"Really, did it make you smell it? That guy... doesnāt even have a nose, does he?"
Ferdikion, who looked unconvinced, received a casual response from Rune.
"Itās because the scent is made of magic."
A fragrance that dyes with magic, not one absorbed through the nose.
This was also the reason why Rune had chosen the cursed box.
'Though heās a hatchling, if it has this effect on Ferdikion, it will surely have a stronger effect on ordinary humans.'
This will definitely work.
Duranhan, seemingly regretful that the aftertaste of the candy was fading, tightly clenched the space that still faintly smelled of lemon with both hands.
'No matter how I think about it, this is the best item for Duranhan. Since he was born with darkness, he wonāt be tempted by its power, and his loyalty is already strong, so thereās no problem.'
For Duranhan, who has almost no sense of physical sensation, the only stimulation in the world comes from the excitement of battle.
For someone born from death and destined to live with a melancholic disposition, the fragrance box he created this time offered more than just a simple scent and magical effect.
'As that black one said, he also needs time to recover and enjoy life.'
Rune was satisfied with the boxās effect.
However, considering Ferdikionās state, he felt a bit uneasy about the strange effects it might have if used carelessly on others besides Duranhan.
'But since I made it for Duranhan, it doesnāt matter.'
Since it was made for Duranhan, it wasnāt a problem.
Just as the lemon scent was about to completely fade, Ferdikion called out to him with a nod.
A round, white light entered the dark room.
Rune instinctively understood what Raiās appearance meant and furrowed his brow.
Though he asked out of courtesy, Runeās voice was filled with a sense of defeat, as he already guessed what Rai was about to say.
Rai used the light to draw Christinaās form and her return in the air.
Seeing the completed image, Rune sighed deeply, looking up at the sky.
Ferdikion, seeing Runeās face, which was covered in worry, also wore a sympathetic expression.
"Brother. Is she really coming?"
The next day, Christina returned to the lair.
Her voice was stern, devoid of any warmth.
The warm, bright eyes that usually shone brightly were now replaced by a cold, piercing blue that stabbed at Rune.
Rune, who was already mentally prepared, drooped his ears in his black hatchling form.
Even as she looked at the dejected Rune, Christinaās face remained cold and hard, a look she had never shown before.
"Do you know what you did wrong?"
[Iām sorry. I know youāre angry because I went to a dangerous place without permission.]
"Clearly, you also understand that an apology wonāt make this go away."
Christinaās right hand rose, and a golden chain wrapped around it.
The moment Rune saw her golden chain, he felt that she was genuinely angry.
"And you, knowing this would happen, ignored my request."
A quiet rage spread through her voice, and the golden light in her blue eyes began to spread.
"I hate those who break their promises the most."
No matter how kind she was, she was a gold dragon and the Empress of Light.
"Why does a smart child like you keep making such foolish mistakes? Perhaps, Iāve been too lenient with you?"
Eyes like a frozen winter star, not the warm sunlight.
The pressure that made his heart freeze tightened around Runeās body.
The tense Rune steeled his resolve.
āIf the plan Iāve thought of is to workā¦ there must be no lies.ā
Despite the tension, his hands clenched tightly.
āI might regret this later, but now is not the time to think about that.ā
He had never used this method in his entire life.
Though it was unfamiliar, he believed it would be better this way, and Rune steadied his mind.
Rune, in his hatchling form, filled his large, almond-shaped eyes with trembling unease.
He looked like a small child trembling with fear.
With a dejected face, he lowered his gaze and fidgeted with his trembling, small front paws.
[Iām sorry, Christina. But when I heard that Ameliaās parents were ill, I wanted to help them somehow.]
Christina was usually warm and kind, but she was also someone who strictly adhered to the lines she had to keep.
However, there were exceptions.
She often let Runeās mistakes pass with light scolding, punishment, or a lecture.
āThinking about it, every time she let it pass, I was in my hatchling form.ā
That was true. Christina was particularly weak for hatchlings, especially those that looked like children.
Of course, that alone wasnāt enough.
āIf I add a pure and innocent childās motivationā¦ā
The method Rune thought of to avoid her anger.
It was to show that helping Ameliaās family was the action of a pure and innocent child.
Thatās why he chose this form when he greeted her.
Round face, chubby cheeks, short legs.
A cute appearance that revealed the charm of a young hatchling.
āHaving a form that doesnāt invite dislike is definitely an advantage. If it can suppress the other partyās hostility, thereās no reason not to use it.ā
Though he felt a bit itchy inside, this was a strategic choice.
Young hatchlings are cute and loved.
As the saying goes, even a hedgehog finds its own baby beautiful.
Rune was a rare young hatchling.
āThis will definitely work.ā
Rune, with his ears folded back and shoulders drooping, looked very pitiful.
The small hatchling, who already knew he was in for a scolding, lowered his head, showing the back of his round head.
Just as it felt like a few seconds had been condensed into hours,
Christina let out a faint sigh.
"I heard from the water child, Amelia. She said that without you, she would have lost her parents and herself."
Fortunately, Amelia, as Rune had asked, explained well what would have happened if Rune hadnāt helped.
Given Ameliaās nature, she must have sincerely pleaded for leniency due to Runeās help in saving her parents and herself.
Moreover, since Christina had personally checked the situation in the water lair, it wasnāt hard to imagine how serious things would have been if Rune hadnāt intervened.
āIf I hadnāt helped, the water clan might have been wiped out.ā
Even with his cute appearance, the most important thing was a reason that the elder could accept.
She thought it was a bit lacking, but hearing that it was the result of a childās good heart, Christina couldnāt stay angry.
āConsidering the potential consequences if I hadnāt acted and connecting it to the result of a childās good deedā¦ā
No adult would blame a child who wanted to help someone.
Moreover, Christina, being a dragon, placed great importance on living properly.
So, if the result was saving a dragon clan, getting angry over this would contradict her values as a dragon elder.
Christina spoke in a much softer voice.
"Yes, you were still a young hatchling. I might have forgotten that you were a young hatchling for some time."
Rune, who hatched a phoenix egg shortly after birth and resolved the long-standing issue between dwarves and Ferdikion, performed difficult and tedious training that other hatchlings would find tiring, discovered and cleared the first hidden dungeon in the fire clanās lair.
This time, he lifted the long-standing curse and darkness that plagued the water clan and saved their family.
He had succeeded in tasks that even a regular dragon might not have managed.
āPerhaps, without realizing it, I started to see this child as a fully grown dragon.ā
However, there was one reason why Rune had to act so mature.
A child who lost his entire clan in a war and barely survived.
Rune knew that Christina, who even taught him the legacy magic, wanted him to become strong and the Dark Lord, and thatās why he accomplished so many things.
Thinking about this, Christina looked at Rune with a sympathetic gaze.
"You were justā¦ a hatchling who knew that you had to take responsibility for the revival of the dark clan."
Though he had noble and commendable thoughts, a child canāt become an adult.
Christina realized that her expectations and hopes for Rune might have been weighing on him.
Reflecting on her anger towards Rune, who acted differently from her expectations, Christina smiled bitterly.
āItās only natural for a young hatchling to make mistakes and do wrong things.ā
Rune was just a child who wanted to save his friend.
The golden binding chains in Christinaās hand disappeared.
Her anger gone, her voice softened as she spoke to Rune.
Rune, who had gradually been seen as an adult and a proud child, had been treated as a young child.
She was angry at his foolishness for seeking danger without any sense of crisis.
She felt ashamed for almost using the ābinding chainsā on Rune, who couldnāt ignore a child in trouble.
Christina slowly knelt to meet Runeās eye level.
Then, she gently placed her hand on Runeās black, chubby foot.
"Iām sorry, Rune. For scaring you."