Chapter 122: Is This Really That Delicate Little Dragon Girl?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 122: Is This Really That Delicate Little Dragon Girl?
On the other side, Xie Bai’s group had quietly slipped into the convoy returning to the Aodu Empire.
Under Xie Bai’s perfectly timed arrangements, two passengers had "regrettably" missed this particular departure and were forced to remain in Northgard. The two vacated seats naturally went to Xie Bai and the Two Little Ones.
Settled comfortably in the carriage, Xie Bai stretched her limbs, feeling a long-awaited sense of relaxation.
Though she could teleport back at any moment, there was a certain charm in experiencing a mundane journey every once in a while. With that thought, Xie Bai leaned against the backrest and gazed at the snowy landscape flowing past the window.
"Come to think of it, I don't think I've truly slept in a long time."
Since obtaining the Godhead of Void, all her energy consumption could be drawn directly from the void. Even if she went without food or sleep for ages, she wouldn't fall into that helpless state of weakness she once knew.
While her physical needs were easily met, the desires stemming from the Seven Curses had never diminished. Sloth, in particular, had deepened once right at the start. If she went too long without rest, a trace of fatigue would still seep into the depths of her soul.
Gluttony was slightly better. Once her physiological hunger was resolved by the Godhead of Void, what remained was mostly the desire for flavor and the sensation of eating. However, because of this, her intake no longer had a natural upper limit. Without self-control, it would be easy to fall into a cycle of mindless, unrestrained feasting. If it ever reached that point, even if she didn't consciously permit Gluttony’s request, the curse would quietly deepen through her excessive behavior.
To be precise, the other Seven Curses entries worked the same way. As long as her behavior leaned toward an extreme without restraint, the corresponding curse would use that momentum to silently deepen. In turn, a deepened curse would pull at her emotions and influence her choices. One wrong move, and she would fall into a nested, ever-deepening spiral.
Among the Seven Curses, Sloth had the deepest hold on her. If she went too long without resting or being lazy, she would suffer a minor backlash—much like the faint weariness currently clouding her mind.
Envy, on the other hand, was the shallowest; it hadn't manifested in her at all. After all, she truly couldn't imagine a situation where she would feel envious of someone else.
As for Lust...
A faint, imperceptible blush brushed Xie Bai’s cheeks. Ahem... no signs of deepening there.
"Cough... at least I haven't seen the Ring of Seven Curses get any stronger."
Pulling her thoughts back, Xie Bai turned her gaze toward the Two Little Ones sitting opposite her. They were currently leaning side-by-side against the window, watching the flying snow-covered forests and distant mountains with wide-eyed wonder.
"Is this what it's like to ride in a carriage? We've never tried this before."
"It would be nice if we could travel around the Land of Distortion like this."
Seeing the two of them pressed against the glass, Xie Bai felt a slight pang of sentimentality. "Children really do love sticking to the window to watch the scenery during a trip."
Withdrawing her gaze, Xie Bai stretched her stiff waist and felt a wave of drowsiness wash over her. She curled up her legs and found a comfortable position to lie down.
"Mmm... before I sleep, let's see what's new on the forum."
Opening the Player Forum, Xie Bai browsed through the content for the first time in a while.
"Ugh... doesn't seem like there's anything interesting lately... Hm? A livestream section?"
A livestreaming tab had indeed been added to the Player Forum. She clicked in, and the title of the highest-rated stream immediately caught her eye:
[- Cat Fur Hat Maomao's Game Livestream Channel -]
Driven by curiosity, Xie Bai tapped on it.
【Holy crap, a dragon!】
【Behemoth vs. Behemoth! This visual impact is insane!】
【Wait, Maomao, who did you call in? The Emperor of the North?】
【As expected of Maomao. Playing a Druid is just too OP; she even managed to call our Ice Dragon Majesty over for a scrap.】
【So you weren't just talking trash back then? You actually signed a contract with that little dragon girl?】
【Is this really that delicate little dragon girl?】
【Why are you still calling her a "little dragon girl"? I didn't judge you when her true form wasn't out, but now that it is, what should you be calling her?】
【Lord of Eternal Frost and Winter! The Supreme Frost Dragon, Her Majesty Aisarakus! You look absolutely badass right now!】
【The thought that behind such a ferocious dragon is a sweet, soft little dragon girl makes me love her even more.】
The bullet comments scrolled like a waterfall, but the scene in the center of the screen was what truly chased away most of Xie Bai’s sleepiness.
An ice-blue dragon, towering like a mountain with a wingspan that blotted out the sky, stood tall. Every scale reflected the harsh light of the polar regions. At this moment, she was using the most primitive, violent methods to pin a Skeletal Giant Lizard of similar size to the ground.
Every strike of her dragon claws carried a dull, heavy thud like a mountain collapsing. When they landed on the Skeletal Giant Lizard, bone shattered and ice shards sprayed everywhere. There were no flashy magical effects, only the pure, crushing release of raw power—fist to bone.
The Skeletal Giant Lizard was utterly powerless to fight back. Its massive frame continued to crack and cave in under the dragon’s frantic suppression. The ghostly blue flames in its eye sockets flickered violently, as if they might go out at any second.
Looking at the dragon on the screen, Xie Bai couldn't help but feel surprised.
"Isn't that... Aisarakus?"
"When did she run off to have a 1v1 with... with that beast?"
More than the cheers in the comments, she cared about the emotions being conveyed in the footage. Aisarakus’s assault was ruthless and hurried, clearly radiating a sense of catharsis—the sudden release of someone who had been suppressed for far too long.
"Hiss..."
Watching the Skeletal Giant Lizard’s half-shattered frame being torn apart, Xie Bai took a sharp breath.
"Has this child been under that much pressure lately? I should probably find a chance to talk to Brandon... tell him to be a bit more lenient with her?"
Xie Bai rested her chin on her hand, her thoughts drifting. Witnessing Aisarakus display her draconic might in the livestream, Xie Bai’s first reaction wasn't to tattle, but to feel a bit sorry for her.
Compared to Aisarakus’s dragon form, Xie Bai mostly remembered her as a delicate little dragon girl who acted like a puppy, wagging her tail to act spoiled. The contrast between that and the mountain-shattering, majestic dragon on the screen was simply too stark.
"Well, it's good that she can vent. Making such a big scene, she’s certainly made a name for herself among the players. I just hope Brandon doesn't find out immediately."
Xie Bai could almost imagine Aisarakus’s pitiful, helpless expression when Brandon eventually caught her.
"If I were there, I might have been able to put in a good word for her."
Thinking of this, Xie Bai shook her head. But right now, she had to take the Two Little Ones to Carlos Lilanka. Regarding the tragedy Aisarakus was about to face, she was afraid she couldn't be of much help.
"Better pray for yourself."
After a sigh directed at the ice dragon on the screen, Xie Bai closed the interface. Looking at the scenery flying past the window, she closed her eyes slightly and let the weariness wrap around her.
*
Northgard, Northern Imperial Palace.
Brandon calculated the time; about three hours had passed. This should be enough for Aisarakus’s lesson. Any more might lead to diminishing returns. Afterward, he just needed to offer a few "carrots," and Aisarakus would likely behave much better.
With that in mind, Brandon arrived at the room where Aisarakus was supposed to be studying.
"Your Majesty, time is up. You have a seven-day break starting now. I wonder where you would like to—"
Brandon’s voice cut off.
When he pushed the door open, he didn't see the little dragon girl he remembered. Instead, sitting in her chair was... a blue dragon puppet?