CRASH!!!!!!
A colossal monster collapsed right at my feet.
It felt as though a mountain had crumbled before me.
Its massive body emanated the potent grudges of vengeful spirits that had perished here in the past.
The aura it exuded was horrifying, as if it were the embodiment of their screams.
But what did I care?
For now, I was simply hungry.
Conveniently, it had collapsed right before my feet.
Had it fallen a little further forward, I might have been crushed.
“The food is walking right to me, isn’t it?”
This was practically delivery.
Still wearing the eggshell on my head, I began my meal.
I had no energy to remove it, and besides, the mass of magic before my eyes looked utterly delicious.
-SCREEEEECH!!
“Even its screams taste delicious.”
Though it felt as if some kind of adjustment had been made.
The magical mass tasted purple.
****
What on earth had just transpired?
The vengeful spirits of dragons, as colossal as mountains, had collapsed so effortlessly.
These were dragons from before the Unification, far more powerful than the single species they had become now.
And not just the power of one, but hundreds of vengeful spirits had been wiped out in a single instant?
It defied all logic.
“Your, Your Majesty!! You shouldn’t come out this far!”
“Silence! Bring the Captain of the Royal Guard to me at once! We shall descend together!”
From behind, I heard His Majesty calling for me.
Hastening towards His Majesty’s location, I found him.
“Your, Your Majesty.”
“Haig.”
His Majesty, with a resolute expression, was preparing to arm himself.
“Are you truly intent on going?”
“Captain of the Royal Guard. You saw it too, didn’t you, the message displayed on the status window?”
“…Yes.”
“The parent of the Emperor’s Child… what a ridiculous notion.”
“Pardon? Surely the Emperor’s Child was glaring at you and—”
“What are you talking about?”
“Did you experience any headaches?”
Something was amiss; our stories weren’t aligning.
“Your Majesty, could you please tell me in detail what you saw?”
“It seems you saw something different.”
“Yes, Your Majesty appears to have seen something entirely different from what the Royal Guard witnessed.”
“The Queen and I saw the same thing.”
“Yes, please explain.”
Just as His Majesty was about to speak.
“Captain of the Royal Guard!! I have a report! A dragon at the bottom of the cliff is absorbing the vengeful spirits’ magic with incredible ferocity!”
An urgent report had arrived.
“So it seems.”
“Yes, we should secure it safely first. Given that dragons are vulnerable to temperature.”
“Indeed.”
Fully armed, I descended the cliff with His Majesty.
“Your Majesty, please be careful as there is a lot of mud.”
“I understand.”
Thanks to the immense magical power of the dragon spirits, it didn’t take long to find the young dragon.
-SLUUUUUUURP.
“It, it polymorphic-shifted right after birth?!”
“Shh, quiet.”
Silencing my overly excited subordinate, I quietly began to observe the young dragon before us.
Snow-white hair, golden horns and tail, and golden eyes.
The dragon, whose radiance could only be described as ethereal, proved its noble lineage from the King and Queen by the eggshell still clinging to its head.
“…It must be the princess.”
“Its hair is white as well.”
“Yes, though the golden color is unexpected.”
That likely has something to do with the mysterious Emperor.
“Your Majesty, what exactly did you see?”
“Congratulations on becoming the parent of the Emperor’s Child. After that, three characters in a mysterious language were written.”
“…I see.”
‘Could a status window truly utter such words? And in such informal language?’
Everything about it was suspicious.
“Ah, it seems it has finished its meal.”
“I shall approach now.”
“Do so, but approach with the utmost caution. We do not know what state the princess is in.”
The royal guards, lowering their weapons, began to approach the princess who had just finished her meal.
“Even if it costs you your lives, ensure not a single scratch touches the princess.”
“”Yes, Your Majesty!””
Just as they were nearing the princess.
-WHOOSH.
“Dad?”
The princess had spotted them first.
At least, it seemed she recognized her parents.
****
“Wow~ I feel like my stomach’s going to burst~”
Something had entered my mouth, it seemed.
I tasted it, yet I didn’t feel as though I had physically chewed anything.
Still, it was peculiar how my sense of fullness continued to grow.
‘Did I… eat magic?’
[Quest Cleared!]
[Hunt the Vengeful Spirit of Lake Forest! (1/1)]
[Title: Emperor’s Child’s effect ends.]
‘What was this? A mere title, yet it had an effect? Surely titles were just decorative systems.’
[Reward Granted! Level 3 Achieved!]
Oh, my level went up.
Just from catching one of these?! That’s amazing.
I had merely spat out a breath, as if spitting saliva.
-PTUI.
The vengeful spirit’s head was pierced.
-GAAAH, Dragon, what in the world is this spit?!
-WHOAAAH, it’s achieving enlightenment!
Something like that?
“Anyway, thanks for the meal~”
I’d heard that alcohol tasted better the more it was aged.
Though I hadn’t consumed much in my past life, my current body was a different story.
Still, after eating a thousand-year-old dragon, I felt as if I understood that sensation a little.
‘…Is it perhaps very different?’
But, but it did have an aged flavor.
A slightly rotten, musky grape taste.
‘Th-this isn’t it, is it?’
Anyway, after a satisfying meal that sated a long-absent, powerful appetite, I looked around to find.
-GLITTER GLITTER!
-SHIMMER SHIMMER!
I was surrounded by something in gleaming, golden armor.
-VOILA.
-GLITTER GLITTER!
-B-be careful!
A person who, to anyone, clearly proclaimed, ‘I am the King.’? No, judging by the tail and horns, that was a dragon.
The dragon was approaching, escorted by surrounding soldiers.
‘What? What’s going on! Why are they coming?’
Their hair was white, just like mine.
[Opening target’s status window.]
[Name: Albinius Lascaris.]
[Species: Dragon Lord.]
[Lv.99]
[Strength: 73]
[Magic: 99]
[Intelligence: 95]
[Stamina: 68]
[Title: Dragon Lord.]
‘Dragon Lord? So, he’s the leader? Well, his clothes certainly scream ‘I am the King~’.’
‘What? Why is he so weak?’
No, objectively speaking, none of his stats were particularly low.
‘But the dragons I knew at Level 99 should have all their stats maxed out, shouldn’t they?’
‘Why are his lower than mine? Is this really a Dragon Lord?’
‘He only has one title, too?’
[You have met your father!]
‘That person is my dad?’
‘Huh, so I’m from a super noble family?’
The father of this life was gradually approaching me.
‘Wh-what should I say?’
‘A Dr-Dragon Lord is a King, a leader, right?’
‘Should I be formal?’
‘H-how? He’s getting closer and closer.’
The atmosphere suggested I had to say something.
Indeed, a baby who could blow Mount Baekdu (TL Note: A sacred volcano on the border of North Korea and China, often used as a symbol of immense power or scale in Korean literature.) away with a sneeze.
Even if it were my own child, I’d be wary.
Here, using formal language might actually heighten his wariness.
‘Then, Papa?’
…….
‘That’s a bit much, even if I’m only a few hours old.’
Even if I was young now, including my previous life, I was thirty years and a few hours old.
‘The self-loathing was no joke.’
‘Absolutely not.’
‘Then again, ‘Your Royal Father’ is far too much.’
‘A newborn child saying ‘Your Royal Father’? That’s excessive.’
‘Should I just go with ‘Dad’ then?’
‘Yes, let’s go with that. It’s safe and good.’
“Dad?”
As I uttered the word.
“Y-you recognize me, Princess!”
“P-princess?!”
“Yes, you are our future! The princess who will succeed me and lead this kingdom!”
“Eh……”
‘Me? No, I don’t want to. Aren’t there any older brothers or sisters above me?!’
‘D-dragons have tons of kids when they’re at war with each other, don’t they?’
“A-am I the firstborn?”
“My daughter is a genius! Polymorphing right after birth, breathing fire! And even speaking fluently!”
“Um, excuse me?”
“Congratulations, Your Majesty. Your Royal Highness the Princess, congratulations on your birth.”
An uncle with black hair and red eyes also approached and knelt before me.
‘Um, excuse me?’
“My daughter, you must go see your mother now.”
“Huh?!”
“Don’t worry, your dad won’t harm you.”
‘N-no, that’s not it. Being carried like a princess when I’m thirty years old is a bit much…’
‘So, you’re not going to answer my question?’
“D-dad.”
“My daughter, you must be tired, so don’t talk too much! Your dad is so proud of you. What name would be good for you….”
‘N-name?’
“P-please, make it Minho!”
“Hmm, Mimino?”
“Minho!”
“Mino? Good, I understand. If it’s my daughter’s wish, your dad will grant anything~”
“N-no……”
“My daughter, what don’t you like?”
‘Never mind, he won’t understand anyway.’
[Name has been set!]
[Name: Mino Lascaris.]
‘Yes, I was reborn, so I would live a new life! With a new name!’
****
At the same time.
Numerous dragons freely soared through the heavens.
On top of buildings, many individuals in their dragon forms surveyed the world below.
In the streets, people in polymorphed forms shopped, and by the fountain, others discussed whether the newborn child would be a princess or a prince in this place.
This place, often called the dragons’ paradise, was none other than the capital of the Unified Dragon Kingdom.
Dragon Hive.
Currently, the city was enveloped in a festive atmosphere, for the birth of the King and Queen’s child had refreshingly resolved the long-standing worries of the populace.
And there, situated within, was a colossal fortress.
Even in the Senate, nestled deep within the palace, a festive mood was in full swing.
The Senate, a venerable institution established in the first year of the Unified Calendar, had maintained its legacy for three millennia.
Of course, it was also an institution incapable of producing successors.
Because.
“This crazy old hag!! I’m cold! Can’t you use your magic in moderation!!”
“Oh my, just like a little fireball, aren’t you? My ears are going to burst.”
“Both of you, calm down. The King’s child will be alarmed if they arrive.”
“”Stay out of this! You little windbag!””
“W-what?!”
These were dragons who had lived since the Age of Chaos, before the Unification.
In other words, the Senate, whose youngest member was four thousand years old, was comprised of dragons who were the last descendants of each elemental dragon species.
In short, it was a gathering place for true Dragon Geezers (TL Note: ‘Kkondae’ is a Korean slang term referring to an older person who is condescending, bossy, and stuck in their ways.).
It was no secret that they still fought as if to kill each other, retaining their old habits.
Yet, even they harbored a shared anticipation for one particular event!
“By the way, when will our adorable little prince arrive?”
“Oh, come on, I told you it’s a princess.”
“What would a fireball know! It’s obviously a prince!”
“What?! You salamander!”
“Ugh, so loud and uncouth……”
“”You block of ice, stay out of this!!””
“What?!”
It was, of course, the arrival of the cute, adorable baby dragon.
Indeed, it was the era of the Great Decline in Birth Rates! Opportunities to even glimpse a baby dragon were becoming increasingly rare!
