Chapter 173

“Dragon?”

“Yes.”

“Not some tall tale or rumor, but an actual dragon?”

“The theory of its existence is becoming widely accepted.”

“Accepted? Is there proof? Not just a large lizard or drake misidentified, right?”

“Yes. It’s said to be a small silver dragon.”

“A small silver dragon… ”

The rumors circulating through the empire are slowly taking shape. And when they do, action inevitably follows.

Upon hearing the news, noble families – even members of the royal family – subtly begin revealing their curiosity and greed.

“Dragon?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go see immediately.”

“I’ll prepare at once.”

“To think that dragons, known as masters of magic, have appeared.”

Regardless of the reason, the stories surrounding the dragon rumors draw people in, making the Valley of Starwind, a small village, suddenly skyrocket in popularity.

Though the village had been steadily growing before, sometimes it only takes a small, seemingly insignificant trigger to spark explosive growth.

* * *

[Congratulations!!]

[Your Mining Skill has reached Master level! Hooray!]

During lunch, a pleasant announcement came. I paused eating for a moment but then continued as if nothing happened.

I silently switched my clone’s task to fishing.

Opening the system menu to check the details, the achievements weren’t too difficult. With a day or two of dedicated effort, mining could easily reach master level too.

“These days, kids seem to prefer eating outside more often.”

Saying this, Evangelin was washing dishes with a soft clinking sound, her tone hinting at a faint sense of loneliness. I quietly approached her and patted her shoulder.

“It’s on purpose during lunch. To help activate the town market. Places where kids visit often become popular spots or famous eateries.”

“Umm…”

“Kids won’t eat bad food. Just the fact that they eat breakfast and dinner regularly is already impressive.”

“…Is that so?”

Her lips pouted slightly but relaxed at my words, breaking into a gentle smile. As she finished washing, she gradually took care of the household chores alone. Lately, Evangelin has been showing more instances of acting childish or throwing tantrums.

This must be due to hormonal changes from pregnancy.

Seeing Anne occasionally feeling down or wanting time alone, it seems having a child causes significant emotional fluctuations, generally positive but sometimes negative.

Whenever such moments arise, I make sure to handle them carefully.

“Lately, I’ve heard there are strangers coming to the village frequently.”

“Hmm? Really? Where did you hear that?”

“The kids whispered it last night. People are coming to see Bell.”

“So Bell has become our village’s main attraction, surpassing Yul.”

“Shouldn’t we be careful? What if someone comes with ill intentions?”

Bell’s cuteness has melted even Evangelin. Tapping her foot lightly while worrying, I placed my hand on her head to ease her concerns.

“Don’t worry. No harm will come to anyone.”

Dragons naturally possess formidable power, and I also have precautions set up. Though attached to Yul and Jack’s accessories, if anything happens to them, it means something has happened to Bell and Lucy too. Essentially, these measures work together.

“Thank goodness.”

As we chatted casually, Anne lazily stretched and entered the living room.

“I’m here…”

She’s the epitome of leisure. Seeing her bright smile upon spotting me, it’s hard not to love her quirky charm.

“Aren’t the fairies making clothes anymore?”

“Spring outfits are all done. I’m making clothes for our family now, but summer ones will take a bit longer. This is the resting period at the end of spring!”

“That’s a nice rest. Resting is important.”

“Exactly! Hehe. I thought Minho would understand.”

She sneaked over and hugged me tightly.

The wind brushed past my ears as she pinched my skin playfully, then deeply inhaled through her nose. She acted like a playful child.

“Minho.”

“Yes?”

“Use your arm as a pillow for me.”

And with that, Anne dragged me to the couch, laying on my arm with a happy grin. I gave in without resistance, gently stroking her belly.

Anne grabbed my arm, shaping it how she wanted, enjoying the warmth. The soothing heat mixed with magical vitality. Such lazy lunchtime scenes became part of our daily routine.

When Anne fell asleep again, I quietly slipped out of the house.

There wasn’t much else to do today. While leveling up mining skills or tinkering with the camera I had prepared would be fun, following the children’s daily lives seemed more appealing.

Walking toward the village step by step…

It’s always fulfilling to see the vibrant village growing larger every day. The pride I feel watching its progress differs from the satisfaction of daily life.

Following the children’s footprints along the well-maintained streets, I enjoyed the fresh, clean atmosphere free of unpleasant odors. Just as I felt proud, a faint commotion reached my ears.

“No, it’s not true!”

That was Yul’s voice. Her tone indicated dissatisfaction, prompting me to hurry my pace. The scenery blurred as if frozen in a single frame.

In an instant, I stood beside Yul, who was stubbornly answering someone.

“Sorry, but it doesn’t really concern us. Would you please leave the dragon alone?”

An unfamiliar voice.

Standing behind Yul, I noticed the uneasy demeanor of the children. Recognizing my presence, Yul lit up instantly and greeted me enthusiastically.

“Abba!!!”

As usual, she ran into my arms, which I gently lifted. The scent of milk, mingled with spring flowers and soil stuck to her clothes, felt familiar and warm.

“What’s going on?”

“Some strange people came. They want to take Bell away!”

At the edge of the village, an area rarely visited by others, a group lingered, exuding a sinister aura even after noticing me.

“Are you the lord of this village the child mentioned? We’re glad we found you. Hand over the dragon. We’ll give you appropriate compensation.”

At this, Bell tilted her head curiously before trotting over to rub against my leg, clearly expressing her unwillingness to go with them.

How adorable, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Laughing? Do you find our offer amusing? This is an official proposal from the kingdom’s Magic Tower. Consider it carefully.”

“An official opinion from the Magic Tower?”

“Of course. We represent the tower. Soon, the headmaster will arrive, and it’d be wise to comply peacefully.”

“Hmm. Our cute little dragon says she doesn’t want to go with you.”

“Tch. That’s ridiculous.”

“And I agree. So, it’d be best if you left quietly.”

“You’re rejecting our offer?”

“You catch on quickly.”

“Hmph. When the headmaster arrives, will you still react the same way…?”

A flicker of flame appeared beside one of them. Out of the dancing flames emerged a mage cloaked in red, evidently a powerful practitioner.

“Fool.”

With a crack, the mage struck the rude man on the back of his head with his staff, causing him to collapse ungracefully.

“Take him away.”

“Yes… Yes!”

After brushing off the fire on his clothes, the mage spat disdainfully, leaning on his staff as he faced me. His gaze was fixed on Bell, who clung to my leg.

“Sorry about this. He lacks common sense. I’ve already given him a lesson, so can you forgive us?”

“It’s no trouble.”

“Thanks. By the way…”

The mage’s stare was intense. Locking eyes with Bell, flames ignited in his pupils.

“A dragon. A real dragon. I thought it was just another passing rumor.”

The flames in the mage’s eyes burned brightly, brimming with palpable curiosity that anyone could sense. The burning passion revealed his keen interest in dragons.

“What’s happening here?”

Guards rushed to our location.

Given the secluded spot, their quick response was commendable. Thanks to the thorough deployment of personnel throughout the village to maintain order.

“It’s nothing.”

“Ah! Lord! Understood.”

“Good job.”

“Yes!”

Recognizing me, the guards saluted smartly before returning to their patrol duties. It was quite satisfying.

“Abba.”

“Yes?”

“Fire is coming out of your eyes.”

“Ahaha. Does fire really come out of people’s eyes?”

“Yes!”

Was Yul fascinated? She watched intently as the mage played with flames in his eyes.

“Hehe. My introduction was delayed. I’m Dux, the master of the Red Magic Tower.”

“Minho, lord of the Valley of Starwind.”

“So, originally, I intended to propose a reasonable trade regarding the dragon.”

The mage’s gaze deepened. The fiery glimmer didn’t fade but intensified, radiating heat.

“Judging by the vibe, that might be difficult. Especially since the lord is also a high-level mage.”

“A child wouldn’t willingly participate in something they dislike.”

“Then, would it be okay to conduct research that doesn’t harm the dragon?”

“Hmm. You’ll have to ask Bell. If she agrees, it’s possible. Otherwise, it’s a no.”

“A tough problem.”

Dux’s expression turned slightly awkward but showed respect for both my and Bell’s opinions, earning a bit of goodwill from me. His earlier entrance, knocking the rude guy out with a single staff strike, was entertaining too.

“Sira.”

Bell’s language resembles Yul’s more and more. Her short, broken sentences added to the difficulty in understanding her sometimes. Although, communicating via dragon speech isn’t much of an issue.

Yul likes that Bell mimics her pronunciation, though it’s not ideal for proper language education.

“She refuses.”

“Troublesome. How can we change her mind?”

“Sira.”

“This is awkward.”

Scratching his head, his flustered state fit the “red” theme perfectly.

“Lord.”

“Yes?”

“Is there a place here to stay? I had nothing planned anyway, so I might as well remain and figure out ways to win the dragon’s favor.”

“There’s plenty of space. Feel free to settle anywhere unused, as long as it doesn’t harm the villagers.”

“Much appreciated. I’ll visit often, so don’t neglect me.”

“Anyway, it’s Bell you’re interested in, not me.”

“Sometimes it’s necessary to court the guardian too. If I can win your favor, perhaps I can persuade the dragon.”

Indeed, Dux’s passion burned fiercely.

So, this is what makes a mage. Once hooked on something, they charge ahead without looking back, driven by insatiable curiosity.

I strongly sensed similar incidents would occur frequently in the future. Still, the addition of a fire mage trying to curry favor meant less chance of harm coming to the kids.

After all, I’m keeping a close eye on the village too.

Thus, the minor commotion ended peacefully.

Leaving behind only a red-cloaked mage chasing after Bell.

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