Chapter 72
Chapter 72
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: ???
Chapter Title: To Draw Closer to My Gentle Dragon
Row's guidance had been a tremendous help to Merthesia.
It was tough,
and painful,
and there were countless times she wanted to give up.
But the efforts accompanied by all that
served as precious nourishment, gradually making Merthesia stronger.
She no longer gave up easily.
Strength built up in her legs, allowing her to walk better and better.
Little by little, the thought 'I can do this too' began to take root.
And that mindset
became the trigger for Merthesia—who had always hated herself—
to start loving herself a bit more.
It was okay to feel pain.
It was fine to fail.
Even if she wasn't perfect, someone would smile for her.
And that
was the faith and courage bestowed by the kindest dragon imaginable.
"Training should be done little by little each day, slowly. Got it?"
"……."
"If you keep at it steadily, you'll definitely get stronger."
He stayed by her side unwaveringly, always watching over Merthesia's efforts.
He made her recognize and believe in the small things she hadn't even noticed about herself.
Just knowing Row was there gave Merthesia a little more courage.
"……."
"Yeah. You're doing great."
As Merthesia clenched and unclenched her fist,
Row smiled softly and stroked her head.
Merthesia loved that touch.
A warm and gentle touch, just like Row.
With that touch alone, it felt like she could overcome anything.
"Let's wash up and head down to the village."
"……?"
"Not firewood—let's try something more efficient for getting stronger."
"……!"
Merthesia's eyes sparkled.
What had Row prepared this time?
A touch of tension rose, overshadowed by even greater anticipation.
Before long, Merthesia began greeting each day with more enthusiasm.
As much as Row believed in her,
she wanted to try believing in herself.
Of course, her legs still didn't keep up with her heart.
But that was okay.
Because Row had never once called failure the end.
"I won't overlook your efforts. Time always leaves traces on hard work. Without fail."
Words Row had once said offhandedly.
Though spoken casually, they remained the pillar supporting Merthesia's heart.
They descended to the village together.
What appeared before Merthesia's eyes was a busier scene than usual.
A young man shoveling debris,
a mason rebuilding a collapsed stone wall,
a middle-aged man climbing onto a broken roof to lay new tiles.
"Over there, right there! Be careful!"
"Toss that over here."
"Here, eat this first if you're hungry."
Everyone was busy,
and to Merthesia, that busyness sparkled like something out of a dream.
"Everyone's so busy."
"……."
Merthesia looked around, turning her head this way and that.
In that moment—
the child swallowed hard.
Ruins reminiscent of the wasteland where she had been dying.
Memories of that day squeezed her heart.
Unknowingly, she gripped Row's hand tightly.
"It's okay. Everyone's rebuilding now."
"……."
The warm sensation from his hand drew even closer.
"They're building it back up, setting it right again."
"……."
"In just a little while, it'll be a sturdier village than before."
Merthesia looked up at Row.
A faint smile graced his face.
"If you don't like it, just say no."
"……."
"If you say no, I won't take you."
It was the same smile from when he'd pulled her out of the ruins.
That smile, now holding a bit more warmth, waited patiently until she took her step.
Merthesia nodded slightly.
Holding Row's hand, she entered deeper into the village.
Hammer strikes,
saw cuts,
even the lively footsteps of children.
Unlike winter, the village brimmed with vitality as it moved.
If she got a little stronger,
could she sparkle like that too?
Could she blend naturally into the village scene?
Then, maybe she'd see Row's bright smile again.
Rakiss's festival day.
The day Merthesia's efforts shone.
The child still cherished Row's radiant smile from that day like a treasure in her heart.
Merthesia headed to the general store with anticipation.
"Must be tough."
"……?"
"I mean buying tools to get stronger."
"……."
Disappointment spread across Merthesia's face.
Even getting stronger wasn't easy.
But she understood.
The village was buzzing with sparkling energy as it transformed.
Merthesia nodded.
Though regrettable, she comforted herself that next time, she'd definitely buy some.
"Shall we help out too?"
"……!"
Row was amazing.
With just one look at her expression,
he read her heart and naturally paved the way forward.
And it
always aligned perfectly with Merthesia's wishes.
"Nothing urgent right now. But... is there anything we can help with?"
"You'll help?"
"Yeah. We've got time. Merthesia wants to help too."
"Hoho, really? That's mighty kind of you."
The general store owner they happened to run into.
With Row's single remark, Merthesia blended seamlessly into the village bustle.
Thus, they ended up helping the villagers alongside Row.
Row was strong.
The plank that even the burly general store merchant struggled to move,
Row lifted onto his shoulder as lightly as if it were a twig.
"Just put it over there?"
"Y-yeah."
"...He really did it..."
His strength even astonished Loren.
Merthesia stared at Loren before scurrying over to Row.
As always, Row asked,
"Want to carry one too?"
"!"
"What are you saying?!"
Loren beat Merthesia—who was about to nod—to the punch.
"You can't make Mer do that! She's still a kid! Her wrists are so thin, and she's weak. Plus, she's cute!"
"...The last part doesn't matter, does it?"
"Anyway! No means no!"
"……."
It was frustrating.
She wanted to get strong like Row, quickly.
Merthesia looked down at her hands.
Small hands.
Slender wrists.
They seemed too small and weak, making her feel down for no reason.
"Mer, just rest on the side, okay?"
"……."
"...D-don't wanna?"
Merthesia nodded.
She didn't want to just sit idle because she was weak.
Time had proven that effort brought change.
Overwhelmed by Merthesia's resolve, Loren surrendered.
She changed into work clothes
and grunted as she moved bricks.
Loren was amazed, and Shaun thanked Merthesia.
"Haha, thanks. Tough work, but with Mer helping, it feels reassuring."
"!"
"Still, be careful. Getting hurt would pain you, and Loren would be upset too."
Merthesia blinked in slight surprise.
Praise from a stranger, heard for the first time.
More than anything, it reminded her of the importance of safety.
"No good. It'll throw off your balance and hurt you."
"……."
"Start with a little at first. Build up once you're used to it. Like with firewood."
It was the same advice Row had emphasized earlier.
Only now did the child grasp its deeper meaning.
What she'd thought was simple counsel
was a heartfelt wish for her not to get hurt.
Then, Merthesia remembered.
Row always got upset whenever she got hurt.
So—
she decided not to overdo it.
Getting stronger mattered,
but more importantly, she didn't want to make Row sad.
Like that day she'd wandered the forest alone searching for Row,
she no longer wanted to be the cause of his sorrow.
So she tried applying mortar like Shaun was doing.
It seemed safe, without risk of injury
or worrying Row.
It was okay to be a bit clumsy.
Merthesia knew effort would improve it.
"Don't press too hard—gently, like that."
"……."
"You're doing well."
"!"
A satisfying result on her first try.
After focusing intently for a while, Merthesia looked up at Row.
An expression saying she'd accomplished something, wanting to show off.
As always,
Row smiled softly and stroked her head.
"Good job."
"!!!"
Merthesia loved that smile, that touch so much.
"Haha, I think it every time I see it, but Mer really likes Row, huh."
Shaun's words sounded playful,
but to Merthesia, they pierced her heart.
It felt like a secret feeling no one knew had been shouted out loud.
Merthesia flinched, her shoulders trembling.
She glanced at Shaun, then nodded very slowly.
It was embarrassing, but not wrong.
However—
Merthesia's new lesson ended on a bland note.
Loren and Shaun started bickering at each other.
"Shall we move some bricks then?"
"!"
But that was fine.
For Merthesia, being with Row was better than that.
She moved bricks by Row's side.
Unlike her wobbling self,
Row showed no strain or faltering steps.
Yet he matched his stride to hers.
One.
Two.
Three.
As the trips back and forth increased,
the number of bricks Merthesia carried grew little by little.
"You're doing great. You've improved a lot."
"!"
"You'll carry more firewood too."
"!!!"
It was a small praise,
but Merthesia felt like she could float away with joy.
More than anything—
Row was smiling softly.
That was the best part.
For some reason, her heart tickled.
Feeling good, feeling strange, her face kept heating up.
Then, a familiar voice called from somewhere.
"Row, is that you?"
"Oh, hi."
"It is! I wondered when I saw the black robe!"
The owner of the alchemy shop.
Someone the child knew too.
Merthesia edged closer to Row.
For some reason, the ticklish feeling in her heart shifted to a different emotion.