooaaaaaaar!!”

Immediately after that…

Similar sounds began to be heard from all over the continent.

-Groooooooarr!!

-Groooooooarr!!!

-Groooooooooooaaarr!!

I didn’t know what was going on exactly, but I was sure it was a good event for us.

This was because I saw Tol To-ri was smiling in an underhanded way.

‘Our daughter… is great, but…’

She wouldn’t look happy just because we got meat shields.

‘Right?’

I trusted our daughter.