When You Enter (Part 2)

What animal comes to mind when you think of wings?

Most people would immediately picture a bird—a creature soaring freely through the open sky with magnificent wings stretched wide against a compact body. Insects have wings too, of course, but they rarely spring to mind first. Then there are the rare exceptions, like bats among mammals, or the odd flightless bird. This world wasn't much different. If anything, it possessed a far greater variety of winged creatures: pegasi, dragons, harpies, and countless others. Yet even here, most folk considered wings to be the exclusive domain of birds.

"Pweeee..."

Right now, an animal with wings was lying directly before my eyes.

Its wings were small relative to its frame, but they looked remarkably sturdy. And its body was just as peculiar. Its hide was cracked and segmented like a reptile's, making it hard to tell whether I was looking at rugged skin or thick scales.

What on earth is this creature?

A winged reptile. As I examined it more closely, other distinct features stood out. Vertical slit pupils, just like a snake's, and sharp little horns sprouting from its brow. Putting all these clues together, a single creature instantly flashed across my mind.

Afraid I might be jumping to conclusions, I glanced wordlessly toward Ludwig to gauge his reaction.

"..."

Ludwig seemed to be thinking the exact same thing. Beneath his grave, rigid expression, his head tilted with uncertainty. If our suspicion was correct, we were facing a catastrophic problem; even if it wasn't, this beast was undeniably extraordinary.

"Hey, mister. Doesn't that look like a baby dragon to you?"

"...#$%"

"I read about this on the Gallery. Dragons are notoriously, terrifyingly protective of their young, aren't they?"

Which meant one horrifying thing: a mother dragon was likely scouring every inch of the Forest of Four Seasons right now, turning over every boulder to find her child. How on earth this little thing had ended up all the way here was anyone's guess, but it certainly wasn't good news.

If I handle this wrong, we're completely screwed.

What was a dragon, after all? Nothing short of a walking natural disaster. Kadir was worshipped as the Wizard King simply because he had slain one single-handedly. A full-grown dragon was almost certainly far stronger than Bbarmbo or the Chief Gorilla.

"Pwee..."

The suspected hatchling let out a pathetic, trembling whimper. Setting aside its draconic heritage, the poor creature was covered in lacerations from head to toe, looking utterly pitiful. It must have crawled into this cave in a desperate bid to survive. I let out a quiet sigh.

Damn it. I can't just pretend I didn't see this.

It wasn't brazen and shameless like that raccoon from before, and the potential fallout of neglecting it was terrifying. I decided to treat the little beast. Fortunately, I still had some of the animal-grade Elixir Starlight Princess had gifted me. Ludwig shot me a look that asked if I had truly lost my mind, but throwing it out into the rain wasn't an option either. Treating it was the safest path forward.

Those scales are seriously sparkling.

Up close, they possessed a solid, metallic luster. As I leaned in, the little creature slowly lifted its head, fixing its vertical slits straight onto me.

"Pweeeeek...!"

The moment our eyes met, it spread its wings in a defensive posture. Yet with its flight membranes torn to shreds, the display wasn't the least bit intimidating. Uncorking the Elixir bottle with one hand, I stepped closer. The closer I got, the louder its frightened cries became.

"Pwak!"

Snap!

When I reached out my hand, it snapped its jaws with all its might. Rows of razor-sharp teeth lined its maw, surprisingly menacing. But sapped of all strength and wracked with pain, its strikes were sluggish. I easily dodged its desperate lunges a few times and calmly waited for it to settle down.

"..."

Whether exhausted or realizing I meant no harm, the creature gradually tucked its wings back against its flanks. When its raised snout finally drooped to the cave floor, it looked as though it had simply surrendered to fate. Now was my chance. I tipped the vial, drizzling the shimmering Elixir over the little beast's crown.

Drip, trickle...

"...Pwe?"

Startled by the strange sensation, the creature blinked and lifted its head. It seemed to notice the sudden change coursing through its flesh. Fine cuts sealed shut in seconds, and the torn membranes of its wings knit back together before our eyes. The Elixir's miraculous potency worked even on a dragon—likely aided by its diminutive size. Once all its external wounds had vanished, I fetched a small stone bowl, mixed a hearty dollop of wild honey with a few drops of Elixir, and slid it toward its snout.

"Eat that up and head on home, or hang out here if you want. Just don't go calling your mom."

"..."

The hatchling ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠flicked its gaze between me and the bowl. Inside lay a pool of golden, fragrant sweetness laced with pure restorative magic. Common sense dictated that wild beasts should never take food from strangers.

Slurp! Lick, lap, gobble!

Common sense didn't apply when you were starving half to death. The little beast buried its snout into the bowl, lapping up the mixture with frantic abandon. Watching it gorge itself so ravenously, it was obvious it hadn't eaten a proper meal in days.

Is it really a dragon, though?

While it was distracted by the honey, I took a few snapshots and drafted a post for the Gallery. It matched the description of a hatchling in every way, but I needed confirmation.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The comment section was spewing pure nightmare fuel.

The worst part was that most of what they said was probably accurate. In a place where even a giant sloth was an unnatural titan, what kind of terrors awaited from an apex predator like a dragon? And if something out there had mauled this baby or its parent... it was beyond grim. A single dragon breath could roast this entire mountain into crispy ash, yet something even stronger might be lurking in these woods.

If I kick it out carelessly, this baby dra... no, this hatchling might hold a grudge.

I glanced back at the creature. Having satisfied its appetite, it was already fast asleep. As for where it had chosen to nap...

"Pwee..."

"Kyuuu?"

Right on top of Wonmo's thick, fluffy back.

Because it was smaller than Wonmo, it curled up into a neat little coil, slumbering peacefully. Wonmo seemed bewildered by the unexpected passenger, but recognizing the lack of hostility, he remained perfectly still, blinking innocently.

"#%#"

"Hm?"

Once the initial chaos had settled, Ludwig called out softly. He stared at the sleeping hatchling draped over Wonmo's fur, a complicated, conflicted frown etched into his brow.

"%%##"

"Is it dangerous? Yeah, incredibly dangerous."

"#%%#?"

'Then why are you sitting around doing nothing? Shouldn't we prepare some kind of countermeasure?'

That seemed to be the gist of his frantic gestures. Frankly, I felt the exact same way. But...

"And what exactly are we supposed to do?"

"...?"

"Tell me, what can we possibly do against this Juvenile Protection Dragon?"

Tragically, there was nothing. A hatchling wasn't just a protected minor—it was an untouchable sovereign of chaos. Lay a single hostile finger on it, and its mother would descend from the heavens to serve up divine retribution. Physically. Violently. Even if the hatchling was the one in the wrong, logic didn't apply to a grieving dragon parent.

"..."

Ludwig seemed to grasp the bitter reality of my words. Wearing the expression of a man who had accepted his hollow fate, he trudged over to the cave wall and slumped down with a heavy sigh. Even for a former Holy Knight commander, dragons were apparently terrifying.

"Hey, Bbarmbo. Aren't you scared of dragons?"

I turned to the giant sloth. How did he feel about all this?

"..."

As always, Bbarmbo wore an expression of supreme, unflappable tranquility. Perhaps he hadn't gotten a clear look at it, or maybe he simply had no concept of what a dragon was. Trying to read that sloth's mind was an exercise in futility. Still, if true danger loomed, he'd surely give us a warning.

The ideal scenario is that it rests up and leaves on its own once it's fully healed, but...

Could it survive alone in this monstrous forest? Making it here alive was already a miracle. More importantly, did it even know the way back home? That was my biggest worry.

"Pweeee."

About an hour later, the hatchling stirred on Wonmo's back, stretching its small limbs as it woke. Seeing it look so much livelier than before, the healing appeared to be complete.

"Pwe?"

"..."

It was undeniably cute, though in a very different way from Wonmo. Wonmo stirred protective instincts with his plush fur, round owlish face, and clumsy waddle. The hatchling, on the other hand, combined the endearing fragility of a newborn with the razor-sharp majesty of a mythical predator. It was like comparing a puppy to a kitten. Different vibes, equal cuteness.

"Tsk-tsk-tsk. Come here, little guy."

"Pwe?"

I crouched low and beckoned with my fingers. Behind me, Ludwig stared at me as if I had completely lost my mind, but I ignored him. Since fate had dropped it on our doorstep, there was no harm in getting on its good side.

"Pweee..."

Perhaps recognizing me as the benefactor who had healed its wounds, the hatchling approached tentatively, looking cautious yet curious. Its wings remained slightly fanned, ready to bolt at a moment's notice.

Stroke...

"Good boy. That's it. Good little dragon."

"Pweeeeee~"

All defenses collapsed before the almighty power of chin scritches. Among domesticated and wild beasts alike, few creatures disliked gentle petting once their guard was lowered. Seeing the tip of its slender tail sway from side to side, it was clearly in heaven.

Its scales are smooth, yet rock-hard beneath the surface. Incredible.

The texture was fascinating—silky to the touch, yet unyielding. Its wings were similar; I had assumed the flight membranes would be delicate and soft, but they were remarkably tough and leather-like. A dragon was still a dragon, even in infancy. Naturally, curiosity bubbled up inside me.

Why did it come all the way here?

Had it wandered away from the nest out of reckless curiosity like Wonmo, or had something terrible happened to its parents? Time would eventually tell. Until then, our best bet was to keep our heads down and wait quietly.

"Kyuu! Kyuu-uu!"

Watching me shower the hatchling with affection must have triggered a wave of jealousy. Wonmo came trotting over, squawking indignantly. He planted both front paws firmly onto my thigh, glaring up at me as if demanding, Pet me right this second! The fury etched into his adorable owl-face made his jealousy unmistakable.

"Alright, alright. I got you."

"Kyuuuu~"

Juggling two needy babies suddenly made the cave feel very crowded.

"Hey, mister. You want to pet it too?"

"..."

"It's not every day you get to touch a dragon."

"Ahem."

Unable to resist my gentle teasing, Ludwig cleared his throat and hesitantly shuffled forward. But perhaps sensing an unfamiliar presence...

"Pwaaaaak!"

The moment Ludwig stepped within reach, the hatchling unhinged its jaw and let out a fierce hiss.

Fwoosh!

A tiny gout of flame spat ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from its throat. It was no larger than a candle flicker, but the message was loud and clear: Back off.

"..."

Thoroughly rejected, Ludwig wilted in dejection and slunk back into his corner. Taking pity on the crestfallen knight, Wonmo waddled over and offered himself as a fluffy comforter. Ludwig embraced the owlbear cub tightly, nursing his bruised ego.

Wasn't this guy supposed to be a solemn, battle-hardened commander?

I couldn't tell if casting off all worldly burdens had freed his spirit or if Wonmo had simply melted his brain. Either way, now that the hatchling had warmed up to me, all that remained was to wait. Eventually, its mother would track it down, or the hatchling would find its own way home.

For food... fish should do the trick, right?

Since it was primarily a carnivore, fresh fish would be far better than Inedia Pills. I wondered how much it could eat, but despite its small frame, its appetite easily matched Wonmo's. With the rain keeping us cooped up recently, our food reserves were dwindling fast.

First thing tomorrow morning, I need to head upriver.

That concluded our day. The afternoon downpour had prevented us from doing any outdoor chores, but serendipitously crossing paths with a legendary creature meant the day wasn't a total loss.

Why are these people trying to name it already?

And every single suggestion was utterly terrible. I shut off the Gallery interface and closed my eyes. Tomorrow was going to be an early start.

The next morning arrived with the dawn.

"Yaaawn..."

Stretching my stiff limbs, I pulled up the Gallery interface to check the time. Exactly 6:00 AM. If I headed up to the river now and set the fish traps, we'd have a decent haul by midday. I quietly walked toward the cave entrance. We had hung a thick sheet of fabric over the opening to keep the nocturnal bugs out. After yesterday's torrential rain, I was expecting a crisp, sunny morning to greet me—

"Grrrrrr......"

"..."

Instead of a pleasant breeze, a colossal ruby-red eyeball greeted me.

It was so massive that a single eye took up nearly half the cave's opening. A vertically slit pupil, burning with incandescent fury, glared straight through the curtain, locked squarely onto my soul.

"...Oh dear."

Looks like the legal guardian has arrived.