Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: The Dragon Lord's Sister
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Well, a dragon that's lived at least a thousand years—would it even know hunger or fatigue up to now?
From the looks of it, it seems like it set aside its leisurely amusements, caught dragon pox, and spent its time gathering monsters and building a fortress. So this reaction is understandable, but still.
"Can't I just eat it raw?"
If it were a dog, drool would be flooding from its jaws. Zero responded to Lepid's nagging, anxious face with a smile at first.
"Yes."
"Why? Will it upset my stomach? When I was a dragon, I swallowed serpents whole without issue."
"Humans die if they do that."
"But isn't it fully cooked?"
"No."
"It looks done to me. And you're not even human."
"Let go of my hand. Every time you talk, the food gets even later."
I thought Zero was handling it well, but apparently, there's a limit.
At the threat, Lepid's eyes twitched upward, then dropped as Zero brushed sauce on the skewer set and turned it over the fire.
"Are all dragons like that?"
Luna whispered that it was completely different from what she'd read in books, and I just shrugged.
I'd only read about dragons in books too.
But surely not all of them are like this. They are dragons, after all.
"Human food is better than I expected."
Once the cooking was finally done, Lepid took his personal plate, bit into a large mouthful without noticing the sauce dripping like blood from his mouth, and marveled again.
Zero's culinary skills were definitely improving day by day...
I sipped some soup, then stuffed my mouth with a perfectly fire-roasted mushroom and chewed.
The spice blend on this was insane.
At this point, I was seriously thinking Zero was worth keeping around even without developing special abilities.
"Why do humans get full eating so little? I want to eat more."
Cain opened his mouth with an expressionless face as Lepid grumbled, rubbing his belly like it was full.
"Shall I split you open? Then you can eat more."
"I'd send you flying to another coordinate. You inhuman human."
I finished my satisfying meal, watching the growling Lepid and the Cain who pretended not to hear.
My gaze turned to Lepid, whose eyes were starting to droop as post-meal sleepiness hit.
"It's definitely not a sleep spell or anything... but my body suddenly feels so heavy, everything's annoying, and drowsiness is pouring in... Is this how it is for all humans?"
Rubbing his eyes as he thought, 'In all my life, I never knew dry eyes were real.'
I chuckled softly and took a sip of the tea Zero had brewed to freshen the mouth.
"You'll have to live as a human for recreation for a while. Won't they get suspicious with that mouth of yours?"
Lepid scowled, displeased at my words, then let out a sigh-like murmur.
"Forced into human recreation... Damn sister of mine. Anyway, can I sleep now?"
I answered leisurely, sitting and sipping tea at Lepid's question.
"If you sleep right after eating, digestion won't work well. How about we chat a bit? There were deal conditions too."
"Hmm, are human bodies that fragile? Well... human skin has no scales or tough hide, and wounds don't heal quickly. If the outside is like that, the inside must be just as delicate."
Lepid lifted his hands, pressing and poking his own body, then nodded to himself as if understanding.
"I'm not curious about your impressions of humans."
At my words, Lepid yawned widely, then looked at me with one eye open.
What, that's creepy.
"Hmm, right, you asked about my sister. Humans are so swayed by appearances, huh. That violent dragon..."
He opened the closed eye, then closed the other one.
What the hell, even creepier.
"My sister has no talent for magic, so she indulges in lowly physical brawls for fun. Somewhere between ten and a hundred years, probably."
"Isn't that range too extreme? And keep your eyes still, would you?"
Ten to a hundred years? That's up to three human generations. What does that even mean?
At my words, Lepid snapped both eyes open and furrowed his brow slightly.
"I thought closing one eye at a time would make the tired one hurt less. It's the same."
Shaking his head, thinking, 'Humans... so pitiful.'
Ah, why does he look so annoying? Not all dragons are like this, right?
Zero and Luna seemed to agree, as they sneaked away pretending to do chores, and even Cain picked up his sword and stepped back.
In the end, only Lepid and I remained by the campfire, tea in hand.
"Just plain water with flavor added. Humans really love eating. Come to think of it, some dragons enjoyed gourmet play too."
Even dried herb tea delights him. What a dog-like dragon.
Irresponsible and mischief-loving. Like a cousin who only visits during holidays.
But I kept my business smile steady, soothing the mouth that seemed ready to spew curses with another sip of tea.
"If your taste runs to violent dragons who swear off magic for human martial artist play, travel by scroll, and punish their sibling with raw dragon strength—then sure, take this human as a companion already."
At his insistence that humans are fine too, so take him along, I finally snapped and demanded more info.
"Selfish, loves booze and violence, brutish, and boasts she's the strongest on earth with her fists. The Dragon Lord. Ah, human now."
Dragon Lord?
I paused to recall.
In the original story, Rachel's dragon nature was revealed pretty late.
As Lepid said, disguised as a human martial artist on a lark, she doesn't use magic until late.
'Come to think of it... when Rachel first appeared early on. The description emphasized that no matter how you looked, she was human. Perfectly human...'
Turns out the original wasn't a novel but more like an essay or biography.
From Dolik's perspective, even if he recognized her as a dragon, he couldn't say it.
That early line caused so many fights later about setting inconsistencies.
In both original and Innocent Saga, Rachel transforms once.
The final battle.
Before that, even when Cain was in mortal danger, she stayed true to her brainless martial artist role. But in the finale, she shows the might of the author-certified strongest earthly being, the mightiest red dragon.
'But what's the point? It's the last battle.'
I thought I needed to force it earlier, even once.
That's why I was prying for info to plan around Rachel bit by bit.
'Dragon Lord?'
The unexpected fact stirred new confusion.
Because Rachel stayed by Cain's side as a human, even as dragons neared extinction.
"Dragon Lord—doesn't that come with duties? Like, say, dragons suddenly dying off. Or is it just a nominal title?"
Lepid, dozing with his head nearly breaking as he nodded by the fire, tsked and spoke.
"Duties? Yes. Can't be just a name. Dragon Lord is the seat given to the strongest dragon. Noble position means many duties."
He forced his drooping eyes wide and continued, staring at me.
"For example, protecting hatchlings, or as you said, safeguarding the race. And quelling chaos in the middle realm... well, we can skip that."
My doubts deepened at Lepid's words. Why didn't Dragon Lord Rachel act during the dragons' near-extinction?
And middle realm means here—the continent drowned in chaos by the Evil God cult. Why hide her dragon nature from Cain and comrades almost to the end?
'Not something I can figure out right now.'
But keep it in mind.
I swallowed the now-cold tea, burying the suspicion deep for now.
* * *
"Shall we sleep together, young master?"
Luna whispered in my ear, cupping her hand. I shrugged.
"Thanks to him, we're heading to the meetup spot tomorrow. One night won't hurt."
Luna pouted, her fierce glare unnoticed as she eyed the cocooned Lepid in the sleeping bag like a curiosity.
"Does killing during 'recreation' mean no magic stone?"
Cain leaned in to whisper too.
"Dragon meat... how is it, Adelian-sama?"
Even Zero seemed a bit eager.
What did you three plot while I talked to Lepid?
I punished Cain with a shin kick, Zero with a knuckle rap, and told them to sleep nicely.
Lying down, listening to the crackling campfire, the day felt endlessly long.
Thanks to Recovery mid-day, my stamina was back, so no sleepiness—just thoughts. But Luna and Zero breathed evenly, exhausted.
'I could force sleep by closing eyes after deciding to, but...'
Too soon.
I pretended to toss, turning slightly toward Cain, Luna, and others, then activated User's Eye.
'Today's best haul.'
[Kane Rayners—The Advancer+]
Representative Traits: [Unyielding (SS)] [Genius (S+)] [Appearance (S+)] [Physique (SS)] [Mana Control (A)] [Dispel (B)]
Hidden Traits: [Resilience (S+)] [Versatility (A+)] [Craving (A)] [Miracle (C)]
Ha, insane. Look at those dazzling traits.
I wanted to hang a banner they shone so bright.
Genius, Appearance, Resilience on the verge of upgrade; Physique from S+ to SS; Versatility jumped to A then +; Craving from C to A.
Not just that—usually two or three rep traits, but he had four, now six more, all cheats.
How do non-protagonists even live without resentment?
My gut twisted in envy, brow furrowing.
[Adelian Suho Kruger—Possessor of All Gold+]
Representative Traits: [Wealth (SSS)] [Arrogance (S+)]
Hidden Traits: [Affluence (B+)] [User's Eye (SSS)]
Rachel. Got any excuses for me?
Even brushing death changes nothing.
Wealth and title shifted from gambling away Valbus's artifact; Arrogance from bluffing him and going hard on Lepid et al.
Affluence dropped from overusing User's Eye. Why no more gains?
I nearly died, yet Cain slurps the honey.
Of course, I get it.
Adelian isn't really me.
Hence Affluence and User's Eye. No extra traits fits.
This body isn't Kang Suho after all.
'But... if Affluence drops to the bottom and vanishes?'
The moment I see this not as dipping a toe in 'another world' but truly living here.
What happens to me?
Do I become Adelian fully, staying here?
Or...
'No way to know till then.'
Should check Luna and Zero's traits too.
Meant to think briefly, but time passed; eyes grew heavy. I let sleep take me without resisting.