Hatchling Swarm
At the entrance to the shabby other-race chapel, which looked utterly rundown compared to the grand temple—like a lizard shedding its tail.
“Haaah…! Weekend services are always such a bore, aren’t they?”
“Watch your tongue, or the young ladies will hear you.”
“No need to worry. They never even set foot in this direction.”
“Still, that’s no excuse for such irreverence… Though I must admit, I agree it’s dull.”
During the brief break, worshippers who had come to pray stepped outside for some fresh air, yawning loudly one after another.
“Flick, flick—!”
In contrast, the lizardman standing before me kept darting his bright red tongue in and out instead of yawning. He stared at me as though I were prey, his threatening eyes fixed on me without blinking.
“What is it? You said you had something for me to do?”
I asked with clear displeasure. There was no way anything pleasant was coming out of his mouth. How dare a mere non-dragon try to order me around?
“While we finish our prayers, you should head to the dining area in advance and prepare for dinner and the tea gathering.”
“And why exactly should I listen to you?”
“Did you just say ‘why’? A dragon-hater like you participating in worship… Don’t you think that’s far more absurd, brother?”
Maruti narrowed his vertically slit pupils and glared at me, a look of contempt flickering in his eyes. His gaze was fierce enough, but it posed no threat to me whatsoever. Compared to Benetric’s killing intent, it was nothing more than child’s play.
“Pfft…!”
I nearly burst out laughing.
“D-Did you just—?! Did you dare laugh at me just now?!”
Having spent so much time surrounded by the highest-ranking predators—dragons—this level of intimidation was laughable. That was why I couldn’t hold back my amusement.
“Think about it. Isn’t it ridiculous? Earlier you made a huge fuss about me supposedly carrying the taint of a dragon-hater just from touching the wrapping paper, and now you’re telling me to prepare dinner? Don’t you see how inconsistent that is?”
“Oh, for— I was going to say, as long as you don’t touch the food I made, it’s fine.”
“No. The dishes and utensils I’ll be setting will inevitably come into contact with your food. So what exactly is supposed to be acceptable here?”
“Hmph. I’ll just wear gloves. No problem at all. Stop with the nonsense and get moving like the servant you are.”
“Haah…!”
I was so dumbfounded I couldn’t even speak. Logic seemed to have been tossed aside like a salamander. He was clearly desperate to boss me around no matter what.
“Are you going to move or not? If you keep resisting, this will be the last time I show you any courtesy.”
“And what if I refuse? I’m a servant of the academy, not some reptile’s personal attendant.”
“Wh-What did you just say? Some reptile…?”
Maruti’s pupils widened dramatically, as though he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. There was probably no greater insult to him than being called a reptile.
“Besides, I came here today to worship following the guidance counselor’s instructions. I even received official permission for time off. So who exactly are you to order me around?”
“Y-You insolent—!”
Maruti couldn’t easily counter my rebuttal. His slender tongue writhed agitatedly. At the same time, he furrowed his brow and took a heavy step closer.
“……”
But he didn’t lay a hand on me. He hadn’t expected me to talk back, and he seemed conscious of the other worshippers nearby watching.
“Truly the words of a dragon-hater. Once you’ve entered the chapel, you should follow the will of the Father in heaven…!”
“I’m well aware your father’s already gone to the afterlife. I have no interest in talking to you any further. Still, if my presence here bothers you that much, I’ll gladly leave.”
I muttered dismissively and turned my back. This was actually perfect. I could skip the boring service altogether. There was no way I was wasting my precious day off on a religious event.
“You insolent human! Stop right there!”
“I don’t think so. Besides, the break is almost over, so you should head back inside too.”
I kept walking without looking back, waving my hand dismissively. I planned to cross the temple grounds quickly and hole up in that scenic spot I’d spotted earlier.
I strode across the front of the temple as fast as I could.
—Grab!
That was when a strong grip seized me from behind. Maruti had forcibly stopped me. As expected, he wasn’t backing down easily.
“Just as you received permission from Professor Benetric to attend worship, I too have been entrusted with authority over today’s meal preparations…! You will prepare dinner right now!”
“……”
“I have every right to order you around. So it would be wise to move while I’m still asking nicely.”
This time Maruti applied pressure with a fairly convincing argument. He even dropped the honorifics as he glared at me, looking as though he might swallow me whole with that long snout at any moment.
—Grin!
Even so, a smile naturally formed on my lips. I had an ace up my sleeve. I hadn’t crossed the temple grounds for no reason. I’d come here quickly on purpose.
“Why aren’t you answering? If you ignore me again, I’ll report this to the guidance counselor—”
“Waaah…?! Breeder Oppa—!”
“Hm? Who’s that all of a sudden…?”
Someone was calling my name at just the right moment. I knew who it was from the voice alone. Derke had called out to me, perfectly on cue. In the distance, a silver-haired girl came running toward me, hopping along with an excited expression. At a glance, she looked just like a baby rabbit dashing over.
“Ah, Derke! You had a break too?”
“Mm-hm! I was so sleepy that I came out with my friends to get some fresh air, desu— Ah, I mean…! I came out to get some fresh air—!”
Derke quickly corrected her speech. She’d spoken in the common tongue instead of the ancient dragon language. And for good reason…
—Rumble rumble rumble…!!!
A whole flock of first-year little ladies came swarming toward us like a brood of chicks following Derke. Just as I’d predicted. I knew Derke would find me. Even if it hadn’t been her, the area in front of the temple during break time was overflowing with young ladies I could ask for help. I’d already made my face known to every grade through roll calls, so it wouldn’t have been difficult. Especially since I maintained high favorability with all the first-years.
—Waaah! It’s Breeder Teacher!
—Teacher! When can we have more snacks again?
—The chocolate they give here is good, but I can’t forget the biscuits you gave us!
—I want to eat them again too……!
—The biscuits are way sweeter than chocolate! I love them so much!
—Murmur murmur…!
In no time at all, the little ones surrounded both me and Maruti. The area instantly grew noisy. They chirped and peeped at me, delighted to see me. Not only Derke, but the adorable hatchlings with their tiny horns, tails, and wings sprouting greeted me with bright, innocent faces.
“Wh-What is this…? Why did the young ladies suddenly…?”
Maruti was flustered by the sudden wave of hatchlings. He could only bow his head repeatedly toward the first-year girls, his expression filled with reverence just from facing them.
“Breeder Oppa—! What were you doing here?”
“Ah, nothing much. This guy was trying to make me work without even giving me any chocolate, so I was just calling him out on it.”
“Huuuh…?! I-Is that true?! He won’t let Oppa eat that sweet chocolate? That’s too much!”
Since Derke had successfully gathered the hatchlings, all that remained was to point them in the right direction.
—That’s way too much! How dare he do that to our teacher?!
—Who? Who did that?!
—Over there, that lizard guy did it, apparently?
—How arrogant! How dare he!
—The bad uncle who’s bullying Breeder Teacher! Let’s teach him a lesson!
—How dare a mere dragon knockoff torment Breeder Teacher?!
—I-I won’t forgive him either! How dare he touch my Breeder O— Teacher—?!
My snitching had been highly effective. They all radiated killing intent at once, like loyal hounds protecting their master. The cute little chicks had instantly evolved into fighting cocks. The star-shaped candy-covered biscuits I’d handed out last time were finally paying off. It was possible because the first-years’ overall favorability toward me was so high.
“Y-Young ladies…? That’s not what happened at all……!”
“It is what happened, desu-yong—! Even if he’s a senior, Derke won’t forgive anyone who bullies Oppa…!!!”
““That’s right—! We won’t forgive you!””
The first-year girls joined Derke—who had accidentally slipped into the ancient dragon language—in their outrage.
“I’ll explain everything…! So please, young ladies, calm your anger and—”
“Be quiet, desu-yong—!”
Maruti had no idea what to do. He couldn’t even squeak in response to the first-years’ scolding and was only breaking out in a cold sweat. It looked like he might even shed his tail and flee at any moment.
“P-Please spare me, young ladies…! H-Hey, Breeder? Say something…!”
Maruti clung to my collar and begged as the swarm of little girls charged at him like a swarm of bees.
—Smack!
I coldly brushed off Maruti’s hand like a lizard shedding its tail and muttered,
“Serves you right. This is what happens when you mess with a dragon-hater beloved by the hatchlings.”