Eros's Condition, Derke's Resolve
“N-now’s not the time for that!”
“Huh?”
“Anyway, more importantly…! I have a favor to ask!”
“A favor, all of a sudden?”
The moment had finally arrived. Eros’s conditional rapport had activated. What exactly was the request she had tried to make yesterday but held back? “Y-yeah! You’ll definitely help me out, right…?!”
She hadn’t been this forward yesterday. The second she saw my face, she’d backed off. But now, perhaps because her favorability had risen, she wasn’t running away like before. Instead, she was boldly asking for the conditional rapport.
“Hmm, I don’t know. It’s a bit sudden, but could you tell me what the favor is first?”
I didn’t agree right away. I planned to hear her out and then decide. Given Eros’s willful personality, she might ask for something reckless. Of course, refusing a conditional rapport would earn the target’s anger. Still, I had the protection of the third- and fourth-years. Even if I turned her down, my life wouldn’t be in danger. Besides, Eros still had too many unreliable qualities to be a rapport target. I had to be extra cautious. There were other SSR-rank dragons left, so listening first and judging later wouldn’t hurt.
“W-well… I mean, ummm……”
The usually arrogant Eros stumbled over her words, her face flushed bright red. Normally she would have snapped at a lowly hatchling like me for questioning her, but the high favorability from the pact stage seemed to be holding her back. Maybe she was still too young—her flustered state looked rather clumsy.
Her face is more distracting than whatever condition she’s about to name.
Tomato sauce clung to the corner of Eros’s mouth. She wasn’t a child, yet she’d eaten with sauce smeared all over her lips. I couldn’t stand it any longer, so I pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her mouth.
“Hwaaah…? W-what are you doing—?!”
“Hold still. You’re making it worse.”
“Huu, huwaah-♡ Touching a lady’s face so casually…?!”
Eros flinched the moment the handkerchief touched her, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she just turned tomato-red and muttered half-hearted complaints like “H-hapless! Calling you a pervert wouldn’t be wrong…♡ Y-you really are the lowest♡”
Wiping her mouth makes me a pervert? Maybe I should just cancel the conditional rapport after all—
Huh? My favorability went up from something like this?
The hapless one here wasn’t me—it was Eros. She acted disgusted on the outside, yet I could clearly see her grinning inside with delight.
Maybe this isn’t so bad after all.
Her attitude made me reconsider. While I’d have to wipe her mouth more often than with others, taming such a clumsy hatchling might be easier than I thought. If her condition for the conditional rapport was simple, pursuing it wouldn’t be a bad idea.
“So, what exactly is this favor you want from me? Do you have a specific dessert you’d like me to make for you?”
“Idiot! That’s not it!”
“Then what is it?”
“Teach me… how to make a special dessert too! You, the teacher, right beside me while we do it!”
“Aa…? You want me to teach you the recipe instead of making it for you?”
“Y-yeah! And don’t ask why!”
“……?”
It was a completely unexpected request. She wanted me to teach her how to make desserts? And she’d even added the honorific “-nim” when asking. Still, it was an incredibly simple condition. If this was all it took for a conditional rapport, it would be a piece of cake—an easy chance to bring an SSR-rank dragon to my side. There was no reason to refuse.
“…Why aren’t you answering? You’re not thinking of refusing this body’s request, are you?!”
“Not at all. If that’s what you want, I’ll teach you anytime.”
“Haat, really?!”
“I’d rather not say it twice.”
“I-I’m only saying this again so you don’t take me lightly…! It has to be a special dessert made just for me! Got it?!”
“Of course. I’ll personally teach you the recipe for a dessert made especially for Miss Eros.”
“Yes, exactly!”
“Very well. That’s no problem at all.”
Eros (Lv.350 / Love) — Blind Faith Relationship
Success Condition: Create a special dessert exclusively for Eros and teach her the recipe.
Deadline: Four days from now, at midnight.
The system messages appeared the moment I agreed. There was nothing unusual about them—they simply repeated what Eros had just asked for. Whatever her hidden motive was, it seemed I really just had to teach her the dessert recipe. If things went well, I might be able to add two SSR-rank dragons, including Sonya, in no time.
“Great! It’s a promise, okay?!”
“By the way, Miss Eros, have you always been interested in baking and pastries? Why the sudden request for a dessert recipe?”
“Hmph…! A dragon of noble birth wouldn’t be interested in something so hapless, would she?”
“Oh? Then why…?”
“A-actually, there’s someone involved with that silly little thing.”
“Hmm? Who would that be?”
“—Heehee♬”
Instead of answering, Eros let out a low laugh and suddenly looked me straight in the eye. Her quartz-like purple eyes were already sparkling with playful mischief, and even her long ears perked up.
“Hapless♡ Did you already forget what I just said? I told you not to ask for details, remember? Dummy♡”
“Tch, fine. I understand. Though it probably won’t be possible until the day after tomorrow.”
“What—? Why?!”
“The lounge construction runs until tomorrow. I’d like to teach you right away, but it can’t be helped. Please understand.”
“Uuuuugh…! If you’re begging that much, I suppose it can’t be helped…! This generous Eros shall graciously overlook it!”
“Yes, yes~ In any case, please finish your meal. Quite some time has already passed.”
“Aah, r-right! Anyway, thanks for the food, Breeder Teacher!”
“……”
Look at that tiny thing acting so cheeky. She was using “-nim” just a moment ago, but the second I accepted the conditional rapport, she dropped the honorifics again.
—Chomp chomp chomp…!
At least things were finally quieting down. Only the sounds of her eating remained, occasionally punctuated by the clink of utensils. Watching her eat with her head down so obediently was rather pleasant.
Still, a “special dessert,” huh…
I’d have to find some rare ingredients, like the drill apple Raylin brought me. What kind of dessert would satisfy Eros?
—Screeech…!
While I was lost in thought, Sonya stood up, chair scraping against the floor. Her bowl was completely empty—she must have finished eating while Eros and I were negotiating. She had silently and neatly devoured everything without a word.
“Oh? You’re already done?”
“Yes…! Thanks to you, I ate my fill. Thank you, Breeder Teacher.”
—Bow!
Sonya rose and bowed once more. Unlike certain others, she was overflowing with manners. At this point, even that sight was simply adorable. Just watching her made me smile.
That said, the tomato sauce smeared around her mouth was even messier than Eros’s had been. She looked as if she’d deliberately eaten with her face covered in sauce—far from the perfect elite image she usually projected.
“Pfft, I’m the one who should be honored that you enjoyed it. Please lift your head.”
“……”
Was it because of my gaze? Sonya slowly raised her head without a word. Red tomato sauce was still thickly smeared around her lips—much more than Eros had. It almost looked intentional.
“Um… Breeder Teacher……?”
“Yes? Is the portion not enough?”
“N-no, that’s not it……”
“Hmm?”
“C-could you… wipe my mouth too……?!”
Aaah? So she really had done it on purpose. How cute.
“So… that’s what happened. I really have no excuse, Derke……”
“I-I didn’t want to fall behind either, so I made a pact with Whitey yesterday…! I didn’t have any other intentions. Will you believe me?”
“……”
A heavy silence filled the cramped staff room, thick and dark like shadows. After the oppressive atmosphere lingered for a long while—
“Kuuuugh……!”
Derke let out a displeased huff after hearing both Sofia’s and Raylin’s confessions. She had been momentarily speechless after being blindsided by the seniors she trusted. But they were upperclassmen. She couldn’t exactly raise her voice at them. Part of her wanted to summon the Wraith Legion and cause a scene, yet the proud dragons had bowed their heads and sincerely apologized to a junior far younger than themselves. Even so, receiving an apology didn’t change anything, and she couldn’t just lash out at them either. That was why Derke had no choice but to swallow her anger.
I hate that the seniors touched Breeder Oppa…… but the real cause is still Oppa himself, desu-yong! When I meet that womanizing Oppa, then I’ll really……!
Derke, who had been growling under her breath, pinned the blame on Breeder as she suppressed her rage. She decided his overly kind and gentle attitude toward everyone besides her had led to this outcome.
“Um… Derke? Are you okay?”
“Derke? We’ll make sure nothing like this happens again, so about Whitey—”
“Enough, yap! If you’re really sorry, then tell me too, desu-yong!”
“Hmm? Tell you what, Derke?”
“How to materialize a Dragon Heart, desu-yong…! And next time, give me priority, eiyap!”
Derke stared at Sofia with firm resolve. Having the lead stolen hurt, but it wasn’t as if there were no opportunities left.
If Derke can just hand Breeder Oppa a Dragon Heart too…… then at least I’ll be on equal footing with Senior Sofia! The most important thing is still Oppa’s unwavering heart, desu-yong…!
—Clench…!
Derke tightened her small fists. She had made up her mind. The next time she met Breeder, she would definitely form a love pact with him.
“R-right. And since you can use ancient dragon speech, you should be able to learn it quickly.”
“And more importantly…! If Senior Sofia shares a Dragon Heart with Oppa, shouldn’t she be able to find out where he is right now, eiyap?!”
“Ah, about that…… Right now his presence is too far away to sense immediately. But if I focus a little, I should be able to locate him soon.”
“Then let’s go find him right now, eiyap! I have something I need to tell Breeder Oppa, desu-yong!”
At Sofia’s reply, Derke cried out with a meaningful tone.
Next time, I absolutely won’t let Oppa be taken away! When I meet him, I’ll reclaim the number-one spot no matter what, desu-yong…!!!