Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Buying the Dip (4)
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My baby... in other words, the fact that he needed my semen came as quite a shock, but in the end, I decided to accept Grand Duke Ignatus's request.
There was also the original goal of turning part of the one million gold into slush funds.
But above all, the biggest reason was my expectation that if it was Grand Duke Ignatus—a dragon who had lived since before the founding of the Empire—he must know something about me.
That I had somehow awakened a power similar to House Zahav's bloodline ability? That was understandable enough.
I knew all too well what process I had gone through. If I hadn't endured the mutation, I wouldn't be alive today.
But the parts that bothered me were the others.
The fact that I had inherited blood as potent as that of the founder of the grand ducal house, yet had no clue what my bloodline ability even was.
And the reason why I, who wasn't even a monster, grew stronger inside dungeons.
Ignatus would at least have some clue about those two things, even if not the full answers.
...Of course, that process would likely expose the fact that I wasn't truly of Zahav blood to him.
But I had something in mind for that.
And so, as I was packing my bags to head to the Ignatus Grand Duchy,
"Alright. Think I've got everything."
"Hmm. Aren't you missing one thing?"
Jevella, who had been helping me pack, tilted her head, so I rummaged through the bag again.
"Hm... Seems like I've got it all. Karen probably prepared all the little stuff anyway, so I figure just showing up is enough."
"Think carefully. Really nothing?"
"???"
I kept digging through the bag, checked the bed and desk, but found nothing unusual.
As I just tilted my head in confusion, Jevella smiled playfully and spread her arms wide.
"You haven't given your big sister a proper goodbye hug."
"...Pardon?"
"Come here. Hurry."
Wondering if this was right, I approached hesitantly, and Jevella quickly pulled me into an embrace. The soft feel of her skin through her thin southern attire. A floral body scent wafted over, her warm body heat warming mine.
"After all, this is the first time you're leaving the castle far away since coming to House Zahav."
"Ah."
That's right. It felt like two months had already passed since I arrived at House Zahav, but I'd spent most of that time inside the castle.
Even my occasional outings were just to enter and exit the dungeon.
Jevella tightened her arms around me a bit more.
Squeeze.
The soft sensation pressing against my chest. But for some reason, what felt even clearer right now was Jevella patting my back.
"It probably won't be dangerous, but take care of yourself anyway."
"...Yes."
As I awkwardly patted her back in return,
Jevella's soft whisper tickled my ear.
"So, what's the deal with those rumors going around lately?"
"...Pardon?"
"You know, the one about how you, Yuria's roommate and Grand Duke Ignatus's youngest disciple, ravaged her so thoroughly that she ended up corrupted, shouting embarrassing things at the top of her lungs."
"...."
No, how did that rumor reach Jevella's ears already?
She was someone who always interpreted my actions in the best possible light, to the point it felt excessive... but even so, I couldn't imagine her putting a positive spin on this kind of rumor. Cold sweat began to trickle down.
But.
"I believe my little brothers... Enoch and Yuria. It could just be a slight misunderstanding in explaining Grand Duke Ignatus's conditions. A girl named Maykin is still young, and she seems like the shy type."
It was just that—saying it was fine, that she understood.
Of course, Jevella would probably try to comfort me over such rumors.
I let out a sigh of relief... but it didn't take long to realize that had been too hasty.
"But if the rumors are true. Meaning, since you're a Zahav man, Enoch, you might one day suddenly feel the urge to spend three days and nights training a woman you like until her head's filled with nothing but begging for your baby batter."
"...?"
What kind of feeling was that exactly? At least, I was certain I couldn't comprehend it at all.
"But make sure to use protection. For now, you're set to become the patriarch, and I'm slated to be the first wife. If a bastard pops out first, it'll be troublesome in all sorts of ways."
"That's your issue?!"
I'd assumed it was some kind of jealousy or possessiveness. Or at least something about family prestige and putting people in line.
But no—it ended at just "be careful so no illegitimate child is born before the legitimate line."
She wasn't even telling me not to fool around with other women, just to use protection properly.
Is this... normal?
Eventually, I'd have to step down from the patriarch position through some "normal(?)" method, but until then, I couldn't let on that I wasn't Zahav blood.
So I'd looked into how things were back when my other Zahav siblings were still alive.
But most records were censored or deleted, so I couldn't learn much. Just that it seemed like the Golden Sun house lived up to its reputation.
Maybe... it was even crazier than I thought.
...Ah, that must be why the rumors spread so fast at the academy.
With that small realization, I gently pushed Jevella away and said,
"Don't worry. That'll never happen."
"Oh my..."
For some reason, Jevella's face flushed red. She rubbed her cheeks for a moment, then cleared her throat and spoke.
"Ahem. Anyway, now you've properly taken care of the last thing you almost forgot. I'd love to see you off at the castle gates, but..."
"You're busy with work, right? I get it."
The flood of friendship bribes was still pouring in. I'd heard Jevella was pulling all-nighters every day to make the most of them.
I grinned and lifted the corner of my mouth.
"I hear the magic tower has all sorts of unique artifacts. If I find something useful for you, sis, I'll grab one."
"Really? Thank you, Enoch. To think you'd think of your big sis like that. Such a good boy. ...Yes, truly a good boy."
Jevella tidied my clothes with a pleased expression, but for some reason, as her hand brushed near my heart, her face seemed to darken abruptly.
It happened so quickly that I wondered if I'd seen wrong and rubbed my eyes. Meanwhile, Jevella straightened my slightly disheveled clothes from the hug and stepped back half a pace.
"Yes, that should do it. Hurry along now. Even for Grand Duke Ignatus, maintaining a teleport gate for long takes a lot of focus."
"Yes. Then I'll be off, sis."
I bowed lightly and left the room, heading to the plaza.
There, Karen had gathered everything I might have missed, and Maykin, who still couldn't quite meet my eyes.
The retainers and knights lined up to see me off were arrayed as well.
Unfortunately, Hilda was stuck managing the academy students here for dungeon training and couldn't join due to the defense lines shattered by the successive dungeon surges, making it hard to spare knights.
Well, Karen alone should be plenty. I'm not helpless either.
Thud!
As I passed, the retainers on both sides stepped back and saluted. The path naturally parting through the crowd was a sight to behold, even after seeing it a few times.
I wasn't the only one who thought so—Maykin, who had been avoiding my gaze, now bowed her head deeply.
It was a pretty imposing scene.
Chuckling inwardly, I grabbed Maykin's shoulder and lifted her chin.
"Head up. We still have work to do, right?"
"Y-Yes? Oh, yes!"
Maykin bobbed her head repeatedly, then pulled a small crystal orb from her bosom and infused it with mana, muttering something.
I couldn't see inside the orb or hear the conversation—probably some security measure.
But I could tell who her communication partner was. Probably Grand Duke Ignatus.
After a brief exchange, Maykin nodded and looked my way.
"Preparations are readyyy... Everyone, please step back a bit. It's dangerous if you get caught in it."
"...."
"...."
"...."
"I-It’s really dangerous..."
Maykin fidgeted, glancing at the surrounding Zahav retainers. Instead, I stepped forward.
"You heard her? Everyone, take three steps back."
"""Yes!!"""
With a resounding reply, the retainers finally created distance.
Maykin wore an expression mixing admiration and grievance, but she placed the crystal orb she'd been holding onto the open ground anyway.
Soon after, a torrent of mana erupted from the crystal orb at its center.
It wasn't an amount Maykin could handle. Naturally, a mere magic tool couldn't withstand it either.
Crack.
Suddenly, cracks spread across the crystal orb. Far more mana poured out through them.
And before long, it began drawing an incomprehensible pattern to me.
Hummm—
With a resonant hum, what formed was something resembling a massive oval mirror.
But it wasn't a real mirror—the scenery rippling beyond was utterly different from Zahav territory.
"That's the west, huh."
Internally marveling at the high-level magic I'd never seen before, I followed Maykin with Karen into the teleport gate.
A slight floating sensation. Then a touch of cooler air. The teleport was a success.
I raised my head and looked around.
"You've arrived well. I am none other than Grand Duke Ignatus. Heir of the Sun, I, the last dragon, hereby welcome you."
"...Hm?"
Instead of a majestic red dragon, there was a red-headed kid rolling on the floor.
I alternated glances between the prominently curved horns and the plump tail, then asked,
"Grand Duke Ignatus?"
This was?