Chapter 30
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Lil' Dragon's Favor
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"Kueeng?"
'What the...'
Cute.
"Young Master! What is that?!"
Kael rushed over.
"Looks like a lizard."
Actually, it wasn't a lizard.
It was an SSR-grade legendary dragon you could only pull with a 0.001% gacha probability.
"A lizard?"
"Yeah. A golden lizard."
But if he spilled the truth right now, it would just lead to a headache,
so...
Soon, the little guy opened his eyes. Golden pupils stared right at me.
"......"
"......"
Our eyes met for a moment.
1 second.
2 seconds.
And then.
"Kyuuung~"
The little guy wriggled slowly. He climbed down from the altar and crawled leisurely across the ground.
"Kyung~"
He stopped right at my feet and looked up at me.
"Kyuuuung~"
His round eyes sparkled.
Then, he started climbing up my pants.
"......Huh?"
Smoothly—
He was surprisingly fast.
Ankle.
Calf.
Thigh.
Waist.
Chest.
"......"
Before I knew it, he'd settled on my shoulder.
"Kyuuung~"
He wrapped his tail around my neck, clutching my collar tightly with his claws.
"........"
He looked utterly content.
"......Hey."
"Kuung..."
"You're heavy. Get down."
"Kyuuung..."
The little guy rubbed his head against my cheek.
Rub rub—
Warm.
Rub rub—
Soft.
"......"
I'd said that, but...
My hand moved on its own to support his butt.
Just in case he fell.
But...
'He really is cute.'
Girls would go nuts for him.
"Ooh!!"
Kael's eyes sparkled.
"It looks like he's imprinted on you, Young Master!"
"Imprinted?"
"Yes! Sticking like that means he recognizes you as his master!"
"......"
The little guy rubbed against my cheek again.
"Kyuuung..."
'......I see.'
"Young Master!"
Kael took a step closer. His eyes were shining brightly.
"Could I pet him just once?!"
Kael reached out toward the little guy. Slowly, very carefully.
At that moment.
The little guy's expression hardened instantly.
His round eyes sharpened.
His mouth opened.
"Kyaaak—!"
Puff.
A small flame burst on the back of Kael's hand.
"Ack!"
Kael yanked his hand back.
The back of his hand was red.
"R-Rejected!"
"......"
"Was I being disrespectful?!"
Kael looked devastated.
His shoulders slumped.
The little guy started rubbing my cheek again like nothing happened.
"Kuung..."
His expression was round and innocent again.
'......This little punk...'
'Discriminating against guys, huh?'
"Kyuuung~"
He kept rubbing my cheek.
With a very satisfied look.
By the time we got back to the tent, the sun was setting. The sky was dyed orange.
Sunlight sparkled and shattered over the sea.
"It's getting cold."
The breeze made the air chilly.
I glanced at the little guy.
He was still clinging to my shoulder, tail wrapped around my neck.
Eyes half-closed, dozing off.
"Hey."
"......"
"Hey."
"Kuung?"
He opened his eyes. Annoyed look.
"Light a fire."
"......"
He stared at me for a long time.
'What?' eyes.
'Why me?' eyes.
He yawned.
Aaah—
Mouth opened wide.
He turned his head toward the firewood.
Ptoo.
He spat out a tiny flame dismissively.
Whoosh—
The firewood caught, blazing up quickly.
"Oho."
"......"
He immediately burrowed into my chest.
Looked up at me.
'Done now?' eyes.
Smoothly—
He nestled his head against my chest and closed his eyes.
"Kyuuu..."
3 seconds.
Asleep.
"......"
'The more I see this punk, the more I get him.'
'Lazy just like me.'
Hates work. Does it reluctantly if told. Sleeps right after.
'Perfect loafer temperament.'
"......."
'I like him.'
"Yongyong."
"Kyuu?"
"......I'll call you Yongyong."
"......"
No response. Already deep asleep.
Snoring—
Breathing steady. Warm.
The campfire crackled.
Crackle crackle—
Looking up at the sky, it had grown dark, stars twinkling one by one.
The wind made the flames flicker.
"......"
Peaceful.
Could fall asleep like this.
Then.
"Young Master!"
A voice called.
I turned.
It was the camera.
The PD came running with the cameraman in tow.
"Interview time!"
"......Ah."
Forgot.
This was a broadcast.
"Young Master, a word on the current situation, please!"
The camera focused on my face.
Red light blinking.
Recording.
[REC]
"......"
"Look over there!"
The PD pointed toward the jungle.
Sounds came from far off.
Boom—!
Explosion.
Clang—!
Swords clashing.
"Gahhh!"
"Magic beast! Gang up on it!"
"No! Too strong!"
The participants were locked in fierce battle.
"A brutal fight is unfolding over there!"
The PD said excitedly.
"Will you show your skills there too, Young Master?"
Pfft.
I chuckled.
"Why would I go there?"
"......Pardon?"
The PD froze.
"I'm resting here."
I opened my backpack and pulled out the BBQ grill, charcoal, tongs one by one.
Mmm. Perfect.
Pulled out the meat too.
This was the Korean 'barbecue' that drove foreigners nuts back in my past life.
Pork belly, in other words.
"......Young Master?"
The PD looked dumbfounded.
"Yongyong, fire."
"Kuu..."
The little guy just lifted his head from my chest.
Annoyed eyes.
Yawn.
Ptoo.
Charcoal lit up.
The lizard closed his eyes again.
"......Young Master."
The PD asked cautiously.
"You'll get eliminated like that."
"That's exactly what I want."
I placed the meat on the grill.
Sizzle—
Good sound.
Oil popped, savory aroma spreading.
"Right, Yongyong?"
"Kuung."
He wagged his tail.
Seemed to agree.
The PD stood there blankly.
Cameraman too.
Camera still rolling.
"......Just keep filming."
"......Yes."
Then.
Kael shot to his feet.
Eyes burning.
"Young Master!"
"Yeah."
"Watching that bloodbath..."
Kael glanced at the jungle.
Boom—!
Another explosion.
"I can't hold back the boiling blood anymore!"
"......I see."
"I'll head out now!"
Kael drew his greatsword.
Flash.
"Wish me luck!"
Striding—
Vanished into the jungle.
Moments later.
"Raaah!! I'm joining too!!"
A shout echoed from afar.
Boom—!
Something blew up.
"Uwoooo!!"
Kael's roar.
"......Monster."
I flipped the meat.
Sizzle—
Perfectly golden.
'Kael.'
That name came to mind.
'That guy's a monster.'
I couldn't take him down.
Not even Yongyong yet.
Takes an Imperial Guard Captain level.
Then.
Presence from afar.
I turned.
Someone approached through the campfire light.
Red hair gleaming softly in the moonlight.
'Speak of the devil.'
It was First Imperial Princess Irene.
Yongyong reacted first.
"Kuung?"
He lifted his head from my chest.
Looked at Irene.
Eyes sparkling.
Ears perked up.
"......Yongyong?"
He slipped out of my arms.
Smoothly.
Something unfolded from his back.
Tiny wings.
"......."
Wait...
He had wings?
Flap flap—
Yongyong flew toward Irene.
...suspiciously fast, too.
"......Huh?"
Irene stopped.
Eyes widening slightly.
Yongyong circled her.
One loop.
Two loops.
"Kuung..."
Landed naturally on her shoulder and rubbed his head against her.
"Kyuuung..."
Rub rub.
Rub rub.
Then, he looked at me.
Wink.
'Am I doing good?'
That kind of look.
'......This punk.'
"......"
Irene's expression shifted subtly.
Eyes widened a bit.
Breath caught.
Hand twitched.
Reached up, then stopped.
She wanted to pet him.
But.
"......Hm."
Irene spoke.
".......Pretty big for a lizard."
Voice deliberately stern.
Analytical tone.
But,
her eyes were glued to Yongyong's belly.
That squishy-looking belly fat.
"Kyuuung..."
Yongyong slid from her shoulder to her chest.
Rubbed his head.
Rub rub.
Rub rub.
Irene's cheeks flushed slightly.
Hand twitched again.
Reached up.
Stopped.
Bit her lip lightly.
Dignity.
Princess's dignity.
'......You want to pet him so bad, it's obvious.'
Yongyong looked at me again.
Wink.
'Good salesmanship, right?'
'......This punk.....'
'Spit breath at Kael earlier.'
'Sales mode for beauties?'
Irene walked over. Slowly.
With Yongyong on her shoulder.
'......Can't leave her standing.'
I opened my backpack and pulled out a camping chair.
Click.
Unfolded it and set it beside me.
"Care to sit?"
"......"
Irene eyed the chair.
Then.
Footsteps from behind.
Clank clank—
Heavy steps and clanking heavy armor.
I turned.
A burly man stood there.
Golden armor with imperial crest on shoulder. Face stern.
'......Imperial Guard Captain.'
He'd followed Irene.
The captain approached and inspected the chair.
Eyes sharpened.
Checked underneath.
The backrest.
Armrests.
Pressed lightly with his hand.
"......."
'Checking for traps.'
'Poison needles or something?'
The captain looked at me.
Wary gaze.
'Will this guy harm Her Highness?'
That kind of look.
"......"
Irene spoke.
"......The Young Master is fine."
"......"
The captain glanced at Irene.
"Your Highness."
"I said he's fine."
"......"
The captain's eyes turned back to me.
Top to bottom.
Bottom to top.
Silence for a moment.
"......Understood."
He stepped back.
Still wary eyes.
But said no more.
"......"
Irene looked at the chair.
Lifted her dress hem slightly.
Arranged it.
"Then."
"......"
"If you please."
She sat.
Cautiously.
Gracefully.
Beside me.
"......"
Yongyong slid down to Irene's lap.
Curling up.
Irene's hand moved.
Started stroking his back.
"Kuung..."
Natural.
As if that spot was always his.
"......"
The captain stood a short distance away.
Arms crossed, watching me.
Eyes narrowed slightly.
'......Are they close?'
That kind of look.
"Young Master."
Irene said.
While petting Yongyong.
"Is this...... your pet?"
"Ah. Yeah. Picked him up in the cave earlier."
"Picked him up?"
"Yes. Seems like a lizard, but he stuck to me."
"......"
Irene stared at Yongyong.
For a long time.
Yongyong rolled around on her lap.
Exposed his belly.
"Kyuuung..."
'Pet more.'
That pose.
Irene's hand twitched.
Rose.
Stopped.
Rose again.
Stopped.
"......"
Bit her lip.
"......."
'Holding back.'
"......Want to pet him?"
"......"
Irene looked at me.
Then back at Yongyong.
"......No need."
Her mouth said.
But.
Her hand was already on his belly.
Gently.
Brushing lightly.
"......"
"......So soft."
"Right?"
"......Yes."
Her fingers moved.
Started stroking.
Squish squish.
Yongyong made happy sounds.
"Kuung..."
Irene's lips curved up slightly.