A Selfish Request
“How would I know if no one tells me?!”
Raylin’s words left me speechless. Out of nowhere she was asking what I was doing on my day off? I felt a twinge of disappointment, but the real shock was hearing there even was a day off. A holiday the Rest Lounge attendant doesn’t know about…? Did Raylin get something wrong? It’s not even the weekend.
I could swear on the sky itself—I’d never heard a word about it. No one had bothered to inform me. Getting the news secondhand on the very day itself was infuriating enough, but to learn it from a third party… It felt like showing up for first-period class only for the assistant to announce it was a free period. An unexpected break was nice, sure, but why the sudden holiday?
“Oh dear… Vice Principal Benetric didn’t tell you?”
“You mean she decided this?”
“Yep. Because of yesterday’s incident, all the fourth-years are banned from the Rest Lounge for today.”
Damn it. The curse rose straight to my throat. No wonder the original Breeder ended up hating dragons. I still didn’t know the full story, but being treated like dirt just for being human must have worn him down until he snapped—even inside the temple of the Primordial Dragon. I could easily imagine him hurling insults far worse than “lizard spawn.” How were the short-lived races supposed to survive when the beings who were supposed to protect this world were this arrogant?
“Hahaha…”
The sheer absurdity forced a hollow laugh out of me. It was impossible to grow attached to this place. If something like that had happened, the least they could have done was tell me. Damn it. If I’d known it was a holiday, I would’ve taken my time preparing…
I was seething at the academy’s sloppy way of handling things, but at least Raylin had saved me from wasting the morning. If not for her, I’d have shown up for nothing.
“Oh no… Are you okay, Whitey?”
“Well, better late than never. Thanks to you I avoided pointless effort. I appreciate the heads-up.”
I bowed my head sincerely. At least I wouldn’t have to prepare desserts for the girls today.
“That’s a relief…! By the way, Whitey? What exactly happened yesterday? I was training on my own so I only caught the rumors.”
“You didn’t hear the details?”
“Nope. I ate what you made last night and passed out cold.”
Raylin rested her chin on her hand, waiting. She’d only heard the general gossip. The malatang must have been that powerful.
“It’s… actually nothing serious. I was secretly serving desserts I’d been asked to make for Lady Sofia and Lady Diora when Vice Principal Benetric caught me red-handed.”
“I already heard that much. I’m asking what the dessert was.”
“Ah, the dessert?”
“Yeah. What on earth was it that two of the academy’s top powerhouses went crazy over it? I heard Lady Diora even had to be carried out yesterday.”
Raylin fiddled with the long strands of hair framing her face. She seemed to have time to spare before training started in the afternoon.
“Mm… I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can tell you either.”
“What? Whitey? You’re keeping secrets from me too…?!”
“The dessert is… well, it’s tied to Lady Sofia’s personal tastes and her pride.”
“Ehh—? What kind of dessert involves pride?”
Raylin tilted her head, utterly baffled. She looked so incredulous that her mouth fell open, revealing sharp shark-like teeth.
“It’s just a very unusual dessert… I’m sorry I can’t explain everything. Please understand.”
“No, no—! Why are you apologizing for that? I’m just jealous of Lady Sofia!”
“Pardon? Jealous?”
“You made her a special dessert and you’re still worrying about her feelings even now…”
Raylin smiled at me, her eyes sparkling with fond approval—yet a faint trace of bitterness lingered beneath it. Maybe she really was bothered by Sofia after all. The complicated mix of envy and rivalry showed clearly on her face.
“That’s only natural for a servant—”
“…More importantly, Whitey? If the chance comes up later, could you… could you make the same dessert for me too?!”
“Huh…?”
“I don’t know what it is, but if it’s something you put your heart into, it’s bound to be delicious!”
Raylin suddenly made a bold declaration. She wanted me to serve her mint-chocolate too. She had no idea what Sofia’s actual preference was, so of course she’d say something like that. If I actually gave her mint-chocolate, her favorability would probably crumble like chocolate chips scattered over mint cream.
“Ah, that won’t work!! If there’s something else you’d like, just tell me! I’ll make anything you want with all my heart!”
“Hohwawa…? Whitey, why are you getting so worked up?”
The mental image of Raylin tasting mint-chocolate and blasting me with a mint-choco breath made me wave my hands frantically.
“Ah… I-it’s just, there’s a reason! Anyway, I’ll make you something even tastier instead, so let’s go with that, all right?”
“Puhuh—! You know, the more I look at you, the cuter you get. Besides, I don’t really need any dessert.”
—Scrape…!
Still laughing at how adorable I was, Raylin suddenly stood up. She pushed her chair back and walked toward the kitchen with a bright, mischievous smile.
—Hehe, hmph, ehehe♬
Her laughter was brimming with playful intent.
“Pardon? You don’t need dessert?”
“Honestly, anything you make is fine with me. So… instead of dessert, could I ask for something else?”
“Something else…?”
Raylin stepped right up to me. Our eyes were level because of our similar heights. Her ruby-like eyes sparkled with mischief. I couldn’t quite meet her gaze. It felt like she might pounce at any moment. I deliberately looked down.
“Cough…?!”
Even looking down didn’t help. Right in my lowered line of sight was Raylin’s breathtaking cleavage, laid bare.
“Aang? Whitey, where exactly are you looking~?”
She noticed instantly and teased me in a playful voice. I couldn’t help it. With that massive chest right there, how was any man supposed to avoid looking—
—Whoosh!
“Guh…? My lady…?!”
“Yesterday too. You’re sneakier than White Dog, aren’t you? Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”
Out of nowhere she threw an arm around my shoulders—no, she locked me in a light headlock. Just like yesterday, she suddenly turned mischievous to show affection. It almost felt like she was deliberately pressing that springy chest against my face.
“O-Oh, this is a misunderstanding! I didn’t mean to—”
“Still, you’re just too cute. Haah, I really don’t need anything else. Just being together like this makes me happy enough.”
“My lady, please stop this…!”
She’d said she wanted to ask for something other than dessert… Surely she didn’t mean that kind of request? Given how few male dragons remained, it wasn’t entirely impossible. But even so, between different species—
“—Whitey? Instead of dessert, when it’s just the two of us… would you call me ‘noona’?”
“Eh? Yes…?”
Ah? I’d completely misread the situation. This was the last thing I’d expected. I felt embarrassed for even entertaining such lewd thoughts a moment ago.
“N-Noona… You want me to call you noona?! I can do that much, can’t I…?”
Yet why was Raylin the one blushing? I couldn’t see her face while she still had me in the headlock, but her voice carried both deep embarrassment and a strange excitement.
—Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
From her side came the loud, rapid beating of her heart. I could practically hear the Dragon Heart pumping hot dragon blood. I felt her body temperature rising in real time.
S-She’s actually burning up…?!
Heat radiated from Raylin’s arm and side, just like when she’d left that fiery kiss mark on my cheek yesterday.
“Why aren’t you answering?! D-Don’t tell me you hate the idea? That’s not it, right…? Right?!”
“My lady? Could you let go first…”
“Hmph…! No! I’m not letting go until you call me noona! And it’s not even a difficult request!”
Just like yesterday, the moment our faces got close, Raylin flipped a switch and turned aggressive. She was nothing like her usual cheerful, easygoing self. She seemed more like an incredibly shy, clingy little sister. It was a new side of her, but right now there was a more pressing problem than the “noona” issue.
—Whoosh…!
The back of my neck was burning again, just like yesterday. The flame pouch was practically touching me now. Her chest, pressed so close to my heart, had to be far hotter than her arm. If this kept up, my entire face was going to cook.