A Raucous Dawn
A Dragon Heart. The boundless source of power. The singular mark of those proud transcendent beings. The might of a Dragon Heart was a divine blessing that allowed dragons to reign like gods and command the continent’s intelligent races. It would not be an exaggeration to say that a dragon’s long lifespan and overwhelming strength all stemmed from the Dragon Heart. Beyond its literal meaning as a heart, a Dragon Heart was as precious as life itself. Yet paradoxically, dragons could hand over half of this treasure to another race. All for the sake of forging a pact. This, too, was a sacred act only dragons could perform. By sharing half of their Dragon Heart, they could establish the binding contract known as a pact. This Dragon Pact was a heavy agreement that bound both parties to one another. Once made, the contract had to be upheld no matter what. Should either side ever break it, they would face a terrible fate—even if the offender was a dragon.
Considering those conditions alone, forming such a pact seemed like nothing but a massive loss for the transcendent dragons. Setting aside the pact’s actual terms, they still had to divide their superior power and long lifespan with the contractor. In reality, dragons who had ever formed a pact with another race were exceedingly rare throughout history. Even among those few cases, most involved extreme circumstances. Usually, a dragon would only resort to a pact when facing a life-threatening crisis or when driven into a corner with no other choice but to borrow the strength of another race. Of course, there were rare exceptions—dragons who genuinely fell in love with another race and offered their Dragon Heart to form a “Love Pact.”
—Squeeeak…!
I want… I want to do more than just a peck. I want to kiss Oppa properly…
And right here, at this very moment, there existed a hatchling utterly smitten with another race. With a human, no less—a being classified among the short-lived, inferior creatures. She must have been truly serious to sneak into his room while he slept, carrying such a secret purpose.
“Hehe-♪ Just as I thought, you’re off in dreamland, desu-yong…!”
A pair of emerald eyes gleamed through the gap in the duty room door. Like a thieving cat slipping over a wall, the green glint quietly crept inside.
During roll call, you didn’t even look at me and went straight up to the second floor… I was so sad, desu-yong…!
The little hatchling’s feelings toward her contractor had long since surpassed mere affection or love. They might even border on pure obsession. Derke’s gaze as she looked at Breeder held nothing but a single, unwavering purpose. For some time now, her eyes had been fixed on his lips, as though they were coated in honey.
“Derke likes Oppa. So Derke wants Oppa to like her even more… No, he has to, desu-yong…!”
It was no wonder. Derke’s feelings for Breeder had already approached something close to worship. He was the one and only existence in this world who carried the scent of her father. At first, she had been drawn to him simply because he reminded her of her beloved father, but now she was completely captivated by Breeder himself. That was why, from the moment she met him, she could never stop thinking about him. During class. During meals. Even in her dreams, he appeared. Before she knew it, her entire world had become filled with Breeder. That was why she had been willing to offer her heart so readily to form a pact.
The first dragon to give her heart to Oppa will be Derke, desu-yap-!
Derke rose onto her tiptoes and crept toward Breeder with careful, silent steps, afraid he might wake.
—Grin♬
Her face was brimming with satisfaction. Because they were alone in this space. Because she could finally claim Breeder for herself. Because she could make him hers.
“Derke will take Oppa’s lips… even if it means trading her heart for them, desu-yong…!”
In truth, the seemingly trivial reason she had given for forming the pact had all been part of Derke’s plan. She had needed some excuse to stay close to Breeder. And now, all the groundwork was complete. They could be together in the lounge, and they were even bound by a firm pact. So now it was time to slowly monopolize him. She wanted to stamp her claim before any meddlers could interfere.
Originally, Derke had never intended to go this far. But the unexpected appearance of Sofia had ignited her jealousy.
Last time the heart didn’t transfer, so this time Derke will properly form the pact, desu-yong-! A Love Pact that will let us be together forever…!
Derke rose even higher on her tiptoes, leaning toward Breeder lying on the bed. Her expression was more solemn than ever.
“J-Just a little more…!”
Despite her determined resolve, her small body trembled. Her short stature made it difficult for her face to reach his. Only by standing on her very tiptoes could she barely bring herself level with him. Breeder, unaware of everything, merely shifted in his sleep.
“Kuuu…”
At that moment, Breeder turned his head toward Derke.
This distance is perfect…!
Derke’s eyes sparkled at the sudden opportunity. A large bandage was stuck to his cheek, but the room was too dark for her to notice. Her entire focus was locked on his lips alone.
If only Oppa would look at Derke instead of that big-chested senior…!
With renewed resolve, Derke bounced up on her tiptoes and leapt toward his lips.
—Chuu♥
At last, Derke’s lips left a deep mark upon Breeder’s. It was no longer a cute, playful peck, but a somewhat seductive, intense kiss. Derke pressed against him without pulling away even for a moment. There was a reason for this.
This time, no matter what, the Dragon Heart…!
Derke’s face, still locked with Breeder’s, was desperate. She was pouring every ounce of strength into squeezing out her Dragon Heart.
2. Deep in the night, when the red moon was swallowed thickly by clouds.
—Thud, thud, thud…
A crowd of young ladies entered the dormitory building with weary steps. Each carried her own combat gear and weapons, fully armed as though they had just returned from an actual battle. Anyone who saw them might have thought that the Demon Dragon, Ditronos, had once again extended its wicked claws upon the land.
—Ha, that crazy girl. She never cared before, so why’s she going nuts today?
—Don’t even mention it. I seriously thought I was gonna die.
—Did you hear? From now on, she’s going to personally supervise us with “affection and care”?
—Why are all the professors so desperate to devour us? Leaving us alone would be helping…
—Huu… I don’t know. Is this what 3,400 years of being an old maid does to you?
—This is so annoying! She even restricted access to the lounge…!
—I swear I’ll never grow old like that…
The fourth-years grumbled in unison as they climbed the stairs, followed by the third-years, all wearing equally exhausted expressions. They looked like defeated soldiers, utterly drained. Even though they were dragons, enduring a senior’s mental hazing was no easy feat.
“……”
While everyone else trudged upstairs with tired faces, only Sofia remained on the first floor, head bowed and wearing an enigmatic expression. After sending her exhausted classmates and juniors up first, she wandered the first floor alone. Anyone who saw her might have thought she was sneaking around to burn some mana incense.
Well, since it’s already this late, I might as well sneak another look at Breeder’s face!
Yet Sofia’s goal was firm. Though her entire body ached with exhaustion, the thought of Breeder had kept her going until now.
If he’s awake, I can ask about the pact we made earlier this afternoon… and if the chance arises, maybe kiss him one more time…!
After hesitating in the hallway for a long while, a faint halo of light began to glow behind Sofia’s face. At last, she had made up her mind. It was her first time longing for a human as a dragon, and at first her pride had not allowed it. But now that they had formed a pact, Sofia was no longer the “superior” party. Without mint chocolate, she could no longer live—she had become a thorough “subordinate.” Breeder, the one who could make mint chocolate, was the true “superior.” A single pact had instantly reversed their positions.
That aside, what exactly had happened? She had clearly formed the pact, yet… why was her Dragon Heart still intact?
—Click, click…!
Muttering the same question Derke had, Sofia also headed toward the duty room.
—Squeeeak…!
Just as Derke had done earlier, she carefully opened the door to check if he was asleep.
Hehe, he really is asleep. It’s a shame, but it can’t be helped. I can’t wake someone who’s sleeping so soundly…
Well, a good-night kiss wouldn’t be so bad, right…?
—Thump, thump, thump…!
Hot dragon blood boiled within her Dragon Heart. Just remembering the moment she had kissed him made her chest feel ready to burst.
“Huuuuh…!!”
Even breathing lightly sent white steam puffing from her nostrils. Her face had turned bright red, like a ripe tomato.
Now that I think about it, Breeder’s lips might have been even sweeter than mint chocolate…?
A faint silhouette could be seen on the bed inside the duty room. The moment Sofia spotted it, her mind overflowed with thoughts of Breeder.
Alright, this time I’ll kiss him again and properly hand over my Dragon Heart…! Without a single mistake, for sure…!
—Tip, tip…
Sofia stepped inside, her heart filled with grand plans. But sadly, those thrilling, exciting plans could never come to fruition.
“──?!”
Because, to her shock, Breeder was not alone on the bed. A small something was lying beside him, fidgeting.
“Haaah-?! Y-You, you, you, you’re Derke……?!”
A tiny girl was lying on the bed, her lips pressed against Breeder’s.
“Hyaaah-?!! S-Senior, why are you—? Why—? Here…?!!”
The usually quiet dormitory dawn had become unprecedentedly noisy.