Chapter 172

Before I knew it, when I opened my eyes, there was a child brimming with curiosity staring at me.

In my arms, nestled comfortably, was Bell, wide-eyed and alert, exchanging some kind of mysterious connection with Yul.

“Abba’s here!”

“When did you come, Yul?”

“Just now! Abba, what’s this?”

Yul’s innocent question hung in the air as Bell slowly opened her mouth to respond.

“Dragon.”

“Wow! You spoke!”

“A little.”

“Uwaaaah!”

Seeming not to dislike Yul’s reaction, a faint smile tugged at the corner of Bell’s lips.

It’s a well-known fact that a child’s laughter is infectious, spreading happiness all around.

“This is my daughter. Her name is Bell.”

“Mm-hmm. Yul is Abba’s daughter.”

At these words, Bell tilted her head slightly before nodding in agreement.

“Hello.”

“Hi!!”

“Mm.”

“What’s your name?”

“Bell.”

“Bell!”

“Mm.”

“Uwaaaah.”

Yul’s interest only grew stronger.

The silver dragon cradled gently in my arms, shimmering with an ethereal glow. Its smooth texture, sleek appearance, and radiant beauty were more than enough to capture anyone’s attention. Even disregarding its status as a dragon, Bell possessed a charm that lay somewhere between cuteness and beauty, drawing everyone’s gaze.

“Can I touch her?”

At Yul’s inquiry, both Bell and Yul turned their gaze toward me. It was amusing how they sought my permission first, even though it was something that should be resolved between the two of them.

“Is it okay?”

“Yes.”

Upon receiving Bell’s small nod, Yul eagerly lunged into my arms.

“Uwaaah!”

With delicate baby hands, Yul tenderly stroked Bell’s body. The sensation seemed pleasant for Bell, who closed her eyes and enjoyed being petted. It was quite an entertaining scene — somewhat funny, too.

“Cute!”

If Yul liked it, then it must be fine. A meeting between a baby dragon and a baby Demon King made for a special and interesting combination indeed.

Gently placing Bell on the ground, Yul plopped down beside her, engaging in soft whispers and meaningless chatter. Despite their halting speech, Bell attentively responded to every word Yul said. Their clumsy conversations, filled with awkward pronunciations, had a charm of their own that stretched on delightfully.

“Abba!”

“Hmm?”

“Can Yul play with Bell?”

There was Yul, coiled around Bell’s tail, grinning widely. Both looked up at me with earnest gazes. Unable to ignore the expectation shining in their focused eyes, I nodded without hesitation.

“Sure.”

“Uwaaaah!”

Small in size, perhaps too tiny for an adult, but large enough to carry a child. With her tail, Bell wrapped Yul and placed her atop her back.

So…

Does this mean Yul has become a Dragon Rider?

What a hilarious sight it would be, the Demon King riding a dragon.

“Abba, we’re going out!”

“See you later.”

Their farewell, full of individuality, radiated cuteness. Waving goodbye to the adorable duo, I couldn’t help but feel amused. Though a fleeting thought crossed my mind about whether revealing Bell’s true identity mattered, I quickly decided it didn’t.

Making it possible for her to exist in the form she desires isn’t difficult. And even if her true nature were exposed, does it really matter when I have more than enough strength to protect her from any external pressures?

Thus, our village gained a new mascot. Initially, there was a slight misunderstanding when the villagers mistook Bell for a giant silver lizard during the unveiling, but thanks to Yul’s enthusiastic defense, she soon earned the proper title of “dragon,” a small secret worth keeping.

* * *

“Dragon…?”

“Yes.”

“Is it confirmed?”

“It needs to be verified.”

“Are these remnants of ancient history real? Isn’t this just like the old dragon ruins or similar tales?”

“It’s said to be the genuine appearance of a dragon. A very small and young silver dragon.”

“Small and young… Hmm. Did you send someone for confirmation?”

“Yes.”

“The old men at the Magic Tower will love this news.”

“They already know. They’re moving directly.”

“Curiosity and greed alone won’t do much good…”

As he spoke, Marquis Multein’s face betrayed a subtle hint of greed. Precious things. Singular symbols. Such items naturally make for excellent justification.

And if one could gain the support of a dragon… Wouldn’t it be possible to attempt founding a nation using that symbol?

* * *

“The fog has disappeared. My negligence; I apologize.”

Gilbert stepping outside the Tower of the Mage to meet me was a first. His somewhat sulky expression revealed his honesty as he faced me, realizing I hadn’t shared anything about the Floating Island.

“It’s fine. In fact, it’s better that it’s gone.”

Bell, cradled in my arms, happily munching on pastries made by Evangelin. Perhaps feeling a bit jealous, Suri perched on my shoulder, tapping me with her beak—a signal for some tasty food.

I pulled out a piece of raw meat from my bag and handed it over. Suri’s expression brightened immediately, her eyes twinkling in delight.

“You aren’t a Druid, yet you seem to have great affinity with animals.”

“Ah, but Bell isn’t an animal, right? Are dragons considered animals?”

The ambiguity of that boundary. If humans are classified as animals, shouldn’t dragons also fall under that category?

“…Dragon?”

“The cause of the fog, and one of the reasons it disappeared.”

“Fog? And what about the dragon?”

Gilbert’s curiosity ignited, his enthusiasm palpable.

“Do you know about the Floating Island?”

“The paradise of dragons. According to records, it’s known as the refuge of those who fled.”

“It turns out it wasn’t such a place. The Floating Island was a land shrouded in thick fog. That fog flowing through it was the corpse of a dragon.”

“Corpse…?”

“Yes. A living corpse.”

“Hmm. Well, at least my research wasn’t entirely wrong.”

His voice carried a trace of pride.

“The Floating Island is recovering, and the dragons are returning to their rightful places.”

“So the fog disappeared because it finally took on the complete form of a dragon?”

“Yes.”

“You casually narrate an extraordinary tale. What you’re saying implies that dragons have reappeared in this world, doesn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

“And you’re the one who brought about this phenomenon?”

“It just happened that way.”

Handing another pastry to Bell, who peeked her head up upon hearing the word ‘dragon,’ her expression radiated pure happiness as she munched away.

“Hmph.”

Gilbert’s expression was enigmatic. Uninterpretable. Another pastry was handed to Bell, who had been subtly begging for more. Recently, I’d heard rumors of her and Yul exploring local eateries together, but I hadn’t expected her to enjoy eating so much.

“The dragons in my imagination weren’t like this.”

Gilbert muttered, gazing at Bell.

“She’s a baby dragon. She’s growing rapidly.”

“True. Anyway, now that the mystery is unraveled, I feel a bit relieved. But be careful. Once word spreads about the existence of a dragon, annoyances will surely come knocking.”

“I can handle them. I have sufficient ability to ward off such troubles.”

“Alright. I trust you’ll manage. I’ll take my leave.”

“Please go ahead.”

As Gilbert departed, a cute little figure burst out of the house. It was Lucy, wearing a charming bunny hairband given by Anne, her hair fluttering wildly as she ran towards us.

“Bell!”

At Yul’s call, Bell’s ears perked up. Descending gracefully from my arms, she stood proudly before Yul.

“Hi!”

“Mm.”

“Hi!”

“Mm.”

Two greetings—one each from Yul and Lucy—were reciprocated by Bell. She quietly watched as the little ones climbed onto their pink bicycles, with Jack following suit on a red one.

“Abba, we’re going out!”

Leading the group, Yul’s voice echoed as two bikes and a silver dragon raced towards the village. It was a delightful sight. Their unusual combination was fascinating, something I never imagined, making it always intriguing.

“Quite a ruckus this morning.”

“But they’re adorable, aren’t they?”

“That’s true.”

Smiling softly, she leaned beside me, leaving a warm kiss on my cheek. Evangelin sat next to me, enjoying the gentle spring breeze together.

“I was genuinely surprised when you told me Bell was a dragon.”

“Didn’t she look the same as usual?”

“Even if she’s a dragon, it feels disrespectful to show surprise in front of a child, so I deliberately hid it.”

That was one of the reasons I loved Evangelin. Her deep consideration. The warmth that naturally emanated from her was undoubtedly one of her charming traits.

“Are you okay with it now?”

“Seeing her like this makes me happy.”

“Right?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Her sweet smile was like the morning sun. The delicate curve of her lips, the serene joy they conveyed—following her gaze, one inevitably gets drawn into her modest charm. Whether she realizes it or not, her focus remains constant.

Our brief staring contest often ended with me losing.

When she triumphantly grinned after winning, her inherent cuteness shone through. Watching her navigate these subtle moments of victory was rewarding in itself—a mutual enjoyment where no one truly loses.

“Bell loves pastries apparently. She says your cookies are amazing.”

“That’s good to hear. I did put extra effort into them.”

“Maybe we should market them later? As cookies that a dragon approved of.”

“What nonsense…”

“Isn’t it the truth?”

Blushing slightly, Evangelin lightly nudged my side. This playful teasing only made me chuckle.

After handling a major event, enjoying this leisure brings unparalleled satisfaction. Perhaps leading a life of leisure will become the purpose of my existence.

“Are you less busy today?”

“Yeah. Today’s pretty quiet.”

“In that case… Could you let Winter hear your voice again?”

Her bashful request carried an irresistible charm. Slowly leaning toward her belly, I whispered softly.

“Winter.”

“She’s listening.”

“I love you, Winter.”

Looking up, I saw Evangelin’s radiant smile spread across her face.

“Winter loves you too.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I can tell.”

Of course.

Continuing to speak softly to Winter, I concluded with a gentle pat. Her fondness for caresses led to this daily ritual. Feeling the softness of her skin, I watched as Evangelin quietly drifted off to sleep.

Thus, patiently waiting by her side until she woke up became one of the small roles I could fulfill as a husband.

---