NOVEL WEB Chapter 16
Though she may be a half-penny, the talent of the gold-haired dragon was nothing short of a fortune.
“…Ahem… You have quite the magical talent. Have you trained in it separately?”
‘……’
Of course, that’s if you consider the broad standards limited to humans.
The flame born from that patchwork of trivia was shabbier than a match-lit campfire and a pitiful sight compared to any kind of legal matter.
This little spark floating like a balloon was so tiny it was hard to tell if it was magic or a trick.
‘…Huh…’
The Gold Mine Dragon felt a sense of shame.
Her gaze fixed solely on the ground, her cheeks flushed red.
No matter how much she looked like a young girl, she had already devoured age until she could be considered an adult dragon.
Was this truly the stature of a being born as a dragon and imbued with divine blood, debating magic with such a weak show of power?
No matter how one looks at it, it was an embarrassing thing.
It almost seemed that breathing fire from her mouth would look stronger.
Yet, the guild master wouldn’t stop praising her.
Each time he conceded to the oddity, he would awkwardly smile to diffuse the situation while ruffling her hair.
At first, she thought it was just her being angry at herself.
She believed her high expectations only led to greater disappointment.
But before long, she realized it wasn’t that she had lost her reputation and was hurt.
Her lips curled upward without her even knowing.
Even if she felt useless, she wouldn’t throw it away.
She began to feel a sense of certainty.
Just a little, and a little more.
It was from this time that the dragon, longing for affection, would begin to lick her wounds.
*
There was a dragon nestled among the peaceful autumn scenery and the maple trees.
Reaching out, she pointed at the target, slowly releasing mana towards the end.
A small dragon named Libera referred to him as her savior.
She wanted to become stronger for her savior.
This was the first time a dragon had set a firm goal.
What the dragon did was burn.
Increasing the amount and quantity of her mana.
The red light emitted fiercely. Her horns grew grand, and her scales thinned, eventually sharpening like a spear.
Draconic transformation.
It’s a term used to belittle dragons that assumed human forms to exert their power.
Dragons considered themselves superior while humans were seen as inferior subspecies.
Yet, Libera had no reason to fret over that.
“Just a bit… just a bit more.”
She could not consider herself a full dragon.
Since she couldn’t mimic a complete dragon.
In other words, she couldn’t fit into that category by the standards they were divided by.
Neither a dragon nor a god, she was an ambiguous being. But she was the only one who could receive her father’s love.
“Surely once I finish this, they’ll compliment me?”
For the first time, Libera praised herself as special and sent out her mana once more.
A minuscule amount surged, flowed, and scattered.
Once again, she released her mana.
It seemed to increase dramatically and then scatter again.
Repeating this a few times, a few tens, hundreds, or even thousands, she believed she could bear fruit.
She planned for a day when she would rise.
The tiny dragon’s mouth curved into a crescent, and the laughter began to gleam in her eyes.
“Hehe… Hehe…”
She reached out and closed her eyes. Breathing out mana, she increased her firepower by igniting the flames.
The amount of fire was still below the level of a campfire.
“Hoo…!!”
She needed to burn like a mountain and power through as if burning the flame itself.
Lifting her strength, she aimed at her trajectory.
A small fire began to grow, and it soon carried a mighty flame that could turn the target to ashes.
Now is the time.
“..!”
With a short shout, the flames scattered.
Departing from her mother’s nurturing embrace, she hurled herself forward.
Whoosh!
Kaboom—!
A flash of light quickly vanished, leaving only the sound of burning and the remnants of ash behind.
The afterimage of the flames dispersed.
The offspring bid farewell to the world.
And the mother—
“Hoo… Hoohoo… Huh…?”
Let out a strange laugh, satisfied with the result.
*
For the first time, the Gold Mine Dragon had cultivated basic level magic.
“Hmm, will this work?”
She was literally farming now. Using wind magic to condense into her palms, she dug the earth, creating a tilled plot.
Summoning rain with magic, she made corn grow while gathering the flaming sphere from earlier, creating a small sun instead of recommending it.
What’s next?
“Next… there is none.”
She really could just take it easy and nap.
The Gold Mine Dragon, Libera, took a breath.
Keyal, who had been watching the scene intently, clapped in applause and cheered her on.
With a bright smile, he ruffled her hair.
Pat pat.
“Heh… Hehe.”
Yes. This is it.
“Are you feeling good?”
“Uh… Yeah…!”
Everything was for this.
Her past efforts and her determination were all for this moment.
Looking pleased, she cupped her cheeks. Following the direction of her hands, the dragon wagged her head.
“Ah. Speaking of which, um…”
Suddenly, the hand that had been ruffling her hair stopped.
He hesitated, trailing off his words like he was pondering something deeply.
In an instant, his eyebrows furrowed.
“Umm… What should I do? If I go now… but then… Hm… This…”
Starting to murmur with subdued volume like a fish gasping, he began to voice his concerns.
The Gold Mine Dragon tilted her head.
“What’s the matter? Daddy?”
‘……’
He couldn’t easily open his mouth.
He appeared to waver, pursing his lips, unsure whether to speak or hold back.
Was it something he should blurt out?
Or was it an external issue?
She’d heard rumors about recent plundering occurring frequently around here.
Rogues from the eastern regions had formed a band of thieves, robbing trinkets from impoverished villages.
Naturally, this had nothing to do with the guild.
Libera listened with one ear and let it out the other.
Someone like the guild master wouldn’t easily be afraid of mere thieves.
Especially not when the combat prowess of the half-beast leader was remarkable.
Even if those dumb thieves formed a military force, they wouldn’t easily claim victory.
So what was it?
The more she thought, the more her head became a jumble.
“Hmm… Daddy.”
Unable to endure, Libera spilled her curiosity.
“What’s going on?”
“Ha… Well, you see…?”
Keyal, who had been trailing off in his words, took a deep breath.
“Actually, Libera has been able to use mid-level magic now, and I was wondering if it’s time for you to go out for some practical experience.”
“Uh. Huh? Oh, yes.”
Libera, initially taken aback, soon nodded in agreement.
It was true that she had recently gained the ability to use mid-level magic.
Only two spells, but still.
“And so I thought about consulting with the guild members, and they suggested taking you to a dungeon for some practical experience?”
Dungeon.
A labyrinth made up of 99 floors, starting from the lowest level.
Libera furrowed her brows.
They were planning to take her, still inexperienced, into a dungeon under the pretext of training.
Who?
Her father?
No, who could it be if not that damned fox?
‘……’
She felt a displeasure that she could not allow.
She hadn’t liked it from the beginning.
But to be this petty…
“Umm… Is it really too much…?”
“…Is your father coming along for the practice…?”
“No, I have urgent business.”
Did he say something unnecessary? Keyal glanced at the dragon’s mood.
“Hm~ I see then?”
With that answer, the Gold Mine Dragon smiled faintly.
“Of course, it’s too much… I’m sorry for bringing up a sour mood—”
“I’m going!”
Keyal, who had turned away, suddenly doubted his ears.
“…Huh? Really?”
He began to question, more surprised than he was before.
“I’m going. I said I’m going.”
Yet, the face of the Gold Mine Dragon didn’t change. In fact, it even wore a somewhat chilling smile as if plotting something.
*
A white tail gently swayed, reflecting her owner’s emotions.
Leisurely, a kitsune wrapped her arms around herself, whistling. However, there was something very irritating about her existence.
‘?’
It wasn’t the elf with pointed ears.
No, that went beyond mere annoyance; it felt outright contemptuous.
As she entered the dungeon’s entrance.
What bothered the fox was none other than the horned dragon.
A petite stature that only reached around her waist, she resembled a dragon among winged lizards like some half-breed.
“I thought beasts might understand each other to some extent.”
The fox wore a sneering smile as she looked down upon the dragon.
“Is it true? You’re still a dragon after all, huh?”
“Seems your blood is boiling~?”
Thinking of making a mockery of her already, her heart quickened with anticipation.
Unable to act due to that wretched Keyal, she was eagerly waiting to witness the pitiful sight of the dragon rolling in the mud, covered in bruises and tears.
‘Hehehe!’
The fox’s laughter painted a dreary image of the future.
The dragon rolling in filth, crying messily, far from looking presentable.
The fox’s laughter continued without pause.
*
Flames burst forth—
“Wha… What?!!”
Before the flames of her tail could rise.
“What the hell is this…??!!!”
The dragon’s revenge wanted to dig deep into the center and gnaw at it, aiming to take that spot and become the center itself.
The dungeon doors shut, flames began to rise around her.
“Yeah, it’s been a while. No, it’s the first time my blood is boiling, huh?”
Towards the fox.
No, it was a strike directed at her rival.
Before the confrontation began, the fox had been laughing.