Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: Dragon Godfather (4)
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Whoosh!
The eternal snow that had piled up endlessly was being sucked non-stop into the sub-space ring Tondra had given me. The interior of the sub-space ring was so vast it was impossible to gauge.
……As expected, a dragon's power is on another level.
I felt bad saying it to Khalid, but there was an insurmountable wall between humans and dragons. Even the greatest mage in Solen was ultimately just a mere human compared to a dragon.
Unless it was someone like Claude, the future Eastern Magic Tower Lord and the continent's acknowledged grand mage……
‘Khalid would be furious if I said this out loud.’
Imagining that arrogant mage's sour face made me chuckle involuntarily. Of course, I'd never say it to his face. Not unless I had a death wish.
Anyway, the sub-space ring's interior seemed more than sufficient—overflowing, even. It could probably fit a house or two. At this level, it was practically a national treasure…… Tondra sure was generous. I should stay on good terms with him.
「Theodor.」
“Ah, Tondra.”
Speak of the devil. Did dragons come when called too? At Tondra's voice, I stopped the sub-space ring and turned to look. Tondra had folded his wings and was tapping his claws lightly, gazing down at me with a face that said, ‘What, having fun playing with a kid's toy?’
「Where's Legion? You're here alone?」
“Ah, Legion just finished eating and fell asleep.”
Today, he devoured a whole round-horned buffalo. I grilled three legs, steamed the ribs, and for the rest of the meat, I boiled, fried, roasted, and steamed it with all sorts of seasonings! My back nearly gave out. And after all that, he gnawed on the bones like dog chews, crunching away before passing out. Despite being less than a month old, his appetite surpassed El and Ayla's combined.
Thanks to that, Legion was growing like a weed—from kitten-sized a week ago to calf-sized, then surpassing Ayla in two weeks. The constant feasts were paying off splendidly. His scales gleamed like polished shoe polish, shimmering even without light. You could tell he was well-fed.
「In that case, hold still for a moment……」
“Yes?”
「Don't mind me.」
Tondra pressed a claw tip gently against my crown. Then, his unique mana sparked blue lightning that began enveloping my body. From the crown where his claw touched, it spread slowly down my neck, shoulders, chest, stomach, waist, thighs, knees, ankles……
Zap!!!!
A sudden explosive crack, and it surged back upward. Black flames erupted from my toes, driving out the blue lightning—up ankles, knees, thighs, waist, stomach, chest, shoulders, neck, to the crown.
Roar!!!
Finally, it exploded from the claw tip at my crown. Tondra chuckled and withdrew his claw.
“……Could you explain what just happened?”
「I was checking the soul bond with Legion.」
Soul bond!
For the mana sharing between a dragon and its godfather to work properly, a perfect soul bond was essential. A unification of souls, like becoming ‘one body.’
“Hmm, so, how is it?”
「It's beyond excellent—overkill, even.」
Tondra muttered while blowing on his slightly singed claw tip. Beyond excellent? Was that a compliment or an insult?
According to Tondra, the stronger the ‘resonance,’ the firmer the soul bond, and the greater the mana-sharing effect. To ensure smooth ‘resonance,’ he had given over his lair—untouched by any interference—to the young dragon.
Thanks to that, we'd lived stably in Tondra's lair, our ‘resonance’ flowed smoothly, the soul bond solidified, and the mana sharing progressed ‘perfectly.’
「I was worried, but at this rate, you can leave once the month is up.」
One month.
The time of a dragon's first molt. After the first molt, a dragon could freely use dragon tongue and all sorts of magic. Tondra planned to send us off then.
‘It's been comfortable here, but we can't stay forever.’
Judging it the right time, I nodded without protest.
「As I said before, Theodor, Legion needs your help. He may seem strong enough to you, but he's still young and fragile.」
“I'll care for him with all my heart. After all, I'm his ‘godfather,’ like it or not.”
「That's reassuring. Even after leaving the Silver Mountains, if you need my advice or help, use ‘that’ anytime.」
“That?”
Tondra pointed his claw at my hand. Looked like the sub-space ring had another function. Like a direct line to the dragon? Impressive……
「Now, back to Legion.」
“Yes, Tondra.”
I felt more like a nanny than a godfather…… But Legion would grow into a dignified dragon like Tondra, right?
Until then, hang in there.
* * *
「Teo. Me. Food.」
“Just a bit longer.”
「Teo. Me. Hurry.」
“I said wait.”
I skewered four well-prepared pigs on large iron rods and sprinkled various spices. Two got a heavy dusting of chili powder for spice, the other two just salt and pepper for a clean flavor.
“Alright, Legion. Remember the practice? No burning. Nice and low heat.”
「Teo. Me. Remember. Low.」
“The fate of tonight's dinner rests on you. I believe in you?”
「Teo. Me. Believe.」
Legion flapped his wings excitedly and wagged his tail. He took position, opened his maw wide, and began spewing black flames.
Roarrrrr!!!!
Anyone who knew dragons would faint at using dragon breath for mere roast pig.
But with that intense firepower and precise control……
‘Why would I stand by the fire roasting four pigs myself when I have a perfect living gas burner?’
As taught, Legion tilted his head this way and that, roasting the pigs evenly. Crispy pig skin! Golden-brown pork! A mouthwatering aroma began to waft.
“Good, Legion. Now ease up on the flames.”
「Teo. Me. Small. Flame.」
Legion reduced his breath to a gentle puff. As the pigs crackled to juicy doneness, I prepared the sides.
Butter-roasted crispy potatoes and corn, deep-fried carrot sticks tossed in mayo, hearty rye bread loaded with walnuts. And cream soup simmered with all sorts of mushrooms.
Drinks: snowberry juice with eternal snow for the kids—El, Ayla, Pipi, and Legion—and black beer from the village for the adults.
“Where's the cinnamon powder?”
I rimmed the beer mugs with sugar and cinnamon beforehand. The first sip blended cinnamon's warmth, sugar's sweetness, and the beer's bitter edge into heavenly harmony. Ah, I used to love this!
“Ayla, dinner's ready. Round everyone up.”
-Woof!
「Teo. Me?」
“Legion, you did great. Now sit and wait. I'll fix yours soon.”
I transferred the roast pigs to the large table, arranging sides around them. Lloyd and El came in from outside, covered in snow from bridge repairs by the valley.
-Achoo!
“El, you'll catch a cold. Start with the soup.”
“Sniff, thank you, Master.”
“You too, Lloyd. I'll tend to the kids first.”
One whole roast pig for Legion, one for Ayla, half a rye bread slice for Pipi. Then I grabbed a beer and returned to the table.
“Already started?”
“Ah, Tondra.”
Right on cue, Tondra arrived. In her polymorphed form as a stunning silver-haired beauty, she sat gracefully and downed a beer first.
“Hm, a unique custom.”
“……Call it a tradition from my homeland.”
I smiled and took the seat across from her. Thanks to batch-roasting, the pigs overflowed with juices, paired with sweet potatoes and corn, tangy-sweet carrots, plain rye bread. Nothing was lacking. I sliced ribs from the spicy chili pig and asked Tondra.
“By the way, Tondra, something's off with Legion's scales.”
“His scales?”
“Yeah. They seem less glossy, kinda dull.”
“Ah.”
Tondra nodded knowingly.
“Must be time for his molt soon. When did it start?”
“About two days ago.”
“Then tonight or tomorrow night.”
“Anything I need to prepare……”
“Nothing. Just stay by his side.”
“Sounds easy, but also not.”
Well, if trouble arose, I could always call Tondra. I shrugged and finished the ribs. Mm, the juices were killer. When it got rich, a sip of beer…… Ah! It goes down endlessly!
‘But tonight, I have to watch Legion's molt……’
Gotta hold back. A godfather should act like one. I smacked my lips and looked away from the beer. Beer anytime, but Legion's first molt only once……
‘Is this what fatherhood feels like……’
I chuckled softly and glanced at Legion. Unlike Ayla tearing into meat like a shadow wolf, Legion ate daintily like a noble. Our eyes met, and he grinned, showing sharp teeth.
「Teo. Tasty.」
……Now even that looked adorable.