Chapter 84
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: The Lady with Red Eyes (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The next morning.
"Hooo... Alright."
Melanie took a deep breath, her face tense with nerves.
The crystal orb before her bore the inscription:
[Southern Border Immigration Control Office]
"It's not like it's been forever since I last saw you, but it's been a while since we've talked alone."
A rare chance to see Nathan's face.
Melanie's hand touched the crystal orb.
- Wooong.
A short vibration, and a response came back.
- This is the Southern Border.
"Hey, honey."
She greeted him with a voice that trembled just a little.
"You got time right now? It's important."
The defensive magic over the Western Border had been breached, and now the same had happened over the Southern Border skies.
The moment Melanie heard the news, she intuited exactly how the situation was unfolding.
'The dragon's come to the Crossroad Kingdom.'
The Magic Society and the entire Intelligence Bureau were already scouring the kingdom high and low.
The Central Officer needed to know about this too.
But the response that came back held something utterly unexpected.
- Good morning, Intelligence Bureau Chief. This is Olfactory Officer Blazsek Winterfang.
A massive gray werewolf bowed his head inside the crystal orb.
"...Olfactory Officer."
She quickly checked the clock. 8 a.m.
Time for Nathan to have arrived and started work.
She spoke calmly.
"The Central Officer is late? That's pretty surprising."
- Ah, well... The Central Officer is on sick leave right now, so I'm covering his duties.
"Sick leave?"
Melanie startled at the word that fit Nathan the least and echoed it back.
The guy who'd dragged himself to work even with harpy flu or a broken leg from chasing smugglers.
For that man to call in sick?
"I'll look into some doctors for you. Just hold tight."
She immediately recalled a list of the kingdom's top healers, renowned for their skill.
- Easy now. We just got the news too. Sounds like overwork from last night finally caught up with him.
The Olfactory Officer gestured to the chaotic Immigration Control Office behind him.
- As you know, things are insane with the volcano collapse. Nearly three times the usual crowd coming through.
Come to think of it, it wasn't just the Intelligence Bureau and Western Border suffering.
'And Nathan's had a ton of incidents lately.'
With that baggage called the "former saintess of the Holy Church," he probably couldn't even rest easy at home.
And that was just the start. Now the princess was his responsibility too, doubling the stress.
'Poor honey...'
She thought she should brew some mandragora later and send it over, then continued calmly.
"Got it. Anything else I need to know about Nathan?"
- Not much special... Ah, yeah. One thing.
The Olfactory Officer scratched his chin with a claw, then his eyes lit up.
- Erzena and the princess didn't show up either.
In that instant, Melanie froze.
For about a second.
A fleeting moment too short to even notice something was off.
"...I see."
Melanie sorted her papers as if nothing had happened.
Her voice hadn't changed.
But even as the sun climbed high, a chill began to seep through the Intelligence Bureau.
- Ssssh.
Her tail tip flicked unconsciously.
A telltale sign of a lamia's displeasure.
Luckily, the Olfactory Officer didn't notice, shivering instead.
- Brr... Hey, Gustatory Officer. Close the window, will ya? Why's it suddenly so cold?
"Olfactory Officer?"
- Yes? Go ahead.
"So Nathan's on sick leave, and the two women living with him didn't come to work either?"
- That's right.
No mistake.
Three young people under one roof, all skipping work on the same day.
Sick leave.
A day off because the body couldn't take it anymore.
Melanie knew exactly what that meant.
No need for her Intelligence Bureau Chief instincts to pick up on it.
Woman's intuition.
One of the strongest instincts was blaring warning sirens.
- Uh, Bureau Chief. So, reason for the call-
"I'll contact you later. Call ended."
Melanie cut the power to the orb right in the wolf's face.
"..."
An ominous silence pressed down on the Intelligence Bureau room.
- Sssshhhh.
Her tail whipped even harder.
Slowly, she touched the orb again.
- Wooong.
A few seconds later, Agent R, stationed at the Southern Border, appeared.
- Bureau Chief. New orders?
"Agent R."
Melanie's voice dripped with syrupy sweetness.
She lifted her teacup casually as she spoke.
"I need to assign a special mission. Top priority."
Top priority.
The agent's face turned grave at the words.
- Rebels? Or mana surge precursors?
"Something's happened to the Central Officer, the former saintess, and the princess. None of them showed up at the office."
- All three...? You think something happened to the Central Officer?
"That's what we need to check. Head to his house now. Report everything you see, hear, feel, and smell. Leave nothing out."
The dragon didn't matter anymore.
The breached defensive magic didn't matter. Well, it did, but anyway.
The agent, grasping the severity, nodded.
- On my way immediately. Call ended.
The orb went dark.
"Hmm..."
Melanie stayed silent for a long while, then exhaled steadily.
She muttered to regain her composure.
"Nathan... wouldn't do that."
Thoughtful, always considering things first.
The furthest thing from a beast acting on instinct.
This worry was pointless.
The saintess and the princess at the same time?
"Ha, ridiculous."
Who in the world would dare such madness?
No need to get worked up.
But the hand holding the teacup...
- Rattle rattle rattle.
Shook wildly, oblivious to its owner's thoughts.
"Ughhhh..."
I groaned, slumped on the sofa.
I wanted to die.
My whole body screamed, muscles throbbing.
Last night had been brutal.
The only one awake in this damn house, Hanna, approached with a teacup.
"Central Officer, here's some tea and medicine for the muscle pain."
"Thank you, Miss Hanna."
"No problem. You went through hell last night."
Yeah.
I did it all.
I carried the passed-out Erzena and Elaine inside, cleaned up the disaster of a street as best I could, tossed the smoldering spirits into our fireplace, covered the golem head that wouldn't budge, and handled the dragon-turned-human and her egg.
Fuck, I did everything.
Now here I was, unable to even go to work in broad daylight.
"This isn't why I became an immigration officer..."
With a sigh, I asked Hanna,
"How about... the two ladies?"
"They're still sleeping."
Makes sense.
Erzena and Elaine had poured every ounce of strength into those two hours yesterday.
They'd probably sleep straight through till evening.
I nodded briefly, then asked cautiously,
"And the red-haired woman?"
The polymorphed dragon was still in the house too.
Hanna hesitated before answering.
"...Her too."
"Hmm. Got it."
But I couldn't wait any longer.
'Time for some explanations.'
The full story of yesterday's chaos was overdue.
I stood and headed upstairs.
- Creak.
I opened the door at the end of the second-floor hall.
There lay a sleeping woman on the bed and a massive egg basking in sunlight in the corner.
- Drag, thud.
I pulled up a chair and sat before her.
"Mm..."
A soft breath.
The woman—stunningly beautiful, her skin dazzlingly white—stirred naked.
Her hair, sensual unlike Hanna's vibrant red, spilled luxuriously across the bed.
Yet she was unmistakably a dragon.
The wounded, near-death powerhouse who'd toppled a volcano.
And now she slept defenseless and frail before me.
"What reason do you have for putting me through this..."
Then.
- Flutter.
Her eyelids trembled.
"Mm..."
Slowly, she opened her eyes.
Red irises met mine.
"You're awake. I thought you'd sleep more."
"Is this hell? It's more comfortable than I expected."
"..."
Not your average first words.
"You're alive."
"I'm... alive?"
She blinked at my reply.
"Wait, aren't you the Central Officer? Does that mean it's real?"
"Yes."
She stared blankly, incredulous, then snapped to.
"The egg... right, where's the egg!?"
She bolted upright in bed.
But immediately,
"Ugh..."
She staggered and collapsed back.
I caught her shoulder and eased her down.
"Calm down. You lost a ton of blood yesterday. You need rest."
"Hah, hah... That's not important now...! Where's my offspring?"
"The egg's fine. Right there."
I pointed to the corner.
She turned, finally seeing her progeny.
"Ah, ahh..."
Relief washed over her face.
"Thank goodness... really, thank goodness..."
Only then did she relax, laying her head back on the pillow.
"But how am I alive? Where is this? And why is my body human?"
I gave a quick rundown of yesterday.
"Holy power and telekinesis... So that's what turned me like this. No mana left to sustain my massive draconic form."
She examined her new human body slowly.
"Thank those two ladies, not me. I didn't do anything."
I shrugged.
"And sorry about your request, but I don't have the power to help you."
Why come to me?
If she wanted mystical aid, I had none.
"I'll introduce you to more capable people. First, report to superiors-"
"No!"
She shouted sharply.
"Absolutely not."
A firm resolve I'd never seen.
Clutching the blanket, she scowled.
"The whole world will soon realize I'm weakened. And... those after this egg will come again. They can't know."
Her voice dropped fearfully.
'Again.'
That word brought yesterday's wounds to mind.
"You've... already been attacked once."
Those weren't old scars.
She'd fought desperately right up to arriving here.
"Yes. And I can't put the egg in danger again."
"But you're recovering."
"My body is. But I feel no power left in me."
She waved her hand lightly.
- Fwoosh.
A candle-flame appeared briefly before snuffing out.
"Not even a spark remains. Just ashes from burning out."
A bitter smile crossed her face.
"I've only delayed the end a bit. Bought some time, at least. Who knows how much."
"You're alive, that's something. You'll see the hatchling yourself."
"That's why I need you as this egg's guardian."
That again.
Knowing it was rude, I scowled on purpose.
"I'd refuse anyway. No thanks."
Nope, not taking it.
Better to catch a hundred illegals.
"Don't worry. In return, I'll give humans more treasure than they deserve."
She waved it off like no big deal.
Then leaned in, whispering slyly.
"Want untold riches? Take all the treasures from my lair. Tempted yet?"
"You collapsed a volcano. Without a trace. What treasure's left?"
"Ah."
Short silence.
"S-seems you're more driven by knowledge than gold."
The ex-dragon snapped her fingers.
"Crave wisdom? I'll teach you every magic I know. Grand Mage status in no time."
"I'm mana-incompatible. Can't use magic. And you said you have no power now."
"Ah."
Another silence.
"W-well then..."
Embarrassed, her cheeks flushed redder than her hair and eyes.
She threw off the blanket, baring herself for the final offer.
"I'll give you pleasure! This body will drive any male wild!"
What the hell is this crazy dragon saying?
I covered her back up.
"Public servants get in huge trouble for sex-related bribes. And I'm already getting those rumors at work."
The Olfactory, Gustatory, and Auditory Officer trio had been at it for over a week every morning: "flowers in both hands, burning night of hot beds" bullshit.
"Uh... uh... th-then..."
Never thought I'd see a dragon busting her ass to make me her egg's nanny in my lifetime.
It was so absurd I chuckled.
"If I die, say you slew me. Dragon-slayer fame's pretty great, right?"
"Pass. Stop trying to die."
"But..."
"I said no. You need absolute rest right now."
"...Ugh."
The red woman deflated again.
She asked in a thoroughly dejected voice.
"Th-then what do I offer... to make you accept?"
Why does this shit only happen to me?
"Haaa..."
I stood with a long sigh.
"Wh-where are you going?"
Instead of answering, I unfolded a portable desk from the corner.
- Clunk.
I pulled a small hourglass from my pocket.
"Ahem!"
Short breath.
Still in yesterday's work clothes, so no issue.
Good.
I adjusted my posture and spoke gravely.
"Pleased to meet you. I am Nathan Kell, Central Officer and immigration examiner for the Crossroad Kingdom."
The familiar litany.
"State your name, origin, and purpose for entry. You have five minutes."
Mnatsil realized what I was doing, eyes widening.
"Y-you can't mean... you're making me follow human rules?"
"One thing only: if you want my help, become an entrant."
No exceptions at the border.
Not even for dragons.
She stared at me, dumbfounded.
"That's all you want...?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
I tapped the desk.
"It's my job."
Duty is never light.
I couldn't help her personally—no power, no reason, no obligation.
But the moment she became an immigrant, it became the office's responsibility.
"From this moment, I designate you, the two fire spirits, and the egg as refugees from external pressure. Cooperate fully with the examination, and I'll exhaust every means to ensure your and the egg's safety."
That was the most I could do.
She gazed at me in shock for a long time, then slowly smiled.
"Ha, haha... ahahaha!"
She burst into clear laughter.
Her ample bare form jiggled with each guffaw.
"Truly splendid. You exceed every expectation. My friends were right."
That again.
"Now, once more: name, origin, purpose for entry."
"Honest character, unmoved by temptation, unyielding principles... You're perfect as my egg's guardian."
Her red eyes sparkled like she'd found treasure.
"Time's ticking, dragon lady. Speak."
"Nathan Kell, Central Officer, take my egg! I'll give you everything!"
"Just answer the damn question already!!!"
In the end, my patience broke first.